85S10441 SMH-F By: Bonnen of Galveston, et al. H.B. No. 124 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the date for ordering or holding an election to ratify the ad valorem tax rate of a school district. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 26.08(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The governing body shall order that the election be held in the school district on the first uniform election date prescribed by [a date not less than 30 or more than 90 days after the day on which it adopted the tax rate.] Section 41.001, Election Code, that allows sufficient time to comply with other requirements of law [does not apply to the election unless a date specified by that section falls within the time permitted by this section]. At the election, the ballots shall be prepared to permit voting for or against the proposition: "Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $_____ per $100 valuation in (name of school district) for the current year, a rate that is $_____ higher per $100 valuation than the school district rollback tax rate, for the purpose of (description of purpose of increase)." The ballot proposition must include the adopted tax rate and the difference between that rate and the rollback tax rate in the appropriate places. SECTION 2. Section 3.005(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsection [Subsections] (c) [and (d)], an election ordered by an authority of a political subdivision shall be ordered not later than the 62nd day before election day. SECTION 3. Section 3.005(d), Election Code, is repealed. SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies to the ad valorem tax rate of a school district beginning with the 2018 tax year. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2018.