85R3348 TJB-D By: Bernal H.B. No. 182 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a study of the economic impact of requiring the disclosure of the sales price of real property. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. (a) The comptroller shall conduct a study to examine the impact that requiring disclosure of the sales price of real property would have on the property tax system, property tax revenues, the allocation of property tax burdens among taxpayers, and the cost to the state to fund public education. (b) The comptroller shall establish an advisory committee to assist the comptroller in conducting the study. The advisory committee must be composed of representatives of: (1) school districts and other taxing units; (2) appraisal districts; (3) the profession of real estate agents; (4) organizations interested in the effect of public policy on low-income and moderate-income households; (5) organizations representing property taxpayers; and (6) other appropriate interested organizations or members of the public, as determined by the comptroller. (c) The comptroller, with the assistance of the advisory committee, shall study: (1) the impact on the property tax system, property tax revenues of school districts and other taxing units, the allocation of property tax burdens among taxpayers, and the cost to the state to fund public education: (A) under the current system in which the disclosure of the sales price of real property is not required by law; and (B) under a system in which the disclosure of the sales price of real property would be required by law; and (2) the statutory and administrative changes that would be necessary to effectively collect, disseminate, and use sales price information. (d) In studying the allocation of property tax burdens among taxpayers, the comptroller and the advisory committee must compare the tax burden among property owners of each classification of real property, including a comparison of the burden on owners of: (1) commercial properties as compared to single-family residential properties; (2) industrial properties as compared to single-family residential properties; and (3) single-family residential properties for which the sales price of the property is provided by a private entity, such as a multiple listing service, to a chief appraiser for use by the chief appraiser in determining the appraised value of the property as compared to single-family residential properties for which the sales price is not provided. (e) The comptroller and the advisory committee shall prepare a report that makes findings and recommendations regarding the issues studied under Subsection (c) of this section. (f) The comptroller may contract with appraisal districts, taxing units, or other appropriate entities for assistance and to obtain information necessary to conduct the study. A state agency, appraisal district, or taxing unit shall assist the comptroller if the comptroller requests information or assistance in conducting the study. (g) Not later than December 1, 2018, the comptroller shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives the report prepared under Subsection (e) of this section. SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2019. SECTION 3. 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, 2017.