LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 3, 2009 TO: Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB4229 by Otto (Relating to the award of attorney's fees in a judicial appeal of certain ad valorem tax determinations.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Chapter 42 of the Tax Code, regarding judicial review of property appraisals. The bill would allow the recovery of attorney's fees to a property owner who prevails in matters appealed to a district court concerning issues brought before the appraisal review board as described in Section 25.25 of this Code. Such issues include the correction of clerical errors, multiple appraisals in a tax year, the inclusion of property that does not exist, and an error that resulted in an appraised value that exceeds by more than one-third the correct appraised value. The bill would not affect appraised values or tax rates, but could result in additional administrative costs to the appraisal districts. The increase in administrative costs cannot be estimated because the awards of attorney's fees would be up to the discretion of the district courts. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, assuming that it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2009. Local Government Impact The bill would not affect appraised values or tax rates, but could result in additional administrative costs to the appraisal districts. The increase in administrative costs cannot be estimated because the awards of attorney's fees would be up to the discretion of the district courts. Source Agencies:304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JOB, MN, SD, SJS LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 3, 2009 TO: Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB4229 by Otto (Relating to the award of attorney's fees in a judicial appeal of certain ad valorem tax determinations.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted TO: Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB4229 by Otto (Relating to the award of attorney's fees in a judicial appeal of certain ad valorem tax determinations.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means Honorable Rene Oliveira, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB4229 by Otto (Relating to the award of attorney's fees in a judicial appeal of certain ad valorem tax determinations.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted HB4229 by Otto (Relating to the award of attorney's fees in a judicial appeal of certain ad valorem tax determinations.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Chapter 42 of the Tax Code, regarding judicial review of property appraisals. The bill would allow the recovery of attorney's fees to a property owner who prevails in matters appealed to a district court concerning issues brought before the appraisal review board as described in Section 25.25 of this Code. Such issues include the correction of clerical errors, multiple appraisals in a tax year, the inclusion of property that does not exist, and an error that resulted in an appraised value that exceeds by more than one-third the correct appraised value. The bill would not affect appraised values or tax rates, but could result in additional administrative costs to the appraisal districts. The increase in administrative costs cannot be estimated because the awards of attorney's fees would be up to the discretion of the district courts. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, assuming that it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2009. The bill would amend Chapter 42 of the Tax Code, regarding judicial review of property appraisals. The bill would allow the recovery of attorney's fees to a property owner who prevails in matters appealed to a district court concerning issues brought before the appraisal review board as described in Section 25.25 of this Code. Such issues include the correction of clerical errors, multiple appraisals in a tax year, the inclusion of property that does not exist, and an error that resulted in an appraised value that exceeds by more than one-third the correct appraised value. The bill would not affect appraised values or tax rates, but could result in additional administrative costs to the appraisal districts. The increase in administrative costs cannot be estimated because the awards of attorney's fees would be up to the discretion of the district courts. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, assuming that it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2009. Local Government Impact The bill would not affect appraised values or tax rates, but could result in additional administrative costs to the appraisal districts. The increase in administrative costs cannot be estimated because the awards of attorney's fees would be up to the discretion of the district courts. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: JOB, MN, SD, SJS JOB, MN, SD, SJS