House adopts resolution creating property-tax task force after debate over scope and appointments

Representative Hansen moved the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 6,003, a measure to create a task force to study substantial property tax relief, and the House adopted the resolution by a vote of 64-6.

The resolution, presented as a vehicle for a broad, interim study, seeks to bring "all the interested parties to the table" — including homeowners, local governments, the Senate and the governor's office — to develop options for large-scale property tax relief, Representative Hansen said on the floor.

The measure's sponsor said property valuations and tax burdens have grown in recent years and that proposals delivering substantial relief likely will require more than one legislative session and coordinated interim work. "If we're going to get together and try to solve the property tax issue... it's gonna take more than one legislative session," Hansen said.

Supporters said the task force is intended to produce comprehensive options that could lead to significant reduction in property tax burden statewide. Representative Marty Overwig and several others commended the resolution's goal of inclusive study and urged colleagues to support it.

Opponents voiced concerns about the composition and appointment process for the task force. Representative Healy said his caucus could not support the resolution because it allows four members to be appointed by the Speaker and four by the Majority Leader rather than using the Legislature's eBoard process that had been used historically for similar panels. "It really does navigate away from the way that we've truly done things in the past," Healy said.

Representative Mortensen and others stressed that meaningful property-tax reform will require broad coalitions including counties, cities, schools, agriculture and business interests and noted the state has not enacted major property-tax relief in over a decade. Multiple lawmakers urged the House to use the interim to craft options large enough to affect "hundreds of millions of dollars," as described on the floor.

After brief remarks from several members and recognition of visiting students and constituents, the House voted. The clerk reported ayes 64, nays 6. The motion carried and House Concurrent Resolution 6,003 was adopted.

The resolution does not itself change tax law; it establishes a study group to examine proposals and report back. Details on the task force's membership, timeline beyond the general interim study purpose, and any next steps to convert study recommendations into legislation were not specified on the floor.