Bill Text: TX SB1838 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-18 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [SB1838 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1838-Introduced.html

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86R9666 LHC-D
By: West S.B. No. 1838

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 312.002, Tax Code, is amended by adding
Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows:
(c-1) Before the governing body of a taxing unit may adopt,
amend, repeal, or reauthorize guidelines and criteria, the body
must hold a public hearing regarding the proposed adoption,
amendment, repeal, or reauthorization at which members of the
public are given the opportunity to be heard.
(c-2) A taxing unit that maintains an Internet website shall
post the current version of the guidelines and criteria governing
tax abatement agreements adopted under this section on the website.
SECTION 2. Section 312.005, Tax Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) For each of the first three tax years following the
expiration of a tax abatement agreement executed under this
chapter, the chief appraiser shall deliver to the comptroller a
report containing the appraised value of the property that was the
subject of the agreement.
SECTION 3. Section 312.006, Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 312.006. EXPIRATION DATE. If not continued in effect,
this chapter expires September 1, 2029 [2019].
SECTION 4. Section 312.202, Tax Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) To be designated as a reinvestment zone under this
subchapter, an area must:
(1) substantially arrest or impair the sound growth of
the municipality creating the zone, retard the provision of housing
accommodations, or constitute an economic or social liability and
be a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its
present condition and use because of the presence of:
(A) a substantial number of substandard, slum,
deteriorated, or deteriorating structures;
(B) the predominance of defective or inadequate
sidewalks or streets;
(C) faulty size, adequacy, accessibility, or
usefulness of lots;
(D) unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
(E) the deterioration of site or other
improvements;
(F) tax or special assessment delinquency
exceeding the fair value of the land;
(G) defective or unusual conditions of title;
(H) conditions that endanger life or property by
fire or other cause; or
(I) any combination of these factors;
(2) be predominantly open and, because of obsolete
platting, deterioration of structures or site improvements, or
other factors, substantially impair or arrest the sound growth of
the municipality;
(3) be in a federally assisted new community located
in a home-rule municipality or in an area immediately adjacent to a
federally assisted new community located in a home-rule
municipality;
(4) be located entirely in an area that meets the
requirements for federal assistance under Section 119 of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. Section
5318); or
(5) encompass signs, billboards, or other outdoor
advertising structures designated by the governing body of the
municipality for relocation, reconstruction, or removal for the
purpose of enhancing the physical environment of the municipality,
which the legislature declares to be a public purpose[; or
[(6) be reasonably likely as a result of the
designation to contribute to the retention or expansion of primary
employment or to attract major investment in the zone that would be
a benefit to the property and that would contribute to the economic
development of the municipality].
(a-1) In addition to complying with Subsection (a), to be
designated as a reinvestment zone under this subchapter, an area
must be reasonably likely as a result of the designation to
contribute to the retention or expansion of primary employment or
to attract major investment in the zone that would be a benefit to
the property in the zone and that would contribute to the economic
development of the municipality.
SECTION 5. Section 312.002(c-1), Tax Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to the adoption, amendment, repeal, or
reauthorization of guidelines and criteria under Section 312.002,
Tax Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 6. Section 312.005(a-1), Tax Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to a tax abatement agreement entered into under
Chapter 312 of that code that expires on or after the effective date
of this Act.
SECTION 7. Section 312.202, Tax Code, as amended by this
Act, applies only to an area designated as a reinvestment zone on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.