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Senate panel amends property-tax overhaul, votes on amendment and orders revised fiscal note
Summary
Lawmakers debated Senate Bill 32, a wide-ranging property-tax proposal. The committee adopted amendment 001 (adjusting various class rates and restoring some statutory language) by roll-call, rejected a second amendment intended to limit local mill-effects, and then voted to request an amended fiscal note before taking further action.
Senate Bill 32, a substantial property-tax rewrite, drew extended debate in the Senate Local Government committee. Sponsors and staff said the bill would revise tax rates for several property classes, provide definitions, and change local levy limits. Lawmakers expressed concern about distributional effects, local-government fiscal impacts, and the uncertainty in the implementation and fiscal note.
Senator Fern moved amendment 001, a package of rate adjustments and statutory restorations intended to smooth the bill’s projected fiscal impacts. Committee staff walked members through dozens of line changes; the roll-call recorded 7 yes and 4 no and the amendment was adopted.
Senator Fern then moved amendment 003, which would have restored prior language governing local growth caps (15-10-420) to limit unintended consequences for cities and counties. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote (4 yes / 7 no) after several senators warned it could shift burdens between property classes and increase pressure on the state general fund or other revenues.
Sustained debate followed on the bill’s net fiscal impact and how changes to taxable values would affect the state’s 95-mill distribution to local education. Multiple senators said they would prefer a revised fiscal note before final committee action. Senator Ellsworth moved and the committee approved a request for an amended fiscal note on the bill as amended; staff said the budget office typically needs up to three days to supply a revised estimate. The committee postponed final action pending that revised fiscal note.
