TITLE: Relating to the authority of an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings to award attorney's fees in an appeal of an appraisal review board order determining a protest.

SUMMARY: Relating to the authority of an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings to award attorney's fees in an appeal of an appraisal review board order determining a protest.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the authority of an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings to award attorney's fees in an appeal of an appraisal review board order determining a protest. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2003.912(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The determination: (1) must include a determination of the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property that is the subject of the appeal; (2) must contain a brief analysis of the administrative law judge's rationale for and set out the key findings in support of the determination but is not required to contain a detailed discussion of the evidence admitted or the contentions of the parties; (3) may include any remedy or relief a court may order under Chapter 42, Tax Code, in an appeal relating to the appraised or market value of property, including [other than] an award of reasonable attorney's fees in an amount that does not exceed the amount specified by [under] Section 42.29, Tax Code; and (4) shall specify whether the appraisal district or the property owner is required to pay the costs of the hearing and the amount of those costs. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an appeal under Subchapter Z, Chapter 2003, Government Code, that is pending on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or after that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.