By: Flynn H.B. No. 1380
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to transparency requirements for the disclosure of debt
information to voters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 52, Election Code is amended as follows:
ELECTION CODE
Sec. 52.072. PROPOSITIONS. (a) Except as otherwise
provided by law, the authority ordering the election shall
prescribe the wording of a proposition that is to appear on the
ballot.
(b) A proposition shall be printed on the ballot in the form
of a single statement and may appear on the ballot only once.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), in an election in
which an office and a measure are to be voted on, each proposition
stating a measure shall appear on the ballot after the listing of
offices.
(d) If an election of officers is contingent on the adoption
of a proposition appearing on the same ballot, the proposition
shall appear on the ballot before the listing of offices.
(e) In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for
a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition
language, a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the
issuance of bonds or the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax
shall for any political subdivision, including municipalities,
counties, school districts, and special taxing districts
specifically state, as applicable:
(1) with respect to a proposition seeking voter
approval of the issuance of bonds:
(A) the total amount of the political
subdivision's debt currently outstanding;
(B) the total amount of the political
subdivision's current debt payments;
(C) the total amount of the political
subdivision's current debt obligations per capita;
(D) the total principal amount of the bonds to be
authorized, if approved; and
(E) the estimated tax burden per capita of the
bonds to be authorized, if approved; and
(BF) a general description of the purposes for
which the bonds are to be authorized, if approved;.
(2) with respect to a proposition that only seeks
voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax,:
(A) the amount of or maximum tax rate of the tax
or tax increase for which approval is sought; -e-r
(B) the estimated tax burden per capita of the
imposition or increase of a tax, if approved; and
(C) a detailed description of the purposes for
which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved.
(3) with respect to a proposition that only seeks
voter approval of the reduction of a tax,:
(A) the amount of tax rate reduction or the tax
rate for which approval is sought.; and
(B) the estimated tax reduction per capita of the
imposition or increase of a tax, if approved.