84R1647 SMH-D
 
  By: Watson S.J.R. No. 21
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the
  residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public
  school purposes, providing for the increase of the exemption amount
  in subsequent years to reflect inflation, 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 a
  disabled or elderly person to reflect the increased exemption
  amounts.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 1-b(c) and (d), 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, is exempt from ad valorem
  taxation for general elementary and secondary public school
  purposes.  For the 2016 tax year, the amount of the exemption is
  $25,000. For each subsequent tax year, the amount of the exemption
  shall be calculated by the Comptroller of Public Accounts by
  multiplying the amount of the exemption under this subsection for
  the preceding tax year by the inflation rate, as defined by general
  law, and adding that amount to the amount of that exemption for the
  preceding tax year. Each appraisal office shall use the amount of
  the exemption as calculated by the comptroller to determine the
  assessed value of residence homesteads appraised by that appraisal
  office for 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 2015 tax year or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall
  provide for a reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 2016
  tax year and subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000
  multiplied by the 2016 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 tax year preceding a tax year in
  which the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation for
  general elementary and secondary public school purposes of a
  portion of the market value of the residence homestead of a married
  or unmarried adult provided by Subsection (c) of this section is
  adjusted for inflation, the legislature shall provide for a
  reduction in the amount of the limitation for the tax year in which
  the amount of the exemption is adjusted and subsequent tax years in
  an amount equal to the amount by which the amount of the exemption
  is increased multiplied by the tax rate for general elementary and
  secondary public school purposes applicable to the residence
  homestead for the tax year in which the amount of the exemption is
  increased.
         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 the 84th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2015, increasing the amount of the residence
  homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school
  purposes, providing for the increase of the exemption amount in
  subsequent years to reflect inflation, 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 a
  disabled or elderly person to reflect the increased exemption
  amounts.
         (b)  The amendment to Sections 1-b(c) and (d), Article VIII,
  of this constitution takes effect January 1, 2016, and applies only
  to a tax year beginning on or after that date.
         (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2017.
         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, providing for the
  increase of the exemption amount in subsequent years to reflect
  inflation, 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 a disabled or elderly person to reflect
  the increased exemption amounts."