By: Grusendorf H.B. No. 909
73R4213 JD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the recovery of attorney's fees in certain ad valorem
1-3 tax protests.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 42.29, Tax Code, is amended to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 Sec. 42.29. ATTORNEY'S FEES. (a) A property owner may be
1-8 awarded reasonable attorney's fees under this section if the
1-9 property owner <who> prevails in an appeal to the court:
1-10 (1) of a determination by an appraisal review board
1-11 that the property owner's land does not qualify for appraisal as
1-12 provided by Subchapter C, D, or E, Chapter 23; or
1-13 (2) in which relief is granted under Section 42.25 or
1-14 Section 42.26.
1-15 (b) The amount of <of this code may be awarded reasonable>
1-16 attorney's fees awarded may not <to> exceed the greater of $15,000
1-17 or 20 percent of the total amount by which the property owner's tax
1-18 liability is reduced as a result of the appeal. <The award of
1-19 attorney's fees, however, may not exceed the total amount by which
1-20 the property owner's tax liability is reduced as a result of the
1-21 appeal.>
1-22 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-4 passage, and it is so enacted.