Bill Text: TX SB1791 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the governing body of a taxing unit in a county in which home prices are appreciating rapidly to adopt a limitation on increases in the appraised value for purposes of ad valorem taxation by the taxing unit of residence homesteads in certain low-income areas.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-18 - Referred to Property Tax [SB1791 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1791-Introduced.html

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86R12812 SMH-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1791

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the governing body of a taxing unit in
a county in which home prices are appreciating rapidly to adopt a
limitation on increases in the appraised value for purposes of ad
valorem taxation by the taxing unit of residence homesteads in
certain low-income areas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1.12(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(d) For purposes of this section, the appraisal ratio of a
homestead to which Section 23.23 or 23.231 applies is the ratio of
the property's market value as determined by the appraisal district
or appraisal review board, as applicable, to the market value of the
property according to law. The appraisal ratio is not calculated
according to the appraised value of the property as limited by
Section 23.23 or 23.231.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 23, Tax Code, is amended by
adding Section 23.231 to read as follows:
Sec. 23.231. LIMITATION ON APPRAISED VALUE OF RESIDENCE
HOMESTEAD IN LOW-INCOME AREA. (a) In this section:
(1) "Qualifying census tract" means a census tract
delineated by the United States Bureau of the Census in the most
recent decennial census in which:
(A) the median family income is less than 60
percent of the area median family income for the county or
metropolitan statistical area in which the census tract is located,
as determined annually by the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development; or
(B) the poverty rate is at least 25 percent.
(2) "Qualifying county" means a county in which the
rate of increase in the unadjusted median value of the sales price
of existing homes over the preceding three years, as calculated by
the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for
purposes of the HOME and Housing Trust Fund programs, is greater
than 2.5 times the amount computed by averaging the rate of increase
in each of the counties in this state for the same period.
(b) The governing body of a taxing unit all or part of the
territory of which is located in a qualifying county in the manner
provided by law for official action by the governing body may
provide that, notwithstanding the requirements of Section 25.18 and
regardless of whether the appraisal office has appraised the
property and determined the market value of the property for the tax
year, an appraisal office may increase the appraised value of a
residence homestead located in a qualifying census tract in the
taxing unit for a tax year for purposes of taxation by the taxing
unit to an amount not to exceed the lesser of:
(1) the market value of the property for the most
recent tax year that the market value was determined by the
appraisal office; or
(2) the sum of:
(A) the greater of the following amounts:
(i) the percentage specified by the
governing body, expressed as a decimal, multiplied by the appraised
value of the property for the preceding tax year; or
(ii) the amount computed by averaging the
percentage increase, expressed as a decimal, in the unadjusted
median value of the sales price of existing homes in each of the
counties in this state for the preceding year as calculated by the
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for
purposes of the HOME and Housing Trust Fund programs and
multiplying that amount by the appraised value of the property for
the preceding tax year;
(B) the appraised value of the property for the
preceding tax year; and
(C) the market value of all new improvements to
the property.
(c) The governing body of a taxing unit that adopts a
limitation on increases in appraised value under this section may
amend or repeal the limitation. The adoption, amendment, or repeal
of a limitation applies beginning with the tax year in which the
action is taken if the action is taken before July 1 and takes
effect beginning with the following tax year if the action is taken
on or after that date.
(d) When appraising a residence homestead that is subject to
a limitation on increases in appraised value under this section for
purposes of taxation of the homestead by the taxing unit that
adopted the limitation, the chief appraiser shall:
(1) appraise the property at its market value; and
(2) include in the appraisal records both the market
value of the property and the amount computed under Subsection
(b)(2).
(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the appraised value of
a residence homestead that is subject to a limitation on increases
in appraised value under this section is, for purposes of taxation
of the homestead by the taxing unit that adopted the limitation,
equal to the lesser of the amount computed under Section 23.23 or
the amount computed under Subsection (b).
(f) A limitation adopted under Subsection (b) takes effect
as to a residence homestead on January 1 of the tax year following
the first tax year in which the owner qualifies the property for an
exemption under Section 11.13 and the homestead is located in a
qualifying census tract. The limitation expires on January 1 of the
first tax year in which neither the owner of the property when the
limitation took effect nor the owner's spouse or surviving spouse
qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13 or the homestead
ceases to be located in a qualifying census tract.
(g) Sections 23.23(d), (e), (f), and (g) apply to a
limitation under this section in the same manner as those
subsections apply to a limitation under Section 23.23.
SECTION 3. Section 42.26(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(d) For purposes of this section, the value of the property
subject to the suit and the value of a comparable property or sample
property that is used for comparison must be the market value
determined by the appraisal district when the property is a
residence homestead subject to the limitation on appraised value
imposed by Section 23.23 or 23.231.
SECTION 4. Section 44.004(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) The notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt the
budget and the proposed tax rate may not be smaller than one-quarter
page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the
headline on the notice must be in 18-point or larger type. Subject
to Subsection (d), the notice must:
(1) contain a statement in the following form:
"NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
"The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at
(time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location,
city, state). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school
district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be
adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." The
statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type. In
reduced type, the notice must state: "The tax rate that is
ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a
later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the
district publishes a revised notice containing the same information
and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to
discuss the revised notice.";
(2) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference,
expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the
amounts budgeted for the preceding fiscal year and the amount
budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for
each of the following:
(A) maintenance and operations;
(B) debt service; and
(C) total expenditures;
(3) contain a section entitled "Total Appraised Value
and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value
and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised
value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the
district in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as
calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code;
(4) contain a statement of the total amount of the
outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the school district;
(5) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must:
(A) show in rows the tax rates described by
Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of
property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations,"
"Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of
"Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund":
(i) the school district's "Last Year's
Rate";
(ii) the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of
Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which:
(a) in the case of "Maintenance &
Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current
taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser
under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes
made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared,
would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to
be distributed to the district under Chapter 42, would provide the
same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds
distributed under Chapter 42 per student in average daily
attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the
district in the preceding school year; and
(b) in the case of "Interest & Sinking
Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable
value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under
Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by
the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when
multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would
impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be
distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes
collected to service the district's debt during the preceding tax
year but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide
the amount required to service the district's debt; and
(iii) the "Proposed Rate";
(B) contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with
the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row
required by Paragraph (A):
(i) the "Local Revenue per Student," which
is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of
property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable
school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to
reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the
notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product
by the number of students in average daily attendance in the
district for the applicable school year; and
(ii) the "State Revenue per Student," which
is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be
received by the district under Chapters 42, 43, and 46 and dividing
that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in
the district for the applicable school year; and
(C) contain an asterisk after each calculation
for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in
reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is
used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or
both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds,
were approved by the voters of this district.";
(6) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed
Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must:
(A) show in rows the information described by
Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns
entitled "Last Year" and "This Year":
(i) "Average Market Value of Residences,"
determined using the same group of residences for each year;
(ii) "Average Taxable Value of Residences,"
determined after taking into account the limitation on the
appraised value of residences under Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax
Code, and after subtracting all homestead exemptions applicable in
each year, other than exemptions available only to disabled persons
or persons 65 years of age or older or their surviving spouses, and
using the same group of residences for each year;
(iii) "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed
Rate per $100 Value"; and
(iv) "Taxes Due on Average Residence,"
determined using the same group of residences for each year; and
(B) contain the following
information: "Increase (Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars
and cents, which is computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on
Average Residence" for the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on
Average Residence" for the current tax year;
(7) contain the following statement in bold
print: "Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed
on the residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the
surviving spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55
years of age or older when the person died, may not be increased
above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65,
regardless of changes in tax rate or property value.";
(8) contain the following statement in bold
print: "Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the
district can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election
is (the school district rollback rate determined under Section
26.08, Tax Code). This election will be automatically held if the
district adopts a rate in excess of the rollback rate of (the school
district rollback rate)."; and
(9) contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which
must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund
balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or
general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal
year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt
obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the
district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 42 in
the succeeding school year.
SECTION 5. Sections 403.302(d) and (i), Government Code,
are 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), 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:
(A) 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; or
(B) action taken by the district under Subchapter
B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code, before the expiration of the
subchapter;
(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; and
(13) the amount by which the market value of a
residence homestead to which Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax Code,
applies exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated
under that section.
(i) If the comptroller determines in the study that the
market value of property in a school district as determined by the
appraisal district that appraises property for the school district,
less the total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as
determined by that appraisal district, is valid, the comptroller,
in determining the taxable value of property in the school district
under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of Subsection (d)(13)
subtract from the market value as determined by the appraisal
district of residence homesteads to which Section 23.23 or 23.231,
Tax Code, applies the amount by which that amount exceeds the
appraised value of those properties as calculated by the appraisal
district under Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax Code. If the
comptroller determines in the study that the market value of
property in a school district as determined by the appraisal
district that appraises property for the school district, less the
total of the amounts and values listed in Subsection (d) as
determined by that appraisal district, is not valid, the
comptroller, in determining the taxable value of property in the
school district under Subsection (d), shall for purposes of
Subsection (d)(13) subtract from the market value as estimated by
the comptroller of residence homesteads to which Section 23.23 or
23.231, Tax Code, applies the amount by which that amount exceeds
the appraised value of those properties as calculated by the
appraisal district under Section 23.23 or 23.231, Tax Code.
SECTION 6. This Act applies only to the appraisal of certain
residence homesteads for ad valorem tax purposes for a tax year that
begins on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 86th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2019, to authorize the legislature to permit the
governing body of a political subdivision in a county in which home
prices are appreciating rapidly to adopt a limitation on increases
in the appraised value for purposes of ad valorem taxation by the
political subdivision of residence homesteads in certain
low-income areas is approved by the voters. If that amendment is
not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.