89R12983 DRS-D     By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2529       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the vote required by the governing body of a taxing unit   to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax   rate or authorize the issuance of tax bonds.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 1253, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 1253.004 to read as follows:          Sec. 1253.004.  SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF GOVERNING BODY   REQUIRED TO APPROVE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. Notwithstanding any   other law, a political subdivision may not issue general obligation   bonds unless at least 60 percent of the members of the governing   body of the political subdivision vote in favor of issuing the bonds   in the manner prescribed by law for official action by the governing   body.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 26, Tax Code, is amended by adding   Section 26.0502 to read as follows:          Sec. 26.0502.  ADOPTION OF PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS   VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE FOLLOWING ELECTION.  (a)  This section   applies only to the adoption of an annual tax rate that exceeds the   voter-approval rate by a taxing unit for the tax year following a   tax year in which a proposition to approve a tax rate that exceeds   the voter-approval rate was not approved by the voters in an   election required by Section 26.07 or Section 26.08.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a taxing unit may not   adopt an annual tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate   unless at least 80 percent of the members of the governing body of   the taxing unit by record vote approve the ordinance, resolution,   or order setting the tax rate.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended   by adding Section 49.23604 to read as follows:          Sec. 49.23604.  ADOPTION OF PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS   VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE FOLLOWING ELECTION.  (a)  This section   applies only to the adoption of an ad valorem tax rate for a   district for the tax year following a tax year in which a   proposition to approve a tax rate for the district was not approved   by the voters in an election required by Section 49.23601,   49.23602, or 49.23603.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, unless at least 80   percent of the members of the board of a district vote in favor of   adopting the tax rate, the board of a district may not adopt a   combined debt service, contract, and operation and maintenance tax   rate that exceeds:                (1)  the voter-approval tax rate as determined under   Section 49.23601(a), for a district described by Section   49.23601(b);                (2)  the mandatory tax election rate as determined   under Section 49.23602(a), for a district described by Section   49.23602(b); or                (3)  the voter-approval tax rate as determined under   Section 49.23603(a), for a district described by Section   49.23603(b).          SECTION 4.  Section 1253.004, Government Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to general obligation bonds authorized to be   issued by the governing body of a political subdivision on or after   the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 5.  Section 26.0502, Tax Code, and Section 49.23604,   Water Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a tax year that   begins on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.