Jul 14, 2011
SB 201 – Uresti/Callegari – Property Tax: establishes a formula to calculate the tax due on a residence homestead of a totally disabled veteran for the tax year when an individual either qualifies for, or terminates, a residence homestead exemption. (Effective January 1, 2012.)
SB 516 – Patrick/Fletcher – Property Tax: provides a complete residence homestead property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a totally disabled veteran if: (1) the surviving spouse has not remarried; (2) the property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the disabled veteran died; and (3) the property remains the residence homestead of the surviving spouse. The bill also implements an amendment to the Texas Constitution (if voters approve the amendment in an election held pursuant to S.J.R. 14 – listed below in elections) to permit the legislature to provide that, if a surviving spouse who qualifies for an exemption subsequently qualifies a different property as a residence homestead, the surviving spouse is entitled to a property tax exemption of the new homestead in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the previous exemption from the previous year, so long as the surviving spouse has not remarried. (Effective January 1, 2012.)
SB 1048 – Jackson/J. Davis – Public/Private Partnerships: encourages the use of public private partnerships to develop “qualifying projects,” which include various infrastructure projects as defined by the bill (essentially any improvements necessary or desirable to unimproved real estate owned by a governmental entity). The bill requires an opt-in by resolution of the governing body of a political subdivision, including a city, to elect to operate under its terms. It provides detailed procedures for the procurement and implementation of a qualifying project. (Effective September 1, 2011.)
HB 2785 – J.Davis/Shapiro – Economic Development: establishes the Select Committee on
Economic Development to ensure that economic development initiatives in the state are effective in encouraging new investment, employment, and income, and in retaining existing facilities and employment. (Effective September 1, 2011.)
SB 309 – Harris/D. Patrick – Major Events Trust Fund: this bill: (1) updates the list of events eligible to receive funding from the Major Events Trust Fund to include the Academy of Country Music Awards, the National Cutting Horse Triple Crown, and a national political convention of the Republican National Committee or the Democratic National Committee; and (2) requires the comptroller to complete a study in the market area of an event eligible for disbursements from the fund not later than 18 months after the last day of an event in order to evaluate the measurable economic impact attributable to the event. (Effective immediately.)
SB 331 – Shapiro/Madden – Synthetic Derivative of Marijuana bill: (1) makes any quantity of a synthetic chemical compound that is a cannabinoid receptor agonist and that mimics the pharmacological effect of naturally occurring cannabinoids subject to Penalty Group 2-A of the Texas Controlled Substances Act; (2) provides the penalty for possession of a substance in Penalty Group 2-A; and (3) provides that it is not an offense to knowingly possess a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 2-A if obtained directly from or under a valid prescription or order of a practitioner acting in the course of professional practice. (Effective September 1, 2011.)
SB 350 – Williams/Truitt – Pension/Retirement This bill restructures the three funds currently used at the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) by combining them into one. This significant change will provide for positive, long term improvements to the system’s structure. (Effective immediately.)
Other city related legislation may be located throughout several sections in this document.
