Utah House approves bill amending personal property fee notices; sponsor cites possible $60,000 in refunds

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House of Representatives on Thursday approved House Bill 5,001, "Uniform fees on personal property amendments," advancing the measure to the Senate after a voice vote that the presiding officer later certified as 68 yes, 0 no, 7 absent.

The sponsor, Representative Painter, told colleagues the bill’s fiscal note shows no state budget impact but estimated "possibly $60,000 in return of revenues" to individuals who were overcharged in prior years on boats and all-terrain vehicles. He said counties — which collect assessment data — often contract with the state to send assessment notices, and the amendment directs a broad notice to taxpayers who may have been overcharged.

"There is no state impact," Representative Painter said, adding that counties typically collect the data and, "when the person at the DMV takes and updates that information, it is forwarded on to the state database." Painter said the notices will be widespread: "there will be a shotgun blast on every assessment notice that goes out for boats and ATVs that says, per the amendment ... the likelihood is you are overcharged" in a prior year.

Representative Murray said he would support the bill but used his turn to raise a broader concern about vehicle valuations. "This bill, I think is a good bill, and I intend to vote for [it] because I think it needs to be on the books," Murray said, while arguing the state’s valuation system for automobiles can produce inequitable outcomes. He recounted an example contrasting a grocery worker with a Geo and someone who owns a Rolls Royce who, he said, pay the same amount under current rules.

Painter replied that the amendment simplifies the process in the same way earlier automobile rules were simplified and said those changes had been "revenue neutral." He urged support for the bill on that basis and noted it would allow taxpayers who were overcharged to receive refunds.

With no additional debate, the presiding officer closed voting and announced the bill passed and was referred to the Senate for further consideration. The presiding officer also informed members that the Senate was engaged in a vote on Senate Bill 5,001 and was allowing senators time to explain their votes.

The bill’s text as discussed would standardize notice procedures tied to county-collected assessment data and direct counties (or their contractors) to alert potentially affected taxpayers; exact implementation details and any required forms or deadlines were not specified in the House discussion.