LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 16, 2001 TO: Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1879 by Chavez (Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation for disabled veterans and the surviving spouses and children of disabled veterans and members of the armed forces who die on active duty.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. * ************************************************************************** The bill would amend Chapter 11 of the Tax Code to allow for immediate qualification and receipt of the disabled veteran's exemption for the applicable portion of a tax year. The bill would allow persons qualifying for the exemption to file a late exemption application similar to the current law that allows late homestead exemption applications. Under current law, late applications do not entitle persons to prorate exemptions; the exemption would become effective the following year. Note: For the 1999 tax year, school districts reported that 129,468 disabled veteran's exemptions were granted, with an average value of $8,206 per veteran. It is anticipated that the number of disabled veterans filing late each year would not be significant when compared to the current number of exemptions; therefore, it is not anticipated the fiscal impact on the state and units of local government would be significant. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JK, SD, WP, BR