Monitoring the Session

HB 3483

bill letting special utility districts use public securities law

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Erin GámezDHouse 38

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of a special utility district to issue a public security.

Caption from analyzed text · version S.

Summary

Another way for rural water utilities to borrow.

The bill adds special utility districts to the list of local governments allowed to use the state's broader public securities law when they borrow money. It touches special utility districts, the water and sewer utilities many rural areas use after converting from water supply corporations, and their ratepayers. On the ground, these districts gain more financing tools for water, sewer, drainage, trash and fire projects starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Erin Gámez (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Charles Perry (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.QUICK READ: 78 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 78 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 8, 2025. Died in the Senate: voted out of the Local Government committee 6-0, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3483 · 2025-02-27

SOLD BY

Rep. Erin GámezDHouse 38 Rep. Helen KerwinRHouse 58

ITEM

relating to the authority of a special utility district to issue a public security.

WHAT IT DOES

Another way for rural water utilities to borrow.

The bill adds special utility districts to the list of local governments allowed to use the state's broader public securities law when they borrow money. It touches special utility districts, the water and sewer utilities many rural areas use after converting from water supply corporations, and their ratepayers. On the ground, these districts gain more financing tools for water, sewer, drainage, trash and fire projects starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · May 26, 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 Natural Resources
  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. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#1693
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#1804
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Local Government
  28. Posting rule suspended
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Testimony taken in committee
  32. Vote taken in committee
  33. Reported favorably as substituted
  34. Committee report printed and distributed
  35. Placed on intent calendar
FILED UNDER

DEBT AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS

THE TEXT

…“organized or operating as a special utility district under Section”…

Bill text, Senate committee report version (S)

The bill expands the borrowing authority of special utility districts by adding them to the list of issuers allowed to use the state's broader public securities law.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 106 yea · 39 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 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

Erin Gámez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$23KAGAVE DEMOCRATIC INFRASRUCTURE FUND$18KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$15K

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 · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 22, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$22,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash
$22,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$22,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 24, 2024 to Sep 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.

Report IDs: 100987285, 101012324, 101029258, 101060219, 101072494.

AGAVE DEMOCRATIC INFRASRUCTURE FUND$18,375.00

AGAVE DEMOCRATIC INFRASRUCTURE FUND

$18,375.00

Cash
$18,000.00
Paid by others
$375.00
Total
$18,375.00
consulting $375.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Jul 7, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Jul 7, 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: 100987285, 101029258.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$15,250.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$15,250.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$250.00
Total
$15,250.00
advertising $250.00

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 · Sep 19, 2024 to Sep 17, 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: 100987285, 101012324, 101029258, 101069662.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash
$22,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$22,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 24, 2024 to Sep 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.

Report IDs: 100987285, 101012324, 101029258, 101060219, 101072494.

×

AGAVE DEMOCRATIC INFRASRUCTURE FUND

$18,375.00

Cash
$18,000.00
Paid by others
$375.00
Total
$18,375.00
consulting $375.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Jul 7, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Jul 7, 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: 100987285, 101029258.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$15,250.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$250.00
Total
$15,250.00
advertising $250.00

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 · Sep 19, 2024 to Sep 17, 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: 100987285, 101012324, 101029258, 101069662.

Votes2

House May 8, 2025

Yea
106
Nay
39
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
2
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1804

HB 3483 was passed by (Record 1804): 106 Yeas, 39 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 106 (published)
  • Nay: 39 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

House May 7, 2025

Yea
108
Nay
30
Present, not voting
2
Absent
7
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1693

CSHB 3483 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1693): 108 Yeas, 30 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 108 (published)
  • Nay: 30 (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.

Witnesses7
For
6
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Cash Special Utility District1 registration
  • Jonah Water Special Utility District1 registration
  • Self2 registrations
  • Texas Rural Water Association2 registrations

On

  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality1 registration
Sources

7 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 S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · May 26, 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 S by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 27, 2025

05/28/2025 S Placed on intent calendar

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

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

Sponsors
Charles PerryRSenate 28

House committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Special Districts & Authorities--Soil & Water Conservation

Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, TEXAS COMMISSION ON

Text

The text as introduced · 78 words

89R16625 TYPED

By: Gámez
H.B. No. 3483

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a Special Utility District to issue

revenue bonds.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 65, Subchapter G, Texas Water Code, is

amended by adding Section 65.516 as follows:

Sec. 65.516. Sections 49.181 and 49.182, Water Code, do not

apply to a district.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.