Rep. Mihaela Pleșa

Maddy summaryHB 143 requires oil and gas operators to maintain electrical power lines at well sites and related surface facilities according to the National Electrical Code. Landowners or lessees can report unsafe conditions to the Railroad Commission, which must inspect and notify the Public Utility Commission and operator within three days if a fire or injury risk is found. The Railroad Commission must resolve the issue within 10 days and inform the affected landowner. This law directly affects oil/gas operators, landowners near well sites, and the Railroad Commission and Public Utility Commission of Texas. The bill became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on June 20, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 creates a tuition and fee exemption for students who were under the conservatorship of Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) at specific points in their lives. It applies to former foster youth who were under DFPS conservatorship on their 18th birthday, during high school graduation, or on the day of adoption (after Sept. 1, 2009), and who enroll in a public Texas college as undergraduates or in dual credit courses by their 25th birthday. The exemption covers tuition and fees charged by public institutions of higher education, including dual credit courses. This policy takes effect September 1, 2025, for the 2025 fall semester.

Maddy summarySB 23 increases the school district homestead tax exemption for elderly (65+) or disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000 of their home's appraised value. This directly affects eligible homeowners who qualify for the exemption and school districts that may lose local tax revenue due to the change. The bill requires the state to provide additional aid to school districts to offset revenue losses from the higher exemption, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The state aid calculation compares current revenue to what would have been collected under the previous exemption amount. The bill was signed into law on June 16, 2025, and is now effective.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill (SB 4) increases the homestead exemption for school district property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000 per homeowner, directly affecting residential property owners. School districts will receive additional state aid to offset revenue losses from this exemption increase, calculated as the difference between current local revenue and what would have been available before the change. The compensation mechanism applies starting with the 2023-2024 school year for the initial exemption increase and will extend to future changes proposed for 2025. This ensures school districts maintain funding stability despite reduced local tax revenue from larger homestead exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 9 creates a property tax exemption for businesses owning tangible personal property (like equipment or inventory) used to generate income. It exempts $125,000 of the appraised value of such property at each location within a taxing unit, regardless of the property's individual value. The exemption applies to all businesses holding income-producing property at a single address, and related businesses operating under a unified enterprise must aggregate their property to calculate the exemption. Additionally, businesses leasing such property receive the full $125,000 exemption for all leased items, even if located across different taxing units.

Maddy summaryHJR 7 proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of Texas' state sales and use tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund. It would require that this dedicated revenue be allocated exclusively to water infrastructure projects, with new rules allowing temporary suspension during declared disasters. The bill would amend the state constitution to establish this dedicated funding stream, replacing current flexible allocation methods for water fund money. This proposal was reported adversely by the Senate Finance Committee with a 14-0 vote against in May 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 59 proposes a constitutional amendment to create two dedicated funds for Texas State Technical College System campuses: a permanent infrastructure fund for long-term capital projects and an available workforce education fund for immediate equipment and facility needs. This bill repeals a current funding limitation, allowing the system to access annual appropriations meant for public higher education institutions without restrictions. The funds would be financed through existing state appropriations, investments, and donations, managed by the comptroller, to support campus buildings, equipment, and educational program infrastructure. The amendment would directly affect Texas State Technical College System campuses by providing a dedicated, stable funding source for their capital requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 150 establishes the Texas Cyber Command as a new state agency under the Government Code, effective September 1, 2025. The bill transfers specific cybersecurity responsibilities from the Department of Information Resources to this new command, focusing on protecting critical infrastructure such as energy systems, water facilities, health care, and transportation networks. The command will handle cybersecurity incidents - including ransomware attacks and system breaches - by providing services to covered entities like local governments and private operators of critical infrastructure. This creates a dedicated state-level entity for coordinating cybersecurity efforts across vital systems, replacing the previous structure managed by the Department of Information Resources.

Maddy summaryHB 2003 requires entities proposing high-speed rail projects in Texas to annually submit detailed financial and operational information to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This includes financing methods, cost projections, construction timelines, ridership estimates, and foreign investment disclosures. TxDOT must then make all submitted data publicly accessible on its website. The bill directly affects companies or organizations planning high-speed rail projects within Texas, mandating transparency about their financial and operational plans.

Maddy summaryHB 1188, the Caytlin Handley Act, requires Texas school districts to provide parents or guardians of students with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays with information about local disability authority services during their first individualized education program (IEP) meeting. The bill mandates that schools share details about public benefits and waiver programs (like Section 1915(c) services under federal law) offered by the county disability authority. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission must develop and distribute clear informational materials to schools for this purpose. This law took effect immediately on May 29, 2025, applying to the 2025-2026 school year.