SB843 - Relating to a Texas Education Agency database of school district and open-enrollment charter school bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects.

      S.B. No. 843         AN ACT   relating to a Texas Education Agency database of school district   and open-enrollment charter school bonds, taxes, and bond-related   projects.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 45, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 45.114 to read as follows:           Sec.   45.114.     BOND, TAX, AND PROJECT DATABASE.   (a)   In this   section:                 (1)  "Bond" means a bond described by Section 45.001.                 (2)     "Charter district" means an open-enrollment   charter school designated as a charter district under Section   12.135.                 (3)     "Database" means the database established under   this section.                 (4)     "Maintenance tax" means a tax described by Section   45.002.           (b)     The agency shall develop and maintain a database that   includes current information regarding school district or   open-enrollment charter school, including charter district, bonds,   taxes, and bond-related projects, including:                 (1)     for each bond planned, proposed, or issued by a   school district:                       (A)     the language of the ballot proposition under   Section 45.003(b);                       (B)     the projected interest and sinking fund tax   rate associated with a proposed bond;                       (C)     the result of an election held for the   purpose of issuing a proposed bond;                       (D)     a list of the projects to be funded using the   bond;                       (E)     an accounting of the use of the proceeds of   any issued bond, including descriptions of any projects paid for   with the proceeds;                       (F)     other data related to capital projects, such   as new or renovated facilities, funded wholly or partly using the   bond, including data regarding funding sources for the projects,   project costs, project budget, and project size; and                       (G)     any increase in the interest and sinking fund   tax rate resulting from issued bonds;                 (2)     for each bond issued for an open-enrollment   charter school, including a charter district:                       (A)     a list of the projects to be funded using the   bond; and                       (B)     an accounting of the use of the proceeds of   any issued bond, including descriptions of any projects paid for   with the proceeds;                 (3)     for maintenance taxes that have been levied or   proposed by a school district:                       (A)     each school district's proposed or approved   tax rate; and                       (B)     the language of the ballot proposition under   Section 45.003(d);                 (4)     the results of any election held under Section   26.08, Tax Code, including the ad valorem tax rate proposed by the   school district for purposes of the election;                 (5)     a report generation function to allow the agency   to generate reports of the information described by Subdivisions   (1), (2), and (3), as applicable, for each school district and   open-enrollment charter school, including a charter district,   disaggregated by geographic area; and                 (6)     a function that allows for the proposal of updates   or corrections to the information included in the database.           (c)     A school district or open-enrollment charter school,   including a charter district, shall provide the agency with the   information described by Subsections (b)(1) through (4) and any   other information requested by the agency for the purpose of   maintaining the database established under this section.           (d)     The agency may contract with a third party as necessary   for the development or maintenance of the database under this   section.           (e)     The agency shall transmit the information described   above to the Bond Review Board to satisfy the local government   reporting requirements under Section 1231.025 of the Government   Code.           (f)     The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to   implement this section.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Education Agency is required to   implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature   appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the   legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that   purpose, the agency may, but is not required to, implement a   provision of this Act using other money available for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 843 passed the Senate on   April 24, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; and that   the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 26, 2025, by the   following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 843 passed the House, with   amendment, on May 20, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 144,   Nays 0, four present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor