S.B. No. 30
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to ballot language requirements for a proposition seeking
  voter approval for the issuance of bonds.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 45.003, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows:
         (g)  Notwithstanding Section 1251.052, Government Code, the
  question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds for the
  construction, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the
  district, the purchase of new school buses, and the purchase of
  necessary sites for school buildings may be submitted to the voters
  in a single ballot proposition, except that bonds for each of the
  following purposes must be stated in a separate proposition:
               (1)  the construction, acquisition, or equipment of a
  stadium with seating capacity for more than 1,000 spectators;
               (2)  the construction, acquisition, or equipment of a
  natatorium;
               (3)  the construction, acquisition, or equipment of
  another recreational facility other than a gymnasium, playground,
  or play area;
               (4)  the construction, acquisition, or equipment of a
  performing arts facility;
               (5)  the construction, acquisition, or equipment of
  housing for teachers as determined by the district to be necessary
  to have a sufficient number of teachers for the district; and
               (6)  an acquisition or update of technology equipment,
  other than equipment used for school security purposes or
  technology infrastructure integral to the construction of a
  facility.
         (h)  The question of whether to approve the issuance of bonds
  for a building described by Subsection (g)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)
  must be printed on the ballot as a separate ballot proposition
  regardless of whether that building is proposed as part of the same
  complex or building that contains traditional classroom
  facilities. Each separate ballot proposition required by this
  subsection must state the principal amount of the bonds to be issued
  that constitutes the cost for construction of that portion of the
  building or complex attributable to the building described by
  Subsection (g)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) or to the traditional
  classroom facilities, as applicable.
         SECTION 2.  Section 52.072(e), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for
  a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition
  language, a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the
  [issuance of bonds or the] imposition, increase, or reduction of a
  tax shall specifically state, as applicable:
               (1)  [with respect to a proposition seeking voter
  approval of the issuance of bonds:
                     [(A)     the total principal amount of the bonds to
  be authorized, if approved; and
                     [(B)     a   general description of the purposes for
  which the bonds are to be authorized, if approved;
               [(2)]  with respect to a proposition that only seeks
  voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax, the amount of
  or maximum tax rate of the tax or tax increase for which approval is
  sought; or
               (2) [(3)]  with respect to a proposition that only
  seeks voter approval of the reduction of a tax, the amount of tax
  rate reduction or the tax rate for which approval is sought.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by
  designating Sections 1251.001, 1251.003, 1251.004, 1251.005, and
  1251.006 as Subchapter A and adding a subchapter heading to read as
  follows:
  SUBCHAPTER A. PROVISIONS RELATING GENERALLY TO COUNTY AND
  MUNICIPAL BOND ELECTIONS
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 1251, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER B. BALLOT FOR DEBT OBLIGATIONS ISSUED BY POLITICAL
  SUBDIVISION
         Sec. 1251.051.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Debt obligation" means a public security, as
  defined by Section 1201.002, secured by and payable from ad valorem
  taxes.  The term does not include public securities that are
  designated as self-supporting by the political subdivision issuing
  the securities.
               (2)  "Political subdivision" means a municipality,
  county, school district, or special taxing district.
         Sec. 1251.052.  FORM. (a)  The ballot for a measure seeking
  voter approval of the issuance of debt obligations by a political
  subdivision shall specifically state:
               (1)  a plain language description of the single
  specific purposes for which the debt obligations are to be
  authorized;
               (2)  the total principal amount of the debt obligations
  to be authorized; and
               (3)  that taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and
  interest on the debt obligations will be imposed.
         (a-1)  Each single specific purpose for which debt
  obligations requiring voter approval are to be issued must be
  printed on the ballot as a separate proposition.  A proposition may
  include as a specific purpose one or more structures or
  improvements serving the substantially same purpose and may include
  related improvements and equipment necessary to accomplish the
  specific purpose.
         SECTION 5.  Section 1251.002, Government Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 6.  The change in law made 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 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 30 passed the Senate on
  April 11, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0;
  May 23, 2019, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 23, 2019, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2019, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,
  Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 30 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 137,
  Nays 5, three present not voting; May 23, 2019, House granted
  request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 26, 2019, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 135, Nays 8, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor