Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs, with active input from TWA and other stakeholder groups, has updated agency rules to clarify what landowners and tax appraisers need to know regarding wildlife management standards for property to be appraised as open space land.

The Wildlife Management Rule became effective on December 11, 2008 and a copy is now available online. CLICK HERE to read or print out the new rule.

"The new rule was needed because there was considerable confusion and misapplication of requirements under the previous version by county appraisers," said Kirby Brown, TWA Vice President of Public Policy. "Comptroller Susan Combs and her staff are to be congratulated for being proactive to correct issues in the previous rules with the input of a large, knowledgeable stakeholder group."

In 1995, Texas voters approved Proposition 11, a signature effort of the TWA. The proposition amended Article VIII, Section 1-d-1 of the Texas Constitution to permit agricultural appraisal for land used to manage wildlife. H.B. 1358 implemented the constitutional amendment by making wildlife management an agricultural use that qualifies the land for agricultural appraisal.

The Texas Wildlife Association believes that the agriculture, wildlife, and timber valuations are essential to maintaining open space and sustaining rural economies. CLICK HERE for a TWA Fact Sheet on the issue.