bill adding elected directors to appraisal district boards

The text as introduced · 854 words

By: Kerwin
H.B. No. 1952

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the composition of county appraisal district boards of

directors.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 6.03, Tax Code, is amended by amending

subsections (a-1), (b), (c), and (l), and adding subsection (l-1)

to read as follows:

Sec. 6.03. BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN LESS POPULOUS COUNTIES.

(a) This section applies only to an appraisal district established

in a county with a population of less than 75,000.

(a-1) The appraisal district is governed by a board of

directors. Two [ Five ] directors are appointed by the taxing units

that participate in the district as provided by this section. Three

directors are elected by majority vote at the general election for

state and county officers by the voters of the county in which the

district is established. If the county assessor-collector is not

appointed to the board, the county assessor-collector serves as a

nonvoting director. The county assessor-collector is ineligible to

serve if the board enters into a contract under Section 6.05(b) or

if the commissioners court of the county enters into a contract

under Section 6.24(b). To be eligible to serve on the board of

directors, an individual other than a county assessor-collector

serving as a nonvoting director must be a resident of the district

and must have resided in the district for at least two years

immediately preceding the date the individual takes office. An

individual who is otherwise eligible to serve on the board is not

ineligible because of membership on the governing body of a taxing

unit. An employee of a taxing unit that participates in the district

is not eligible to serve on the board unless the individual is also

a member of the governing body or an elected official of a taxing

unit that participates in the district.

(b) Appointed m [ M ]embers of the board of directors other

than a county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director

serve staggered four-year [ two-year ] terms beginning on January 1 of

even-numbered years. Elected members of the board of directors

serve staggered four-year terms beginning on January 1 of every

other odd-numbered year.

(c) Appointed m [ M ]embers of the board of directors other

than a county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director

are appointed by vote of the governing bodies of the incorporated

cities and towns, the school districts, the junior college

districts, and, if entitled to vote, the conservation and

reclamation districts that participate in the district and of the

county. A governing body may cast all its votes for one candidate or

distribute them among candidates for any number of directorships.

Conservation and reclamation districts are not entitled to vote

unless at least one conservation and reclamation district in the

district delivers to the chief appraiser a written request to

nominate and vote on the board of directors by June 1 of each

odd-numbered year. On receipt of a request, the chief appraiser

shall certify a list by June 15 of all eligible conservation and

reclamation districts that are imposing taxes and that participate

in the district.

(l) If a vacancy occurs in an appointive position on the

board of directors other than a vacancy in the position held by a

county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director, each

taxing unit that is entitled to vote by this section may nominate by

resolution adopted by its governing body a candidate to fill the

vacancy. The unit shall submit the name of its nominee to the chief

appraiser within 45 days after notification from the board of

directors of the existence of the vacancy, and the chief appraiser

shall prepare and deliver to the board of directors within the next

five days a list of the nominees. The board of directors shall elect

by majority vote of its members one of the nominees to fill the

vacancy.

(l-1) If a vacancy occurs in an elective position on the

board of directors, the board of directors shall appoint by

majority vote of its members a person to fill the vacancy. A person

appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective position must have the

qualifications required of a director elected at a general

election.

SECTION 2. Section 6.0301(c), Tax Code, is amended to read

as follows:

Sec. 6.0301. BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a)

This section applies only to an appraisal district established in a

county with a population of 75,000 or more.

(b) Sections 6.031, 6.034, and 6.10 do not apply to an

appraisal district to which this section applies.

(c) The appraisal district is governed by a board of nine

directors. Three [ Five ] directors are appointed by the taxing units

that participate in the district in the manner prescribed by

Section 6.03. Five [ Three ] directors are elected by majority vote at

the general election for state and county officers by the voters of

the county in which the district is established. The county

assessor-collector serves as an ex officio director.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.