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House committee requires ‘casino gaming’ wording on property tax relief notices, unanimously advances bill
Summary
The House Finance Committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 325, which clarifies that homestead property tax relief on bills is funded by casino gaming revenue; an amendment adding the word “casino” was adopted without opposition.
The House Finance Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to report House Bill 325 to the full House after adopting an amendment that changes the phrase “gaming revenue” to “casino gaming revenue” on property tax bills.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Pashinski, would require a clearer notice on property tax bills identifying the homestead exemption payments as coming from transfers from the state gaming fund to the property tax relief fund. Mark Forman, the committee’s senior executive director, summarized the bill as a measure to “clarify the gaming funded property tax relief notice on property tax bills.”
Representative Mike Jones offered and moved an amendment to insert the single word “casino” into the language. “I do think gaming, while a lot of us know what that means, not everybody understands the term,” Jones said, adding that some constituents could confuse gaming with lottery revenue. Representative Fritz seconded the amendment. The committee adopted the Jones amendment unanimously.
Committee members and staff described the homestead exemption’s funding history during discussion. Committee members said the homestead exemption has been funded by casino revenue since the mid-2000s: committee staff noted casinos opened in 2006 and the homestead exemption began in 2008, funded by transfers from the gaming fund into a property tax relief fund and then distributed to taxpayers by school district. Committee members cited past statewide totals: roughly $750 million in 2022, $900 million in 2024, and a statement by the governor that the amount could reach about $1 billion in the coming budget (the governor’s number is not final until certification on April 15).
After debate, the committee chair called for a vote on House Bill 325 as amended; the bill “passes the committee unanimously and is reported to the House,” according to the meeting transcript. The committee record did not provide a numeric roll-call tally for the final committee vote in the transcript.
The committee scheduled a related public hearing shortly after the vote and then continued with other agenda items.
Ending: The measure now goes to the full House for further consideration. If enacted, property tax bills would include a clearer statement that homestead exemption rebates are funded by casino gaming revenue, per the amended text adopted by the committee.
