By Nixon                                              S.J.R. No. 23
         76R5234 SMH-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature
 1-2     to limit the maximum average annual increase in the appraised value
 1-3     of real property for ad valorem tax purposes.
 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 1(i), Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
 1-6     is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (i)  Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b) of this section,
 1-8     the Legislature by general law may limit the maximum average annual
 1-9     percentage increase in the appraised value of real property
1-10     [residence homesteads] for ad valorem tax purposes to five [10]
1-11     percent, or a greater percentage, for each year since the most
1-12     recent tax appraisal.  A limitation on appraisal increases
1-13     authorized by this subsection:
1-14                 (1)  takes effect as to a parcel of real property
1-15     [residence homestead] on the later of the effective date of the law
1-16     imposing the limitation or January 1 of the tax year following the
1-17     first tax year the owner acquires [qualifies] the property [for an
1-18     exemption under Section 1-b of this article]; and
1-19                 (2)  expires on January 1 of the first tax year that:
1-20                       (A)  [neither] the owner of the property when the
1-21     limitation took effect no longer owns the property; and
1-22                       (B)  if the owner of the property when the
1-23     limitation took effect qualified the property for an exemption
1-24     under Section 1-b of this article, [nor] the owner's spouse or
 2-1     surviving spouse does not qualify [qualifies] for an exemption
 2-2     under that section [Section 1-b of this article].
 2-3           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 2-4     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.
 2-5     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 2-6     proposition: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the
 2-7     legislature to limit the maximum average annual increase in the
 2-8     appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes."