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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an election authorizing the issuance of bonds or an |
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increase in taxes by a political subdivision. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 2, Election Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2. VOTE REQUIRED FOR ELECTION [TO OFFICE] |
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SECTION 2. Section Chapter 2, Election Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. SUPERMAJORITY REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN ELECTIONS |
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Sec. 2.101. POLITICAL SUBDIVISION BOND OR TAX ELECTION. |
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Notwithstanding any other law, an election held by a political |
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subdivision to authorize the issuance of bonds or to increase taxes |
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does not authorize the issuance of the bonds or the increase in |
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taxes unless at least two-thirds of the voters voting in the |
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election vote in favor of authorizing the issuance of bonds. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Election Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 41.0051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 41.0051. ELECTION TO ISSUE BONDS OR INCREASE TAXES. |
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(a) Notwithstanding any other law, an election required for the |
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issuance of bonds or to increase taxes by a political subdivision |
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shall be held on the November uniform election date. |
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(b) This section does not apply to an election under Section |
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26.07 or 26.08, Tax Code. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1251.001, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1251.001. BOND ELECTION REQUIRED. (a) A political |
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subdivision [county or municipality] may not issue bonds [that are |
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to be paid from ad valorem taxes] unless the issuance is first |
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approved by the qualified voters of the political subdivision |
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[county or municipality] in an election. |
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(b) To the extent of a conflict between this section and |
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another law, this section controls. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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bond elections or tax increase elections ordered on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A bond election or tax increase |
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election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect when the bond election was ordered, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |