Bill Text: TX HJR135 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for an exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes of a percentage, rather than a dollar amount, of the market value of a residence homestead and providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect any increased exemption amount.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Referred to Ways & Means [HJR135 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HJR135-Introduced.html

---

84R10133 SMH-D
By: Schofield H.J.R. No. 135

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment providing for an exemption
from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes of a
percentage, rather than a dollar amount, of the market value of a
residence homestead and providing for a reduction of the limitation
on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for
those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to
reflect any increased exemption amount.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 1-b(c) and (d), Article VIII, Texas
Constitution, are amended to read as follows:
(c) Seven and one-half percent [Fifteen Thousand Dollars
($15,000)] of the market value of the residence homestead of a
married or unmarried adult, including one living alone, is exempt
from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary
public school purposes. The legislature by general law may provide
that all or part of the exemption does not apply to a district or
political subdivision that imposes ad valorem taxes for public
education purposes but is not the principal school district
providing general elementary and secondary public education
throughout its territory. In addition to this exemption, the
legislature by general law may exempt an amount not to exceed [Ten
Thousand Dollars (]$10,000[)] of the market value of the residence
homestead of a person who is disabled as defined in Subsection (b)
of this section and of a person [sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or
older from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary
public school purposes. The legislature by general law may base the
amount of and condition eligibility for the additional exemption
authorized by this subsection for disabled persons and for persons
[sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or older on economic need. An
eligible disabled person who is [sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or
older may not receive both exemptions from a school district but may
choose either. An eligible person is entitled to receive both the
exemption required by this subsection for all residence homesteads
and any exemption adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this
section, but the legislature shall provide by general law whether
an eligible disabled or elderly person may receive both the
additional exemption for the elderly and disabled authorized by
this subsection and any exemption for the elderly or disabled
adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section. Where ad
valorem tax has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the
taxing officers of a school district may continue to levy and
collect the tax against the value of homesteads exempted under this
subsection until the debt is discharged if the cessation of the levy
would impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was
created. The legislature shall provide for formulas to protect
school districts against all or part of the revenue loss incurred by
the implementation of this subsection, Subsection (d) of this
section, and Section 1-d-1 of this article [Article VIII, Sections
1-b(c), 1-b(d), and 1-d-1, of this constitution]. The legislature
by general law may define residence homestead for purposes of this
section.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, if a
person receives a residence homestead exemption prescribed by
Subsection (c) of this section for homesteads of persons who are
[sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or older or who are disabled, the
total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on that homestead for
general elementary and secondary public school purposes may not be
increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person
or that person's spouse who receives the exemption. If a person
[sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or older dies in a year in which
the person received the exemption, the total amount of ad valorem
taxes imposed on the homestead for general elementary and secondary
public school purposes may not be increased while it remains the
residence homestead of that person's surviving spouse if the spouse
is [fifty-five (]55[)] years of age or older at the time of the
person's death, subject to any exceptions provided by general law.
The legislature, by general law, may provide for the transfer of all
or a proportionate amount of a limitation provided by this
subsection for a person who qualifies for the limitation and
establishes a different residence homestead. However, taxes
otherwise limited by this subsection may be increased to the extent
the value of the homestead is increased by improvements other than
repairs or improvements made to comply with governmental
requirements and except as may be consistent with the transfer of a
limitation under this subsection. For a residence homestead subject
to the limitation provided by this subsection in the 1996 tax year
or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide for a
reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 1997 tax year and
subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000 multiplied by the
1997 tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school
purposes applicable to the residence homestead. For a residence
homestead subject to the limitation provided by this subsection in
the 2015 tax year or an earlier tax year that has a market value in
the 2016 tax year of more than $200,000, the legislature shall
provide for a reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 2016
tax year and subsequent tax years in an amount equal to the amount
computed by subtracting $15,000 from an amount equal to 7.5 percent
of the market value of the homestead in the 2016 tax year and
multiplying that amount by the 2016 tax rate for general elementary
and secondary public school purposes applicable to the homestead.
SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2015, providing for an exemption from ad valorem
taxation for public school purposes of a percentage, rather than a
dollar amount, of the market value of a residence homestead and
providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of
ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the
homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect any increased
exemption amount.
(b) The amendment to Sections 1-b(c) and (d), Article VIII,
of this constitution takes effect January 1, 2016, and applies only
to a tax year beginning on or after that date.
(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2017.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for an
exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes of
7.5 percent, rather than $15,000, of the market value of a residence
homestead and providing for a reduction of the limitation on the
total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those
purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to
reflect any increased exemption amount."