89R19842 TYPED
 
  By: Troxclair H.B. No. 103
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of taxing
  unit bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects; providing a civil
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 403.0248 and 403.0249 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 403.0248.  BOND, TAX, AND PROJECT DATABASE. (a) In
  this section, "Taxing unit" has the meaning assigned by Section
  1.04(12), Tax Code.
         (b)  The comptroller shall consult and coordinate with the
  Bond Review Board to develop and maintain a database that includes
  current and historical information regarding taxing unit bonds,
  taxes, and bond-related projects, including:
               (1)  for each bond or other debt obligation issued or
  proposed by a taxing unit:
                     (A)  the language of the ballot proposition if the
  bond or other debt obligation has been or will be approved at an
  election;
                     (B)  the projected interest and sinking fund tax
  rate or projected tax rate for debt service, as applicable,
  associated with a proposed bond;
                     (C)  the result of an election held for the
  purpose of issuing a proposed bond or other debt obligation;
                     (D)  a list of the projects to be funded using the
  bond;
                     (E)  an accounting of the use of the proceeds of
  any issued bond, including descriptions of any projects paid for
  with the proceeds; and
                     (F)  any increase in the interest and sinking fund
  tax rate or tax rate for debt service, as applicable, resulting from
  issued bonds;
               (2)  the results of any election held under Chapter 26,
  Tax Code, including the ad valorem tax rate proposed by the taxing
  unit for purposes of the election and the taxing unit's
  voter-approval tax rate for the tax year of the election;
               (3)  for maintenance taxes that have been levied or
  proposed by a school district:
                     (A)  each school district's proposed or approved
  tax rate; and
                     (B)  the language of the ballot proposition under
  Section 45.003(d), Education Code;
               (4)  a report generation function to allow the
  comptroller to generate reports of the information described by
  Subdivisions (1) through (3) for each taxing unit, disaggregated by
  geographic area; and
               (5)  a function that allows for the proposal of updates
  or corrections to the information included in the database.
         (c)  A taxing unit shall provide the comptroller with the
  information described by Subsections (b)(1) through (3) and any
  other information requested by the comptroller for the purpose of
  maintaining the database established under this section. The
  comptroller may consult with the appropriate officer of, or other
  person representing, each taxing unit to obtain the information
  necessary to operate and update the database.
         (d)  The comptroller may contract with a third party as
  necessary for the development or maintenance of the database under
  this section.
         (e)  The comptroller may not charge a fee to the public to
  access the database.
         (f)  The comptroller may establish procedures and adopt
  rules as necessary to implement this section.
         Sec. 403.0249.  NONCOMPLIANCE; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) If a
  taxing unit has not complied with a requirement to provide
  information under Section 403.0248, the comptroller shall send a
  notice to the taxing unit.  The notice must be in writing, describe
  the information that must be submitted to the comptroller, and
  inform the taxing unit that if the information is not provided on or
  before the 30th day after the date the notice is provided, the
  taxing unit will be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000.
         (b)  If a taxing unit does not report the required
  information as prescribed by Subsection (b), the taxing unit is
  liable to the state for a civil penalty of $1,000.
         (c)  The attorney general may sue to collect a civil penalty
  imposed under this section.
         (d)  It is a defense to an action brought under this section
  that the taxing unit provided the required information or documents
  to the extent the information or documents are not exempt from
  disclosure or confidential under Chapter 552.
         SECTION 2.  The comptroller shall create and post on the
  comptroller's Internet website the database required by Section
  403.0248, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than
  January 1, 2026.
         SECTION 3.  The comptroller is required to implement the
  changes in law made by this Act only if the legislature appropriates
  money specifically for that purpose.  If the legislature does not
  appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the comptroller
  may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other
  appropriations available for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.