85R6504 LHC-D
 
  By: Blanco H.B. No. 1696
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of a percentage
  of the assessed value of a property owned by certain disabled
  veterans and the amount of the exemption for the surviving spouses
  and children of certain disabled veterans.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 11.22(a), (b), and (c), Tax Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A disabled veteran is entitled to an exemption from
  taxation of the following applicable percentage [a portion] of the
  assessed value of a property the veteran owns and designates as
  provided by Subsection (f) [in accordance with the following
  schedule]:
               (1)  7.91 percent for a veteran having a disability
  rating of at least 10 percent but less than 30 percent;
               (2)  11.86 percent for a veteran having a disability
  rating of at least 30 percent but less than 50 percent;
               (3)  15.82 percent for a veteran having a disability
  rating of at least 50 percent but less than 70 percent; or
               (4)  18.98 percent for a veteran having a disability
  rating of at least 70 percent.
 
[an exemption of for a disability rating of
 
up to: at least: but less than:  
 
$5,000 of the 10% 30%  
 
assessed value  
 
7,500 30 50  
 
10,000 50 70  
 
12,000 70 and over]    
         (b)  A disabled veteran is entitled to an exemption from
  taxation of 18.98 percent [$12,000] of the assessed value of a
  property the veteran owns and designates as provided by Subsection
  (f) [of this section] if the veteran:
               (1)  is 65 years of age or older and has a disability
  rating of at least 10 percent;
               (2)  is totally blind in one or both eyes; or
               (3)  has lost the use of one or more limbs.
         (c)  If a disabled veteran who is entitled to an exemption by
  Subsection (a) or (b) [of this section] dies, the veteran's
  surviving spouse is entitled to an exemption from taxation of a
  portion of the assessed value of a property the spouse owns and
  designates as provided by Subsection (f) [of this section]. The
  amount of the exemption is the dollar amount of the veteran's
  exemption at time of death. The spouse is entitled to an exemption
  by this subsection only for as long as the spouse remains unmarried.
  If the spouse does not survive the veteran, each of the veteran's
  surviving children who is younger than 18 years of age and unmarried
  is entitled to an exemption from taxation of a portion of the
  assessed value of a property the child owns and designates as
  provided by Subsection (f) [of this section]. The amount of
  exemption for each eligible child is computed by dividing the
  dollar amount of the veteran's exemption at time of death by the
  number of eligible children.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed
  for a tax year beginning on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2018, but only
  if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2017, proposing a constitutional amendment
  authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a
  percentage of the assessed value of property owned by certain
  disabled veterans is approved by the voters. If that constitutional
  amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.