Monitoring the Session

HB 2525

Darby Bill Lets Donations Count Toward The 4% Charity Test

Became law, effective Jan 1, 2026

Verdict: Smells

SmellsNeeds review
Rep. Drew DarbyRHouse 72
Why it's charged
The hole

THE TEXT

“donations to an organization that qualifies for an exemption under Subsection (d)(13) or (19).”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The four percent charity test, which used to require care provided to the community's own residents, can now be met partly by giving money to other exempt senior-housing groups. That means the charity requirement does not have to reach a needy resident directly.

The hole

Needs review · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property owned by a charitable organization that is engaged in providing housing and related facilities and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Part of the 4% can go to other exempt senior-housing groups instead of needy residents.

The bill widens a property tax exemption for charitable groups that house and serve people 62 and older. Such a group can now qualify by spending at least four percent of its net resident revenue on newly defined charitable housing and services, instead of only by serving residents regardless of ability to pay or giving four percent as charity care to its own residents. The defined services include donations to other exempt senior-housing groups, and the change applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the House concurred in the Senate amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2525 · 2025-02-06

SOLD BY

+ 1 more author

ITEM

relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property owned by a charitable organization that is engaged in providing housing and related facilities and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age.

WHAT IT DOES

Part of the 4% can go to other exempt senior-housing groups instead of needy residents.

The bill widens a property tax exemption for charitable groups that house and serve people 62 and older. Such a group can now qualify by spending at least four percent of its net resident revenue on newly defined charitable housing and services, instead of only by serving residents regardless of ability to pay or giving four percent as charity care to its own residents. The defined services include donations to other exempt senior-housing groups, and the change applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“donations to an organization that qualifies for an exemption under Subsection (d)(13) or (19).”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The four percent charity test, which used to require care provided to the community's own residents, can now be met partly by giving money to other exempt senior-housing groups. That means the charity requirement does not have to reach a needy resident directly.

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 7, 2025

Passage of the bill would expand eligibility for the exemption for certain charitable organizations to include organizations that provide charitable housing and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age, with some qualifications. As a result, taxable property values could be reduced and the related costs to the Foundation School Fund could be increased through the operation of the school finance formulas.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Ways & Means
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#361
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#409
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Local Government
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Left pending in committee
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Vote taken in committee
  32. Reported favorably as substituted
  33. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  34. Committee report printed and distributed
  35. Placed on intent calendar
  36. Co-sponsor authorized
  37. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  38. Vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  40. Vote recorded in Journal
  41. Three day rule suspended
  42. Record vote
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote
  46. Senate passage as amended reported
  47. Senate Amendments distributed
  48. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  49. House refuses to concur in Senate amendments
  50. House requests conference committee
  51. House appoints conferees
  52. House refuses to concur-reported
  53. House requests conference committee-reported
  54. House appoints conferees-reported
  55. Senate grants request for conference comm.
  56. Senate appoints conferees
  57. Senate grants request for conf comm-reported
  58. Senate appoints conferees-reported
  59. House discharges conferees
  60. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  61. Record vote RV#4090
  62. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  63. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  64. House discharges conferees-reported
  65. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  66. Reported enrolled
  67. Signed in the House
  68. Signed in the Senate
  69. Sent to the Governor
  70. Signed by the Governor
  71. Effective on 1/1/26
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 124 yea · 24 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 7, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 9, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$50,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007659, 101072052.

Gideon Powell$30,000.00
Dustin Burrows Campaign$27,600.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$27,600.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$27,600.00
Total
$27,600.00
polling $27,600.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Aug 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101068080.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007659, 101072052.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$27,600.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$27,600.00
Total
$27,600.00
polling $27,600.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Aug 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101068080.

Votes6

House May 30, 2025

Yea
104
Nay
32
Present, not voting
2
Absent
6
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4090

Representative Darby moved to discharge the conferees and concur in the senate amendments to HB 2525. The motion to discharge the conferees and concur in the senate amendments to HB 2525 prevailed by (Record 4090): 104 Yeas, 32 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 104 (published)
  • Nay: 32 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 2525 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSHB 2525 at this time on its second reading: CSHB 2525, Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property owned by a charitable organization that is engaged in providing housing and related facilities and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age. The motion prevailed. Senator Hancock asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 23, 2025

Yea
124
Nay
24
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 409

HB 2525 was passed by (Record 409): 124 Yeas, 24 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 124 (published)
  • Nay: 24 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 22, 2025

Yea
125
Nay
20
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 361

HB 2525 was passed to engrossment by (Record 361): 125 Yeas, 20 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 125 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses12
For
10
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • Buckner Retirement Services1 registration
  • LeadingAge Texas2 registrations
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Rio Concho Retirement Community1 registration
  • Self; Rio Concho, Inc.1 registration
  • Texans for Reasonable Solutions1 registration
  • Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration
  • Texas chapter US Green Building Council1 registration
  • The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
Sources

12 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 7, 2025

Passage of the bill would expand eligibility for the exemption for certain charitable organizations to include organizations that provide charitable housing and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age, with some qualifications. As a result, taxable property values could be reduced and the related costs to the Foundation School Fund could be increased through the operation of the school finance formulas.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 6, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 1/1/26

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:43 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Ways & Means · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1237 by Paxton (identical)

Subjects

Aging

Charitable & Nonprofit Organizations

Health--Indigent Health Care

Nursing Homes

Taxation--Property-Appraisals & Appraisal Districts

Taxation--Property-Exemptions

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES

Text

The text as introduced · 1,220 words

89R3489 RDS-F

By: Darby
H.B. No. 2525

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain

property owned by a charitable organization that is engaged in

providing housing and related facilities and services to persons

who are at least 62 years of age.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 11.18(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as

follows:

(d) A charitable organization must be organized exclusively

to perform religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or

educational purposes and, except as permitted by Subsections (h)

and (l), engage exclusively in performing one or more of the

following charitable functions:

(1) providing medical care without regard to the

beneficiaries' ability to pay, which in the case of a nonprofit

hospital or hospital system means providing charity care and

community benefits in accordance with Section 11.1801;

(2) providing support or relief to orphans, delinquent

or dependent children in need of residential care, children with

disabilities in need of residential care, abused or battered

spouses or children in need of temporary shelter, the impoverished,

or victims of natural disaster without regard to the beneficiaries'

ability to pay;

(3) providing support without regard to the

beneficiaries' ability to pay to:

(A) elderly persons, including the provision of:

(i) recreational or social activities; and

(ii) facilities designed to address the

special needs of elderly persons; or

(B) persons with disabilities, including

training and employment:

(i) in the production of commodities; or

(ii) in the provision of services under 41

U.S.C. Sections 8501-8506;

(4) preserving a historical landmark or site;

(5) promoting or operating a museum, zoo, library,

theater of the dramatic or performing arts, or symphony orchestra

or choir;

(6) promoting or providing humane treatment of

animals;

(7) acquiring, storing, transporting, selling, or

distributing water for public use;

(8) answering fire alarms and extinguishing fires with

no compensation or only nominal compensation to the members of the

organization;

(9) promoting the athletic development of boys or

girls under the age of 18 years;

(10) preserving or conserving wildlife;

(11) promoting educational development through loans

or scholarships to students;

(12) providing halfway house services pursuant to a

certification as a halfway house by the parole division of the Texas

Department of Criminal Justice;

(13) providing permanent housing and related social,

health care, and educational facilities for persons who are 62

years of age or older :

(A) without regard to the residents' ability to

pay; or

(B) as an organization that provides charitable

housing and services in an amount that is not less than four percent

of the charitable organization's net resident revenue;

(14) promoting or operating an art gallery, museum, or

collection, in a permanent location or on tour, that is open to the

public;

(15) providing for the organized solicitation and

collection for distributions through gifts, grants, and agreements

to nonprofit charitable, education, religious, and youth

organizations that provide direct human, health, and welfare

services;

(16) performing biomedical or scientific research or

biomedical or scientific education for the benefit of the public;

(17) operating a television station that produces or

broadcasts educational, cultural, or other public interest

programming and that receives grants from the Corporation for

Public Broadcasting under 47 U.S.C. Section 396, as amended;

(18) providing housing for low-income and

moderate-income families, for unmarried individuals 62 years of age

or older, for individuals with disabilities, and for families

displaced by urban renewal, through the use of trust assets that are

irrevocably and, pursuant to a contract entered into before

December 31, 1972, contractually dedicated on the sale or

disposition of the housing to a charitable organization that

performs charitable functions described by Subdivision (9);

(19) providing housing and related services to persons

who are 62 years of age or older in a retirement community, if the

retirement community provides independent living services,

assisted living services, and nursing services to its residents on

a single campus:

(A) without regard to the residents' ability to

pay; or

(B) as an organization that provides charitable

housing and services in an amount that is not less than four percent

of the charitable organization's net resident revenue [ in which at

least four percent of the retirement community's combined net

resident revenue is provided in charitable care to its residents ];

(20) providing housing on a cooperative basis to

students of an institution of higher education if:

(A) the organization is exempt from federal

income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of

1986, as amended, by being listed as an exempt entity under Section

501(c)(3) of that code;

(B) membership in the organization is open to all

students enrolled in the institution and is not limited to those

chosen by current members of the organization;

(C) the organization is governed by its members;

and

(D) the members of the organization share the

responsibility for managing the housing;

(21) acquiring, holding, and transferring unimproved

real property under an urban land bank demonstration program

established under Chapter 379C, Local Government Code, as or on

behalf of a land bank;

(22) acquiring, holding, and transferring unimproved

real property under an urban land bank program established under

Chapter 379E, Local Government Code, as or on behalf of a land bank;

(23) providing housing and related services to

individuals who:

(A) are unaccompanied and homeless and have a

disabling condition; and

(B) have been continuously homeless for a year or

more or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the

preceding three years;

(24) operating a radio station that broadcasts

educational, cultural, or other public interest programming,

including classical music, and that in the preceding five years has

received or been selected to receive one or more grants from the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting under 47 U.S.C. Section 396, as

amended;

(25) providing, without regard to the beneficiaries'

ability to pay, tax return preparation services and assistance with

other financial matters; or

(26) providing services related to planning for the

placement of or placing children in foster or adoptive homes or

providing support or relief to women who are or may be pregnant and

who are considering placing their unborn children for adoption.

SECTION 2. Section 11.18(k), Tax Code, is amended by adding

Subdivision (1-a) and amending Subdivision (2) to read as follows:

(1-a) "Charitable housing and services" means the

following provided by a charitable organization to a person 62

years of age or older in financial need:

(A) housing, including as an independent living

facility, assisted living facility, or nursing facility; and

(B) any service designed to meet the unique needs

of a person 62 years of age or older, including:

(i) ministerial services;

(ii) government-sponsored indigent health

care;

(iii) social services;

(iv) health services;

(v) educational services; and

(vi) donations to an organization that

qualifies for an exemption under Subsection (d)(13) or (19).

(2) "Charity care," "government-sponsored indigent

health care," and "net resident revenue" are determined in the same

manner for a retirement community or nursing home as "charity

care," "government-sponsored indigent health care," and "net

patient revenue," respectively, are determined for a hospital under

Section 11.1801(a)(2).

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an ad valorem tax year that begins on or after the effective date of

this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.