88R4613 TJB-D
By: Schatzline H.B. No. 1324
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the study of school district property values conducted
by the comptroller of public accounts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 403.302, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
read as follows:
(b) In conducting the study, the comptroller shall
determine the taxable value of property in each school district:
(1) using, if appropriate, samples selected through
generally accepted sampling techniques;
(2) according to generally accepted standard
valuation, statistical compilation, and analysis techniques; and
(3) [ensuring that different levels of appraisal on
sold and unsold property do not adversely affect the accuracy of the
study; and
[(4)] ensuring that different levels of appraisal
resulting from protests determined under Section 41.43, Tax Code,
are appropriately adjusted in the study.
(b-1) In conducting a study to determine the values for a
tax year, the comptroller may consider a sale of property only if
the sale occurred during the preceding tax year.
(c) If after conducting the study the comptroller
determines that the local value for a school district is valid, the
local value is presumed to represent taxable value for the school
district. In the absence of that presumption, taxable value for a
school district is the state value for the school district
determined by the comptroller under Subsections (a) and (b) unless
the local value exceeds the state value, in which case the taxable
value for the school district is the district's local value. In
determining whether the local value for a school district is valid,
the comptroller shall use a margin of error that has a range, the
upper limit of which is 105 percent of the state value and the lower
limit of which is 90 percent of the state value, [does not exceed
five percent] unless the comptroller determines that the size of
the sample of properties necessary to make the determination makes
the use of such a margin of error not feasible, in which case the
comptroller may use a larger margin of error.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
the annual study conducted under Section 403.302, Government Code,
for a tax year that begins on or after January 1, 2024. The annual
study for a tax year that begins before that date is covered by the
law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
the prior 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, 2023.