The bill amends the Texas Tax Code and Election Code to reform the selection process and responsibilities of chief appraisers in appraisal districts. It establishes that chief appraisers will be elected by county voters starting from the primary and general elections in 2026, with newly elected officials taking office on January 1, 2027. The bill outlines specific residency and training requirements for chief appraisers, defines "incompetency" related to training completion, and allows the comptroller to charge a fee for appraisal training courses, capped at $50 per person.

Additionally, the bill enhances the independence of appraisal review boards by prohibiting certain communications between officials and board members regarding property appraisals, while clarifying the roles of chief appraisers and appraisal district employees. It also modifies existing laws to specify communication restrictions and filing fees for candidates based on county population, as well as changes to the nomination process for political parties. Overall, the bill aims to improve governance, accountability, and transparency within Texas's appraisal districts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Tax Code 1.15, Tax Code 6.05, Tax Code 5.042, Tax Code 5.043, Tax Code 6.035, Tax Code 6.052, Tax Code 6.155, Tax Code 6.41, Tax Code 6.411, Tax Code 42.21, Election Code 144.001, Election Code 172.001, Election Code 172.002, Election Code 172.024, Election Code 172.025, Election Code 181.002, Election Code 181.0311, Election Code 181.032, Election Code 181.061, Local Government Code 87.041, Occupations Code 1151.164 (Local Government Code 87, Election Code 172, Tax Code 5, Occupations Code 1151, Election Code 181, Tax Code 42, Election Code 144, Tax Code 6, Tax Code 1)