86R1642 LHC-D
 
  By: Krause H.B. No. 1333
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the administration of the ad valorem tax system.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1.07(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (a)  An official or agency required by this title to deliver
  a notice to a property owner may deliver the notice by regular
  first-class mail, with postage prepaid, unless this section or
  another provision of this title requires or authorizes a different
  method of delivery or the parties agree that the notice must be
  delivered as provided by Section 1.085 or 1.086.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 1, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section
  1.086 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.086.  DELIVERY OF CERTAIN NOTICES BY E-MAIL. (a) On
  the written request of the owner of a residential property that is
  occupied by the owner as the owner's principal residence, the chief
  appraiser of the appraisal district in which the property is
  located shall send each notice required by this title related to the
  following to the e-mail address of the owner:
               (1)  a change in value of the property; or
               (2)  the grant, denial, cancellation, or other change
  in the status of an exemption or exemption application applicable
  to the property. 
         (b)  A property owner must provide the e-mail address to
  which the chief appraiser must send the notices described by
  Subsection (a) in a request made under that subsection.
         (c)  A chief appraiser who delivers a notice electronically
  under this section is not required to mail the same notice to the
  property owner.
         (d)  A request made under this section remains in effect
  until revoked by the property owner in a written revocation filed
  with the chief appraiser.
         SECTION 3.  Section 6.03(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The appraisal district is governed by a board of
  directors. Five directors are appointed by the taxing units that
  participate in the district as provided by this section. If the
  county assessor-collector is not appointed to the board, the county
  assessor-collector serves as a nonvoting director. The county
  assessor-collector is ineligible to serve if the board enters into
  a contract under Section 6.05(b) or if the commissioners court of
  the county enters into a contract under Section 6.24(b). To be
  eligible to serve on the board of directors, an individual other
  than a county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director
  must be a resident of the district and must have resided in the
  district for at least two years immediately preceding the date the
  individual takes office. An individual [who] is ineligible
  [otherwise eligible] to serve on the board if the individual is an
  officer or employee [is not ineligible because of membership on the
  governing body of a taxing unit. An employee] of a taxing unit that
  participates in the district [is not eligible to serve on the board
  unless the individual is also a member of the governing body or an
  elected official of a taxing unit that participates in the
  district].
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 6, Tax Code, is amended by
  adding Section 6.054 to read as follows:
         Sec. 6.054.  RESTRICTION ON EMPLOYMENT BY APPRAISAL
  DISTRICT. An individual may not be employed by an appraisal
  district if the individual is:
               (1)  an officer of a taxing unit that participates in
  the appraisal district; or
               (2)  an employee of a taxing unit that participates in
  the appraisal district.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter A, Chapter 6, Tax Code, is amended by
  adding Section 6.16 to read as follows:
         Sec. 6.16.  RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER ASSISTANCE. (a) The
  chief appraiser of each appraisal district shall maintain a list of
  the following individuals who have designated themselves as an
  individual who will provide free assistance to an owner of
  residential property that is occupied by the owner as the owner's
  principal residence:
               (1)  a real estate broker or sales agent licensed under
  Chapter 1101, Occupations Code;
               (2)  a real estate appraiser licensed or certified
  under Chapter 1103, Occupations Code; or
               (3)  a property tax consultant registered under Chapter
  1152, Occupations Code. 
         (b)  On the request of an owner described by Subsection (a),
  the chief appraiser shall provide to the owner a copy of the list
  maintained under this section.
         SECTION 6.  Section 23.01(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The market value of property shall be determined by the
  application of generally accepted appraisal methods and
  techniques.  If the appraisal district determines the appraised
  value of a property using mass appraisal standards, the mass
  appraisal standards must comply with the Uniform Standards of
  Professional Appraisal Practice.  The same or similar appraisal
  methods and techniques shall be used in appraising the same or
  similar kinds of property.  However, each property shall be
  appraised based upon the individual characteristics that affect the
  property's market value, including cosmetic defects of the
  property, and all available evidence that is specific to the value
  of the property shall be taken into account in determining the
  property's market value.
         SECTION 7.  Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Sections 25.192 and 25.193 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.192.  NOTICE OF RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
  ELIGIBILITY. (a) This section applies only to residential
  property that has not qualified for a residence homestead exemption
  in the current tax year.
         (b)  If the records of the appraisal district indicate that
  the address of the property is also the address of the owner of the
  property, the chief appraiser must send to the property owner a
  notice that contains:
               (1)  the following statement in boldfaced 18-point type
  at the top of the first page of the notice: "NOTICE: A residence
  homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation is NOT currently being
  allowed on the property listed below.  However, our records show
  that this property may qualify for a residence homestead exemption,
  which will reduce your taxes.";
               (2)  following the statement described by Subdivision
  (1), the following statement in 12-point type: "According to the
  records of the appraisal district, the property described in this
  notice may be your primary residence and may qualify for a residence
  homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation.  If the property is
  your home and you occupy it as your primary residence, the property
  likely qualifies for one or more residence homestead exemptions,
  which will reduce the amount of taxes imposed on the property.  The
  form needed to apply for a residence homestead exemption is
  enclosed.  Although the form may state that the deadline for filing
  an application for a residence homestead exemption is April 30, a
  late application for a residence homestead exemption will be
  accepted if filed before February 1, (insert year application must
  be filed).  There is no fee or charge for filing an application or a
  late application for a residence homestead exemption."; and
               (3)  following the statement described by Subdivision
  (2), the address to which the notice is sent.
         (c)  The notice required by this section must be accompanied
  by an application form for a residence homestead exemption.
         (d)  The notice required by this section must be sent
  separately from any other notice sent to the property owner by the
  chief appraiser. 
         Sec. 25.193.  NOTICE OF CERTAIN CANCELED OR REDUCED
  EXEMPTIONS. (a) By April 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable if
  the property is a single-family residence that qualifies for an
  exemption under Section 11.13, or by May 1 or as soon thereafter as
  practicable in connection with residential property that does not
  qualify for an exemption under Section 11.13, the chief appraiser
  shall deliver a clear and understandable written notice to a
  property owner if an exemption or partial exemption that was
  approved for the preceding year was canceled or reduced for the
  current year.
         (b)  The notice required by this section must be sent
  regardless of whether the information was also included in a notice
  under Section 25.19 and must be sent separately from any other
  notice sent to the property owner by the chief appraiser.
         SECTION 8.  Section 25.19(b-2), Tax Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 9.  (a) Section 6.03(a), Tax Code, as amended by
  this Act, does not affect the right of a person serving on the board
  of directors of an appraisal district on the effective date of this
  Act to complete the person's term on the board.
         (b)  Section 23.01(b), Tax Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies only to the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax
  purposes for a tax year beginning on or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         (c)  Section 25.19, Tax Code, as amended by this Act, and
  Sections 25.192 and 25.193, Tax Code, as added by this Act, apply
  only to a notice for a tax year beginning on or after the effective
  date of this Act. A notice for a tax year beginning before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2020.