An authority may issue bonds for specified transportation and reserve purposes, but bonds with maturities over five years generally need voter approval; some refunding, reserve, and short-term commercial paper notes are excepted.
Sec. 463.202. POWER TO ISSUE BONDS. (a) An authority may issue bonds at any time and for any amounts it considers necessary or appropriate for: (1) the acquisition, construction, repair, equipping, improvement, or extension of its public transportation system; or (2) creating or funding self-insurance or retirement or pension fund reserves. (b) An authority may exercise the powers granted to the governing body of an issuer in connection with the issuance of obligations and the execution of credit agreements under Chapter 1371, Government Code. (c) A bond that has a maturity longer than five years from the date of issuance may not be issued by an authority until an election has been held and the proposition proposing the issue has been approved by a majority of the votes received on the issue. (d) Subsection (c) does not apply to: (1) refunding bonds; (2) bonds described by Subsection (a)(2); or (3) commercial paper notes having maturities of 270 days or less that are authorized to be issued and reissued from time to time under a commercial paper program in a maximum principal amount that the chief financial officer certifies, based on reasonable estimates of pledged revenue, can be repaid in full within five years after the date of authorization of the commercial paper program, taking into consideration any other bonds or notes having a prior or parity lien on the pledged revenue, regardless of the final date of the commercial paper program. (e) A commercial paper program described by Subsection (d)(3) may not be continued beyond five years unless, before issuing any note with a maturity exceeding five years from the date of the initial authorization of the program or five years from the date of any new certification, the chief financial officer provides a new certification that the maximum principal amount of the program, based on reasonable estimates of pledged revenue, can be repaid in full within five years after the date of the most recent new certification, taking into consideration any other bonds or notes having a prior or parity lien on the pledged revenue. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 151 (H.B. 71), Sec. 1, eff. May 24, 2019.