S.B. No. 1876 AN ACT relating to a request for binding arbitration to appeal appraisal review board orders involving two or more contiguous tracts of land. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 41A.03(a-1), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: (a-1) If a property owner requests binding arbitration under this chapter to appeal appraisal review board orders involving two or more contiguous tracts of land that are owned by the property owner [contiguous to one another], a single arbitration deposit in the amount provided by Subsection (a)(2) is sufficient to satisfy the requirement of Subsection (a)(2). For purposes of this subsection, "contiguous tracts of land" means improved or unimproved tracts of land that are touching or that share a common boundary, as determined using appraisal district records or legal descriptions of the tracts. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a request for binding arbitration under Chapter 41A, Tax Code, that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A request for binding arbitration under Chapter 41A, Tax Code, that is filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the request is filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 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, 2019. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1876 passed the Senate on May 2, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1876 passed the House, with amendment, on May 17, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, two present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor