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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the |
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residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public |
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school purposes. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (h- 1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The amount of $45,000 [Fifteen Thousand Dollars
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($15,000)] of the market value of the residence homestead of a |
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married or unmarried adult, including one living alone, is exempt |
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from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary |
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public school purposes. The legislature by general law may provide |
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that all or part of the exemption does not apply to a district or |
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political subdivision that imposes ad valorem taxes for public |
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education purposes but is not the principal school district |
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providing general elementary and secondary public education |
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throughout its territory. In addition to this exemption, the |
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legislature by general law may exempt an amount not to exceed [Ten
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Thousand Dollars (]$10,000[)] of the market value of the residence |
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homestead of a person who is disabled as defined in Subsection (b) |
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of this section and of a person sixty- five (65) years of age or |
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older from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary |
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public school purposes. The legislature by general law may base the |
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amount of and condition eligibility for the additional exemption |
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authorized by this subsection for disabled persons and for persons |
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sixty-five (65) years of age or older on economic need. An eligible |
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disabled person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older may not |
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receive both exemptions from a school district but may choose |
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either. An eligible person is entitled to receive both the |
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exemption required by this subsection for all residence homesteads |
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and any exemption adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this |
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section, but the legislature shall provide by general law whether |
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an eligible disabled or elderly person may receive both the |
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additional exemption for the elderly and disabled authorized by |
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this subsection and any exemption for the elderly or disabled |
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adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section. Where ad |
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valorem tax has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the |
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taxing officers of a school district may continue to levy and |
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collect the tax against the value of homesteads exempted under this |
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subsection until the debt is discharged if the cessation of the levy |
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would impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was |
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created. The legislature shall provide for formulas to protect |
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school districts against all or part of the revenue loss incurred by |
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the implementation of Article VIII, Sections 1-b(c), 1-b(d), and |
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1-d-1, of this constitution. The legislature by general law may |
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define residence homestead for purposes of this section. |
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(h-1) TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision |
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applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 82nd |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, increasing the amount of the |
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residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public |
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school purposes. |
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(b) The amendment to Section 1-b(c), Article VIII, of this |
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constitution takes effect January 1, 2012, and applies only to a tax |
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year beginning on or after that date. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment increasing the amount |
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of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for |
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public school purposes from $15,000 to $45,000." |