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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of certain federal funds received by the state |
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to provide property tax refunds to Texas homestead owners. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. DIRECT CASH REBATES TO HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS. |
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SECTION 1.01. Rebate of federal reimbursements to homestead |
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property owners. |
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(1) The comptroller of public accounts shall allocate |
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federal reimbursement funds received for border security and |
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immigration-related costs incurred by the state and reimbursed to |
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the state under Public Law 119-21, also known as the "One Big |
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Beautiful Bill." |
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(2) From the total amount of federal funds received by the |
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state on or before April 30, 2026, for border security and |
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immigration-related costs, the comptroller shall: |
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(a) Deduct the minimum amount necessary for administrative |
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and processing expenses, not to exceed $28 million; and |
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(b) divide the remaining amount by the number of households |
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in the state that have been granted a homestead exemption under |
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Section 11.13, Tax Code, for the most recent tax year on record as |
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of January 1, 2026. |
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(3) Each qualifying homestead household shall receive a |
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onetime rebate check in the amount calculated under Subsection |
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(2)(b). |
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(4) The comptroller shall issue and distribute checks to |
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eligible households no later than August 1, 2026. |
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(5) The rebate is not considered taxable income for purposes |
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of state or federal law and shall not affect eligibility for any |
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state-administered benefits. |
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ARTICLE 2. Any federal reimbursement funds received by the |
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State of Texas under Public Law 119-21, received on or after May 1, |
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2026, for border security or immigration-related costs shall be |
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deposited into the state treasury and appropriated solely for the |
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purpose of school district property tax rate compression, as |
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defined by Section 48.2551, Education Code. |
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ARTICLE 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |