By Edwards H.B. No. 2808
75R9018 T
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to limits on attorney's fees in certain ad valorem tax
1-3 appeals of real property.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Tax Code, is amended by amending
1-6 Section 42.29, as follows:
1-7 Sec. 42.29. ATTORNEY'S FEES. A property owner who prevails
1-8 in an appeal to the court under Section 42.25 or Section 42.26 of
1-9 this code may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees not to exceed
1-10 the greater of $15,000 or 20 percent of the total amount by which
1-11 the property owner's tax liability is reduced as a result of the
1-12 appeal. [The award of attorney's fees, however, may not exceed the
1-13 total amount by which the property owner's tax liability is reduced
1-14 as a result of the appeal.]
1-15 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. The
1-16 change in law made by this Act applies to any appeal filed under
1-17 Section 42.25 or 42.26, Tax Code, on or after that date and to any
1-18 appeal under those sections that is pending before a court on that
1-19 date.
1-20 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.