78R4009 JD-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 1918
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limiting the annual percentage increase in the
appraised value of a residence homestead and certain other
residential property for ad valorem tax purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1.12(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(d) For purposes of this section, the appraisal ratio of a
residential property [homestead] to which Section 23.23 applies is
the ratio of the property's market value as determined by the
appraisal district or appraisal review board, as applicable, to the
market value of the property according to law. The appraisal ratio
is not calculated according to the appraised value of the property
as limited by Section 23.23.
SECTION 2. Section 23.23, Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 23.23. LIMITATION ON APPRAISED VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY [RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD]. (a) In this section "residential
property" means a property that a person owns that is used or
designed for residential purposes and consists of fewer than five
dwelling units. The term includes:
(1) property that qualifies as a residence homestead;
and
(2) a separately owned dwelling unit, including an
interest in real property described by Section 11.13(o) that
entitles the owner to occupy a dwelling unit, in a structure that
contains the dwelling unit.
(b) The appraised value of a residential property
[residence homestead] for a tax year may not exceed the lesser of:
(1) the market value of the property; or
(2) the sum of:
(A) two [10] percent of the appraised value of
the property for the last year in which the property was appraised
for taxation times the number of years since the property was last
appraised;
(B) the appraised value of the property for the
last year in which the property was appraised; and
(C) the market value of all new improvements to
the property.
(c) [(b)] When appraising a residential property [residence
homestead], the chief appraiser shall:
(1) appraise the property at its market value; and
(2) include in the appraisal records both the market
value of the property and the amount computed under Subsection
(b)(2) [(a)(2)].
(d) [(c)] The limitation provided by Subsection (b) [(a)]
takes effect as to a residential property [residence homestead] on
January 1 of the tax year following the first tax year in which the
owner owned the property on January 1 and in which [qualifies] the
property was used for residential purposes for the entire year [an
exemption under Section 11.13]. The limitation expires on January
1 of the first tax year after the date the property is diverted to a
use other than residential or is sold or transferred to another
person who is not [that neither the owner of the property when the
limitation took effect nor] the owner's spouse or surviving spouse
[qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13].
(e) For purposes of this section, ownership of property by a
qualifying trust as defined by Section 11.13(j) is considered to be
ownership by the trustor.
(f) For purposes of this section, property does not cease to
be used for residential purposes solely because the property is
temporarily unoccupied or being remodeled or repaired consistent
with residential use.
(g) [(d)] This section does not apply to property appraised
under Subchapter C, D, E, F, [or] G, or H.
(h) [(e)] In this section, "new improvement" means an
improvement to a residential property [residence homestead] that is
made after the most recent appraisal of the property [for the
preceding year] and that increases the market value of the
property. The term does not include repairs to or ordinary
maintenance of an existing structure or the grounds or another
feature of the property.
SECTION 3. Section 44.004(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt the
budget and the proposed tax rate may not be smaller than one-quarter
page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the
headline on the notice must be in 18-point or larger type. Subject
to Subsection (d), the notice must:
(1) contain a statement in the following form:
"NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
"The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at
(time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location,
city, state). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school
district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be
adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." The
statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type. In
reduced type, the notice must state: "The tax rate that is
ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a
later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the
district publishes a revised notice containing the same information
and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to
discuss the revised notice.";
(2) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must:
(A) show in rows the tax rates described by
Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of
property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations,"
"Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of
"Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund":
(i) the school district's "Last Year's
Rate";
(ii) the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of
Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which:
(a) in the case of "Maintenance &
Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current
taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser
under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes
made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared,
would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to
be distributed to the district under Chapter 42, would provide the
same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds
distributed under Chapter 42 per student in average daily
attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the
district in the preceding school year; and
(b) in the case of "Interest & Sinking
Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable
value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under
Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by
the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when
multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would
impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be
distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes
collected to service the district's debt during the preceding year
but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide the
amount required to service the district's debt; and
(iii) the "Proposed Rate";
(B) contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with
the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row
required by Paragraph (A):
(i) the "Local Revenue per Student," which
is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of
property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable
school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to
reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the
notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product
by the number of students in average daily attendance in the
district for the applicable school year; and
(ii) the "State Revenue per Student," which
is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be
received by the district under Chapters 42, 43, and 46 and dividing
that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in
the district for the applicable school year; and
(C) contain an asterisk after each calculation
for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in
reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is
used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or
both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds,
were approved by the voters of this district.";
(3) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must:
(A) show in rows the information described by
Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns
entitled "Last Year" and "This Year":
(i) "Average Market Value of Residences,"
determined using the same group of residences for each year;
(ii) "Average Taxable Value of Residences,"
determined after taking into account the limitation on the
appraised value of residential properties [residences] under
Section 23.23, Tax Code, and after subtracting all homestead
exemptions applicable in each year, other than exemptions available
only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older or
their surviving spouses, and using the same group of residences for
each year;
(iii) "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed
Rate per $100 Value"; and
(iv) "Taxes Due on Average Residence,"
determined using the same group of residences for each year; and
(B) contain the following information:
"Increase (Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents,
which is computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on Average
Residence" for the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on Average
Residence" for the current tax year;
(4) contain the following statement in bold print:
"Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the
residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving
spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age
or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount
paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of
changes in tax rate or property value.";
(5) contain the following statement in bold print:
"Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the district can
adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is (the school
district rollback rate determined under Section 26.08, Tax Code).
This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a
rate in excess of the rollback rate of (the school district rollback
rate)."; and
(6) contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which
must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund
balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or
general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal
year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt
obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the
district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 42 in
the succeeding school year.
SECTION 4. Sections 403.302(d) and (i), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(d) For the purposes of this section, "taxable value" means
the market value of all taxable property less:
(1) the total dollar amount of any residence homestead
exemptions lawfully granted under Section 11.13(b) or (c), Tax
Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school
district;
(2) one-half of the total dollar amount of any
residence homestead exemptions granted under Section 11.13(n), Tax
Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school
district;
(3) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted
before May 31, 1993, within a reinvestment zone under agreements
authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;
(4) subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount
of any captured appraised value of property that:
(A) is within a reinvestment zone created on or
before May 31, 1999, or is proposed to be included within the
boundaries of a reinvestment zone as the boundaries of the zone and
the proposed portion of tax increment paid into the tax increment
fund by a school district are described in a written notification
provided by the municipality or the board of directors of the zone
to the governing bodies of the other taxing units in the manner
provided by Section 311.003(e), Tax Code, before May 31, 1999, and
within the boundaries of the zone as those boundaries existed on
September 1, 1999, including subsequent improvements to the
property regardless of when made;
(B) generates taxes paid into a tax increment
fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code, under a reinvestment zone
financing plan approved under Section 311.011(d), Tax Code, on or
before September 1, 1999; and
(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under
Chapter 311, Tax Code;
(5) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted
under Section 11.251, Tax Code;
(6) the difference between the comptroller's estimate
of the market value and the productivity value of land that
qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity,
except that the productivity value estimated by the comptroller may
not exceed the fair market value of the land;
(7) the portion of the appraised value of residence
homesteads of the elderly on which school district taxes are not
imposed in the year that is the subject of the study, calculated as
if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value
required by law;
(8) a portion of the market value of property not
otherwise fully taxable by the district at market value because of:
(A) action required by statute or the
constitution of this state that, if the tax rate adopted by the
district is applied to it, produces an amount equal to the
difference between the tax that the district would have imposed on
the property if the property were fully taxable at market value and
the tax that the district is actually authorized to impose on the
property, if this subsection does not otherwise require that
portion to be deducted; or
(B) action taken by the district under Subchapter
B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code;
(9) the market value of all tangible personal
property, other than manufactured homes, owned by a family or
individual and not held or used for the production of income;
(10) the appraised value of property the collection of
delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.06, Tax
Code;
(11) the portion of the appraised value of property
the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under
Section 33.065, Tax Code; and
(12) the amount by which the market value of a
residential property [residence homestead] to which Section 23.23,
Tax Code, applies exceeds the appraised value of that property as
calculated under that section.
(i) If the comptroller determines in the annual study that
the market value of property in a school district as determined by
the appraisal district that appraises property for the school
district, less the total of the amounts and values listed in
Subsection (d) as determined by that appraisal district, is valid,
the comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in
the school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of
Subsection (d)(12) subtract from the market value as determined by
the appraisal district of residential properties [residence
homesteads] to which Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies the amount by
which that amount exceeds the appraised value of those properties
as calculated by the appraisal district under Section 23.23, Tax
Code. If the comptroller determines in the annual study that the
market value of property in a school district as determined by the
appraisal district that appraises property for the school district,
less the total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as
determined by that appraisal district, is not valid, the
comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in the
school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of
Subsection (d)(12) subtract from the market value as estimated by
the comptroller of residential properties [residence homesteads]
to which Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies the amount by which that
amount exceeds the appraised value of those properties as
calculated by the appraisal district under Section 23.23, Tax Code.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2004, and
applies only to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of a
residence homestead for a tax year that begins on or after that
date, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 78th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to authorize the legislature to
set a limit of two percent on the annual percentage increase in the
appraised value of residence homesteads and certain other
residential property is approved by the voters. If that amendment
is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.