BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 992

84R331 CJC-D

By: Bonnen, Dennis et al. (To Be Filed)

 

Finance

 

5/8/2015

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 992 amends current law relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.

 

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 11.131(c), Tax Code, as follows:

 

(c)  Entitles the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who qualified for an exemption under Subsection (b) when the disabled veteran died, or of a disabled veteran who would have qualified for an exemption under that subsection if that subsection had been in effect on the date the disabled veteran died, to an exemption from taxation of the total appraised value of the same property to which the disabled veteran's exemption applied, or to which the disabled veteran's exemption would have applied if the exemption had been authorized on the date the disabled veteran died, if:

 

(1)  the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the disabled veteran; and

 

(2)  the property:

 

(A)  was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the disabled veteran died; and

 

(B)  remains the residence homestead of the surviving spouse.

 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Section 11.131, Tax Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed for a tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

 

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act takes effect January 1, 2016, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect is approved by the voters.  Provides that, if that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.