By: Perry  S.B. No. 1245
         (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2021; March 18, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 14, 2021,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 15, Nays 0; April 14, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1245 By:  Hancock
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the farm and ranch survey conducted by the comptroller
  for purposes of estimating the productivity value of qualified
  open-space land as part of the study of school district taxable
  values.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter M, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 403.3022 to read as follows:
         Sec. 403.3022.  FARM AND RANCH SURVEY. (a) The comptroller
  shall conduct an annual farm and ranch survey for purposes of
  estimating the productivity value of qualified open-space land as
  part of a study under Section 403.302.
         (b)  The comptroller shall prepare and issue an
  instructional guide that provides information to assist
  individuals in completing the farm and ranch survey. The
  instructional guide must include:
               (1)  definitions of words related to property appraisal
  in the survey;
               (2)  instructions and examples regarding how to answer
  the questions in the survey;
               (3)  answers to frequently asked questions; and 
               (4)  any other information the comptroller determines
  is necessary to assist individuals in completing the survey.
         (c)  At least once each year, the comptroller shall conduct
  an online or in-person informational session that is open to the
  public regarding how to complete the farm and ranch survey. The
  comptroller shall post a recording of the informational session on
  the comptroller's Internet website.
         (d)  At least once each year, the comptroller shall solicit
  comments from the public and the property tax administration
  advisory board for the purposes of:
               (1)  determining the ease and understandability of the
  farm and ranch survey; and
               (2)  ensuring that the questions in the survey are
  designed to generate reliable answers.
         (e)  The chief appraiser of each appraisal district shall
  distribute the farm and ranch survey instructional guide to the
  members of the agricultural advisory board for the appraisal
  district appointed under Section 6.12, Tax Code, and shall provide
  information to the board regarding how to access the informational
  session provided under Subsection (c) of this section. The chief
  appraiser may distribute the instructional guide electronically
  under this subsection.
         (f)  The comptroller shall distribute the farm and ranch
  survey instructional guide to individuals who receive the farm and
  ranch survey from the comptroller and shall provide information to
  those individuals regarding how to access the informational session
  provided under Subsection (c). The comptroller may distribute the
  instructional guide electronically under this subsection.
         (g)  The definitions of words related to property appraisal
  included in the instructional guide are for informational purposes
  only and do not apply to this code or the Tax Code.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2022, the comptroller
  shall prepare and issue the instructional guide required by Section
  403.3022, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
  * * * * *