bill lets local taxing units exempt peace officer homesteads

The text as introduced · 1,173 words

By: Louderback
H.B. No. 1688

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation of all

or part of the appraised value of the residence homesteads of

certain peace officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 11.13(i), Tax Code, is amended to read as

follows:

(i) The assessor and collector for a taxing unit may

disregard the exemptions authorized by Subsection (b), (c), (d),

[ or ] (n) , or (s) [ of this section ] and assess and collect a tax

pledged for payment of debt without deducting the amount of the

exemption if:

(1) prior to adoption of the exemption, the taxing

unit pledged the taxes for the payment of a debt; and

(2) granting the exemption would impair the obligation

of the contract creating the debt.

SECTION 2. Section 11.13(m), Tax Code, is amended by adding

Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:

(1-a) "Eligible peace officer" means an individual

listed under Article 2.12(1), (2), (3), or (4), Code of Criminal

Procedure, who is employed full-time as a peace officer by this

state or by a political subdivision of this state.

SECTION 3. Section 11.13, Tax Code, is amended by adding

Subsections (s) and (t) to read as follows:

(s) In addition to any other exemptions provided by this

section, an eligible peace officer is entitled to an exemption from

taxation by a taxing unit of all or part of the appraised value of

the peace officer's residence homestead if the exemption is adopted

by the governing body of the taxing unit in the manner required by

law for official action by the governing body.

(t) The governing body of a taxing unit may adopt the

exemption provided by Subsection (s) as a specified dollar amount

or as a percentage of the appraised value of the property.

SECTION 4. Section 403.302(d), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d) For the purposes of this section, "taxable value" means

the market value of all taxable property less:

(1) the total dollar amount of any residence homestead

exemptions lawfully granted under Section 11.13(b) , [ or ] (c), or

(s), Tax Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each

school district;

(2) one-half of the total dollar amount of any

residence homestead exemptions granted under Section 11.13(n), Tax

Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school

district;

(3) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted

before May 31, 1993, within a reinvestment zone under agreements

authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;

(4) subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount

of any captured appraised value of property that:

(A) is within a reinvestment zone created on or

before May 31, 1999, or is proposed to be included within the

boundaries of a reinvestment zone as the boundaries of the zone and

the proposed portion of tax increment paid into the tax increment

fund by a school district are described in a written notification

provided by the municipality or the board of directors of the zone

to the governing bodies of the other taxing units in the manner

provided by former Section 311.003(e), Tax Code, before May 31,

1999, and within the boundaries of the zone as those boundaries

existed on September 1, 1999, including subsequent improvements to

the property regardless of when made;

(B) generates taxes paid into a tax increment

fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code, under a reinvestment zone

financing plan approved under Section 311.011(d), Tax Code, on or

before September 1, 1999; and

(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under

Chapter 311, Tax Code;

(5) the total dollar amount of any captured appraised

value of property that:

(A) is within a reinvestment zone:

(i) created on or before December 31, 2008,

by a municipality with a population of less than 18,000; and

(ii) the project plan for which includes

the alteration, remodeling, repair, or reconstruction of a

structure that is included on the National Register of Historic

Places and requires that a portion of the tax increment of the zone

be used for the improvement or construction of related facilities

or for affordable housing;

(B) generates school district taxes that are paid

into a tax increment fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code; and

(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under

Chapter 311, Tax Code;

(6) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted

under Section 11.251 or 11.253, Tax Code;

(7) the difference between the comptroller's estimate

of the market value and the productivity value of land that

qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity,

except that the productivity value estimated by the comptroller may

not exceed the fair market value of the land;

(8) the portion of the appraised value of residence

homesteads of individuals who receive a tax limitation under

Section 11.26, Tax Code, on which school district taxes are not

imposed in the year that is the subject of the study, calculated as

if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value

required by law;

(9) a portion of the market value of property not

otherwise fully taxable by the district at market value because of

action required by statute or the constitution of this state, other

than Section 11.311, Tax Code, that, if the tax rate adopted by the

district is applied to it, produces an amount equal to the

difference between the tax that the district would have imposed on

the property if the property were fully taxable at market value and

the tax that the district is actually authorized to impose on the

property, if this subsection does not otherwise require that

portion to be deducted;

(10) the market value of all tangible personal

property, other than manufactured homes, owned by a family or

individual and not held or used for the production of income;

(11) the appraised value of property the collection of

delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.06, Tax

Code;

(12) the portion of the appraised value of property

the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under

Section 33.065, Tax Code;

(13) the amount by which the market value of a

residence homestead to which Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies

exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated under

that section; and

(14) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted

under Section 11.35, Tax Code.

SECTION 5. This Act applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed

for a tax year that begins on or after the effective date of this

Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only

if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,

Regular Session, 2025, authorizing a local option exemption from ad

valorem taxation of all or part of the appraised value of the

residence homesteads of certain peace officers is approved by the

voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act

has no effect.