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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the governing |
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body of a political subdivision to adopt a local option residence |
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homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion, |
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expressed as a dollar amount, of the market value of an individual's |
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residence homestead. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1-b(e), Article VIII, Texas |
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Constitution, is amended to read as follows: |
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(e) The governing body of a political subdivision[, other
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than a county education district,] may exempt from ad valorem |
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taxation a percentage of the market value of the residence |
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homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one living |
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alone. [In the manner provided by law, the voters of a county
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education district at an election held for that purpose may exempt
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from ad valorem taxation a percentage of the market value of the
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residence homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one
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living alone.] The percentage may not exceed twenty percent. |
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However, the amount of a percentage [an] exemption authorized |
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pursuant to this subsection may not be less than [Five Thousand
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Dollars (]$5,000[)] unless the legislature by general law |
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prescribes other monetary restrictions on the amount of the |
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exemption. As an alternative, the governing body of the political |
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subdivision may exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion, |
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expressed as a dollar amount, of the market value of the residence |
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homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one living |
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alone. The amount of the alternative exemption may not be less than |
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$5,000. An eligible adult is entitled to receive other applicable |
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exemptions provided by law. Where ad valorem tax has previously |
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been pledged for the payment of debt, the governing body of a |
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political subdivision may continue to levy and collect the tax |
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against the value of the homesteads exempted under this subsection |
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until the debt is discharged if the cessation of the levy would |
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impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was created. |
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The legislature by general law may prescribe procedures for the |
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administration of residence homestead exemptions. The legislature |
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may not provide formulas to protect a school district against all or |
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part of the revenue loss incurred by the school district that |
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results from the adoption by the governing body of the school |
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district of the alternative exemption under this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to |
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the Texas Constitution: |
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TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies |
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to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2015, authorizing the governing body of a |
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political subdivision to adopt a local option residence homestead |
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exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion, expressed as a |
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dollar amount, of the market value of an individual's residence |
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homestead. |
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(b) The amendment to Section 1-b(e), Article VIII, of this |
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constitution takes effect beginning with the tax year that begins |
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January 1, 2016. |
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(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the |
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governing body of a political subdivision to adopt a local option |
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residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation of a |
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portion, expressed as a dollar amount, of the market value of an |
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individual's residence homestead." |