Going Past the Tax Limit Should Take More Than a Coin Flip. HB 687 Says 60 Percent.

Your city, your county, or your school board wants more of your money than the law allows without asking you.

Right now, half the voters plus one can say yes.

HB 687, filed today in Austin, says that is not enough. Make it 60 percent.

Plain English summary

Texas puts a ceiling on how fast a local government can raise your property tax bill. That ceiling is called the voter-approval tax rate. If a taxing unit wants to go above it, it has to hold an election and ask you.

Under current law, a simple majority wins that election.

HB 687 changes the number. A tax rate above the voter-approval rate would only stand if at least 60 percent of the votes cast say yes. If the proposition gets less than 60 percent, the taxing unit is held to the voter-approval rate.

It covers cities, counties and other taxing units, school districts, hospital districts, and one special district written into local law. It would take effect January 1, 2028, and it would only apply to elections held on or after that date.

Why it matters

A tax rate election is not a one-time ask. The rate you approve becomes the new floor the next year's math starts from.

Last week, a lot of Texans got asked that question. News outlets across Central Texas and San Antonio reported that voters turned down most of the school tax rate increases and bond measures on their ballots.

A 60 percent bar changes how close calls come out. That is the whole fight in one number.

And this is the second bill today that asks for 60 percent. Earlier I wrote about HB 238, which would raise the bar for school bond debt to three-fifths. HB 238 needs a constitutional amendment to work. HB 687 does not. The bill text contains no amendment requirement. It is a straight change to the Tax Code and a few other codes.

The receipt

FACT: HB 687 was filed in the Texas House on November 9, 2026. The bill history lists the author as Harrison. Bill history

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: The author is State Rep. Brian Harrison. He has filed property tax bills in past sessions, as reported by Texas Taxpayers and Research Association and Fox 4.

FACT: Section 5 amends Tax Code Section 26.07(d). Section 6 amends Section 26.08(c), the school district election. Both change "a majority" to "at least 60 percent" of the votes cast. Introduced text

FACT: Section 1 makes the same change for hospital districts in Health and Safety Code Section 281.124. Section 2 does it for a district in Special District Local Laws Code Section 1101.254.

FACT: Sections 3 and 4 rewrite the public notice. Today the notice says that if a majority of voters reject the proposed rate, the rate will be the voter-approval rate. Under the bill, it would say that unless at least 60 percent of voters accept the proposed rate, the rate will be the voter-approval rate.

FACT: The notice already has to list the names of every member of the governing body and how each one voted on the tax increase. The bill keeps that.

FACT: Section 7 says the change applies only to elections held on or after the effective date. Section 8 sets the effective date at January 1, 2028.

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: Fox 7 Austin, KSAT and Texas Public Radio reported that voters rejected most school tax rate and bond measures in their areas on November 3, 2026.

What Ryan says

RYAN STATEMENT: I am for schools. I am for teachers. I am for paying deputies and firefighters what they are worth.

I am also for the family in Gregg County that already pays the bill.

The law already set a limit. A local board that wants to go past the limit is asking for an exception. An exception should need more than a coin flip.

Sixty percent is not a ban. It says if the case is strong, make it. Show the budget. Show what the money buys. Win the room.

If you cannot get six out of ten neighbors to agree, maybe the plan needs work.

I want a hearing on this bill. I want a recorded vote. Every member of the Texas House should go on the record. Same as the board members whose names are printed on your tax notice.

Show me the vote. That is the record.

What this does not prove

It does not prove HB 687 will get a hearing, a committee vote, or a floor vote. It was filed today. That is all.

It does not cap your tax rate or lower your bill. It only changes how many votes it takes to go above the voter-approval rate.

It does not touch bond elections. That is HB 238.

It does not prove any election from last week would have come out differently. I do not have certified precinct numbers in front of me, and I will not guess.

What it does prove

A bill is on file that would move the bar for tax rate increases above the limit from 50 percent plus one to 60 percent, for cities, counties, school districts and hospital districts.

It is written to start January 1, 2028.

And it is in the record now, with an author's name on it.

The bottom line

The ceiling is already the law. The only question is how many of us it takes to lift it.

Read the bill. Ask your state representative where they stand. Make them say it out loud.

Do not threaten anyone. Do not harass anyone. Do not contact anyone in my name. Read it. Share it. Send receipts, evidence, witnesses. Put eyes on the record.