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proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature |
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to provide that the eligibility of open-space land for ad valorem |
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taxation on the basis of its productive capacity does not end |
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because an oil and gas lessee begins conducting oil and gas |
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operations on the land if the land otherwise continues to be devoted |
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to farm, ranch, or wildlife management purposes or timber |
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production. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1-d-1(a), Article VIII, Texas |
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Constitution, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To promote the preservation of open-space land, the |
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legislature shall provide by general law for taxation of open-space |
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land devoted to farm, ranch, or wildlife management purposes on the |
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basis of its productive capacity and may provide by general law for |
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taxation of open-space land devoted to timber production on the |
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basis of its productive capacity. The legislature by general law |
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may provide eligibility limitations under this section and may |
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impose sanctions in furtherance of the taxation policy of this |
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section. The legislature by general law may provide that the |
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eligibility of open-space land for taxation on the basis of its |
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productive capacity does not end because a lessee under an oil and |
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gas lease begins conducting oil and gas operations on the land if |
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the portion of the land on which oil and gas operations are not |
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being conducted otherwise continues to be devoted to a purpose |
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described by this subsection. |
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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 7, 2017. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the |
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legislature to provide that the eligibility of open-space land for |
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ad valorem taxation on the basis of its productive capacity does not |
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end because an oil and gas lessee begins conducting oil and gas |
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operations on the land if the land otherwise continues to be devoted |
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to farm, ranch, or wildlife management purposes or timber |
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production." |