Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1207 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/09/2021

                    87R9316 SMH-D
 By: Hall S.B. No. 1207


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the requirements for eligibility for a limitation on
 the appraised value of property for school district maintenance and
 operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Economic
 Development Act and the imposition of a penalty for failure to meet
 certain eligibility requirements.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 313.026(c), Tax Code, is amended to read
 as follows:
 (c)  The comptroller may not issue a certificate for a
 limitation on appraised value under this chapter for property
 described in an application unless the comptroller determines that:
 (1)  the project proposed by the applicant is
 reasonably likely to generate, before the third [25th] anniversary
 of the beginning of the limitation period, tax revenue, including
 state tax revenue, school district maintenance and operations ad
 valorem tax revenue attributable to the project, and any other tax
 revenue attributable to the effect of the project on the economy of
 the state, in an amount sufficient to offset the school district
 maintenance and operations ad valorem tax revenue lost as a result
 of the agreement; and
 (2)  the limitation on appraised value is a determining
 factor in the applicant's decision to invest capital and construct
 the project in this state.
 SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 313, Tax Code, is amended
 by adding Section 313.0274 to read as follows:
 Sec. 313.0274.  RECAPTURE OF AD VALOREM TAX REVENUE LOST IF
 TAX REVENUE GENERATED DOES NOT OFFSET TAX REVENUE LOST. (a)
 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the
 contrary, the audit submitted under Section 313.034 by a recipient
 of a limitation on appraised value under this chapter must show that
 the tax revenue described by Section 313.034(1) is sufficient to
 offset the tax revenue described by Section 313.034(2).
 (b)  If in any tax year the audit submitted by a recipient of
 a limitation on appraised value under this chapter fails to comply
 with Subsection (a), the recipient is liable to this state for a
 penalty equal to the amount computed by subtracting from the market
 value of the property for that tax year the value of the property as
 limited by the agreement and multiplying the difference by the
 maintenance and operations tax rate of the school district for that
 tax year.
 (c)  A penalty imposed under Subsection (b) becomes
 delinquent if not paid on or before February 1 of the following tax
 year.  Section 33.01 applies to the delinquent penalty in the
 manner that section applies to delinquent taxes.
 (d)  In the event of a casualty loss that prevents a person
 from complying with Subsection (a), the person may request and the
 comptroller may grant a waiver of the penalty imposed under
 Subsection (b).
 SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 313.0275, Tax Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 313.0275.  RECAPTURE OF AD VALOREM TAX REVENUE LOST IF
 PROPERTY OWNER FAILS TO MAKE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF QUALIFIED
 INVESTMENT.
 SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 313, Tax Code, is amended
 by adding Section 313.034 to read as follows:
 Sec. 313.034.  AUDIT SHOWING TAX REVENUE GENERATED AND LOST.
 After each ad valorem tax year covered by the agreement beginning
 with the third ad valorem tax year, each recipient of a limitation
 on appraised value under this chapter shall submit to the
 comptroller an audit prepared by an independent auditor showing:
 (1)  the tax revenue generated by the project,
 including state tax revenue, school district maintenance and
 operations ad valorem tax revenue attributable to the project, and
 any other tax revenue attributable to the effect of the project on
 the economy; and
 (2)  the school district maintenance and operations ad
 valorem tax revenue lost as a result of the agreement.
 SECTION 5.  Section 313.025(f-1), Tax Code, is repealed.
 SECTION 6.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
 to an agreement entered into under Chapter 313, Tax Code, pursuant
 to an application filed under that chapter on or after the effective
 date of this Act. An agreement entered into under that chapter
 pursuant to an application filed before the effective date of this
 Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was
 filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 Act takes effect September 1, 2021.