SRC-JEC H.B. 824 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 824
By: Ellis, Dan (Bernsen)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not exempt county fair associations that own land and
buildings from ad valorem taxation of the property. While most county fair
association property is owned by a county and is therefore exempt, and
other counties give the county tax assessors discretion to exempt the
property owned by the county fair association, a statewide policy to exempt
county fair associations from taxation of property would benefit those
county fair associations that are not presently exempt.  H.B. 824 entitles
a nonprofit county fair association that is organized to hold agricultural
fairs and encourage agricultural pursuits to a tax exemption on the land
and buildings it owns and uses to hold agricultural fairs.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 11.23, Tax Code, by adding Subsection (h), as
follows: 

(h) County Fair Associations.  Entitles a county fair association organized
to hold agricultural fairs and encourage agricultural pursuits to an
exemption from taxation of the land and buildings that it owns and uses to
hold agricultural fairs.  Sets forth conditions necessary to qualify for an
exemption under this subsection. 

SECTION 2.   Effective date: January 1, 2002.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.