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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature |
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to exempt from ad valorem taxation, for a period not to exceed 10 |
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years, the total assessed value of the residence homestead of an |
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honorably discharged veteran of the armed services of the United |
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States, or the surviving spouse of such a veteran, if the residence |
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homestead was donated to the veteran, or the purchase of the |
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residence homestead was financed, by a charitable organization. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 1-u to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1-u. (a) The legislature by general law may exempt |
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from ad valorem taxation the total assessed value of the residence |
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homestead of an honorably discharged veteran of the armed services |
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of the United States, for a period not to exceed 10 years, if the |
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residence homestead was donated to the veteran, or the purchase of |
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the residence homestead was financed, by a charitable organization. |
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(b) The legislature by general law may provide that the |
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surviving spouse of an honorably discharged veteran who qualified |
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for the exemption authorized by Subsection (a) of this section when |
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the veteran died is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem |
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taxation of the market value of the same property to which the |
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honorably discharged veteran's exemption applied for the remaining |
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period for which the veteran would have received the exemption if: |
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(1) the surviving spouse has not remarried since the |
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death of the honorably discharged veteran; and |
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(2) the property: |
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(A) was the residence homestead of the surviving |
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spouse when the honorably discharged veteran died; and |
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(B) remains the residence homestead of the |
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surviving spouse. |
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(c) The legislature by general law may provide additional |
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eligibility requirements for the exemption authorized by this |
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section. |
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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 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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legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation, for a period not to |
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exceed 10 years, the total assessed value of the residence |
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homestead of an honorably discharged veteran of the armed services |
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of the United States, or the surviving spouse of such a veteran, if |
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the residence homestead was donated to the veteran, or the purchase |
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of the residence homestead was financed, by a charitable |
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organization." |