HB 2736
Cain bill requiring two-thirds for bond elections
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to an election authorizing the issuance of bonds or an increase in taxes by a political subdivision.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Bond and tax hikes need two-thirds of voters, in November.
The bill says a local bond or tax increase election only passes if at least two-thirds of voters approve, and it moves those elections to the November uniform election date, except for certain tax-rate elections under the Tax Code. It reaches every political subdivision, not just counties and cities, and requires voter approval for any bond issue, not only bonds paid from property taxes. Local governments would face a much higher bar and fewer election dates to borrow money or raise taxes, starting with elections ordered after the law takes effect.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 12, 2025 and referred to the House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB2736 · 2025-02-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to an election authorizing the issuance of bonds or an increase in taxes by a political subdivision.
WHAT IT DOES
Bond and tax hikes need two-thirds of voters, in November.
The bill says a local bond or tax increase election only passes if at least two-thirds of voters approve, and it moves those elections to the November uniform election date, except for certain tax-rate elections under the Tax Code. It reaches every political subdivision, not just counties and cities, and requires voter approval for any bond issue, not only bonds paid from property taxes. Local governments would face a much higher bar and fewer election dates to borrow money or raise taxes, starting with elections ordered after the law takes effect.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“unless at least two-thirds of the voters voting in the election vote in favor of authorizing the issuance of bonds”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill makes new local bond debt harder to approve by requiring a two-thirds supermajority and voter approval for all political subdivision bonds.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to May 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$5,000.00
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101033926.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101033926.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Feb 12, 2025
03/18/2025 H Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services: Mar 18 2025 11:56AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Pensions, Investments & Financial Services · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Elections--General
Political Subdivisions
Taxation--General
BONDS
Text
The text as introduced · 422 words
By: Cain H.B. No. 2736 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an election 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. Section Chapter 2, Election Code, is amended by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. SUPERMAJORITY REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN ELECTIONS Sec. 2.101. POLITICAL SUBDIVISION BOND OR TAX ELECTION. Notwithstanding any other law, an election held by a political subdivision to authorize the issuance of bonds or to increase taxes does not authorize the issuance of the bonds or the increase in taxes unless at least two-thirds of the voters voting in the election vote in favor of authorizing the issuance of bonds. SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 41.0051 to read as follows: Sec. 41.0051. ELECTION TO ISSUE BONDS OR INCREASE TAXES. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, an election required for the issuance of bonds or to increase taxes by a political subdivision shall be held on the November uniform election date. (b) This section does not apply to an election under Section 26.07 or 26.08, Tax Code. SECTION 4. Section 1251.001, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 1251.001. BOND ELECTION REQUIRED. (a) A political subdivision [ county or municipality ] may not issue bonds [ that are to be paid from ad valorem taxes ] unless the issuance is first approved by the qualified voters of the political subdivision [ county or municipality ] in an election. (b) To the extent of a conflict between this section and another law, this section controls. SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to bond elections or tax increase elections ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. A bond election or tax increase election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the bond election was ordered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 6. 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, 2025.