84R9242 LEH-F By: Bohac H.B. No. 2399 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the effect on certain interest and penalties of the deferral or abatement of the collection of ad valorem taxes on certain residence homesteads. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 33.06(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: (d) A tax lien remains on the property and interest continues to accrue during the period collection of taxes is deferred or abated under this section. The annual interest rate during the deferral or abatement period is eight percent instead of the rate provided by Section 33.01. Interest and penalties that accrued or that were incurred or imposed under Section 33.01, [or] 33.07, or 33.08, or under Section 33.11 if the residence homestead is a manufactured home treated as personal property, before the date the individual files the deferral affidavit under Subsection (b) or the date the judgment abating the suit is entered, as applicable, are preserved. A penalty under Section 33.01 is not incurred during a deferral or abatement period. An [The] additional penalty under Section 33.07 or 33.08, or under Section 33.11 if the residence homestead is a manufactured home treated as personal property, may be imposed and collected only if the taxes for which collection is deferred or abated remain delinquent on or after the 181st day after the date the deferral or abatement period expires. A plea of limitation, laches, or want of prosecution does not apply against the taxing unit because of deferral or abatement of collection as provided by this section. SECTION 2. Section 33.065(g), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: (g) A tax lien remains on the property and interest continues to accrue during the period collection of delinquent taxes is deferred or abated under this section. The annual interest rate during the deferral or abatement period is eight percent instead of the rate provided by Section 33.01. Interest and penalties that accrued or that were incurred or imposed under Section 33.01, [or] 33.07, or 33.08, or under Section 33.11 if the residence homestead is a manufactured home treated as personal property, before the date the individual files the deferral affidavit under Subsection (c) or the date the judgment abating the suit is entered, as applicable, are preserved. A penalty is not incurred on the delinquent taxes for which collection is deferred or abated during a deferral or abatement period. An [The] additional penalty under Section 33.07 or 33.08, or under Section 33.11 if the residence homestead is a manufactured home treated as personal property, may be imposed and collected only if the delinquent taxes for which collection is deferred or abated remain delinquent on or after the 91st day after the date the deferral or abatement period expires. A plea of limitation, laches, or want of prosecution does not apply against the taxing unit because of deferral or abatement of collection as provided by this section. SECTION 3. Sections 33.06(d) and 33.065(g), Tax Code, as amended by this Act, apply to interest and penalties that accrued or that were incurred or imposed on a delinquent tax before the effective date of this Act or that accrue or that are incurred or imposed on or after that date, regardless of whether the deferral or abatement period under the applicable section of that code began before the effective date of this Act or begins on or after that date. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.