By Brimer                                             H.J.R. No. 43
         76R5393 MLS-F                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment increasing the maximum size of
 1-2     an urban homestead to 10 acres, prescribing permissible uses of
 1-3     urban homesteads, and preventing the overburdening of a homestead.
 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 51, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 51.   The homestead, not in a town or city, shall
 1-8     consist of not more than two hundred acres of land, which may be in
 1-9     one or more parcels, with the improvements thereon; the homestead
1-10     in a city, town or village, shall consist of lot or contiguous lots
1-11     amounting to not more than 10 acres [one acre] of land, together
1-12     with any improvements on the land; provided, that the homestead in
1-13     a city, town, or village [same] shall be used for the purposes of a
1-14     home[, or as a place to exercise the calling or business] of the
1-15     homestead claimant, whether a single adult person, or the head of a
1-16     family; provided also, that any temporary renting of the homestead
1-17     shall not change the character of the same, when no other homestead
1-18     has been acquired; provided further that a release or refinance of
1-19     an existing lien against a homestead as to a part of the homestead
1-20     does not create an additional burden on the part of the homestead
1-21     property that is unreleased or subject to the refinance, and a new
1-22     lien is not invalid only for that reason.
1-23           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
1-24     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
 2-1     The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against
 2-2     the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment increasing the
 2-3     maximum size of an urban homestead to 10 acres, prescribing
 2-4     permissible uses of urban homesteads, and preventing the
 2-5     overburdening of a homestead."