SB 843: Kolkhorst’s TEA Bond Database Gets Built Only If Funded

Caption

relating to a Texas Education Agency database of school district and open-enrollment charter school bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects.

Caption from analyzed text · version F.

Summary

The agency must build the database only if lawmakers specifically fund it.

The bill orders the Texas Education Agency to build and keep a database of school district and charter school bonds, bond projects, tax rates, and tax and bond election results. Every school district and open-enrollment charter school must send the agency that information, and the agency may hire an outside vendor to build the system. The duty applies only if lawmakers fund it, and the text says the reports are generated by the agency, not that the public can search the database.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB843 · 2025-01-17

SOLD BY

Sen. Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

+ 10 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a Texas Education Agency database of school district and open-enrollment charter school bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects.

WHAT IT DOES

The agency must build the database only if lawmakers specifically fund it.

The bill orders the Texas Education Agency to build and keep a database of school district and charter school bonds, bond projects, tax rates, and tax and bond election results. Every school district and open-enrollment charter school must send the agency that information, and the agency may hire an outside vendor to build the system. The duty applies only if lawmakers fund it, and the text says the reports are generated by the agency, not that the public can search the database.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The agency's duty to build the database is switched off unless the legislature sets aside money for it. The main promise, a working database, can lawfully never appear.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,500,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 21, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB843, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($3,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The Texas Education Agency is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,500,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Jan 17, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Jan 17, 2025Filed
Jan 28, 2025Co-author authorized
Jan 29, 2025Co-author authorized
Feb 13, 2025Read first time
Feb 13, 2025Referred to Education K-16
Feb 26, 2025Co-author authorized
Mar 20, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 8, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 8, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 8, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 8, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 10, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 15, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 15, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 16, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 16, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 23, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 24, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 24, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 24, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 24, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 24, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 Kolkhorst
Apr 24, 2025Amended
Apr 24, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 24, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA2 Bettencourt
Apr 24, 2025Amended
Apr 24, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 24, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
Apr 24, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 24, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 24, 2025Record vote
Apr 24, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 24, 2025Passed
Apr 24, 2025Record vote
Apr 24, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 25, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 28, 2025Read first time
Apr 28, 2025Referred to Public Education
May 5, 2025Posting rule suspended
May 6, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 7, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 7, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 7, 2025Left pending in committee
May 9, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 9, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 12, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 12, 2025Committee report distributed
May 13, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 14, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 16, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 19, 2025Read 2nd time
May 19, 2025Amended 1-Capriglione
May 19, 2025Passed to 3rd reading as amended
May 19, 2025Record vote RV#2945
May 20, 2025Read 3rd time
May 20, 2025Passed
May 20, 2025Record vote RV#3015
May 20, 2025House passage as amended reported
May 26, 2025House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
May 26, 2025Read
May 26, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
May 26, 2025Record vote
May 26, 2025Reported enrolled
May 27, 2025Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
May 27, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 28, 2025Signed in the House
May 28, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 144 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 20, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 24, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Lois Kolkhorst

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60K Border Health PAC$35K SRR Ranches, LLC$30K

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 11, 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$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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 · Nov 19, 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.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

Border Health PAC$35,000.00

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. 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: 101012417.

SRR Ranches, LLC$30,000.00

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

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 · Nov 19, 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.

Report IDs: 101007416, 101012417, 101070754.

×

Border Health PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

Also funds 17 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 26, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Dec 6, 2024. 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: 101012417.

×

SRR Ranches, LLC

$30,000.00

Cash: $30,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $30,000.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 23, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 101012417, 101070754.

Votes7

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Kolkhorst moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 843. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

House May 20, 2025

Yea: 144
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 4
Absent: 1
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3015

SB 843 was passed by (Record 3015): 144 Yeas, 0 Nays, 4 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 144 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 4 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House May 19, 2025

Yea: 143
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 0
Excused: 4

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2945

SB 843, as amended, was passed to third reading by (Record 2945): 143 Yeas, 0 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 143 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

HallNay

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Yea: 30
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

HallNay

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator Kolkhorst moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 843 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

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

Yea: 30 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

HallNay

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSSB 843 as amended was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

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

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

MilesNay

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The amendment to CSSB 843 was read and was adopted by a viva voce vote.

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

Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Witnesses21

For: 15
Against: 3
On: 3

Names

For

Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE)2 registrations
Self1 registration
Self; DFER TX1 registration
Self; Every Texan2 registrations
Self; Self1 registration
Self; Texas AFT1 registration
Self; True Texas Project1 registration
TASB1 registration
Texas Public Charter Schools Association1 registration
Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration
Texas public policy foundation1 registration
Texas Taxpayers and Research Association - (TTARA)2 registrations

Against

Self3 registrations

On

Self1 registration
Texas Education Agency2 registrations

Sources

21 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

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,500,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version F · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 21, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB843, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($3,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The Texas Education Agency is required to implement a provision of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to, implement a provision of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,500,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version F by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Jan 17, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Paul BettencourtRSenate 7

Brian BirdwellRSenate 22

Donna CampbellRSenate 25

Brandon CreightonRSenate 4

Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30

Adam HinojosaRSenate 27

Bryan HughesRSenate 1

Tan ParkerRSenate 12

Charles PerryRSenate 28

Kevin SparksRSenate 31

Companion

HB 2053 by Buckley (identical)

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Finance

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

Electronic Information Systems

Taxation--School District

BONDS

EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS

EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF

Text

The text as introduced · 410 words

89R3496 AMF-D

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 843

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a Texas Education Agency database of school district

bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 45, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 45.114 to read as follows:

Sec. 45.114. BOND, TAX, AND PROJECT DATABASE. (a) In this

section:

(1) "Bond" means a bond described by Section 45.001.

(2) "Database" means the database established under

this section.

(3) "Maintenance tax" means a tax described by Section

45.002.

(b) The agency shall develop and maintain a database that

includes current information regarding school district bonds,

taxes, and bond-related projects, including:

(1) for each bond issued or proposed by a school

district:

(A) the language of the ballot proposition under

Section 45.003(b);

(B) the projected interest and sinking fund tax

rate associated with a proposed bond;

(C) the result of an election held for the

purpose of issuing a proposed bond;

(D) a list of the projects to be funded using the

bond;

(E) an accounting of the use of the proceeds of

any issued bond, including descriptions of any projects paid for

with the proceeds; and

(F) any increase in the interest and sinking fund

tax rate resulting from issued bonds;

(2) for maintenance taxes that have been levied or

proposed by a school district:

(A) each school district's proposed or approved

tax rate; and

(B) the language of the ballot proposition under

Section 45.003(d);

(3) the results of any election held under Section

26.08, Tax Code, including the ad valorem tax rate proposed by the

school district for purposes of the election;

(4) a report generation function to allow the agency

to generate reports of the information described by Subdivisions

(1) and (2) for each school district, disaggregated by geographic

area; and

(5) a function that allows for the proposal of updates

or corrections to the information included in the database.

(c) A school district shall provide the agency with the

information described by Subsections (b)(1) through (3) and any

other information requested by the agency for the purpose of

maintaining the database established under this section.

(d) The agency may contract with a third party as necessary

for the development or maintenance of the database under this

section.

(e) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

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

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Border Health PAC

SRR Ranches, LLC

Senate May 26, 2025

House May 20, 2025

House May 19, 2025

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Senate Apr 24, 2025

For

Against

On

Companion