The most recent U.S. Census Bureau data for state debt outstanding shows Texas was the nation’s second most populous state and ranked seventh among the ten most populous states in terms of state debt per capita. This calculation does not include Texas local government debt outstanding. For more information about Texas’ state and local debt outstanding compared with other US states, see Chapter 1 of the Bond Review Board Annual Report.

State debt is issued primarily for the purposes of transportation infrastructure (Texas Transportation Commission) and colleges and universities. The University of Texas System issues more than double the amount of debt than the next largest issuer, the Texas A&M University System. Water related debt (Texas Water Development Board) and housing related debt (Veteran's Land Board, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation) account for another significant amount of state debt outstanding.

Click here to see a brief description of each issuer name.

Texas’ state debt is mostly issued as current interest bonds (CIBs) with principal and interest payments paid semi-annual to investors. Sometimes, however, capital appreciation bonds (CABs) (CABs) are utilized with principal and accreted interest payments paid to investors on the maturity date. Issuing CABs generally results in a higher debt service cost. Also, included in the chart is an illustration of the projected annual scheduled debt service owed in the future until the final maturity date of all debt outstanding.

Texas' total state debt per capita has increased over the years. Revenue self-supporting debt, which includes college and university revenue bonds, the State Highway Fund, and State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT) bonds, accounts for most state debt. The gradual increase in general obligation not self-supporting debt over the years can largely be attributed to the $3 billion authorization of Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) bonds and $5 billion of Highway Improvement GO (HIGO) Transportation bonds both approved by the voters at the November 2007 general election. The Texas voters authorized an additional $3 billion of CPRIT bonds at the November 2019 general election.

The chart above represents unique bond counsel firms used by state debt issuers over the past five fiscal years. The size of each bar is determined by summing the total fees paid to each firm. Bond counsel firms that are designated as historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) are coded as such in the chart legend.

For more information about state bond issue costs, see Chapter 3 of the Bond Review Board Annual Report.

The chart above represents unique financial advisor firms used by state debt issuers over the past five fiscal years. The size of each bar is determined by summing the total fees paid to each firm. Financial advisor firms that are designated as historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) are coded as such in the chart legend.

The chart above represents the top 20 unique underwriter firms used by state debt issuers during the past five fiscal years. The total fees paid are determined by summing the management fee and total takedown fee paid to each underwriter firm. Underwriter firms that are designated as historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) are coded as such in the chart legend.

The chart above represents the rating agency fees paid by state debt issuers over the past five fiscal years. The size of each slice is determined by the sum of the fees paid to each rating agency by state debt issuers.