| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the eligibility of land on which the Texas Animal Health
Commission has established a temporary quarantine for ticks for
appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as agricultural or open-space
land.
Passage of the bill would permit the continued eligibility of special appraisal designation on
land during a temporary quarantine of livestock to eradicate ticks on qualified open space
land. As a result, taxable property values could be reduced and the related costs to the
Foundation School Fund could be increased through the operation of the school finance
formulas.
HB 3348 would continue the agricultural or open-space land tax exemption for qualified land while it is under temporary quarantine for tick eradication.
Texas Action remains neutral on HB 3348 as it does not affect our liberty principles. We generally oppose special tax exemptions, however, land qualified for an exemption should not become disqualified merely because it is placed under temporary quarantine for eradication of ticks.