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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to exempt from ad valorem |
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taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads of |
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certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended by adding Subsection (s) to read as follows: |
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(s) A person is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem |
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taxation of the total market value of the person's residence |
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homestead if the person is 65 years of age or older and the person |
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has received an exemption under this section for the residence |
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homestead for at least the preceding 10 years. The surviving spouse |
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of a person who received an exemption under this subsection for the |
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residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older is entitled |
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to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total market value |
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of the same property if the deceased spouse died in a year in which |
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the deceased spouse received the exemption, the surviving spouse |
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was 55 years of age or older when the deceased spouse died, and the |
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property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when |
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the deceased spouse died and remains the residence homestead of the |
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surviving spouse. Where ad valorem tax of a political subdivision |
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has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the taxing |
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officers of the political subdivision may continue to levy and |
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collect the tax against the value of residence homesteads exempted |
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under this subsection until the debt is discharged if the cessation |
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of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by which the |
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debt was created. The legislature shall provide for formulas to |
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protect school districts against all or part of the revenue loss |
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incurred by the implementation of this subsection. The legislature |
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by general law may prescribe procedures for the administration of |
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this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to |
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the Texas Constitution: |
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TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies |
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to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, |
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1st Called Session, 2025, to exempt from ad valorem taxation the |
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total market value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly |
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persons and their surviving spouses. |
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(b) Section 1-b(s), Article VIII, of this constitution |
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takes effect January 1, 2027. |
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(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2028. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held May 2, 2026. The |
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ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment to exempt from ad |
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valorem taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads |
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of certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses." |