Rep. David Cook

Maddy summaryHB 5 allocates $324 million in supplemental funds from Texas' economic stabilization fund for disaster relief and preparedness. It provides $200 million to match federal disaster aid and support state disaster funds, $50 million for flood warning systems and equipment in 27 counties affected by a July 2025 flood declaration, and $24 million to improve weather forecasting and flood management in the Texas Hill Country. An additional $50 million is contingent on passing related legislation about emergency communication systems. The bill directly affects local governments in designated counties and state agencies managing disaster response.

Maddy summaryHB 2 requires justices of the peace in counties without a medical examiner to complete training on managing mass fatality events within one year of election. The training covers autopsy decisions, body identification protocols, missing persons data collection, interagency coordination, and real-time family notifications. Failure to complete this training is defined as "incompetency" for removal under local government law. The bill also allows the Texas Commission on Fire Protection to access criminal history records for license applicants and employees while restricting disclosure of that information. It authorizes fees related to these requirements.

Maddy summaryHJR 25 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Texas to create property tax exemptions for disabled veterans based on their disability rating. It would authorize exemptions ranging from 20% to 100% of a property's assessed value, depending on the veteran's disability rating (e.g., 10-30% rating = 20% exemption). Special provisions include 80% exemptions for veterans over 65 or with specific disabilities (like limb loss or blindness), and exemptions for surviving spouses/children of disabled veterans or those who died on active duty. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election. If passed, it would replace current constitutional language governing these exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 251 clarifies how property tax values are determined during appeals. It defines "value not in dispute" in tax protests or appeals as the taxable value listed on the appraisal roll for the property in the *previous* tax year. This applies to property owners challenging their tax assessments under Texas Tax Code Chapters 41 or 42. The change simplifies the appeals process by establishing a clear standard for undisputed property values, eliminating the need for re-evaluation of that portion.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Texas legislature to cap property tax appraisals for homeowners. It would let lawmakers limit the maximum taxable value of a primary residence (homestead) to 105% of its prior year's appraised value, preventing rapid tax increases after a property sale or new ownership. The cap would apply only during the owner's tenure and expire if the property is sold, though it could continue for surviving spouses. If approved by voters, this amendment would replace current constitutional provisions governing property tax assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 250 increases property tax exemptions for disabled veterans in Texas. It provides tiered exemptions based on disability rating: 20% to 100% of a property's assessed value (capped at $5,000 to $12,000 depending on the rating). Veterans over 65 with a 10%+ disability, those who are totally blind, or those who lost a limb also qualify for an 80% exemption ($12,000 cap). Surviving spouses retain the veteran's exemption amount as long as they remain unmarried, and children under 18 who are unmarried may also receive the exemption if the spouse predeceased the veteran. The bill directly affects disabled veterans, their surviving spouses, and eligible children.

Maddy summaryHB 249, titled "Relating to a limitation on increases in the appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes," aims to restrict how much a property's taxable value can increase annually for local tax assessments. The bill would directly affect property owners by potentially limiting annual tax increases tied to rising property appraisals. However, the full text of the bill is currently unavailable (noted as "coming soon" with only a PDF placeholder), and no specific mechanisms, thresholds, or affected property types are described in the provided context. Without access to the bill's actual provisions, a detailed summary of its policy changes cannot be provided.

Maddy summaryHB 122 eliminates certain state-mandated assessment requirements that exceed federal education law. It removes Texas-specific testing mandates for subjects like social studies (grade 8) and end-of-course exams (e.g., Algebra I, English I, English II) that aren't required by federal law. The bill amends education code to ensure only assessments necessary for federal compliance (like the Every Student Succeeds Act) remain mandatory. This directly affects Texas public schools and students by reducing testing burdens in non-federally required subjects. The key change is aligning state assessment requirements strictly with federal minimums.

Maddy summaryHB 226 requires youth camp operators in Texas to provide each camper with an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag capable of tracking location if a camper goes missing or during severe weather/disasters. The bill directly affects youth camp operators and requires them to obtain written consent from a camper’s parent or legal guardian before issuing a tag. Key provisions include mandating the tags for emergency location tracking, prohibiting their use without parental consent, and directing the health commissioner to adopt implementing rules. The bill does not require ongoing tracking but only activates the tag during specific emergency scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 64 creates a rule that Texas state senators and representatives lose their seats if absent from all legislative proceedings without approved leave for seven consecutive days when their house is in session. This provision directly affects legislators who miss sessions without permission, triggering an immediate vacancy. The bill specifies that the absence must occur during days the house is meeting, not just calendar days. It would take effect immediately if passed with a two-thirds vote, otherwise 91 days after the legislative session ends.