By Cook                                               H.B. No. 2924
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to amendments to the Texas Property Code.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 41.001(b) of the Texas Property Code is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        (b)  Encumbrances may be properly fixed on homestead property
    1-7  for:
    1-8              (1)  purchase money (which includes but is not limited
    1-9  to (i) consideration paid or to be paid for the purchase of the
   1-10  property or (ii) consideration for an owelty of partition imposed
   1-11  against the entirety of the property by a court order or by written
   1-12  agreement of the parties);
   1-13              (2)  taxes on the property (which include but are not
   1-14  limited to (i) ad valorem property taxes and federal taxes, and
   1-15  (ii) refinances by third parties of ad valorem taxes or federal tax
   1-16  liens); or
   1-17              (3)  work and material used in constructing
   1-18  improvements on the property if contracted for in writing as
   1-19  provided by Sections 53.059(a), (b), and (c).
   1-20        SECTION 2.  Section 41.002(c) of the Texas Property Code is
   1-21  amended to read as follows:
   1-22        (c)  A homestead is considered to be rural if, at the time a
   1-23  <the> designation is made, the property is not within the corporate
    2-1  limits of an incorporated city <served by municipal utilities and
    2-2  fire and police protection>.
    2-3        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-4        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-5  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-6  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-7  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-8  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.