89R628 MLH-D
	By: Middleton	S.B. No. 477

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a
	residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 23.23, Tax Code, is amended by amending
	Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2),
	(a-3), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (a-7), and (c-2) to read as follows:
	(a)  The [Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 25.18
	and regardless of whether the appraisal office has appraised the
	property and determined the market value of the property for the tax
	year, an appraisal office may increase the] appraised value of a
	residence homestead for a tax year is equal to [an amount not to
	exceed the lesser of:
	[(1)]  the market value of the property for the first
	[most recent] tax year that the owner qualified the property for an
	exemption under Section 11.13 [market value was determined by the
	appraisal office; or
	[(2)  the sum of:
	[(A)  10 percent of the appraised value of the
	property for the preceding tax year;
	[(B)  the appraised value of the property for the
	preceding tax year; and
	[(C)  the market value of all new improvements to
	the property].
	(a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if the owner of real
	property qualified the property for an exemption under Section
	11.13 and the owner acquired the property as a bona fide purchaser
	for value, the appraised value of the property is equal to the
	purchase price of the property paid by the owner.
	(a-2)  If the first tax year the property owner qualified the
	property for an exemption under Section 11.13 was a tax year before
	the 2026 tax year, the appraised value of the property as shown on
	the 2025 appraisal roll is considered to be:
	(1)  the market value of the property for the first tax
	year that the owner qualified the property for an exemption under
	Section 11.13 for purposes of Subsection (a); and
	(2)  the purchase price of the property paid by the
	owner for purposes of Subsection (a-1).
	(a-3)  Subsection (a-1) does not apply to a residence
	homestead if:
	(1)  the purchase was made:
	(A)  pursuant to a court order;
	(B)  from a trustee in bankruptcy;
	(C)  by one co-owner from one or more other
	co-owners;
	(D)  from a spouse or a person or persons within
	the first or second degree of lineal consanguinity of one or more of
	the purchasers; or
	(E)  from a governmental entity; or
	(2)  the chief appraiser determines that the applicant
	was not a bona fide purchaser for value under criteria established
	by rules adopted by the comptroller for that purpose.
	(a-4)  To receive a limitation on appraised value under
	Subsection (a-1), an owner of the property must apply for the
	limitation. To apply for the limitation, the owner must file an
	application with the chief appraiser for each appraisal district in
	which the property subject to the claimed limitation is located.
	The application must be filed not later than the latest date on
	which the owner may file an application for an exemption under
	Section 11.13 on the property for the year under Section 11.43. The
	comptroller by rule shall prescribe the form for the application to
	ensure that the applicant provides the information necessary to
	determine the applicant's eligibility for the limitation,
	including the purchase price of the property paid by the applicant.
	(a-5)  An application filed with a chief appraiser under
	Subsection (a-4) is confidential and not open to public inspection.
	The application and the information it contains may not be
	disclosed to another person other than an employee of the appraisal
	district who appraises property, except as provided by Subsection
	(a-6).
	(a-6)  Information that is confidential under Subsection
	(a-5) may be disclosed:
	(1)  in a judicial or administrative proceeding under a
	lawful subpoena;
	(2)  to a purchaser, grantee, seller, or grantor named
	in the application or in the deed to which the application applies
	or to a representative of the purchaser, grantee, seller, or
	grantor under a written authorization signed by the purchaser,
	grantee, seller, or grantor;
	(3)  to the comptroller or to an assessor for a taxing
	unit in which the property described in the application is located;
	(4)  in a judicial or administrative proceeding related
	to real property taxation:
	(A)  to which the purchaser, grantee, seller, or
	grantor is a party;
	(B)  to which an owner of the property described
	in the application is a party; or
	(C)  by the appraisal district for the purpose of
	establishing a value of the property or of providing evidence of
	comparable sales to appraise another property;
	(5)  for statistical purposes if the information is
	provided in a form that does not identify a specific property or
	specific purchaser, grantee, seller, or grantor;
	(6)  if and to the extent that the information is
	required to be included in a public document or record that the
	appraisal office is required to prepare or maintain; or
	(7)  to a taxing unit or its legal representative that
	is engaged in the collection of delinquent taxes on the property
	described in the application.
	(a-7)  Information that is disclosed under Subsection (a-6)
	does not lose its confidential character.
	(b)  When appraising a residence homestead, the chief
	appraiser shall:
	(1)  appraise the property at its market value; and
	(2)  include in the appraisal records both the market
	value of the property and the amount computed under Subsection (a)
	or (a-1), as applicable [(a)(2)].
	(c)  The limitation provided by Subsection (a) or (a-1) takes
	effect as to a residence homestead on January 1 of the first tax
	year [following the first tax year] the owner qualifies the
	property for an exemption under Section 11.13. The limitation
	expires on January 1 of the first tax year that neither the owner of
	the property when the limitation took effect nor the owner's spouse
	or surviving spouse qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13.
	(c-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a limitation
	established under Subsection (a) or (a-1) does not expire if a
	change in ownership of the property occurs by inheritance or under a
	will as long as the person who acquires the property qualifies for
	an exemption under Section 11.13.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 23.23(e), (f), and (g), Tax Code, are
	repealed.
	SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed
	for a tax year beginning on or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only
	if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,
	Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the legislature to provide that
	the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax
	purposes is the market value of the property for the first year that
	the owner qualified the property for a homestead exemption or, if
	the owner purchased the property, the purchase price of the
	property is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not
	approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.