LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 27, 2017 TO: Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1830 by Anchia (Relating to the authority to waive certain penalties and interest in order to facilitate the settlement of an ad valorem tax appeal.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Chapter 42 of the Tax Code, regarding judicial review of property tax appeals, to provide that if the final determination of an appeal occurs pursuant to a settlement agreement filed with the court, the property owner and the chief appraiser may agree to waive the penalties and interest otherwise required on a refund or on the additional tax due each affected taxing unit as a term of the agreement.The bill's proposal to give litigants in property tax appeals the authority to waive penalties and interest may, in some instances, provide a path to settlement that would not otherwise exist, which would reduce court costs. In other instances penalties and interest might unnecessarily be waived which could create a cost to local taxing units and to the state through the school finance formulas. The number, amount, and circumstances related to waivers of penalties and interest in future settlements cannot be predicted so any loss or gain cannot be estimated. Any loss or gain created by the bill is not expected to be significant.The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, assuming it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2017. The bill would apply to appeals pending on the effective date, and to appeals filed on or after that date. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: UP, KK, SD, SJS LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 27, 2017 TO: Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1830 by Anchia (Relating to the authority to waive certain penalties and interest in order to facilitate the settlement of an ad valorem tax appeal.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1830 by Anchia (Relating to the authority to waive certain penalties and interest in order to facilitate the settlement of an ad valorem tax appeal.), As Introduced Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB1830 by Anchia (Relating to the authority to waive certain penalties and interest in order to facilitate the settlement of an ad valorem tax appeal.), As Introduced HB1830 by Anchia (Relating to the authority to waive certain penalties and interest in order to facilitate the settlement of an ad valorem tax appeal.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend Chapter 42 of the Tax Code, regarding judicial review of property tax appeals, to provide that if the final determination of an appeal occurs pursuant to a settlement agreement filed with the court, the property owner and the chief appraiser may agree to waive the penalties and interest otherwise required on a refund or on the additional tax due each affected taxing unit as a term of the agreement.The bill's proposal to give litigants in property tax appeals the authority to waive penalties and interest may, in some instances, provide a path to settlement that would not otherwise exist, which would reduce court costs. In other instances penalties and interest might unnecessarily be waived which could create a cost to local taxing units and to the state through the school finance formulas. The number, amount, and circumstances related to waivers of penalties and interest in future settlements cannot be predicted so any loss or gain cannot be estimated. Any loss or gain created by the bill is not expected to be significant.The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, assuming it received the requisite two-thirds majority votes in both houses of the Legislature. Otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2017. The bill would apply to appeals pending on the effective date, and to appeals filed on or after that date. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: UP, KK, SD, SJS UP, KK, SD, SJS