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HB148

Regular Session

Relating to the qualification of candidates for, and the training and education of members of, the board of directors of an appraisal district.

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies

Appraisal Districts (Chief Appraisers) • Local Administrative District Judges • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

HB148
Relating to the qualification of candidates for, and the training and education of members of, the board of directors of an appraisal district.
Moderate Urgency
Heavily Contested
House Vote109 - 34
YEA
NAY
76% in favor143 voting
Senate Vote27 - 4
YEA
87% in favor31 voting
38
Total Opposition Votes
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Appraisal DistrictsLocal Administrative District Ju...Texas Comptroller of Public Acco...
Primary Author: Rep. Chris Turner
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025.
  • Compliance Deadline: December 2025 (approximate). While the law applies to terms beginning Jan 1, 2026, candidates filing for the May 2026 election or seeking appointment must execute the new Acknowledgement form *before* filing their application or accepting appointment in late 2025.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Comptroller must approve training curricula provided by accredited higher education institutions. Expect curriculum finalization in Q3 2025 to meet the January 2026 implementation start.

Immediate Action Plan

  • 1. Update Candidate Packets: Immediately insert the statutory "Acknowledgement of Duties" form into all board application packets intended for the 2026 term.
  • 2. Establish "Day-Minus-One" Protocol: Advise all potential candidates to sign and date the Acknowledgement form at least 24 hours prior to filing their ballot application to ensure statutory compliance.
  • 3. Pre-Book Training: Chief Appraisers should contact accredited higher education partners in Q3 2025 to reserve training slots for January 2026 to avoid non-compliance upon swearing-in.
  • 4. Review D&O Insurance: Verify if your organization's Directors & Officers liability policy covers defense costs for removal proceedings based on statutory "incompetency."

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Training Service Agreements: Appraisal Districts must execute agreements with accredited institutions of higher education (e.g., V.G. Young Institute) to provide annual training.
  • Vendor Disclosures: Due to mandated training on "procurement and contracting," CAD vendors should anticipate stricter enforcement of conflict-of-interest disclosures (Form 1295) and contract monitoring.

Hiring/Training

  • Candidate Qualification: The "Acknowledgement of Duties" is now a mandatory prerequisite. Failure to sign this *prior* to filing for a place on the ballot renders the candidate legally ineligible.
  • Director Retention: Directors in counties with populations over 75,000 must complete 8+ hours of training annually (previously one-time). Failure to complete this constitutes "incompetency" and grounds for removal.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • New Form Filing: The "Acknowledgement of Duties" must contain specific statutory language (Sec. 6.0302(c)) and be filed with the Chief Appraiser.
  • Audit Trail: CADs must retain Certificates of Training Completion for all directors to present during the Comptroller’s periodic agency review (Sec. 5.102).

Fees & Costs

  • Training Fees: CADs must budget for annual training fees set by the educational institutions.
  • Legal Costs: Potential increase in legal spend for removal proceedings under Local Government Code Chapter 87 if directors fail to train.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • "Before" Filing Definition: The statute requires the Acknowledgement be signed "before" filing for a place on the ballot but does not define a minimum time interval. *Risk:* Signing the form simultaneously with the application could be challenged as non-compliant.
  • Removal Mechanism: While the law defines failure to train as "incompetency," it does not create an automatic administrative removal process. Removal may still require a formal lawsuit under Local Government Code Chapter 87, creating a "zombie director" period where an incompetent member retains voting power until a judge rules.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Mar 13, 2025
Passed House
Apr 29, 2025
Passed Senate
May 19, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsTaxationTaxation--property-appraisals & Appraisal DistrictsStaff Development & TrainingComptroller of Public AccountsEthicsPurchasingPurchasing--general
03

House Authors

Rep. Chris TurnerDemocrat · Primary Author
Joint Authors
Coauthors (3)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Paul BettencourtRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Rep. Chris Turner

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB148

Q

What does Texas HB148 do?

HB148 establishes a statutory barrier to entry for Appraisal District (CAD) Board service by mandating a signed "Acknowledgement of Duties" prior to candidacy and redefining failure to complete annual training as legal "incompetency. " This legislation impacts all businesses recruiting executives for CAD board oversight and requires immediate updates to election filing procedures for the 2026 term. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025.

Q

Who authored HB148?

HB148 was authored by Texas Representative Chris Turner during the Regular Session.

Q

When was HB148 signed into law?

HB148 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce HB148?

HB148 is enforced by Appraisal Districts (Chief Appraisers), Local Administrative District Judges and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Q

How urgent is compliance with HB148?

The compliance urgency for HB148 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of HB148?

The cost impact of HB148 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does HB148 address?

HB148 addresses topics including taxation, taxation--property-appraisals & appraisal districts, staff development & training, comptroller of public accounts and ethics.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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