Senate committee advances bill clarifying tax exemption for large-county nonprofit property use

The Senate Committee on Local Government voted 5-0 to report House Bill 23 to the full Senate on a recommendation that it do pass and be printed.

House Bill 23, introduced by Representative Carlos and explained in the committee by the Senate sponsor, was described as a clarification of an already existing property-tax exemption for property used by nonprofit organizations in a county with a population of 3,300,000 or more. The sponsor told the committee the bill is intended "to promote agricultural sport youth and educational support" and cited the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as an intended beneficiary.

Committee members asked no substantive questions before the chair opened and then immediately closed public testimony; no witnesses testified for or against the measure. The clerk then called the roll, and the committee recorded five ayes and zero nays.

The committee’s action sends HB 23 to the full Senate for further consideration.

The committee record does not show any amendments or conditions attached to the recommendation reported to the Senate. No public testimony or cost estimates were entered into the minutes at the committee level.