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County staff flags bills that could affect nuisance litigation and property-appraisal appeals
Summary
Deputy administrator Russell Schauffner briefed commissioners on SB 779, which would narrow public-nuisance litigation, and SB 982, which would allow appeals of ARB decisions under $20,000 to justice courts; county staff will assess potential impacts.
Deputy County Administrator Russell Schauffner briefed the court on two bills from the 89th Texas Legislature that staff said could affect Collin County’s litigation options and appraisal-appeals workload.
Schauffner described SB 779 as legislation intended to limit the definition of "public nuisance" in a way that would constrain large-scale public-nuisance litigation, specifically noting that settlements like those in opioid litigation likely would not have been possible under the bill’s proposed changes. He said the attorney general's office has been involved in similar efforts in recent sessions and that counties should monitor the bill.
Schauffner also discussed SB 982, which would permit a property owner dissatisfied with an appraisal-review-board (ARB) decision to appeal to a justice court (JP) rather than to district court when the value in dispute is less than $20,000. He said county staff and the budget office are analyzing how many ARB appeals might be affected and whether the change could create a higher volume for justice courts or require additional justice-court capacity.
No formal action was taken; staff said they will continue to track the bills and report back on potential fiscal and procedural impacts.
