BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1662

By: Eltife

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law allows certain property owners to appeal an appraisal review board order through binding arbitration as an alternative to filing a lawsuit and allows those property owners to choose between a full arbitration process and an expedited arbitration process. Interested parties contend that, as a result of expedited arbitration at a reduced rate, the available pool of qualified arbitrators has declined dramatically while the total number of arbitrations has increased dramatically. S.B. 1662 seeks to ensure that quality arbitrators are available for binding arbitration in the future.

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

S.B. 1662 repeals Section 41A.031, Tax Code, providing for an expedited arbitration of a property owner's appeal of an appraisal review board order determining a protest concerning the appraised or market value of the owner's property.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2014.