HB 5018

Morgan Bill Makes Taxing Boards Elected, Except The Governor’s Picks

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Matt MorganRHouse 26

Why it's charged

The hole

THE TEXT

“Subsection (a) does not apply to a member of a governing body appointed by the governor.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill advertises that every taxing body must be elected, but any taxing board whose members the governor appoints stays unelected. Locally appointed boards still have to change, so the exception narrows the promise without fully defeating it.

The hole

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 requiring the election of the governing body of a taxing entity.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Every taxing board gets elected. Governor appointees stay put. Locally appointed boards still switch.

The bill says any government body in Texas that can impose a tax must have an elected governing board, overriding any other law. It reaches cities, counties, school districts, special districts and any other local or state entity with taxing power whose board members are now appointed. Board members appointed by the governor are exempt, so only boards filled by other appointing authorities would have to switch to elections starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 117 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 117 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).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5018 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Matt MorganRHouse 26

ITEM

relating to requiring the election of the governing body of a taxing entity.

WHAT IT DOES

Every taxing board gets elected. Governor appointees stay put. Locally appointed boards still switch.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

“Subsection (a) does not apply to a member of a governing body appointed by the governor.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to State Affairs

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Matt Morgan

Donors

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$199K Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150K Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$55K

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 27, 2024 to Oct 20, 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 Conservative Majority PAC$199,350.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$199,350.00

Cash: $125,000.00
Paid by others: $74,350.00
Total: $199,350.00

canvassing $58,100.00polling $16,250.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 17, 2026 to Oct 8, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150,123.30

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$150,123.30

Cash: $105,000.00
Paid by others: $45,123.30
Total: $150,123.30

mail $28,873.30polling $16,250.00

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 · Aug 20, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$55,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 30, 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: 101006291, 101067971, 101072248.

Money

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

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$199,350.00

Cash: $125,000.00
Paid by others: $74,350.00
Total: $199,350.00

canvassing $58,100.00polling $16,250.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 17, 2026 to Oct 8, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$150,123.30

Cash: $105,000.00
Paid by others: $45,123.30
Total: $150,123.30

mail $28,873.30polling $16,250.00

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 · Aug 20, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 30, 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: 101006291, 101067971, 101072248.

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 13, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Elections--General

Special Districts & Authorities--Miscellaneous

Taxation--Property-Miscellaneous

Text

The text as introduced · 117 words

89R16231 MLH-F

By: Morgan
H.B. No. 5018

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring the election of the governing body of a taxing

entity.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Section 180.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 180.011. GOVERNING BODY OF TAXING AUTHORITY MUST BE

ELECTED. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing body of

any governmental entity, including a political subdivision, with

the authority to impose a tax must be elected.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a member of a governing

body appointed by the governor.

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