S.J.R. No. 1
 
 
 
  proposing a constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the
  residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public
  school purposes and providing for a reduction of the limitation on
  the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those
  purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to
  reflect the increased exemption amount, authorizing the
  legislature to prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an
  optional residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation
  from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption, and
  prohibiting the enactment of a law that imposes a transfer tax on a
  transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 1-b(c), (d), and (e), Article VIII,
  Texas Constitution, are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The amount of $25,000 [Fifteen Thousand Dollars
  ($15,000)] of the market value of the residence homestead of a
  married or unmarried adult, including one living alone, is exempt
  from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary
  public school purposes. The legislature by general law may provide
  that all or part of the exemption does not apply to a district or
  political subdivision that imposes ad valorem taxes for public
  education purposes but is not the principal school district
  providing general elementary and secondary public education
  throughout its territory. In addition to this exemption, the
  legislature by general law may exempt an amount not to exceed [Ten
  Thousand Dollars (] $10,000[)] of the market value of the residence
  homestead of a person who is disabled as defined in Subsection (b)
  of this section and of a person [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or
  older from ad valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary
  public school purposes. The legislature by general law may base the
  amount of and condition eligibility for the additional exemption
  authorized by this subsection for disabled persons and for persons
  [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or older on economic need. An
  eligible disabled person who is [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or
  older may not receive both exemptions from a school district but may
  choose either. An eligible person is entitled to receive both the
  exemption required by this subsection for all residence homesteads
  and any exemption adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this
  section, but the legislature shall provide by general law whether
  an eligible disabled or elderly person may receive both the
  additional exemption for the elderly and disabled authorized by
  this subsection and any exemption for the elderly or disabled
  adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section. Where ad
  valorem tax has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the
  taxing officers of a school district may continue to levy and
  collect the tax against the value of homesteads exempted under this
  subsection until the debt is discharged if the cessation of the levy
  would impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was
  created. The legislature shall provide for formulas to protect
  school districts against all or part of the revenue loss incurred by
  the implementation of this subsection, Subsection (d) of this
  section, and Section 1-d-1 of this article [Article VIII, Sections
  1-b(c), 1-b(d), and 1-d-1, of this constitution]. The legislature
  by general law may define residence homestead for purposes of this
  section.
         (d)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, if a
  person receives a residence homestead exemption prescribed by
  Subsection (c) of this section for homesteads of persons who are
  [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or older or who are disabled, the
  total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on that homestead for
  general elementary and secondary public school purposes may not be
  increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person
  or that person's spouse who receives the exemption. If a person
  [sixty-five (] 65[)] years of age or older dies in a year in which
  the person received the exemption, the total amount of ad valorem
  taxes imposed on the homestead for general elementary and secondary
  public school purposes may not be increased while it remains the
  residence homestead of that person's surviving spouse if the spouse
  is [fifty-five (] 55[)] years of age or older at the time of the
  person's death, subject to any exceptions provided by general law.  
  The legislature, by general law, may provide for the transfer of all
  or a proportionate amount of a limitation provided by this
  subsection for a person who qualifies for the limitation and
  establishes a different residence homestead. However, taxes
  otherwise limited by this subsection may be increased to the extent
  the value of the homestead is increased by improvements other than
  repairs or improvements made to comply with governmental
  requirements and except as may be consistent with the transfer of a
  limitation under this subsection. For a residence homestead
  subject to the limitation provided by this subsection in the 1996
  tax year or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall provide for a
  reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 1997 tax year and
  subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000 multiplied by the
  1997 tax rate for general elementary and secondary public school
  purposes applicable to the residence homestead.  For a residence
  homestead subject to the limitation provided by this subsection in
  the 2014 tax year or an earlier tax year, the legislature shall
  provide for a reduction in the amount of the limitation for the 2015
  tax year and subsequent tax years in an amount equal to $10,000
  multiplied by the 2015 tax rate for general elementary and
  secondary public school purposes applicable to the residence
  homestead.
         (e)  The governing body of a political subdivision, other
  than a county education district, may exempt from ad valorem
  taxation a percentage of the market value of the residence
  homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one living
  alone. In the manner provided by law, the voters of a county
  education district at an election held for that purpose may exempt
  from ad valorem taxation a percentage of the market value of the
  residence homestead of a married or unmarried adult, including one
  living alone. The percentage may not exceed twenty percent.
  However, the amount of an exemption authorized pursuant to this
  subsection may not be less than [Five Thousand Dollars (]$5,000[)]
  unless the legislature by general law prescribes other monetary
  restrictions on the amount of the exemption. The legislature by
  general law may prohibit the governing body of a political
  subdivision that adopts an exemption under this subsection from
  reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption. An eligible
  adult is entitled to receive other applicable exemptions provided
  by law. Where ad valorem tax has previously been pledged for the
  payment of debt, the governing body of a political subdivision may
  continue to levy and collect the tax against the value of the
  homesteads exempted under this subsection until the debt is
  discharged if the cessation of the levy would impair the obligation
  of the contract by which the debt was created. The legislature by
  general law may prescribe procedures for the administration of
  residence homestead exemptions.
         SECTION 2.  Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 29 to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.  (a)  After January 1, 2016, no law may be enacted
  that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple
  title to real property.
         (b)  This section does not prohibit:
               (1)  the imposition of a general business tax measured
  by business activity;
               (2)  the imposition of a tax on the production of
  minerals;
               (3)  the imposition of a tax on the issuance of title
  insurance; or
               (4)  the change of a rate of a tax in existence on
  January 1, 2016.
         SECTION 3.  The following temporary provision is added to
  the Texas Constitution:
         TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a)  This temporary provision applies
  to the constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R. 1, 84th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.
         (b)  The amendments to Sections 1-b(c), (d), and (e), Article
  VIII, of this constitution take effect for the tax year beginning
  January 1, 2015.
         (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2017.
         SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment increasing the amount
  of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for
  public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000, providing for a
  reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes
  that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an
  elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption
  amount, authorizing the legislature to prohibit a political
  subdivision that has adopted an optional residence homestead
  exemption from ad valorem taxation from reducing the amount of or
  repealing the exemption, and prohibiting the enactment of a law
  that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple
  title to real property."
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 1 was adopted by the Senate
  on March 25, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 29, 2015, by the
  following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 1 was adopted by the House,
  with amendments, on May 24, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 138,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House