BILL ANALYSIS
By: Seliger
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, a local appraisal district may post photographs of individuals' homes and property along with detailed floor plans on the Internet. Numerous ranchers and owners are concerned about the safety of their families and property due to photographs of their residential properties being posted on the web. This is a concern because thieves and vandals may access this detailed information and this dramatically increases the vulnerability of the property; especially second homes such as ranches or lake houses, where the owners are not present all the time. S.B. 541 makes it illegal for appraisal districts to put photographs and floor plans of residences or property on the Internet.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
S.B. 541 provides that information in appraisal records may not be posted on the Internet if the information is a photograph, sketch, or floor plan of an improvement to real property that is designed primarily for use as a human residence. This restriction does not apply to an aerial photograph that depicts five or more separately owned buildings.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005