85R13133 LHC-F
By: Estes S.B. No. 1514
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the eligibility of land for appraisal for ad valorem tax
purposes as qualified open-space land if the land is used for
certain oil and gas operations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 23, Tax Code, is amended by
adding Section 23.524 to read as follows:
Sec. 23.524. OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS ON LAND. The
eligibility of land for appraisal under this subchapter does not
end because a lessee begins conducting oil and gas operations on the
land under a lease over which the Railroad Commission of Texas has
jurisdiction under Section 81.051, Natural Resources Code, if the
land otherwise continues to qualify for appraisal under this
subchapter.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not
affect an additional tax imposed as a result of a change of use of
land appraised under Subchapter D, Chapter 23, Tax Code, that
occurred before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the date on which the
constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2017, authorizing the legislature to provide for
exceptions to the requirement that open-space land be devoted to
certain purposes for ad valorem taxation based on the land's
productive capacity is approved by the voters. If that amendment is
not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.