By Jackson H.B. No. 1622
74R1733 SMH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the exemption of a residence homestead from ad valorem
1-3 taxation by a school district.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 11.13(n), Tax Code, is amended to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 (n) In addition to any other exemptions provided by this
1-8 section, an individual is entitled to an exemption from taxation by
1-9 a taxing unit other than a school district of a percentage of the
1-10 appraised value of the individual's <his> residence homestead if
1-11 the exemption is adopted by the governing body of the taxing unit
1-12 before May 1 in the manner provided by law for official action by
1-13 the body. If the percentage set by the taxing unit produces an
1-14 exemption in a tax year of less than $5,000 when applied to a
1-15 particular residence homestead, the individual is entitled to an
1-16 exemption of $5,000 of the appraised value. The percentage adopted
1-17 by the taxing unit may not exceed 20 percent. In addition to any
1-18 other exemptions provided by this section, an individual is
1-19 entitled to an exemption from taxation by a school district of a
1-20 percentage of the appraised value of the individual's residence
1-21 homestead if the exemption is adopted by the governing body of the
1-22 school district before May 1 in the manner provided by law for
1-23 official action by the body or is adopted by a favorable vote of a
1-24 majority of the qualified voters of the district at an election
2-1 called by the governing body of the district. The voters of a
2-2 school district, at an election called by the governing body of the
2-3 district, may increase or decrease the amount of an exemption under
2-4 this subsection adopted by the governing body of the district or
2-5 the voters of the district. The governing body of a school
2-6 district shall call an election on the petition of at least 20
2-7 percent of the number of qualified voters who voted in the
2-8 preceding election of the district. The governing body of a
2-9 school district may not increase or decrease the amount of an
2-10 exemption under this subsection adopted by the voters of the
2-11 district. If the percentage set by the governing body of a school
2-12 district or the voters of the district produces an exemption in a
2-13 tax year of less than $5,000 when applied to a particular residence
2-14 homestead, the individual is entitled to an exemption of $5,000 of
2-15 the appraised value. The percentage adopted by the governing body
2-16 of a school district or the voters of the district may not exceed
2-17 20 percent.
2-18 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 1996, and
2-19 applies only to taxes imposed for tax years beginning on or after
2-20 that date, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the
2-21 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, to authorize the voters of
2-22 a school district to adopt or determine the amount of a residence
2-23 homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation by the district is
2-24 approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the
2-25 voters, this Act has no effect.
2-26 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-27 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.