By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 1041
 
  (Flynn)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to required disclosures in and to the length of ballot
  proposition language authorizing political subdivisions to issue
  bonds or impose or change a tax.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (f) and (f-1) to read as follows:
         (f)  In addition to the requirements of Subsection (e) and
  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 for any political
  subdivision, including municipalities, counties, school districts,
  and special taxing districts, specifically state, as applicable:
               (1)  with respect to a proposition seeking voter
  approval of the issuance of bonds:
                     (A)  the total amount of the political
  subdivision's debt secured by ad valorem taxes currently
  outstanding;
                     (B)  the total amount of the political
  subdivision's current payments on debt secured by ad valorem taxes;
                     (C)  the amount of taxes required to be imposed on
  a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead value in the
  political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, to
  repay the political subdivision's current debt obligations secured
  by ad valorem taxes; and
                     (D)  the estimated tax burden that would be
  imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead
  value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal
  district, to repay the bonds to be authorized, if approved; 
               (2)  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax: 
                     (A)  the estimated additional tax burden that
  would be imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median
  homestead value in the political subdivision, as computed by the
  appraisal district, after the imposition or increase of the tax, if
  approved; and 
                     (B)  a detailed description of the purposes for
  which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved; or
               (3)  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the estimated tax
  reduction for a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead
  value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal
  district, if the reduction of the tax is approved.
         (f-1)  A proposition to which Subsection (e) applies may not
  exceed:
               (1)  5,000 characters; or
               (2)  a different limit prescribed by the secretary of
  state that ensures that the length of the proposition does not
  exceed one page of the ballot or one screen on an electronic voting
  machine.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a ballot for 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, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.