79R1431 JD-D
By:  Bonnen                                                       H.B. No. 359
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limiting the maximum average annual increase in the 
appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes to 
three percent.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1.12(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as 
follows:        
	(d)  For purposes of this section, the appraisal ratio of 
real property [a homestead] to which Section 23.23 applies is the 
ratio of the property's market value as determined by the appraisal 
district or appraisal review board, as applicable, to the market 
value of the property according to law.  The appraisal ratio is not 
calculated according to the appraised value of the property as 
limited by Section 23.23.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 23.23, Tax Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 23.23.  LIMITATION ON APPRAISED VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY
[RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD].
	SECTION 3.  Section 23.23, Tax Code, is amended by amending 
Subsections (a)-(c) and adding Subsections (c-1)-(c-3) to read as 
follows:
	(a)  The appraised value of real property [a residence 
homestead] for a tax year may not exceed the lesser of:
		(1)  the market value of the property; or                                     
		(2)  the sum of:                                                              
			(A)  three [10] percent of the appraised value of 
the property for the last year in which the property was appraised 
for taxation times the number of years since the property was last 
appraised;
			(B)  the appraised value of the property for the 
last year in which the property was appraised; and
			(C)  the market value of all new improvements to 
the property.             
	(b)  When appraising real property [a residence homestead], 
the chief appraiser shall:
		(1)  appraise the property at its market value; and                           
		(2)  include in the appraisal records both the market 
value of the property and the amount computed under Subsection 
(a)(2).
	(c)  The limitation provided by Subsection (a) takes effect 
on January 1 of the tax year following the first tax year in which 
the owner owns the property on January 1, or, if the property 
qualifies as the [to a] residence homestead of the owner under 
Section 11.13 in the tax year in which the owner acquires the 
property, the limitation takes effect on January 1 of the tax year 
following that [the first] tax year [the owner qualifies the 
property for an exemption under Section 11.13].  Except as provided 
by Subsection (c-1) or (c-2), the [The] limitation expires on 
January 1 of the first tax year following the year in which [that 
neither] the owner of the property ceases to own the property.
	(c-1)  If property subject to a limitation under this section 
qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13 when the ownership 
of the property is transferred to the owner's spouse or surviving 
spouse, the limitation expires on January 1 of the first tax year 
following the year in which [when the limitation took effect nor] 
the owner's spouse or surviving spouse ceases to own the property, 
unless the limitation is further continued under this subsection on 
the subsequent transfer to a spouse or surviving spouse [qualifies 
for an exemption under Section 11.13].
	(c-2)  If property subject to a limitation under Subsection 
(a), other than a residence homestead, is owned by two or more 
persons, the limitation expires on January 1 of the first tax year 
following the year in which the ownership of at least a 50 percent 
interest in the property is sold or otherwise transferred.
	(c-3)  For purposes of applying the limitation provided by 
this section in the first tax year after the 2005 tax year in which 
the property is appraised for taxation:
		(1)  the property is considered to have been appraised 
for taxation in the 2005 tax year at a market value equal to the 
appraised value of the property for that tax year;
		(2)  a person who acquired real property in a tax year 
before the 2005 tax year is considered to have acquired the property 
on January 1, 2005; and
		(3)  a person who qualified the property for an 
exemption under Section 11.13 as the person's residence homestead 
for any portion of the 2005 tax year is considered to have acquired 
the property in the 2005 tax year.
	SECTION 4.  Section 42.26(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as 
follows:       
	(d)  For purposes of this section, the value of the property 
subject to the suit and the value of a comparable property or sample 
property that is used for comparison must be the market value 
determined by the appraisal district when the property is [a 
residence homestead] subject to the limitation on appraised value 
imposed by Section 23.23.
	SECTION 5.  Sections 403.302(d) and (i), Government Code, 
are amended to read as follows:
	(d)  For the purposes of this section, "taxable value" means 
the market value of all taxable property less:
		(1)  the total dollar amount of any residence homestead 
exemptions lawfully granted under Section 11.13(b) or (c), Tax 
Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school 
district;
		(2)  one-half of the total dollar amount of any 
residence homestead exemptions granted under Section 11.13(n), Tax 
Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school 
district;
		(3)  the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted 
before May 31, 1993, within a reinvestment zone under agreements 
authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;
		(4)  subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount 
of any captured appraised value of property that:
			(A)  is within a reinvestment zone created on or 
before May 31, 1999, or is proposed to be included within the 
boundaries of a reinvestment zone as the boundaries of the zone and 
the proposed portion of tax increment paid into the tax increment 
fund by a school district are described in a written notification 
provided by the municipality or the board of directors of the zone 
to the governing bodies of the other taxing units in the manner 
provided by Section 311.003(e), Tax Code, before May 31, 1999, and 
within the boundaries of the zone as those boundaries existed on 
September 1, 1999, including subsequent improvements to the 
property regardless of when made;
			(B)  generates taxes paid into a tax increment 
fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code, under a reinvestment zone 
financing plan approved under Section 311.011(d), Tax Code, on or 
before September 1, 1999; and
			(C)  is eligible for tax increment financing under 
Chapter 311, Tax Code;  
		(5)  the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted 
under Section 11.251, Tax Code;
		(6)  the difference between the comptroller's estimate 
of the market value and the productivity value of land that 
qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity, 
except that the productivity value estimated by the comptroller may 
not exceed the fair market value of the land;
		(7)  the portion of the appraised value of residence 
homesteads of individuals who receive a tax limitation under 
Section 11.26, Tax Code, on which school district taxes are not 
imposed in the year that is the subject of the study, calculated as 
if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value 
required by law;
		(8)  a portion of the market value of property not 
otherwise fully taxable by the district at market value because of:
			(A)  action required by statute or the 
constitution of this state that, if the tax rate adopted by the 
district is applied to it, produces an amount equal to the 
difference between the tax that the district would have imposed on 
the property if the property were fully taxable at market value and 
the tax that the district is actually authorized to impose on the 
property, if this subsection does not otherwise require that 
portion to be deducted; or
			(B)  action taken by the district under Subchapter 
B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code;
		(9)  the market value of all tangible personal 
property, other than manufactured homes, owned by a family or 
individual and not held or used for the production of income;
		(10)  the appraised value of property the collection of 
delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.06, Tax 
Code;
		(11)  the portion of the appraised value of property 
the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under 
Section 33.065, Tax Code; and
		(12)  the amount by which the market value of real 
property [a residence homestead] to which Section 23.23, Tax Code, 
applies exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated 
under that section.
	(i)  If the comptroller determines in the annual study that 
the market value of property in a school district as determined by 
the appraisal district that appraises property for the school 
district, less the total of the amounts and values listed in 
Subsection (d) as determined by that appraisal district, is valid, 
the comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in 
the school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of 
Subsection (d)(12) subtract from the market value as determined by 
the appraisal district of real properties [residence homesteads] to 
which Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies the amount by which that 
amount exceeds the appraised value of those properties as 
calculated by the appraisal district under Section 23.23, Tax Code.  
If the comptroller determines in the annual study that the market 
value of property in a school district as determined by the 
appraisal district that appraises property for the school district, 
less the total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as 
determined by that appraisal district, is not valid, the 
comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in the 
school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of 
Subsection (d)(12) subtract from the market value as estimated by 
the comptroller of real properties [residence homesteads] to which 
Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies the amount by which that amount 
exceeds the appraised value of those properties as calculated by 
the appraisal district under Section 23.23, Tax Code.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2006, and 
applies only to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of real 
property for a tax year that begins on or after January 1, 2006, but 
only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 79th 
Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, authorizing the legislature to 
limit the maximum average annual increase in the appraised value of 
real property for ad valorem tax purposes to three percent or more 
is approved by the voters.  If that amendment is not approved by the 
voters, this Act has no effect.