H.B. No. 67 introduces significant changes to the election process for authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and increasing ad valorem tax rates in Texas. The bill mandates that such elections must be held on the November uniform election date and prohibits them from being conducted as emergency elections. Additionally, if any law requires these elections to occur on a different date, the administering authority must adjust the election date to comply with this new requirement. A key provision of the bill is the introduction of a supermajority voting requirement, stipulating that at least two-thirds of voters must approve the issuance of general obligation bonds.

The bill also amends various sections of the Tax Code and other relevant laws to reflect this supermajority requirement. For instance, it modifies the language regarding voter approval for tax rates, changing the threshold from a simple majority to two-thirds of the votes cast. This change applies to several sections, including those related to public notices for tax increases and the adoption of tax rates by governing bodies. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, unless a related constitutional amendment is not approved by voters, in which case certain provisions will not take effect.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 281.124, Special District Local Laws Code 1101.254, Tax Code 26.063, Tax Code 26.07, Tax Code 26.08 (Tax Code 26, Health and Safety Code 281, Special District Local Laws Code 1101)