H.B. No. 2792 AN ACT relating to the circumstances under which an appraisal review board hearing shall be closed to the public. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 41.66, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-1) and (d-2) to read as follows: (d) Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), hearings [Hearings] conducted as provided by this chapter are open to the public. (d-1) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the appraisal review board shall conduct a hearing that is closed to the public if the property owner or the chief appraiser intends to disclose proprietary or confidential information at the hearing that will assist the review board in determining the protest. The review board may hold a closed hearing under this subsection only on a joint motion by the property owner and the chief appraiser. (d-2) Information described by Subsection (d-1) is considered information obtained under Section 22.27. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2792 was passed by the House on May 9, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 131, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2792 was passed by the Senate on May 21, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor