Karen is a senior reporter covering the Southwest. She has covered the municipal bond market for more than 30 years at The Bond Buyer and Reuters. Prior to that she wrote about futures and options markets for magazines and was an award-winning reporter for a suburban Chicago newspaper chain.
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Some bills seeking to restrain local government debt issuance are still alive as the Texas Legislature's 2025 session heads towards its home stretch.
May 20 -
The rating agency, which gave the state a positive outlook a year ago, upgraded its general obligation rating a notch to AA-plus ahead of a $25 million bond sale.
May 16 -
The agreement includes $12.6 billion in spending for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and an income tax cut estimated to cost $160 million.
May 15 -
State officials called the one-notch rating cut to Aa1 with a stable outlook "a Trump downgrade" due to the state's heightened exposure to presidential policies.
May 14 -
The up to $385 million of sales and use tax revenue bonds will finance sewer projects to address sanitary system overflows under a federal consent decree.
May 14 -
The $839.5 million Harris County Hospital District bond sale will tap $2.5 billion of voter-approved debt authorization for a $3.2 billion expansion project.
May 13 -
The outlook revision to positive from stable comes ahead of the airport's planned refunding and plans to issue bonds to help finance a $2.7 billion capital program.
May 7 -
The spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 was balanced through an ongoing reorganization of city government, according to Mayor John Whitmire.
May 6 -
The law prohibits state and local government contracts worth $100,000 or more with companies that "discriminate" against the firearm industry.
May 6 -
Legislation would overhaul Dallas Area Rapid Transit's financial structure in a way that could impact outstanding debt and derail bonds for Austin light rail.
May 6 -
The city, which faces a budget shortfall, would receive the lesser of 30% or $80 million of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus toll revenue.
May 1 -
Fiscal 2026 general fund revenue for the city, which is considering a November bond election, is expected to be flat amid economic uncertainty fueled by tariffs.
April 30 -
State lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that bans state and local government contracts with companies that "discriminate" against the firearm industry.
April 29 -
The $350 million revenue bond issue will refund bonds sold in 2015 and finance improvements to the airline's primary maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
April 29 -
Bills have been introduced to eliminate the May election option for local bond and tax propositions, forcing them onto the November general election ballot.
April 29 -
Accusations are flying between the Republican state treasurer and attorney general, adding fuel to a battle that started last year.
April 23 -
Legislation signed into law will place $500 million of general obligation bonds and a constitutional amendment for economic development districts on the ballot.
April 22 -
Unrated Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority bonds will finance the purchase of the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write 'The Shining.'
April 22 -
Mayor John Whitmire said phased-in funding under an agreement with plaintiffs who successfully sued the city will help address a budget shortfall.
April 16 -
The state, which lost its positive S&P outlook due in part to previous tax cuts, could have further reductions under a bill that survived the governor's veto.
April 15
