Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 1st, 2025

Texas House of Representatives

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Subject: House Bill 1545 (HB 1545) – Improves sunset review process

• Author: State Rep. Keith Bell (R-Forney)
• Caption: Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 1545 reshuffles sunset review dates to better manage legislative oversight and agency accountability without adding new bureaucratic layers. By staggering evaluations, it reduces strain on the Sunset Advisory Commission and promotes a more focused and effective use of resources. Importantly, the bill calls for a targeted review of the troubled Texas Juvenile Justice Department, ensuring taxpayers are not footing the bill for inefficiencies or federal noncompliance. The bill strengthens transparency requirements and improves reporting practices, holding agencies more accountable to the Legislature and the public. It also ensures that non-abolishable agencies remain under scrutiny, preventing complacency. These reforms align with the principles of limited government by streamlining reviews. By boosting legislative control over agency operations, HB 1545 helps to advance fiscal discipline and taxpayer protection.

Subject: House Joint Resolution 110 (HJR 110) – Constitutional hurdle for candidates

• Author: State Rep. Carl Tepper (R-Lubbock)
• Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the filing of required political funding reports and personal financial statements to be eligible to hold certain public elective offices.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HJR 110 would disqualify individuals from holding certain elected or appointed offices in Texas if they have not submitted every required campaign finance or personal financial disclosure. While it seeks to promote transparency, it adds another eligibility barrier that may be weaponized for political purposes. The enforcement of these paperwork rules could lead to costly litigation or bureaucratic challenges that burden taxpayers and candidates alike. Rather than streamlining government, this measure expands constitutional qualifications and risks entrenching incumbent politicians, or unelected officials who benefit from disqualifying others over technicalities. It could even allow government actors to block political opponents over minor clerical delays or paperwork disputes. This kind of overregulation undermines voter choice by letting bureaucratic rules trump the will of the electorate. Texas should focus on shrinking government oversight and empowering voters—not multiplying the reasons to disqualify candidates.

Subject: House Joint Resolution 203 (HJR 203) – Permanent healthcare education fund

• Author: State Rep. Terry Wilson (R-Georgetown)
• Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing the Texas Health Care Workforce Education Fund to provide funding to eligible institutions of higher education to address Texas’ health care workforce needs and drive the state economy.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HJR 203 is the constitutional amendment for HB 5265. This would create a permanent education fund to funnel state-managed money to public universities for producing more health care degrees. It relies on a constitutional amendment and would divert taxpayer money into long-term government-controlled investment vehicles. While marketed as a workforce solution, it expands bureaucratic control over education funding and locks in future appropriations. The bill lacks safeguards to ensure cost-effectiveness or measurable outcomes, relying instead on state formulas and quotas to distribute money. It places no cap on administrative overhead or waste. Startup grants add another layer of spending, fueling government-driven academic expansion instead of private sector or nonprofit innovation. From a limited government standpoint, this bill entrenches state intervention and expands higher education funding commitments, when the priority should be tax relief and deregulation.

Subject: House Bill 294 (HB 294) – Backyard food freedom

• Author: State Rep. Philip Cortez (D-San Antonio)
• Caption: Relating to the regulation by a property owners’ association of food production on single-family residential lots.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 294 protects private property rights by preventing property owners’ associations from banning families from growing food or raising a small number of animals for personal use. It empowers Texans to reduce their food bills and promote self-sufficiency without relying on government subsidies or programs. By affirming the right to cottage food production, the legislation supports small-scale entrepreneurship without expanding bureaucracy or needing taxpayer-funded oversight. It encourages local, decentralized food production rather than top-down control. The bill also makes clear that POAs remain in charge of shared spaces and are allowed to regulate signage and traffic concerns. Overall, this bill enhances personal liberty, without creating new government programs or costs.

Subject: House Bill 4264 (HB 4264) – Law enforcement pay incentive program

• Author: State Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant)
• Caption: Relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 4264 would create a new state-funded grant program that hands out $6,500 bonuses to certain law enforcement officers. To qualify, the officer must hold a Master Proficiency Certificate and be working full-time, with the money used solely to increase their pay. While retaining experienced officers is a worthy goal, this bill adds a recurring financial burden on taxpayers without clear performance accountability or demonstrated need. It bypasses local control and accountability, and uses state dollars to supplement compensation decisions that should be made at the local level. The bill lacks safeguards to ensure the bonuses lead to better policing outcomes or increased public safety. It also sets a precedent for other professions to demand similar handouts based on certifications. Worse, it opens the door to future expansions and inflation-adjusted increases, effectively growing government commitments without long-term oversight. With no limits on the number of awards, the total taxpayer cost could spiral. In short, while well intentioned, HB 4264 expands state spending for local personnel matters under the guise of professional development, without sufficient justification or restraint.

Subject: House Bill 1353 (HB 1353) – Expands agency bonding authority

• Author: State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City)
• Caption: Relating to international cooperation agreements between certain state agencies and the United Mexican States and funding for infrastructure investment in this state; providing authority for certain agencies to issue bonds.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 1353 gives more Texas state agencies the power to issue bonds and enter into international agreements with Mexico, specifically adding TCEQ and the PUC to the list. It encourages these agencies to form joint funding deals with the North American Development Bank to pay for infrastructure projects in Texas. While cooperation may sound appealing, this bill opens the door to more government debt and financial entanglements with foreign institutions. It risks bypassing local accountability by allowing unelected agencies to tie Texas taxpayer funds to international partnerships. Expanding bonding authority without meaningful limits promotes long-term indebtedness and invites bureaucratic overreach. Moreover, the bill weakens fiscal restraint by facilitating new borrowing mechanisms backed by state appropriations. From a limited-government standpoint, Texas should focus on internal infrastructure needs using transparent, locally accountable methods—without involving foreign entities or adding to public debt.

Subject: House Bill 3923 (HB 3923) – Promotes skills-based state hiring

• Author: State Rep. Keith Bell (R-Forney)
• Caption: Relating to state employment opportunities for individuals who do not hold a bachelor’s degree.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 3923 eliminates unnecessary college degree requirements for many state jobs, helping Texas hire more qualified workers based on skills and experience rather than academic credentials alone. By shifting toward a skills-based hiring model, the state can fill roles faster and potentially lower hiring costs. Government should be efficient and focus on results, not credentials. This reform trims bureaucratic red tape in hiring and improves workforce flexibility. With rising college costs and a tight labor market, this is a fiscally responsible update that boosts opportunity without adding new spending. Fewer degree mandates mean a more competitive and taxpayer-friendly workforce strategy.

Subject: House Bill 1407 (HB 1407) – Regional water agency authority increase

• Author: State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City)
• Caption: Relating to the provision of water or sewer service by public entities operating jointly or concurrently; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 1407 expands the authority of government-run water and sewer utility agencies by allowing multiple political subdivisions to collaborate, issue debt, and take over failing private or nonprofit utility providers. While framed as a way to streamline service delivery, the bill grows the power of quasi-government entities that operate without direct voter accountability. It opens the door to increased public debt through bonds and special assessments and gives government actors greater control over infrastructure. Granting broad bonding and assessment powers without requiring voter approval invites hidden debt accumulation, shifting future costs onto taxpayers without meaningful accountability. While addressing some real coordination issues, this bill ultimately expands bureaucracy and government reach at the expense of market competition and taxpayer safeguards.

Subject: House Bill 4044 (HB 4044) – University historic tax credit expansion

• Author: State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas)
• Caption: Relating to certain expenditures by public institutions of higher education and university systems that are eligible for certain tax credits.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 4044 reopens a tax credit loophole for Texas public universities, allowing them to claim historic preservation tax credits. While framed as supporting rehabilitation efforts, this bill revives a costly carve-out that expired in 2021, burdening taxpayers to subsidize building renovations at state institutions. The credits result in millions in lost revenue—$3.36 million just in the first two years—and siphon funds from the Property Tax Relief Fund, effectively redirecting money away from taxpayers and public schools. The measure expands government subsidies to entities already funded by taxpayer dollars, increasing the cost to the public. Although the provision is set to expire in 2035, the damage over the next decade is significant.

Subject: House Bill 4066 (HB 4066) – Ends outdated university research subsidy

• Author: State Rep. Greg Bonnen (R-Friendswood)
• Caption: Relating to the repeal of the Texas Research Incentive Program.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 4066 repeals a taxpayer-funded matching program that gave state money to universities for private research donations. While well-intentioned, the Texas Research Incentive Program has lacked consistent funding and accountability in recent years. The state has since adopted better, more effective strategies to support university research, focusing on outcomes and return on investment. Ending this outdated program helps prevent duplication and waste, freeing up funds for more productive uses. By eliminating a dormant program, the bill supports limited government and prioritizes efficiency in higher education funding.

Subject: House Bill 4153 (HB 4153) – Loosens rules for TWDB contracts

• Author: State Rep. Caroline Fairly (R-Amarillo)
• Caption: Relating to the applicability of uniform grant and contract management standards to certain Texas Water Development Board programs.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 4153 removes certain Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) programs from the oversight and standardized requirements of the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Act. This means that contracts under major state-funded water assistance and loan programs would no longer have to follow the state’s consistent financial safeguards. While the bill is framed as promoting efficiency, it instead weakens accountability and opens the door to inconsistent or opaque contracting practices. Uniform grant standards exist to ensure that public funds are spent responsibly, transparently, and with comparability across programs. Allowing TWDB to bypass these rules increases the risk of waste or favoritism and erodes public trust in how taxpayer dollars are managed. It also sets a concerning precedent for other agencies to seek exemptions from fiscal safeguards. Limited government should not mean unchecked government.

Subject: House Bill 3349 (HB 3349) – Expanded subsidies for local events

• Author: State Rep. Carl Tepper (R-Lubbock)
• Caption: Relating to the events trust fund and to abolishing the Pan American Games trust fund, Olympic Games trust fund, and motor sports racing trust fund.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 3349 increases state subsidies for events in smaller counties by nearly doubling or tripling the multiplier used to calculate taxpayer support through the Events Trust Fund. While marketed as a way to help rural and mid-sized communities attract events, the bill expands corporate welfare and government spending, costing state taxpayers over $21 million in just two years. Rather than reforming or shrinking the trust fund system, this bill redistributes it in a way that makes it easier for more local governments to tap into state dollars. It also bypasses the current structure requiring tax revenue-based remittances, allowing cities to pledge any local money, thus obscuring transparency and weakening accountability. By abolishing older trust funds, it may appear like a simplification effort, but in practice it retools and enlarges a flawed system. This bill reflects a step away from fiscal restraint and toward more government-directed economic favoritism.

Subject: House Bill 4406 (HB 4406) – Red tape for political speech

• Author: State Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont)
• Caption: Relating to the reporting of direct campaign expenditures by certain persons and political committees.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 4406 tightens reporting rules for political committees and campaigns by requiring more specific details on who campaign expenditures are meant to support or oppose. This bill imposes additional red tape and reporting burdens on political actors, especially grassroots campaigns and small PACs. Increased paperwork and technical compliance costs could chill political participation and free speech, especially from newcomers without legal teams. This represents government micromanagement of political speech. Rather than limiting government, this bill expands state control over the mechanics of political engagement. It risks entrenching the political establishment by making it harder for ordinary Texans to engage in campaigns freely and confidently.

Subject: House Bill 1899 (HB 1899) – Lowers fireworks license age

• Author: State Rep. Oscar Longoria (D-Mission)
• Caption: Relating to the required age for a license or permit relating to the conduct of a public fireworks display.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 1899 reduces the minimum age for obtaining a pyrotechnic operator’s license or public fireworks permit from 21 to 18. It opens more job opportunities for young adults and helps small, often family-run fireworks businesses who struggle to hire due to current age limits. The bill does not impose new costs on taxpayers or regulatory burdens on the state. Instead, it eliminates a needless barrier to entry in a seasonal, low-wage sector. By restoring individual liberty and workforce flexibility, the bill promotes economic efficiency. This is a small but meaningful step toward shrinking government overreach in licensing.

Subject: House Bill 4960 (HB 4960) – Government overreach into free speech

• Author: State Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont)
• Caption: Relating to political advertising distributed or broadcast as part of a mass text message campaign and civil penalties for required disclosures on certain political advertising.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 4960 would significantly expand government oversight of political speech by regulating mass text message campaigns used in elections. It broadens the definition of political advertising to include paid text messages and imposes steep penalties of up to $10,000 per message for noncompliance with disclosure rules. Each text message is counted separately, which could result in overwhelming fines for political organizations, especially small grassroots groups. While aimed at improving transparency, the bill will have the effect of chilling free political expression and creates a powerful enforcement mechanism that may be weaponized against dissenting voices. This increases bureaucracy and state control over how Texans engage in political discourse. It opens the door to excessive fines based on technical violations. Rather than curbing abuse, this bill could deter honest citizens from participating in campaigns altogether.

Subject: House Bill 3214 (HB 3214) – Reduces barriers for Plumbers license

• Author: State Rep. Keresa Richardson (R-McKinney)
• Caption: Relating to eligibility for a master plumber license.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 3214 simplifies and shortens the process for becoming a master plumber in Texas, reducing unnecessary barriers to licensure. By allowing journeyman plumbers to qualify after two years of experience—or just one year with approved training—it helps meet the urgent workforce demand without growing government programs. The reform promotes private-sector growth by allowing more skilled tradesmen to advance faster, which is critical amid ongoing housing development and disaster recovery. Faster licensing means more competition and lower costs for plumbing services, which benefits Texas homeowners and taxpayers. Importantly, the bill does not expand government spending or create new entitlements—it simply eliminates outdated red tape.

Subject: House Bill 2145 (HB 2145) – Government-funded EV charging stations

• Author: State Rep. Salman Bhojani (D-Euless)
• Caption: Relating to the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain state-owned parking lots and garages.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 2145 requires state agencies to include EV charging stations in all new parking lots or garages designed after September 1, 2025. While pitched as a sustainability measure, this bill imposes costly infrastructure mandates on state agencies without accounting for the full financial burden on taxpayers. By requiring state agencies to predict EV demand and install charging technology, the bill invites unnecessary government spending and mission creep into energy planning. State facilities should prioritize core functions, not investments in charging infrastructure that the private sector is already solving for the EV market. With no clear cap on costs or enforcement standards, the bill creates open-ended financial risk. Instead of growing state responsibilities, Texas should focus on reducing waste and limiting government scope.

Texas Senate

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Subject: Senate Bill 1434 (SB 1434) –Stops school-funded polling transport

• Author: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• Caption: Relating to a prohibition on the use of public money by a school district to transport district students or employees to or from a polling place.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1434 protects taxpayer dollars by ensuring that school district funds cannot be used for politically motivated transportation to polling places. The bill prevents the use of public resources—such as school buses and staff time—for the purpose of ferrying students or employees to vote, an activity that falls outside the proper scope of a district’s educational mission. This helps reinforce the principle that taxpayer funds should be used exclusively for core educational services, not political convenience. By clarifying this boundary, the bill eliminates a gray area that could allow misuse of local funds and school assets under the guise of civic participation. This is a common-sense guardrail that enhances accountability and curbs potential abuse.

Subject: Senate Bill 1502 (SB 1502) – Protects voter-approved tax limits

• Author: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• Caption: Relating to the authority of the governing body of a school district to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the district’s voter-approval tax rate.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1502 protects taxpayers by closing a loophole that some school districts have used to override the will of voters. When voters reject a property tax hike in a Tax Ratification Election, this bill ensures that the district cannot exploit a disaster exemption to impose the same or higher rate anyway. This reform is about respecting the outcome of elections and reinforcing fiscal accountability. SB 1502 strengthens taxpayer rights and reins in abuse of emergency provisions for non-emergency purposes. By limiting government authority to raise taxes without clear voter consent, the bill helps to promote trust and fiscal restraint.

Subject: Senate Bill 1844 (SB 1844) – Expands disannexation eligibility rules

• Author: State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
• Caption: Relating to disannexation of certain areas of a municipality for failure to provide services.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1844 makes it easier for landowners to force a city to release their land if the city fails to deliver essential services like water, wastewater, or fails to honor service agreements. It allows property owners—rather than just registered voters—to petition for disannexation. If the city ignores the petition for 60 days, property owners can sue and, if successful, the court must order disannexation and make the city pay legal costs. The bill helps to ensure cities cannot get away with expanding their tax base without delivering services in return. It closes a loophole where cities could tax areas under limited-purpose jurisdiction but offer nothing in exchange. This protects taxpayers from being trapped in unfair arrangements and discourages cities from annexing land they can’t or won’t serve.

Subject: Senate Bill 1863 (SB 1863) – Expands county election audit program

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• Caption: Relating to the conduct of randomized county election audits.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1863 strengthens election integrity by requiring more robust and routine audits of local elections in Texas. It expands the number of counties subject to review each year and ensures that city, school, and other local elections within those counties are also included. By scrutinizing voter registration, ballot custody, and equipment testing, the bill aims to prevent fraud and uncover administrative failures before they escalate. The bill promotes accountability by requiring cooperation from local officials and denying state reimbursements to those who stonewall. The bill avoids creating a new agency or layer of bureaucracy—leveraging the existing Secretary of State’s office instead. Overall, this measure is a sound step toward limited, effective government oversight that safeguards taxpayer trust in election processes.

Subject: Senate Bill 2035 (SB 2035) – Overreaching restrictions on political speech

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• Caption: Relating to prohibiting contributions, expenditures, and related activities involving political committees that support or oppose a ballot measure; creating a criminal offense; providing a civil penalty.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • SB 2035 seeks to prevent foreign influence in Texas ballot measures, a laudable goal, but it does so by creating an overly broad and burdensome regulatory framework. It forces every political committee to verify that each donor has not received over $100,000 in non-wage funds from any foreign national within the past four years. The bill could also effectively ban a Texan who inherits or receives gifts from a foreign relative from spending on ballot measure elections. This requirement applies even to lawful gifts or inheritances, potentially silencing everyday Texans based on personal finances unrelated to politics. The bill presumes guilt based on prior financial history and imposes steep civil and criminal penalties—including personal liability for nonprofit leaders and political volunteers. It empowers the Attorney General to issue injunctions and bar individuals from lobbying or political activity, raising serious concerns about government overreach. The mandated donor certifications, audits, and legal exposure will make it harder for citizen-led groups to participate in the political process. From a fiscally conservative perspective, the bill grows bureaucracy, invites politicized enforcement, and expands the reach of the state into private, lawful behavior. It risks chilling free speech and civic engagement while doing little to stop actual bad actors. S.B. 2035 should be rejected or significantly amended to target true foreign interference without infringing on Texans’ constitutional rights.

Subject: Senate Bill 2401 (SB 2401) – Sunset review backup bill

• Author: State Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
• Caption: Relating to governmental entities subject to the sunset review process.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • [UPDATED] SB 2401 is a procedural bill that typically would preserve the life of agencies subject to sunset until 2027, if the legislature fails to act. The committee substitute adjusts the sunset date for some agencies—including the Texas Lottery Commission—from September 1 to September 2, 2025. While the change appears minor, it’s crucial: it keeps these agencies on schedule for full review and potential abolishment in 2025, rather than kicking the can down the road to 2027. This is especially important in the case of the Lottery Commission, which is fundamentally incompatible with conservative principles of limited government. The committee substitute avoids a blanket two-year extension, which, if passed, ensure that the Texas lottery commission would be abolished in September of 2025, if separate legislation does not extend the life of the Commission. For these reasons, TFR revises its position to SUPPORT.

Subject: Senate Bill 2846 (SB 2846) – Expansive TPWD quarantine authority

• Author: State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• Caption: Relating to the control of disease in wildlife; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • SB 2846 significantly expands the regulatory power of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by allowing it to impose expansive quarantines and penalties for diseases in wildlife, including non-communicable ones. It creates sweeping new enforcement tools, including misdemeanor and felony charges and daily administrative fines up to $5,000. The bill imposes nearly $700,000 in new costs to a dedicated state fund and grows government payroll by adding two new employees. It also gives TPWD broad discretion to define disease exposure and enforce compliance, which could burden rural property owners and hunters with vague or subjective mandates. Landowners may be forced to comply with costly disposal rules or face penalties, even without clear evidence of harm. This bill unnecessarily expands the state’s enforcement and surveillance reach into private property and wildlife management. The bill sets expands unchecked regulatory power under the guise of animal disease control. For these reasons, TFR strongly opposes SB 2846.

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Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public, sharing Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Notices are provided prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.