Rep. Angie Button

Maddy summarySB 2420 requires app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play) operating in Texas to verify users' ages using reasonable methods and assign them to specific categories: child (<13), younger teenager (13-15), older teenager (16-17), or adult (18+). It mandates parental consent for minors' accounts and defines key terms like "personal data" and "mobile device." The law directly affects app store operators serving Texas residents, with requirements taking effect January 1, 2026. This bill creates the "App Store Accountability Act" within Texas law to regulate age-based access to mobile applications.

Maddy summaryHB 112 creates a legal framework for establishing science park districts in Texas counties with populations of 800,000 or more, or adjacent to such counties. It requires property owners to petition the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to form a district, which would be governed by a board and overseen by the Texas Science Park Commission. The bill aims to support technology companies, scientific research, workforce development, and infrastructure through collaboration between universities, industry, and government. Districts must operate without acting as agents for private interests, focusing on public benefits like strengthening domestic supply chains and innovation ecosystems.

Maddy summarySB 2322 amends Texas law to clarify the specific findings the comptroller of public accounts must make before recommending approval of tax limitation applications under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. It requires the comptroller to confirm: (1) the project is eligible, (2) it will generate sufficient state/local tax revenue to offset school district losses, (3) the agreement is a "compelling factor" for the project's location in Texas (meaning the company would not invest here without it), and (4) projects in qualified opportunity zones are actually located there. This directly affects school districts that may lose ad valorem tax revenue if projects receive approved tax limitations. The bill establishes clear, measurable criteria for the comptroller to apply, ensuring tax abatements are justified by economic benefits to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 4582 proposes a reimbursement program for developers who build infrastructure (like roads, water, and sewer systems) for qualifying "attainable housing developments" in specific Texas counties and municipalities. It applies only to developments meeting strict criteria: at least 7 acres with 50+ single-family homes (each 1,000+ sq ft), connected to public utilities, governed by property owner agreements, and offering units to veterans/military, first responders, or school employees. Developers must prove the infrastructure would have been built by the municipality/county otherwise, and comply with federal tenant protections. This bill, currently pending in committee, aims to reduce developer costs for housing projects in targeted high-population areas.

Maddy summarySB 1612 exempts certain construction funds from trust account requirements. It specifically removes the trust fund status for money reserved under Section 53.101 when used for building or repairing single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, or quadruplexes (up to four units) for residential use. This change directly affects residential contractors and homeowners by simplifying financial handling for smaller housing projects. The bill applies only to contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, and adds provisions for attorney fees if beneficiaries win trust fund disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 517 prohibits property owners' associations from fining homeowners for discolored or brown grass/turf during official residential water restrictions. It specifically applies when a municipality or water supplier mandates drought-related watering limits, and the fine ban lasts through the restriction period plus 60 days after it ends. The law directly affects homeowners in communities with property associations and prevents associations from enforcing landscaping fines during water shortages. This policy change takes effect September 1, 2025, and is limited to mandatory drought restrictions, not voluntary conservation efforts.

Maddy summarySB 1228 extends the lifespan of the Task Force on Consolidation of Workforce and Social Services by delaying its expiration from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2027. The bill also modifies the task force's reporting requirements, mandating an annual report to the legislature by December 31 of each even-numbered year. The report must detail the task force's activities, its consolidation plan for workforce and social services, and its findings and recommendations. This procedural bill directly affects the task force and the legislature, with no new policy changes beyond extending the current process.

Maddy summarySB 5 creates the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to accelerate research on dementia causes, prevention, and treatment. The institute will award grants to Texas universities, medical facilities, and research groups to expand dementia-related studies and create jobs. It establishes three committees to oversee funding and research priorities, with the program set to expire on September 1, 2035, unless renewed under Texas law. The bill directly affects Texas research institutions receiving grants and aims to improve dementia health outcomes for state residents. This legislation became law after being signed by the Governor on May 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2000, titled "Audrii's Law," amends Texas law to require sex offender registration for individuals convicted of certain child grooming offenses. Specifically, it adds Section 43.021 (Solicitation of Prostitution) of the Penal Code to the list of offenses triggering registration, but only when the offense is punishable as a second-degree felony. This change directly affects people convicted of soliciting minors for sexual purposes under this specific statute. The law expands existing registration requirements to cover these grooming-related acts, aligning them with other serious sexual offenses. It became effective September 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on May 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 22 exempts intangible personal property (such as stocks, bonds, and intellectual property) from Texas property taxes. It removes previous exceptions that required certain intangible assets to be taxed, making all such property fully exempt under the Tax Code. This change directly affects owners of intangible assets and counties that previously collected taxes on these items. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying only to tax years beginning after that date.