BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.J.R. 17

80R1048 JD-D                                                                                                                   By: Hegar

Finance

3/7/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, Texas law prohibits a homestead's appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes from increasing more than ten percent in a single year.  However, the current law does allow for an increase of ten percent for each year that has passed since the last tax appraisal.

As proposed, S.J.R. 17 provides the constitutional authority for S.B. 391 which would limit a homestead's appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes from increasing more than ten percent in a single year, regardless of when the most recent tax appraisal took place.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 1(i), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to delete existing text authorizing the legislature to limit the maximum average annual percentage increase, and instead authorizes limiting the maximum percentage increase, in the appraised value of residence homesteads for ad valorem tax purposes to ten percent or greater since the most recent tax appraisal.  Deletes existing text authorizing the limitation for each year since the most recent tax appraisal.

SECTION 2.  Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted to the voters at election to be held November 6, 2007.  Sets forth the required language for the ballot.