88R3208 RDS-D
 
  By: Metcalf, Toth, et al. H.B. No. 1228
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the right of a property owner or the owner's agent to
  receive on request a copy of the information used to appraise the
  owner's property for ad valorem tax purposes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  SECTION 1.  Section 25.195, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Subsections (a-1) and (c-1) and amending Subsections (d) and (e) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  On request by a property owner or the designated agent
  of an owner, a chief appraiser shall provide electronically or by
  mail at the address designated by the property owner or agent a copy
  of the records, supporting data, schedules, and other material and
  information the owner or agent is entitled to inspect and copy under
  Subsection (a). A chief appraiser may not impose a fee for
  providing a copy of records, supporting data, schedules, or other
  material or information under this subsection.
         (c-1)  On request by a property owner or the designated agent
  of an owner, a private appraisal firm shall provide electronically
  or by mail at the address designated by the property owner or agent
  a copy of the information the owner or agent is entitled to inspect
  and copy under Subsection (c). A private appraisal firm may not
  impose a fee for providing a copy of information under this
  subsection.
         (d)  The appraisal firm shall make information covered by
  Subsection (c) available for inspection and copying by the owner or
  agent or provide the information as required by Subsection (c-1),
  as applicable, not later than the 15th day after the date the owner
  or agent delivers a written request to inspect or receive a copy of
  the information, unless the owner or agent agrees in writing to a
  later date.
         (e)  If an owner or agent states under oath in a document
  filed with an appraisal review board in connection with a
  proceeding initiated under Section 25.25 or Chapter 41 that the
  applicable appraisal firm has not complied with a request for
  inspection or copying under Subsection (c) or a request to receive a
  copy of information under Subsection (c-1) related to the property
  that is the subject of the proceeding, the board may not conduct a
  hearing on the merits of any claim relating to that property and may
  not approve the appraisal records relating to that property until
  the board determines in a hearing that:
               (1)  the appraisal firm has made the information
  available for inspection and copying as required by Subsection (c)
  or has provided the information as required by Subsection (c-1), as
  applicable; or
               (2)  the owner or agent has withdrawn the motion or
  protest that initiated the proceeding.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.