Senate committee advances bill letting counties ask voters to raise lodging tax cap to 5%

The Senate Local Government & Housing Committee on the bill advanced House Bill 12‑47, a measure that would let county governments ask voters to increase county lodging taxes above the existing 2% cap to as much as 5% (the bill was introduced seeking a 6% cap). The committee adopted an amendment that clarifies use for fire protection districts and timing for referring measures to voters, and voted 5‑to‑1 to send the bill to the Committee of the Whole.

Sponsors and county officials told the committee the change is a local, voter‑approved tool to help counties respond to visitor impacts and chronic service funding shortfalls. "House Bill 12‑47 is really . . . a common sense measure that gives counties the flexibility they need to support critical local services while maintaining voter oversight," said Senator Chris Simpson, prime sponsor. Senator Dylan Roberts, co‑prime sponsor, told the panel the bill "modernizes the existing county lodging tax framework by increasing the allowable tax rate and broadening how funds can be used to address local needs," while preserving the requirement that counties put any increase to a public vote.

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