Finance and Taxation committee votes 'do not pass' on study of square‑foot residential assessment (House Bill 14-74)

The Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation voted to recommend "do not pass" on House Bill 14-74, a proposed "shall consider" study to examine residential property taxation based on square footage.

Senator Wallen moved a "do not pass" recommendation on the study; Senator Romo seconded. After a roll call, the clerk recorded the motion as adopted with five yes votes, zero no votes and one member not voting. Committee members agreed to carry the measure to the floor.

Committee members criticized the square‑foot methodology as likely to produce inequities between properties of identical size but different condition or location. "You would have two houses that are identical in square footage, but one's a hundred plus years old and falling apart and the other one's brand new," Senator Wallin said, arguing the method would ignore condition and other value drivers.

Senator Grama and others noted practical difficulties and lack of precedent nationwide. Members warned the measure could redistribute tax burdens rather than resolve assessment shocks experienced when reassessments occur every several years. Senator Marshall (recorded as raising county assessor testimony) summarized written testimony from Walsh County and other local officials and recommended a "do not pass," citing administration difficulty, undefined terms for "improvements," and no provision for properties coming off exemptions.

Senator Wallen agreed to carry the measure to the floor after the committee vote. The committee's action was procedural: it recommended "do not pass" on the study rather than adopting a policy change or statute.

No amendments or alternative motions were adopted during the roll call recorded in the transcript.