S.B. No. 2173
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the effect of a tax certificate accompanying a transfer
  of certain property.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 31.08, Tax Code, is amended by amending
  Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (c) and
  (d) [of this section], if a person transfers property accompanied
  by a tax certificate that erroneously indicates that no delinquent
  taxes, penalties, or interest are due a taxing unit on the property
  or that fails to include property because of its omission from an
  appraisal roll as described under Section 25.21, the taxing unit's
  tax lien on the property, including, if applicable, the tax lien
  securing the payment of any delinquent taxes, penalties, or
  interest that are subsequently determined to be due the taxing unit
  on the property because a residence homestead exemption was
  erroneously allowed for the property and was subsequently canceled,
  is extinguished and the purchaser of the property is absolved of
  liability to the taxing unit for delinquent taxes, penalties, or
  interest on the property or for taxes based on omitted property.  
  The person who was liable for the tax for the year the tax was
  imposed or the property was omitted remains personally liable for
  the tax and for any penalties or interest.
         (d)  A tax certificate that accompanies a transfer of
  property and erroneously indicates that no delinquent taxes,
  penalties, or interest are due a taxing unit on the property because
  a residence homestead exemption was erroneously allowed for the
  property and was subsequently canceled does not extinguish the tax
  lien securing the payment of any delinquent taxes, penalties, or
  interest that are subsequently determined to be due the taxing unit
  on the property if the chief appraiser or the collector for a taxing
  unit determines that the transfer of the property occurred between:
               (1)  two individuals who are related within the first
  degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter
  573, Government Code;
               (2)  an employer and an employee;
               (3)  a parent company and a subsidiary of that parent
  company; or
               (4)  a trust and a beneficiary of that trust.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a tax certificate issued on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A tax certificate issued before the effective date of this Act
  is covered by the law in effect on the date of issuance, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2173 passed the Senate on
  May 1, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2173 passed the House on
  May 15, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 0, three
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor