Monitoring the Session

HB 5431

mayors and at-large seats skip post-redistricting elections

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Gary GatesRHouse 28

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 exclusion of at-large and mayoral seats from the requirement of re-election following apportionment.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Only district seats face re-election after new maps.

The bill changes the state rule that makes cities with council districts re-elect their whole governing body after redistricting. Under the bill, at-large council members and the mayor no longer have to stand for election after redistricting unless their term would end anyway. District-based members still face the post-redistricting election, while citywide seats keep their normal schedule starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Gary Gates (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Carol Alvarado (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 15, 2025. Died in the Senate: left pending in the Local Government committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5431 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Gary GatesRHouse 28

ITEM

relating to the exclusion of at-large and mayoral seats from the requirement of re-election following apportionment.

WHAT IT DOES

Only district seats face re-election after new maps.

The bill changes the state rule that makes cities with council districts re-elect their whole governing body after redistricting. Under the bill, at-large council members and the mayor no longer have to stand for election after redistricting unless their term would end anyway. District-based members still face the post-redistricting election, while citywide seats keep their normal schedule starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 21, 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 Intergovernmental Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#2517
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#2632
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Local Government
  27. Posting rule suspended
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 121 yea · 20 nay

Sources

House: 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

Gary Gates

Donors

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273KTexans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$224KTexans for Reasonable Solutions PAC$25K

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 30, 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.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$273,400.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,400.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$123,400.00
Total
$273,400.00
canvassing $108,000.00polling $15,400.00

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 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.

Report IDs: 101068223, 101071943.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$224,000.08

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$224,000.08

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$189,000.08
Total
$224,000.08
mail $87,600.08advertising $68,500.00polling $32,900.00

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 · Jun 23, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101010390, 101033067, 101068223, 101071943.

Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC$25,000.00

Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 81 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jul 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: 101068223.

Money

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

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$273,400.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$123,400.00
Total
$273,400.00
canvassing $108,000.00polling $15,400.00

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 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.

Report IDs: 101068223, 101071943.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$224,000.08

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$189,000.08
Total
$224,000.08
mail $87,600.08advertising $68,500.00polling $32,900.00

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 · Jun 23, 2025 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.

Report IDs: 101010390, 101033067, 101068223, 101071943.

×

Texans for Reasonable Solutions PAC

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 81 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jul 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: 101068223.

Votes2

House May 15, 2025

Yea
121
Nay
20
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
4
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2632

HB 5431 was passed by (Record 2632): 121 Yeas, 20 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 121 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

House May 14, 2025

Yea
123
Nay
13
Present, not voting
2
Absent
6
Excused
6
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2517

HB 5431 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2517): 123 Yeas, 13 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 123 (published)
  • Nay: 13 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses1
For
1
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Texas Municipal League1 registration
Sources

1 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.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 21, 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

05/22/2025 S Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

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

Sponsors
Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

City Government--Employees/Officers

Elections--General

Redistricting

Text

The text as introduced · 208 words

89R15579 CS-F

By: Gates
H.B. No. 5431

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the exclusion of at-large and mayoral seats from the

requirement of re-election following apportionment.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 21.006, Local Government

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 21.006. ELECTION OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF [ ENTIRE ]

GOVERNING BODY UPON APPORTIONMENT.

SECTION 2. Section 21.006, Local Government Code, is

amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to

read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a [ A ] municipality

that is divided into districts, wards, or other areas from which

members of its governing body are elected shall elect all members of

the municipality's governing body following each apportionment on

the first uniform election date that allows sufficient time to

comply with any requirements of law.

(c) A municipality that elects one or more members of its

governing body at-large, including the office of mayor, is not

required to hold an election for those positions following

apportionment unless the term of office of the at-large member or

mayor would otherwise expire under applicable law.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.