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Committee backs bill creating county contact lists for property owners to help municipalities address blight
Summary
House Bill 858 would require county chief assessors to maintain contact information for property owners and make it available to municipalities for code-enforcement and blight remediation; the committee adopted two amendments lowering the maximum fine and removing a municipal fee, and reported the amended bill unanimously.
House Bill 858, sponsored by Chairman Solomon, would require county chief assessors to establish and maintain a list of contact information for real property owners within the county. Buyers must provide name, residential address, telephone number and email; business owners or LLCs must provide contact information for an individual authorized to repair or maintain property. Owners must update the information within 30 days of a change.
The bill permits a county chief assessor to provide contact information to a requesting municipality that demonstrates a reasonable need, including for discussing upkeep and code violations, and allows the chief assessor to charge up to $20 per request. It also creates an enforcement provision allowing a county to fine up to $1,000 for knowingly providing false information or failing to update contact information.
Sponsor Chairman Solomon framed the proposal as a tool to help municipalities reach absentee or out‑of‑state owners who do not respond to code notices: "This bill provides an answer... It empowers municipalities with a tool to identify an individual that actually can maintain the property."
Committee amendments narrowed enforcement and removed a fee: Amendment A00137 reduced the maximum fine from $1,000 to $500 and passed unanimously. Amendment A00149 removed the provision allowing a county assessor to charge municipalities up to $20 per request; that amendment also passed unanimously. Representative Kuzma offered an amendment to exclude owner-occupied properties from the bill’s requirements and said he would work with the sponsor to refine language; he indicated he might withdraw or pursue it on the floor. Representative Rinkavige withdrew a separate proposed amendment to allow additional changes and said he would work with the sponsor.
The committee reported the amended bill unanimously by voice vote; sponsors said the measure is intended to give municipalities an avenue to reach responsible contacts for property maintenance and code enforcement.
