S.B. No. 771
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the determination of the value of property for ad
  valorem tax purposes, including appeals through binding
  arbitration of appraisal review board orders determining protests
  of property value determinations; providing penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 23.01, Tax Code, is amended by amending
  Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (b)  The market value of property shall be determined by the
  application of generally accepted appraisal methods and
  techniques. If the appraisal district determines the appraised
  value of a property using mass appraisal standards, the mass
  appraisal standards must comply with the Uniform Standards of
  Professional Appraisal Practice. The same or similar appraisal
  methods and techniques shall be used in appraising the same or
  similar kinds of property. However, each property shall be
  appraised based upon the individual characteristics that affect the
  property's market value, and all available evidence that is
  specific to the value of the property shall be taken into account in
  determining the property's market value.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter to the
  contrary, if the appraised value of property in a tax year is
  lowered under Subtitle F, the appraised value of the property as
  finally determined under that subtitle is considered to be the
  appraised value of the property for that tax year. In the following
  tax year, the chief appraiser may not increase the appraised value
  of the property unless the increase by the chief appraiser is
  reasonably supported by substantial evidence when all of the
  reliable and probative evidence in the record is considered as a
  whole. If the appraised value is finally determined in a protest
  under Section 41.41(a)(2) or an appeal under Section 42.26, the
  chief appraiser may satisfy the requirement to reasonably support
  by substantial evidence an increase in the appraised value of the
  property in the following tax year by presenting evidence showing
  that the inequality in the appraisal of property has been corrected
  with regard to the properties that were considered in determining
  the value of the subject property. The burden of proof is on the
  chief appraiser to support an increase in the appraised value of
  property under the circumstances described by this subsection.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 23.013, 23.014, and 23.24, Tax Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 23.013.  MARKET DATA COMPARISON METHOD OF APPRAISAL.
  (a)  If the chief appraiser uses the market data comparison method
  of appraisal to determine the market value of real property, the
  chief appraiser shall use comparable sales data and shall adjust
  the comparable sales to the subject property.
         (b)  A sale is not considered to be a comparable sale unless
  the sale occurred within 24 months of the date as of which the
  market value of the subject property is to be determined, except
  that a sale that did not occur during that period may be considered
  to be a comparable sale if enough comparable properties were not
  sold during that period to constitute a representative sample.
         (c)  A sale of a comparable property must be appropriately
  adjusted for any change in the market value of the comparable
  property during the period between the date of the sale of the
  comparable property and the date as of which the market value of the
  subject property is to be determined.
         (d)  Whether a property is comparable to the subject property
  shall be determined based on similarities with regard to location,
  square footage of the lot and improvements, property age, property
  condition, property access, amenities, views, income, operating
  expenses, occupancy, and the existence of easements, deed
  restrictions, or other legal burdens affecting marketability.
         Sec. 23.014.  EXCLUSION OF PROPERTY AS REAL PROPERTY.
  Except as provided by Section 23.24(b), in [In] determining the
  market value of real property, the chief appraiser shall analyze
  the effect on that value of, and exclude from that value the value
  of, any:
               (1)  tangible personal property, including trade
  fixtures;
               (2)  intangible personal property; or
               (3)  other property that is not subject to appraisal as
  real property.
         Sec. 23.24.  FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT. (a)  If
  real property is appraised by a method that takes into account the
  value of furniture, fixtures, and equipment in or on the real
  property, the furniture, fixtures, and equipment shall not be
  subject to additional appraisal or taxation as personal property.
         (b)  In determining the market value of the real property
  appraised on the basis of rental income, the chief appraiser may not
  separately appraise or take into account any personal property
  valued as a portion of the income of the real property, and the
  market value of the real property must include the combined value of
  the real property and the personal property.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 23, Tax Code, is amended by
  adding Section 23.522 to read as follows:
         Sec. 23.522.  TEMPORARY CESSATION OF AGRICULTURAL USE DURING
  DROUGHT. The eligibility of land for appraisal under this
  subchapter does not end because the land ceases to be devoted
  principally to agricultural use to the degree of intensity
  generally accepted in the area if:
               (1)  a drought declared by the governor creates an
  agricultural necessity to extend the normal time the land remains
  out of agricultural production; and
               (2)  the owner of the land intends that the use of the
  land in that manner and to that degree of intensity be resumed when
  the declared drought ceases.
         SECTION 4.  Section 41A.01, Tax Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 41A.01.  RIGHT OF APPEAL BY PROPERTY OWNER. As an
  alternative to filing an appeal under Section 42.01, a property
  owner is entitled to appeal through binding arbitration under this
  chapter an appraisal review board order determining a protest filed
  under Section 41.41(a)(1) concerning the appraised or market value
  of [real] property if:
               (1)  the property qualifies as the owner's residence
  homestead under Section 11.13; or
               (2) the appraised or market value, as applicable, of
  the property as determined by the order is $1 million or less[; and
               [(2)     the appeal does not involve any matter in dispute
  other than the determination of the appraised or market value of the
  property].
         SECTION 5.  Subsection (a), Section 41A.03, Tax Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To appeal an appraisal review board order under this
  chapter, a property owner must file with the appraisal district not
  later than the 45th day after the date the property owner receives
  notice of the order:
               (1)  a completed request for binding arbitration under
  this chapter in the form prescribed by Section 41A.04; and
               (2)  an arbitration deposit [in the amount of $500,]
  made payable to the comptroller in the amount of:
                     (A)  $500; or
                     (B)  $250, if the property owner requests
  expedited arbitration under Section 41A.031.
         SECTION 6.  Chapter 41A, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Section 41A.031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 41A.031.  EXPEDITED ARBITRATION. (a)  A property owner
  is entitled to an expedited arbitration if the property owner
  includes a request for expedited arbitration in the request filed
  under Section 41A.03 and pays the required deposit.
         (b)  An expedited arbitration must provide for not more than
  one hour of argument and testimony on behalf of the property owner
  and not more than one hour of argument and testimony on behalf of
  the appraisal district.
         (c)  The comptroller shall adopt rules and processes to
  assist in the conduct of an expedited arbitration.
         SECTION 7.  The heading to Section 41A.06, Tax Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 41A.06.  REGISTRY AND INITIAL QUALIFICATION
  [QUALIFICATIONS] OF ARBITRATORS.
         SECTION 8.  Subsection (b), Section 41A.06, Tax Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  To initially qualify to serve as an arbitrator under
  this chapter, a person must:
               (1)  meet the following requirements, as applicable:
                     (A)  be licensed as an attorney in this state; or
                     (B)  have:
                           (i)  completed at least 30 hours of training
  in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution procedures from a
  university, college, or legal or real estate trade association; and
                           (ii)  been licensed or certified
  continuously during the five years preceding the date the person
  agrees to serve as an arbitrator as:
                                 (a) [(2)  be licensed as] a real estate
  broker or salesperson under Chapter 1101, Occupations Code;
                                 (b) [, or be licensed or certified as]
  a real estate appraiser under Chapter 1103, Occupations Code; or
                                 (c)  a certified public accountant
  under Chapter 901, Occupations Code; and
               (2) [(3)]  agree to conduct an arbitration for a fee
  that is not more than 90 percent of the amount of the arbitration
  deposit required by Section 41A.03.
         SECTION 9.  Chapter 41A, Tax Code, is amended by adding
  Section 41A.061 to read as follows:
         Sec. 41A.061.  CONTINUED QUALIFICATION OF ARBITRATOR;
  RENEWAL OF AGREEMENT. (a)  The comptroller shall include a
  qualified arbitrator in the registry until the second anniversary
  of the date the person was added to the registry. To continue to be
  included in the registry after the second anniversary of the date
  the person was added to the registry, the person must renew the
  person's agreement with the comptroller to serve as an arbitrator
  on or as near as possible to the date on which the person's license
  or certification issued under Chapter 901, 1101, or 1103,
  Occupations Code, is renewed.
         (b)  To renew the person's agreement to serve as an
  arbitrator, the person must:
               (1)  file a renewal application with the comptroller at
  the time and in the manner prescribed by the comptroller;
               (2)  continue to meet the requirements provided by
  Section 41A.06(b); and
               (3)  during the preceding two years have completed at
  least eight hours of continuing education in arbitration and
  alternative dispute resolution procedures offered by a university,
  college, real estate trade association, or legal association.
         (c)  The comptroller shall remove a person from the registry
  if the person fails or declines to renew the person's agreement to
  serve as an arbitrator in the manner required by this section.
         SECTION 10.  Subsection (b), Section 41A.08, Tax Code, as
  added by Chapters 372 (S.B. 1351) and 912 (H.B. 182), Acts of the
  79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is reenacted and amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The parties to an arbitration proceeding under this
  chapter may represent themselves or, at their own cost, may be
  represented by:
               (1)  an employee of the appraisal district;
               (2)  an attorney who is licensed in this state;
               (3)  a person who is licensed as a real estate broker or
  salesperson under Chapter 1101, Occupations Code, or is licensed or
  certified as a real estate appraiser under Chapter 1103,
  Occupations Code; [or]
               (4)  a property tax consultant registered under Chapter
  1152, Occupations Code; or
               (5)  an individual who is licensed as a certified
  public accountant under Chapter 901, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 11.  Subsection (b), Section 41A.09, Tax Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An award under this section:
               (1)  must include a determination of the appraised or
  market value, as applicable, of the property that is the subject of
  the appeal;
               (2)  may include any remedy or relief a court may order
  under Chapter 42 in an appeal relating to the appraised or market
  value of property;
               (3)  shall specify the arbitrator's fee, which may not
  exceed the amount provided by Section 41A.06(b)(2) [41A.06(b)(3)];
               (4)  is final and may not be appealed except as
  permitted under Section 171.088, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
  for an award subject to that section; and
               (5)  may be enforced in the manner provided by
  Subchapter D, Chapter 171, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
         SECTION 12.  Section 6.411, Tax Code, is amended by amending
  Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
  follows:
         (c)  This section does not apply to communications [that do
  not discuss the specific evidence, argument, facts, merits, or
  property involved in a hearing currently pending before the
  appraisal review board or to communications] between the board and
  its legal counsel.
         (c-1) This section does not apply to communications
  involving the chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal
  district and a member of the appraisal review board that are
  specifically limited to and involve administrative, clerical, or
  logistical matters related to the scheduling and operation of
  hearings, the processing of documents, the issuance of orders,
  notices, and subpoenas, and the operation of the appraisal review
  board.
         (d)  An offense under this section is a Class A [C]
  misdemeanor.
         SECTION 13.  (a)  Sections 41A.01, 41A.03, and 41A.08, Tax
  Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 41A.031, Tax Code, as
  added by this Act, apply only to an appeal through binding
  arbitration under Chapter 41A of that code that is requested on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  Section 41A.06, Tax Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies only to a person who initially qualifies to serve as an
  arbitrator under Chapter 41A, Tax Code, on or after the effective
  date of this Act.
         (c)  Section 41A.061, Tax Code, as added by this Act, does
  not affect the eligibility of a person who is included on the
  registry list of qualified arbitrators on the effective date of
  this Act to continue to remain on that registry list before the date
  on which the person's license or certificate under Chapter 901,
  1101, or 1103, Occupations Code, expires unless renewed.
         SECTION 14.  This Act applies only to the appraisal of
  property for a tax year beginning on or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         SECTION 15.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2010.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 771 passed the Senate on
  April 30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 30, 2009, by the
  following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 771 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 148,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor