HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 8

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Miguel P. Garcia

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FROM PROPERTY TAXATION FOR PERSONS OVER SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE WHOSE ANNUAL INCOMES ARE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($15,000).

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 8 of the

constitution of New Mexico by adding a new section to read:

     "The legislature shall exempt from taxation the property,

including the community or joint property of a husband and

wife, of a person who is seventy-five years of age or older and whose annual modified gross income is fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less, if the person occupies the property as that person's principal place of residence. The burden of proving eligibility for the exemption provided in this section is on the person claiming the exemption. Enabling legislation for this exemption shall include a provision to index the modified gross income of a person, including income of the person's spouse and dependents, approved to receive the exemption set forth in this section to account for inflation and shall have an effective date of January 1 following the legislative session in which it is enacted."

     SECTION 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.

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