Relating to the eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following a transfer to a person who uses the land in materially the same way as the former owner and to late applications for such appraisal filed by the new owner of the land.
Bill overview
Relating to the eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following a transfer to a person who uses the land in materially the same way as the former owner and to late applications for such appraisal filed by the new owner of the land.
Reference notes
HB 1244 sources, status methodology and verification
Sources
- HB 1244 official legislative recordPrimary bill-status record.
- Current official bill textOfficial bill text or printing.
Methodology
KeepTXRed treats the official legislative record and latest official action as the factual status layer for HB 1244. Status labels are normalized for browsing, while the legislative timeline and documents preserve official action text and source links. Any KeepTXRed explanation below is editorial context and remains separate from the official record.
Last verified
Legislative record synchronized August 27, 2026 at 10:25 PM UTC; latest recorded official action May 24, 2025.
Bill → law → agency context
This relationship layer distinguishes what the normalized official record can prove from what it cannot. Enactment and effective dates come from the bill record. Agency names below are shown only when an official fiscal document supplies a verified agency reference; being cited in a fiscal note does not by itself prove that the agency administers the resulting law.
Bill → law status
HB 1244 is recorded as enacted
- Current status
- Effective
- Signed
- May 24, 2025
- Effective
- January 1, 2026
Official fiscal-note agency context
No verified agency references are available from the latest parsed official fiscal material. KeepTXRed does not infer an administering agency from the bill topic or title.
KeepTXRed explanation
This reviewed explanation is separate from the official bill record and is provided for general information, not legal advice.
KeepTXRed summary
HB 1244 helps qualifying agricultural land retain open-space appraisal after an ownership transfer when the land continues to be used in materially the same way.
What would change
A transfer is not treated as a change in ownership for specified application purposes when the new owner continues materially the same qualifying use under the same operational oversight. The law also permits certain late applications by new owners without the ordinary late-filing penalty.
Who may be affected
Farmers, ranchers, agricultural landowners, purchasers of open-space land, appraisal districts, chief appraisers, and taxing units.
When it would take effect
The act takes effect January 1, 2026.
Limits and uncertainty
The land still must satisfy the statutory open-space appraisal requirements, including continued qualifying use; the law does not preserve agricultural appraisal after a disqualifying change in use.
Editorial sources and review notes
Final enrolled text, official analysis, and TLO history reviewed.
Editorial explanation reviewed 9/5/2026.
Current status
Effective
Effective on 1/1/26
Latest official action
Effective on 1/1/26
May 24, 2025 · house
Who this bill may affect
A verified audience or subject classification has not been attached to this bill yet.
Use the bill overview and official documents to determine whether the proposal may apply to you, your business, or a public agency.
Sponsors
sponsor
author
Committee history
- Ways & Means
Out of committee
- Local Government
Out of committee
Legislative timeline
Effective on 1/1/26
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Official recordLeft pending in subcommittee
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Official recordReferred to s/c on Property Tax Appraisals by Speaker
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Official recordFiled
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Official record
Official bill text
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Ranked by official relationships such as sponsorship, committee referral, district, election, session, and direct news coverage.
Representative: paul bettencourt
sponsor
Representative: ryan guillen
author
Representative: penny morales shaw
coauthor
Representative: will metcalf
coauthor
District: texas house district 148
sponsor district
District: texas house district 16
sponsor district
District: texas house district 31
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District: texas senate district 7
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