By West                                               H.J.R. No. 32
         76R2311 JD-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the appraisal of
 1-2     real property for ad valorem taxation.
 1-3           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.   Section 1, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is
 1-5     amended by adding Subsections (j), (k), and (l) to read as follows:
 1-6           (j)  Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b) of this section,
 1-7     the maximum appraised value of real property, other than real
 1-8     property appraised as provided by Section 1-d or 1-d-1 of this
 1-9     article, for ad valorem taxation in a tax year is the sum of:
1-10                 (1)  the appraised value of the property for taxation
1-11     for the preceding year as adjusted by the appraisal office for the
1-12     current tax year to reflect the change from the preceding year in
1-13     the purchasing power of the dollar for consumers in this state; and
1-14                 (2)  the market value of all new improvements to the
1-15     property.
1-16           (k)  In Subsection (j) of this section, "new improvement"
1-17     means an improvement to real property that is made after the
1-18     appraisal of the property for the preceding year and that increases
1-19     the market value of the property.  The term does not include
1-20     ordinary maintenance of an existing structure or the grounds or
1-21     another feature of the property.
1-22           (l)  For each tax year that begins on or after January 1,
1-23     2000, using the index that the Comptroller of Public Accounts
1-24     considers most accurately reflects the change in the purchasing
 2-1     power of the dollar for consumers in this state, the comptroller
 2-2     shall determine and publicize the percentage by which the appraised
 2-3     value of real property may be adjusted under Subsection (j)(1) of
 2-4     this section.  Each appraisal office shall use the percentage
 2-5     determined by the comptroller under this subsection to determine
 2-6     the maximum appraised value of real property appraised by that
 2-7     appraisal office under Subsection (j) of this section.
 2-8           SECTION 2.   This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 2-9     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
2-10     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-11     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide that the
2-12     appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes may
2-13     not increase from year to year faster than the statewide rate of
2-14     inflation."