Monitoring the Session

HB 3685

bill making title companies give buyers homestead notice

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

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 notice of possible eligibility for a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation provided to a home buyer by a title insurance company or title insurance agent in connection with the closing and settlement of a purchase of residential real property.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

A notice plus the application form at closing.

The bill requires a title insurance company or title insurance agent that handles a home closing in Texas to give the buyer a notice that the home may qualify for homestead property tax exemptions, plus the homestead exemption application form. It touches title companies, title agents and home buyers, and it does not apply to closings that a title company, agent or their attorney or representative does not actually handle. Starting with purchase contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, buyers at title-company closings get the notice and form at the closing table.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 4, 2025 and referred to the House Insurance committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3685 · 2025-03-04

SOLD BY

Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

ITEM

relating to notice of possible eligibility for a residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation provided to a home buyer by a title insurance company or title insurance agent in connection with the closing and settlement of a purchase of residential real property.

WHAT IT DOES

A notice plus the application form at closing.

The bill requires a title insurance company or title insurance agent that handles a home closing in Texas to give the buyer a notice that the home may qualify for homestead property tax exemptions, plus the homestead exemption application form. It touches title companies, title agents and home buyers, and it does not apply to closings that a title company, agent or their attorney or representative does not actually handle. Starting with purchase contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, buyers at title-company closings get the notice and form at the closing table.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Insurance
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Terri Leo Wilson

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$525KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$50KDustin Burrows Campaign$45K

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 · Oct 28, 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$525,040.28

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$525,040.28

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$460,040.28
Total
$525,040.28
advertising $253,649.00mail $170,891.28polling $35,500.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Aug 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: 100994567, 101011936, 101042004, 101042009, 101070547.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$50,000.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$50,000.00

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

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Feb 20, 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: 101042009.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$45,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

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 · Dec 31, 2025 to Feb 24, 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: 101011936, 101028233, 101042004.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$525,040.28

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$460,040.28
Total
$525,040.28
advertising $253,649.00mail $170,891.28polling $35,500.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Aug 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: 100994567, 101011936, 101042004, 101042009, 101070547.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$50,000.00

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

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Feb 20, 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: 101042009.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

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 · Dec 31, 2025 to Feb 24, 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: 101011936, 101028233, 101042004.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

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 Mar 4, 2025

03/25/2025 H Referred to Insurance: Mar 25 2025 3:26PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

House committee · Insurance · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Insurance--General

Insurance--Insurers & Agents

Insurance--Property & Casualty

Property Interests--Homestead

Property Interests--Real Property

Taxation--Property-Appraisals & Appraisal Districts

Taxation--Property-Exemptions

Text

The text as introduced · 307 words

89R5466 RDS-D

By: Leo Wilson
H.B. No. 3685

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to notice of possible eligibility for a residence

homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation provided to a home

buyer by a title insurance company or title insurance agent in

connection with the closing and settlement of a purchase of

residential real property.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 2702, Insurance Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. OTHER CLOSING SERVICES

Sec. 2702.151. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "residence

homestead" has the meaning assigned by Section 11.13, Tax Code.

Sec. 2702.152. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter does not

apply to the closing or settlement of a purchase of residential real

property if the closing or settlement is not actually handled by:

(1) a title insurance company, a title insurance

agent, or an attorney for a title insurance company or title

insurance agent; or

(2) a representative of a title insurance company, a

title insurance agent, or an attorney for a title insurance company

or title insurance agent.

Sec. 2702.153. NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR RESIDENCE

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. In connection with the closing and settlement

of a purchase of residential real property in this state, a title

insurance company or title insurance agent shall provide to the

buyer:

(1) a notice that the property may qualify for one or

more residence homestead exemptions from ad valorem taxation, which

would reduce the amount of taxes imposed on the property; and

(2) an application form for an exemption under Section

11.13, Tax Code.

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

to a purchase of residential real property under a contract entered

into on or after the effective date of this Act.

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