By:  Flores (Senate Sponsor - Staples)                          H.J.R. No. 51 
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2003; 
May 7, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural 
Resources; May 13, 2003, rereferred to Committee on Finance; 
May 23, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 12, 
Nays 0; May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a two-year period 
for the redemption of a mineral interest sold for unpaid ad valorem 
taxes at a tax sale.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Sections 13(c) and (d), Article VIII, Texas 
Constitution, are amended to read as follows:
	(c)  The former owner of a residence homestead,[sold for 
unpaid taxes and the former owner of] land designated for 
agricultural use, or a mineral interest sold for unpaid taxes shall 
within two years from date of the filing for record of the 
Purchaser's Deed have the right to redeem the property on the 
following basis:
		(1)  Within the first year of the redemption period, 
upon the payment of the amount of money paid for the property, 
including the Tax Deed Recording Fee and all taxes, penalties, 
interest, and costs paid plus an amount not exceeding 25 percent of 
the aggregate total;  and
		(2)  Within the last year of the redemption period, 
upon the payment of the amount of money paid for the property, 
including the Tax Deed Recording Fee and all taxes, penalties, 
interest, and costs paid plus an amount not exceeding 50 percent of 
the aggregate total.
	(d)  If the residence homestead or land designated for 
agricultural use [property] is sold pursuant to a suit to enforce 
the collection of the unpaid taxes, the Legislature may limit the 
application of Subsection (c) of this section to property used as a 
residence homestead when the suit was filed and to land designated 
for agricultural use when the suit was filed.
	SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to 
the Texas Constitution:
	TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  This temporary provision applies 
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 78th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2003, to establish a two-year period for the 
redemption of a mineral interest sold for unpaid ad valorem taxes at 
a tax sale and expires January 1, 2005.
	(b)  The amendments to Sections 13(c) and (d), Article VIII, 
of this constitution, take effect January 1, 2004, and apply only to 
the redemption of a mineral interest sold at a tax sale for which 
the purchaser's deed is filed for record on or after January 1, 
2004.  The redemption of a mineral interest sold at a tax sale for 
which the purchaser's deed is filed for record before January 1, 
2004, is covered by the law in effect when the deed is filed, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003.  
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to establish a two-year 
period for the redemption of a mineral interest sold for unpaid ad 
valorem taxes at a tax sale."



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