Texas House Bill HB2702

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of certain property that was erroneously omitted from an appraisal roll in a previous year.

Impact

If enacted, HB2702 would affect state laws by clarifying the responsibilities of chief appraisers regarding omitted properties. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining accurate appraisal records and sets a retroactive assessment procedure, which could lead to increased property tax revenues for local governments. This amendment may also help in addressing grievances from property owners who have been unfairly taxed for properties that were not included in the prior rolls, thereby ensuring equitable taxation across the board.

Summary

House Bill 2702 aims to amend the Tax Code of Texas regarding the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes. Specifically, it addresses situations where real or personal property has been erroneously omitted from an appraisal roll in the previous years. The bill allows the chief appraiser to re-enter omitted properties into the appraisal records, establishing a process to assess these properties retroactively to January 1 of the relevant tax years. This change is intended to ensure fairness in property taxation and uphold the integrity of the appraisal system by allowing properties that were missed in prior assessments to be accounted for properly.

Contention

Discussion surrounding HB2702 may arise from concerns over the potential financial impact on property owners whose previously omitted properties are assessed. Some stakeholders may argue that retroactively applying taxes could create unexpected financial burdens for those affected, and could lead to disputes over valuations. Additionally, while the bill strengthens oversight of tax appraisals, there may be opposing views on how this could complicate the appraisal process overall and affect the balance between tax fairness and administrative workload.