Texas Senate Bill SJR8

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/10/08

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for automatic adjustments of the rates of motor fuels taxes.

Impact

If enacted, this resolution would amend Article VIII of the Texas Constitution by adding Section 7-c, which would explicitly grant the legislature the authority to legislate mechanisms for the automatic adjustment of motor fuels tax rates. This could allow for quicker responses to changes in economic conditions, ensuring that tax rates align more closely with inflation or fluctuations in the cost of fuel production and distribution.

Summary

SJR8 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that would authorize the Texas legislature to provide for automatic adjustments to the rates of motor fuels taxes. The amendment suggests that such adjustments could be made by the comptroller of public accounts based on one or more price or cost indices published by a federal agency. This approach is intended to give the legislature the flexibility to respond to market conditions affecting fuel prices, potentially maintaining more stable revenue from fuel taxes over time.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention surrounding the SJR8 amendment is the debate about automatic tax adjustments. Proponents argue that it would create a more responsive fiscal policy that aligns tax revenue with consumer realities, thereby providing essential funding for transportation and infrastructure projects. However, critics may raise concerns regarding the potential for tax increases without direct voter input, arguing that such a system could lead to decreased transparency and accountability in state taxation policies.