H.B. No. 779 amends Section 403.302(c) of the Government Code to establish a new margin of error for the comptroller of public accounts when determining the validity of local property values for school districts. The bill specifies that the comptroller shall use a margin of error that does not exceed 15 percent, replacing the previous limit of five percent. This change allows for greater flexibility in the assessment process, particularly when the sample size of properties makes the smaller margin of error impractical.

The provisions of this bill will apply only to property value studies conducted for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. For tax years prior to this date, the existing law will remain in effect. The bill will take immediate effect if it receives a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of the legislature; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 403.302 (Government Code 403)