H.B. No. 3198

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for
ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land if the land
begins to be used for oil and gas operations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 23, Tax Code, is amended by
adding Section 23.524 to read as follows:
Sec. 23.524. OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS ON LAND. The
eligibility of land for appraisal under this subchapter does not
end because a lessee under an oil and gas lease begins conducting
oil and gas operations over which the Railroad Commission of Texas
has jurisdiction on the land if the portion of the land on which oil
and gas operations are not being conducted otherwise continues to
qualify for appraisal under this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not
affect an additional tax imposed as a result of a change of use of
land appraised under Subchapter D, Chapter 23, Tax Code, that
occurred before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate           Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3198 was passed by the House on May 9,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 3198 on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.

______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3198 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 22, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays
3.

______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date

__________________
Governor