Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1041 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 1041
2	2	(Flynn)
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to required disclosures in and to the length of ballot
8	8	proposition language authorizing political subdivisions to issue
9	9	bonds or impose or change a tax.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by
12	12	adding Subsections (f) and (f-1) to read as follows:
13	13	(f) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (e) and
14	14	any other requirement imposed by law for a proposition, including a
15	15	provision prescribing the proposition language, a proposition
16	16	submitted to the voters for approval of the issuance of bonds or the
17	17	imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax shall for any political
18	18	subdivision, including municipalities, counties, school districts,
19	19	and special taxing districts, specifically state, as applicable:
20	20	(1) with respect to a proposition seeking voter
21	21	approval of the issuance of bonds:
22	22	(A) the total amount of the political
23	23	subdivision's debt secured by ad valorem taxes currently
24	24	outstanding;
25	25	(B) the total amount of the political
26	26	subdivision's current payments on debt secured by ad valorem taxes;
27	27	(C) the amount of taxes required to be imposed on
28	28	a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead value in the
29	29	political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, to
30	30	repay the political subdivision's current debt obligations secured
31	31	by ad valorem taxes; and
32	32	(D) the estimated tax burden that would be
33	33	imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead
34	34	value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal
35	35	district, to repay the bonds to be authorized, if approved;
36	36	(2) with respect to a proposition that only seeks
37	37	voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax:
38	38	(A) the estimated additional tax burden that
39	39	would be imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median
40	40	homestead value in the political subdivision, as computed by the
41	41	appraisal district, after the imposition or increase of the tax, if
42	42	approved; and
43	43	(B) a detailed description of the purposes for
44	44	which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved; or
45	45	(3) with respect to a proposition that only seeks
46	46	voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the estimated tax
47	47	reduction for a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead
48	48	value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal
49	49	district, if the reduction of the tax is approved.
50	50	(f-1) A proposition to which Subsection (e) applies may not
51	51	exceed:
52	52	(1) 5,000 characters; or
53	53	(2) a different limit prescribed by the secretary of
54	54	state that ensures that the length of the proposition does not
55	55	exceed one page of the ballot or one screen on an electronic voting
56	56	machine.
57	57	SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
58	58	a ballot for an election ordered on or after the effective date of
59	59	this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act
60	60	is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and
61	61	the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
62	62	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.