According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), the fiscal impact of HB 103 on state finances is projected to be a negative $1,258,000 to General Revenue over the 2026–2027 biennium. The bill requires the Texas Comptroller, in partnership with the Bond Review Board, to develop and maintain a publicly accessible database containing taxing unit bond and tax information. Significant upfront administrative and technology costs are expected to create this database, particularly an estimated $1,080,000 in fiscal year 2026 alone for development work, including approximately 7,200 programming hours​.

Additionally, the Comptroller’s office would need to hire one new full-time employee (FTE) to assist with outreach, data collection, compliance tracking, and rule development. Ongoing costs are anticipated at $89,000 annually after the initial database buildout.

While the bill creates a mechanism for imposing civil penalties ($1,000 per violation) against taxing units that fail to provide required information, the Legislative Budget Board notes that it is unable to estimate revenue from such penalties because the potential number of non-compliant taxing units is unknown. Thus, penalty revenues are not factored into the fiscal projections.

At the local level, taxing units could face costs if they fail to comply and are subject to a civil penalty. However, the financial impact on local governments is also unquantifiable at this time.

Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 103 based on its clear alignment with key principles of transparency, accountability, and limited government. The bill addresses a real and pressing need for Texans to better understand and oversee their local tax obligations and public debt accumulation. As the bill analysis explains, currently, there is no centralized way for taxpayers to easily find out how local taxing entities — including school districts, cities, and counties — are setting tax rates, issuing debt, or using bond proceeds. By requiring the Comptroller to create a comprehensive, free, and user-accessible database that collects and organizes this information statewide, the bill would empower citizens to make more informed decisions at the ballot box and in civic discussions.

From a governance standpoint, the bill directly promotes limited government by requiring detailed financial disclosures without expanding regulatory authority. The ability of taxpayers to track local bond issuances, tax rate elections, and resulting projects supports fiscal restraint at the local level while also deterring inefficient or unnecessary debt accumulation. Furthermore, the fiscal note shows that although there are modest initial costs associated with developing the database, the long-term benefits to public accountability and voter education far outweigh the short-term expenditure.

The bill analysis also highlights that HB 103 improves upon the originally filed version by tightening definitions, expanding the range of data to be reported, and enhancing user functionality, such as disaggregating information by geographic areas within taxing units. These improvements ensure that the final product will be both more useful to citizens and more sustainable for state management. Overall, the bill is a strong advancement for taxpayer rights, financial transparency, and responsible local governance.

• Individual Liberty: The bill empowers individual Texans by making critical financial information about local government tax rates, bond measures, and public projects easily accessible through a centralized database. With more knowledge at their fingertips, citizens can make better-informed voting decisions and advocate more effectively for their interests. Transparent access to government financial activities is a fundamental way to protect individual autonomy from hidden or unchecked governmental actions.
• Personal Responsibility: By providing taxpayers with clear, comprehensive, and current data about tax increases and bond-funded projects, the bill encourages voters to take greater ownership of the consequences of their voting choices. It fosters a sense of civic duty and personal responsibility by giving citizens the tools they need to monitor, question, and influence how their local governments operate.
• Free Enterprise: While the bill does not directly affect the private market or private businesses, it creates a government transparency tool that could lead to better fiscal governance at the local level. Efficient, transparent government reduces the risk of unpredictable tax increases or hidden debt burdens, fostering a more stable economic environment that benefits businesses and entrepreneurs indirectly.
• Private Property Rights: Property taxes are a direct burden on property owners. By shining a light on how property tax rates are set, how bond proceeds are used, and how local debt levels evolve, the bill strengthens private property rights. It ensures that property owners can understand and potentially resist excessive or unjustified taxation that would otherwise erode their property values or increase their financial burdens without clear consent.
• Limited Government: This bill exemplifies limited government by increasing accountability without expanding state power inappropriately. It mandates transparency and compliance from local taxing units but does not introduce new regulatory restrictions on private behavior. By setting up civil penalties only for governmental noncompliance (not for individuals or businesses), it reinforces the principle that government exists to serve, not to rule, the people.