81R1368 UM-D

By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 649

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a prohibition on the posting of certain tax appraisal record information on the Internet.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 25.028 to read as follows:

Sec. 25.028. AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT POSTING OF CERTAIN APPRAISAL RECORD INFORMATION ON INTERNET. (a) The name of the owner of property included in the appraisal records may not be posted on the Internet by the appraisal district, a taxing unit, or a tax assessor or collector if the owner chooses to prohibit online disclosure of that information. To prohibit online disclosure of the information, the property owner must submit a request to that effect to the chief appraiser on a form prescribed for that purpose by the comptroller under Section 5.07. The prohibition applies to the appraisal district, to each taxing unit that participates in the district, and to the assessor and collector for each of those taxing units.

(b) An appraisal district, taxing unit, or tax assessor or collector that posts appraisal record information on the Internet must provide notice on the main Internet site that provides an Internet user with the means to search or access the information of a property owner's right to prohibit online disclosure of the owner's name in connection with property included in the appraisal records and the procedure for prohibiting disclosure of that information.

(c) A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until rescinded in writing by the owner.

(d) This section does not prohibit the online disclosure of information in appraisal records that identifies property according to an address if the information does not identify an owner who has chosen to prohibit disclosure of the owner's name under Subsection (a) in connection with the property.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.