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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 that adopts an exemption from ad |
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valorem taxation of a percentage of the market value of an |
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individual's residence homestead to set a limit on the dollar |
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amount of the exemption to which an individual is entitled in a tax |
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year. |
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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 an exemption authorized pursuant to this |
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subsection may not be less than [Five Thousand Dollars (]$5,000[)] |
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unless the legislature by general law prescribes other monetary |
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restrictions on the amount of the exemption. A governing body that |
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adopts an exemption under this subsection may provide that if the |
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percentage set by the governing body produces an exemption in a tax |
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year of more than a dollar amount specified by the governing body |
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when applied to a particular residence homestead, the owner of the |
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homestead is entitled to an exemption of the dollar amount of the |
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market value specified by the governing body. An eligible adult is |
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entitled to receive other applicable exemptions provided by law. |
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Where ad valorem tax has previously been pledged for the payment of |
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debt, the governing body of a political subdivision may continue to |
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levy and collect the tax against the value of the homesteads |
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exempted under this subsection until the debt is discharged if the |
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cessation of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by |
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which the debt was created. The legislature by general law may |
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prescribe procedures for the administration of residence homestead |
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exemptions. |
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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 that adopts an exemption from ad valorem |
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taxation of a percentage of the market value of an individual's |
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residence homestead to set a limit on the dollar amount of the |
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exemption to which an individual is entitled in a tax year. |
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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 that adopts an exemption |
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from ad valorem taxation of a percentage of the market value of an |
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individual's residence homestead to set a limit on the dollar |
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amount of the exemption to which an individual is entitled in a tax |
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year." |