LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 3, 2009

TO:	Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3596 by Parker (Relating to a prohibition on the public disclosure of information in appraisal records that identifies a property owner.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 25 of the Tax Code, regarding local appraisals of property.

The bill would provide for the confidentiality of certain information identifying a property owner. A property owner could choose to restrict information contained in the appraisal records if the information identifies a property owner. Access to the information would still be available for the official use of the appraisal district, the state, the Comptroller, taxing units, and local government units. Notice of the property owner's right to prohibit public disclosure would be required to be posted on any Internet website that was used to access the appraisal records.

The bill would limit public access to certain appraisal records but would not affect appraised values or tax rates.

The bill would be effective September 1, 2009.

Local Government Impact

The bill could require additional administrative costs to appraisal districts to alter the appraisal records. Since information is not available as to the administrative effort required to change the records, the cost to units of local government cannot be estimated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JOB, MN, SD, DB