CS/HB 7065 – Local Government Fiscal Transparency

• Creates the "Local Government Fiscal Transparency Act" requiring local governments to post voting records on their websites showing how officials voted on tax increases and new tax-supported debt issuances, with 4-year history required by October 1, 2020.

• Requires property appraisers to maintain websites with links to proposed property tax notices and millage rate history for at least 4 years, and requires local governments to post their own millage rate and revenue history online.

• Mandates expanded public notice requirements for tax increases and new tax-supported debt issuances, including at least 14 days' notice before a public hearing and 10 days' notice before a final vote, with specific advertising standards in newspapers.

• Requires local governments to perform debt affordability analyses before authorizing new tax-supported debt, calculating debt service ratios for 5 prior years and projecting 2 years forward.

• Requires audits of local governments to be accompanied by affidavits from the governing board chair certifying compliance with the fiscal transparency requirements, or describing any noncompliance and corrective actions taken.