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HB 68TEXASSession 891State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas bill raises school bond voter approval threshold to three-fifths

Original title: Relating to increasing the threshold of voter approval for a school district bond election.

Last action · July 14, 2025: FiledSponsor: Mike Olcott

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 68 requires a three-fifths majority vote of to approve school district bond issuances and related tax levies, replacing the previous simple majority requirement, effective January 1, 2026, contingent on voter approval of a companion constitutional amendment.

Background

School districts in Texas rely on voter-approved bond elections to finance capital improvements such as building new schools or upgrading facilities. context

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.

Directly affected

school districts

School districts must achieve a higher three-fifths voter approval threshold to issue bonds and levy associated taxes.

Directly affected

qualified voters

Voters participate in school district bond elections under a new three-fifths approval threshold requirement.

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 vote percentage is required to pass a school district bond under this bill?

A three-fifths majority of the of the district voting at the election.

Does this apply to bond elections ordered before January 1, 2026?

No, an election ordered before the effective date is governed by the former law in effect when the election was ordered.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

1 action

Jul 14, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

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.

Connected Entities

Mike Olcott, Education Code, Election Code

PersonMike Olcott“Bill author/sponsor in the Texas House”Map →

otherEducation Code“Statute being amended by the bill”Map →

otherElection Code“Governing code for holding elections under the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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