2025 · Regular session · Senate bill
SB1025
SB1025 requires “THIS IS A TAX INCREASE” at the top of a ballot proposition that only seeks approval to impose or increase a tax.
Official caption: Relating to the text of ballot propositions that increase taxes.
Official report lists Senate author(s): Bettencourt. This does not identify sponsors or amendment drafters.
Bill explanation published · Version and amendment review scope is stated below · Individual amendment records may not be separately annotated.
Bill highlights
Selected points from the published explanation. Follow each point to its source-linked context; conditions and limits may matter.
- SB1025 requires “THIS IS A TAX INCREASE” at the top of a ballot proposition that only seeks approval to impose or increase a tax.
- The existing numerical disclosure remains: a proposition only imposing or increasing a tax must state the amount or maximum tax rate sought; one only reducing a tax must state the amount of the rate reduction or the rate sought.
- The governor signed the bill and it became effective May 24, 2025, after receiving the votes needed for immediate effect.
What does it do?
SB1025 requires “THIS IS A TAX INCREASE” at the top of a ballot proposition that only seeks approval to impose or increase a tax. That statement must be in capital letters and the same font size as the rest of the proposition. The statute otherwise requires mixed-case text for propositions seeking approval to impose, increase or reduce a tax, except as specified in the subsection. Final law, section 1.
The existing numerical disclosure remains: a proposition only imposing or increasing a tax must state the amount or maximum tax rate sought; one only reducing a tax must state the amount of the rate reduction or the rate sought. The new tax-increase heading applies to the first category, not to a reduction-only proposition. This act changes ballot wording, not the tax rate itself or whether voters must approve a particular proposal under other law. Final law; Pre-act Election Code 52.072.
The governor signed the bill and it became effective May 24, 2025, after receiving the votes needed for immediate effect. It applies only to elections ordered on or after that date—not merely elections held afterward. September 1 was the fallback date in the bill, not its actual effective date. History; Final law, sections 2–3.
What changed along the way?
The introduced, Senate committee and engrossed versions required the capitalized tax-increase statement but did not specify its location, and originally set September 1 as the effective date. The House committee substitute added “at the top of the proposition” and the immediate-effect clause. Both survived in the final law. The floor-amendment index lists no amendments; the House changes came through its committee substitute, and the Senate concurred May 12. Text versions; House substitute; Amendment index; History; Final law.
For the full amendment record, open the official amendment index.
Official bill versions
Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.
Who could benefit—and who could bear the costs?
Voters see a standardized, prominent tax-increase heading for covered propositions, and authorities preparing ballots must use the required placement, capitalization and font size. The act does not quantify an effect on voting outcomes, taxes collected or household tax bills, and the “only seeks” wording should not be broadened into a claim about every mixed-purpose proposition. The March 8 and April 25 fiscal notes anticipate no significant state or local fiscal implication and assume costs can be absorbed with existing resources; they do not say implementation requires no work. Final law; Introduced fiscal note; House-substitute fiscal note.
Official sources
- Bill history and latest recorded action
- Bill versions, analyses and fiscal notes
- Action history and votes
- Amendment index
Catalog report retrieved 2026-10-25. Check the official record for corrections or later changes.
