78R4984 RCJ-D

By:  Puente                                                       H.B. No. 1980



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to excepting certain land from the additional tax imposed 
on the change of use of land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes 
as open-space land.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 23.55(f), Tax Code, is amended to read as 
follows:       
	(f)  The sanctions provided by Subsection (a) of this section 
do not apply if the change of use occurs as a result of:
		(1)  a sale for right-of-way;                                                 
		(2)  a condemnation; [or]                                    
		(3)  a transfer of the property to the state or a 
political subdivision of the state to be used for a public purpose; 
or
		(4)  a transfer of the property from a municipality 
with a population of more than one million to a person for the 
purpose of conducting a business on the property that the 
municipality certifies at the time of the transfer is reasonably 
expected to create more than 1,500 new jobs for residents of the 
metropolitan area including the municipality.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it 
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each 
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate 
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to a 
change of use of land that occurs on or after the effective date of 
this Act.  A change of use of land that occurs before the effective 
date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately 
before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.