HBA-KDB H.B. 559 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 559
By: Mowery
Ways and Means
2/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, property owners are authorized to recoup attorney's fees
when an appraisal district overvalues the owner's property and the owner
wins on appeal. Because of statutory limitations, it is often not cost
effective for property owners to litigate appraisal matters, even when it
is clear that the appraisal district has acted incorrectly.  House Bill 559
authorizes property owners to more easily recoup their attorney's fees when
an appraisal district overvalues the owner's property and the owner wins on
appeal. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 559 amends the Tax Code to provide that the amount of an award
of attorney's fees is not subject to a limitation  if the court determines
that the appraised value of the property exceeds by 200 percent or more the
appraised value required by law, or the appraisal ratio of the property
exceeds by at least 200 percent the median level of appraisal.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.