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79S30567 SMH-D
By: Berman H.J.R. No. 26
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to reduce the total amount of
ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for public school purposes on
the residence homestead of an elderly or disabled person in
proportion to any reduction in the rate of the tax imposed for those
purposes.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1-b(d), Article VIII, Texas
Constitution, is amended to read as follows:
(d) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, if a
person receives a residence homestead exemption prescribed by
Subsection (c) of this section for homesteads of persons who are
sixty-five (65) years of age or older or who are disabled, the total
amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on that homestead for general
elementary and secondary public school purposes may not be
increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person
or that person's spouse who receives the exemption. If a person
sixty-five (65) years of age or older dies in a year in which the
person received the exemption, the total amount of ad valorem taxes
imposed on the homestead for general elementary and secondary
public school purposes may not be increased while it remains the
residence homestead of that person's surviving spouse if the spouse
is fifty-five (55) years of age or older at the time of the person's
death, subject to any exceptions provided by general law. If a
person receives the limitation provided by this subsection 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, the limitation provided
by this subsection 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 legislature, by general law, may provide for the
transfer of all or a proportionate amount of a limitation provided
by this subsection for a person who qualifies for the limitation and
establishes a different residence homestead. However, taxes
otherwise limited by this subsection may be increased to the extent
the value of the homestead is increased by improvements other than
repairs or improvements made to comply with governmental
requirements and except as may be consistent with the transfer of a
limitation under this subsection. For a residence homestead
subject to the limitation provided by this subsection in the 1996
tax year or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide for a
reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 1997 tax year and
subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000 multiplied by the
1997 tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school
purposes applicable to the residence homestead.
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 79th Legislature,
3rd Called Session, 2006, to reduce the total amount of ad valorem
taxes that may be imposed for public school purposes on the
residence homestead of an elderly or disabled person in proportion
to any reduction in the rate of the tax imposed for those purposes
and expires January 1, 2008.
(b) The amendment to Section 1-b(d), Article VIII, of this
constitution takes effect January 1, 2007, and applies only to a tax
year that begins on or after that date.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2006.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to reduce the total
amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for public school
purposes on the residence homestead of an elderly or disabled
person in proportion to any reduction in the rate of the tax imposed
for those purposes."