Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | Neutral | Positive | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
Summary: Currently, Texas law provides that property taxes on a residence homestead cannot increase, from year to year, by more than 10% of the homestead’s appraised value for the preceding tax year. This cap does not apply to improvements made on property, such as the addition of a new structure or remodeling of an exterior. This means improvements made to homes damaged in a natural disaster are not afforded this cap, and the property taxes levied can increase by more than 10%. SB 835 would extend this 10% cap to homes built according to a disaster recovery program operated by Texas’ General Land Office if the homes were required by the program to be bigger than the destroyed home, or of a higher quality.
Analysis: We support SB 835 because it will cap the amount of property taxes that can be assessed on homes improved by the General Land Office’s disaster recovery program, and promote the property rights of those who live in these homes by allowing them to retain more of their resources.