Rep. Giovanni Capriglione

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas lawmakers to exempt up to $125,000 of the market value of business-used tangible personal property (like equipment or vehicles) from property tax. It would directly affect business owners who hold such property for income generation, such as small business operators or farmers. The amendment would revise the state constitution to authorize this specific exemption amount, replacing the current exemption structure. If approved by voters in November 2025, this would become a permanent constitutional provision enabling future legislation to implement the tax break. The bill is now headed to the November ballot after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summarySB 326 requires Texas public schools and colleges to use the state's official definition of antisemitism (from Government Code Section 448.001, including its examples) when determining if a student's conduct violation under school rules was motivated by antisemitism. It applies to disciplinary actions for behavior violating student codes in both K-12 schools and higher education institutions. The law mandates this specific definition be used starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill was signed into law on May 20, 2025, and took effect immediately. This policy change standardizes how schools assess antisemitism-related conduct without creating new definitions or penalties.

Maddy summarySB 2312 creates the Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict to prepare for potential international crises that could disrupt Texas' supply chains or critical infrastructure. The committee, composed of nine members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house, will develop pre-conflict security strategies and gather information to support state response during emergencies. It defines "critical infrastructure" to include systems like oil/gas, water, power, and emergency services, and "geopolitical conflict" as events threatening these systems through war, diplomatic breakdowns, or supply chain disruptions. The bill aims to enhance Texas' defensive posture and protect citizens by making proactive preparations, without altering existing laws or funding.

Maddy summarySB 1044 requires Texas newborns to be screened for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) as part of routine newborn health tests, alongside existing conditions like phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism. It mandates that physicians or delivery attendants arrange for these screenings, which are approved by the Texas Department of Health. The bill also directs the department to develop diagnostic tests and treatment methods for DMD and other inherited conditions through a dedicated laboratory. This law, signed by the governor on May 19, 2025, became effective September 1, 2025, expanding the state's mandatory newborn screening program to include DMD.

Maddy summaryThis law sets requirements for shareholder proposals at major publicly traded companies with Texas ties (those headquartered in Texas or listed on Texas-based exchanges). To submit a proposal, shareholders must hold $1 million in stock value or 3% of voting shares for six continuous months and secure support from 67% of shareholders. It excludes director nominations and routine procedural votes from these rules. Companies must include these proposal requirements in shareholder voting materials. The law applies only to corporations that voluntarily adopt it through their bylaws.

Maddy summaryHB 5627 creates the Texas Commission on Public School Teacher Retirement Funding Transparency to address how state funding for teacher retirement is handled. The commission, made up of seven members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker, will develop recommendations to integrate retirement funding into the state’s public school funding formula, ensure retirement contributions prioritize classroom staffing, and guarantee long-term health of the Teacher Retirement System. It does not change current retirement contributions but aims to make funding more transparent and consistent across school districts. The bill establishes the commission’s structure and requires it to submit recommendations to the legislature within one year.

Maddy summaryHB 3666 requires all Texas state agencies to implement a standardized internal auditing program. It mandates that agencies create annual risk-based audit plans and conduct periodic reviews of three key areas: financial systems, operational controls, and information technology systems. The bill defines internal auditing as an independent process to evaluate controls and improve organizational effectiveness, without adding new funding or altering existing audit types. This applies directly to every department, board, or commission in the Texas executive branch.

Maddy summarySB 1059 clarifies that cities with home rule authority cannot ask voters to approve charter amendments that would violate state law. Specifically, it adds a new provision (Section 9.0041) to the Local Government Code stating that a city's governing body may not submit such conflicting amendments to voters. This bill directly affects home-rule municipalities across Texas by restricting their ability to propose charter changes that would contradict existing state statutes. The law does not change current state law but prevents cities from seeking voter approval for amendments that would conflict with it. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025, pending final passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and establish a dedicated fund. It directs the transfer of $3 billion from the state's general revenue fund to this new special fund starting January 1, 2026. The fund will provide grants for research, prevention programs, and treatment development related to dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. The institute will oversee funding for research institutions, medical facilities, and collaborative efforts across Texas, directly benefiting residents affected by these conditions through expanded research and prevention initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 1706 allows state agency boards to hold closed meetings specifically to discuss defense, military, or aerospace matters. It directly affects state governmental bodies (like local boards or commissions) that handle federal defense projects. The bill defines these matters as either establishing military bases/facilities in Texas or offering economic incentives tied to federal defense grants. The law amends Texas Open Meetings rules to permit this exception for those specific issues, without requiring public disclosure during deliberations. This is a procedural change, not a new policy on defense funding or facility location.