82R9008 TJB-D
By: Madden H.B. No. 1880
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a limitation on the appraised value for ad valorem tax
purposes of certain residence homesteads of certain veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1.12(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(d) For purposes of this section, the appraisal ratio of a
homestead to which Section 23.23 or 23.231 applies is the ratio of
the property's market value as determined by the appraisal district
or appraisal review board, as applicable, to the market value of the
property according to law. The appraisal ratio is not calculated
according to the appraised value of the property as limited by
Section 23.23 or 23.231.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 23.23, Tax Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 23.23. LIMITATION ON APPRAISED VALUE OF RESIDENCE
HOMESTEAD IN GENERAL.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 23, Tax Code, is amended by
adding Section 23.231 to read as follows:
Sec. 23.231. LIMITATION ON APPRAISED VALUE OF RESIDENCE
HOMESTEADS OF CERTAIN VETERANS. (a) This section applies only to a
residence homestead owned by a veteran of the armed services of the
United States that was donated to or renovated for the veteran at no
charge to the veteran.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 25.18 and
regardless of whether the appraisal office has appraised the
property and determined the market value of the property for the tax
year, an appraisal office may increase the appraised value of a
residence homestead for a tax year to an amount not to exceed the
lesser of:
(1) the market value of the property for the most
recent tax year that the market value was determined by the
appraisal office;
(2) for a residence homestead donated to a veteran,
the sum of:
(A) the appraised value of the land; and
(B) $150,000; or
(3) for a residence homestead renovated at no charge
to a veteran, the sum of:
(A) the appraised value of the property for the
tax year preceding the renovation; and
(B) the market value of all new improvements to
the property that are not renovations described by Subsection (a).
(c) When appraising a residence homestead, the chief
appraiser shall:
(1) appraise the property at its market value; and
(2) include in the appraisal records both the market
value of the property and the amount computed under Subsection
(b)(2) or (3), as applicable.
(d) The limitation provided by Subsection (b):
(1) takes effect as to a residence homestead beginning
on January 1 of the tax year following the first tax year the owner
qualifies the property for the limitation; and
(2) expires on January 1 of the first tax year the
property ceases to qualify for the limitation.
(e) This section does not apply to property appraised under
Subchapter C, D, E, F, G, or H.
(f) In this section, "new improvement" means an improvement
to a residence homestead made after the most recent appraisal of the
property that increases the market value of the property and the
value of which is not included in the appraised value of the
property for the preceding tax year. The term does not include
repairs to or ordinary maintenance of an existing structure or the
grounds or another feature of the property.
(g) Notwithstanding Subsections (b) and (f) and except as
provided by Subdivision (2), an improvement to property that would
otherwise constitute a new improvement is not treated as a new
improvement if the improvement is a replacement structure for a
structure that was rendered uninhabitable or unusable by a casualty
or by wind or water damage. For purposes of appraising the property
under Subsection (b) in the tax year in which the structure would
have constituted a new improvement:
(1) the appraised value the property would have had in
the preceding tax year if the casualty or damage had not occurred is
considered to be the appraised value of the property for that year,
regardless of whether that appraised value exceeds the actual
appraised value of the property for that year as limited by
Subsection (b); and
(2) the replacement structure is considered to be a
new improvement only if:
(A) the square footage of the replacement
structure exceeds that of the replaced structure as that structure
existed before the casualty or damage occurred; or
(B) the exterior of the replacement structure is
of higher quality construction and composition than that of the
replaced structure.
(h) To receive a limitation under Subsection (b), a person
claiming the limitation must apply for the limitation by filing an
application with the chief appraiser of the appraisal district.
For property appraised by more than one appraisal district, a
separate application must be filed in each appraisal district to
receive the limitation in that district. A limitation under
Subsection (b), once allowed, need not be claimed in subsequent
years and applies to the property until the limitation expires as
provided by this section. However, the chief appraiser may require
a person allowed a limitation in a prior year to file a new
application to confirm the person's current qualification for the
limitation by delivering not later than April 1 a written notice
that a new application is required, accompanied by an appropriate
application form, to the person previously allowed the limitation.
The comptroller, in prescribing the contents of the application
form, shall ensure that the form requires an applicant to provide
the information necessary to determine the validity of the
limitation claim. To the extent practicable, the provisions of
this code applicable to an application for a residence homestead
exemption apply to an application under this subsection, including
the provisions of Section 11.431 relating to late applications. A
person who receives a limitation under Subsection (b) shall notify
the appraisal office in writing before May 1 after the person's
qualification for the limitation ends.
SECTION 4. Section 42.26(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(d) For purposes of this section, the value of the property
subject to the suit and the value of a comparable property or sample
property that is used for comparison must be the market value
determined by the appraisal district when the property is a
residence homestead subject to the limitation on appraised value
imposed by Section 23.23 or 23.231.
SECTION 5. Section 44.004(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt the
budget and the proposed tax rate may not be smaller than one-quarter
page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the
headline on the notice must be in 18-point or larger type. Subject
to Subsection (d), the notice must:
(1) contain a statement in the following form:
"NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
"The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at
(time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location,
city, state). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school
district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be
adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." The
statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type. In
reduced type, the notice must state: "The tax rate that is
ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a
later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the
district publishes a revised notice containing the same information
and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to
discuss the revised notice.";
(2) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference,
expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the
amounts budgeted for the preceding fiscal year and the amount
budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for
each of the following:
(A) maintenance and operations;
(B) debt service; and
(C) total expenditures;
(3) contain a section entitled "Total Appraised Value
and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value
and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised
value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the
district in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as
calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code;
(4) contain a statement of the total amount of the
outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the school district;
(5) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must:
(A) show in rows the tax rates described by
Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of
property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations,"
"Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of
"Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund":
(i) the school district's "Last Year's
Rate";
(ii) the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of
Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which:
(a) in the case of "Maintenance &
Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current
taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser
under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes
made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared,
would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to
be distributed to the district under Chapter 42, would provide the
same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds
distributed under Chapter 42 per student in average daily
attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the
district in the preceding school year; and
(b) in the case of "Interest & Sinking
Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable
value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under
Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by
the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when
multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would
impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be
distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes
collected to service the district's debt during the preceding tax
year but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide
the amount required to service the district's debt; and
(iii) the "Proposed Rate";
(B) contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with
the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row
required by Paragraph (A):
(i) the "Local Revenue per Student," which
is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of
property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable
school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to
reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the
notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product
by the number of students in average daily attendance in the
district for the applicable school year; and
(ii) the "State Revenue per Student," which
is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be
received by the district under Chapters 42, 43, and 46 and dividing
that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in
the district for the applicable school year; and
(C) contain an asterisk after each calculation
for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in
reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is
used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or
both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds,
were approved by the voters of this district.";
(6) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must:
(A) show in rows the information described by
Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns
entitled "Last Year" and "This Year":
(i) "Average Market Value of Residences,"
determined using the same group of residences for each year;
(ii) "Average Taxable Value of Residences,"
determined after taking into account the limitations [limitation]
on the appraised value of residences under Sections [Section] 23.23
and 23.231, Tax Code, and after subtracting all homestead
exemptions applicable in each year, other than exemptions available
only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older or
their surviving spouses, and using the same group of residences for
each year;
(iii) "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed
Rate per $100 Value"; and
(iv) "Taxes Due on Average Residence,"
determined using the same group of residences for each year; and
(B) contain the following information: "Increase
(Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents, which is
computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for
the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for
the current tax year;
(7) contain the following statement in bold print:
"Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the
residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving
spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age
or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount
paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of
changes in tax rate or property value.";
(8) contain the following statement in bold print:
"Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the district can
adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is (the school
district rollback rate determined under Section 26.08, Tax Code).
This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a
rate in excess of the rollback rate of (the school district rollback
rate)."; and
(9) contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which
must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund
balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or
general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal
year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt
obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the
district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 42 in
the succeeding school year.
SECTION 6. Section 403.302(d), Government Code, as amended
by Chapters 1186 (H.B. 3676) and 1328 (H.B. 3646), Acts of the 81st
Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to
read as follows:
(d) For the purposes of this section, "taxable value" means
the market value of all taxable property less:
(1) the total dollar amount of any residence homestead
exemptions lawfully granted under Section 11.13(b) or (c), Tax
Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school
district;
(2) one-half of the total dollar amount of any
residence homestead exemptions granted under Section 11.13(n), Tax
Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school
district;
(3) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted
before May 31, 1993, within a reinvestment zone under agreements
authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;
(4) subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount
of any captured appraised value of property that:
(A) is within a reinvestment zone created on or
before May 31, 1999, or is proposed to be included within the
boundaries of a reinvestment zone as the boundaries of the zone and
the proposed portion of tax increment paid into the tax increment
fund by a school district are described in a written notification
provided by the municipality or the board of directors of the zone
to the governing bodies of the other taxing units in the manner
provided by Section 311.003(e), Tax Code, before May 31, 1999, and
within the boundaries of the zone as those boundaries existed on
September 1, 1999, including subsequent improvements to the
property regardless of when made;
(B) generates taxes paid into a tax increment
fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code, under a reinvestment zone
financing plan approved under Section 311.011(d), Tax Code, on or
before September 1, 1999; and
(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under
Chapter 311, Tax Code;
(5) the total dollar amount of any captured appraised
value of property that:
(A) is within a reinvestment zone:
(i) created on or before December 31, 2008,
by a municipality with a population of less than 18,000; and
(ii) the project plan for which includes
the alteration, remodeling, repair, or reconstruction of a
structure that is included on the National Register of Historic
Places and requires that a portion of the tax increment of the zone
be used for the improvement or construction of related facilities
or for affordable housing;
(B) generates school district taxes that are paid
into a tax increment fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code; and
(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under
Chapter 311, Tax Code;
(6) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted
under Section 11.251 or 11.253, Tax Code;
(7) the difference between the comptroller's estimate
of the market value and the productivity value of land that
qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity,
except that the productivity value estimated by the comptroller may
not exceed the fair market value of the land;
(8) the portion of the appraised value of residence
homesteads of individuals who receive a tax limitation under
Section 11.26, Tax Code, on which school district taxes are not
imposed in the year that is the subject of the study, calculated as
if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value
required by law;
(9) a portion of the market value of property not
otherwise fully taxable by the district at market value because of:
(A) action required by statute or the
constitution of this state that, if the tax rate adopted by the
district is applied to it, produces an amount equal to the
difference between the tax that the district would have imposed on
the property if the property were fully taxable at market value and
the tax that the district is actually authorized to impose on the
property, if this subsection does not otherwise require that
portion to be deducted; or
(B) action taken by the district under Subchapter
B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code, before the expiration of the
subchapter;
(10) the market value of all tangible personal
property, other than manufactured homes, owned by a family or
individual and not held or used for the production of income;
(11) the appraised value of property the collection of
delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.06, Tax
Code;
(12) the portion of the appraised value of property
the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under
Section 33.065, Tax Code; and
(13) the amount by which the market value of a
residence homestead to which Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax Code,
applies exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated
under that section.
SECTION 7. Section 403.302(i), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(i) If the comptroller determines in the study that the
market value of property in a school district as determined by the
appraisal district that appraises property for the school district,
less the total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as
determined by that appraisal district, is valid, the comptroller,
in determining the taxable value of property in the school district
under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of Subsection (d)(13)
subtract from the market value as determined by the appraisal
district of residence homesteads to which Section 23.23 or 23.231,
Tax Code, applies the amount by which that amount exceeds the
appraised value of those properties as calculated by the appraisal
district under Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax Code. If the
comptroller determines in the study that the market value of
property in a school district as determined by the appraisal
district that appraises property for the school district, less the
total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as
determined by that appraisal district, is not valid, the
comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in the
school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of
Subsection (d)(13) subtract from the market value as estimated by
the comptroller of residence homesteads to which Section 23.23 or
23.231, Tax Code, applies the amount by which that amount exceeds
the appraised value of those properties as calculated by the
appraisal district under Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax Code.
SECTION 8. Section 403.302(m), Government Code, as added by
Chapter 1186 (H.B. 3676), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular
Session, 2009, is amended to conform to Section 80, Chapter 1328
(H.B. 3646), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009,
to read as follows:
(m) Subsection (d)(9) [(d)(10)] does not apply to property
that was the subject of an application under Subchapter B or C,
Chapter 313, Tax Code, made after May 1, 2009, that the comptroller
recommended should be disapproved.
SECTION 9. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.
SECTION 10. This Act applies only to the appraisal of a
residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes for a tax year that
begins on or after January 1, 2012.
SECTION 11. This Act takes effect January 1, 2012, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 82nd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2011, authorizing the legislature to provide for a
limitation on the appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes of
certain residence homesteads of certain veterans is approved by the
voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act
has no effect.