Texas House Bill HJR126

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to transfer certain surplus state revenues to a sales tax relief fund to support state sales tax holidays at the discretion of the comptroller.

Impact

The proposed amendment is expected to enhance the state's ability to provide temporary sales tax relief by allowing the comptroller to declare tax holiday periods based on fund balance. This redistribution of surplus revenues aims to foster economic relief for consumers, especially during high-demand shopping seasons. If implemented, it could provide a structured method for the state to periodically reduce sales tax rates, thereby stimulating consumer spending and aiding local businesses during specific fiscal bienniums.

Summary

HJR126 proposes a constitutional amendment aimed at reallocating certain surplus state revenues into a newly established sales tax relief fund. This fund is intended to support state sales tax holidays at the discretion of the comptroller. The proposal looks to amend Subsection (g) of Section 49-g, Article III of the Texas Constitution, to facilitate this transfer by controlling the maximum balance of the economic stabilization fund and utilizing any excess for sales tax relief, thus promoting a new mechanism for providing tax relief to Texas residents during specified periods.

Contention

While the bill appears to offer beneficial tax relief to citizens, potential points of contention could arise regarding the management of the newly proposed sales tax relief fund. Critics may raise concerns about the sufficiency of surplus revenues to sustain consistent tax relief periods and whether such measures may result in inconsistencies in state revenue. Furthermore, the discretion granted to the comptroller in determining relief periods could face scrutiny in terms of transparency and fairness, influencing how effectively the relief is administered across varying regions of the state.