SB2068

Regular Session

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

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

County Appraisal Districts • Chief Appraisers

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (All applications filed on or after this date must adhere to new protocols).
Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Comptroller is expected to update exemption forms (specifically Form 50-114) by July 2025 to accommodate these data fields. Monitor the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division for these releases.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Audit Intake Forms: Immediately revise client intake questionnaires to specifically ask if a minor resides at the property or is a beneficiary.
2. Update CRM: Configure case management software to tag files containing minor PII to prevent accidental inclusion in bulk reporting.
3. Monitor Forms: Assign a compliance officer to check the Texas Comptroller’s website monthly starting May 2025 for updated exemption forms.
4. Client Communication: Notify high-net-worth clients of this new protection and offer to re-file exemptions in late 2025 to "cleanse" their public record.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Client Engagement Letters: Update agreements to explicitly state your firm’s adherence to SB2068 privacy standards as a value-add service.
Data Vendor Agreements: If your business purchases bulk data from Appraisal Districts, amend contracts to acknowledge that demographic data regarding household composition will be statutorily redacted beginning Q4 2025.

Hiring/Training

Intake Staff Training: Train staff to identify applications involving minors (e.g., heirship, trusts). They must ensure minor PII is entered *only* in designated confidential fields and not in general "Notes" or "Comments" sections which may not be automatically redacted.
Verification Protocols: Implement a "post-filing check" to confirm the Appraisal District has correctly flagged the account as confidential.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Document Stamping: Until standardized forms are updated, you must stamp "CONFIDENTIAL - CONTAINS MINOR PII" on all supporting affidavits or attachments (birth certificates, trust documents) submitted to the District.
Internal Redaction: If your firm is subject to any public disclosure requirements (e.g., public-private partnerships), you must adopt internal redaction standards mirroring the Appraisal District's protocols.

Fees & Costs

No Direct Fee Increases: There are no statutory filing fees associated with this confidentiality.
Operational Costs: Minimal costs associated with updating CRM fields to segregate "Minor PII" from general client contact data.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Scope of "Application": The statute protects information "provided in an application." It is legally ambiguous whether this extends to *attachments* (e.g., a birth certificate attached to prove age). Guidance: Do not assume attachments are protected. Redact non-essential PII from attachments *before* filing, or explicitly label them as confidential.
Retroactivity: The law is prospective. It does not automatically scrub minor data from applications filed prior to September 1, 2025. To protect high-profile clients with existing records, you must file a new application or a specific confidentiality request after the effective date.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsProtection of Personal Information Taxation Taxation--property-appeal of Tax Decisions Taxation--property-exemptions Taxation--property-appraisals & Appraisal Districts

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2068
	By: Bettencourt
	Local Government
	4/4/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law provides that the driver's license number, personal ID certificate number, or Social Security number provided in an application for a tax exemption filed with a chief appraiser is confidential and not subject to public inspection. However, some applications for exemptions include personal identifiable information of children associated with the property's ownership, which is not explicitly made confidential under the Tax Code. Central appraisal districts have received public information requests in formats where this information could have been released, but was not released after clarifying the purpose of the request with the requestor.

S.B. 2068 seeks to protect this information by making the name, age, home address, or home telephone number of a child provided in an exemption application confidential under Section 11.48, Tax Code.

As proposed, S.B. 2068 amends current law relating to the tax administration for property tax protests and appeals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.48(a), Tax Code, by amending Subsection 11.48(a) to provide that certain information, including the name, age, home address, or home telephone number of a child, provided in an application for an exemption of taxable property filed with a chief appraiser is confidential and not open to public inspection.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Paul BettencourtRepublican · Primary Author

House Sponsors

Rep. Angie ButtonRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Joint Sponsors

Ellen Troxclair (R)

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 2068

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the duty of an appraisal district to keep confidential
	certain identifying information provided by a property owner.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 11.48(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as
	follows:
	(a) A driver's license number, personal identification
	certificate number, or social security account number, or the name,
	age, home address, or home telephone number of a child, provided in
	an application for an exemption filed with a chief appraiser is
	confidential and not open to public inspection. The information
	may not be disclosed to anyone other than an employee or agent of
	the appraisal district who appraises property or performs appraisal
	services for the appraisal district, except as authorized by
	Subsection (b).
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 5, 2025

TO:	Honorable Paul Bettencourt, Chair, Senate Committee on Local Government

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB2068 by Bettencourt (Relating to the tax administration for property tax protests and appeals.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would classify the name, age, home address, or home telephone number of a child provided on an application for an exemption filed with the chief appraiser as confidential information and not open to public inspection.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JMc, SZ, SD, BRI

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB2068

What does Texas SB2068 do?

SB2068 mandates that County Appraisal Districts redact and keep confidential the name, age, address, and phone number of a minor child when provided in a property tax exemption application. This change primarily affects property tax consultants, family law attorneys, and wealth managers, who must now alter filing procedures to ensure client data triggers these statutory protections. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (All applications filed on or after this date must adhere to new protocols).

Who authored SB2068?

SB2068 was authored by Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt during the Regular Session.

When was SB2068 signed into law?

SB2068 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB2068?

SB2068 is enforced by County Appraisal Districts and Chief Appraisers.

How urgent is compliance with SB2068?

The compliance urgency for SB2068 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB2068?

The cost impact of SB2068 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB2068 address?

SB2068 addresses topics including protection of personal information, taxation, taxation--property-appeal of tax decisions, taxation--property-exemptions and taxation--property-appraisals & appraisal districts.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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