Texas 2023 - 88th 2nd C.S.

Texas House Bill HJR15 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 07/11/2023

                            88S20043 MLH-D
 By: Bell of Montgomery H.J.R. No. 15


 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 proposing a constitutional amendment to exempt from ad valorem
 taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads of
 certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses.
 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
 is amended by adding Subsection (v) to read as follows:
 (v)  A person is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem
 taxation of the total market value of the person's residence
 homestead if the person is 72 years of age or older and the person
 has received an exemption under this section for the residence
 homestead for at least the preceding 10 years. The surviving spouse
 of a person who received an exemption under this subsection for the
 residence homestead of a person 72 years of age or older is entitled
 to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total market value
 of the same property if the deceased spouse died in a year in which
 the deceased spouse received the exemption, the surviving spouse
 was 55 years of age or older when the deceased spouse died, and the
 property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when
 the deceased spouse died and remains the residence homestead of the
 surviving spouse. Where ad valorem tax of a political subdivision
 has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the taxing
 officers of the political subdivision may continue to levy and
 collect the tax against the value of residence homesteads exempted
 under this subsection until the debt is discharged if the cessation
 of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by which the
 debt was created. The legislature shall provide for formulas to
 protect school districts against all or part of the revenue loss
 incurred by the implementation of this subsection. The legislature
 by general law may prescribe procedures for the administration of
 this subsection.
 SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to
 the Texas Constitution:
 TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a)  This temporary provision applies
 to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th Legislature,
 2nd Called Session, 2023, to exempt from ad valorem taxation the
 total market value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly
 persons and their surviving spouses.
 (b)  Section 1-b(v), Article VIII, of this constitution
 takes effect January 1, 2024.
 (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2025.
 SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 proposition: "The constitutional amendment to exempt from ad
 valorem taxation the total market value of the residence homestead
 of a person 72 years of age or older or the person's surviving
 spouse."