Sen. Charles Perry

Maddy summarySB 1377 creates a grant program to provide financial assistance to rural counties in Texas with populations of 68,750 or less. Qualified ambulance service providers in these counties can receive grants up to $500,000 (for counties under 10,000 people) or $350,000 (for counties between 10,000 and 68,750 people) to purchase ambulances. Counties must use the funds exclusively for ambulance purchases within five years and cannot reduce ambulance service budgets with this money. The comptroller administers the program, prioritizing counties farther from trauma centers and those with limited ability to fund ambulance services independently.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals to submit proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote. Applicants must provide a copy of specific documents, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate, with their voter registration application. If initial proof is not provided, voter registrars must attempt to verify citizenship using various databases. If citizenship cannot be verified or proof is not ultimately provided, the applicant will only be eligible to vote a limited federal ballot. The bill also creates a state jail felony offense for registrars who knowingly fail to reject applications that do not meet these new requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1172 exempts specific real estate transactions involving natural resources from requiring a Texas Real Estate Commission license. It directly affects property owners, energy developers, and businesses dealing with mineral rights, water rights, standing timber, or energy sources like solar and wind. The bill adds definitions for "mineral" and "other energy source" and creates a new exemption (subsection 9) in the Occupations Code, removing licensing requirements for sales, leases, or transfers of these resource interests. This change applies to transactions such as selling oil/gas rights, solar installations, or timber, streamlining processes for these specific property dealings.

Maddy summarySB 464 prohibits retail stores selling cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, or tobacco products from operating within 1,000 feet of any public or private primary or secondary school. This law directly affects retailers near schools, creating a Class A misdemeanor offense for violations. The bill defines "vaping apparatus" broadly to include devices, their components, and related liquids, regardless of nicotine content. It explicitly states local governments may still enforce stricter rules, but this state law sets the baseline requirement.

Maddy summarySB 266 updates Texas tax collection procedures by requiring taxpayers to provide contemporaneous records (such as invoices, contracts, or electronic documents) to support claims about tax, penalty, or interest amounts in disputes. It creates a new process for taxpayers to bypass the standard review of "managed audits" (a type of audit) and go directly to court by filing a notice within 60 days of receiving audit results, detailing specific disputed facts and legal grounds. The bill also specifies that penalties for disputed amounts are waived during court proceedings, but if a final court judgment isn’t paid within 20 days, a 10% penalty applies to the unpaid amount.

Maddy summarySB 1855 requires developers to attach a certification to land subdivision plans (plats) for properties relying on groundwater beneath the land. This certification must be prepared by a licensed Texas engineer or geoscientist and confirm adequate groundwater availability, following rules set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Municipalities and county commissioners courts must disapprove any plat lacking this certification. The bill directly affects subdivision developers, local governments reviewing land divisions, and the TCEQ, which establishes the standards for acceptable groundwater evidence.

Maddy summaryHB 2542 establishes a work group to study and recommend improvements for specialized services supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Texas. The work group, to be formed by October 1, 2025, includes representatives from state agencies like Health and Human Services, Education, and Criminal Justice, plus disability advocates, family members, service providers, and Medicaid organizations. It will specifically examine services for people with high behavioral needs or mental health conditions alongside intellectual/developmental disabilities. The bill focuses on gathering input to inform policy recommendations, without mandating specific funding or program changes. This is a procedural study bill with no direct legislative action beyond creating the review process.

Maddy summarySJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Texas school district property tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Currently, the exemption for these residents is $10,000; this bill would raise it to $60,000 of a home's market value. The amendment would allow the legislature to adjust this exemption amount, with provisions ensuring eligible individuals (65+ or disabled) cannot receive both the basic exemption and this enhanced benefit. It directly affects Texas homeowners aged 65 or older or with disabilities who own their primary residence. The bill requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for school district property taxes in Texas from $100,000 to $140,000. This change would directly reduce the taxable value of a primary residence for school taxes, lowering property tax bills for homeowners. The amendment requires voter approval in a November 2025 election to take effect for the 2025 tax year. If passed, it would provide an additional $40,000 in tax relief on primary homes for school funding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 990 amends Texas law to impose enhanced penalties for specific murder cases. It targets offenders who commit murder under nine defined aggravating circumstances, including killing police/firefighters on duty, murdering during other serious crimes (like burglary or robbery), hiring hitmen, killing children under 15, or killing someone in retaliation for their judicial role. The bill does not change general murder penalties but increases punishment severity for these specific scenarios. It directly affects individuals convicted of murder meeting any of these listed conditions. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date.