SB 2553

bill on appraising historic sites

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of property that qualifies for an exemption as a historic or archaeological site.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Appraisers must weigh how designation limits on repairs affect value.

The bill tells county chief appraisers that when they set the market value of a historic site that qualifies for the historic-site tax exemption, they must consider how historic-designation limits on altering, improving or repairing the property affect its value. It touches owners of historic structures and archaeological sites, plus the land needed to reach and use them, along with appraisal districts. Starting with the 2026 tax year, those restrictions must be weighed in appraisal, which could lower the appraised value of these properties.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2553 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

ITEM

relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of property that qualifies for an exemption as a historic or archaeological site.

WHAT IT DOES

Appraisers must weigh how designation limits on repairs affect value.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · May 6, 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

Mar 13, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Local Government
May 5, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 5, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 5, 2025Left pending in committee
May 6, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 6, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 9, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 9, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
May 9, 2025Committee report printed and distributed

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Royce West

Donors

Skyview Development LLC$36K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20KErle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000

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 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.

Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $36,332.00
Total: $36,332.00

Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. 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: 100987569, 101063137.

Erle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000.00

Money

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

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $36,332.00
Total: $36,332.00

Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. 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: 100987569, 101063137.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses4

For: 4
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Cuantia Management1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Popp Hutcheson, Ryan2 registrations

Sources

4 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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 S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · May 6, 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 Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025

05/09/2025 S Committee report printed and distributed: May 9 2025 3:21PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report

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

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

Companion

HB 4809 by Meyer (very similar)

Subjects

Historic Preservation & Museums

Taxation--Property-Appraisals & Appraisal Districts

Taxation--Property-Exemptions

Text

The text as introduced · 191 words

By: West, Middleton
S.B. No. 2553

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of property

that qualifies for an exemption as a historic or archaeological

site.

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

SECTION 1. Section 23.013, Tax Code, is amended by adding

Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(f) In this subsection, "historic site" means a structure or

archaeological site and the land necessary for access to and use of

the structure or archaeological site subject to an exemption under

Section 11.24. In determining the market value of a historic site,

the chief appraiser shall consider the effect on the property's

value of any restriction placed on the property owner's ability to

alter, improve, or repair the property based on the property's

designation as a historic site.

SECTION 2. This Act applies to the appraisal for ad valorem

tax purposes of property that qualifies for an exemption as a

historic or archaeological site only for a tax year beginning on or

after the effective date of this Act.

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