HB 3279

relating to a periodic review and expiration dates of state and
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 320A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 320A.  REVIEW OF STATE AND LOCAL TAX PREFERENCES
SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 320A.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Commission" means the select commission on
periodic tax preference review.
(2)  "Tax preference" means an abatement, credit,
discount, exclusion, exemption, limitation on appraised value,
refund, special valuation, special accounting treatment, special
appraisal method or provision, special rate, or special method of
reporting authorized by state law or the state constitution that
relates to a state or local tax imposed in this state.
SUBCHAPTER B.  SELECT COMMISSION ON PERIODIC TAX PREFERENCE REVIEW
Sec. 320A.051.  COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.  The select
commission on periodic tax preference review is composed of:
(1)  five members of the house of representatives,
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(2)  five members of the senate, appointed by the
Sec. 320A.052.  TERMS.  The members of the commission serve
two-year terms that expire December 31 of each even-numbered year.
Sec. 320A.053.  VACANCY.  If a vacancy occurs, the
individual who originally appointed the vacating member or the
individual's successor shall appoint an individual to fill the
vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Sec. 320A.054.  OFFICERS.  (a)  The speaker of the house of
representatives shall select one member of the commission appointed
under Section 320A.051(1) to serve as chair of the commission.
(b)  The lieutenant governor shall select one member of the
commission appointed under Section 320A.051(2) to serve as vice
Sec. 320A.055.  MEETINGS.  The commission shall meet at the
Sec. 320A.056.  STAFF.  On the commission's request, the
Legislative Budget Board, the Texas Legislative Council, the office
of the governor, the comptroller, the senate, and the house of
representatives shall provide staff to assist the commission in
performing the commission's duties.
Sec. 320A.057.  COOPERATION BY OTHER STATE ENTITIES.  The
commission may request the assistance of any state agency,
department, or office if the commission needs assistance to perform
the commission's duties.  The agency, department, or office shall
provide the requested assistance.
Sec. 320A.058.  EXPENSES.  The operating expenses of the
commission shall be paid from available funds of the office of the
governor and the contingent expense funds of the senate and the
house of representatives, as agreed by those entities.  The
commission members are entitled to reimbursement from those funds
for expenses incurred by the members in implementing this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER C.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION
Sec. 320A.101.  DEVELOPMENT AND BIENNIAL MODIFICATION OF
STATE AND LOCAL TAX PREFERENCE REVIEW SCHEDULE.  (a)  The commission
(1)  identify each state tax preference and each type
(2)  develop a state and local tax preference review
schedule under which each identified tax preference is reviewed
once during each six-year period; and
(3)  specifically identify on the schedule:
(A)  each of the tax preferences the commission
must review for purposes of the next report due under Section
(B)  any tax preference described by Paragraph (A)
that reduces by less than one-fourth of one percent the total
revenue derived from the tax to which the tax preference applies and
that the commission recommends for an abbreviated review; and
(C)  the components of the review specified by
Section 320A.104 that the commission recommends are unnecessary
with respect to a tax preference recommended for an abbreviated
(b)  In developing the schedule, the commission shall
schedule the tax preferences for review in the order in which the
tax preferences were enacted or authorized, except that the
commission may schedule the initial review of a tax preference that
has an expiration date for any date the commission determines is
(c)  The commission shall revise the schedule biennially
(1)  add to the schedule a tax preference that was
enacted or authorized after the commission developed the most
(2)  delete from the schedule a tax preference that was
repealed after the commission developed the most recent schedule;
(3)  update the review dates of the tax preferences for
which reviews were conducted after the commission developed the
(4)  update the tax preferences identified under
Sec. 320A.102.  PUBLIC COMMENT.  The commission shall
provide a process by which the public may comment on the state and
local tax preference review schedule under Section 320A.101.  The
commission shall consider those comments in developing or revising
Sec. 320A.103.  COMPLETION OF SCHEDULE.  The state and local
tax preference review schedule must be completed not later than
December 1 of each odd-numbered year.
Sec. 320A.104.  PERIODIC REVIEW OF STATE AND LOCAL TAX
PREFERENCES.  The commission shall review each state tax preference
and each type of local tax preference according to the state and
local tax preference review schedule developed under Section
320A.101.  In reviewing a tax preference, the commission shall:
(1)  determine the intended purpose of the tax
(A)  whether the tax preference accomplishes its
(B)  whether the intended purpose of the tax
preference could be accomplished through a more cost-effective
(C)  the effect of the tax preference on economic
SUBCHAPTER D.  RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING REVIEWED TAX PREFERENCES
Sec. 320A.151.  PRELIMINARY REPORT.  Not later than
September 1 of each even-numbered year, the commission shall file a
preliminary report on the reviews of tax preferences identified
under Section 320A.101(a)(3)(A) with the Senate Committee on
Finance or its successor and the House Committee on Ways and Means
or its successor.  The report must include drafts of any proposed
legislation needed to implement the commission's recommendations.
Sec. 320A.152.  REVIEW AND COMMENT.  The Senate Committee on
Finance or its successor and the House Committee on Ways and Means
or its successor may review the preliminary report and proposed
legislation and submit comments to the commission.  Comments must
be submitted not later than October 15 of each even-numbered year.
Sec. 320A.153.  FINAL REPORT.  (a)  The commission may modify
the preliminary report and proposed legislation in response to the
comments received under Section 320A.152.
(b)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the commission shall provide to the governor and the presiding
officers of the Senate Committee on Finance or its successor and the
House Committee on Ways and Means or its successor a final report on
the reviews of tax preferences identified under Section
320A.101(a)(3)(A) and proposed legislation necessary to implement
the commission's recommendations.
Sec. 320A.154.  PUBLIC HEARING ON FINAL REPORT.  The Senate
Committee on Finance or its successor and the House Committee on
Ways and Means or its successor shall hold a joint public hearing on
the final report and proposed legislation provided under Section
SUBCHAPTER E.  EXPIRATION OF TAX PREFERENCES
Sec. 320A.201.  EXPIRATION; REQUIRED STATEMENT.  (a)  A tax
preference included in a final report expires on the second
anniversary of the date the final report is submitted under Section
320A.153(b) unless reauthorized by law.
(b)  Each tax preference enacted or reauthorized by an act of
the legislature that becomes law on or after September 1, 2026, must
state the expiration date of the preference and provide that the
preference expires on that date.  The expiration date may not be
later than the sixth anniversary of the effective date of the law
enacting or most recently reauthorizing the tax preference.
(c)  A tax preference to which Subsection (b) applies that
does not include the provision required by that subsection expires
on the sixth anniversary of the effective date of the law enacting
or most recently reauthorizing the preference.
SECTION 2.  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
house of representatives shall appoint the initial members of the
select commission on periodic tax preference review not later than
January 5, 2026.  Notwithstanding Section 320A.052, Government
Code, as added by this Act, the terms of the initial members of the
commission expire December 31, 2026.
SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Section 320A.103, Government
Code, as added by this Act, the select commission on periodic tax
preference review shall submit:
(1)  the initial state and local tax preference review
schedule required by that section not later than January 15, 2026;
(2)  the initial preliminary report required by Section
320A.151, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than
(3)  the initial final report required by Section
320A.153, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2025, requiring the legislature to provide for a
periodic review of state and local tax preferences and providing
for the expiration of certain tax preferences after six years, or at
another time prescribed by the legislature, unless reauthorized by
law is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by
the voters, this Act has no effect.