Rep. Brian Harrison

Maddy summaryHB 118 requires Texas public universities to report on their compliance with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spending policies before using state funds. Institutions must submit annual reports to the legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, testify about compliance at legislative hearings, and undergo state audits every four years. The bill explicitly permits universities to highlight support for first-generation, low-income, and underserved students in grant applications or accreditation reports without violating the law. It also clarifies that academic instruction, research, student organizations, and admissions practices are exempt from the reporting requirements. This bill directly affects all public universities in Texas that receive state appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 124 repeals the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (specifically provisions added by H.B. 5 in 2023) from Texas law. It removes Subchapter T of Government Code Chapter 403, which previously allowed certain property value limitations for school funding calculations. The bill also amends Education Code sections to eliminate specific methods for calculating "taxable property value" (DPV) used by school districts to determine funding levels. This directly affects Texas school districts and property owners who previously benefited from the repealed tax value limitations.

Maddy summaryHB 133 repeals the Texas Quantum Initiative by removing Subchapter HH from the Government Code, effective September 1, 2025. It redirects all funds previously allocated to this initiative to the Texas Education Agency for the 2025-2027 state fiscal biennium. The redirected funds will be used to reduce the state's compression percentage under Education Code Section 48.255, lowering the state's share of education funding costs. This bill directly affects the Texas Quantum Initiative program and Texas public school funding mechanisms, with no new program creation or policy changes beyond the fund reallocation. The bill takes effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Maddy summaryHB 109 requires that any ballot proposition in Texas proposing a property tax increase must include the statement "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE" in bold, size 42 font. This rule applies only to elections held on or after the bill's effective date, which takes effect immediately if passed by a two-thirds vote or 91 days after the legislative session. The bill does not change how tax increases are proposed but mandates clearer, more prominent language for voters. It directly affects local governments and school districts that place property tax increase measures on ballots.

Maddy summaryHB 107 requires Texas counties and municipalities to use excess tax revenue for property tax relief. It defines "surplus revenue" as funds collected above amounts needed to cover budget growth adjusted for population increases and inflation. Local governments must apply this surplus to directly reduce the property taxes owed by residents in the current fiscal year. The bill establishes specific formulas using the state's consumer price index and population growth rate to calculate the required relief.

Maddy summaryHB 113 would prevent local governments (such as cities or counties) from resubmitting a bond proposal for the same purpose to voters within five years of a previous rejection at a bond election. The bill adds a new rule to Texas law stating that if voters previously rejected a bond for a specific project, the government cannot ask again for that same project within five years. This rule would only apply to bond elections ordered on or after the bill's effective date. The legislation does not change existing bond requirements but limits how often a government can retry a rejected proposal.

Maddy summaryHB 106 creates a joint interim committee to study how to replace revenue lost from abolishing ad valorem taxes (property-based taxes) with local sales and use taxes. The committee, composed of five House members appointed by the Speaker and five Senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, must determine required sales tax rates, assess local governments' authority to impose sales taxes, and address revenue disparities. The bill also repeals tax code provisions allowing ad valorem taxes and prohibits their future imposition. The committee must submit a report by December 1, 2026, and expires January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 111 requires a two-thirds majority vote of all voters in an election to approve general obligation bonds issued by Texas political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts). It changes the existing standard by mandating that at least 66.7% of voters must approve bond issuances, instead of a simple majority. This applies only to bonds authorized on or after the law's effective date. The bill does not affect existing bond authorizations or alter the process for other types of bonds.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to repeal the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and its dedicated fund. It would redirect $3 billion from that fund to the Texas Education Agency to reduce property taxes through lower state compression percentages. If approved by voters in the November 2025 election, the amendment would eliminate dedicated dementia research funding while shifting those resources to property tax relief. The bill does not change existing dementia research programs but redirects existing funding to a different state priority.

Maddy summaryThis Texas bill changes the voter approval requirement for property tax rate increases that exceed a taxing unit's current voter-approved rate. It lowers the threshold from two-thirds to a simple majority of votes cast in the election. The change applies to cities, school districts, and other local taxing units seeking to raise property taxes. Governing bodies can no longer block tax rates approved by a majority of voters based solely on that rate.