Rep. Charlie Geren

Maddy summaryHB 4744 requires appraisal district boards to create a written plan every two years for reappraising all property within their district, following state appraisal standards. The board must hold a public hearing on the plan, notify local taxing units (like cities and school districts) at least 10 days in advance, and finalize the plan by September 15 of even-numbered years. Approved plans must then be shared with all participating taxing units and the state comptroller within 60 days. This bill directly affects appraisal districts across Texas, which are responsible for property valuation for tax purposes in areas with multiple local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 4742 allows Texas school districts to request property reappraisals from their local appraisal districts. If an appraisal district hasn't reappraised property in a tax year, a school district can adopt a resolution requiring the appraisal office to complete a reappraisal within 30 days of the request. The school district must pay the appraisal district for the cost of the reappraisal, and the appraisal office must provide sufficient personnel to meet the deadline. This bill directly affects school districts and appraisal districts by establishing a formal process for property value reassessment in tax years without existing reappraisals. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5573 strengthens whistleblower protections for Texas public employees by prohibiting state and local governments from retaliating against workers who report wasteful spending or fraud to law enforcement. The bill directly affects public employees in state or local government who report violations of law or fiscal misconduct. It amends the Government Code to explicitly ban adverse actions like termination or punishment for such good-faith reports. The law takes effect immediately if approved by a two-thirds vote, otherwise on September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 929) is a formal expression of appreciation from the Texas House of Representatives for the American Warrior Association (AWA). It recognizes AWA's work through its "R3 Program," which addresses moral injury among military personnel, veterans, and first responders by offering training, non-clinical resources, and culturally competent counseling to reduce stigma. The resolution does not create new laws or provide funding - it solely honors AWA's contributions to supporting these groups' mental resilience and community relations. It was adopted by the Texas House on May 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3695 limits copayments for physical therapy visits under certain health plans. It prohibits health maintenance organizations and preferred provider plans from charging enrollees a higher copayment for a physical therapist visit (without a referral) than for a primary care physician visit. The law applies to plans delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect September 1, 2025. This directly affects Texas enrollees who use physical therapy services without needing a physician referral.

Maddy summaryHJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit Texas from imposing state taxes on property transferred after someone's death, including estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. It specifically prevents new taxes on these transfers or increases to existing taxes that were in place before January 1, 2025. Exceptions include taxes on motor vehicle gifts, certain property taxes (ad valorem), and taxes already authorized under existing law. This amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election and would affect anyone transferring property through wills, inheritances, or gifts after the amendment takes effect.

Maddy summaryHB 3552 strengthens criminal penalties for theft, damage, or unlawful possession of copper or brass near critical infrastructure facilities, such as power plants, water treatment centers, pipelines, and dams. It creates new offenses for stealing these materials from such sites and increases penalties for damaging infrastructure or interrupting operations. The bill also requires metal recycling businesses to verify the legitimacy of copper/brass sales and imposes administrative fines for non-compliance. This directly affects thieves targeting infrastructure, recycling entities handling these materials, and property owners of critical facilities. The law aims to deter theft by making it a more serious crime and adding accountability for recyclers.

Maddy summaryHB 2786 changes how Texas property taxes are calculated by requiring appraisal districts to update property values every two years instead of annually. It limits annual increases to 10% for primary residences (homesteads) and 20% for other property, capping growth at either the previous year's value plus a percentage or the most recent market value. This directly affects homeowners and property owners by preventing sudden large tax hikes during reappraisal cycles. The bill, which passed in May 2025, aims to provide more stability in property tax assessments while maintaining appraisal district requirements.

Maddy summaryHR 1137 is a procedural resolution granting permission to use the Texas House of Representatives chamber for a specific memorial service. It authorizes opening the House floor on Saturday, May 24, 2025, for the Fallen Heroes Memorial Service, as permitted under House Rules. This resolution does not change any laws or policies - it only provides venue access for this one-time event. The bill directly affects the organizers of the memorial service, allowing them to hold the event in the House chamber.

Maddy summaryHB 5263 requires Texas education agencies to make student state assessment results accessible to parents through a simplified online process. Specifically, it mandates that parents can access their child's test results with no more than one click from the agency's website, using secure, student-specific identifiers controlled solely by the parent or guardian without needing third-party verification. The bill directly affects parents of students taking state-mandated assessments under Section 39.023 of the Education Code. It takes effect September 1, 2025, aiming to streamline access to assessment data while maintaining security protocols.