Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB192 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R1246 DRS-D
2	2	By: Bell of Montgomery H.B. No. 192
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the selection of the chief appraiser of an appraisal
10	10	district; authorizing a fee.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Section 1.15, Tax Code, is amended to read as
13	13	follows:
14	14	Sec. 1.15. APPRAISERS FOR TAXING UNITS PROHIBITED. A
15	15	taxing unit may not employ any person for the purpose of appraising
16	16	property for taxation purposes [except to the extent necessary to
17	17	perform a contract under Section 6.05(b) of this code].
18	18	SECTION 2. Sections 5.041(c), (e-1), (e-3), (f), and (g),
19	19	Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:
20	20	(c) The comptroller may contract with service providers to
21	21	assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (a), but the course
22	22	required may not be provided by an appraisal district, the chief
23	23	appraiser of an appraisal district, an [or another] employee of an
24	24	appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of an
25	25	appraisal district, a member of an appraisal review board, or a
26	26	taxing unit. The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion
27	27	of the costs incurred for the training course, but the fee may not
28	28	exceed $50 for each person trained. If the training is provided to
29	29	an individual other than a member of an appraisal review board, the
30	30	comptroller may assess a fee not to exceed $50 for each person
31	31	trained.
32	32	(e-1) In addition to the course established under
33	33	Subsection (a), the comptroller shall approve curricula and provide
34	34	materials for use in a continuing education course for members of an
35	35	appraisal review board. The course must provide at least four
36	36	hours of classroom or distance training and education. The
37	37	curricula and materials must include information regarding:
38	38	(1) the cost, income, and market data comparison
39	39	methods of appraising property;
40	40	(2) the appraisal of business personal property;
41	41	(3) the determination of capitalization rates for
42	42	property appraisal purposes;
43	43	(4) the duties of an appraisal review board;
44	44	(5) the requirements regarding the independence of an
45	45	appraisal review board from the board of directors, [and] the chief
46	46	appraiser, and [other] employees of the appraisal district;
47	47	(6) the prohibitions against ex parte communications
48	48	applicable to appraisal review board members;
49	49	(7) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
50	50	Practice;
51	51	(8) the duty of the appraisal district to substantiate
52	52	the district's determination of the value of property;
53	53	(9) the requirements regarding the equal and uniform
54	54	appraisal of property;
55	55	(10) the right of a property owner to protest the
56	56	appraisal of the property as provided by Chapter 41; and
57	57	(11) a detailed explanation of each of the actions
58	58	described by Sections 25.25, 41.41(a), 41.411, 41.412, 41.413,
59	59	41.42, and 41.43 so that members are fully aware of each of the
60	60	grounds on which a property appraisal can be appealed.
61	61	(e-3) The comptroller may contract with service providers
62	62	to assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (e-1), but the
63	63	course required by that subsection may not be provided by an
64	64	appraisal district, the chief appraiser of an appraisal district,
65	65	an [or another] employee of an appraisal district, a member of the
66	66	board of directors of an appraisal district, a member of an
67	67	appraisal review board, or a taxing unit. The comptroller may
68	68	assess a fee to recover a portion of the costs incurred for the
69	69	continuing education course, but the fee may not exceed $50 for each
70	70	person trained. If the training is provided to an individual other
71	71	than a member of an appraisal review board, the comptroller may
72	72	assess a fee not to exceed $50 for each person trained.
73	73	(f) The comptroller may not advise a property owner, a
74	74	property owner's agent, [or] the chief appraiser of an appraisal
75	75	district, or an [another] employee of an appraisal district on a
76	76	matter that the comptroller knows is the subject of a protest to the
77	77	appraisal review board. The comptroller may provide advice to an
78	78	appraisal review board member as authorized by Subsection (a)(4) of
79	79	this section or Section 5.103 and may communicate with the chairman
80	80	of an appraisal review board or a taxpayer liaison officer
81	81	concerning a complaint filed under Section 6.052.
82	82	(g) Except during a hearing or other appraisal review board
83	83	proceeding and as provided by Subsection (h) of this section and
84	84	Section 6.411(c-1), the following persons may not communicate with
85	85	a member of an appraisal review board about a course provided under
86	86	this section or any matter presented or discussed during the
87	87	course:
88	88	(1) the chief appraiser of the appraisal district for
89	89	which the appraisal review board is established;
90	90	(2) an [another] employee of the appraisal district
91	91	for which the appraisal review board is established;
92	92	(3) a member of the board of directors of the appraisal
93	93	district for which the appraisal review board is established;
94	94	(4) an officer or employee of a taxing unit that
95	95	participates in the appraisal district for which the appraisal
96	96	review board is established; and
97	97	(5) an attorney who represents or whose law firm
98	98	represents the appraisal district or a taxing unit that
99	99	participates in the appraisal district for which the appraisal
100	100	review board is established.
101	101	SECTION 3. Section 5.042, Tax Code, is amended by adding
102	102	Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
103	103	(b-1) For purposes of removal under Chapter 87, Local
104	104	Government Code, "incompetency" in the case of a chief appraiser
105	105	includes the failure of the chief appraiser to complete, within the
106	106	period provided by Subsection (b) after the date the chief
107	107	appraiser is first elected or appointed, the course of training
108	108	required by Subsection (a).
109	109	SECTION 4. Section 5.043(e), Tax Code, is amended to read as
110	110	follows:
111	111	(e) The comptroller may contract with service providers to
112	112	assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (b), but the
113	113	training program may not be provided by an appraisal district, the
114	114	chief appraiser of an appraisal district, an [or another] employee
115	115	of an appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of an
116	116	appraisal district, a member of an appraisal review board, or a
117	117	taxing unit. The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion
118	118	of the costs incurred for the training program, but the fee may not
119	119	exceed $50 for each person trained. If the training is provided to
120	120	a person other than a person who has agreed to serve as an
121	121	arbitrator under Chapter 41A, the comptroller may assess a fee not
122	122	to exceed $50 for each person trained.
123	123	SECTION 5. Sections 6.035(a), (b), and (d), Tax Code, are
124	124	amended to read as follows:
125	125	(a) An individual is ineligible to serve on an appraisal
126	126	district board of directors or [and is disqualified from
127	127	employment] as chief appraiser if the individual:
128	128	(1) is related within the second degree by
129	129	consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573,
130	130	Government Code, to an individual who is engaged in the business of
131	131	appraising property for compensation for use in proceedings under
132	132	this title or of representing property owners for compensation in
133	133	proceedings under this title in the appraisal district; or
134	134	(2) owns property on which delinquent taxes have been
135	135	owed to a taxing unit for more than 60 days after the date the
136	136	individual knew or should have known of the delinquency unless:
137	137	(A) the delinquent taxes and any penalties and
138	138	interest are being paid under an installment payment agreement
139	139	under Section 33.02; or
140	140	(B) a suit to collect the delinquent taxes is
141	141	deferred or abated under Section 33.06 or 33.065.
142	142	(b) A member of an appraisal district board of directors or
143	143	a chief appraiser commits an offense if the board member or chief
144	144	appraiser continues to hold office [or the chief appraiser remains
145	145	employed] knowing that an individual related within the second
146	146	degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter
147	147	573, Government Code, to the board member or chief appraiser is
148	148	engaged in the business of appraising property for compensation for
149	149	use in proceedings under this title or of representing property
150	150	owners for compensation in proceedings under this title in the
151	151	appraisal district in which the member or chief appraiser serves
152	152	[or the chief appraiser is employed]. An offense under this
153	153	subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
154	154	(d) An appraisal performed by a chief appraiser in a private
155	155	capacity or by an individual related within the second degree by
156	156	consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573,
157	157	Government Code, to the chief appraiser may not be used as evidence
158	158	in a protest or challenge under Chapter 41 or an appeal under
159	159	Chapter 42 concerning property that is taxable in the appraisal
160	160	district in which the chief appraiser serves [is employed].
161	161	SECTION 6. The heading to Section 6.05, Tax Code, is amended
162	162	to read as follows:
163	163	Sec. 6.05. APPRAISAL OFFICE; CHIEF APPRAISER.
164	164	SECTION 7. Sections 6.05(b), (c), and (d), Tax Code, are
165	165	amended to read as follows:
166	166	(b) The board of directors of an appraisal district may
167	167	contract with an appraisal office in another district [or with a
168	168	taxing unit in the district] to perform the duties of the appraisal
169	169	office for the district.
170	170	(c) The chief appraiser is the chief administrator of the
171	171	appraisal office. The [Except as provided by Section 6.0501, the]
172	172	chief appraiser is elected at the general election for state and
173	173	county officers by the voters of the county in which the appraisal
174	174	district is established. The chief appraiser serves a two-year
175	175	term beginning January 1 of each odd-numbered year. To be eligible
176	176	to serve as chief appraiser, an individual must be a resident of the
177	177	county in which the appraisal district is established and must have
178	178	resided in the county for at least four years preceding the date the
179	179	individual takes office [appointed by and serves at the pleasure of
180	180	the appraisal district board of directors. If a taxing unit
181	181	performs the duties of the appraisal office pursuant to a contract,
182	182	the assessor for the unit is the chief appraiser. To be eligible to
183	183	be appointed or serve as a chief appraiser, a person must be
184	184	certified as a registered professional appraiser under Section
185	185	1151.160, Occupations Code, possess an MAI professional
186	186	designation from the Appraisal Institute, or possess an Assessment
187	187	Administration Specialist (AAS), Certified Assessment Evaluator
188	188	(CAE), or Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES) professional
189	189	designation from the International Association of Assessing
190	190	Officers. A person who is eligible to be appointed or serve as a
191	191	chief appraiser by having a professional designation described by
192	192	this subsection must become certified as a registered professional
193	193	appraiser under Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, not later than
194	194	the fifth anniversary of the date the person is appointed or begins
195	195	to serve as chief appraiser. A chief appraiser who is not eligible
196	196	to be appointed or serve as chief appraiser may not perform an
197	197	action authorized or required by law to be performed by a chief
198	198	appraiser, including the preparation, certification, or submission
199	199	of any part of the appraisal roll. Not later than January 1 of each
200	200	year, a chief appraiser shall notify the comptroller in writing
201	201	that the chief appraiser is either eligible to be appointed or serve
202	202	as the chief appraiser or not eligible to be appointed or serve as
203	203	the chief appraiser].
204	204	(d) The [Except as provided by Section 6.0501, the] chief
205	205	appraiser is entitled to compensation as provided by the budget
206	206	adopted by the board of directors. The chief appraiser's
207	207	compensation may not be directly or indirectly linked to an
208	208	increase in the total market, appraised, or taxable value of
209	209	property in the appraisal district. The [Except as provided by
210	210	Section 6.0501, the] chief appraiser may employ and compensate
211	211	professional, clerical, and other personnel as provided by the
212	212	budget, with the exception of a general counsel to the appraisal
213	213	district.
214	214	SECTION 8. Section 6.052(g), Tax Code, is amended to read as
215	215	follows:
216	216	(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
217	217	taxpayer liaison officer or deputy taxpayer liaison officer acting
218	218	under the taxpayer liaison officer's supervision does not commit an
219	219	offense under this chapter if the officer or deputy communicates
220	220	with the chief appraiser of the appraisal district, an [or another]
221	221	employee or agent of the appraisal district, a member of the
222	222	appraisal review board established for the appraisal district, a
223	223	member of the board of directors of the appraisal district, the
224	224	local administrative district judge, a property tax consultant, a
225	225	property owner, an agent of a property owner, or another person if
226	226	the communication is made in the good faith exercise of the
227	227	officer's statutory duties.
228	228	SECTION 9. Section 6.155(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as
229	229	follows:
230	230	(a) A member of the governing body, officer, or employee of
231	231	a taxing unit commits an offense if the person directly or
232	232	indirectly communicates with the chief appraiser or an [another]
233	233	employee of the appraisal district in which the taxing unit
234	234	participates for the purpose of influencing the value at which
235	235	property in the district is appraised unless the person owns or
236	236	leases the property that is the subject of the communication.
237	237	SECTION 10. Section 6.41, Tax Code, is amended by amending
238	238	Subsections (i) and (j) and adding Subsection (l) to read as
239	239	follows:
240	240	(i) The [A] chief appraiser of the appraisal district, an
241	241	[or another] employee or agent of the appraisal district, a member
242	242	of the appraisal review board for the appraisal district, a member
243	243	of the board of directors of the appraisal district if the board is
244	244	established for a district to which Section 6.03 applies, a
245	245	property tax consultant, or an agent of a property owner commits an
246	246	offense if the person communicates with the applicable appointing
247	247	authority regarding the appointment of appraisal review board
248	248	members. This subsection does not apply to:
249	249	(1) a communication between a member of the appraisal
250	250	review board and the applicable appointing authority regarding the
251	251	member's reappointment to the board;
252	252	(2) a communication between the taxpayer liaison
253	253	officer for the appraisal district and the applicable appointing
254	254	authority in the course of the performance of the officer's
255	255	clerical duties so long as the officer does not offer an opinion or
256	256	comment regarding the appointment of appraisal review board
257	257	members;
258	258	(3) a communication between the [a] chief appraiser of
259	259	the appraisal district, an [or another] employee or agent of the
260	260	appraisal district, a member of the appraisal review board for the
261	261	appraisal district, or a member of the board of directors of the
262	262	appraisal district if the board is established for a district to
263	263	which Section 6.03 applies and the applicable appointing authority
264	264	regarding information relating to or described by Subsection (d-1),
265	265	(d-5), or (f) of this section or Section 411.1296, Government Code;
266	266	(4) a communication between a property tax consultant
267	267	or a property owner or an agent of the property owner and the
268	268	taxpayer liaison officer for the appraisal district regarding
269	269	information relating to or described by Subsection (f)[. The
270	270	taxpayer liaison officer for the appraisal district shall report
271	271	the contents of the communication relating to or described by
272	272	Subsection (f) to the applicable appointing authority]; or
273	273	(5) a communication between a property tax consultant
274	274	or a property owner or an agent of the property owner and the
275	275	applicable appointing authority regarding information relating to
276	276	or described by Subsection (f).
277	277	(j) The [A] chief appraiser of an appraisal district or an
278	278	[another] employee or agent of an appraisal district commits an
279	279	offense if the person communicates with a member of the appraisal
280	280	review board for the appraisal district, a member of the board of
281	281	directors of the appraisal district, or the local administrative
282	282	district judge, if the judge is the appointing authority for the
283	283	district, regarding a ranking, scoring, or reporting of the
284	284	percentage by which the appraisal review board or a panel of the
285	285	board reduces the appraised value of property.
286	286	(l) The taxpayer liaison officer for an appraisal district
287	287	shall report the contents of a communication described by
288	288	Subsection (i)(4) to the applicable appointing authority.
289	289	SECTION 11. Sections 6.411(a), (b), and (c-1), Tax Code,
290	290	are amended to read as follows:
291	291	(a) A member of an appraisal review board commits an offense
292	292	if the member communicates with the chief appraiser of, an [or
293	293	another] employee of, or a member of the board of directors of the
294	294	appraisal district for which the appraisal review board is
295	295	established in violation of Section 41.66(f).
296	296	(b) The [A] chief appraiser of an appraisal district, an [or
297	297	another] employee of an appraisal district, a member of a board of
298	298	directors of an appraisal district, or a property tax consultant or
299	299	attorney representing a party to a proceeding before the appraisal
300	300	review board commits an offense if the person communicates with a
301	301	member of the appraisal review board established for the appraisal
302	302	district with the intent to influence a decision by the member in
303	303	the member's capacity as a member of the appraisal review board.
304	304	(c-1) This section does not apply to communications with a
305	305	member of an appraisal review board by the chief appraiser of an
306	306	appraisal district, an [or another] employee of an appraisal
307	307	district, [or] a member of the board of directors of an appraisal
308	308	district, or a property tax consultant or attorney representing a
309	309	party to a proceeding before the appraisal review board:
310	310	(1) during a hearing on a protest or other proceeding
311	311	before the appraisal review board;
312	312	(2) that constitute social conversation;
313	313	(3) that are specifically limited to and involve
314	314	administrative, clerical, or logistical matters related to the
315	315	scheduling and operation of hearings, the processing of documents,
316	316	the issuance of orders, notices, and subpoenas, and the operation,
317	317	appointment, composition, or attendance at training of the
318	318	appraisal review board; or
319	319	(4) that are necessary and appropriate to enable the
320	320	board of directors of the appraisal district to determine whether
321	321	to appoint, reappoint, or remove a person as a member or the
322	322	chairman or secretary of the appraisal review board.
323	323	SECTION 12. Section 22.28(d), Tax Code, is amended to read
324	324	as follows:
325	325	(d) To help defray the costs of administering this chapter,
326	326	a collector who collects a penalty imposed under Subsection (a)
327	327	shall remit to the appraisal district of [that employs] the chief
328	328	appraiser who imposed the penalty an amount equal to five percent of
329	329	the penalty amount collected.
330	330	SECTION 13. Section 42.21(d), Tax Code, is amended to read
331	331	as follows:
332	332	(d) An appraisal district is served by service on the chief
333	333	appraiser at any time or by service on any other officer or an
334	334	employee of the appraisal district present at the appraisal office
335	335	at a time when the appraisal office is open for business with the
336	336	public. An appraisal review board is served by service on the
337	337	chairman of the appraisal review board. Citation of a party is
338	338	issued and served in the manner provided by law for civil suits
339	339	generally.
340	340	SECTION 14. Section 144.001, Election Code, is amended to
341	341	read as follows:
342	342	Sec. 144.001. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) Except as
343	343	provided by Subsection (b), this [This] chapter applies to a
344	344	candidate for an office of a political subdivision other than a city
345	345	or county.
346	346	(b) This chapter does not apply to a candidate for chief
347	347	appraiser of an appraisal district.
348	348	SECTION 15. Section 172.001, Election Code, is amended to
349	349	read as follows:
350	350	Sec. 172.001. NOMINATING BY PRIMARY ELECTION
351	351	REQUIRED. Except as otherwise provided by this code, a political
352	352	party's nominees in the general election for the chief appraiser of
353	353	an appraisal district, offices of state and county government, and
354	354	offices of the United States Congress must be nominated by primary
355	355	election, held as provided by this code, if the party's nominee for
356	356	governor in the most recent gubernatorial general election received
357	357	20 percent or more of the total number of votes received by all
358	358	candidates for governor in the election.
359	359	SECTION 16. Section 172.002(a), Election Code, is amended
360	360	to read as follows:
361	361	(a) Except as otherwise provided by this code, a political
362	362	party's nominees in the general election for the chief appraiser of
363	363	an appraisal district, offices of state and county government, and
364	364	offices of the United States Congress may be nominated by primary
365	365	election, held as provided by this code, if the party's nominee for
366	366	governor in the most recent gubernatorial general election received
367	367	at least two percent but less than 20 percent of the total number of
368	368	votes received by all candidates for governor in the election.
369	369	SECTION 17. Section 172.024(a), Election Code, is amended
370	370	to read as follows:
371	371	(a) The filing fee for a candidate for nomination in the
372	372	general primary election is as follows:
373	373	(1) United States senator $5,000
374	374	(2) office elected statewide, except United States
375	375	senator 3,750
376	376	(3) United States representative 3,125
377	377	(4) state senator 1,250
378	378	(5) state representative 750
379	379	(6) member, State Board of Education 300
380	380	(7) chief justice or justice, court of appeals, other
381	381	than a justice specified by Subdivision (8) 1,875
382	382	(8) chief justice or justice of a court of appeals that
383	383	serves a court of appeals district in which a county with a
384	384	population of more than 1.2 million is wholly or partly
385	385	situated 2,500
386	386	(9) district judge or judge specified by Section
387	387	52.092(d) for which this schedule does not otherwise prescribe a
388	388	fee 1,500
389	389	(10) district or criminal district judge of a court in
390	390	a judicial district wholly contained in a county with a population
391	391	of more than 1.5 million 2,500
392	392	(11) judge, statutory county court, other than a judge
393	393	specified by Subdivision (12) 1,500
394	394	(12) judge of a statutory county court in a county with
395	395	a population of more than 1.5 million 2,500
396	396	(13) district attorney, criminal district attorney,
397	397	or county attorney performing the duties of a district
398	398	attorney 1,250
399	399	(14) county commissioner, district clerk, county
400	400	clerk, sheriff, county tax assessor-collector, county treasurer,
401	401	or judge, constitutional county court:
402	402	(A) county with a population of 200,000 or
403	403	more 1,250
404	404	(B) county with a population of under
405	405	200,000 750
406	406	(15) justice of the peace or constable:
407	407	(A) county with a population of 200,000 or
408	408	more 1,000
409	409	(B) county with a population of under
410	410	200,000 375
411	411	(16) county surveyor75
412	412	(17) office of the county government for which this
413	413	schedule does not otherwise prescribe a fee 750
414	414	(18) chief appraiser of an appraisal district:
415	415	(A) county with a population of 200,000 or
416	416	more 1,250
417	417	(B) county with a population of under
418	418	200,000 750
419	419	SECTION 18. Section 172.025, Election Code, is amended to
420	420	read as follows:
421	421	Sec. 172.025. NUMBER OF PETITION SIGNATURES REQUIRED. The
422	422	minimum number of signatures that must appear on the petition
423	423	authorized by Section 172.021(b) is:
424	424	(1) 5,000, for a statewide office; or
425	425	(2) for a district, county, appraisal district, or
426	426	precinct office, the lesser of:
427	427	(A) 500; or
428	428	(B) two percent of the total vote received in the
429	429	district, county, appraisal district, or precinct, as applicable,
430	430	by all the candidates for governor in the most recent gubernatorial
431	431	general election, unless that number is under 50, in which case the
432	432	required number of signatures is the lesser of:
433	433	(i) 50; or
434	434	(ii) 20 percent of that total vote.
435	435	SECTION 19. Section 181.002, Election Code, is amended to
436	436	read as follows:
437	437	Sec. 181.002. NOMINATING BY CONVENTION AUTHORIZED. A
438	438	political party may make nominations for the general election for
439	439	state and county officers and the chief appraiser of an appraisal
440	440	district by convention, as provided by this chapter, if the party is
441	441	authorized by Section 172.002 to make nominations by primary
442	442	election.
443	443	SECTION 20. Section 181.003, Election Code, is amended to
444	444	read as follows:
445	445	Sec. 181.003. NOMINATING BY CONVENTION REQUIRED. A
446	446	political party must make nominations for the general election for
447	447	state and county officers and the chief appraiser of an appraisal
448	448	district by convention, as provided by this chapter, if the party is
449	449	not required or authorized to nominate by primary election.
450	450	SECTION 21. Section 181.0311(a), Election Code, is amended
451	451	to read as follows:
452	452	(a) In addition to any other requirements, to be considered
453	453	for nomination by convention, a candidate must:
454	454	(1) pay a filing fee to the secretary of state for a
455	455	statewide, [or] district, or appraisal district office or the
456	456	county judge for a county or precinct office; or
457	457	(2) submit to the secretary of state for a statewide,
458	458	[or] district, or appraisal district office or the county judge for
459	459	a county or precinct office a petition in lieu of a filing fee that
460	460	satisfies the requirements prescribed by Subsection (e) and Section
461	461	141.062.
462	462	SECTION 22. Section 181.032(a), Election Code, is amended
463	463	to read as follows:
464	464	(a) An application for nomination by a convention must be
465	465	filed with:
466	466	(1) the state chair, for a statewide, [or] district,
467	467	or appraisal district office; or
468	468	(2) the county chair, for a county or precinct office.
469	469	SECTION 23. Section 181.061(c), Election Code, is amended
470	470	to read as follows:
471	471	(c) A party nominating by convention must make its
472	472	nominations for county and precinct offices, [and] for offices of
473	473	districts not situated in more than one county, and for offices of
474	474	appraisal districts at county conventions held on the first
475	475	Saturday after the second Tuesday in March. A county convention
476	476	consists of delegates selected at precinct conventions held on the
477	477	second Tuesday in March in the regular county election precincts.
478	478	SECTION 24. Section 87.041(a), Local Government Code, is
479	479	amended to read as follows:
480	480	(a) The commissioners court of a county may fill a vacancy
481	481	in the office of:
482	482	(1) county judge;
483	483	(2) county clerk;
484	484	(3) district and county clerk;
485	485	(4) sheriff;
486	486	(5) county attorney;
487	487	(6) county treasurer;
488	488	(7) county surveyor;
489	489	(8) county tax assessor-collector;
490	490	(9) justice of the peace; [or]
491	491	(10) constable; or
492	492	(11) chief appraiser.
493	493	SECTION 25. Section 1151.164, Occupations Code, is amended
494	494	to read as follows:
495	495	Sec. 1151.164. CHIEF APPRAISER TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The
496	496	department shall implement a training program for newly elected or
497	497	appointed chief appraisers and shall prescribe the curriculum for
498	498	the training program as provided by this section.
499	499	(b) The training program must provide the chief appraiser
500	500	[appointee] with information regarding:
501	501	(1) this chapter;
502	502	(2) the programs operated by the department;
503	503	(3) the role and functions of the department;
504	504	(4) the rules of the commission, with an emphasis on
505	505	the rules that relate to ethical behavior;
506	506	(5) the role and functions of the chief appraiser, the
507	507	appraisal district board of directors, and the appraisal review
508	508	board;
509	509	(6) the importance of maintaining the independence of
510	510	an appraisal office from political pressure;
511	511	(7) the importance of prompt and courteous treatment
512	512	of the public;
513	513	(8) the finance and budgeting requirements for an
514	514	appraisal district, including appropriate controls to ensure that
515	515	expenditures are proper; and
516	516	(9) the requirements of:
517	517	(A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551,
518	518	Government Code;
519	519	(B) the public information law, Chapter 552,
520	520	Government Code;
521	521	(C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter
522	522	2001, Government Code;
523	523	(D) other laws relating to public officials,
524	524	including conflict-of-interest laws; and
525	525	(E) the standards of ethics imposed by the
526	526	Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
527	527	SECTION 26. Sections 5.042(c) and 6.0501, Tax Code, are
528	528	repealed.
529	529	SECTION 27. (a) Chief appraisers shall be elected as
530	530	provided by Section 6.05, Tax Code, as amended by this Act,
531	531	beginning with the primary and general elections conducted in 2026.
532	532	Chief appraisers then elected take office January 1, 2027.
533	533	(b) The change in the manner of selection of chief
534	534	appraisers made by this Act does not affect the selection of a chief
535	535	appraiser who is appointed by the appraisal district board of
536	536	directors before January 1, 2026, and that person continues to
537	537	serve at the pleasure of the board of directors as provided by the
538	538	former law until removed by the board of directors or until the
539	539	person elected as chief appraiser for the term that begins January
540	540	1, 2027, has qualified for office.
541	541	SECTION 28. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this
542	542	section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2027.
543	543	(b) This section and Sections 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
544	544	22, and 23 of this Act take effect September 1, 2025.