If you’re 65 or older and own a home in Texas, your property tax bill just got a lot smaller. Texas voters approved Proposition 11 on the November 4, 2025 ballot, and the change is now in effect for the 2026 tax year. Here’s exactly what changed, who qualifies, and how to make sure you’re getting every dollar of the new exemption.

What Proposition 11 Changed for Texas Homeowners 65+

Proposition 11 was approved by Texas voters on November 4, 2025, and is implemented through Senate Bill 23 (SB 23). It raises the additional school-district homestead exemption available to homeowners who are age 65 or older, or who meet the state’s definition of disabled, under Tax Code Section 11.13(c).

• The age-65/disabled school-district exemption jumped from $10,000 to $60,000.
• This is on top of the separate general homestead exemption increase approved under Proposition 13.
• Combined, some qualifying homeowners can now exempt roughly $200,000 of their home’s value from school-district property taxes.

Before vs. After Proposition 11

Exemption Type	Before Proposition 11	After Proposition 11 (2026)
Age 65+ / disabled school-district exemption	$10,000	$60,000
Combined with general homestead exemption (Prop 13)	Lower combined total	Up to roughly $200,000
Who it applies to	Homeowners 65+ or disabled, per residence homestead	Same — no new application needed for most existing exemption holders

Example: What This Could Mean for Your Tax Bill

Every county and school district sets its own tax rate, so the exact savings will vary. But here’s an illustrative example of how the math works:

1. Say your home is appraised at $300,000.
2. With the general homestead exemption plus the new $60,000 age-65 exemption, your school-district taxable value could drop by up to roughly $200,000.
3. That leaves a taxable value of around $100,000 for school-district purposes, instead of the full $300,000.
4. At an illustrative school tax rate of about 1%, that’s the difference between owing roughly $3,000 and owing roughly $1,000 in school taxes alone — about $2,000 in annual savings.

Your actual numbers will depend on your home’s appraised value, your county appraisal district’s specific general homestead exemption amount, and your local school tax rate. Contact your county appraisal district for your exact figures.

Who Qualifies

• You must be age 65 or older, or meet the state’s disability definition, as of January 1 of the tax year.
• You must have an ownership interest in the property and use it as your principal residence.
• A surviving spouse age 55 or older may continue to receive the exemption if the deceased spouse had already qualified.
• The exemption applies per residence homestead, not per person — only one exemption per property.

Do You Need to Re-Apply If You Already Have the Exemption?

In most cases, no. If you already had an over-65 exemption on file with your county appraisal district, the higher $60,000 amount is generally applied automatically — you don’t need to submit a new application just because the exemption amount went up.

You do need to file if any of the following apply to you:

• You recently turned 65 and have never filed for the exemption before.
• You bought a new home and haven’t yet filed a homestead exemption application for it.
• You’re unsure whether your current exemption is on file at all.

To check your status, contact your county appraisal district directly (most post an online property search tool where you can look up your account and see which exemptions are currently applied).

How to Apply — Form 50-114 Step by Step

If you do need to apply, here’s what the process looks like:

1. Get the form. Form 50-114 (Application for Residence Homestead Exemption) is available from your county appraisal district’s website or the Texas Comptroller’s office.
2. Gather your documents. You’ll need a Texas driver’s license or state ID that matches your homestead address, plus proof of age for the 65+ exemption.
3. Watch the deadline. Applications are generally due before May 1, though late-filing provisions exist in some circumstances — check with your appraisal district if you’ve missed the date.
4. File locally. Submit the completed form to your local county appraisal district, not the state comptroller’s office directly. Each Texas county has its own appraisal district that handles exemption filings.

How This Interacts With the Texas Senior Property Tax “Freeze”

Separate from the exemption amount itself, Texas also offers a school-tax ceiling — often called a “freeze” — for homeowners 65 and older. Once you qualify, your school-district property taxes on your homestead are generally capped at the amount you owed in the year you first qualified, even if your home’s value or the tax rate goes up later.

This freeze works alongside the higher exemption, not instead of it. The exemption reduces your taxable value; the freeze caps how much your school tax bill can grow afterward. Together, they’re two of the biggest protections available to senior homeowners in Texas.

Other Ways Texas Seniors Can Lower Their Property Tax Bill

• Disabled veteran exemptions. These may stack with the age-65 exemption in some cases — check with your appraisal district to confirm what applies to your specific situation.
• Homestead exemption portability. If you move to a new home, you may be able to transfer (port) your tax ceiling percentage to the new property.
• Property tax deferral. Homeowners 65+ can choose to defer, not eliminate, property tax payments on their homestead, which can help with cash flow — though deferred taxes still accrue and become due later, typically with interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the exemption apply to city and county taxes too, or just school district?
The $60,000 increase under Proposition 11 applies specifically to the school-district portion of your property taxes. Cities, counties, and other local taxing units set their own optional homestead exemptions separately, so check with your local taxing units for what they offer.

What happens to the exemption if I turn 65 partway through the year?
Qualification is based on your status as of January 1 of the tax year. If you turn 65 later in the year, you typically become eligible for the exemption starting the following tax year, though some transitional rules can apply — confirm the details with your county appraisal district.

Where do I find my county appraisal district’s contact information?
The Texas Comptroller’s office maintains a directory of local appraisal districts, or you can search for “[your county] appraisal district” to find your local office’s website and contact details directly.

This article is for general informational purposes and is not tax or legal advice. Exemption amounts, deadlines, and eligibility rules can vary by county and may change with future legislation. For guidance specific to your property, contact your county appraisal district or the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.