By: Sanford H.B. No. 2962
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to ballot language for a proposition to approve the
  issuance of bonds by a county.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 52.072(e), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for
  a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition
  language, a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the
  issuance of bonds or the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax
  shall specifically state, as applicable:
               (1)  with respect to a proposition seeking voter
  approval of the issuance of bonds:
                     (A)  the total principal amount of the bonds to be
  authorized, if approved; [and]
                     (B)  a general description of the purposes for
  which the bonds are to be authorized, if approved; and
                     (C)  if the issuer is a county:
                           (i)  the most recent rating, if any, given by
  Standard and Poor's or another industry-recognized bond rating
  service to bonds issued by the county; and
                           (ii)  a plain-language description of the
  applicable bond rating system, if a bond rating is required to be
  stated under Subparagraph (i);
               (2)  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax, the amount of
  or maximum tax rate of the tax or tax increase for which approval is
  sought; or
               (3)  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the amount of tax rate
  reduction or the tax rate for which approval is sought.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.  
 
  An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.