HB 132 repeals the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, established by HB 14 in the 2025 legislative session. It directs the comptroller to transfer all funds previously allocated to this office to the Texas Education Agency. The funds will be used to reduce the state's compression percentage under the education funding formula, which lowers the amount the state must contribute to public school budgets. This change directly affects state budget allocations for public education by redirecting previously designated funds. The bill does not create new policy but modifies existing financial mechanisms.
HB 181 establishes annual spending limits for Texas cities and counties starting in 2026. It prohibits total expenditures from exceeding either last year's spending or last year's spending multiplied by (1 + the rate calculated by the Legislative Budget Board using the state's inflation and population growth rates). Exceptions allow higher spending if voters approve it via election or during a declared state disaster. The bill excludes bond proceeds and grants from the expenditure calculation. This measure aims to control municipal and county budget growth through a formula-based cap tied to economic indicators.
HB 46 sets a spending cap for Texas counties, cities, school districts, and other local governments authorized to levy property taxes or issue bonds. It limits annual expenditures to either the previous year's total spending or that amount adjusted for population growth and inflation. Local governments must calculate this annual adjustment using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and post it online by January 31. Exceptions allow exceeding the cap if two-thirds of voters approve additional spending in a special election.
This bill establishes spending limits for Texas cities and counties. It requires local governments to keep annual spending within the greater of last year's total spending or last year's spending adjusted for inflation and population growth (calculated by the Legislative Budget Board). Exceptions allow exceeding the limit if voters approve it via election or during a state-declared disaster. The bill directly affects all Texas municipalities and counties by modifying their financial planning requirements.
HJR 11 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit annual spending growth for Texas state and local governments to the average taxpayer's ability to pay. Governments could exceed this limit only with a 3/4 vote in both legislative chambers for a declared emergency, and any over-collected tax revenue must be returned to taxpayers through reduced tax rates. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2025 election to take effect, with no impact if rejected. This directly affects state/local budget decisions and taxpayer refunds, not legislative procedures or non-budgetary matters.
HB 87 prohibits Texas school districts from authorizing new bonds if their existing debt payments (principal and interest) plus the proposed bond would exceed 18% of the district's annual budget. It specifically blocks elections for new bonds when either current debt payments alone surpass 18% of the budget or the combined total of existing and proposed debt would exceed that threshold. The bill applies only to bond elections ordered on or after its effective date (91 days after the legislative session ends), leaving pre-existing election plans governed by current law. This directly affects school districts seeking to issue new bonds for projects like facility construction or improvements.
