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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required disclosures in and to the length of ballot |
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proposition language authorizing political subdivisions to issue |
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bonds or impose or 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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amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection (f) to read as |
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follows: |
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(e) In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for |
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a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition |
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language, a proposition in an election of a political subdivision, |
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including a city, county, school district, or special taxing |
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district, submitted to the voters for approval of [the issuance of
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bonds or] the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax shall |
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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 principal amount of the bonds to
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be authorized, if approved; and
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[(B)
a general description of the purposes for
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which the bonds are 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 amount of or maximum tax rate of the |
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tax or tax increase for which approval is sought; |
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(B) 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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(C) 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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(2) [(3)] with respect to a proposition that only |
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seeks voter approval of the reduction of a tax: |
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(A) [,] the amount of tax rate reduction or the |
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tax rate for which approval is sought; and |
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(B) the estimated tax reduction for a homestead |
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with a value equal to the median homestead value in the political |
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subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, if the |
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reduction of the tax is approved. |
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(f) A proposition to which Subsection (e) applies or for |
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approval of the issuance of bonds may not exceed: |
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(1) 5,000 characters; or |
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(2) a different limit prescribed by the secretary of |
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state that ensures that the length of the proposition does not |
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exceed one page of the ballot or one screen on an electronic voting |
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machine. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by |
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designating Sections 1251.001, 1251.002, 1251.003, 1251.004, |
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1251.005, and 1251.006 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter |
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heading to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A. PROVISIONS RELATING GENERALLY TO BOND ELECTIONS |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter B to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. BALLOT PROPOSITION FOR BONDS ISSUED BY POLITICAL |
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SUBDIVISION |
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Sec. 1251.051. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies to |
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bonds issued by any political subdivision, including a |
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municipality, county, school district, or special taxing district. |
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Sec. 1251.052. FORM. A proposition seeking voter approval |
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of the issuance of bonds shall specifically state: |
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(1) a general description of the purposes for which |
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the bonds are to be authorized; |
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(2) the total principal amount of the bonds; |
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(3) the total amount of the political subdivision's |
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debt secured by ad valorem taxes currently outstanding; |
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(4) the total amount of the political subdivision's |
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current payments on debt secured by ad valorem taxes; |
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(5) the amount of taxes required to be imposed on a |
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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 secured |
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by ad valorem taxes; and |
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(6) the estimated tax burden that would be imposed on a |
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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 bonds to be authorized, if approved. |
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SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |