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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to pretrial settlement discussions during certain ad |
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valorem tax appeals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 42, Tax Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 42.227 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.227. PRETRIAL SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS. (a) On motion |
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of a property owner that is a party to an appeal under this chapter |
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for which a discovery request to designate one or more expert |
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witnesses is made, the court shall enter an order requiring the |
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parties to engage in settlement discussions before the trial |
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begins. The motion must be made not later than the 210th day before |
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the date the discovery period in the appeal ends. |
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(b) If a motion is made under this section, the court shall |
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order the settlement discussions to be conducted not later than the |
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90th day after the date the motion is made. The court may provide in |
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the order that settlement discussions be conducted in a specific |
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manner, including as part of an informal settlement conference or |
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another form of alternative dispute resolution. |
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(c) Each party ordered to engage in settlement discussions |
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must make a good faith effort to resolve the matter under appeal |
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during the discussions. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |