Monitoring the Session

HB 2730

bill limiting homestead exemption re-checks

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Drew DarbyRHouse 72

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the authority of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district to require a person allowed an exemption from ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead to file a new application or confirm the person's current qualification for the exemption.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Appraisers need a reason and must put it in writing.

The bill limits when a county chief appraiser can make a homeowner re-apply for or re-confirm a residence homestead exemption. The appraiser must first have reason to believe the owner no longer qualifies and must send written notice with a form explaining the specific reason for that belief. Homeowners with a homestead exemption can no longer be swept into routine blanket re-application demands starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on May 24, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2730 · 2025-02-12

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the authority of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district to require a person allowed an exemption from ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead to file a new application or confirm the person's current qualification for the exemption.

WHAT IT DOES

Appraisers need a reason and must put it in writing.

The bill limits when a county chief appraiser can make a homeowner re-apply for or re-confirm a residence homestead exemption. The appraiser must first have reason to believe the owner no longer qualifies and must send written notice with a form explaining the specific reason for that belief. Homeowners with a homestead exemption can no longer be swept into routine blanket re-application demands starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Ways & Means
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Amended 1-Darby
  17. Passed to engrossment as amended
  18. Record vote RV#866
  19. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#1011
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Local Government
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Vote taken in committee
  31. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  32. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  33. Committee report printed and distributed
  34. Co-sponsor authorized
  35. Rules suspended-Intent Calendar
  36. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  37. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  38. Vote recorded in Journal
  39. Three day rule suspended
  40. Record vote
  41. Read 3rd time
  42. Passed
  43. Record vote
  44. Senate passage reported
  45. Reported enrolled
  46. Signed in the House
  47. Signed in the Senate
  48. Sent to the Governor
  49. Signed by the Governor
  50. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 141 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 9, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$50,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007659, 101072052.

Gideon Powell$30,000.00
Dustin Burrows Campaign$27,600.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$27,600.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$27,600.00
Total
$27,600.00
polling $27,600.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Aug 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101068080.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$50,000.00

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$50,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007659, 101072052.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$27,600.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$27,600.00
Total
$27,600.00
polling $27,600.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Aug 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101068080.

Votes5

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2730 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2730 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
141
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1011

HB 2730 was passed by (Record 1011): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 141 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 866

HB 2730, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 866): 146 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses10
For
8
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP1 registration
  • Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; South Texans’ Property Rights Association1 registration
  • Texas Association of Appraisal Districts1 registration
  • Texas Assocition of Appraisal Districts1 registration
  • Texas REALTORS1 registration
  • Texas Realtors1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • TrueRoll1 registration
Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 2, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 12, 2025

05/24/2025 E Effective immediately

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Ways & Means · Committee vote 12 aye, 1 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 2172 by Parker (identical)

Subjects

Property Interests--Homestead

Taxation--Property-Appraisals & Appraisal Districts

Taxation--Property-Exemptions

Text

The text as introduced · 407 words

89R11512 CS-F

By: Darby
H.B. No. 2730

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the chief appraiser of an appraisal

district to require a person allowed an exemption from ad valorem

taxation of a residence homestead to file a new application or

confirm the person's current qualification for the exemption.

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

SECTION 1. Section 11.43, Tax Code, is amended by amending

Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:

(c) An exemption provided by Section 11.13, 11.131, 11.132,

11.133, 11.134, 11.17, 11.18, 11.182, 11.1827, 11.183, 11.19,

11.20, 11.21, 11.22, 11.23(a), (h), (j), (j-1), or (m), 11.231,

11.254, 11.27, 11.271, 11.29, 11.30, 11.31, 11.315, 11.35, or

11.36, once allowed, need not be claimed in subsequent years, and

except as otherwise provided by Subsection (e), the exemption

applies to the property until it changes ownership or the person's

qualification for the exemption changes. However, except as

provided by Subsection (r), and subject to Subsection (c-1), the

chief appraiser may require a person allowed one of the exemptions

in a prior year to file a new application to confirm the person's

current qualification for the exemption by delivering a written

notice that a new application is required, accompanied by an

appropriate application form, to the person previously allowed the

exemption. If the person previously allowed the exemption is 65

years of age or older, the chief appraiser may not cancel the

exemption due to the person's failure to file the new application

unless the chief appraiser complies with the requirements of

Subsection (q), if applicable.

(c-1) A chief appraiser may not require a person allowed a

residence homestead exemption under Section 11.13 to file a new

application or confirm the person's current qualification for the

exemption unless the chief appraiser:

(1) has reason to believe the person no longer

qualifies for the exemption; and

(2) delivers written notice, accompanied by an

appropriate application form, to the person stating:

(A) the chief appraiser believes the person may

no longer qualify for the exemption; and

(B) the specific reason for the chief appraiser's

belief.

SECTION 2. It is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular

Session, 2025, that the amendments made by this Act be harmonized

with another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,

relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted

codes.

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