81R1368 UM-D
By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 649
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a prohibition on the posting of certain tax appraisal
record information on the Internet.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding
Section 25.028 to read as follows:
Sec. 25.028. AUTHORITY TO PROHIBIT POSTING OF CERTAIN
APPRAISAL RECORD INFORMATION ON INTERNET. (a) The name of the
owner of property included in the appraisal records may not be
posted on the Internet by the appraisal district, a taxing unit, or
a tax assessor or collector if the owner chooses to prohibit online
disclosure of that information. To prohibit online disclosure of
the information, the property owner must submit a request to that
effect to the chief appraiser on a form prescribed for that purpose
by the comptroller under Section 5.07. The prohibition applies to
the appraisal district, to each taxing unit that participates in
the district, and to the assessor and collector for each of those
taxing units.
(b) An appraisal district, taxing unit, or tax assessor or
collector that posts appraisal record information on the Internet
must provide notice on the main Internet site that provides an
Internet user with the means to search or access the information of
a property owner's right to prohibit online disclosure of the
owner's name in connection with property included in the appraisal
records and the procedure for prohibiting disclosure of that
information.
(c) A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until
rescinded in writing by the owner.
(d) This section does not prohibit the online disclosure of
information in appraisal records that identifies property
according to an address if the information does not identify an
owner who has chosen to prohibit disclosure of the owner's name
under Subsection (a) in connection with the property.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.