A party to an appeal may ask for settlement discussions, but the request must be written and delivered before trial, and the parties must attend and try to settle within 120 days after the request is delivered.
Sec. 42.227. PRETRIAL SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS. (a) A property owner or appraisal district that is a party to an appeal under this chapter may request that the parties engage in settlement discussions, including through an informal settlement conference or a form of alternative dispute resolution. The request must be in writing and delivered to the other party before the date of trial. The court on motion of either party shall enter orders necessary to implement this section, including an order: (1) specifying the form that the settlement discussions must take; or (2) changing a deadline to designate experts prescribed by Subsection (c). (b) On or before the 120th day after the date the written request is delivered under Subsection (a), each party or the party's attorney of record shall attend the settlement discussions and make a good faith effort to resolve the matter under appeal. (c) If the appraisal district is unable for any reason to attend the settlement discussions on or before the 120th day after the date the written request is delivered under Subsection (a), the deadline to designate experts for the appeal is, notwithstanding a deadline prescribed by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure: (1) with regard to all experts testifying for a party seeking affirmative relief, 60 days before the date of trial; and (2) with regard to all other experts, 30 days before the date of trial. (d) If a property owner is unable for any reason to attend the settlement discussions on or before the 120th day after the date the written request is delivered under Subsection (a), Section 42.23(d) does not apply to the parties to the appeal. (e) An appraisal district may not request or require a property owner to waive a right under this title as a condition of attending a settlement discussion. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1270 (S.B. 593), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2015.