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Timeshare owners and assessors clash as subcommittee advances bill to classify timeshares as residential
Summary
A House subcommittee advanced a bill to codify timeshares as residential property for tax purposes after competing testimony from county assessors and the timeshare industry about court rulings and local fiscal impacts. Witnesses warned of multi‑county revenue effects; supporters said a statewide standard avoids disparate treatment.
A House State & Local Government subcommittee voted to advance legislation that would put into state law a long‑standing administrative practice: classifying timeshare interests as residential rather than commercial for property tax purposes.
Chairman Todd presented the amendment that rewrites the bill and told the committee the measure would clarify longstanding guidance in the Board of Equalization manual. Will Denami, who testified for county assessors, urged members to reject the bill citing prior litigation and a fiscal note affecting Davidson and Sevier counties. "This million dollar tax break in Sevier County will turn into 1,000,000 dollar tax increase on the taxpayers of Sevier County," Denami said, asking members to vote no.
Timeshare industry representatives said litigation left inconsistent results across counties and that a statutory clarification would spare property owners from having to sue to achieve uniform treatment. "Those cases have exhausted their appeals process," Addison Russell, who represented the timeshare trade association, said, arguing a statewide standard is needed so owners know how properties will be assessed.
Committee members pressed both sides about precedent and the status of appeals; the sponsor said the amendment narrows the bill to restore the manual's practice statewide. After debate the subcommittee adopted the amendment and moved the bill to the next available calendar.
Next steps: the bill (as amended) goes to the full State & Local Government calendar for further consideration.
