Bond elections

Among the defeated referendums were three for bonds totalling $146 million.

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.

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.

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.

Bills have been introduced to eliminate the May election option for local bond and tax propositions, forcing them onto the November general election ballot.

Legislation signed into law will place $500 million of general obligation bonds and a constitutional amendment for economic development districts on the ballot.

Issuers in the eight-state region sold $103.3 billion of bonds last year, with Texas deals accounting for $68.13 billion of the debt.

Public school districts sought bond authorizations in January totaling $469 million, which topped an available state cap of $293.4 million.

Prolific debt issuance by Texas school districts, state issuers, and others drove muni volume to a state record in 2024, easily surpassing 2023's $59 billion.

Ohio legislators plan to vote Wednesday on a resolution that would put a $2.5 billion general obligation bond measure on statewide ballots May 6.