What this is
HB 301 changes the vote needed to approve tax increases that go above what voters have already approved.
HB 301 is a state law that changes how our community votes on property tax increases. Sponsored by Representative Valoree Swanson, this bill modifies the voting rules when school districts, hospitals, and local governments want to raise taxes above the level voters have already approved.
Right now, when a school district or other taxing unit wants to increase property taxes beyond what voters have approved before, they need to hold an election. The bill changes the vote threshold from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority. This means that instead of just over 50 percent of voters needing to agree, now at least 67 percent of voters must approve the increase for it to pass.
The law applies to several types of institutions in Texas, including school districts, hospital districts, and special local districts. It makes sure that when leaders propose big tax increases, our community has strong say in the decision. The notice that goes out before these elections also includes more detail about how the tax rates compare to each other and how taxes are calculated.
Read full text
The bill was introduced in the 89th Texas Legislature and affects how property tax elections work across the state. Communities can use this law to understand when elections happen and what the voting rules are. To learn more about upcoming tax elections in our area, we can check Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes, which shows information about proposed tax rates and voting schedules for every entity that taxes our property.
Key details
- Vote requirement: Two-thirds majority of voters
- Sponsor: Representative Valoree Swanson
- Legislature: 89th Texas Legislature
- Status: Introduced
- Information source: Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes
About Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of Texas, consisting of the House of Representatives with 150 members and the Senate with 31 members. Meeting in regular session every two years, the legislature passes stat…
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Why it matters
This is part of Our Health — health, wellness, and caring for each other.
How this affects households
Under $30,000
Makes it harder for local governments to raise property taxes, which could help keep housing costs lower if you own a home.
$30,000-$60,000
Property tax increases will be harder to pass, which could help keep your housing costs steady if you're a homeowner.
$60,000-$100,000
Higher voting threshold may prevent some property tax increases, helping control one of your biggest household expenses.
Over $100,000
Makes property tax increases much harder to approve, which saves you money since you likely own more valuable property.
How to get involved
- 1Start with the snapshot above to know what this is in a glance.
- 2Read why it matters so you can speak to it in your own words.
- 3Weigh in using the button above.
When you call, you can say: “Hi, I saw "Texas Law Changes How Voters Approve Tax Rate Increases" on Community Exchange and want to know how to take part.”
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