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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature |
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to limit the maximum appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes in |
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a tax year of land designated for agricultural use or open-space |
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land devoted to farm, ranch, or wildlife management purposes to a |
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specified percentage of the appraised value of the land for the |
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preceding tax year. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1-d, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) of this Section, |
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all [All] land owned by natural persons which is designated for |
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agricultural use in accordance with the provisions of this Section |
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shall be assessed for all tax purposes on the consideration of only |
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those factors relative to such agricultural use. "Agricultural |
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use" means the raising of livestock or growing of crops, fruit, |
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flowers, and other products of the soil under natural conditions as |
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a business venture for profit, which business is the primary |
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occupation and source of income of the owner. |
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(a-1) The legislature by general law may limit the maximum |
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appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes in a tax year of land |
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designated for agricultural use to 110 percent, or a greater |
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percentage, of the appraised value of the land as determined by the |
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appraisal entity for the preceding tax year. A limitation on |
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appraised value authorized by this subsection takes effect as to a |
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parcel of land on the later of the effective date of the law |
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imposing the limitation or January 1 of the tax year following the |
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first tax year the owner of the land qualifies the land for |
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designation for agricultural use under this Section and expires on |
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January 1 of the first tax year the owner of the land when the |
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limitation took effect ceases to qualify the land for the |
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designation. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1-d-1, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) of this section, |
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to [To] promote the preservation of open-space land, the |
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legislature shall provide by general law for taxation of open-space |
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land devoted to farm, ranch, or wildlife management purposes on the |
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basis of its productive capacity and may provide by general law for |
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taxation of open-space land devoted to timber production on the |
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basis of its productive capacity. The legislature by general law |
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may provide eligibility limitations under this section and may |
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impose sanctions in furtherance of the taxation policy of this |
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section. |
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(a-1) The legislature by general law may limit the maximum |
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appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes in a tax year of |
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open-space land devoted to farm, ranch, or wildlife management |
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purposes to 110 percent, or a greater percentage, of the appraised |
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value of the land as determined by the appraisal entity for the |
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preceding tax year. A limitation on appraised value authorized by |
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this subsection takes effect as to a parcel of land on the later of |
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the effective date of the law imposing the limitation or January 1 |
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of the tax year following the first tax year the owner of the land |
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qualifies the land as open-space land devoted to farm, ranch, or |
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wildlife management purposes under this section and expires on |
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January 1 of the first tax year the owner of the land when the |
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limitation took effect ceases to qualify the land as open-space |
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land devoted to those purposes. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment to authorize the |
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legislature to limit the maximum appraised value for ad valorem tax |
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purposes in a tax year of land designated for agricultural use or |
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open-space land devoted to farm, ranch, or wildlife management |
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purposes to 110 percent or more of the appraised value of the land |
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for the preceding tax year." |