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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of a person to serve as an arbitrator in |
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a binding arbitration of an appeal of an appraisal review board |
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order. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 41A.06(b), Tax Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) To initially qualify to serve as an arbitrator under |
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this chapter, a person must: |
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(1) meet the following requirements, as applicable: |
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(A) be licensed as an attorney in this state; or |
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(B) have: |
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(i) completed at least 30 hours of training |
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in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution procedures from a |
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university, college, or legal or real estate trade association; and |
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(ii) been licensed or certified |
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continuously during the five years preceding the date the person |
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agrees to serve as an arbitrator as: |
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(a) a real estate broker or sales |
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agent under Chapter 1101, Occupations Code; |
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(b) a real estate appraiser under |
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Chapter 1103, Occupations Code; [or] |
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(c) a certified public accountant |
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under Chapter 901, Occupations Code; or |
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(d) a registered professional |
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appraiser under Chapter 1151, Occupations Code; |
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(2) complete the courses for training and education of |
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appraisal review board members established under Sections 5.041(a) |
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and (e-1) and be issued a certificate for each course indicating |
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course completion; |
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(3) complete the training program on property tax law |
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for the training and education of arbitrators established under |
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Section 5.043; and |
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(4) agree to conduct an arbitration for a fee that is |
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not more than: |
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(A) $400, if the property qualifies as the |
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owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised |
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or market value, as applicable, of the property is $500,000 or less, |
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as determined by the order; |
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(B) $450, if the property qualifies as the |
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owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised |
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or market value, as applicable, of the property is more than |
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$500,000, as determined by the order; |
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(C) $450, if the property does not qualify as the |
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owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised |
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or market value, as applicable, of the property is $1 million or |
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less, as determined by the order; |
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(D) $750, if the property does not qualify as the |
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owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised |
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or market value, as applicable, of the property is more than $1 |
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million but not more than $2 million, as determined by the order; |
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(E) $1,000, if the property does not qualify as |
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the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the |
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appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is more |
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than $2 million but not more than $3 million, as determined by the |
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order; or |
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(F) $1,500, if the property does not qualify as |
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the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the |
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appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is more |
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than $3 million but not more than $5 million, as determined by the |
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order. |
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SECTION 2. Section 41A.061(a), Tax Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The comptroller shall include a qualified arbitrator in |
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the registry until the second anniversary of the date the person was |
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added to the registry. To continue to be included in the registry |
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after the second anniversary of the date the person was added to the |
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registry, the person must renew the person's agreement with the |
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comptroller to serve as an arbitrator on or as near as possible to |
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the date on which the person's license or certification issued |
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under Chapter 901, 1101, [or] 1103, or 1151, Occupations Code, is |
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renewed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |