Rep. Shelley Luther introduced HB 5357, a bill on Taxation, to the Texas House on Friday, March 14 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the period for which land must be devoted to certain uses to qualify for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill amends the criteria for classifying land as “qualified open-space land” for ad valorem tax appraisal purposes. It specifies that the land must be primarily used for agricultural activities, or for the production of timber or forest products, for four of the previous seven years. Alternatively, the land can qualify if it has primarily served as an ecological laboratory by a college or university for four of the preceding seven years. In addition, the bill states that land used predominantly for wildlife management, as per specific definitions, qualifies as open-space land for tax purposes regardless of past usage. The terms also cover various land appurtenances like roads, dams, and water rights. These provisions apply to tax appraisals beginning January 1, 2026.
Shelley Luther, a member of the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, proposed another eight bills during the 89(R) legislative session. She is also a member of the House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development.
Shelley Luther is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 62nd House district. She replaced previous state representative Reggie Smith in 2025.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Other Bills Introduced by Your Representatives in Texas House
| Legislative Session | Author | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 5464 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the authority of the governor, and certain political subdivisions with respect to disasters |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 4981 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a scoring system for all permit applications within the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 4209 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to a report of child abuse or neglect made by an employee of a school district or an open-enrollment charter school |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 4180 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to imposing a tax on certain money transmissions |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 3682 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to the diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of digital electronic equipment |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 3441 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the liability of vaccine manufacturers for advertising a harmful vaccine |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 1947 | 01/17/2025 | Relating to civil and criminal liability for engaging in certain conduct involving a critical infrastructure facility; creating criminal offenses |
| 89(R) | Shelley Luther | HB 1946 | 01/17/2025 | Relating to the denial of certain applications for a permit or other authorization under the Texas Clean Air Act on the basis of proximity to a semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility |
| 88(3) | Reggie Smith | HB 121 | 10/11/2023 | Relating to establishing a pilot program to provide school district employees assistance with child-care services |
| 88(3) | Reggie Smith | HB 122 | 10/11/2023 | Relating to reports of certain misconduct engaged in by an employee of a public school, regional education service center, or shared services arrangement and a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding employee misconduct reporting mechanisms |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5416 | 04/27/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Briar Branch Estates Municipal Utility District of Hunt County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5407 | 04/24/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Blanton Creek Estates Municipal Utility District of Fannin County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5392 | 04/19/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Highland Park Municipal Utility District of Grayson County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5377 | 04/14/2023 | Relating to the creation of the Fannin Farms Municipal Utility District of Fannin County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5340 | 04/03/2023 | Relating to the creation of the North Grayson County Municipal Utility District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4780 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to early voting ballots voted by mail |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4782 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to electioneering conducted near a polling place |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4783 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to amending the pledge of allegiance to the state flag |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4978 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to reports of certain misconduct committed by an employee of a public school, regional education service center, or shared services arrangement and a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding employee misconduct reporting mechanisms |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5002 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to longevity pay for certain prosecutors |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5147 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to the rules of the road regarding red signals at certain traffic-control signals |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 5149 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to covenants not to compete for certain psychology or counseling professions |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4481 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to a directory of e-cigarettes and alternative nicotine products sold in this state, and regulation of the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes and alternative nicotine products; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; imposing a civil penalty; imposing administrative penalties |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4487 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to student loan repayment assistance for prosecutors and certain criminal lawyers practicing in rural counties |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 4235 | 03/08/2023 | Relating to storing data received from a centrally counted optical scan ballot |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3956 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to the creation of DNA records for a person arrested for a felony offense and the expunction of DNA records in certain circumstances |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3957 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to the establishment of a rapid DNA analysis pilot program in certain counties |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3958 | 03/07/2023 | Relating to the establishment of a grant program to assist law enforcement agencies in collecting DNA samples from defendants arrested for certain felony offenses |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3565 | 03/06/2023 | Relating to special reports of political contributions received by candidates for certain offices |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3400 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to the release of defendants on bail, the duties of a magistrate in certain criminal proceedings, and the appointment of certain criminal law hearing officers; creating a criminal offense |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3402 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to establishing a pilot program to provide school district employees assistance with child-care services |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 3404 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to the issuance of certain air permits for facilities attached to mines and quarries |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2850 | 02/24/2023 | Relating to discovery procedures for civil actions brought under the Family Code |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2852 | 02/24/2023 | Relating to the control by certain persons of the disposition of a decedent’s remains |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2739 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to the operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles on a state highway or farm or ranch road at a weight that exceeds the maximum weight authorized for the road; imposing a criminal penalty |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2740 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to the inspection of juvenile justice facilities |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2741 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to the duties and composition of the Specialty Courts Advisory Council |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2742 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to increasing criminal penalties for the manufacture or delivery of certain controlled substances; changing the eligibility for community supervision, deferred adjudication community supervision, or mandatory supervision |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 2743 | 02/23/2023 | Relating to procedures regarding the court-ordered administration of psychoactive medication for criminal defendants who are found incompetent to stand trial |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 1949 | 02/06/2023 | Relating to the continuation of the Red River Boundary Commission |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 1528 | 01/23/2023 | Relating to magistration proceedings for criminal defendants and the retention of related records, to services and representation provided to indigent criminal defendants and indigent juveniles, and to the governance and administration of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 1163 | 01/03/2023 | Relating to creating the criminal offense of boating while intoxicated with a child passenger; changing the eligibility for deferred adjudication community supervision |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 454 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to continuing education requirements for physicians regarding the identification and assistance of trafficked persons |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 457 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to the jurisdiction of the statutory county courts of Grayson County in family law matters |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 461 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to a waiver of the requirement for the performance of an adoption evaluation in certain suits for adoption |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 464 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to the creation of criminal law magistrates for Grayson County |
| 88(R) | Reggie Smith | HB 469 | 11/14/2022 | Relating to the sequestration of a jury in a criminal case |
