Texas House Bill HJR44

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide that if in a tax year the owner of property disputes the appraisal of the property and the appraised value is lowered as a result, the appraisal entity may not increase the appraised value of the property in the next tax year in which the property is appraised by more than a specified percentage.

Impact

Should HJR44 be enacted, it would modify Article VIII of the Texas Constitution concerning property appraisal increases following a successful dispute. By providing this safety net for property owners, the amendment aims to prevent abrupt spikes in property tax assessments that can occur immediately after an owner's successful appeal against a prior appraisal. The alterations could lead to more predictable tax expenses for property owners, hence promoting stability in property taxation.

Summary

HJR44 proposes a constitutional amendment that aims to protect property owners who dispute the assessed value of their property for ad valorem tax purposes. The bill stipulates that if a property owner successfully disputes the appraised value, the property appraisal entity is restricted from raising that property's assessed value by more than a certain percentage in the following tax year. This percentage can be set at five percent or a larger amount as determined by subsequent legislation.

Conclusion

In summary, HJR44 intends to provide a crucial amendment to the existing tax framework to bolster protection for property owners in Texas. While the proposed changes aim to create a fairer tax environment, the bill's implications for local governance and revenue generation persist as critical talking points in the ongoing legislative discourse.

Contention

The bill's discussions highlight potential points of contention among lawmakers and stakeholders. Supporters argue that the legislation serves to safeguard property owners from excessive tax increases resulting from appraisal disputes. On the contrary, opponents may argue that this could place financial burdens on local governments, which rely on various revenues from property taxes that must keep pace with inflation and community growth.