Conference committee weighs education funding changes, property-tax classifications and study requirements

A conference committee considering changes to education funding and property taxes discussed adding new property‑tax classifications and attaching stronger study requirements before major components take effect.

Committee members said the package aims to give the state tools to tax different property types (for example, single‑family homes, rental apartments, businesses and farms) in a more nuanced way and to protect homeowners and other taxpayers from sudden shifts. Members agreed the changes would require substantial administrative work by the tax department and a long timeline before any new classification or rate could be implemented.

The meeting focused on three linked issues: how to structure a statutory process and timeline for new property classifications, how to account for career and technical education (CTE) costs in the funding model, and how to handle independent schools and mixed‑use properties during…