The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas HB 111 requires a two-thirds voter supermajority to approve local general obligation bonds
Last action · August 15, 2025: FiledSponsor: Brian Harrison
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas s are prohibited from issuing unless at least two-thirds of voters approve the issuance at an election, taking effect immediately or on the 91st day after the legislative session ends.
Local governments and school districts face a higher approval threshold for debt financing, altering the electoral margin required to fund public projects and infrastructure.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
political subdivisions
Political subdivisions must secure a two-thirds supermajority vote from electors to issue general obligation bonds.
voters
Voters must meet a two-thirds approval threshold to authorize general obligation bond issuances in local elections.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What voter threshold is required to approve general obligation bonds under this bill?
Does this requirement apply to bonds authorized before the effective date?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.
Procedural history
1 action- Aug 15, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Stricter Threshold for Local Debt
The bill introduces a uniform two-thirds voter approval requirement for political subdivisions issuing general obligation bonds, overriding existing laws.
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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