2019 TLTA Bills of Interest

Title Insurance Regulation

  • SB 1062

    • Hancock
    Relating to title insurance rates/regulating title insurance.

  • HB 3228

    • Muñoz, Jr.
    Companion bill to SB 1062.

Eminent Domain

  • HB 991

    • Burns
    Relating to the acquisition of real property by an entity with eminent domain authority. Primary bills for 2019 session regarding eminent domain.

  • SB 421

    • Kolkhorst
    Companion bill to HB 991

Eminent Domain Bills

Real Estate Transactions

  • HB 90

    • Ortega
    Relating to residential mortgage loans, including the financing of residential real estate purchases by means of a wrap mortgage loan. Companion to SB 42, 16-page bill proposing numerous amendments to current law.

  • SB 42

    • Zaffarini
    Companion bill to HB 90.

  • HB 1159

    • Price
    Relating to the acknowledgment of a written instrument on behalf of a limited liability company. Clarifying language for notaries regarding individuals signing for an LLC.  

  • HB 1176

    • Darby
    Relating to technical defects in instruments affecting real property.  Reduces time for suits from 2 years to six months, considered lawfully filed and notice to 3rd parties if filed for over 6 months.

  • SB 2402

    • Menendez
    Companion bill to HB 1176

  • HB 1833

    • Wray
    Relating to the authority of an entity to transfer property

  • SB 977

    • Hughes
    Companion bill to HB 1833

  • SB 874

    • Huffman
    Forms for Transfer on Death deeds-repeals Estates Code Section 114.002(b) and Subchapter D, Chapter 114.

  • HB 3562

    • Farrar
    Companion bill to SB 874

  • SB 1437

    • Taylor
    Relating to easements in a title insurance policy

  • HB 3279

    • Thompson
    Relating to contents of Real Estate Commission forms for sale of residential property

Tax Issues

  • HB 163

    • Canales
    Relating to the additional tax imposed on land appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land if a change in use of the land occurs. Changes 5-year period to 3-year period (same as HB 1211 by Phillips in 2017).  

  • HB 164

    • Raymond
    Relating to the exclusion from the market value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes of the value of any improvement, or any feature incorporated in an improvement, made to the property if the primary purpose of the improvement or feature is compliance with the requirements of standards that address accessible design of buildings or other facilities. Provides tax break for accessible design.

  • HB 240

    • Bernal
    Relating to installment payments of ad valorem taxes imposed on certain residence homesteads. Clarifies category of individuals allowed to make installment payments for residential property.

  • SB 434

    • Hinojosa
    Relating to the effect of a sale of property on the tax lien on the property to secure the payment of ad valorem taxes, penalties, and interest imposed on the property.  Limited applicability denying a tax lien if appraisers make error when property sold in arms-length transaction.

  • SB 474

    • Hancock
    Relating to the eligibility of land secured by a home equity loan to be designated for agricultural use for ad valorem tax purposes. Deletes section 23.42(a-1) which denies an individual’s agricultural exemption if the land is secured by a home equity lien.

  • HB 1560

    • Dutton
    Imposes a tax of $1 on every title policy issued by a title insurance company to be paid for by that title insurance company.  Bill requires the title insurance company to remit the money to the Controller as deemed appropriate.  One quarter of the revenue goes to the foundation school fund and the remainder to the state’s general revenue fund which must be dedicated to and used exclusively for programs and services designed to reduce homelessness and housing insecurity.

  • HB 1743

    • Tracy King
    Lowers 5 to 3 years the time period on change of land use taxation

  • HB 1885

    • G. Bonnen
    Waiver of Penalty & Interest for Mortgagee Error in paying Ad Valorem taxes

  • HB 1978

    • Harris
    Repeals certain ad valorem taxes-land use changes.

  • HB 3358

    • Sanford
    Relating to ad valorem taxes-land use changes

  • SB 1642

    • Miles
    Relating to authority of owner of real property sold at a tax sale to transfer a right of redemption to another person.

  • SB 1943

    • Watson
    Relating to ad valorem taxation of heir property.

  • SB 1962

    • Zaffarini
    Relating to additional tax imposed-land use changes

Liens

  • HB 589

    • Deshotel
    Relating to mechanic’s, contractor’s, or materialman’s liens. 60-page perennial bill altering the current mechanic’s statute.

  • SB 845

    • Hughes
     Relating to the discharge of an M&M lien.

  • HB 2024

    • Romero
    Survival of M&M lien after foreclosure.

  • SB 921

    • West
    Persons entitled to M&M lien on real property (interior designer)

  • HB 2346

    • Darby
    Companion bill to SB 921

  • HB 3498

    • Burrows
    Relating to M&M liens.

Foreclosure

  • HB 715

    • Ortega
    Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to foreclose a lien on property to recover certain expenses. Removes requirement that ad valorem taxes be delinquent in order for municipalities to foreclose under Local Govt. Code 214.004.

  • HB 2069

    • Wray
    Lien foreclosure on property of a decedent.

  • SB 1285

    • Bettencourt
    Auction of real property pursuant to foreclosure of tax lien.

  • HB 2650

    • Goodwin
    Companion bill to SB 1285

  • SB 1440

    • Zaffarini
    Relating to effect of a foreclosure on a preexisting residential tenancy

  • HB 4295

    • Julie Johnson
    Relating to default under a deed of trust or contract lien on certain residential property for delinquent payment of ad valorem taxes

Sales Price Disclosure/Disclosure

  • HB 591

    • Holland
     Relating to seller’s disclosures regarding fuel gas piping in residential real property. Adds items to disclosure list regarding piping (fuel gas).  

  • SB 339

    • Huffman
     Relating to a seller’s disclosure notice for a residential property regarding floodplains, flood pools or reservoirs. Adds items (floodplains/flood pools/reservoirs) to seller’s disclosure notice.

  • HB 993

    • Coleman
     Relating to notice to a prospective residential tenant regarding a dwelling that is located in a floodplain or that has been damaged by flooding (Applies to leases)

  • HB 1036

    • Beckley
    Relating to mandatory sales price disclosure in real property sales.  Bill requires sales price disclosure for filing in real property records.

  • HB 1549

    • Bohac
    Sellers Disclosures regarding proximity of certain residential property to certain Landfills.

  • SB 638

    • Huffman
    Sellers Disclosures regarding proximity of certain residential property to certain Landfills.

  • HB 1658

    • Cecil
    Bell-Sellers Disclosure relating to flood plain/windstorm.

  • SB 1620

    • Hall
    Bell-Sellers Disclosure relating to flood plain/windstorm.

  • HB 3815

    • Morrison
    Relating to requiring notice of property located in floodplain

  • HB 3839

    • Murphy
    Relating to requiring notice of property located in floodplain

  • HB 3838

    • Bailes
    Relating to a disclosure in certain offers to purchase or lease a mineral/royalty interest

  • HB 3913

    • Huberty
    Relating to an exception from required disclosure under PI law of certain personal information obtained by flood control districts.

  • SB 1815

    • Whitmire
    Relating to notice to tenant of floodplain or flooding

  • HB 3556

    • Farrar
    Companion bill to SB 1815

Access to Public Records

  • HB 685 & HB 686

    • Clardy
    Relating to immunity from liability of a court clerk and county for the disclosure or release of a certain court documents and information contained in the court documents & Relating to making permanent the former temporary increases in records archive fees and records management and preservation fees charged by district and county clerks.  Raises fee to $10 from $5 for county and district clerks permanently. 

  • SB 658

    • Zaffirini
    Companion bill to HB 686

  • SB 2374

    • Hughes
    Companion bill to HB 685

  • SB 73

    • Nelson
    Amends Judge Julie Kocurek bill of 2017 (Adds M&M liens and mineral conveyances to instrument definition).

  • HB 815

    • Kuempel
    Relating to authority of a county to require photo identification to file certain documents with the county clerk. Discretionary bill that allows a county clerk to request a photo ID before filing documents (no fee to be charged for photo copying ID). 

  • HB 1655

    • Hunter
     Confidentiality of Birth Records

  • HB 1700

    • Hunter
     Public Information in possession of current or former officer or employee of a governmental entity

  • HB 2435

    • Smith
    Confidentiality of home address of Judges/Spouses

  • HB 3060

    • Parker
    Parker Relating to recording by county clerk of certain real or personal property documents

  • SB 2128

    • Creighton
    Companion bill to HB 3060

  • HB 3305

    • Smithee
    Relating to redacting information from certain property records

  • SB 489

    • Zaffarini
    Companion bill to HB 3305

  • SB 1494

    • Paxton
    Relating to confidentiality of personal information for DFPS

  • SB 1965

    • Zaffarini
    Relating to availability of personal information of a current or former prosecutor/public defender.

  • HB 4248

    • Kuempel
    Relating to specifications for legal papers filed with county clerk/refusing filing

Probate

  • SB 192

    • Perry
    Relating to the transfer of certain probate proceedings to the county in which the executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate resides. Allows transfer of probate proceedings following appointment of an executor or administrator in specific circumstances.  

  • HB 2857

    • Murr
    Companion bill to SB 192

  • SB 631

    • Rodriguez
     Relating to Trusts 15 Page bill amending Property Code

  • HB 2245

    • Wray
    Companion bill to SB 631

  • SB 1166

    • Rodriguez
    Relating to obsolete references in Probate Code

  • HB 2780

    • Wray
    Companion bill to SB1166

  • SB 1208

    • Rodriguez
    Decedents Estates/TOD deeds/Probate

  • HB 2782

    • Wray
    Companion bill to SB1208

  • HB 3744

    • Burrows
    Relating to the rule against perpetuities

Texas Department of Insurance

  • HB 4321 & HB 4322

    • Davis
    Relating to conflicts of interest of TDI Commissioner & TDI employees/Prohibiting employment of certain former TDI Commissioner and employees for two years with regulated businesses or individuals (Class A misdemeanor)

Miscellaneous

  • HB 834

    • Hernandez
    Relating to the authority of a county to adopt a land bank program.

  • HB 1024

    • Martinez
    Relating to real property executed in trust for the issuance of a license as a bail bond surety. Requires proof of a title policy on non-exempt property in bail bond licensing.

  • HB 1116

    • Wray
    Relating to the limitations periods for certain suits against real estate appraisers and appraisal firms.  Clarifies statute of limitations for appraiser/appraisal lawsuits.

  • HB 1614

    • Oliverson
     Operation of Title Insurance Guaranty Association

  • HB 1737

    • Holland
     Relating to Statute of Limitations/Repose –Real Property

  • HB 2641

    • Darby
    Release of reversionary interest in property held by HHSC

  • SB 1226

    • Seliger
    Companion bill to HB 2641

  • HB 2646

    • Gutierrez
    Adoption of land bank program by VLB.

  • SB 1115 & SB1117

    • Lucio
    Authority for county/municipality land bank program.

  • SB 1118

    • Lucio
    Relating to program of TDCHA for safe/affordable housing.

  • SB 624 & SB 1459

    • Nichols
    Sunset bill for Texas Real Estate Commission & Appraiser Licensing

  • HB 1675

    • Thompson
    Companion bill top SB 624 & SB 1459

  • HB 3732

    • Thompson
    Creation of urban land bank by certain municipalities.

  • SB 1918

    • Alvarado
    Companion bill to HB 3732