HB 3835
bill requires 60 percent voter approval for bonds
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 the vote required to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds by a political subdivision.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
No general obligation bonds without 60 percent voting yes!
The bill bars any Texas political subdivision from issuing general obligation bonds unless at least 60 percent of voters at the bond election vote yes. It touches every city, county, school district and other local taxing unit that borrows through voter-approved bonds, and the voters who decide those elections. Bonds authorized on or after September 1, 2025 would need a supermajority instead of a simple majority to pass.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 5, 2025 and referred to the House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3835 · 2025-03-05
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the vote required to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds by a political subdivision.
WHAT IT DOES
No general obligation bonds without 60 percent voting yes!
The bill bars any Texas political subdivision from issuing general obligation bonds unless at least 60 percent of voters at the bond election vote yes. It touches every city, county, school district and other local taxing unit that borrows through voter-approved bonds, and the voters who decide those elections. Bonds authorized on or after September 1, 2025 would need a supermajority instead of a simple majority to pass.
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
…“a political subdivision may not issue general obligation bonds unless at least 60 percent of the voters at the election called to authorize the issuance vote in favor of the issuance”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill raises the bar for local bond debt by requiring a 60 percent voter supermajority to approve general obligation 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 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 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$192,192.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$192,192.00
- Cash
- $65,000.00
- Paid by others
- $127,192.00
- Total
- $192,192.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.
Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$37,000.00
- Cash
- $37,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $37,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$192,192.00
- Cash
- $65,000.00
- Paid by others
- $127,192.00
- Total
- $192,192.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.
Texas Sands PAC
$37,000.00
- Cash
- $37,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $37,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.
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 5, 2025
03/26/2025 H Referred to Pensions, Investments & Financial Services: Mar 26 2025 11:31AM
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
Companion
HB 2574 by Harrison (duplicate)
Subjects
City Government--Finance
County Government--Finance
Elections--General
BONDS
Text
The text as introduced · 152 words
89R9003 JBD-D By: Curry H.B. No. 3835 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the vote required to approve the issuance of general obligation bonds by a political subdivision. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 1253, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 1253.004 to read as follows: Sec. 1253.004. SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF VOTERS REQUIRED TO APPROVE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision may not issue general obligation bonds unless at least 60 percent of the voters at the election called to authorize the issuance vote in favor of the issuance. SECTION 2. Section 1253.004, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to general obligation bonds authorized to be issued by the governing body of a political subdivision on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.