85S10180 SMT-D By: Bell H.B. No. 87 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of a property owner to request that notice of a protest hearing before the appraisal review board be delivered by certified mail or electronic mail. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1.085, Tax Code, is amended by adding Subsection (m) to read as follows: (m) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a property owner need not enter into an agreement under this section to be entitled to electronic delivery of a notice of a protest hearing under Section 41.46. SECTION 2. Section 41.46, Tax Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: (d) The appraisal review board shall deliver notice of the hearing by certified mail if, in the notice of protest under Section 41.44, the property owner requests delivery by certified mail. The board may require the property owner to pay the cost of postage under this subsection. (e) Notwithstanding Section 1.085, the appraisal review board shall deliver notice of the hearing by electronic mail if, in the notice of protest under Section 41.44, the property owner requests delivery by electronic mail and provides a valid electronic mail address. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect December 1, 2017.