Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB535 Introduced / Bill

Filed 11/12/2020

                    87R2686 SMT-F
 By: Shine H.B. No. 535


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the rate at which interest accrues in connection with
 the deferral or abatement of the collection of ad valorem taxes on
 the residence homestead of an individual who is elderly or disabled
 or a disabled veteran.
 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 in
 effect for each calendar year or portion of a calendar year during
 the deferral or abatement period is the 10-year Constant Maturity
 Treasury Rate reported by the Federal Reserve Board as of January 1
 of that year [five 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 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. The additional penalty under Section 33.07 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 33.06(d), Tax Code, as amended by this
 Act, applies to interest that accrued during a deferral or
 abatement period under that section before September 1, 2021, if
 the tax remains unpaid as of that date, and applies to interest that
 accrues during a deferral or abatement period under that section on
 or after that date, regardless of whether the deferral or abatement
 period began before September 1, 2021, or begins on or after that
 date.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.