The Texas Workforce Housing Coalition (TWHC) has filed multiple Texas Public Information Act (PIA) requests targeting several county appraisal districts across the state.
The filings seek to uncover communications between appraisal district officials and outside organizations or individuals concerning the interpretation and enforcement of House Bill 21 (HB 21). The coalition said it wants to determine whether certain appraisal districts are coordinating with political or private interests to restrict the authority of housing finance corporations (HFCs) operating beyond their home counties.
TWHC said the requests are part of a broader effort to ensure transparency and accountability following what it describes as an “unlawful and misguided” interpretation of HB 21. The group recently filed a lawsuit challenging the law, arguing it retroactively changes the rules for affordable housing projects that were financed under previous statutes, undermining investor confidence and threatening the stability of existing communities.
The coalition warned that appraisal districts’ actions could jeopardize thousands of affordable housing units across Texas. If the disputed interpretations are allowed to stand, TWHC said the result could include foreclosures, displacement of working families, and higher housing costs for teachers, nurses, and first responders.
The move follows an earlier dispute with the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD), which TWHC accused of reversing its long-standing recognition of tax exemptions for HFCs that own property outside their home counties. In a press release last week, the coalition said DCAD’s decision “puts Texas families and communities at risk” and contradicts decades of consistent practice across the state.
Trey Cox, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and counsel to TWHC, said the appraisal districts’ actions appear “politically motivated and not based on a fair reading of the law,” according to a press statement. He said the PIA requests are intended to uncover any coordination behind those actions and to protect the legal foundation of affordable housing in Texas.
TWHC said it will review all materials obtained through the information requests and pursue further legal steps if evidence shows improper influence or coordination among appraisal districts.
