Texas Senate Bill SB 2068

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/7/25
• Out of Senate Committee: 4/14/25
• Voted on by Senate: 4/24/25
• Out of House Committee: 5/13/25
• Voted on by House: 5/21/25
• Governor Action: 6/20/25

Caption

Relating to the duty of an appraisal district to keep confidential certain identifying information provided by a property owner.

Summary

SB 2068 amends the Texas Tax Code to make additional identifying information submitted by a property owner in an application for a property tax exemption confidential. Under the bill, a driver’s license number, personal identification certificate number, or social security number, as well as the name, age, home address, and home telephone number of a child included in an exemption application filed with a chief appraiser, are not open to public inspection. The bill also limits disclosure of that information to appraisal district employees or agents who appraise property or perform appraisal services, except as otherwise allowed under existing law. In practical terms, the measure strengthens privacy protections for exemption applicants and their families by restricting access to sensitive personal data held by appraisal districts. The act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Impact

SB 2068 narrows public access to certain personal identifiers contained in property tax exemption applications and imposes a confidentiality duty on appraisal districts under Section 11.48 of the Tax Code. It affects appraisal districts, chief appraisers, and property owners who file exemption applications, especially where children’s identifying information is included. The bill does not create a new exemption program or tax rate change; rather, it updates confidentiality rules governing records maintained by local appraisal authorities.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate unanimously and the House overwhelmingly, with no recorded opposition in either chamber. The voting history suggests strong bipartisan agreement that the privacy of sensitive taxpayer information should be protected.

Contention

There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. Because no committee transcripts are provided, no specific objections or amendments can be identified. The only likely policy tension is between public access to government-held records and privacy protection for property owners, but the final votes indicate that any such concerns did not generate meaningful opposition.