Subscribe to receive our Floor Reports covering all the action on the Texas House and Senate floor!
Relating to a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a
portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a
disaster.
Passage of the bill would create a mandatory percentage disaster exemption for property
damaged by a disaster. Contingent on adoption of a constitutional amendment, taxable
property values could be reduced and the related costs to the Foundation School Fund could
be increased through the operation of the school finance formulas.
SB 1772 would exempt from taxation a portion of the appraised value of qualified property. Qualified property consists of personal property used for production of income or an improvement on real property, is located in a disaster area, and is at least 15% damaged from a disaster as determined by the chief appraiser.
SB 1772 is enabling legislation for SJR 57.
While we generally do not support targeted tax exemptions, we support SB 1772 because it would ensure that tax on a disaster damaged property would be based on the value of the property while it is in its damaged condition rather than the value prior to the damage. This supports limited government and property rights. We support SB 1772 and its accompanying constitutional amendment, SJR 57.