A new bill authored by State Rep. Troxclair in the Texas House seeks to ensure greater consensus among governing bodies for issuing bonds and raising tax rates, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Taxation category, introduced as HB 60 during the 89(1) legislative session on Monday, July 14, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to the vote required by the governing body of a taxing unit to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate or authorize the issuance of tax bonds’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that political subdivisions cannot issue general obligation bonds unless at least 60% of their governing body members vote in favor. It also establishes that for taxing units and water districts adopting an ad valorem tax rate exceeding the voter-approval rate, at least 80% of governing members must approve if the increase follows a year when voters did not approve a higher rate. This applies to the tax year beginning on or after the act’s effective date, which is 91 days after the legislative session ends. The bill’s provisions aim to tighten the requirements for tax rate increases and bond issuance, ensuring greater consensus within governing bodies.
Ellen Troxclair, a member of the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, proposed another 58 bills during the 89(1) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Ways & Means.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Other Bills Introduced by Rep. Ellen Troxclair in Texas House
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 71 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to reducing school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes through the use of certain surplus state revenue |
| 89(1) | HB 70 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to prohibition of transporting or funding the transportation of an unemancipated minor for an abortion; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(1) | HB 69 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the provision of an abortion-inducing drug |
| 89(1) | HB 67 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the requirements regarding an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds or to approve an increase in an ad valorem tax rate |
| 89(1) | HB 56 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities |
| 89(R) | HB 5605 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to public water systems in rural counties |
| 89(R) | HB 5602 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to use public money to provide legal services for individuals unlawfully present in the United States |
| 89(R) | HB 5582 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the design-build method for certain government construction projects |
| 89(R) | HB 5579 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the state compression percentage and a school district’s maximum compressed tax rate under the public school finance system |
| 89(R) | HB 5572 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to energy storage facilities |
| 89(R) | HB 5569 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to fire safety standards and emergency operations plans for the operation of battery energy storage |
| 89(R) | HB 5490 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the requirements regarding an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds or to approve an increase in an ad valorem tax rate |
| 89(R) | HB 5448 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to paid leave for public officers and employees engaged in certain military service |
| 89(R) | HB 5447 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates |
| 89(R) | HB 5446 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the text of ballot propositions that increase taxes |
| 89(R) | HB 5444 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the authority of the governing body of a school district to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the district’s voter-approval tax rate |
| 89(R) | HB 5312 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the sale, lease, or use of an unused or underused school district facility |
| 89(R) | HB 5303 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the vote required by the governing body of a taxing unit to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate or authorize the issuance of tax bonds |
| 89(R) | HB 30 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the effect of a disaster and associated costs on the calculation of certain tax rates and the procedure for adoption of a tax rate by a taxing unit |
| 89(R) | HB 103 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of taxing unit bond, tax, and bond-related project information; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 5125 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to measures to ensure public school transparency and accountability, including school district board of trustees meeting requirements, posting of certain information on a public school’s Internet website, the creation of a grievance portal, and the inclusion of a transparency and accountability domain in the public school accountability system |
| 89(R) | HB 4873 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the administration of, contributions to, and benefits under retirement systems for firefighters in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 4799 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the creation and operations of a health care provider participation program in certain counties |
| 89(R) | HB 4722 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the definition of conservation easement |
| 89(R) | HB 4691 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to provisions of state law requiring diversity |
| 89(R) | HB 4637 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain counties to regulate subdivision platting in regard to the use of groundwater |
| 89(R) | HB 4595 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to prohibition of transporting or funding the transportation of an unemancipated minor for an abortion; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense |
| 89(R) | HB 4593 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the provision of an abortion-inducing drug |
| 89(R) | HB 4223 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement for sale, rental, or lease, or conveyance of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants of a dwelling; creating criminal offenses; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 4188 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the disclosure of certain financial information by certain nonprofit organizations that enter into sizeable contracts with political subdivisions |
| 89(R) | HB 4057 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the authority of a taxing unit to enter into an agreement to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the value of property on which a renewable energy facility is located or is planned to be located |
| 89(R) | HB 3995 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to regulation of certain landscaping and water conservation practices by certain property owners’ associations |
| 89(R) | HB 3994 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the computation of certain tax penalties and interest amounts |
| 89(R) | HB 3993 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to taxes imposed on vinous liquor |
| 89(R) | HB 3879 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to the authority of a property owner to obtain an injunction restraining the collection of ad valorem taxes by a taxing unit if the taxing unit adopts a tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate and subsequently takes an action that constitutes a material deviation from the stated purpose of the tax increase |
| 89(R) | HB 3798 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to municipal regulation of the removal of an Ashe juniper tree |
| 89(R) | HB 3643 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the withdrawal of a unit of election from certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities and the net financial obligation of that withdrawal |
| 89(R) | HB 3638 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to a preference in state purchasing for certain goods and services produced or provided by private commercial sources in Texas |
| 89(R) | HB 3637 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the authority of a county commissioners court to adopt an exemption from ad valorem taxation by each taxing unit that taxes the property of the portion of the appraised value of a person’s property that is attributable to the installation in or on the property of certain water conservation systems |
| 89(R) | HB 3618 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to certain searches of female inmates by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
| 89(R) | HB 3617 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to the creation of the office of inspector general for education at the Texas Education Agency to investigate the administration of public education and required reporting on misconduct by employees of certain educational entities; creating a criminal offense; increasing an administrative penalty; authorizing an administrative penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3482 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the authority of the Lower Colorado River Authority to issue permits for certain quarries and mines |
| 89(R) | HB 3476 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the definition of population for the purpose of the rural sheriff’s office, constable’s office, and prosecutor’s office salary assistance grant program |
| 89(R) | HB 3118 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue in certain municipalities |
| 89(R) | HB 3117 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue for hotel and convention center projects |
| 89(R) | HB 3115 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the authority of the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District to regulate certain wells |
| 89(R) | HB 3113 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to requiring the ballots of certain counties to be scannable |
| 89(R) | HB 2368 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the designation of a portion of Congress Avenue in Travis County as part of the state highway system |
| 89(R) | HB 2367 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to a prohibition on the establishment, operation, or ownership of a public bank by a political subdivision |
| 89(R) | HB 2364 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to parking lots and parking garages adjacent or near to certain county courthouses |
