1-1  By:  Alexander, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Montford)    H.J.R. No. 72
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 1995;
    1-3  May 11, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance;
    1-4  May 18, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 11,
    1-5  Nays 0; May 18, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                        HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
    1-7  proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the ad valorem
    1-8  taxation of open-space land used for wildlife management.
    1-9        BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-10        SECTION 1.  Article VIII, Section 1-d-1, Subsection (a), of
   1-11  the Texas Constitution is amended to read as follows:
   1-12        (a)  To promote the preservation of open-space land, the
   1-13  legislature shall provide by general law for taxation of open-space
   1-14  land devoted to farm, <or> ranch, or wildlife management purposes
   1-15  on the basis of its productive capacity and may provide by general
   1-16  law for taxation of open-space land devoted to timber production on
   1-17  the basis of its productive capacity.  The legislature by general
   1-18  law may provide eligibility limitations under this section and may
   1-19  impose sanctions in furtherance of the taxation policy of this
   1-20  section.
   1-21        SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to the
   1-22  Texas Constitution:
   1-23        TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  The changes to the law made by
   1-24  Chapter 560, Acts of the 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991,
   1-25  are validated.
   1-26        (b)  This section does not authorize a property owner to
   1-27  claim a refund of taxes paid unless the tax payment was challenged
   1-28  as provided by law before the effective date of this amendment.
   1-29        (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 1998.
   1-30        SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
   1-31  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 1995.
   1-32  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
   1-33  proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow open-space
   1-34  land used for wildlife management to qualify for tax appraisal in
   1-35  the same manner as open-space agricultural land, subject to
   1-36  eligibility limitations provided by the legislature."
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