H.B. No. 382 amends the Texas Tax Code to provide an ad valorem tax exemption for residence homesteads owned by individuals aged 72 or older, as well as their surviving spouses. The bill introduces new subsections (s) and (t) to Section 11.13, which specify that individuals who are 72 years of age or older and have held a homestead exemption for at least the previous ten years are eligible for this exemption. Surviving spouses can also qualify if they are at least 55 years old at the time of their spouse's death and continue to reside in the property. The bill clarifies that these exemptions will be effective from January 1 of the tax year in which the individual qualifies and outlines a streamlined process for those reaching the qualifying ages of 65 or 72.

Additionally, the bill makes amendments to the Education Code and Government Code, expanding tax exemption eligibility to include individuals aged 72 and their surviving spouses, alongside the existing exemptions for those aged 65 and older. It requires school districts to provide detailed comparisons of tax levies for average residences and ensures that the school taxes for eligible elderly individuals do not increase beyond the amount paid in the first year after turning 65. The bill also establishes provisions for additional state aid to school districts starting in the 2026-2027 school year, contingent upon a constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, and clarifies that certain exemptions will apply only to taxes imposed beginning with the 2026 tax year. The effective date of the bill is set for January 1, 2026, pending voter approval of the related amendment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Tax Code 11.13, Tax Code 11.42, Tax Code 11.43, Tax Code 26.10, Tax Code 26.112, Tax Code 33.01, Education Code 44.004, Education Code 46.071, Education Code 48.2543 (Education Code 46, Education Code 44, Tax Code 33, Tax Code 11, Tax Code 26, Education Code 48)