HB1952 - Relating to the composition of county appraisal district boards of directors.

      By: Kerwin H.B. No. 1952       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the composition of county appraisal district boards of   directors.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 6.03, Tax Code, is amended by amending   subsections (a-1), (b), (c), and (l), and adding subsection (l-1)   to read as follows:          Sec. 6.03.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN LESS POPULOUS COUNTIES.     (a)  This section applies only to an appraisal district established   in a county with a population of less than 75,000.          (a-1)  The appraisal district is governed by a board of   directors. Two [ Five ] directors are appointed by the taxing units   that participate in the district as provided by this section. Three   directors are elected by majority vote at the general election for   state and county officers by the voters of the county in which the   district is established. If the county assessor-collector is not   appointed to the board, the county assessor-collector serves as a   nonvoting director. The county assessor-collector is ineligible to   serve if the board enters into a contract under Section 6.05(b) or   if the commissioners court of the county enters into a contract   under Section 6.24(b). To be eligible to serve on the board of   directors, an individual other than a county assessor-collector   serving as a nonvoting director must be a resident of the district   and must have resided in the district for at least two years   immediately preceding the date the individual takes office. An   individual who is otherwise eligible to serve on the board is not   ineligible because of membership on the governing body of a taxing   unit. An employee of a taxing unit that participates in the district   is not eligible to serve on the board unless the individual is also   a member of the governing body or an elected official of a taxing   unit that participates in the district.          (b)   Appointed m [ M ]embers of the board of directors other   than a county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director   serve staggered four-year [ two-year ] terms beginning on January 1 of   even-numbered years. Elected members of the board of directors   serve staggered four-year terms beginning on January 1 of every   other odd-numbered year.          (c)   Appointed m [ M ]embers of the board of directors other   than a county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director   are appointed by vote of the governing bodies of the incorporated   cities and towns, the school districts, the junior college   districts, and, if entitled to vote, the conservation and   reclamation districts that participate in the district and of the   county. A governing body may cast all its votes for one candidate or   distribute them among candidates for any number of directorships.   Conservation and reclamation districts are not entitled to vote   unless at least one conservation and reclamation district in the   district delivers to the chief appraiser a written request to   nominate and vote on the board of directors by June 1 of each   odd-numbered year. On receipt of a request, the chief appraiser   shall certify a list by June 15 of all eligible conservation and   reclamation districts that are imposing taxes and that participate   in the district.          (l)  If a vacancy occurs in an appointive position on the   board of directors other than a vacancy in the position held by a   county assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director, each   taxing unit that is entitled to vote by this section may nominate by   resolution adopted by its governing body a candidate to fill the   vacancy. The unit shall submit the name of its nominee to the chief   appraiser within 45 days after notification from the board of   directors of the existence of the vacancy, and the chief appraiser   shall prepare and deliver to the board of directors within the next   five days a list of the nominees. The board of directors shall elect   by majority vote of its members one of the nominees to fill the   vacancy.           (l-1)     If a vacancy occurs in an elective position on the   board of directors, the board of directors shall appoint by   majority vote of its members a person to fill the vacancy. A person   appointed to fill a vacancy in an elective position must have the   qualifications required of a director elected at a general   election.          SECTION 2.  Section 6.0301(c), Tax Code, is amended to read   as follows:          Sec. 6.0301.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN POPULOUS COUNTIES. (a)   This section applies only to an appraisal district established in a   county with a population of 75,000 or more.          (b)  Sections 6.031, 6.034, and 6.10 do not apply to an   appraisal district to which this section applies.          (c)  The appraisal district is governed by a board of nine   directors. Three [ Five ] directors are appointed by the taxing units   that participate in the district in the manner prescribed by   Section 6.03. Five [ Three ] directors are elected by majority vote at   the general election for state and county officers by the voters of   the county in which the district is established. The county   assessor-collector serves as an ex officio director.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.