89S10732 CJC-D     By: Meyer H.B. No. 17       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the requirements regarding notice of certain property   tax-related information to be provided by taxing units and   appraisal districts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 44.004, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (b), (e), (g-1), (i), and (j) and adding   Subsection (c-3) to read as follows:          (b)  The president shall mail [provide for the publication   of] notice of the budget and proposed tax rate meeting to each   property owner in the district and may also publish the notice in a   daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper published in the district. If   no daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper is published in the   district, the president may publish the [shall provide for the   publication of] notice in a [at least one] newspaper of general   circulation in the county in which the district's central   administrative office is located. Notice under this subsection   shall be provided [published] not earlier than the 30th day or later   than the 10th day before the date of the hearing.          (c-3)  In this subsection, "adjusted tax collections,"   "inflation rate," and "population growth rate" have the meanings   assigned by Section 26.0621, Tax Code. In addition to the   information required by Subsection (c) of this section, the notice   required by that subsection must include the following statement:          "In the (preceding tax year) tax year, the population of   (name of school district) changed by (population growth rate for   school district expressed as a percentage) percent. Inflation in   the state was (inflation rate expressed as a percentage) percent.   If (name of school district) adjusted the amount of property tax   revenue it collected in the (preceding tax year) tax year only to   account for population change adjusted by inflation, (name of   school district) would collect (adjusted tax collections for school   district) in the (current tax year) tax year. If (name of school   district) adopts the proposed tax rate, (name of school district)   will collect (estimated dollar amount of property tax revenue to be   collected in the current tax year)."          (e)  A person who owns taxable property in a school district   is entitled to an injunction restraining the collection of taxes by   the district if the district has not complied with the requirements   of Subsections (b), (c), (c-1), (c-2), (c-3), and (d), and, if   applicable, Subsection (i), and the failure to comply was not in   good faith. An action to enjoin the collection of taxes must be   filed before the date the district delivers substantially all of   its tax bills.          (g-1)  If the rate calculated under Subsection   (c)(5)(A)(ii)(b) decreases after the publication of the notice   required by this section, the president is not required to provide   [publish] another notice or call another meeting to discuss and   adopt the budget and the proposed lower tax rate.          (i)  A school district that uses a certified estimate, as   authorized by Subsection (h), may adopt a budget at the public   meeting designated in the notice prepared using the estimate, but   the district may not adopt a tax rate before the district receives   the certified appraisal roll for the district required by Section   26.01(a), Tax Code. After receipt of the certified appraisal roll,   the district must provide [publish] a revised notice and hold   another public meeting before the district may adopt a tax rate that   exceeds:                (1)  the rate proposed in the notice prepared using the   estimate; or                (2)  the district's voter-approval rate determined   under Section 26.08, Tax Code, using the certified appraisal roll.          (j)  Notwithstanding Subsections (g), (h), and (i), a school   district may adopt a budget after the district adopts a tax rate for   the tax year in which the fiscal year covered by the budget begins   if the district elects to adopt a tax rate before receiving the   certified appraisal roll for the district as provided by Section   26.05(g), Tax Code. If a school district elects to adopt a tax rate   before adopting a budget, the district must provide [publish]   notice and hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing the proposed   tax rate as provided by this section. Following adoption of the tax   rate, the district must provide [publish] notice and hold another   public meeting before the district may adopt a budget. The   comptroller shall prescribe the language and format to be used in   the notices. The school district may use the certified estimate of   taxable value in preparing a notice under this subsection.          SECTION 2.  Section 44.004(c), Education Code, as amended by   S.B. 1453, Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, and   effective January 1, 2026, is amended to read as follows:          (c)  The notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt the   budget and the proposed tax rate may not be smaller than one-quarter   page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the   headline on the notice must be in 18-point or larger type. Subject   to Subsection (d), the notice must:                (1)  contain a statement in the following form:   "NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE          "The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at   (time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location,   city, state). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school   district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be   adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." The   statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type. In   reduced type, the notice must state: "The tax rate that is   ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a   later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the   district provides [publishes] a revised notice containing the same   information and comparisons set out below and holds another public   meeting to discuss the revised notice." In addition, in reduced   type, the notice must state: "Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find   a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily   access information regarding your property taxes, including   information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings   of each entity that taxes your property.";                (2)  contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed   Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference,   expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the   amounts budgeted for the preceding fiscal year and the amount   budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for   each of the following:                      (A)  maintenance and operations;                      (B)  debt service; and                      (C)  total expenditures;                (3)  contain a section entitled "Total Appraised Value   and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value   and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised   value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the   district in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as   calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code;                (4)  contain a statement of the total amount of the   outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the school district;                (5)  contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed   Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must:                      (A)  show in rows the tax rates described by   Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of   property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations,"   "Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of   "Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund":                            (i)  the school district's "Last Year's   Rate";                            (ii)  the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of   Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which:                                  (a)  in the case of "Maintenance &   Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current   taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser   under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes   made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared,   would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to   be distributed to the district under Chapter 48, would provide the   same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds   distributed under Chapter 48 per student in average daily   attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the   district in the preceding school year; and                                  (b)  in the case of "Interest & Sinking   Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable   value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under   Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by   the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when   multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would   impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be   distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes   collected to service the district's debt during the preceding tax   year but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide   the minimum dollar amount required to be paid to service the   district's debt; and                            (iii)  the "Proposed Rate";                      (B)  contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with   the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row   required by Paragraph (A):                            (i)  the "Local Revenue per Student," which   is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of   property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable   school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to   reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the   notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product   by the number of students in average daily attendance in the   district for the applicable school year; and                            (ii)  the "State Revenue per Student," which   is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be   received by the district under Chapters 43, 46, and 48 and dividing   that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in   the district for the applicable school year; and                      (C)  contain an asterisk after each calculation   for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in   reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is   used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or   both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds, were   approved by the voters of this district.";                (6)  contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed   Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must:                      (A)  show in rows the information described by   Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns   entitled "Last Year" and "This Year":                            (i)  "Average Market Value of Residences,"   determined using the same group of residences for each year;                            (ii)  "Average Taxable Value of Residences,"   determined after taking into account the limitation on the   appraised value of residences under Section 23.23, Tax Code, and   after subtracting all homestead exemptions applicable in each year,   other than exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons   65 years of age or older or their surviving spouses, and using the   same group of residences for each year;                            (iii)  "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed   Rate per $100 Value"; and                            (iv)  "Taxes Due on Average Residence,"   determined using the same group of residences for each year; and                      (B)  contain the following information: "Increase   (Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents, which is   computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for   the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for   the current tax year;                (7)  contain the following statement in bold print:   "Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the   residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving   spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age   or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount   paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of   changes in tax rate or property value.";                (8)  contain the following statement in bold print:   "Notice of Voter-Approval Rate: The highest tax rate the district   can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is (the   school district voter-approval rate determined under Section   26.08, Tax Code). This election will be automatically held if the   district adopts a rate in excess of the voter-approval rate of (the   school district voter-approval rate)."; and                (9)  contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which   must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund   balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or   general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal   year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt   obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the   district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 48 in   the succeeding school year.          SECTION 3.  Section 44.0041(a), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  Concurrently with the provision [publication] of notice   of the budget under Section 44.004, a school district shall post a   summary of the proposed budget:                (1)  on the school district's Internet website; or                (2)  if the district has no Internet website, in the   district's central administrative office.          SECTION 4.  Sections 26.06(b-4) and (c), Tax Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (b-4)  In addition to including the information described by   Subsection (b-1), (b-2), or (b-3), as applicable, the notice must   include the information described by Sections [Section] 26.062 and   26.0621.          (c)  A taxing unit shall mail the [The] notice of a public   hearing required under this section [may be delivered by mail] to   each property owner in the taxing unit, and [or] may also publish   the notice [be published] in a newspaper.  If the notice is   published in a newspaper, it may not be in the part of the paper in   which legal notices and classified advertisements appear.  The [If   the taxing unit publishes the notice in a newspaper, the] taxing   unit must also post the notice prominently on the home page of the   Internet website of the taxing unit from the date the notice is   first provided [published] until the public hearing is concluded.          SECTION 5.  Section 26.061(c), Tax Code, is amended to read   as follows:          (c)  In addition to including the information described by   Subsection (b), the notice must include the information described   by Sections [Section] 26.062 and 26.0621.          SECTION 6.  The heading to Section 26.062, Tax Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 26.062.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING TAXES   IMPOSED ON PROPERTIES TO BE INCLUDED IN TAX RATE NOTICE.          SECTION 7.  Chapter 26, Tax Code, is amended by adding   Section 26.0621 to read as follows:          Sec. 26.0621.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING TAX   COLLECTIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN TAX RATE NOTICE. (a) In this   section:                (1)  "Adjusted collection rate" for a taxing unit means   the rate computed by subtracting one from the product of:                      (A)  the sum of one and the population growth   rate; and                      (B)  the sum of one and the inflation rate.                (2)  "Adjusted tax collections" for a taxing unit means   an amount equal to the product of:                      (A)  the amount of property tax revenue collected   by the taxing unit in the preceding tax year; and                      (B)  the sum of one and the adjusted collection   rate for the taxing unit.                (3)  "Consumer price index" means the average over a   calendar year of the index that the comptroller considers to most   accurately report changes in the purchasing power of the dollar for   consumers in this state.                (4)  "Inflation rate" means the amount, expressed in   decimal form rounded to the nearest thousandth, computed by   determining the percentage change in the consumer price index for   the preceding calendar year as compared to the consumer price index   for the calendar year preceding that calendar year.                (5)  "Population growth rate" means the rate of growth   of a taxing unit's population during the preceding tax year,   expressed in decimal form rounded to the nearest thousandth,   determined by the taxing unit using the most recent population   estimates available from the United States Census Bureau or, if the   United States Census Bureau does not publish population estimates   for the taxing unit, other reliable data sources or estimation   methods determined by the taxing unit.          (b)  The comptroller shall determine the inflation rate that   must be used by a taxing unit to make the computation required by   this section and publish the rate in the Texas Register each year on   July 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable.          (c)  In addition to the information described by Section   26.06(b-1), (b-2), or (b-3) or 26.061, as applicable, a taxing unit   must include in the notice required by that provision one of the   following statements that accurately describes the effect of the   proposed tax rate:                (1)  "If (name of taxing unit) adopts the proposed tax   rate, (name of taxing unit) will collect (estimated dollar amount   of property tax revenue to be collected in the current tax year) in   the (current tax year) tax year as compared to (dollar amount of   property tax revenue collected in the preceding tax year) in the   (preceding tax year) tax year. The amount of property tax revenue   collected by (name of taxing unit) will increase by (estimated   dollar amount of increase) in the (current tax year) tax year, which   is a (insert percentage increase) percent increase from the amount   collected in the (preceding tax year) tax year. In the (preceding   tax year) tax year, the population of (name of taxing unit) changed   by (population growth rate for taxing unit expressed as a   percentage) percent. Inflation in the state was (inflation rate   expressed as a percentage) percent. If (name of taxing unit)   adjusted the amount of property tax revenue it collected in the   (preceding tax year) tax year only to account for population change   adjusted by inflation, (name of taxing unit) would collect   (adjusted tax collections for taxing unit) in the (current tax   year) tax year.";                (2)  "If (name of taxing unit) adopts the proposed tax   rate, (name of taxing unit) will collect (estimated dollar amount   of property tax revenue to be collected in the current tax year) in   the (current tax year) tax year as compared to (dollar amount of   property tax revenue collected in the preceding tax year) in the   (preceding tax year) tax year. The amount of property tax revenue   collected by (name of taxing unit) will decrease by (estimated   dollar amount of decrease) in the (current tax year) tax year, which   is a (insert percentage decrease) percent decrease from the amount   collected in the (preceding tax year) tax year. In the (preceding   tax year) tax year, the population of (name of taxing unit) changed   by (population growth rate for taxing unit expressed as a   percentage) percent. Inflation in the state was (inflation rate   expressed as a percentage) percent. If (name of taxing unit)   adjusted the amount of property tax revenue it collected in the   (preceding tax year) tax year only to account for population change   adjusted by inflation, (name of taxing unit) would collect   (adjusted tax collections for taxing unit) in the (current tax   year) tax year."; or                (3)  "If (name of taxing unit) adopts the proposed tax   rate, (name of taxing unit) will collect (estimated dollar amount   of property tax revenue to be collected in the current tax year) in   the (current tax year) tax year, which is the same amount of   property tax revenue collected by (name of taxing unit) in the   (preceding tax year) tax year. In the (preceding tax year) tax   year, the population of (name of taxing unit) changed by   (population growth rate for taxing unit expressed as a percentage)   percent. Inflation in the state was (inflation rate expressed as a   percentage) percent. If (name of taxing unit) adjusted the amount   of property tax revenue it collected in the (preceding tax year) tax   year only to account for population change adjusted by inflation,   (name of taxing unit) would collect (adjusted tax collections for   taxing unit) in the (current tax year) tax year."          SECTION 8.  Section 26.17, Tax Code, is amended by adding   Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:          (b-1)  In this subsection, "adjusted tax collections,"   "inflation rate," and "population growth rate" have the meanings   assigned by Section 26.0621. In addition to the information   required by Subsection (b) of this section, the database must   include, with respect to each property that is listed on the   appraisal roll for the appraisal district, the following statement   for each taxing unit in which the property is located:          "In the (preceding tax year) tax year, the population of   (name of taxing unit) changed by (population growth rate for taxing   unit expressed as a percentage) percent. Inflation in the state was   (inflation rate expressed as a percentage) percent. If (name of   taxing unit) adjusted the amount of property tax revenue it   collected in the (preceding tax year) tax year only to account for   population change adjusted by inflation, (name of taxing unit)   would collect (adjusted tax collections for taxing unit) in the   (current tax year) tax year. If (name of taxing unit) adopts the   proposed tax rate, (name of taxing unit) will collect (estimated   dollar amount of property tax revenue to be collected in the current   tax year)."          SECTION 9.  Section 49.236, Water Code, is amended by adding   Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as follows:          (a-1)  In this subsection, "adjusted tax collections,"   "inflation rate," and "population growth rate" have the meanings   assigned by Section 26.0621, Tax Code. In addition to the   information required by Subsection (a) of this section, the notice   required by that subsection must include the following statement:          "In the (preceding tax year) tax year, the population of   (name of district) changed by (population growth rate for district   expressed as a percentage) percent. Inflation in the state was   (inflation rate expressed as a percentage) percent. If (name of   district) adjusted the amount of property tax revenue it collected   in the (preceding tax year) tax year only to account for population   change adjusted by inflation, (name of district) would collect   (adjusted tax collections for district) in the (current tax year)   tax year. If (name of district) adopts the proposed tax rate, (name   of district) will collect (estimated dollar amount of property tax   revenue to be collected in the current tax year)."          (b)  Notice of the hearing [shall be]:                (1)  may be published at least once in a newspaper   having general circulation in the district at least seven days   before the date of the hearing; and [or]                (2)  shall be mailed to each owner of taxable property   in the district, at the address for notice shown on the most   recently certified tax roll of the district, at least 10 days before   the date of the hearing.          SECTION 10.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only   to an ad valorem tax year that begins on or after the effective date   of this Act.          SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.