HB 3655
3/5ths rule for school 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 increasing the threshold of voter approval for a school district bond election.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Three-fifths replaces a simple majority for school bonds.
This bill makes it harder for Texas school districts to win bond elections by requiring three-fifths of voters, instead of a simple majority, to approve bonds and the taxes that pay for them. It touches every school district board that asks voters for bond money, plus the voters in those districts, while the separate taxes covered by Section 45.002 still need only a majority. Starting January 1, 2026, and only if voters also approve a matching constitutional amendment, a school bond that gets more than half but less than 60 percent of the vote will fail.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 3, 2025 and referred to the House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3655 · 2025-03-03
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to increasing the threshold of voter approval for a school district bond election.
WHAT IT DOES
Three-fifths replaces a simple majority for school bonds.
This bill makes it harder for Texas school districts to win bond elections by requiring three-fifths of voters, instead of a simple majority, to approve bonds and the taxes that pay for them. It touches every school district board that asks voters for bond money, plus the voters in those districts, while the separate taxes covered by Section 45.002 still need only a majority. Starting January 1, 2026, and only if voters also approve a matching constitutional amendment, a school bond that gets more than half but less than 60 percent of the vote will fail.
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
…“may not be levied unless authorized by three-fifths [ a majority ] of the qualified voters of the district”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill raises the vote needed for school districts to take on new bond debt and levy the taxes to repay it from a majority to three-fifths.
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 · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 Mar 3, 2025
03/25/2025 H Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services: Mar 25 2025 3:26PM
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
Enabling legislation for HJR 163.
Subjects
Education--School Districts
Elections--General
Elections--School District
BONDS
Text
The text as introduced · 353 words
89R13668 AMF-D By: Olcott H.B. No. 3655 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to increasing the threshold of voter approval for a school district bond election. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 45.003, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows: (a) Bonds described by Section 45.001 may not be issued and taxes described by that section [ Section 45.001 or 45.002 ] may not be levied unless authorized by three-fifths [ a majority ] of the qualified voters of the district, voting at an election held for that purpose, at the expense of the district, in accordance with the Election Code, except as provided by this section. (a-1) Taxes described by Section 45.002 may not be levied unless authorized by a majority of the qualified voters of the district, voting at an election held for that purpose, at the expense of the district, in accordance with the Election Code, except as provided by this section. (a-2) Each election described by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must be called by resolution or order of the governing board or commissioners court. The resolution or order must state the date of the election, the proposition or propositions to be submitted and voted on, the polling place or places, and any other matters considered necessary or advisable by the governing board or commissioners court. SECTION 2. Section 45.003(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act. An election ordered before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the election was ordered, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, increasing the threshold of voter approval for a school district bond election is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.