i_gallagher_2018a_2018-08-21t09:03:23z3 Hearing Summary

The committee came back to order. Representative Esgar explained the procedure for requesting bill drafts.

Ed DeCecco, Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided additional detail about the bill drafting process for interim committees.  He explained when drafts will be available for review and discussed the timeline for preparing fiscal notes.  He responded to questions from the committee.

The committee discussed a proposal to repeal the Gallagher Amendment.

The committee discussed a proposal to classify short term rentals as non-residential properties for purposes of property tax assessments.

The committee discussed the need for a bill to set the residential assessment rate at a particular, and currently undetermined, number in statute.

The committee discussed the need for a bill to ensure adequate funding for local fire districts by using state general fund to backfill lost revenue from a reduction in the residential assessment rate.  Discussion continued about whether to authorize legislation for a similar requirement for water districts and library districts.  The committee also discussed combining all three district backfill requirements into one bill.

The committee discussed the need for a bill to develop a regional system for determining the residential assessment rate.

Mr. DeCecco responded to questions from the committee.

The committee discussed the possibility of moving the provisions of Initiative #93/Amendment 73, if passed, from the Constitution to statute.

The committee discussed the need for a bill to refer a constitutional amendment to voters to permit counties to float their mills.  Mr. DeCecco responded to questions from the committee.