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Property‑appraisal overhaul fails after heated debate over frequency and cost
Summary
The House debated Senate Bill 43, which would require countywide reappraisals when average appraisals rose past a threshold; members argued about staffing burdens, fiscal notes and equity. The chamber amended the threshold from 10% to 30% but the bill ultimately failed on final passage.
The House debated Senate Bill 43, a proposal to level property appraisal increases across counties when average appraisals exceed a statutory threshold. Sponsor said the bill would prevent sudden, localized spikes in appraisals by requiring a countywide review when the average increase exceeded the trigger.
Supporters said the bill would make property taxation fairer by preventing concentrated, severe increases; sponsor explained the measure would force assessors to review full counties rather than only affected neighborhoods. Opponents raised practical concerns: county assessor staffing, the fiscal cost of undertaking countywide reappraisals and whether the bill would require a major expansion of assessor offices. Representative Adair (a certified residential appraiser) declared a conflict and warned the operational burden could be far larger than its fiscal note suggested.
The House amended the bill’s trigger from 10% to 30% to limit frequency of automatic countywide reappraisals. After debate and a roll call, the amended bill failed on final passage, receiving 35 yes votes and 38 no votes, and the measure was returned to the Senate.
