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               AN ACT
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            relating to the farm and ranch survey conducted by the comptroller   | 
         
         
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            for purposes of estimating the productivity value of qualified  | 
         
         
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            open-space land as part of the study of school district taxable  | 
         
         
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            values. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code, is  | 
         
         
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            amended by adding Section 403.3022 to read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   Sec. 403.3022.  FARM AND RANCH SURVEY.  (a)  The comptroller  | 
         
         
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            shall conduct an annual farm and ranch survey for purposes of  | 
         
         
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            estimating the productivity value of qualified open-space land as  | 
         
         
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            part of a study under Section 403.302. | 
         
         
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                   (b)  The comptroller shall prepare and issue an  | 
         
         
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            instructional guide that provides information to assist  | 
         
         
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            individuals in completing the farm and ranch survey.  The  | 
         
         
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            instructional guide must include: | 
         
         
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                         (1)  definitions of words related to property appraisal  | 
         
         
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            in the survey; | 
         
         
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                         (2)  instructions and examples regarding how to answer  | 
         
         
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            the questions in the survey; | 
         
         
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                         (3)  answers to frequently asked questions; and  | 
         
         
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                         (4)  any other information the comptroller determines  | 
         
         
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            is necessary to assist individuals in completing the survey. | 
         
         
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                   (c)  At least once each year, the comptroller shall conduct  | 
         
         
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            an online or in-person informational session that is open to the  | 
         
         
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            public regarding how to complete the farm and ranch survey.  The  | 
         
         
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            comptroller shall post a recording of the informational session on  | 
         
         
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            the comptroller's Internet website. | 
         
         
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                   (d)  At least once each year, the comptroller shall solicit  | 
         
         
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            comments from the public and the property tax administration  | 
         
         
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            advisory board for the purposes of: | 
         
         
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                         (1)  determining the ease and understandability of the  | 
         
         
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            farm and ranch survey; and | 
         
         
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                         (2)  ensuring that the questions in the survey are  | 
         
         
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            designed to generate reliable answers. | 
         
         
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                   (e)  The chief appraiser of each appraisal district shall  | 
         
         
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            distribute the farm and ranch survey instructional guide to the  | 
         
         
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            members of the agricultural advisory board for the appraisal  | 
         
         
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            district appointed under Section 6.12, Tax Code, and shall provide  | 
         
         
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            information to the board regarding how to access the informational  | 
         
         
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            session provided under Subsection (c) of this section.  The chief  | 
         
         
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            appraiser may distribute the instructional guide electronically  | 
         
         
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            under this subsection. | 
         
         
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                   (f)  The comptroller shall distribute the farm and ranch  | 
         
         
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            survey instructional guide to individuals who receive the farm and  | 
         
         
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            ranch survey from the comptroller and shall provide information to  | 
         
         
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            those individuals regarding how to access the informational session  | 
         
         
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            provided under Subsection (c).  The comptroller may distribute the  | 
         
         
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            instructional guide electronically under this subsection. | 
         
         
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                   (g)  The definitions of words related to property appraisal  | 
         
         
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            included in the instructional guide are for informational purposes  | 
         
         
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            only and do not apply to this code or the Tax Code. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2022, the comptroller  | 
         
         
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            shall prepare and issue the instructional guide required by Section  | 
         
         
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            403.3022, Government Code, as added by this Act. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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               President of the Senate | 
            Speaker of the House      | 
         
         
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                   I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1245 passed the Senate on  | 
         
         
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            April 20, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Secretary of the Senate     | 
         
         
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                   I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1245 passed the House on  | 
         
         
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            May 20, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 2, one  | 
         
         
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            present not voting. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Chief Clerk of the House    | 
         
         
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            Approved: | 
         
         
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            ______________________________  | 
         
         
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                        Date | 
         
         
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            ______________________________  | 
         
         
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                      Governor |