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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required disclosures in ballot proposition language |
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authorizing political subdivisions to issue bonds or impose or |
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change a tax. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (e) and |
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any other requirement imposed by law for a proposition, including a |
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provision prescribing the proposition language, a proposition |
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submitted to the voters for approval of the issuance of bonds or the |
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imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax shall for any political |
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subdivision, including municipalities, counties, school districts, |
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and special taxing districts, specifically state, as applicable: |
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(1) with respect to a proposition seeking voter |
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approval of the issuance of bonds: |
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(A) the total amount of the political |
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subdivision's debt currently outstanding; |
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(B) the total amount of the political |
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subdivision's current debt payments; |
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(C) the amount of taxes required to be imposed on |
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a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead value in the |
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political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, to |
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repay the political subdivision's current debt obligations; and |
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(D) the estimated tax burden that would be |
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imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead |
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value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal |
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district, to repay the bonds to be authorized, if approved; |
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(2) with respect to a proposition that only seeks |
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voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax: |
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(A) the estimated additional tax burden that |
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would be imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median |
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homestead value in the political subdivision, as computed by the |
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appraisal district, after the imposition or increase of the tax, if |
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approved; and |
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(B) a detailed description of the purposes for |
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which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved; or |
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(3) with respect to a proposition that only seeks |
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voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the estimated tax |
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reduction for a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead |
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value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal |
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district, if the reduction of the tax is approved. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a ballot for an election ordered on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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* * * * * |