HB 960

relating to the repeal of or limitations on certain state and local
taxes, including school district maintenance and operations ad
valorem taxes, the enactment of state and local value added taxes,
and related school finance reform; imposing taxes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1.  STATE VALUE ADDED TAX
SECTION 1.01.  DEFINITIONS.  In this article:
(1)  "Input tax" means the aggregate amount of all
state and local value added taxes imposed under this Act that have
accrued with respect to services and property supplied to a
taxpayer during a calendar quarter and used or held for use by the
taxpayer in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's trade or
(2)  "Output tax" means the aggregate amount of all
state and local value added taxes imposed under this Act that have
accrued with respect to services and property supplied by a
taxpayer during a calendar quarter in the ordinary course of the
(3)  "Taxpayer" means a person on whom the value added
(4)  "Value added tax" means the tax imposed under
SECTION 1.02.  VALUE ADDED TAX IMPOSED.  A value added tax is
imposed on each person in this state who supplies any service or
property in the ordinary course of a trade or business in which the
SECTION 1.03.  RATE OF TAX.  The rate of the value added tax
is 6.72 percent of the taxpayer's taxable receipts from the supply
SECTION 1.04.  DETERMINATION OF TAX PAYABLE.  The total
amount of state and local value added taxes under this Act payable
by a taxpayer for a calendar quarter is the amount, if any, by which
the taxpayer's output tax exceeds the taxpayer's input tax.
SECTION 1.05.  EXEMPTIONS.  (a)  The comptroller by rule
shall exempt from the value added tax:
(2)  governmental entities; and
(3)  religious, educational, and public service
(b)  The comptroller shall refund the amount of any input tax
that has been accrued by an entity exempt under Subsection (a) of
SECTION 1.06.  EXCLUSIONS.  The comptroller by rule shall
exclude the following services and property from the value added
(1)  monetary instruments, financial assets, and
(5)  transfers of common interests in property;
(6)  services and property taxed by other law,
including Chapters 201 and 202, Tax Code; and
(7)  services and property this state is prohibited
from taxing by federal law or the Texas Constitution.
SECTION 1.07.  RULES.  The comptroller shall adopt all rules
necessary to implement, administer, and enforce the state value
added tax and all local value added taxes under this Act.
SECTION 1.08.  DISPOSITION OF REVENUE.  All proceeds from
the collection of the value added tax shall be deposited to the
credit of the general revenue fund.
SECTION 1.09.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARTICLE.  This article
ARTICLE 2.  LOCAL VALUE ADDED TAXES
SECTION 2.01.  LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES PROHIBITED.
Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision may not
impose a sales or use tax on or after the effective date of this
SECTION 2.02.  LOCAL VALUE ADDED TAXES.  (a)  A political
subdivision that was authorized to impose a sales and use tax
immediately before the effective date of this article may impose a
local value added tax on and after the effective date of this
(b)  A local value added tax is administered, collected, and
enforced by the comptroller in the same manner as the state value
added tax.  The tax applies to the supply of services or property in
the territory of the political subdivision.
(c)  The comptroller shall allocate and remit to each
appropriate taxing jurisdiction proceeds from the collection of
local value added taxes by the comptroller.
SECTION 2.03.  RATES OF LOCAL VALUE ADDED TAXES.  (a)  The
combined rate of all local value added taxes may not exceed two
percent at any location in the territory of a political
(b)  The maximum combined rate provided by Subsection (a) of
this section does not apply to or include a school district
enrichment value added tax under Article 3 of this Act.
(c)  On the effective date of this article, a political
subdivision may begin imposing the local value added tax at a rate
not to exceed the rate at which the political subdivision imposed a
sales and use tax immediately before the effective date of this
article.  Subject to Subsection (a) of this section, the governing
body of a political subdivision that imposes a local value added tax
may adopt an order or ordinance changing the rate of or repealing
the tax imposed by the political subdivision.
SECTION 2.04.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARTICLE.  This article
ARTICLE 3.  SCHOOL DISTRICT ENRICHMENT VALUE ADDED TAX
SECTION 3.01.  TAX AUTHORIZED.  (a)  A school district may
adopt or repeal a school district enrichment value added tax at an
election in which a majority of the qualified voters of the school
district approve the adoption or repeal of the tax.
(b)  A school district enrichment value added tax is
administered, collected, and enforced by the comptroller in the
same manner as the state value added tax.  The tax applies to the
supply of services or property in the territory of the school
SECTION 3.02.  MAXIMUM RATE.  The rate of the school district
enrichment value added tax may not exceed 0.5 percent.
SECTION 3.03.  USE OF TAX REVENUE BY SCHOOL DISTRICT.  (a)
Revenue from the school district enrichment value added tax is for
the use and benefit of the school district.  The revenue must be
used exclusively for school enrichment facilities and activities
and for the payment of the principal of and interest on debt
incurred to fund school enrichment facilities and activities.
(b)  Revenue from the school district enrichment value added
tax may not be used for an expenditure or investment that is:
(1)  necessary to comply with the legislature's duty
under Section 1, Article VII, Texas Constitution, to provide for
the general diffusion of knowledge and an efficient system of
public schools, including by providing funding for instructional
(2)  eligible for funding through the Foundation School
SECTION 3.04.  PLEDGE OF REVENUE.  A school district may
pledge a portion of the revenue from the school district enrichment
value added tax for the payment of obligations issued to pay all or
part of the cost of a school enrichment project in the school
SECTION 3.05.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARTICLE.  This article
takes effect January 1, 2030, but only if Section 4.01 of this Act
takes effect.  If Section 4.01 of this Act does not take effect,
ARTICLE 4.  SCHOOL DISTRICT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AD VALOREM
SECTION 4.01.  PROHIBITION ON IMPOSITION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AD VALOREM TAXES.  (a)  Notwithstanding
any other law, a school district may not impose an ad valorem tax
for maintenance and operations purposes on or after January 1,
2030.  To the extent of a conflict, this section controls over a
conflicting provision in a general or special law.
(b)  The change in law made by this section does not affect
tax liability accruing before the effective date of this section.
(c)  This section takes effect January 1, 2030, but only if
on or before that date a constitutional amendment to prohibit a
school district from imposing an ad valorem tax for maintenance and
operations purposes is approved by the voters.  If such a
constitutional amendment is not approved by the voters on or before
that date, this section has no effect.
SECTION 4.02.  REPORT.  (a)  The comptroller shall prepare a
report that recommends any change in constitutional or statutory
law needed to implement this Act.
(b)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the comptroller shall
submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house
of representatives, and members of the legislature the report
required by Subsection (a) of this section.
(c)  This section expires January 1, 2027.
SECTION 4.03.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARTICLE.  Except as
otherwise provided by this article, this article takes effect
SECTION 5.01.  FOUNDATION SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDING.  (a)
Beginning with the 2030-2031 school year, the legislature shall
appropriate money to fund the Foundation School Program under
Chapter 48, Education Code, in an amount, excluding money collected
by a school district through the imposition of a tax, necessary to:
(1)  comply with the legislature's duty under Section
1, Article VII, Texas Constitution, to provide for the general
diffusion of knowledge and an efficient system of public schools;
(2)  achieve the state policy under Section 48.001,
Education Code, and the purposes of the Foundation School Program
under Section 48.002, Education Code;
(3)  provide the basic allotment under Section 48.051,
Education Code, in an amount of at least $6,160 per student in
(4)  provide a minimal level of revenue to provide
school districts an opportunity to pursue locally funded enrichment
(b)  This section takes effect January 1, 2030, but only if
Section 4.01 of this Act takes effect.  If Section 4.01 of this Act
does not take effect, this section has no effect.
SECTION 5.02.  EFFECT OF PROHIBITION ON SCHOOL DISTRICT
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX.  (a)  Article 4 of this Act does not
affect the authority of a school district to impose an enrichment
value added tax at a rate not to exceed 0.5 percent in accordance
with Article 3 of this Act for the purpose of providing additional
revenue to enrich the educational opportunities of students
enrolled in the district.  The revenue attributable to the tax
described by this subsection is in addition to any money the
district receives from the state.
(b)  A reference in the Education Code, the Tax Code, or any
other law to a school district's authority to impose a maintenance
tax or a maintenance and operations tax may not be construed in a
manner inconsistent with Article 4 of this Act or this section.
(c)  This section takes effect January 1, 2030, but only if
Section 4.01 of this Act takes effect.  If Section 4.01 of this Act
does not take effect, this section has no effect.
SECTION 5.03.  STATE ASSISTANCE FOR TRANSITION TO SCHOOL
DISTRICT ENRICHMENT VALUE ADDED TAX.  (a)  For purposes of budgeting
for and funding of maintenance and operations and enrichment, the
commissioner of education shall assist school districts in
transitioning from the use of maintenance and operations tax
revenue to the use of state funding and enrichment value added tax
(b)  Not later than March 1, 2030, each school district shall
prepare and submit to the commissioner of education a transition
report certified by the comptroller that provides for the following
10 state fiscal years estimates regarding:
(3)  operating and capital expenditures.
(c)  In the transition report prepared under Subsection (b)
of this section, a school district shall, in accordance with the
policy and purposes described by Sections 48.001 and 48.002,
Education Code, classify as "foundational" or "enrichment":
(1)  each projected operating and capital expenditure
and the proportion of each current and projected debt; and
(2)  the proportional amounts of current and projected
debts, based on the proposed uses for the revenue.
(d)  Based on school districts' reports under Subsection (b)
of this section, the commissioner of education shall prepare and
present to the comptroller recommendations for refunding,
redeeming, or amending outstanding bonds for which school districts
pledged maintenance and operations tax revenue for payment.
(e)  Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner of
education shall provide state funding for the payment of any bonds
classified by a school district as a "foundational" bond under
Subsection (c) of this section.  A school district assumes full
financial responsibility for any bond classified as an "enrichment"
(f)  The commissioner of education shall annually prepare
and provide a report to the legislature and the comptroller
regarding funding under the Foundation School Program and the
transition by school districts to imposing a value added enrichment
tax.  The report must include recommendations for legislative
action to facilitate the funding transitions required under this
Act while maintaining and improving the efficiency, quality, and
results of public education in this state.
(g)  Subsection (e) of this section takes effect January 1,
2030, but only if Section 4.01 of this Act takes effect.  If Section
4.01 of this Act does not take effect, Subsection (e) of this
SECTION 5.04.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARTICLE.  Except as
otherwise provided by this article, this article takes effect
ARTICLE 6.  REPEALED PROVISIONS
SECTION 6.01.  TAX CODE.  (a)  The following provisions of
(2)  Subtitles E, F, G, H, and J, Title 2; and
(b)  The repeal of a provision by this section does not
affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this
article.  That liability continues in effect as if this article had
not been enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the
collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of
SECTION 6.02.  EDUCATION CODE.  (a)  The following
provisions of the Education Code are repealed:
(1)  Sections 45.0032, 48.255, 48.2551, 48.2552,
48.2553, 48.256, 48.257, and 48.275; and
(b)  This section takes effect only if Section 4.01 of this
Act takes effect.  If Section 4.01 of this Act does not take effect,
SECTION 6.03.  EFFECTIVE DATE OF ARTICLE.  Except as
otherwise provided by this article, this article takes effect