HB 779

relating to the margin of error to be used by the comptroller of
public accounts in connection with the property value study to
determine whether the local value for a school district is valid.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 403.302(c), Government Code, is amended
(c)  If after conducting the study the comptroller
determines that the local value for a school district is valid, the
local value is presumed to represent taxable value for the school
district.  In the absence of that presumption, taxable value for a
school district is the state value for the school district
determined by the comptroller under Subsections (a) and (b) unless
the local value exceeds the state value, in which case the taxable
value for the school district is the district's local value.  In
determining whether the local value for a school district is valid,
the comptroller shall use a margin of error that does not exceed 15
[five] percent unless the comptroller determines that the size of
the sample of properties necessary to make the determination makes
the use of such a margin of error not feasible, in which case the
comptroller may use a larger margin of error.
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to the study conducted under Section 403.302, Government Code, for
a tax year that begins on or after January 1, 2026.  The study for a
tax year that begins before that date is covered by the law in
effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
prior law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.