Texas Senate Bill SB1615

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to the qualifications required of an appraisal district employee in order to testify as to the value of real property in certain ad valorem tax appeals.

Impact

The enactment of SB1615 is expected to significantly impact the operations of appraisal districts in Texas, particularly in how they handle valuation disputes during ad valorem tax appeals. By mandating qualified appraisers for testimony, the bill seeks to increase the reliability of property assessment outcomes, which could lead to fairer tax assessments. However, this requirement may also impose additional burdens on appraisal districts to ensure their staff complies with the new qualifications, potentially resulting in a need for training or hiring of new employees.

Summary

SB1615 aims to amend Texas Tax Code Section 42.23 by establishing stricter qualifications for appraisal district employees who testify regarding the value of real property in specific ad valorem tax appeals. The bill stipulates that only employees authorized to perform real estate appraisals, as recognized under Section 1103.201 of the Occupations Code, can provide testimony in these legal hearings. This change is designed to enhance the credibility of testimony regarding property valuations during tax disputes, ensuring that only qualified individuals contribute to such critical assessments.

Contention

Though the bill is positioned as a means to improve the integrity of property valuation processes, there may be points of contention regarding the implementation and practicality of enforcing such qualifications. Concerns may arise about potential delays in hearings if qualified appraisers are not readily available. Furthermore, stakeholders in the real estate and appraisal industries may debate the necessity of these restrictions, weighing the benefits of increased reliability against the possible restrictions on the availability of witnesses for tax appeals.