This report focuses on HB 2083 and HB 2826. The committee met to hear testimony on appraisal regulation and school district project eligibility.
HB 2083 – Darby, Relating to the requirement a protest or appeal based upon inequality of appraisal be determined by the application of generally accepted appraisal methods and techniques.
Rep. Drew Darby, laying out
- HB 2083 provides “more clarity, consistency, and fairness” to the "equal and uniform appraisal process”
- A lot of support for this measure including the Assoc. of Appraisal Districts, Assoc of Builders, Assoc of Realtors, and the Dallas Chief Appraiser
James Popp, Popp Hutchison, for HB 2083
- Available as a technical witness for questions
- Chair Dennis Bonnen – Good bill that a lot of work has gone into
Daniel Gonzalez, Texas Association of Realtors, for HB 2083
- Noted bill was agreed to
Dick Lavine, Center for Public Policy Priorities, on HB 2083
- Knows that public appreciates services paid for by property taxes, and thus do not mind paying as long as all pay equally
- HB 2083 approaches this issue with a “light hand”
Darby, closing
- Rep. Jim Murphy – Thanks Darby for working on a “thorny” issue that needed to be addressed
- A “lot of people worked on this bill”
- Murphy – Thanks Darby for “leading the parade”
HB 2083 pending
HB 2826 – Murphy, Relating to the eligibility of property located in more than one school district for a limitation on appraised value for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes under the Texas Economic Development Act.
Rep. Jim Murphy, laying out
- Working on committee substitute; each project requires approval from each school district affected, each school district will be eligible for full tax benefit, limits number of aggregate-able school districts to three
- Comptroller does not currently have ability to aggregate district eligibility
- Improves ability to compete with neighboring states who have different project eligibility factors (Louisiana mentioned)
Heath DePriest, Phillips 66, for HB 2826
- Tax abatements are a major focus of projects in Texas
- Projects that would be affected by HB 2826 are very unique, unlikely that original regulations were drafted with these projects in mind
- Would like to invest returns in the heart of America, including Texas
Daniel Casey, Himself, for HB 2826
- This is a cumbersome problem for school districts
- Does not see impediment to school districts, school districts still have a voice in project determinations
Dale Cramer, Texas Taxpayers and Research, for HB 2826
- HB 2826 “fixes a glitch” which puts Texas at a disadvantage compared to other states
Tony Bennett, Texas Association of Manufacturers, for HB 2826
- HB 2826 Will help speed up tax abatement process at the local level
- Other states handle this process at the state level and so can make deals quicker
James LeBow, Texas Chemical Council, for HB 2826
- Addresses a previously “unforeseen” problem of having projects so large they span multiple school districts
Dick Lavine, Center for Public Policy Priorities, against HB 2826
- Major problem with bill is the fact it is school district based
- Suggestions would be to limit to no more than 3 school districts, proposed improvements be used for single manufacturing project
Joe Newman, Elgin Economic Development Corporation, for HB 2826
- HB 2826 will address a pressing problem with development projects
Rep. Murphy, closing
- Indisputable is the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs brought to Texas by these types of projects
- HB 2826 will give Texas the tools to do what “313” was intended to do and bring large scale projects to Texas
- Chair Dennis Bonnen – Looks forward to the substitute
HB 2826 pending