Senate Local Government met on August 7 to discuss SB 8 (Bettencourt et al), SB 12 (Bettencourt et al), and SJR 2 (Bettencourt et al). SB 8, SB 12 and SJR 2 were voted out unanimously during the hearing.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions. 

 

Opening Comments 

  • Bettencourt – Will be following COVID-19 guidelines and committee rules from last session 
  • Bettencourt – Will still require a negative test to enter the committee room 
  • Bettencourt – Have had strong bipartisan support of these bills; passed unanimously last session 

 

SB 8 (Bettencourt | et al.) Relating to the authority of a person who acquires a residence homestead to receive an ad valorem tax exemption for the homestead in the year in which the property is acquired and to the protection of school districts against the resulting loss in revenue 

  • Bettencourt- Engrossed of SB 8 from the first special session that passed unanimously 
  • Bettencourt – First year homestead exemption for homeowners rather than having them wait until the next January 
  • Bettencourt – Homeowners must follow current requirements 
  • SB 8 voted out of committee (8-0) 

 

SB 12 (Bettencourt | et al.) Relating to the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed by a school district on the residence homestead of an individual who is elderly or disabled to reflect any reduction from the preceding tax year in the district’s maximum compressed rate and to the protection of school districts against the resulting loss in local revenue 

  • Bettencourt – Engrossed versions of the ones passed during the First Called Special Session 
  • Bettencourt – Only things that change is the voting date and effective date January 1, 2023 
  • Bettencourt – Walkout of the House Caucus caused this to not be on the ballot for November 2022 
  • SB 12 voted out of committee (8-0) 

 

SJR 2 (Bettencourt | et al.) Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead 

  • Bettencourt – Enabling constitutional amendment to SB 12 
  • Nichols – Is it SJR 2 or 4? 
    • Bettencourt – Is SJR 2, was SJR 4 last session 
  • SJR 2 voted out of committee (8-0) 

 

Closing Comments 

  • Bettencourt – These bills would result in $350 million in tax relief