free public database of every local bond and tax rate

The text as introduced · 767 words

89R19842 TYPED

By: Troxclair
H.B. No. 103

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of taxing

unit bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects; providing a civil

penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is

amended by adding Sections 403.0248 and 403.0249 to read as

follows:

Sec. 403.0248. BOND, TAX, AND PROJECT DATABASE. (a) In

this section, "Taxing unit" has the meaning assigned by Section

1.04(12), Tax Code.

(b) The comptroller shall consult and coordinate with the

Bond Review Board to develop and maintain a database that includes

current and historical information regarding taxing unit bonds,

taxes, and bond-related projects, including:

(1) for each bond or other debt obligation issued or

proposed by a taxing unit:

(A) the language of the ballot proposition if the

bond or other debt obligation has been or will be approved at an

election;

(B) the projected interest and sinking fund tax

rate or projected tax rate for debt service, as applicable,

associated with a proposed bond;

(C) the result of an election held for the

purpose of issuing a proposed bond or other debt obligation;

(D) a list of the projects to be funded using the

bond;

(E) an accounting of the use of the proceeds of

any issued bond, including descriptions of any projects paid for

with the proceeds; and

(F) any increase in the interest and sinking fund

tax rate or tax rate for debt service, as applicable, resulting from

issued bonds;

(2) the results of any election held under Chapter 26,

Tax Code, including the ad valorem tax rate proposed by the taxing

unit for purposes of the election and the taxing unit's

voter-approval tax rate for the tax year of the election;

(3) for maintenance taxes that have been levied or

proposed by a school district:

(A) each school district's proposed or approved

tax rate; and

(B) the language of the ballot proposition under

Section 45.003(d), Education Code;

(4) a report generation function to allow the

comptroller to generate reports of the information described by

Subdivisions (1) through (3) for each taxing unit, disaggregated by

geographic area; and

(5) a function that allows for the proposal of updates

or corrections to the information included in the database.

(c) A taxing unit shall provide the comptroller with the

information described by Subsections (b)(1) through (3) and any

other information requested by the comptroller for the purpose of

maintaining the database established under this section. The

comptroller may consult with the appropriate officer of, or other

person representing, each taxing unit to obtain the information

necessary to operate and update the database.

(d) The comptroller may contract with a third party as

necessary for the development or maintenance of the database under

this section.

(e) The comptroller may not charge a fee to the public to

access the database.

(f) The comptroller may establish procedures and adopt

rules as necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 403.0249. NONCOMPLIANCE; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) If a

taxing unit has not complied with a requirement to provide

information under Section 403.0248, the comptroller shall send a

notice to the taxing unit. The notice must be in writing, describe

the information that must be submitted to the comptroller, and

inform the taxing unit that if the information is not provided on or

before the 30th day after the date the notice is provided, the

taxing unit will be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000.

(b) If a taxing unit does not report the required

information as prescribed by Subsection (b), the taxing unit is

liable to the state for a civil penalty of $1,000.

(c) The attorney general may sue to collect a civil penalty

imposed under this section.

(d) It is a defense to an action brought under this section

that the taxing unit provided the required information or documents

to the extent the information or documents are not exempt from

disclosure or confidential under Chapter 552.

SECTION 2. The comptroller shall create and post on the

comptroller's Internet website the database required by Section

403.0248, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than

January 1, 2026.

SECTION 3. The comptroller is required to implement the

changes in law made by this Act only if the legislature appropriates

money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not

appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the comptroller

may, but is not required to, implement this Act using other

appropriations available for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.