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.

HB 5357 amends Texas property tax law to reduce the required time land must be devoted to qualifying uses for lower tax appraisal. It shortens the period from five to four of the preceding seven years for land used primarily for agriculture, timber production, or ecological research by colleges. The bill also clarifies that land used for wildlife management under specific definitions automatically qualifies for the lower tax rate, regardless of past use. This change directly affects agricultural landowners and institutions seeking reduced property tax assessments under the "qualified open-space land" classification, effective January 1, 2026.