BILL ANALYSIS

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Appraisal records are public records that qualify for complete disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act unless a property owner meets the lawful requirement for confidentiality. Under the current statute, many law enforcement officials and their family members, including Texas peace officers, federal special agents, judges, and attorneys, can keep their tax records private. This is due to the dangerous nature of their professions. However, Border Patrol Agents are not included in this section of Texas statute and, therefore, cannot keep their appraisal records private. Because Border Patrol Agents are on the front lines of defense and are often targets of smuggling operations and foreign gangs, this is a safety concern for the agents and their families.

S.B. 617 would address this issue by amending Tax Code Section 25.025 to ensure Border Patrol Agents, their spouses, surviving spouses, and adult children are included in the provision protecting their appraisal records, and therefore private information, from public accessibility. 

S.B. 617 amends current law relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in ad valorem tax appraisal records.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.025(a), Tax Code, as follows:

(a) Provides that Section 25.025 (Confidentiality of Certain Home Address Information) applies only to certain persons, including a customs and border protection officer or border patrol agent of United States Customs and Border Protection or the spouse, surviving spouse, or adult child of a customs and border protection officer or border patrol agent. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.