HB 89 prevents local governments (like cities or counties) from asking voters to approve the same or very similar bond proposal for a specific project within two years after voters previously rejected it. The bill adds a rule to Texas law stating that if voters turned down a bond vote for a particular purpose in the past two years, the government cannot resubmit that identical or nearly identical proposal. This applies only to bond elections ordered on or after the bill's effective date. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences.)
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to raise the voter approval threshold for school district bond elections in Texas from a simple majority (50%+1) to three-fifths (60%) of voters. It directly affects Texas school districts seeking to issue bonds for building construction or equipment, requiring broader voter support for such bond measures. The amendment would change the Texas Constitution's Article VII, Section 3(e-1), specifically for bond-related ad valorem taxes. The amendment must be approved by voters in a statewide election on May 2, 2026, to take effect.
HB 111 requires a two-thirds majority vote of all voters in an election to approve general obligation bonds issued by Texas political subdivisions (like cities, counties, or school districts). It changes the existing standard by mandating that at least 66.7% of voters must approve bond issuances, instead of a simple majority. This applies only to bonds authorized on or after the law's effective date. The bill does not affect existing bond authorizations or alter the process for other types of bonds.
HB 114 prohibits school districts and charter districts from having their bonds guaranteed or underwritten using money from the permanent school fund. It directly affects public school districts and charter districts by banning this specific financial mechanism for new bonds approved after September 1, 2025. Existing bonds approved before that date remain guaranteed until maturity under a grandfather clause. The bill amends the Education Code to remove language allowing such guarantees and makes technical updates to related charter school funding provisions.
HB 113 would prevent local governments (such as cities or counties) from resubmitting a bond proposal for the same purpose to voters within five years of a previous rejection at a bond election. The bill adds a new rule to Texas law stating that if voters previously rejected a bond for a specific project, the government cannot ask again for that same project within five years. This rule would only apply to bond elections ordered on or after the bill's effective date. The legislation does not change existing bond requirements but limits how often a government can retry a rejected proposal.
HB 157 allows local governments within regional transportation authorities to use up to 25% of their annual sales tax revenue for local mobility projects. It directly affects cities or counties in these authorities by enabling them to fund sidewalks, trails, streetlights, traffic signals, and drainage improvements on local roads. The bill requires annual project lists and splits funding between 50% upfront and 50% reimbursement before year-end. Unused funds must pay down existing debt secured by a 1% sales tax, but the primary change is expanding local control over transportation investments.
This bill allows local governments within regional transportation authorities to use up to 25% of their annual sales tax revenue for local mobility projects. It directly affects cities and counties that are part of these regional authorities, enabling them to fund sidewalks, trails, streetlights, traffic signals, and drainage improvements. Funds must be distributed with 50% provided at the start of the fiscal year and 50% reimbursed later, with unused funds required to pay down debt secured by a 1% sales tax. The bill creates a formal process for local units to allocate transportation funds while maintaining regional oversight.
HB 49 restricts how local governments in Texas can use property tax revenue from specific elections. It prohibits cities, counties, and local government corporations from using increased maintenance and operations tax revenue (derived from certain property tax elections) to repay public securities like bonds. The bill amends both the Tax Code and Government Code to explicitly ban dedicating or pledging this property tax revenue for debt payments. This applies only to public securities issued after the bill's effective date.
HB 220 requires local taxing units (like cities, counties, or school districts) to obtain higher approval thresholds for certain tax and bond decisions. Specifically, it mandates that governing bodies must secure at least 60% approval to issue general obligation bonds and 80% approval to set property tax rates exceeding previously voter-approved levels. The bill applies only to tax years beginning after the law takes effect (about 90 days after the legislative session ends). This changes existing procedures by raising the bar for local governments to increase taxes or borrow funds without direct voter approval.
HB 140 would limit local governments' ability to issue new debt by capping annual property tax-based debt payments at 10% of the average property tax revenue from the previous three fiscal years. It directly affects cities, counties, and school districts that issue bonds or public securities, preventing them from authorizing new debt if payments exceed this 10% threshold. The bill establishes this statewide cap, overriding local charters or other provisions that might allow higher debt levels. The law would take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.
