Monitoring the Session

HB 3370

bill allowing late timber land applications after an owner dies

Became law, effective Jan 1, 2026

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Trent AshbyRHouse 9

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 late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified timber land following the death of the owner of the land.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Family or the estate can still keep the timber appraisal.

The bill lets family members or estate representatives file a late application to keep land appraised as timber land for property tax purposes after the owner dies. It covers land that had the timber appraisal the year before and changed hands because an owner died, if the surviving spouse, a child, the executor, or a fiduciary files before the taxes go delinquent. The chief appraiser must accept and decide these late filings, and the usual 10 percent late-filing penalty does not apply to them.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3370 · 2025-02-26

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified timber land following the death of the owner of the land.

WHAT IT DOES

Family or the estate can still keep the timber appraisal.

The bill lets family members or estate representatives file a late application to keep land appraised as timber land for property tax purposes after the owner dies. It covers land that had the timber appraisal the year before and changed hands because an owner died, if the surviving spouse, a child, the executor, or a fiduciary files before the taxes go delinquent. The chief appraiser must accept and decide these late filings, and the usual 10 percent late-filing penalty does not apply to them.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 14, 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 s/c on Property Tax Appraisals by Speaker
  4. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  5. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  7. Left pending in subcommittee
  8. Considered by s/c in formal meeting
  9. Reported from s/c favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Considered in formal meeting
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#1734
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#1837
  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. Placed on 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 on 1/1/26
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 145 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 20, 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 10, 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 Lawsuit Reform PAC$726,977.64

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$726,977.64

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$576,977.64
Total
$726,977.64
advertising $308,379.77grassroots $268,597.87

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 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.

Report IDs: 100983424, 101025002, 101034929, 101040023, 101071791.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$312,806.77

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$312,806.77

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$312,806.77
Total
$312,806.77
mailer $171,341.79television $68,405.00digital $37,095.00text $28,387.48Other filed descriptions $7,577.50

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Feb 10, 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: 101005833, 101025002, 101040023.

John Nau III$230,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$726,977.64

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$576,977.64
Total
$726,977.64
advertising $308,379.77grassroots $268,597.87

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 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.

Report IDs: 100983424, 101025002, 101034929, 101040023, 101071791.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$312,806.77

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$312,806.77
Total
$312,806.77
mailer $171,341.79television $68,405.00digital $37,095.00text $28,387.48Other filed descriptions $7,577.50

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Feb 10, 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: 101005833, 101025002, 101040023.

Votes5

Senate May 20, 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 Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3370 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 20, 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 Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3370 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 20, 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 May 8, 2025

Yea
145
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
2
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1837

HB 3370 was passed by (Record 1837): 145 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 145 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

House May 7, 2025

Yea
138
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
5
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1734

HB 3370 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1734): 138 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 138 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses7
For
5
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Self2 registrations
  • Texas Association of Appraisal Districts1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
  • Texas Forestry Association1 registration

On

  • Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
Sources

7 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 fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 14, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 1191

by Sen. Zaffirini, different lead author · Became law · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 23, 2023: Effective immediately

Relating to late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following the death of the owner of the land.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 26, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 1/1/26

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 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 1412 by Nichols (identical)

Subjects

Agriculture

Taxation--Property-Appraisals & Appraisal Districts

Taxation--Property-Exemptions

TIMBER & TIMBERLAND

Text

The text as introduced · 335 words

89R11915 CJC-F

By: Ashby
H.B. No. 3370

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to late applications for the appraisal of land for ad

valorem tax purposes as qualified timber land following the death

of the owner of the land.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23.751, Tax Code, is amended by adding

Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as follows:

(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the chief appraiser

shall accept and approve or deny an application for appraisal under

this subchapter after the deadline for filing the application has

passed if:

(1) the land that is the subject of the application was

appraised under this subchapter in the preceding tax year;

(2) the ownership of the land changed as a result of

the death of an owner of the land during the preceding tax year; and

(3) the application is filed not later than the

delinquency date for the taxes on the land for the year for which

the application is filed by:

(A) the surviving spouse or a surviving child of

the decedent;

(B) the executor or administrator of the estate

of the decedent; or

(C) a fiduciary acting on behalf of the surviving

spouse or a surviving child of the decedent.

(b) If appraisal under this subchapter is approved when the

application is filed late, the owner is liable for a penalty of 10

percent of the difference between the amount of tax imposed on the

property and the amount that would be imposed if the property were

taxed at market value. The penalty prescribed by this subsection

does not apply to a late application filed under Subsection (a-1).

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to an application for appraisal under Subchapter E, Chapter 23, Tax

Code, that is filed with the chief appraiser of an appraisal

district on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.