LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session May 14, 1995 TO: Honorable Tom Craddick, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. Committee on Ways & Means 1567, House of Representatives as engrossed Austin, Texas By: Ellis FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 1567 (Relating to the statute of limitations applicable to real property sold for taxes.) this office has determined the following: The bill would reduce the time period to file an action against a property's title for a property sold at a tax sale. The bill would also require a person challenging that a tax sale is not valid, to deposit with the court an amount equal to all taxes, penalties, interest, and costs on the property. Section 33.54, Tax Code, provides that a person may challenge a tax sale against the purchaser if the person files within three years after the purchaser's deed is filed. The bill would reduce the filing time to two years for a residence homestead or for land qualified for agricultural use and to one year for all other property. The Comptroller's Property Tax Division does not receive or maintain information from taxing units that would be helpful in estimating the fiscal implication of the bill on local governments. No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The fiscal implication to units of local government cannot be determined. Source: LBB Staff: JK, BR, DF