HB 1514
AN ACT relating to the authority of a political subdivision to issue debt
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Restricts political subdivisions (counties, municipalities, school districts, etc.) from issuing public securities (debt) to purchase or lease tangible personal property if the property's expected useful life ends before the debt's maturity date. The legislation aims to prevent political subdivisions from taking on long-term debt for short-lived assets, ensuring that the duration of the financial obligation aligns with the useful life of the purchased property. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and applies to all political subdivisions in Texas.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the authority of a political subdivision to issue debt to purchase or lease tangible personal property. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 1253, Government Code, is CHAPTER 1253. PUBLIC SECURITIES [GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS] ISSUED BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS SECTION 2. Section 1253.001, Government Code, is amended to Sec. 1253.001. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter: (1) "Political [, "political] subdivision" means a county, municipality, school district, junior college district, other special district, or other subdivision of state government. (2) "Public security" has the meaning assigned by SECTION 3. Chapter 1253, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 1253.0015 to read as follows: Sec. 1253.0015. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY TO ISSUE PUBLIC SECURITY FOR TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY. A political subdivision may not issue a public security to purchase or lease tangible personal property if the expected useful life of the property for the purpose of calculating depreciation deductions under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ends before the maturity date of the , Government Code, is amended to Sec. 1253.002. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY. [(a) In this section, "personal property" has the meaning assigned by Section [(b)] Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a political subdivision may not issue general obligation bonds to purchase, improve, or construct one or more improvements to real property [, to purchase one or more items of personal property, or to do both,] if the weighted average maturity of the issue of bonds exceeds 120 percent of the reasonably expected weighted average economic life of the improvements [and personal property] financed SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Political Subdivisions and related subject areas.
Sean Abbott
PremiumBeverly C. Cornwell
PremiumMichael J. Johnson
Allison Billodeau
Sarah Hicks
Ky Ash
Andria Baum
David H. Cain
Ashley Michelle Juergens
Elizabeth Hadley
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the authority of a political subdivision to issue debt
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