89S20094 CS/MM-D     By: Bell of Montgomery H.J.R. No. 16       A JOINT RESOLUTION   proposing a constitutional amendment to exempt from ad valorem   taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads of   certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses.          BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution,   is amended by adding Subsection (s) to read as follows:          (s)  A person is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem   taxation of the total market value of the person's residence   homestead if the person is 65 years of age or older and the person   has received an exemption under this section for the residence   homestead for at least the preceding 10 years. The surviving spouse   of a person who received an exemption under this subsection for the   residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older is entitled   to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total market value   of the same property if the deceased spouse died in a year in which   the deceased spouse received the exemption, the surviving spouse   was 55 years of age or older when the deceased spouse died, and the   property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when   the deceased spouse died and remains the residence homestead of the   surviving spouse. Where ad valorem tax of a political subdivision   has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the taxing   officers of the political subdivision may continue to levy and   collect the tax against the value of residence 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. The legislature   by general law may prescribe procedures for the administration of   this subsection.          SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to   the Texas Constitution:          TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a)  This temporary provision applies   to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,   2nd Called Session, 2025, to exempt from ad valorem taxation the   total market value of the residence homesteads of certain elderly   persons and their surviving spouses.          (b)  Section 1-b(s), Article VIII, of this constitution   takes effect January 1, 2027.          (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2028.          SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be   submitted to the voters at an election to be held May 2, 2026. The   ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the   proposition: "The constitutional amendment to exempt from ad   valorem taxation the total market value of the residence homesteads   of certain elderly persons and their surviving spouses."