Note These New Laws That Start in 2022

More than two dozen new state laws went into effect on Jan. 1. Here’s a roundup of a few that might be of interest to Fayette County residents.

HB 2730 reforms imminent domain proceedings in Texas. Under the new law, companies operating pipelines, railroads and utilities that want to condemn private land must give landowners the terms of a contract upfront and provide information about the eminent domain process. State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, who has been working on eminent domain reform since she entered the Senate six years ago, has said the legislation doesn’t go as far as she would like. However she said it does start to give landowners some leverage against companies using the eminent domain process.

“Giving the right to private companies to come in and take your land — that you do not want to sell — should be one of the highest privileges that we give in statute,” Kolkhorst said during a committee hearing on the bill back in May.

HB 531 requires landlords to post notices stating whether or not the dwellings they lease are located in a floodplain and whether or not the dwelling has flooded in the past five years. If the landlord violates the posting requirements and the tenant suffers substantial property damages due to a flood, the tenant may terminate the lease.

HB 2535 requires the chief appraiser in each county to exclude the value of chicken coops and rabbit pens when determining the market value of real property for taxation.

SB 1524 establishes a sales tax refund pilot program for employers who offer certain apprenticeship programs.

SB 1449 expands the business personal property tax exemption from $500 to $2,500.