BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.J.R. 36
80R8117 JD-F By: Williams
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Texas holds the distinction of having the ninth highest property taxes in the nation as a percentage of personal income. Property taxes in Texas have grown from a total levy of less than $9 billion in 1985 to more than $30 billion in 2004. That represents a 233 percent increase in property taxes in less than 20 years.
S.J.R. 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to authorize all real property owners the option of electing to have their property taxes, other than taxes imposed for general elementary or secondary public school purposes, assessed on the basis of a five-year historic average of appraised taxable value of the property.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 1, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:
(b-1) Authorizes the legislature by general law to authorize an owner of real property to require that, in the current tax year and the following nine tax years, ad valorem taxes, other than taxes imposed for general elementary or secondary public school purposes, be assessed on the owner's real property on the basis of a five-year average of the property's taxable value, notwithstanding any other provision of this article (Taxation and Revenue). Requires a general law enacted under this section to prescribe certain procedures and sanctions.
SECTION 2. Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2007. Sets forth the required language for the ballot.