By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1438
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the effect of a disaster on the calculation of certain
  tax rates and the procedure for adoption of a tax rate by a taxing
  unit.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 45.0032(d), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  For a district to which Section 26.042(c) [26.08(a-1)],
  Tax Code, applies, the amount by which the district's maintenance
  tax rate exceeds the district's voter-approval tax rate, excluding
  the district's current debt rate under Section 26.08(n)(3)
  [26.08(n)(1)(C)], Tax Code, for the preceding year is not
  considered in determining a district's tier one maintenance and
  operations tax rate under Subsection (a) or the district's
  enrichment tax rate under Subsection (b) for the current tax year.
         SECTION 2.  Section 48.202(f), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (f)  For a school year in which the dollar amount guaranteed
  level of state and local funds per weighted student per cent of tax
  effort ("GL") under Subsection (a-1)(2) exceeds the dollar amount
  guaranteed level of state and local funds per weighted student per
  cent of tax effort ("GL") under Subsection (a-1)(2) for the
  preceding school year, a school district shall reduce the
  district's tax rate under Section 45.0032(b)(2) for the tax year
  that corresponds to that school year to a rate that results in the
  amount of state and local funds per weighted student per cent of tax
  effort available to the district at the dollar amount guaranteed
  level for the preceding school year.  A school district is not
  entitled to the amount equal to the increase of revenue described by
  this subsection for the school year for which the district must
  reduce the district's tax rate.  Unless Section 26.042(c)
  [26.08(a-1)], Tax Code, applies to the district, for a tax year in
  which a district must reduce the district's tax rate under this
  subsection, the district may not increase the district's
  maintenance and operations tax rate to a rate that exceeds the
  maximum maintenance and operations tax rate permitted under Section
  45.003(d) or (f), as applicable, minus the reduction of tax effort
  required under this subsection.  This subsection does not apply if
  the amount of state funds appropriated for a school year
  specifically excludes the amount necessary to provide the dollar
  amount guaranteed level of state and local funds per weighted
  student per cent of tax effort under Subsection (a-1)(2).
         SECTION 3.  Section 3828.157, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 3828.157.  INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN TAX CODE
  PROVISIONS.  Sections 26.04, 26.042, 26.05, 26.07, and 26.075, Tax
  Code, do not apply to a tax imposed under Section 3828.153 or
  3828.156.
         SECTION 4.  Section 8876.152(a), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Sections 26.04, 26.042, 26.05, 26.06, 26.061, 26.07,
  and 26.075, Tax Code, do not apply to a tax imposed by the district.
         SECTION 5.  Chapter 26, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Section 26.042 to read as follows:
         Sec. 26.042.  CALCULATION AND ADOPTION OF CERTAIN TAX RATES
  IN DISASTER AREA. (a)  Notwithstanding Sections 26.04 and 26.041,
  the governing body of a taxing unit other than a special taxing unit
  may direct the designated officer or employee to calculate the
  voter-approval tax rate of the taxing unit in the manner provided
  for a special taxing unit if any part of the taxing unit is located
  in an area declared a disaster area during the current tax year by
  the governor or by the president of the United States and at least
  one person is granted an exemption under Section 11.35 for property
  located in the taxing unit.  The designated officer or employee
  shall continue calculating the voter-approval tax rate in the
  manner provided by this subsection until the earlier of:
               (1)  the first tax year in which the total taxable value
  of property taxable by the taxing unit as shown on the appraisal
  roll for the taxing unit submitted by the assessor for the taxing
  unit to the governing body exceeds the total taxable value of
  property taxable by the taxing unit on January 1 of the tax year in
  which the disaster occurred; or
               (2)  the third tax year after the tax year in which the
  disaster occurred.
         (b)  When increased expenditure of money by a taxing unit
  other than a school district is necessary to respond to a disaster,
  including a tornado, hurricane, flood, wildfire, or other calamity,
  but not including a drought, epidemic, or pandemic, that has
  impacted the taxing unit and the governor has declared any part of
  the area in which the taxing unit is located as a disaster area, an
  election is not required under Section 26.07 to approve the tax rate
  adopted by the governing body for the year following the year in
  which the disaster occurs.
         (c)  When increased expenditure of money by a school district
  is necessary to respond to a disaster, including a tornado,
  hurricane, flood, wildfire, or other calamity, but not including a
  drought, epidemic, or pandemic, that has impacted the school
  district and the governor has requested federal disaster assistance
  for the area in which the school district is located, an election is
  not required under Section 26.08 to approve the tax rate adopted by
  the governing body of the school district for the year following the
  year in which the disaster occurs.  A tax rate adopted under this
  subsection applies only in the year for which the rate is adopted.
         (d)  If a taxing unit adopts a tax rate under Subsection (b)
  or (c), the amount by which that rate exceeds the taxing unit's
  voter-approval tax rate for that tax year may not be considered when
  calculating the taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate for the tax
  year following the year in which the taxing unit adopts the rate.
         (e)  A taxing unit that in a tax year elects to calculate the
  taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate under Subsection (a) or adopt
  a tax rate that exceeds the taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate
  for that tax year without holding an election under Subsection (b)
  or (c) must specify the disaster declaration that provides the
  basis for authorizing the taxing unit to calculate or adopt a tax
  rate under the applicable subsection. A taxing unit that in a tax
  year specifies a disaster declaration as providing the basis for
  authorizing the taxing unit to calculate or adopt a tax rate under
  Subsection (a), (b), or (c) may not in a subsequent tax year specify
  the same disaster declaration as providing the basis for
  authorizing the taxing unit to calculate or adopt a tax rate under
  one of those subsections if in an intervening tax year the taxing
  unit specifies a different disaster declaration as the basis for
  authorizing the taxing unit to calculate or adopt a tax rate under
  one of those subsections.
         SECTION 6.  Section 26.07(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (b)  If the governing body of a special taxing unit or a
  municipality with a population of 30,000 or more adopts a tax rate
  that exceeds the taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate, or the
  governing body of a taxing unit other than a special taxing unit or
  a municipality with a population of less than 30,000 regardless of
  whether it is a special taxing unit adopts a tax rate that exceeds
  the greater of the taxing unit's voter-approval tax rate or de
  minimis rate, the registered voters of the taxing unit at an
  election held for that purpose must determine whether to approve
  the adopted tax rate.  [When increased expenditure of money by a
  taxing unit is necessary to respond to a disaster, including a
  tornado, hurricane, flood, wildfire, or other calamity, but not
  including a drought, that has impacted the taxing unit and the
  governor has declared any part of the area in which the taxing unit
  is located as a disaster area, an election is not required under
  this section to approve the tax rate adopted by the governing body
  for the year following the year in which the disaster occurs.]
         SECTION 7.  Section 49.107(g), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (g)  Sections 26.04, 26.042, 26.05, 26.061, 26.07, and
  26.075, Tax Code, do not apply to a tax levied and collected under
  this section or an ad valorem tax levied and collected for the
  payment of the interest on and principal of bonds issued by a
  district.
         SECTION 8.  Section 49.108(f), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (f)  Sections 26.04, 26.042, 26.05, 26.061, 26.07, and
  26.075, Tax Code, do not apply to a tax levied and collected for
  payments made under a contract approved in accordance with this
  section.
         SECTION 9.  Sections 26.04(c-1), 26.041(c-1), and
  26.08(a-1), Tax Code, are repealed.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.