Rep. Carl Tepper

Maddy summaryHB 2923 limits the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) jurisdiction over water and sewer rates charged by municipalities. It removes the PUC's oversight for rates when a municipality provides wholesale water or sewer service to *another municipality* (e.g., City A selling to City B). Instead, such agreements between municipalities will be governed by their own contracts, with the PUC only reviewing rates for service provided to non-municipal entities like counties or water districts. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2926 requires ballot propositions for debt obligations that increase property taxes to include the specific statement "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE." The bill applies only to elections held on or after September 1, 2025, directly affecting voters who see these ballot measures. It changes the required wording on ballots but does not alter tax rates or debt issuance rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2696 requires Texas public elementary and secondary schools to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The display must be at least 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, contain only the specific text listed in the bill (including the full biblical wording), and be legible from any point in the classroom. Schools may accept privately donated displays meeting these requirements or use district funds to purchase compliant displays if needed. This law applies to all public schools and explicitly states they cannot claim exemption from this requirement.

Maddy summaryHJR 118 is a Texas legislative resolution applying to Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention. It specifically requests a convention limited to proposing a constitutional amendment that would restrict members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to a maximum number of terms. The resolution directs Texas officials to transmit copies to Congress and other states, seeking to aggregate Texas's application with similar efforts from other states to reach the required two-thirds threshold. This is a procedural step only - it does not change term limits but aims to initiate the process for a potential constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 2410 would allow public and private institutions of higher education (like colleges and universities) to apply for charters to operate open-enrollment charter schools on their campuses or in nearby locations. The bill requires these charter schools to use innovative teaching methods, be directly supervised by faculty with education expertise, and set measurable goals for student performance. It amends Texas Education Code sections to establish these requirements for institutions seeking to run charter schools under their authority. The bill directly affects higher education institutions seeking to expand into K-12 education through charter schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2519 requires property sellers and buyers (grantors and grantees) to submit a completed "notice of real property title transfer" form when recording property deeds in Texas. This form must include both parties' full names, addresses, telephone numbers, citizenship status, and social security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers. The county clerk must keep this notice separate from public property records, making it confidential under state law, though it may be shared with state agencies for government purposes. The bill directly affects all individuals or entities buying or selling real property in Texas by adding new disclosure requirements for property transfers.

Maddy summaryHB 1739 requires property owners to post specific bilingual signs (in English and Spanish) to prohibit firearms on their property. It provides two approved sign formats: one with standardized text about firearm restrictions and another featuring a clear handgun symbol with a red slash. The bill mandates that signs must be visible, use contrasting colors, and meet minimum size requirements. This directly affects property owners seeking to enforce firearm prohibitions and visitors entering such properties, standardizing notice requirements under Texas Penal Code Section 30.05.

Maddy summaryHB 1723 repeals Section 21.046(e) of the Texas Property Code, which previously governed eligibility for relocation assistance. It directly affects individuals needing relocation assistance due to state or local government actions (like property acquisition) occurring on or after September 1, 2025. The bill clarifies that the repeal applies only to relocations triggered by government actions after this effective date, while past relocations remain governed by the prior law. This change modifies the eligibility rules for relocation assistance under current law, without creating new assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1740 requires fire marshals, health officers, and code enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant before inspecting properties for fire, health, or building code violations - unless the property owner consents or an immediate life-threatening danger exists (as defined by law). If an inspection occurs without a warrant during an emergency, officials must seek a warrant as soon as possible afterward. Evidence from warrantless inspections in emergencies may be excluded in criminal cases if the emergency wasn’t genuine. The bill directly affects property owners and local enforcement agencies in Texas, changing how routine and emergency inspections are conducted.

Maddy summaryHB 1793 sets new job creation and investment requirements for businesses seeking grants from the Texas Enterprise Fund. It requires grant recipients to commit to specific job targets and minimum investments within the first year, based on the population size of the county where the grant is used. For example, in counties with over 750,000 residents, businesses must create at least 75 jobs and invest $200 million; in smaller counties, the thresholds are lower (e.g., 10 jobs and $20 million in counties under 100,000 residents). These requirements apply to all new grant agreements under Section 481.078 of the Government Code. The bill directly affects businesses applying for Texas Enterprise Fund grants by adding measurable performance conditions to eligibility.