Amendment 1-0 to HB0162
HB0162
Law Allowing Large Property Tax Refunds as Future Credits
In one sentence
This law allows counties and cities to pay property tax refunds over time using credits on future taxes instead of cash, if the refund is large enough and both sides agree.
What it does
- Allows local governments to pay a refund owed in yearly installments applied as credits against future property taxes for the same land involved in the dispute.
- Requires the taxpayer and government to sign a written agreement that waives any penalties or interest charges.
- Mandates that the signed agreement be filed with the state comptroller within 30 days.
- Sets a rule that the full refund must be paid off through credits within 10 years of the agreement date.
- Limits this option to refunds larger than $500,000.
Who it affects
- Counties and municipalities that collect property taxes
- Taxpayers who are owed a refund greater than $500,000 from their local government
Limits and unknowns
- This option only works if both the taxpayer and local government agree to it in writing.
- The law expires on June 30, 2041, so no new agreements can be made after that date.
- Local governments must already allow prepayments or partial payments of property taxes.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Property tax credit
- An amount subtracted from future property taxes instead of being paid as cash.
- Comptroller of the treasury
- The state official who receives and keeps records of government financial documents, including these agreements.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 198, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, authorize, until June 30, 2041, a county or municipality that levies a property tax to pay a property tax refund owed to a taxpayer through annual installments applied as credits against the taxpayer's future p roperty taxes if all of the following criteria are met: The county or municipality and the taxpayer agree in a written settlement of a property tax dispute that the refund will be applied as credits. The written settlement agreement must (i) contain a provision wherein the taxpayer waives any penalties and interests that would otherwise accrue; (ii) be sign by the chief elected official of the municipality or county and the taxpayer; and (iii) be filed with the comptroller of the treasury within 30 days. The refund is paid in full within 10 years of the written settlement agreement. Each annual installment is applied to the future property taxes of the same parcel or parcels that are subject of the property tax dispute. The total refund owed to the taxpayer is greater than $500,000. The county or municipality is authorized to accept prepayments and partial payments of property taxes.
Official activity
Bill history
- Comp. became Pub. Ch. 1049
- Effective date(s) 05/22/2026
- Pub. Ch. 1049
- Signed by Governor.
- Transmitted to Governor for action.
- Signed by H. Speaker
- Signed by Senate Speaker
- Enrolled and ready for signatures
- Comp. SB subst.
- Passed H., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 0
- Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA1136)
- Subst. for comp. HB.
- H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/20/2026
- Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/16/2026
- Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
- Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/15/2026
- Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
- Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
- Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
- Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
Changes
Amendments
2 stored
Amendment 1-0 to SB0198