RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 1

By: Campbell

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note the recent tragic deaths of first responders across the state and contend that one way to honor these individuals is to lessen the financial burden on their families. S.J.R. 1 seeks to do so by providing for a property tax exemption for a qualifying surviving spouse of a first responder killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 1 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature by general law to provide that the surviving spouse of a first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty is entitled to an exemption from property taxation of all or part of the market value of the surviving spouse's residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the first responder. The resolution authorizes the legislature by general law to define "first responder" for such purposes and to prescribe additional exemption eligibility requirements. The resolution authorizes the legislature by general law to provide that a surviving spouse who qualifies for and receives such an exemption and who subsequently qualifies a different property as the surviving spouse's residence homestead is entitled to an exemption from property taxation of the subsequently qualified homestead in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the exemption from property taxation of the first homestead for which the exemption was received in the last year in which the surviving spouse received the exemption for that homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the first responder.

S.J.R. 1 adds a temporary provision, set to expire January 1, 2019, making the resolution effective January 1, 2018, and applicable only to a tax year beginning on or after that date.

ELECTION DATE

The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017.