By Craddick                                           H.B. No. 2613
       74R6884 JD-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property
    1-3  owned by a religious organization.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 11.20, Tax Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Subsection (g) to read as follows:
    1-7        (g)  For purposes of Subsection (a)(5), an incomplete
    1-8  improvement is under physical preparation if the religious
    1-9  organization has engaged in architectural or engineering work, soil
   1-10  testing, land clearing activities, or site improvement work
   1-11  necessary for the construction of the improvement or has conducted
   1-12  an environmental or land use study relating to the construction of
   1-13  the improvement.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-15  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-16  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-17  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-18  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-19  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-20  passage, and it is so enacted.