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SB 491

Relating to the confidentiality of certain home address information in property tax appraisal records.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Borris Miles

SB 491 restricts public access to residential addresses in Texas property tax appraisal records to enhance homeowner privacy and security.

Co-author authorized
#criminalprocedure--defensecounsel(i0207) #openrecords(i0548) #protectionofpersonalinformation(i0003) #taxation--property-appraisals&appraisaldistricts(i0792)
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Bill Summary · SB 491

Legislative bill overview

SB 491 would restrict public access to home address information contained in property tax appraisal records in Texas. The bill aims to shield residential addresses from disclosure in these publicly available documents, likely creating exemptions or redaction requirements for certain property owner categories.

Why is this important

Property tax records are traditionally public documents used for legitimate purposes like verifying property ownership, assessing neighborhood values, and conducting research. Restricting address access could enhance privacy and security for homeowners—particularly those facing safety risks—but may complicate property transactions, tax challenges, and journalistic oversight of government records.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy vs. transparency trade-off: Limiting public access to property tax records reduces government transparency and could shield information relevant to investigating property fraud, tax evasion, or government accountability
  • Selective application concerns: The bill may create disparities if only certain categories of property owners (e.g., public officials, domestic violence survivors) receive address protection, raising equity questions
  • Implementation challenges: Property appraisal systems would require technical modifications to redact addresses while maintaining functional records for legitimate government and commercial uses

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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