A bill that could change what you see on the ballot

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Legislature is considering a bill that would make it harder for local officials to put bond proposals on your ballot.

Senate Bill 2529, authored by Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, aims to increase the threshold approval of a governing body - such as a school board or city council - needs to put a bond on the ballot.

Currently, all that is needed is a simple majority of 50%, but this bill would raise that threshold to 60%.

"It's the question of winning versus doing the right thing for taxpayers," said Bettencourt during a senate committee hearing.

The bill also states to have an even higher threshold for a bond that is up for election again after failing in a previous year to 80%.

"When the voters have approved, I mean something that's great, but when they disapprove, something, and it should. Be a signal to the governing body that if you're going to bring it back to less than a year, you better have a super majority of elected officials," Bettencourt said.

On election day, Hays Consolidated Independent School District considered almost a billion-dollar bond package. Tim Savoy, a spokesperson for Hays CISD said the funding will help accommodate fast growth in the area.

"We're projected to continue to grow 8000 to 1000 students every year for at least the next decade," Savoy said.

Savoy felt that SB 2529's logic should be applied in the way how current bills in the legislature are being passed.

"I would just propose this back to anyone who's considering that bill. How about that bill has to pass if it's going to raise what would be considered a majority in democracy," Sevoy said. "How about having a 60% or 70% threat to have any of those bills passed in the legislature?"

The bill was voted out of its senate committee in April and is eligible to be debated on the Texas Senate floor on Monday.