78R4925 RCJ-F

By:  Haggerty                                                     H.B. No. 894



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the limitation on an award of attorney's fees to a 
property owner who prevails in certain ad valorem tax appeals.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 42.29(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as 
follows:       
	(a)  A property owner who prevails in an appeal to the court 
under Section 42.25 or 42.26 may be awarded reasonable attorney's 
fees.  The amount of the award may not exceed the greater of:
		(1)  $15,000; or                                                              
		(2)  an amount, not to exceed $100,000, equal to 20 
percent of the total amount by which the property owner's tax 
liability is reduced as a result of the appeal.
	SECTION 2.  Section 42.29(b), Tax Code, is repealed.                           
	SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it 
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each 
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate 
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to an 
appeal filed under Chapter 42, Tax Code, on or after the effective 
date of this Act.  An appeal filed before the effective date of this 
Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the 
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for 
that purpose.