§ Extends the application period for a new enhanced oil recovery project or expansion of an existing enhanced oil recovery project from the current ending date of January 1, 1998, to a new ending date of January 1, 2008, in effect extending the existing oil severance tax incentives for new and expanded enhanced oil recovery projects. The extension does not apply to co-production projects.

§ Designates the Texas Workforce Commission (commission) as the lead agency in promoting awareness of the federal work opportunity tax credit program and the state tax refund for wages paid to employees receiving financial assistance. The tax credit is allowed in an amount equal to 20 percent of the total wages of applicable employees, up to a maximum of $10,000 in wages for each applicable employee. The tax credit is allowed in an amount equal to 20 percent of the total wages of applicable employees, up to a maximum of $10,000 in wages for each applicable employee.

§ Requires the commission, in coordination with the Comptroller's Office and the Texas Department of Human Services, to develop and distribute educational materials designed to increase awareness of the tax credit and tax refund programs described above.

§ Provides employers with additional insurance options to broaden an employer's eligibility under the state tax incentive program.

§ Provides that the property on which a person receives an exemption from taxation under Section 11.43, Tax Code, is considered the person's designated homestead if the property is listed as the person's residence homestead on the most recent appraisal roll for the appraisal district.

§ Sets forth exceptions to this designation, including property affirmatively designated as the homestead; or the designation of a homestead in aid of enforcement of a judgment.

§ Limits the sales tax exemption for certain property used in manufacturing by specifying that to qualify for the exemption, tangible personal property must be directly used or consumed in the actual manufacturing process and must directly make or cause a chemical or physical change to the product being manufactured for ultimate sale.

§ Specifies that the provisions above do not apply to certain semiconductor fabrication cleanrooms and equipment.

§ Exempts from sales taxation: actuators, steam production equipment and its fuel, in-process flow through tanks, cooling towers, generators, heat exchangers, electronic control room equipment, computerized control units, compressors, and hydraulic units, that are used to power, supply, support, or control equipment that qualifies for exemption under the provision above, or to generate electricity, chilled water, or steam for ultimate sale.

§ Exempts from sales taxation: machinery, equipment, and replacement parts or accessories used or consumed in the manufacturing, processing, or fabrication of tangible personal property for ultimate sale if their use or consumption is necessary and essential to a pollution control process.

§ Clarifies the definition of intraplant transportation equipment which is not exempt from sales tax to include those items of intraplant transportation equipment used to move a product or raw material in connection with the manufacturing process. Piping and conveyor systems are identified specifically as intraplant transportation equipment and do not qualify for the exemption from sales tax.

§ Specifies that the provisions above do not apply to certain semiconductor fabrication cleanrooms and equipment.

§ Piping which is a component part of an exempt item of machinery or pollution control equipment retains the exemption.

§ Provides that machinery and equipment, or supplies used to maintain or store tangible personal property are not eligible for the sales tax exemption.

§ Specifies that the provisions above do not apply to certain semiconductor fabrication cleanrooms and equipment.