MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2003 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Rotenberry, Cameron, Davis, Formby, Moore (60th), Snowden

House Bill 1561

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-33-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS WHO ARE SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER OR WHO ARE TOTALLY DISABLED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 

     SECTION 1.  Section 27-33-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     [With regard to any county that has not completed an update in the valuation of Class I property, as designated by Section 112, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, in the county according to procedures prescribed by the State Tax Commission and in effect on January 1, 2001, and has not implemented such valuations for the purposes of ad valorem taxation, this section shall read as follows:]

     27-33-75.  (1)  Qualified homeowners described in subsection (1) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from ad valorem taxes according to the following table:

          ASSESSED VALUE                            HOMESTEAD

           OF HOMESTEAD                             EXEMPTION

          $  1 - $ 150                              $  6.00

           151 -   300                                12.00

           301 -   450                                18.00

           451 -   600                                24.00

           601 -   750                                30.00

           751 -   900                                36.00

           901 - 1,050                                42.00

         1,051 - 1,200                                48.00

         1,201 - 1,350                                54.00

         1,351 - 1,500                                60.00

         1,501 - 1,650                                66.00

         1,651 - 1,800                                72.00

         1,951 - 2,100                                84.00

         2,101 - 2,250                                90.00

         2,251 - 2,400                                96.00

         2,551 - 2,700                               108.00

         2,701 - 2,850                               114.00

         2,851 - 3,000                               120.00

         3,001 - 3,150                               126.00

         3,151 - 3,300                               132.00

         3,451 - 3,600                               144.00

         3,601 - 3,750                               150.00

         3,751 - 3,900                               156.00

         3,901 - 4,050                               162.00

         4,051 - 4,200                               168.00

         4,201 - 4,350                               174.00

         4,351 - 4,500                               180.00

         4,501 - 4,650                               186.00

         4,651 - 4,800                               192.00

         4,951 - 5,100                               204.00

         5,251 - 5,400                               216.00

         5,551 - 5,700                               228.00

         5,851 and above                             240.00

     Assessed values shall be rounded to the next whole dollar (Fifty Cents (50˘) rounded to the next highest dollar) for the purposes of the above table.

     One-half (1/2) of the exemption allowed in the above table shall be from taxes levied for school district purposes and  one-half (1/2) shall be from taxes levied for county general fund purposes.

     (2)  Qualified homeowners described in subsection (2) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on not in excess of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) of the assessed value of the homestead property.

     (3)  This section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 1988 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 1989 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years.

     [With regard to any county that has completed an update in the valuation of Class I property, as designated by Section 112, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, in the county according to procedures prescribed by the State Tax Commission and in effect on January 1, 2001, and for which the State Tax Commission has certified that such new valuations have been implemented for the purposes of ad valorem taxation, this section shall read as follows:]

     27-33-75.  (1)  Qualified homeowners described in subsection (1) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from ad valorem taxes according to the following table:

         ASSESSED VALUE                            HOMESTEAD

          OF HOMESTEAD                             EXEMPTION

         $    1 - $ 150                            $  6.00

            151 -   300                              12.00

            301 -   450                              18.00

            451 -   600                              24.00

            601 -   750                              30.00

            751 -   900                              36.00

            901 - 1,050                              42.00

          1,051 - 1,200                              48.00

          1,201 - 1,350                              54.00

          1,351 - 1,500                              60.00

          1,501 - 1,650                              66.00

          1,651 - 1,800                              72.00

          1,801 - 1,950                              78.00

          1,951 - 2,100                              84.00

          2,101 - 2,250                              90.00

          2,251 - 2,400                              96.00

          2,401 - 2,550                             102.00

          2,551 - 2,700                             108.00

          2,701 - 2,850                             114.00

          2,851 - 3,000                             120.00

          3,001 - 3,150                             126.00

          3,151 - 3,300                             132.00

          3,301 - 3,450                             138.00

          3,451 - 3,600                             144.00

          3,601 - 3,750                             150.00

          3,751 - 3,900                             156.00

          3,901 - 4,050                             162.00

          4,051 - 4,200                             168.00

          4,201 - 4,350                             174.00

          4,351 - 4,500                             180.00

          4,501 - 4,650                             186.00

          4,651 - 4,800                             192.00

          4,801 - 4,950                             198.00

          4,951 - 5,100                             204.00

          5,101 - 5,250                             210.00

          5,251 - 5,400                             216.00

          5,401 - 5,550                             222.00

          5,551 - 5,700                             228.00

          5,701 - 5,850                             234.00

          5,851 - 6,000                             240.00

6,001 - 6,150                             246.00

          6,151 - 6,300                           252.00

          6,301 - 6,450                                258.00

          6,451 - 6,600                                264.00

          6,601 - 6,750                                270.00

          6,751 - 6,900                                276.00

          6,901 - 7,050                                282.00

          7,051 - 7,200                                288.00

          7,201 - 7,350                                294.00

          7,351 and above                         300.00

     Assessed values shall be rounded to the next whole dollar (Fifty Cents (50˘) rounded to the next highest dollar) for the purposes of the above table.

     One-half (1/2) of the exemption allowed in the above table shall be from taxes levied for school district purposes and  one-half (1/2) shall be from taxes levied for county general fund purposes.

     (2)  (a)   Qualified homeowners described in subsection (2) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on not in excess of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) of the assessed value of the homestead property.

          (b)  From and after January 1, 2003, qualified homeowners described in subsection (2) of Section 27-33-67 shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on not in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) of the assessed value of the homestead property.

     (3)  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, this section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 2001 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 2002 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years.  The exemption provided for in subsection (2)(b) of this section shall apply to exemptions claimed in the 2003 calendar year for which reimbursement is made in the 2004 calendar year and to exemptions claimed for which reimbursement is made in subsequent years.

     SECTION 2.  Nothing in this act shall affect or defeat any claim, assessment, appeal, suit, right or cause of action for taxes due or accrued under the ad valorem tax laws before the date on which this act becomes effective, whether such claims, assessments, appeals, suits or actions have been begun before the date on which this act becomes effective or are begun thereafter; and the provisions of the ad valorem tax laws are expressly continued in full force, effect and operation for the purpose of the assessment, collection and enrollment of liens for any taxes due or accrued and the execution of any warrant under such laws before the date on which this act becomes effective, and for the imposition of any penalties, forfeitures or claims for failure to comply with such laws.

     SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2003.