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Subcommittee delays bill changing assessment-notice trigger tied to inflation
Summary
HB 68’s substitute would apply an inflation adjustment when determining whether an assessment increase triggers statutorily required public notice and hearing. Supporters said it reduces confusing duplicate notices; some members and witnesses raised transparency concerns and the patron asked to continue the bill to the next session.
Delegate McNamara presented HB 68 with a substitute that relocates and clarifies language so that an inflation adjustment is used when determining whether a locality must publish notice and hold a hearing after assessments rise, rather than altering assessed values or tax rates. "It does not change assessed values. It does not change tax rates," the patron said, describing the change as a clarification of when notice requirements are triggered.
Roanoke County representatives and the Virginia Association of Counties supported the substitute, saying the current notices can confuse taxpayers because advertised 'revenue-neutral rates' do not factor in inflation-adjusted purchasing power. Roanoke County’s attorney described the substitute as "truth in advertising" and urged support.
Several delegates, including committee lead members, pressed for transparency safeguards. Delegates raised concerns that removing certain notices could leave citizens unaware of changes; the patron responded that the bill would only avoid extra hearings in cases where real (inflation-adjusted) increases were below the 1% trigger. To allow more work on transparency, the patron moved to continue the bill to 2027; the committee voted to continue HB 68 as substituted to 2027.
Next steps: HB 68 was continued to the 2027 session. Sponsors said they will work with stakeholders to address transparency questions before resubmitting.
