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."