Rep. Sergio Muñoz

Maddy summarySJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly state that non-U.S. citizens cannot vote in Texas. It amends Article VI, Section 1(a) of the Texas Constitution by adding "persons who are not citizens of the United States" as a prohibited voting class. This would clarify existing voting eligibility rules by making citizenship a constitutional requirement, directly affecting non-citizen residents. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 4, 2025, election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 105 amends the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act to create a new "priority project" category requiring applicants to commit to at least $750 million in investment by the end of the first tax year of the incentive period. Priority projects are exempt from standard job and investment requirements but must still generate sufficient tax revenue to offset school district losses from the agreement. The bill also clarifies that projects located in qualified opportunity zones (designated by the U.S. Treasury by 2026) must be situated within those zones to qualify for incentives. These changes streamline incentives for large-scale investments while maintaining fiscal accountability for local school funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2308 establishes the Texas Commission on Border Security and Illegal Immigration as an advisory body composed of 11 members, including legislative leaders, the governor’s designee, and state agency representatives. The commission’s primary duty is to review the economic, legal, cultural, and educational impacts of illegal immigration on Texas and examine state and federal immigration laws. It will conduct this review through quarterly meetings and provide findings to the legislature, though it has no regulatory authority. The bill creates a formal structure for state-level analysis of border-related issues without implementing new enforcement policies. (Bill text: HB 2308, Chapter 330, Texas Government Code)

Maddy summaryHB 4979 changes how certain junior college districts near Texas' international border calculate voter-approval tax rates. It defines "special junior college districts" as those with identical service and taxing boundaries in border counties, and sets their voter-approval tax rate formula to use a 1.035 multiplier (instead of 1.08 for other special taxing units). This results in a lower required tax rate for these districts compared to other special taxing units. The bill directly affects junior college districts meeting the border county criteria.

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 4442 would require Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to offer an elective mindfulness course for all students in middle school, junior high school, and high school. The course must teach specific techniques to enhance focus, manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and build self-awareness and compassion. High school students would be able to count this course toward their elective credit requirements for graduation. The bill would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year, unless it receives a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers, in which case it would take effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 178 requires Texas public school districts to include "ethnic studies, world geography, or world history" as one of the three required social studies credits for high school students, alongside existing mandates for U.S. history, government, and economics. It directly affects all Texas public school students in grades K-12 by modifying the social studies curriculum structure under the foundation high school program. The bill adds ethnic studies as a specific, mandatory option for fulfilling the social studies credit requirement, while maintaining other existing subject requirements. This change applies to all Texas public school districts offering grades K-12.

Maddy summaryHB 1228 allows homeowners to immediately begin emergency repairs on damaged residential buildings if the repairs protect public safety, prevent further damage, or preserve structural integrity. Homeowners must apply for an emergency permit within three business days of starting repairs or when the municipality/county can accept the application. The bill requires cities and counties to permit these immediate repairs and prohibits them from blocking such work. If a local government violates this law, homeowners can sue for damages and recover attorney fees. This directly affects homeowners needing urgent repairs and local governments managing building permits.

Maddy summaryHB 3743 repeals a requirement in the Texas Government Code that mandated state agencies maintain specific management-to-staff ratios. This bill directly affects all state agencies by removing an existing staffing ratio rule. The key mechanism is the deletion of Section 651.004 of the Government Code, which previously governed these ratios. The repeal takes effect on September 1, 2025, unless approved by a two-thirds vote for immediate implementation. This is a procedural change eliminating an existing administrative requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits late payment fees charged by municipal water utilities in Texas. It caps fees at $5 or 2% of the overdue amount before day 32, $5 or 5% between days 32-41, and $5 or 10% after day 41. Utilities cannot begin charging penalties before 21 days after billing a customer, and penalties end when the full amount is paid. The rules apply only to fees charged on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025, unless passed by two-thirds vote).