Monitoring the Session

HB 30

bill ends the no-election tax hike after a disaster

Became law, effective Jan 1, 2026

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19

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 the repeal of provisions authorizing certain taxing units in the year following the year in which a disaster occurs to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate without holding an election to approve the adopted tax rate; making conforming changes.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Voter-approval limit applies the year after a disaster too.

This bill repeals the rule that let some local taxing units, including school districts, raise property tax rates above the voter-approval limit without an election in the year after a disaster. Cities, counties, school districts and other taxing units in disaster areas lose that shortcut, though they can still use the disaster rule for calculating their voter-approval rate. Starting with tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2026, a rate increase past the limit after a disaster must go to voters like any other.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB30 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors, 10 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the repeal of provisions authorizing certain taxing units in the year following the year in which a disaster occurs to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate without holding an election to approve the adopted tax rate; making conforming changes.

WHAT IT DOES

Voter-approval limit applies the year after a disaster too.

This bill repeals the rule that let some local taxing units, including school districts, raise property tax rates above the voter-approval limit without an election in the year after a disaster. Cities, counties, school districts and other taxing units in disaster areas lose that shortcut, though they can still use the disaster rule for calculating their voter-approval rate. Starting with tax years that begin on or after January 1, 2026, a rate increase past the limit after a disaster must go to voters like any other.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 12, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Ways & Means
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Postponed 5/7/25 3:30 PM
  19. Laid out as postponed business
  20. Point of order withdrawn Rule 4, Section 40, and Rule 11, Sections 2 and 3
  21. Amended 1-Troxclair, Tinderholt, Leo Wilson, and Meyer
  22. Passed to engrossment as amended
  23. Record vote RV#1682
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Read 3rd time
  26. Passed
  27. Record vote RV#1794
  28. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  29. Reported engrossed
  30. Received from the House
  31. Read first time
  32. Referred to Local Government
  33. Posting rule suspended
  34. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  35. Considered in public hearing
  36. Vote taken in committee
  37. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  38. Committee report printed and distributed
  39. Co-sponsor authorized
  40. Placed on intent calendar
  41. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  42. Record vote
  43. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  44. Record vote
  45. Three day rule suspended
  46. Record vote
  47. Read 3rd time
  48. Passed
  49. Record vote
  50. Senate passage reported
  51. Reported enrolled
  52. Signed in the House
  53. Signed in the Senate
  54. Sent to the Governor
  55. Signed by the Governor
  56. Effective on 1/1/26
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 95 yea · 51 nay

Senate · 22 yea · 9 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 15, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

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 29, 2024 to Oct 21, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$100,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 3, 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.

Report IDs: 101031227, 101040659.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC$10,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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.

Report IDs: 101072162.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$5,083.34

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$5,083.34

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$83.34
Total
$5,083.34
advertising $83.34

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 25, 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.

Report IDs: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 14, 2025 to Feb 3, 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.

Report IDs: 101031227, 101040659.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Oct 2, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 2, 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.

Report IDs: 101072162.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$5,083.34

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$83.34
Total
$5,083.34
advertising $83.34

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 25, 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.

Report IDs: 100982032, 101031227, 101072162.

Votes6

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Bettencourt moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 30 be placed on its third reading and final passage: HB 30, 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. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 15, 2025

Yea
22
Nay
9
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Bettencourt moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 30 at this time on its second reading: HB 30, 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. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 22 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 8, 2025

Yea
95
Nay
51
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1794

HB 30 was passed by (Record 1794): 95 Yeas, 51 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 95 (published)
  • Nay: 51 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea
83
Nay
55
Present, not voting
2
Absent
7
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1682

CSHB 30, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 1682): 83 Yeas, 55 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 83 (published)
  • Nay: 55 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses17
For
4
Against
11
On
2
Names

For

  • Self; Americans for prosperity1 registration
  • Self; The LIBRE Initiative1 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration
  • Texas Taxpayers and Research Association1 registration

Against

  • Bexar County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • City of Dallas1 registration
  • City of Garland, Texas1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • Conference of Urban Counties1 registration
  • Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Self3 registrations
  • Self; Jefferson County and County Judges and Commissioners Association1 registration
  • Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration

On

  • City of Corpus Christi1 registration
  • City of Galveston1 registration
Sources

17 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 12, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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 Mar 14, 2025

05/28/2025 E Effective on 1/1/26

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Ways & Means · Committee vote 8 aye, 5 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 5 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1449 by Bettencourt (identical)

HB 763 by Cain (duplicate)

HB 1131 by Oliverson (duplicate)

Subjects

Disaster Preparedness & Relief

Taxation--Property-Assessment & Collection

Taxation--Property-Tax Rate

Text

The text as introduced · 650 words

89R4829 PRL-D

By: Troxclair
H.B. No. 30

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the repeal of provisions authorizing certain taxing

units in the year following the year in which a disaster occurs to

adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax

rate without holding an election to approve the adopted tax rate;

making conforming changes.

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

SECTION 1. Section 48.202(f), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(f) For a school year in which the dollar amount guaranteed

level of state and local funds per weighted student per cent of tax

effort ("GL") under Subsection (a-1)(2) exceeds the dollar amount

guaranteed level of state and local funds per weighted student per

cent of tax effort ("GL") under Subsection (a-1)(2) for the

preceding school year, a school district shall reduce the

district's tax rate under Section 45.0032(b)(2) for the tax year

that corresponds to that school year to a rate that results in the

amount of state and local funds per weighted student per cent of tax

effort available to the district at the dollar amount guaranteed

level for the preceding school year. A school district is not

entitled to the amount equal to the increase of revenue described by

this subsection for the school year for which the district must

reduce the district's tax rate. For [ Unless Section 26.042(e), Tax

Code, applies to the district, for ] a tax year in which a district

must reduce the district's tax rate under this subsection, the

district may not increase the district's maintenance and operations

tax rate to a rate that exceeds the maximum maintenance and

operations tax rate permitted under Section 45.003(d) or (f), as

applicable, minus the reduction of tax effort required under this

subsection. This subsection does not apply if the amount of state

funds appropriated for a school year specifically excludes the

amount necessary to provide the dollar amount guaranteed level of

state and local funds per weighted student per cent of tax effort

under Subsection (a-1)(2).

SECTION 2. The heading to Section 26.042, Tax Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 26.042. CALCULATION [ AND ADOPTION ] OF VOTER-APPROVAL

TAX RATE OF CERTAIN TAXING UNITS [ TAX RATES ] IN DISASTER AREA.

SECTION 3. Section 26.042(g), Tax Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(g) A taxing unit that in a tax year elects to calculate the

taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate under Subsection (a) [ or

adopt a tax rate that exceeds the taxing unit's voter-approval tax

rate for that tax year without holding an election under Subsection

(d) or (e) ] must specify the disaster declaration that provides the

basis for authorizing the taxing unit to calculate [ or adopt ] a tax

rate under that [ the applicable ] subsection. A taxing unit that in

a tax year specifies a disaster declaration as providing the basis

for authorizing the taxing unit to calculate [ or adopt ] a tax rate

under Subsection (a)[ , (d), or (e) ] may not in a subsequent tax year

specify the same disaster declaration as providing the basis for

authorizing the taxing unit to calculate [ or adopt ] a tax rate under

that subsection [ one of those subsections ] if in an intervening tax

year the taxing unit specifies a different disaster declaration as

the basis for authorizing the taxing unit to calculate [ or adopt ] a

tax rate under that subsection [ one of those subsections ].

SECTION 4. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Section 45.0032(d), Education Code; and

(2) Sections 26.042(d), (e), and (f), Tax Code.

SECTION 5. This Act applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed

for an ad valorem tax year that begins on or after the effective

date of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.