Special committee passes two property tax bills

By KJ Drazen, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform passed two bills Thursday.
House Bill 2925, sponsored by Rep. Ron Fowler, R-Blue Springs, originally would have changed the date when property tax proposals could be voted on.
Originally, the bill stated that, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, any question on a tax levy for real property or personal property tax must be submitted to voters on a general election day only. However, the bill was sent back to committee to make a change to that rule.
Those opposed to the bill expressed concern that flooding the ballot with all these questions would cause voter fatigue and more stress for election authorities.
That provision was eliminated by the committee. A substitute was added that stated these questions may be presented to voters at the time of the next annual election, a primary election, a general election or if a special election is called.
The bill lays out specific language that should be on the ballot for any change to property taxes. The bill mandates that all property tax changes be described in terms of impact per $100,000 of assessed value.

This bill passed on a 12-1 vote.

House Bill 3253, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, was also discussed during the hearing. A part of this bill was designated to extending training hours for assessors and assessors-elect.
Currently, the State Tax Commission requires a total of at least 32 hours of training for each course an assessor or assessor-elect would take.
This bill would extend that to at least 40 hours of training before assuming office.
Steinhoff spoke on what pushed her to make this decision.
“One common theme that kept occurring is that, particularly when they were new in the role, many of them didn’t feel confident in what they were doing,” Steinhoff said in an interview.

The bill passed on a 11-0 vote.
Both bills await debate on the House floor.