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          AN ACT
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        relating to the eligibility of land secured by a home equity loan to  | 
      
      
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        be designated for agricultural use for ad valorem tax purposes. | 
      
      
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               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
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               SECTION 1.  Section 23.42(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as  | 
      
      
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        follows: | 
      
      
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               (a)  An [Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), an]  | 
      
      
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        individual is entitled to have land he owns designated for  | 
      
      
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        agricultural use if, on January 1: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  the land has been devoted exclusively to or  | 
      
      
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        developed continuously for agriculture for the three years  | 
      
      
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        preceding the current year; | 
      
      
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                     (2)  the individual is using and intends to use the land  | 
      
      
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        for agriculture as an occupation or a business venture for profit  | 
      
      
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        during the current year; and | 
      
      
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                     (3)  agriculture is the individual's primary occupation  | 
      
      
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        and primary source of income. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 2.  Section 23.42(a-1), Tax Code, is repealed. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2020. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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           President of the Senate | 
        Speaker of the House      | 
      
      
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               I certify that H.B. No. 1254 was passed by the House on April  | 
      
      
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        3, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 1, 2 present, not  | 
      
      
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        voting. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Chief Clerk of the House    | 
      
      
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               I certify that H.B. No. 1254 was passed by the Senate on April  | 
      
      
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        25, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0. | 
      
      
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        ______________________________ | 
      
      
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        Secretary of the Senate     | 
      
      
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        APPROVED:  _____________________ | 
      
      
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                           Date           | 
      
      
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                  _____________________ | 
      
      
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                         Governor        |