How We Handle Your Personal Information
appraisaldistrict.org/ is committed to protecting your privacy under the California CCPA/CPRA, the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), and similar state privacy laws. This page sets out what we collect, why, and the rights you can exercise at any time.
What’s on this page
- Who we are
- Information we collect
- How we collect it
- Why we collect it
- Who we share with
- “Sale” and “sharing”
- Cookies and analytics
- Retention
- California rights (CCPA/CPRA)
- Texas rights (TDPSA)
- Other state rights
- How to exercise your rights
- Children
- Security
- International visitors
- Changes to this policy
1. Who We Are
appraisaldistrict.org/ is an independent editorial reference site that publishes guides to Texas County Appraisal Districts, the Texas Property Tax Code, and related property-tax topics. We are the business and the controller for the personal information described on this page.
For any privacy-related question, contact us at info@appraisaldistrict.org with the subject line “Privacy request” and we will respond within the time limits set out below.
2. The Personal Information We Collect
We collect the smallest amount of personal information needed to operate the site and respond to inquiries. Specifically:
| Category | Examples | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | Email address, name (if you provide one), IP address | You — when you contact us · Your browser, automatically |
| Contact content | The content of messages you send us | You — when you email us or use a contact form |
| Internet/network activity | Pages visited, time on page, search terms used on the site, click paths, referring URL | Cookies and analytics, when you consent or by default for strictly necessary functions |
| Device and technical data | Browser type and version, device type, operating system, approximate location derived from IP | Your browser, automatically |
| Inferences | Aggregate inferences about content interests (e.g., which Texas counties a visitor reads about) | Derived from analytics, where consented |
| Advertising identifiers | Identifiers used to limit ad frequency and measure ad performance | Third-party advertising networks, when you consent |
We do not collect Sensitive Personal Information as defined under CCPA/CPRA — no Social Security numbers, government identification, financial accounts, precise geolocation, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, union membership, contents of mail/email/text, genetic data, biometric data, or sexual-orientation data. We do not ask for it.
3. How We Collect Personal Information
- Directly from you — when you email us, complete a contact form, or set cookie preferences.
- Automatically — when you visit the site, your browser sends standard technical information (IP address, browser version, etc.) so the page can load.
- From third-party services we use — analytics and advertising providers, but only after you have given consent (where required) through our cookie banner.
4. Business Purposes for Collection and Use
We use personal information for the following business purposes (the categories tracked under CCPA/CPRA):
- Providing the website and its content
- Responding to questions, corrections, and feedback
- Securing the site and protecting against abuse, fraud, and unauthorized access
- Auditing interactions and measuring site performance (analytics, where consented)
- Supporting display advertising that funds the site (where consented)
- Complying with legal obligations and responding to lawful requests
We do not use personal information for automated decision-making with legal or similarly significant effects. We do not engage in profiling for “decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects” within the meaning of the Texas TDPSA or other state privacy laws.
6. “Sale” and “Sharing” of Personal Information
We do not sell personal information for money. However, under CCPA/CPRA the term “sale” is broad, and use of certain advertising cookies may meet the CCPA/CPRA definition of “sharing for cross-context behavioral advertising.” Where that applies, you have the right to opt out — see Section 9 below for the California-specific procedure and Section 7 below for the cookie controls that achieve this in practice.
The site honors the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a valid opt-out of “sale” and “sharing” under CCPA/CPRA and the Colorado Privacy Act. If your browser is sending GPC, we treat it as a request to opt out and apply it without further confirmation.
7. Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising
Cookies are small text files placed on your device. Some are required for the site to work (strictly necessary); others support analytics and advertising and are only set with your consent where the law requires it. Our cookie banner lets you accept all, reject all, or customize by category. You can change your choice at any time using the “Cookie settings” link in the footer.
For the full list of cookies, third-party services, and your control options — including industry opt-outs (NAI, DAA, Your Online Choices) and browser/mobile-device controls — see our Cookie Policy.
8. How Long We Keep Personal Information
| Category | Retention |
|---|---|
| Email correspondence and contact-form messages | Up to 24 months from last contact, then deleted unless an active matter requires longer retention |
| Server access logs (IP addresses, request data) | Up to 90 days, then aggregated or deleted |
| Analytics data | Aggregated; identifiable data retained no longer than 14 months |
| Cookie consent records | 12 months from when you set your preference |
| Backups | Rotating backups deleted on a 30–90 day cycle |
9. California Rights (CCPA / CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act:
Right to know
Categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, sources, business purposes, and recipients.
Right to delete
To request deletion of personal information we hold about you, subject to legal exceptions.
Right to correct
To request correction of inaccurate personal information.
Right to opt out of sale/sharing
To opt out of any “sale” or cross-context behavioral advertising “sharing.” We honor the Global Privacy Control signal.
Right to limit use of sensitive PI
We do not collect Sensitive Personal Information, but the right exists in principle.
Right to non-discrimination
You will not be denied service or charged more for exercising these rights.
To exercise these rights, email info@appraisaldistrict.org with the subject line “California privacy request.” We respond within 45 days as required by CCPA, with one possible 45-day extension where reasonably necessary.
10. Texas Rights (Texas Data Privacy and Security Act)
If you are a Texas resident, you have rights under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), which took effect July 1, 2024. The TDPSA provides:
- Right to confirm and access — to confirm whether we are processing your personal data and to access it
- Right to correct — to correct inaccuracies, taking into account the nature and purposes of processing
- Right to delete — to delete personal data provided by or obtained about you
- Right to data portability — to obtain a copy of personal data you previously provided in a portable, technically feasible format
- Right to opt out — of (a) targeted advertising, (b) the sale of personal data, and (c) profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects
To exercise your TDPSA rights, email info@appraisaldistrict.org with the subject line “Texas privacy request.” We will respond within 45 days, with one possible 45-day extension. Texas law requires that we provide an appeal process if we decline a request — instructions to appeal will be included with any decline. After exhausting the appeal you may contact the Texas Attorney General; details at texasattorneygeneral.gov.
11. Other State Privacy Rights
Residents of other states with comprehensive consumer privacy laws have similar rights, including:
| State | Law |
|---|---|
| Virginia | Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) |
| Colorado | Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) — UOOMs and the Colorado Privacy Act Universal Opt-Out |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA) |
| Utah | Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) |
| Oregon | Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA) |
| Montana | Montana Consumer Data Privacy Act (MCDPA) |
| Delaware, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maryland, Rhode Island | Comprehensive state privacy laws (effective dates vary) |
To exercise these rights, email us using the subject line “[State] privacy request” (e.g., “Virginia privacy request”). We will respond within the period required by the applicable law (typically 45 days, with possible extensions).
12. How to Exercise Your Rights
For all privacy requests, email info@appraisaldistrict.org. Include enough information for us to identify the data you’re asking about. We may need to verify your identity before responding — most commonly by confirming you control the email address that submitted the request, or by asking you to confirm details that match what we already hold.
Under CCPA and similar state laws, you may use an authorized agent to submit requests on your behalf. We may require written authorization and verification of the agent’s identity before processing the request.
13. Children
This site is not directed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. We comply with the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete it promptly. CCPA/CPRA also imposes opt-in standards for the sale or sharing of personal information of consumers under 16 — we do not engage in conduct that would require those opt-ins.
14. Security
We apply technical and organizational measures appropriate to the risk of the personal information we process. These include encryption of data in transit (HTTPS across the site), access controls on our administrative tools, regular software updates, secure authentication for our editorial team, and contractual security commitments from our vendors. No internet service can guarantee absolute security; if we become aware of a breach involving your personal information, we will notify you and applicable authorities consistent with state breach-notification laws including those of Texas (Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §521.053) and California (Cal. Civ. Code §1798.82).
15. International Visitors (GDPR / UK GDPR)
The site is operated for a US audience but is accessible globally. If you visit from the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the EU GDPR or UK GDPR may apply. The lawful bases we rely on are: (a) legitimate interests for operating the site and responding to your inquiry; (b) consent for analytics and advertising cookies; and (c) legal obligation where applicable. You have the standard rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection. To exercise these, email us. EU residents may also lodge a complaint with their local supervisory authority; UK residents may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
16. Changes to This Policy
We update this policy when our practices change or when state privacy laws change (which happens frequently). The “Last reviewed” date at the top reflects the current version. Substantive changes will be flagged on the homepage banner for at least 30 days. This policy is read alongside our Cookie Policy, Terms of Service, and Disclaimer.
Questions About Your Personal Information?
Email us. We respond to general privacy questions within seven business days, and to formal state-law requests within the deadline set by the applicable law.
📧 info@appraisaldistrict.org