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House amends Senate File 153 to clarify owner-occupied definition, sets 2025 residential taxable rate then lays bill back
Summary
Lawmakers amended Senate File 153 to include trust-held property in owner-occupied definitions, debated whether long-term renters should qualify, moved the 2025 residential taxable rate to 8.3 percent, adopted several amendments, and laid the bill back for one day.
The Wyoming House considered multiple amendments to Senate File 153, a bill on residential real property taxable values and related taxation provisions. Lawmakers moved a sequence of second-reading amendments to clarify definitions and set taxable rates for 2025.
Representative Chestyck offered an amendment to confirm that an "owner" includes those holding property beneficially in trusts, clarifying that owner-occupied status covers property held in common estate-planning structures. The amendment was adopted.
Representative Yen offered an amendment to define owner-occupied so an owner could make a dwelling "occupied" even when a long-term renter lives in it; supporters said this would extend relief to long-term renters and align with prior legislation. Some members opposed, saying owner-occupied should mean the owner actually resides there. Yen later moved an amendment (withdrawn) and the bill sponsor and others explained that the department cannot administratively split owner-occupied status for 2025 tax bills but can do so in 2026.
Representative Veil moved an amendment to change the taxable rate for residential property for tax year 2025 to 8.3 percent and to set owner-occupied taxable rate going forward at 8.3 percent; the sponsor said county revenue departments could implement the single 8.3 percent rate for 2025 and then apply the owner-occupied subclass in 2026. The amendment was adopted. The bill sponsor then asked to lay the bill back for one day; the House laid Senate File 153 back for one day.
Why it matters: The House adopted clarifications to how owner-occupied status is defined in statute (including trust-held property) and set the residential taxable rate for 2025 at 8.3 percent. Lawmakers flagged administrative constraints at the Department of Revenue for immediate subclassing in 2025 and laid the bill back to allow further work.
Ending: Senate File 153 was amended on the floor to clarify owner definitions and set a 2025 taxable rate of 8.3 percent for residential property, with a one-day layback to finalize details.
