HOUSTON (AP) – Lawmakers are considering a bill that could grant Texas homeowners a tax break when their property has been damaged by disasters such as 2017’s Hurricane Harvey.
The Houston Chronicle reports that bill sponsor Sen. Paul Bettencourt says it would give homeowners an opportunity to challenge unjust property tax bills after a natural disaster.
The bill would basically remove cities, counties and other governmental agencies from the disaster reappraisal decision-making process. It also includes guidelines on how appraisers must complete the work.
Hurricane Harvey caused widespread damage and flooding along the Texas Gulf Coast, with winds speeds topping 130mph. Just a portion of the more than 200,000 damaged structures in the state’s 60 counties were reappraised.
The proposal has passed the Senate and the House could vote on it next week.
