BILL ANALYSIS
By: Wong
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
During times of conflict, some servicemen give to our country in a way that is often immeasurable - they are severely disabled by injuries received during combat. To honor their service to our country, H.B. 2784 allows local governing bodies to increase the property tax exemption for those servicemen who are the most disabled, and who have also been awarded a Purple Heart.
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
H.B. 2784 authorizes the governing body of a taxing unit to provide a veteran with a disability rating greater than 70 percent and who is also a recipient of the Purple Heart to an exemption from taxation of a portion of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of property the veteran owns and designates under Chapter 11.22(f) of the Tax Code. The surviving spouse of the veteran may also qualify for this exemption if the deceased veteran died in a year in which the deceased veteran qualified for the exemption, the spouse continues to own the property, and the property is designated for an exemption under Chapter 11.22(f) of the Tax Code.
EFFECTIVE DATE
January 1, 2006, if the constitutional amendment relating to authorizing the legislature to allow the governing body of a political subdivision to provide an additional exemption from ad valorem taxation for property owned by certain disabled veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart or their surviving spouses is approved by the voters. This Act applies only to a tax year that begins on or after January 1, 2006.