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Senate committee amends homestead-exemption bill, increases single‑person cap and removes 'married couple' language
Summary
The Senate Ways and Means Committee amended HB 617 to raise the single-person homestead exemption from $250,000 to $350,000, allow combined exemptions up to $500,000 for persons with an interest in the property, and remove language limited to 'married couple.' The committee voted the amended bill out on consent.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 617 to change the homestead exemption structure, raising the exemption for a single person, removing language specific to married couples and allowing total exemptions for all persons with an interest in property to total no more than $500,000.
Senator Lang explained the committee compromise and proposed amendment changes, saying members wanted to modernize the statute and address equity for households with different structures. "My recommendation is... _$350,000_ for a single person and no more than $500,000 total for all persons with an interest in the household," Lang said during the meeting, offering a drafting package to adjust previously adopted amendment language.
Under the committee's adopted changes the bill would: raise the single-person cap from $250,000 to $350,000; remove the phrase "by a married couple" and allow multiple exemptions but cap combined exemptions at $500,000 per property; and adjust cross-references later in the bill for consistency. Senators discussed recusal concerns; legal counsel advised that merely owning a house and having equity does not automatically require recusal.
Committee action: The committee voted the bill out as amended, with a subsequent consent vote recorded as 5–0. Senators who supported the amended motion said the changes reflected a modernized approach to household structure and recognized long-term homeowners' equity positions.
Ending: With the amendment adopted and the committee placing the bill on consent, HB 617 will proceed with the committee's recommended amended language. The committee record notes the amendment was drafted to keep implementation straightforward and to allow the committee to move the bill forward on consent.
