BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1029

By: Hall

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that the recent increase in the number of property owners who have opted to take their tax protests to binding arbitration has resulted in lengthy wait times before an arbitrator can be assigned to a case. It has been suggested that the binding arbitration process could be more efficient if the pool of eligible arbitrators was expanded. S.B. 1029 seeks to address this issue by revising the eligibility requirements for appointment as an arbitrator in a binding arbitration of an appraisal review board order.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1029 amends the Tax Code to change the period during which a person's representation or service in a certain capacity renders the person ineligible for appointment as the arbitrator in a binding arbitration of an appraisal review board order concerning the appraised or market value of a property from the five years preceding appointment to the two years preceding appointment.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.