Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | Neutral | Positive | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
SB 669 would require the comptroller to appoint a property tax administration advisory board to advise the comptroller on the property tax system including best practices and the complaint process. The bill would proscribe the number of training and continuing education hours appraisal review board members must take. The comptroller would be required to "approve curricula and provide an arbitration manual and other materials for use in training and educating arbitrators". Specific topics for the curriculum are proscribed in the bill. The comptroller would be required to prepare an arbitration manual for use in arbitration proceedings. The comptroller would be required to prepare a survey form for the property owner who has filed a motion to change the appraisal roll. This form would allow the property owner or a designated agent to submit comments and suggestions; procedures and requirements for this process would be instituted.
The bill would prohibit a chief appraiser from charging a property owner or the owner's agent for copies of certain pamphlets, data, and procedures related to an appraisal review board hearing regardless of the manner in which the copies are prepared or delivered. The bill would require the chief appraiser to deliver certain information that they introduce at an appraisal review board hearing by regular first class mail, in a certain electronic format, or by reference to a website. The bill would allow for evening and weekend hearings.
Other changes would allow a property owner to appeal an appraisal review board order concerning the appraised or market value of property to binding arbitration if the property is the owner's residence homestead, or the appraised or market value of the property is $5 million or less (rather than $3 million or less). A new arbitration deposit amount of $1,250 would be created to adjust for this new value range when a property owner applies for an appeal. Individuals seeking to qualify to serve as an arbitrator would also be required to conduct an arbitration for a fee that is not more than $1,200 if the property value falls in this same range.
This is a summary of the highlights but not an exhaustive list of the provisions of this legislation.