Bill

SB 443

86(R) - 2019
Senate Property Tax
House Ways & Means
Senate Property Tax
House Ways & Means

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Kelly Hancock

Co-Author(s)

Brandon Creighton
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

Sponsor(s)

Jim Murphy

Bill Caption

Relating to the period for which a property owner may receive a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for property that is rendered uninhabitable or unusable as a result of a disaster.

Fiscal Notes

Passage of the bill would extend the period a property owner may receive a residence homestead exemption when a residence is under repair following a disaster that rendered the residence uninhabitable. As a result, 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. 

Bill Analysis

SB 443 would extend the homestead exemption on a homestead rendered unlivable or usable due to disaster to five years, rather than the current two years, as long as the owner starts construction on a new homestead on the same property and does not list another homestead as their primary place of residence.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill supports limited government and property rights by helping to ensure that a homeowner whose home has been rendered uninhabitable by a natural disaster has adequate time to repair or rebuild the home before the exemption expires causing the homeowner's taxes increase. We support SB 443.