SJR 85 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.

SJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Texas school district property tax exemptions for elderly or disabled homeowners. Currently, the exemption for these residents is $10,000; this bill would raise it to $60,000 of a home's market value. The amendment would allow the legislature to adjust this exemption amount, with provisions ensuring eligible individuals (65+ or disabled) cannot receive both the basic exemption and this enhanced benefit. It directly affects Texas homeowners aged 65 or older or with disabilities who own their primary residence. The bill requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Governor
Introduced Apr 14, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 3 edits · May 22, 2025
MINOR
The bill text was reformatted from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' version, removing internal amendment markup and adding official certification signatures and dates. No substantive policy changes were made to the constitutional amendment text itself.
TECHNICAL

Removed internal amendment markup indicators (e.g., 1[...]1) and line numbers that were used during the legislative drafting process.

Added official enrolled version header with bill number 89(R) SJR 85 and certification signatures from Senate and House officers with adoption dates.

Reorganized text layout to remove spacing inconsistencies and blank lines present in the engrossed version.

Floor votes · House May 20, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
46
Key actions
14
Committee
11
Amendments
1
May 22, 2025
Introduced
Filed with the Secretary of State
executive
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Adopted
lower
May 20, 2025
Introduced
Placed on Constitutional Amendments Calendar
lower
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
6 primary · 121 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Diego Bernal
Diego Bernal
DDemocratic
TX
123
P
Photo of Greg Bonnen
Greg Bonnen
RRepublican
TX
24
P
Photo of Morgan Meyer
Morgan Meyer
RRepublican
TX
108
P
Photo of Paul Bettencourt
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
TX
7
P
Photo of Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter
RRepublican
TX
32
P
Photo of Trey Martinez Fischer
Trey Martinez Fischer
DDemocratic
TX
116
Co
Photo of A.J. Louderback
A.J. Louderback
RRepublican
TX
30
Co
Photo of Adam Hinojosa
Adam Hinojosa
RRepublican
TX
27
Co
Photo of Aicha Davis
Aicha Davis
DDemocratic
TX
109
Co
Photo of Alan Schoolcraft
Alan Schoolcraft
RRepublican
TX
44
Co
Photo of Alma Allen
Alma Allen
DDemocratic
TX
131
Co
Photo of Angela Paxton
Angela Paxton
RRepublican
TX
8
Co
Photo of Angelia Orr
Angelia Orr
RRepublican
TX
13
Co
Photo of Angie Button
Angie Button
RRepublican
TX
112
Co
Photo of Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
DDemocratic
TX
120
Co
Photo of Ben Bumgarner
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
TX
63