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House clarifies property-tax deadline language; adopts postmark protection
Summary
Lawmakers amended House Bill 118 to extend the tax-payment deadline to midnight Nov. 30 and explicitly allow payments postmarked by that date; the amended bill passed and will be sent to the Senate.
The House on Feb. 15 amended House Bill 118 to clarify the deadline for property-tax payments and to protect taxpayers who rely on postal postmarks.
Representative Jean Davis introduced the bill to extend the time for paying property taxes from noon on Nov. 30 to midnight on that date and to allow county treasurers to accept postmarked payments. Some members expressed concern that the change could alter longstanding local treasurer practices and asked for explicit language protecting taxpayers who mail payments late in the day.
Representative Gerald Wilson proposed an amendment adding the sentence: "Taxes are not delinquent if postmarked by November 30." That amendment, intended to resolve uncertainty raised about postmarks and local treasurer behavior, was agreed to on the floor. With the amendment, the House recorded a later vote showing the bill as amended received 57 affirmative votes and no negative votes and will be sent to the Senate for further action.
Representative Davis said county treasurer associations supported the clarified language and that counties had requested the change to ease administration; opponents urged care to avoid unintended changes to local practice. The House carried the amended bill forward for Senate consideration.
Provenance: Based on the sponsor's presentation and floor amendment debate and adoption in SEG 1268—135, SEG 1390—246, and amendment text at SEG 2200—225.
