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SECTION 1. Sections
1-b(c), (d), and (e), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, are amended to read
as follows:
(c) A portion [Fifteen Thousand Dollars
($15,000)] of the market value of the residence homestead of a married
or unmarried adult, including one living alone, equal to 25 percent of the median market value of all residence
homesteads in the state is exempt from ad valorem taxation for
general elementary and secondary public school purposes. The legislature by general law shall specify the
method for computing the median market value of residence homesteads for
purposes of this subsection. The legislature by general law may
provide that all or part of the exemption does not apply to a district or
political subdivision that imposes ad valorem taxes for public education
purposes but is not the principal school district providing general
elementary and secondary public education throughout its territory. In
addition to this exemption, the legislature by general law may exempt an
amount not to exceed [Ten Thousand Dollars (]$10,000[)] of
the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is disabled as
defined in Subsection (b) of this section and of a person [sixty-five (]65[)]
years of age or older from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and
secondary public school purposes. The legislature by general law may base
the amount of and condition eligibility for the additional exemption
authorized by this subsection for disabled persons and for persons [sixty-five
(]65[)] years of age or older on economic need. An eligible
disabled person who is [sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or
older may not receive both exemptions from a school district but may choose
either. An eligible person is entitled to receive both the exemption
required by this subsection for all residence homesteads and any exemption
adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section, but the legislature
shall provide by general law whether an eligible disabled or elderly person
may receive both the additional exemption for the elderly and disabled
authorized by this subsection and any exemption for the elderly or disabled
adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section. Where ad valorem tax
has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the taxing officers of
a school district may continue to levy and collect the tax against the
value of homesteads exempted under this subsection until the debt is
discharged if the cessation of the levy would impair the obligation of the
contract by which the debt was created. The legislature shall provide for
formulas to protect school districts against all or part of the revenue
loss incurred by the implementation of this subsection, Subsection (d)
of this section, and Section 1-d-1 of this article. An appropriation made to fund formulas protecting school districts
against all or part of the revenue loss resulting from the increase in the
residence homestead exemption under this subsection and the additional
limitation on tax increases under Subsection (d) of this section, as
proposed by S.J.R. 1, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is not an
appropriation subject to the limitation on the rate of growth of
appropriations established under Section 22 of this article and shall be
excluded from computations used to determine whether appropriations exceed the
amount authorized by that section [Article VIII, Sections
1-b(c), 1-b(d), and 1-d-1, of this constitution]. The legislature by
general law may define residence homestead for purposes of this section.
(d) Except as otherwise
provided by this subsection, if a person receives a residence homestead
exemption prescribed by Subsection (c) of this section for homesteads of
persons who are [sixty-five (]65[)] years of age or older or
who are disabled, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on that
homestead for general elementary and secondary public school purposes may
not be increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person or
that person's spouse who receives the exemption. If a person [sixty-five
(]65[)] years of age or older dies in a year in which the person
received the exemption, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on the
homestead for general elementary and secondary public school purposes may
not be increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person's
surviving spouse if the spouse is [fifty-five (]55[)] years
of age or older at the time of the person's death, subject to any
exceptions provided by general law. The legislature, by general law, may
provide for the transfer of all or a proportionate amount of a limitation
provided by this subsection for a person who qualifies for the limitation
and establishes a different residence homestead. However, taxes otherwise
limited by this subsection may be increased to the extent the value of the
homestead is increased by improvements other than repairs or improvements
made to comply with governmental requirements and except as may be
consistent with the transfer of a limitation under this subsection. For a
residence homestead subject to the limitation provided by this subsection
in the 1996 tax year or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide
for a reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 1997 tax year and
subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000 multiplied by the 1997
tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school purposes
applicable to the residence homestead. For a residence homestead subject
to the limitation provided by this subsection in the 2014 tax year or an
earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide for a reduction in the
amount of the limitation for the 2015 tax year and subsequent tax years in
an amount equal to the amount computed by
subtracting $15,000 from the amount equal to 25 percent of the median
market value in the 2015 tax year of all residence homesteads in the state
as determined in accordance with a general law enacted under Subsection (c)
of this section and multiplying that amount by the 2015 tax rate for
general elementary and secondary public school purposes applicable to the
residence homestead.
(e) The governing body of a
political subdivision, other than a county education district, may exempt
from ad valorem taxation a percentage of the market value of the residence
homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one living alone. In
the manner provided by law, the voters of a county education district at an
election held for that purpose may exempt from ad valorem taxation a
percentage of the market value of the residence homestead of a married or
unmarried adult, including one living alone. The percentage may not exceed
twenty percent. However, the amount of an exemption authorized pursuant to
this subsection may not be less than [Five Thousand Dollars (]$5,000[)]
unless the legislature by general law prescribes other monetary
restrictions on the amount of the exemption. The legislature by general
law may prohibit the governing body of a political subdivision that adopts
an exemption under this subsection from reducing the amount of or repealing
the exemption. An eligible adult is entitled to receive other
applicable exemptions provided by law. Where ad valorem tax has previously
been pledged for the payment of debt, the governing body of a political
subdivision may continue to levy and collect the tax against the value of
the homesteads exempted under this subsection until the debt is discharged
if the cessation of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by
which the debt was created. The legislature by general law may prescribe
procedures for the administration of residence homestead exemptions.
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SECTION 1. Sections
1-b(c) and (d), Article VIII, Texas Constitution, are amended to read as
follows:
(c) The amount of $25,000 [Fifteen
Thousand Dollars ($15,000)] of the market value of the residence
homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one living alone, is
exempt from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary public
school purposes.
The legislature by general
law may provide that all or part of the exemption does not apply to a
district or political subdivision that imposes ad valorem taxes for public
education purposes but is not the principal school district providing
general elementary and secondary public education throughout its territory.
In addition to this exemption, the legislature by general law may exempt an
amount not to exceed [Ten Thousand Dollars (] $10,000[)] of
the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is disabled as
defined in Subsection (b) of this section and of a person [sixty-five (]
65[)] years of age or older from ad valorem taxation for general
elementary and secondary public school purposes. The legislature by general
law may base the amount of and condition eligibility for the additional
exemption authorized by this subsection for disabled persons and for persons
[sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or older on economic need. An
eligible disabled person who is [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of
age or older may not receive both exemptions from a school district but may
choose either. An eligible person is entitled to receive both the exemption
required by this subsection for all residence homesteads and any exemption
adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section, but the legislature
shall provide by general law whether an eligible disabled or elderly person
may receive both the additional exemption for the elderly and disabled
authorized by this subsection and any exemption for the elderly or disabled
adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section. Where ad valorem tax
has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the taxing officers of
a school district may continue to levy and collect the tax against the
value of homesteads exempted under this subsection until the debt is
discharged if the cessation of the levy would impair the obligation of the
contract by which the debt was created. The legislature shall provide for
formulas to protect school districts against all or part of the revenue
loss incurred by the implementation of this subsection, Subsection (d)
of this section, and Section 1-d-1 of this article.
[Article VIII, Sections
1-b(c), 1-b(d), and 1-d-1, of this constitution]. The legislature by
general law may define residence homestead for purposes of this section.
(d) Except as otherwise
provided by this subsection, if a person receives a residence homestead
exemption prescribed by Subsection (c) of this section for homesteads of
persons who are [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or older or
who are disabled, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on that
homestead for general elementary and secondary public school purposes may
not be increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person or
that person's spouse who receives the exemption. If a person [sixty-five
(] 65[)] years of age or older dies in a year in which the
person received the exemption, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed
on the homestead for general elementary and secondary public school
purposes may not be increased while it remains the residence homestead of
that person's surviving spouse if the spouse is [fifty-five (] 55[)]
years of age or older at the time of the person's death, subject to any
exceptions provided by general law. The legislature, by general law, may
provide for the transfer of all or a proportionate amount of a limitation provided
by this subsection for a person who qualifies for the limitation and
establishes a different residence homestead. However, taxes otherwise
limited by this subsection may be increased to the extent the value of the
homestead is increased by improvements other than repairs or improvements
made to comply with governmental requirements and except as may be
consistent with the transfer of a limitation under this subsection. For a
residence homestead subject to the limitation provided by this subsection in
the 1996 tax year or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide for
a reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 1997 tax year and
subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000 multiplied by the 1997
tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school purposes
applicable to the residence homestead. For a residence homestead subject
to the limitation provided by this subsection in the 2014 tax year or an
earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide for a reduction in the amount
of the limitation for the 2015 tax year and subsequent tax years in an
amount equal to $10,000 multiplied
by the 2015 tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school
purposes applicable to the residence homestead.
No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 3. The following
temporary provision is added to the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This
temporary provision applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R.
No. 1, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.
(b) The amendments to
Sections 1-b(c), (d), and (e),
Article VIII, of this constitution take effect for the tax year beginning
January 1, 2015.
(c) This temporary
provision expires January 1, 2017.
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SECTION 2. The following
temporary provision is added to the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This
temporary provision applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by
S.J.R. 1, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.
(b) The amendments to
Sections 1-b(c) and (d), Article VIII, of this constitution take effect for
the tax year beginning January 1, 2015.
(c) This temporary
provision expires January 1, 2017.
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SECTION 4. This proposed
constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to
be held September 12, 2015. The
ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The
constitutional amendment providing for an
exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes of a portion
of the market value of a residence homestead equal to 25 percent of the
median market value of all residence homesteads in the state,
providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad
valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an
elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount, providing that an appropriation of state tax
revenues to protect school districts against the resulting revenue loss is
not an appropriation of state tax revenues dedicated by the constitution
for purposes of the restriction on the rate of growth of appropriations
from undedicated state tax revenues, authorizing the legislature to
prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an optional residence
homestead exemption from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption,
and prohibiting the imposition or collection of a tax on the conveyance,
including by sale, lease, or other transfer, of an interest in real
property."
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SECTION 3. This proposed
constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to
be held November 3, 2015. The ballot
shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The
constitutional amendment increasing the
amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for
public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000 and providing for a
reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that
may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or
disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount."
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