HBA-RBT H.B. 2014 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2014 By: Hilderbran Ways & Means 3/18/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, purely charitable non-profit organizations are exempt from paying property taxes in Texas. Many Texas counties own their own fairgrounds and lease the grounds to the local fair association for a long-term lease. The fairgrounds are tax-exempt because they are owned by the county. Some county fair associations own their own fairgrounds and lease the grounds to various groups for exhibits, trade shows, and other similar activities. H.B. 2014 specifies that land owned by a charitable fair association is exempt from property taxes. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.23, Tax Code, by adding Subsection (h), as follows: (h) County Fair Associations. Entitles a county fair association organized to hold agricultural fairs and encourage agricultural pursuits to an exemption from taxation for the land and buildings that it owns and uses to hold agricultural fairs. Sets forth the requirements for qualification for the exemption. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.