SB 477

relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a
residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 23.23, Tax Code, is amended by amending
Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2),
(a-3), (a-4), (a-5), (a-6), (a-7), and (c-2) to read as follows:
(a)  The [Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 25.18
and regardless of whether the appraisal office has appraised the
property and determined the market value of the property for the tax
year, an appraisal office may increase the] appraised value of a
residence homestead for a tax year is equal to [an amount not to
[(1)]  the market value of the property for the first
[most recent] tax year that the owner qualified the property for an
exemption under Section 11.13 [market value was determined by the
[(A)  10 percent of the appraised value of the
property for the preceding tax year;
[(B)  the appraised value of the property for the
[(C)  the market value of all new improvements to
(a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if the owner of real
property qualified the property for an exemption under Section
11.13 and the owner acquired the property as a bona fide purchaser
for value, the appraised value of the property is equal to the
purchase price of the property paid by the owner.
(a-2)  If the first tax year the property owner qualified the
property for an exemption under Section 11.13 was a tax year before
the 2026 tax year, the appraised value of the property as shown on
the 2025 appraisal roll is considered to be:
(1)  the market value of the property for the first tax
year that the owner qualified the property for an exemption under
Section 11.13 for purposes of Subsection (a); and
(2)  the purchase price of the property paid by the
owner for purposes of Subsection (a-1).
(a-3)  Subsection (a-1) does not apply to a residence
(A)  pursuant to a court order;
(B)  from a trustee in bankruptcy;
(C)  by one co-owner from one or more other
(D)  from a spouse or a person or persons within
the first or second degree of lineal consanguinity of one or more of
(E)  from a governmental entity; or
(2)  the chief appraiser determines that the applicant
was not a bona fide purchaser for value under criteria established
by rules adopted by the comptroller for that purpose.
(a-4)  To receive a limitation on appraised value under
Subsection (a-1), an owner of the property must apply for the
limitation.  To apply for the limitation, the owner must file an
application with the chief appraiser for each appraisal district in
which the property subject to the claimed limitation is located.
The application must be filed not later than the latest date on
which the owner may file an application for an exemption under
Section 11.13 on the property for the year under Section 11.43.  The
comptroller by rule shall prescribe the form for the application to
ensure that the applicant provides the information necessary to
determine the applicant's eligibility for the limitation,
including the purchase price of the property paid by the applicant.
(a-5)  An application filed with a chief appraiser under
Subsection (a-4) is confidential and not open to public inspection.
The application and the information it contains may not be
disclosed to another person other than an employee of the appraisal
district who appraises property, except as provided by Subsection
(a-6)  Information that is confidential under Subsection
(1)  in a judicial or administrative proceeding under a
(2)  to a purchaser, grantee, seller, or grantor named
in the application or in the deed to which the application applies
or to a representative of the purchaser, grantee, seller, or
grantor under a written authorization signed by the purchaser,
(3)  to the comptroller or to an assessor for a taxing
unit in which the property described in the application is located;
(4)  in a judicial or administrative proceeding related
(A)  to which the purchaser, grantee, seller, or
(B)  to which an owner of the property described
in the application is a party; or
(C)  by the appraisal district for the purpose of
establishing a value of the property or of providing evidence of
comparable sales to appraise another property;
(5)  for statistical purposes if the information is
provided in a form that does not identify a specific property or
specific purchaser, grantee, seller, or grantor;
(6)  if and to the extent that the information is
required to be included in a public document or record that the
appraisal office is required to prepare or maintain; or
(7)  to a taxing unit or its legal representative that
is engaged in the collection of delinquent taxes on the property
(a-7)  Information that is disclosed under Subsection (a-6)
does not lose its confidential character.
(b)  When appraising a residence homestead, the chief
(1)  appraise the property at its market value; and
(2)  include in the appraisal records both the market
value of the property and the amount computed under Subsection (a)
or (a-1), as applicable [(a)(2)].
(c)  The limitation provided by Subsection (a) or (a-1) takes
effect as to a residence homestead on January 1 of the first tax
year [following the first tax year] the owner qualifies the
property for an exemption under Section 11.13.  The limitation
expires on January 1 of the first tax year that neither the owner of
the property when the limitation took effect nor the owner's spouse
or surviving spouse qualifies for an exemption under Section 11.13.
(c-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a limitation
established under Subsection (a) or (a-1) does not expire if a
change in ownership of the property occurs by inheritance or under a
will as long as the person who acquires the property qualifies for
an exemption under Section 11.13.
SECTION 2.  Sections 23.23(e), (f), and (g), Tax Code, are
SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to ad valorem taxes imposed
for a tax year beginning on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the legislature to provide that
the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax
purposes is the market value of the property for the first year that
the owner qualified the property for a homestead exemption or, if
the owner purchased the property, the purchase price of the
property is approved by the voters.  If that amendment is not
approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.