Texas House Bill 299 brings new rules for how home values are appraised for property taxes. The law caps yearly increases in a home's appraised value, giving homeowners more control over their tax bills. This policy takes effect in the 2026 tax year and applies to homeowners who have claimed a homestead exemption.
The main protection is a 10% yearly cap on increases to a home's appraised value for tax purposes. On top of this base amount, homeowners can add the value of any new improvements they make to their property, like adding a room or updating a roof. This means a homeowner's tax appraisal can only jump by the smaller of two amounts: the current market value or the 10% cap plus improvements.
For homeowners who bought their homes recently, there is an added benefit. If you bought your home as a true buyer for fair price, the amount you paid becomes the starting value for tax purposes. This helps protect new homeowners from facing sudden big tax jumps after they buy.
To use this protection, homeowners must apply with their local appraisal office before the deadline for homestead exemption applications. The purchase price information homeowners provide is kept private and only shared when needed for legal or official reasons.
This law helps families in our community keep property taxes more stable and predictable, even as neighborhood property values change. Homeowners who want to benefit from these new rules should contact their county appraisal district for application details.
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