79R8701 MFC-D


By:  Haggerty                                                     H.B. No. 1958



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain persons to bring suit to 
require an appraisal district or an appraisal review board to 
comply with the property tax laws.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 43.01, Tax Code, is amended to read as 
follows:          
	Sec. 43.01.  AUTHORITY TO BRING SUIT.  (a)  The following 
persons [A taxing unit] may sue the appropriate appraisal district 
or the appraisal review board established for that appraisal 
district [that appraises property for the unit] to compel the 
appraisal district or appraisal review board to comply with the 
provisions of this title, rules of the comptroller, or other 
applicable law:
		(1)  a taxing unit;                                                    
		(2)  a property owner;                                                 
		(3)  a lessee of property who is contractually 
obligated to pay taxes imposed on the property;
		(4)  an agent of a property owner designated under 
Section 1.111; or 
		(5)  any other person authorized to bring an action on 
behalf of a person listed in Subdivisions (1)-(4).
	(b)  The court shall award court costs and reasonable 
attorney's fees to a plaintiff who prevails in a suit brought under 
this section.
	SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to 
a suit filed under Section 43.01, Tax Code, on or after the 
effective date of this Act.  A suit filed under Section 43.01, Tax 
Code, before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law 
in effect on the date the suit was filed, and the former law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.