87R2156 TJB-D
 
  By: Murr H.B. No. 2428
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the calculation of net to land in the appraisal of
  open-space land for ad valorem tax purposes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 23.51(4), Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
               (4)  "Net to land" means the average annual net income
  derived from the use of open-space land that would have been earned
  from the land during the five-year period preceding the year before
  the appraisal by an owner using ordinary prudence in the management
  of the land and the farm crops or livestock produced or supported on
  the land and, in addition, any income received from hunting or
  recreational leases. The chief appraiser shall calculate net to
  land by considering the income that would be due to the owner of the
  land under cash lease, share lease, or whatever lease arrangement
  is typical in that area for that category of land, and all expenses
  directly attributable to the agricultural use of the land by the
  owner shall be subtracted from this owner income and the results
  shall be used in income capitalization. In calculating net to land,
  a reasonable deduction shall be made for any depletion that occurs
  of underground water used in the agricultural operation. In
  calculating net to land of open-space land located in or adjacent to
  a chronic wasting disease containment zone designated by the Parks
  and Wildlife Department or the Texas Animal Health Commission, the
  chief appraiser shall take into consideration the effect that the
  presence of chronic wasting disease has on the net income from the
  land. For land that qualifies under Subdivision (7) for appraisal
  under this subchapter, the chief appraiser may not consider in the
  calculation of net to land the income that would be due to the owner
  under a hunting or recreational lease of the land.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to the appraisal of open-space land for a tax year that begins on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2022.