By: Howard of Fort Bend, Rodriguez Senate Sponsor-Hegar H.B. No. 1397 (Senate Sponsor - Hegar) (Senate Sponsor - Hegar)

(In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 2007; April 3, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental Relations; May 21, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 21, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1397 By: West

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing notice of residence homestead exemptions from ad valorem taxation to owners of certain residential real property.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 25.19, Tax Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-2) and amending Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(b-2) This subsection applies only to a notice of appraised value for residential real property that has not qualified for a residence homestead exemption in the current tax year. If the records of the appraisal district indicate that the address of the property is also the address of the owner of the property, in addition to containing the applicable information required by Subsections (b), (b-1), and (f), the notice must contain the following statement in boldfaced 12-point type: "According to the records of the appraisal district, the residential real property described in this notice of appraised value is not currently being allowed a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation. If the property is your home and you occupy it as your principal place of residence, the property may qualify for one or more residence homestead exemptions, which will reduce the amount of taxes imposed on the property. The form needed to apply for a residence homestead exemption is enclosed. Although the form may state that the deadline for filing an application for a residence homestead exemption is April 30, a late application for a residence homestead exemption will be accepted if filed before February 1, (insert year application must be filed). There is no fee or charge for filing an application or a late application for a residence homestead exemption." The notice must be accompanied by an application form for a residence homestead exemption.

(d) Failure to receive a [the] notice required by this section does not affect the validity of the appraisal of the property, the imposition of any tax on the basis of the appraisal, the existence of any tax lien, the deadline for filing an application for a residence homestead exemption, or any proceeding instituted to collect the tax.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2008.

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