By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 1041
(Flynn)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to required disclosures in and to the length of ballot
proposition language authorizing political subdivisions to issue
bonds or impose or change a tax.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 52.072, Election Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (f) and (f-1) to read as follows:
(f) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (e) and
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 secured by ad valorem taxes currently
outstanding;
(B) the total amount of the political
subdivision's current payments on debt secured by ad valorem taxes;
(C) the amount of taxes required to be imposed on
a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead value in the
political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal district, to
repay the political subdivision's current debt obligations secured
by ad valorem taxes; and
(D) the estimated tax burden that would be
imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead
value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal
district, to repay the bonds 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 estimated additional tax burden that
would be imposed on a homestead with a value equal to the median
homestead value in the political subdivision, as computed by the
appraisal district, after the imposition or increase of the tax, if
approved; and
(B) a detailed description of the purposes for
which the tax is to be imposed or increased, if approved; or
(3) with respect to a proposition that only seeks
voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the estimated tax
reduction for a homestead with a value equal to the median homestead
value in the political subdivision, as computed by the appraisal
district, if the reduction of the tax is approved.
(f-1) A proposition to which Subsection (e) applies may not
exceed:
(1) 5,000 characters; or
(2) a different limit prescribed by the secretary of
state that ensures that the length of the proposition does not
exceed one page of the ballot or one screen on an electronic voting
machine.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a ballot for an election ordered on or after the effective date of
this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.