By: Hall S.B. No. 1613
(In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2019; March 14, 2019, read
first time and referred to Committee on Property Tax; May 6, 2019,
reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 1; May 6, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1613 By: Paxton
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to turnout requirements for certain elections authorizing
the issuance of bonds or an increase in taxes by a political
subdivision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 2, Election Code, is
amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2. VOTE REQUIRED FOR ELECTION [TO OFFICE]
SECTION 2. Chapter 2, Election Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. TURNOUT REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 2.101. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter does not apply
to an election held on the November uniform election date of an
even-numbered year.
Sec. 2.102. POLITICAL SUBDIVISION BOND OR TAX ELECTION. An
election held by a political subdivision to authorize the issuance
of bonds or a tax increase has no effect regarding the issuance of
the bonds or the tax increase unless more than 15 percent of the
registered voters of the political subdivision in which the
election is held whose registrations are effective on the date of
the election vote in the election in which the bond or tax
proposition is on the ballot.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
bonds authorized to be issued or a tax increase authorized on or
after the effective date of this Act. Bonds or a tax increase
authorized before the effective date of this Act are governed by the
law in effect when the bonds were authorized, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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