S.B. No. 1453 amends the Education Code and the Tax Code to enhance transparency and accountability in the budgeting and tax rate processes for school districts in Texas. The bill specifies that notices for public meetings regarding budget discussions and proposed tax rates must be prominently displayed in newspapers and include detailed information about the budget, tax rates, and property values. Notably, it introduces new language requiring that the notice must include a statement about the minimum dollar amount required to service the district's debt, as well as a section comparing the proposed budget with the previous year's budget. Additionally, the bill mandates that the governing body of a taxing unit can only approve a tax rate exceeding a certain threshold if specific conditions are met, including a motion that details the proposed rate and its intended use.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies the definition of "current debt service" to reflect the minimum dollar amount required for debt service in the current year. It also establishes that if a taxing unit approves a rate that exceeds the determined rate, it will be considered the current debt rate for that tax year, necessitating a recalculation of the voter-approval tax rate. The provisions of this act will apply to ad valorem taxes imposed for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 44.004, Tax Code 26.012, Tax Code 26.04, Tax Code 26.05 (Tax Code 26, Education Code 44)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 44.004, Tax Code 26.012, Tax Code 26.04, Tax Code 26.05 (Tax Code 26, Education Code 44)
Engrossed: Education Code 44.004, Tax Code 26.012, Tax Code 26.04, Tax Code 26.05 (Tax Code 26, Education Code 44)
House Committee Report: Education Code 44.004, Tax Code 26.012, Tax Code 26.04, Tax Code 26.05 (Tax Code 26, Education Code 44)
Enrolled: Education Code 44.004, Tax Code 26.012, Tax Code 26.04, Tax Code 26.05 (Tax Code 26, Education Code 44)