89R5821 CJC-D By: Dean H.B. No. 3212 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to providing for a reduction of the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes for the first tax year in which the owner qualifies the property for a residence homestead exemption based on the amount by which the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead reduced the appraised value of the owner's former residence homestead for the last tax year in which the owner qualified the former residence homestead for a residence homestead exemption. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 23.23, Tax Code, is amended by adding Subsections (h), (i), and (j) to read as follows: (h) The owner of a residence homestead who receives a limitation provided by Subsection (a) on the owner's residence homestead and who subsequently qualifies a different property as the owner's residence homestead is entitled to a reduction in the appraised value of the subsequently qualified homestead for the first tax year in which the owner qualifies the subsequently qualified homestead for an exemption under Section 11.13 in an amount equal to the lesser of: (1) the positive difference between the market value and the appraised value of the former residence homestead for the last tax year in which the owner qualified the former homestead for an exemption under Section 11.13; or (2) $500,000. (i) An owner of a residence homestead who receives a limitation provided by Subsection (a) on the owner's residence homestead and who subsequently qualifies a different property in a different appraisal district as the owner's residence homestead is entitled to receive from the chief appraiser of the appraisal district in which the former homestead was located a written certificate necessary to determine whether the owner is entitled to the reduction in the appraised value of the subsequently qualified homestead provided by Subsection (h) and to calculate the amount of the reduction. (j) A residence homestead is considered to be a subsequently qualified homestead for purposes of Subsection (h) only if the first tax year in which the owner of the homestead qualified the homestead for an exemption under Section 11.13 was a tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2026. SECTION 2. This Act applies only to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of residence homesteads for a tax year that begins on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, to authorize the legislature to provide for a reduction of the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes for the first tax year in which the owner qualifies the property for a residence homestead exemption based on the amount by which the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead reduced the appraised value of the owner's former residence homestead for the last tax year in which the owner qualified the former residence homestead for a residence homestead exemption is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.