BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                             H.J.R. 24

                                                                                                                                         By: Berman

                                                                                                                                    Ways & Means

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

HJR 24 is a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed by a school district on the residence homestead of an elderly or disabled person in proportion to any reduction in the tax rate of the school district.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

If a person receives the limitation provided by Section 1-b(d), Article VIII, of the Texas Constitution for the person's residence homestead, and the person or the person's spouse received the limitation in the preceding tax year for that homestead, and the tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school purposes applicable to the homestead for the current tax year is less than the tax rate for those purposes applicable to that homestead for the preceding tax year; then the limitation provided on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead is reduced for the current and subsequent tax years in proportion to the reduction in the tax rate.  

 

The amendment to Section 1-b(d), Article VIII, of this constitution takes effect January 1, 2006, and applies only to a tax year that begins on or after that date.   This is a temporary provision, and applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 79th Legislature, 1st Called Session, 2005, to reduce the amount of the limitation on the ad valorem taxes imposed by a school district on the residence homestead of an elderly or disabled person in proportion to any reduction in the tax rate of the school district and expires January 1, 2007.

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2005.  The amendment to Section 1-b(d), Article VIII, of this constitution takes effect January 1, 2006, and applies only to a tax year that begins on or after that date.