BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2207 By: Bumgarner Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under state law, political subdivisions can issue general obligation bonds to fund projects such as infrastructure improvements, schools, and public facilities. However, the bill author has informed the committee that bond propositions that are rejected by voters are sometimes resubmitted in quick succession, potentially disregarding public opposition, and provided several examples of these resubmissions across Texas. C.S.H.B. 2207 seeks to prevent political subdivisions from repeatedly proposing the same bond measure after voter rejection, ensuring that public decisions are respected, by prohibiting political subdivisions from resubmitting the same or a similar bond proposal within two years of the voters rejecting such a proposal. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2207 amends the Government Code to prohibit a political subdivision from submitting a proposition to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to the voters if the political subdivision submitted to the voters, and the voters rejected, an identical or substantially similar proposition to approve the issuance of such bonds within the preceding two years. The bill applies only to a proposition submitted to voters for which the election was ordered on or after the bill's effective date. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025. COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 2207 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. Both the introduced and the substitute prohibit a political subdivision from submitting a proposition to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to the voters under certain circumstances. However, the introduced prohibited a political subdivision from doing so if it submitted, and the voters rejected, a proposition for the same purpose within the preceding two years, whereas the substitute prohibits a political subdivision from doing so if it submitted, and the voters rejected, an identical or substantially similar proposition within that period.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2207
By: Bumgarner
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 2207
By: Bumgarner
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under state law, political subdivisions can issue general obligation bonds to fund projects such as infrastructure improvements, schools, and public facilities. However, the bill author has informed the committee that bond propositions that are rejected by voters are sometimes resubmitted in quick succession, potentially disregarding public opposition, and provided several examples of these resubmissions across Texas. C.S.H.B. 2207 seeks to prevent political subdivisions from repeatedly proposing the same bond measure after voter rejection, ensuring that public decisions are respected, by prohibiting political subdivisions from resubmitting the same or a similar bond proposal within two years of the voters rejecting such a proposal.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2207 amends the Government Code to prohibit a political subdivision from submitting a proposition to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to the voters if the political subdivision submitted to the voters, and the voters rejected, an identical or substantially similar proposition to approve the issuance of such bonds within the preceding two years. The bill applies only to a proposition submitted to voters for which the election was ordered on or after the bill's effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 2207 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. Both the introduced and the substitute prohibit a political subdivision from submitting a proposition to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to the voters under certain circumstances. However, the introduced prohibited a political subdivision from doing so if it submitted, and the voters rejected, a proposition for the same purpose within the preceding two years, whereas the substitute prohibits a political subdivision from doing so if it submitted, and the voters rejected, an identical or substantially similar proposition within that period.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under state law, political subdivisions can issue general obligation bonds to fund projects such as infrastructure improvements, schools, and public facilities. However, the bill author has informed the committee that bond propositions that are rejected by voters are sometimes resubmitted in quick succession, potentially disregarding public opposition, and provided several examples of these resubmissions across Texas. C.S.H.B. 2207 seeks to prevent political subdivisions from repeatedly proposing the same bond measure after voter rejection, ensuring that public decisions are respected, by prohibiting political subdivisions from resubmitting the same or a similar bond proposal within two years of the voters rejecting such a proposal.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2207 amends the Government Code to prohibit a political subdivision from submitting a proposition to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to the voters if the political subdivision submitted to the voters, and the voters rejected, an identical or substantially similar proposition to approve the issuance of such bonds within the preceding two years. The bill applies only to a proposition submitted to voters for which the election was ordered on or after the bill's effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 2207 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
Both the introduced and the substitute prohibit a political subdivision from submitting a proposition to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds to the voters under certain circumstances. However, the introduced prohibited a political subdivision from doing so if it submitted, and the voters rejected, a proposition for the same purpose within the preceding two years, whereas the substitute prohibits a political subdivision from doing so if it submitted, and the voters rejected, an identical or substantially similar proposition within that period.