By: Villarreal H.B. No. 4041
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an appeal from an order of an appraisal review board
  determining a protest to binding arbitration.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 41A.01, Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 41A.01.  RIGHT OF APPEAL BY PROPERTY OWNER.  As an
  alternative to filing an appeal under Section 42.01, a property
  owner is entitled to appeal through binding arbitration under this
  chapter an appraisal review board order determining a protest
  brought under Section 41.41(a)(1) or (2) concerning the appraised
  or market value of [real] property if[:
               [(1)]  the appraised or market value, as applicable, of
  the property as determined by the order is $1 million or less[; and
               [(2)     the appeal does not involve any matter in dispute
  other than the determination of the appraised or market value of the
  property].
         SECTION 2.  Section 41A.03(a), Tax Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  To appeal an appraisal review board order under this
  chapter, a property owner must file with the appraisal district not
  later than the 45th day after the date the property owner receives
  notice of the order:
               (1)  a completed request for binding arbitration under
  this chapter in the form prescribed by Section 41A.04; and
               (2)  an arbitration deposit [in the amount of $500,]
  made payable to the comptroller in the amount of:
                     (A)  $500; or
                     (B)  $250, if the property owner requests
  expedited arbitration under Section 41A.031.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 41A, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Section 41A.031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 41A.031.  EXPEDITED ARBITRATION. (a) A property owner
  is entitled to an expedited arbitration if the property owner
  includes a request for expedited arbitration in the request filed
  under Section 41A.03 and pays the required deposit.
         (b)  An expedited arbitration must provide for not more than
  one hour of argument and testimony on behalf of the property owner
  and not more than one hour of argument and testimony on behalf of
  the appraisal district.
         (c)  The comptroller shall adopt rules and processes to
  assist in the conduct of an expedited arbitration, including rules
  relating to the evidence required to be produced by each party.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.