During the Regular Session, the 89th Texas Legislature passed three key measures to meaningfully improve fiscal transparency and cultivate a more informed decision-making environment. These well-intentioned measures include:
• HB 103 (2025), relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of taxing unit bond, tax, and bond-related project information; providing a civil penalty;
• HB 3526 (2025), relating to fiscal transparency for bonds issued by local governmental entities; and
• SB 843 (2025), relating to a Texas Education Agency database of school district and open-enrollment charter school bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects.
Taxes & Spending
The Staggering Amount of New Debt Added in May 2026
On May 2nd, 2026, Texas voters did something astonishing. They approved more new debt in that single afternoon than the entire gross domestic product of the country of Uganda. The $76.4 billion in new principal debt authorized that day won’t be issued tomorrow; but with voter approval in-hand, local governments now have the go-ahead to borrow more and add onto the $368.3 billion in principal debt already owed. Of course, these totals...
July 21, 2026