Texas House Bill HJR13

Texas 2025 - 89th 1st C.S.

• Filed: 7/14/25

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide that the officials responsible for appraising property for ad valorem taxation in a county may exclude from consideration the value of new or substantially remodeled residential property when determining the market value of an older residence homestead located in or near a tax increment financing reinvestment zone.

Impact

If passed, HJR13 would impact how property taxes are assessed for older homes within designated TIF areas significantly. The exclusion of newer home values from appraisal calculations is intended to protect longstanding homeowners from inflated property taxes that could arise due to rising property values in their neighborhoods. This approach seeks to ensure that such homeowners are not penalized economically as surrounding properties undergo significant renovations and improvements.

Summary

HJR13 proposes a constitutional amendment that allows the Texas legislature to enable county officials responsible for appraising property to exclude the value of new or substantially remodeled residential properties when determining the market value of older homestead residences. This bill specifically targets residence homesteads that are more than 30 years old and located in or near tax increment financing (TIF) reinvestment zones, which are areas designated for development and improvement.

Contention

However, some debates may arise over the implications of this amendment. Critics could argue that it may lead to revenue losses for local governments due to lowered property tax assessments, impacting funding for public services and infrastructure. Additionally, there may be concerns about how these exclusions are determined, potentially leading to disparities in property tax burdens among residents in neighboring areas adjacent to or within the TIF zones.