BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1799

By: Bonnen

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties argue that a licensed or certified real estate appraiser is exempt from registering as a property tax consultant when providing property tax consulting services in connection with farms, ranches, or single-family residences, but not commercial properties, while attorneys, certified public accountants, and others are fully exempt regardless of the type of property.  These parties further contend that this limitation poses an unnecessary problem for licensed or certified real estate appraisers, since the fields of property tax consulting and appraising are similar and the required skills and knowledge overlap. 

 

H.B. 1799 seeks to address this problem and enable a licensed or certified real estate appraiser to provide property tax consulting services in connection with commercial properties without being required to register as a property tax consultant.

 

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

 

H.B. 1799 amends the Occupations Code, in provisions exempting certain persons from registration requirements for property tax consultants, to expand the exemption for a licensed real estate appraiser or certified real estate appraiser under the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act who provides property tax consulting services only in connection with certain types of properties to include such an appraiser who provides those services in connection with commercial properties. The bill makes conforming changes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.