HBA-JEK, AMW H.B. 2601 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2601
By: Coleman
Ways & Means
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides exemptions from local appraisal taxes to parks,
markets, fairgrounds, or other similar facilities for taxation of
leaseholds or possessory interests in these public facilities owned by an
incorporated city or town which are used in connection with a city's or
town's convention and entertainment activities. Although many arenas,
stadiums, convention centers, visitor centers, and concert halls are public
facilities, these facilities are not included in the tax exemptions.  House
Bill 2601 includes a convention center, visitor center, sports facility
with permanent seating, concert hall, arena, or stadium that is owned by an
incorporated city or town among the local appraisal tax exemptions.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2601 amends the Tax Code to provide that for the purposes of
leasehold or other possessory interests in exempt property that are
prohibited from being listed in the name of the owner of the possessory
interest, the term "public facility" includes a convention center, visitor
center, sports facility with permanent seating, concert hall, arena, or
stadium that is owned by an incorporated city or town as such possessory or
leasehold interests serve a governmental, municipal, or public purpose or
function when access to the property is open to the general public with or
without a charge for admission. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.