Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for April 3rd, 2025 

Texas House of Representatives

NONE

Texas Senate

Subject: Senate Bill 414 (SB 414) – Transparency on Bonds

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• Caption: Relating to the text of ballot propositions for bond elections.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 414 makes local bond elections more transparent by requiring ballots to show the full cost of the debt—including interest—rather than just the principal. It also mandates a voter information document that shows how much debt a local government already has and estimates how much taxes would go up on a $100,000 home. This prevents misleading bond proposals and gives taxpayers the tools they need to make informed decisions. The bill because it promotes honesty, limits waste, and helps prevent unnecessary debt and tax hikes.

Subject: Senate Bill 609 (SB 609) – Closes education policy loophole

• Author: State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
• Caption: Relating to requiring independent school districts, home-rule school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools to comply with legally required policies.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 609 helps to ensure that school districts in Texas not only adopt policies required by state law but also follow through and implement them. Currently, there is a gap where some districts comply on paper but don’t actually apply the policies in practice. This bill closes that gap by requiring school boards and personnel to put those policies into action. It applies to all types of public school systems, including charters. This bill increases accountability and ensures that taxpayer-funded schools respect legislative mandates without wasting resources or undermining policy intent. 

Subject: Senate Bill 785 (SB 785) – Manufactured Homes

• Author: State Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton)
• Caption: Relating to the regulation of new HUD-code manufactured housing.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 785 ensures that every Texas city must allow at least some space for new manufactured homes in residential areas, helping increase affordable housing options. It stops cities from banning these homes entirely through zoning laws or unnecessary permitting red tape. This bill protects private property rights and gives homeowners and builders more flexibility without heavy-handed local interference. It cuts bureaucratic delays by automatically approving permits if a city doesn’t respond within 45 days. By removing excessive local fees and regulations, SB 785 encourages private investment in cost-effective housing.

Subject: Senate Bill 1008 (SB 1008) – Standardizes food business regulation

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• Caption: Relating to state and local authority to regulate the food service industry.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1008 reins in burdensome local government overreach by standardizing food service regulations statewide. It stops cities and counties from layering extra fees and red tape on small businesses, especially restaurants, that already comply with state rules. The bill ensures business owners won’t be hit with duplicate permit costs or forced into unnecessary compliance steps that drive up operational expenses. By cutting through bureaucratic clutter, it protects job creators from unpredictable local mandates and legal loopholes. It also strengthens the ability of businesses to push back when local governments overstep their legal boundaries. This promotes a healthier economy, more efficient governance, and a better climate for entrepreneurship in Texas.

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.