Texas Charges as Taxes Amendment (2015)
| Not on Ballot |
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Texas Charges as Taxes Amendment was not on the November 3, 2015 ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would have identified state-imposed charges as state taxes for the stated purpose of “[protecting] the taxpayers of this state from hidden tax increases.”
After November 3, 2015, the state would have been unable to impose a state tax if the tax is identified as another type of charge, such as a "fee," "levy," "surcharge," "assessment" or “penalty."
By January 1, 2018, the legislature would have revised every reference in state statute to a “fee,” “levy,” “surcharge,” “assessment,” “penalty” or other charge of any kind imposed for a purpose other than to raise general revenue. These charges would have been reclassified as “regulatory taxes.” Any charge not reclassified would have been rendered void.[1]
The measure was introduced into the Texas Legislature by Rep. Richard Raymond (D-42) as House Joint Resolution 52.[2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The proposed ballot title was:[1]
| “ | The constitutional amendment providing honesty in state taxation.[3] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article 8, Texas Constitution
The proposed amendment would have added a Section 2-a to Article 8 of the Texas Constitution.[1]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Texas Constitution
The proposed constitutional amendment was filed by Rep. Richard Raymond (D-42) as House Joint Resolution 52 on December 3, 2014.[2] A two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Texas State Legislature was required to refer this amendment to the ballot. Texas is one of 16 states that require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Texas Legislature, "HJR No. 52," accessed January 22, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Legislature, "HJR No. 52 History," accessed January 22, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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