88R13537 CJC-F
 
  By: Harrison H.B. No. 4852
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the form of a notice of public hearing on a proposed ad
  valorem tax rate.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 26.06(b-1), (b-2), and (b-3), Tax Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (b-1)  If the proposed tax rate exceeds the no-new-revenue
  tax rate and the voter-approval tax rate of the taxing unit, the
  notice must contain a statement in the following form:
  "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE
         "LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE        $__________ per $100
         "PROPOSED TAX RATE          $__________ per $100
         "NO-NEW-REVENUE TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the (current
  tax year) tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax
  revenue for (name of taxing unit) from the same properties in both
  the (preceding tax year) tax year and the (current tax year) tax
  year.
         "The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that
  (name of taxing unit) may adopt without holding an election to seek
  voter approval of the rate.
         "The proposed tax rate is greater than the no-new-revenue tax
  rate.  This means that (name of taxing unit) is proposing to
  increase property taxes for the (current tax year) tax year.
         "A public hearing on the proposed tax rate will be held on
  (date and time) at (meeting place).
         "The proposed tax rate is also greater than the
  voter-approval tax rate.  If (name of taxing unit) adopts the
  proposed tax rate, (name of taxing unit) is required to hold an
  election so that the voters may accept or reject the proposed tax
  rate.  If a majority of the voters reject the proposed tax rate, the
  tax rate of the (name of taxing unit) will be the voter-approval tax
  rate.  The election will be held on (date of election).  You may
  contact the (name of office responsible for administering the
  election) for information about voting locations.  The hours of
  voting on election day are (voting hours).
         "Your taxes owed under any of the tax rates mentioned above
  can be calculated as follows:
         "Property tax amount = tax rate x taxable value of your
  property / 100
         "(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how
  each voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase or, if one
  or more were absent, indicating the absences.)
         "Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local
  property tax database on which you can easily access information
  regarding your property taxes, including information about
  proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity
  that taxes your property.
         "The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the
  voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of
  property taxes in the state."
         (b-2)  If the proposed tax rate exceeds the no-new-revenue
  tax rate but does not exceed the voter-approval tax rate of the
  taxing unit, the notice must contain a statement in the following
  form:
  "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE
         "LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE        $__________ per $100
         "PROPOSED TAX RATE          $__________ per $100
         "NO-NEW-REVENUE TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the (current
  tax year) tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax
  revenue for (name of taxing unit) from the same properties in both
  the (preceding tax year) tax year and the (current tax year) tax
  year.
         "The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that
  (name of taxing unit) may adopt without holding an election to seek
  voter approval of the rate.
         "The proposed tax rate is greater than the no-new-revenue tax
  rate.  This means that (name of taxing unit) is proposing to
  increase property taxes for the (current tax year) tax year.
         "A public hearing on the proposed tax rate will be held on
  (date and time) at (meeting place).
         "The proposed tax rate is not greater than the voter-approval
  tax rate.  As a result, (name of taxing unit) is not required to
  hold an election at which voters may accept or reject the proposed
  tax rate.  However, you may express your support for or opposition
  to the proposed tax rate by contacting the members of the (name of
  governing body) of (name of taxing unit) at their offices or by
  attending the public hearing mentioned above.
         "Your taxes owed under any of the tax rates mentioned above
  can be calculated as follows:
         "Property tax amount = tax rate x taxable value of your
  property / 100
         "(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how
  each voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase or, if one
  or more were absent, indicating the absences.)
         "Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local
  property tax database on which you can easily access information
  regarding your property taxes, including information about
  proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity
  that taxes your property.
         "The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the
  voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of
  property taxes in the state."
         (b-3)  If the proposed tax rate does not exceed the
  no-new-revenue tax rate but exceeds the voter-approval tax rate of
  the taxing unit, the notice must contain a statement in the
  following form:
  "NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATE
         "LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE        $__________ per $100
         "PROPOSED TAX RATE          $__________ per $100
         "NO-NEW-REVENUE TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the (current
  tax year) tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax
  revenue for (name of taxing unit) from the same properties in both
  the (preceding tax year) tax year and the (current tax year) tax
  year.
         "The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that
  (name of taxing unit) may adopt without holding an election to seek
  voter approval of the rate.
         "The proposed tax rate is not greater than the no-new-revenue
  tax rate.  This means that (name of taxing unit) is not proposing to
  increase property taxes for the (current tax year) tax year.
         "A public hearing on the proposed tax rate will be held on
  (date and time) at (meeting place).
         "The proposed tax rate is greater than the voter-approval tax
  rate.  If (name of taxing unit) adopts the proposed tax rate, (name
  of taxing unit) is required to hold an election so that the voters
  may accept or reject the proposed tax rate.  If a majority of the
  voters reject the proposed tax rate, the tax rate of the (name of
  taxing unit) will be the voter-approval tax rate.  The election
  will be held on (date of election).  You may contact the (name of
  office responsible for administering the election) for information
  about voting locations.  The hours of voting on election day are
  (voting hours).
         "Your taxes owed under any of the tax rates mentioned above
  can be calculated as follows:
         "Property tax amount = tax rate x taxable value of your
  property / 100
         "(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how
  each voted on the proposal to consider the tax rate or, if one or
  more were absent, indicating the absences.)
         "Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local
  property tax database on which you can easily access information
  regarding your property taxes, including information about
  proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity
  that taxes your property.
         "The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the
  voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of
  property taxes in the state."
         SECTION 2.  Section 26.061(b), Tax Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (b)  The notice of the meeting at which the governing body of
  the taxing unit will vote on the proposed tax rate must contain a
  statement in the following form:
  "NOTICE OF MEETING TO VOTE ON TAX RATE
         "LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE        $__________ per $100
         "PROPOSED TAX RATE          $__________ per $100
         "NO-NEW-REVENUE TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE    $__________ per $100
         "The no-new-revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the (current
  tax year) tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax
  revenue for (name of taxing unit) from the same properties in both
  the (preceding tax year) tax year and the (current tax year) tax
  year.
         "The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that
  (name of taxing unit) may adopt without holding an election to seek
  voter approval of the rate.
         "The proposed tax rate is not greater than the no-new-revenue
  tax rate.  This means that (name of taxing unit) is not proposing to
  increase property taxes for the (current tax year) tax year.
         "A public meeting to vote on the proposed tax rate will be
  held on (date and time) at (meeting place).
         "The proposed tax rate is also not greater than the
  voter-approval tax rate.  As a result, (name of taxing unit) is not
  required to hold an election to seek voter approval of the
  rate.  However, you may express your support for or opposition to
  the proposed tax rate by contacting the members of the (name of
  governing body) of (name of taxing unit) at their offices or by
  attending the public meeting mentioned above.
         "Your taxes owed under any of the above rates can be
  calculated as follows:
         "Property tax amount = tax rate x taxable value of your
  property / 100
         "(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how
  each voted on the proposed tax rate or, if one or more were absent,
  indicating the absences.)
         "Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local
  property tax database on which you can easily access information
  regarding your property taxes, including information about
  proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity
  that taxes your property.
         "The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the
  voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of
  property taxes in the state."
         SECTION 3.  Section 26.062, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Subsections (i), (j), (k), and (l) to read as follows:
         (i)  In addition to any other information required by law, a
  notice required by Section 26.06(b-1), (b-2), or (b-3) or 26.061
  must include, in a prominent location on the notice:
               (1)  a statement in the following form, followed by the
  table described by Subsection (j):
         "The following table compares the revenue generated by the
  maintenance and operations rate and debt rate adopted by (name of
  taxing unit) for the preceding tax year and the revenue that would
  be generated by the maintenance and operations rate and debt rate
  proposed to be adopted by (name of taxing unit) for the current tax
  year.";
               (2)  a statement in the following form, followed by the
  table described by Subsection (k):
         "The following table compares the total taxable value of
  property in the (name of taxing unit) in the preceding tax year and
  the total taxable value of property in the (name of taxing unit) in
  the current tax year."; and
               (3)  a statement in the following form, followed by the
  table described by Subsection (l):
         "Last year, (name of taxing unit) adopted a property tax rate
  of (insert tax rate adopted by the taxing unit for the preceding tax
  year), which generated (insert the amount computed by multiplying
  the total taxable value of property in the taxing unit in the
  preceding tax year by the tax rate adopted by the taxing unit for
  the preceding tax year and dividing the product by 100) in tax
  revenue for (name of taxing unit). The following table shows the
  amounts of revenue that would be generated if (name of taxing unit)
  adopted for the current tax year the no-new-revenue tax rate, the
  voter-approval tax rate, and the proposed tax rate, respectively,
  as calculated for that tax year."
         (j)  The table following the statement required by
  Subsection (i)(1) must include three rows and four columns. The
  first column of the first row must be left blank, the second column
  of the first row must state the year corresponding to the preceding
  tax year, the third column of the first row must state the year
  corresponding to the current tax year, and the fourth column of the
  first row must be entitled "Change". The first column of the second
  row must be entitled "Maintenance and operations revenue", the
  second column of the second row must state the amount of maintenance
  and operations revenue attributable to ad valorem taxes imposed by
  the taxing unit in the preceding tax year, the third column of the
  second row must state the amount of the estimated maintenance and
  operations revenue attributable to ad valorem taxes imposed by the
  taxing unit in the current tax year, and the fourth column of the
  second row must state the nominal difference between the amount of
  maintenance and operations revenue attributable to ad valorem taxes
  imposed by the taxing unit in the preceding tax year and the amount
  of the estimated maintenance and operations revenue attributable to
  ad valorem taxes imposed by the taxing unit in the current tax year.
  The first column of the third row must be entitled "Debt
  collections", the second column of the third row must state the
  amount of revenue for debt service attributable to ad valorem taxes
  imposed by the taxing unit in the preceding tax year, the third
  column of the third row must state the estimated amount of revenue
  for debt service attributable to ad valorem taxes imposed by the
  taxing unit in the current tax year, and the fourth column of the
  second row must state the nominal difference between the amount of
  revenue for debt service attributable to ad valorem taxes imposed
  by the taxing unit in the preceding tax year and the estimated
  amount of revenue for debt service attributable to ad valorem taxes
  imposed by the taxing unit in the current tax year.
         (k)  The table following the statement required by
  Subsection (i)(2) must include two rows and four columns. The first
  column of the first row must be left blank, the second column of the
  first row must state the year corresponding to the preceding tax
  year, the third column of the first row must state the year
  corresponding to the current tax year, and the fourth column of the
  first row must be entitled "Change". The first column of the second
  row must be entitled "Total taxable value of property", the second
  column of the second row must state the total taxable value of
  property in the taxing unit in the preceding tax year, the third
  column of the second row must state the total taxable value of
  property in the taxing unit in the current tax year, and the fourth
  column of the second row must state the nominal difference between
  the total taxable value of property in the taxing unit in the
  preceding tax year and the total taxable value of property in the
  taxing unit in the current tax year.
         (l)  The table following the statement required by
  Subsection (i)(3) must include two rows and four columns. The first
  column of the first row must be left blank, the second column of the
  first row must be entitled "No-new-revenue tax rate", the third
  column of the first row must be entitled "Voter-approval tax rate",
  and the fourth column of the first row must be entitled "Proposed
  tax rate". The first column of the second row must be entitled
  "Property tax revenue in current year", the second column of the
  second row must state the amount computed by multiplying the total
  taxable value of property in the taxing unit in the current tax year
  by the no-new-revenue tax rate of the taxing unit for the current
  tax year and dividing the product by 100, the third column of the
  second row must state the amount computed by multiplying the total
  taxable value of property in the taxing unit in the current tax year
  by the voter-approval tax rate of the taxing unit for the current
  tax year and dividing the product by 100, and the fourth column of
  the second row must state the amount computed by multiplying the
  total taxable value of property in the taxing unit in the current
  tax year by the proposed tax rate of the taxing unit for the current
  tax year and dividing the product by 100.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a tax rate notice that is provided by a taxing unit on or after
  the effective date of this Act.  A tax rate notice that is provided
  by a taxing unit before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect on the date the notice is provided, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.