BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1252
88R6800 MLH-D	By: Bettencourt
	Local Government
	4/10/2023
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The 86th Legislature passed H.B. 3, which included adding "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE" to all school district bond election ballots.� Since the addition of this phrase, and allowing voters to vote on bond proposition categories separately, such as school buildings or football stadiums, the number of bond propositions that pass have declined significantly.� Voters are able to make informed decisions on the amount of school district bond debt they want to approve and for what purpose.

S.B. 1252 will add "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE" language to the ballot if a proposition is submitted to the voters for approval of the imposition or increase of a tax rate for cities, counties, and special purpose districts.

S.B. 1252 seeks to provide voters with additional information regarding the effect on their property tax bills should they approve a tax rate increase or approve bonds.� This bill is intended to provide clear information to voters so they can make an informed decision to approve the ballot measure or not.

As proposed, S.B. 1252 amends current law relating to the text of ballot propositions that increase taxes.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 52.072(e), Election Code, as follows:

 

(e) Requires a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax, in addition to any other requirement imposed by law for a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition language, as applicable, to:

 

(1) with respect to a proposition that only seeks voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax:

 

(A) state, rather than specifically state, the amount of or maximum tax rate of the tax or tax increases for which the approval is sought; and

 

(B) include the statement "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE"; or

 

(2) with respect to a proposition that only seeks voter approval of the reduction of a tax, state, rather than specifically state, the amount of tax rate reduction or the tax rate for which approval is sought.

 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.