Sec. 301.004. TELEPHONE COMPANY EXEMPTION. (a) A municipality or other political subdivision of this state may not impose an occupation tax or any charge for the privilege of doing business on a telephone company taxed under Chapter 171 of this code.

(b) This section does not:

(1) prohibit the collection by a municipality of a franchise tax in effect on October 31, 1936;

(2) prohibit the collection of ad valorem taxes; or

(3) affect any contracts made between a municipality and a franchise holder.

(c) In this section, "telephone company" means a person who owns or operates a telephone line or a telephone network in this state, charges for its use, and is regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas as a certificated provider of local exchange telephone service.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 5, art. 3, Sec. 3, eff. Oct. 1, 1988.