SB 2541 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the calculation of the unused increment rate of a taxing unit.

SB 2541 amends Texas property tax code to change how local taxing units (like cities and counties) calculate their "unused increment rate," which affects how they determine property tax revenue limits. The bill updates the calculation formula to include three years of historical revenue data instead of two, using the previous three tax years' "foregone revenue" amounts divided by current property values. This change applies only to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, with prior years governed by the old rules. The bill directly affects local governments' property tax calculations but does not create new taxes or revenue.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action May 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · May 6, 2025
MODERATE
This bill fundamentally restructures how Texas calculates property tax rates, replacing complex formulas involving 'unused increment rates' with a simpler system based on 'foregone revenue.' It changes the calculation methodology for special taxing units and general taxing units, updates definitions for tax year references, and establishes a new effective date for the changes.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of tax rate calculations to include 'foregone revenue' concepts and modifies applicability to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, with transitional provisions for earlier years.
DEFINITION

Replaced 'unused increment rate' definition with 'foregone revenue amount' calculations based on Year 1, Year 2, and optionally Year 3 tax years.

REQUIREMENT

Changed voter-approval tax rate formulas to use expense-based calculations rather than levy-based calculations for special and general taxing units.

Repealed Section 26.013(a)(5) of the Tax Code which contained previous tax rate calculation provisions.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of January 1, 2026, for the Act and January 1, 2027, for unused increment rate calculations.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified homestead exemption references in tax rate calculations to align with updated statutory language.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025

How they voted

246
Passed
Total votes 30
May 6, 2025
D Democratic10
4 Yea 6 Nay
60% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
11
Committee
12
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means
lower
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors