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HB0099 • 2023

Property tax refund program.

AN ACT relating to property tax; amending qualifications for the property tax refund program; amending qualifications for the county optional property tax refund program; and providing for an effective date.

Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Revenue
Last action
2023-03-02
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
3/2/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how much money will be available for refunds.

Property Tax Refund Program Changes

This law changes requirements for people to get property tax refunds, including increasing income and asset limits and reducing residency requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the requirement that a homeowner must live in their home for at least nine months of the year to be eligible for a refund.
  • Increases the income limit from seventy-five percent (75%) to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the median gross household income in the county or state.
  • Raises the asset limit from $100,000 per adult to $150,000 per adult, unless the person's tax bill is more than 10% of their income.
  • Limits refunds to no more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the previous year’s property taxes for both state and county programs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeowners who pay property tax in Wyoming
  • County treasurers responsible for issuing refunds

Terms To Know

Median gross household income
The middle value of all household incomes in a county or state, where half the households earn more and half earn less.
Ad valorem tax
A tax based on the assessed value of property.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how much money will be available for refunds.
  • It is unclear if all counties will choose to offer a county optional property tax refund program.
  • The exact rules and forms required by each county may vary.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0099H2001

2nd reading • Representative Storer

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment changes the percentage requirement for property tax refund programs from one hundred twenty-five percent to one hundred percent.

  • Changes the qualifying percentage for the property tax refund program from 125% to 100%
  • Makes a similar change in another section of the bill where the same percentage is mentioned
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how this change will affect eligibility or the overall impact on property tax refunds.
HB0099H2002

2nd reading • Representative Storer

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment adds a new requirement for property tax refund eligibility, allowing older taxpayers with higher tax burdens to qualify without asset limits.

  • Adds a new clause (D) after existing clauses in the bill that allows individuals over 62 years old and whose property taxes are more than 10% of their household income to be exempt from certain asset limitations when applying for a refund.
  • Inserts language specifying that unless an individual meets the age and tax burden criteria, they must have total household assets not exceeding a limit set by county rules.
  • The exact amount of the asset limit is not specified in the amendment text and would need to be determined through further rulemaking processes.
  • The full impact on current property tax refund programs is unclear without additional context or details about existing qualifications.
HB0099H2003

2nd reading • Representative Heiner

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of years a property owner must have owned their home to qualify for certain property tax refund programs from five years to two years.

  • Changes the ownership requirement for qualifying for property tax refund programs from five years to two years.
  • The amendment only specifies changing a number and does not provide details on other potential impacts or requirements of the program.
HB0099H3001

3rd reading • Representative Heiner

Failed

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of years a property owner must have owned their home to qualify for certain property tax refund programs from five years to two years.

  • Changes the ownership requirement for qualifying for property tax refund programs from five years to two years.
  • The amendment only specifies changing a number and does not provide details on other potential impacts or requirements of the program.
HB0099H3002

3rd reading • Representative Storer

Failed

Plain English: The amendment changes the percentage requirement for property tax refund programs from one hundred twenty-five percent to one hundred percent.

  • Changes the qualification threshold for the property tax refund program from 125% of a certain value to 100%.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on what specific values these percentages refer to, so more context is needed to fully understand its impact.
HB0099H3003

3rd reading • Representative Storer

Corrected, Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new requirement that people must have household assets not exceeding a certain limit set by the county to qualify for property tax refunds if their tax liability is less than ten percent of their household income.

  • Adds a new condition (D) after existing conditions in the bill, stating that individuals whose property tax liability is less than 10% of their household income must also have total household assets not exceeding an amount set by the county to qualify for a refund.
  • The exact limit on household assets and how it will be determined are not specified in this amendment text, leaving some details unclear.
HB0099HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Oakley

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment removes certain language and provisions related to percentages from the property tax refund program qualifications.

  • Removes ', (C)' from a section of the bill.
  • Reinserts 'three-fourths (3/4)' where 'one hundred twenty-five percent' was previously stricken.
  • Deletes '(125%)'.
  • Eliminates lines 4 through 23 on page 5 entirely.
  • The exact impact of these changes is unclear without additional context about the original language and provisions being modified.
HB0099HS001

Standing Committee • House Revenue Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds new requirements for property tax refund applications and reporting by the department.

  • Adds a new subparagraph (F) to require the department to prepare and submit a list of applicants with refunds issued per county to each county treasurer no later than September 30 annually.
  • Inserts a new paragraph (A) allowing applicants to apply for property tax refunds from taxes paid on or before June 1st, requiring residency of at least five years, and specifying the form and information needed.
  • Changes the deadline for applying for property tax refunds from September 30th to December 30th.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how the new requirements will be implemented or enforced.
HB0099S2001

2nd reading • Senator Nethercott

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes references to immediate family members in the property tax refund program qualifications.

  • Removes language that allows immediate family members of a property owner to qualify for the property tax refund program.
  • Eliminates mentions of 'the owner' when discussing eligibility criteria.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how removing these references will affect the overall functioning or benefits of the program.
HB0099S3001

3rd reading • Senator Hicks

Divided

Plain English: The amendment changes the percentage requirements for property tax refund programs to lower levels.

  • Reduces the maximum percentage from 125% to 100% in several places.
  • Changes a specific percentage requirement from 90% to 75%.
  • The exact impact of these changes on property tax refunds is not detailed and may require further explanation.
HB0099S3001.01

3rd reading • Senator Hicks

Corrected, Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the percentage requirement for property tax refund programs from ninety percent to seventy-five percent.

  • Reduces the required percentage of eligibility for property tax refunds from 90% to 75%. This change applies to both the standard and county optional property tax refund programs.
  • The amendment only specifies changes to percentages but does not provide additional details about how these changes will affect other aspects of the program or eligibility criteria beyond percentage requirements.
HB0099S3001.02

3rd reading • Senator Hicks

Corrected, Failed

Plain English: The amendment changes the percentage requirement for property tax refund programs from one hundred twenty-five percent to one hundred percent.

  • Reduces the qualification percentage for the property tax refund program and the county optional property tax refund program from 125% to 100%.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how this change will affect eligibility or the overall impact on taxpayers.

Bill History

  1. 2023-03-02 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 142

  2. 2023-03-02 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0075

  3. 2023-02-27 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0075

  4. 2023-02-27 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0075

  5. 2023-02-27 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0075

  6. 2023-02-27 House

    H Concur:Passed 50-12-0-0-0

  7. 2023-02-24 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2023-02-24 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 18-13-0-0-0

  9. 2023-02-23 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2023-02-22 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2023-02-21 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2023-02-21 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 3-1-1-0-0

  13. 2023-02-17 Senate

    S COW:Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations

  14. 2023-02-16 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  15. 2023-02-16 Senate

    S06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  16. 2023-02-03 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel

  17. 2023-02-02 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  18. 2023-02-02 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 62-0-0-0-0

  19. 2023-02-01 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  20. 2023-01-31 House

    H COW:Passed

  21. 2023-01-26 House

    H Placed on General File

  22. 2023-01-26 House

    H03 - Revenue:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  23. 2023-01-13 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H03 - Revenue

  24. 2023-01-10 House

    H Received for Introduction

  25. 2023-01-09 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 23LSO-0268
Bill No.:

HB0099

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

23LSO-0268

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0075

Chapter No.:

142

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Revenue Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Property tax refund program.

Subject:

Property tax refund program

Summary/Major Elements:

This act amends the existing property tax refund program as follows:
To qualify for the program, the act requires the property to be occupied by the owner for not less than nine (9) months of the applicable tax year;
The act increases the maximum household income to qualify for the program from seventy-five percent (75%) of the median gross household income of the county or state to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the median gross household income;
The act increases the maximum household assets to qualify for the program from one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) to one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) per adult member of the household and clarifies that the maximum household assets do not apply if the person's tax liability is greater than ten percent (10%) of the person's household income;
The act specifies that the maximum refund shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the prior year's property tax.

This act makes the same changes to the county optional property tax refund program and specifies that the maximum refund under both programs shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the prior year's property tax.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
23LSO-0268

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0099

ENROLLED ACT NO. 75,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session

AN ACT relating to property tax; amending qualifications for the property tax refund program; amending qualifications for the county optional property tax refund program; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 39
‑
13
‑
109(c)(v)(A), (B)(intro), (C), by creating a new subparagraph (F), (vi)(intro), (A), (C), (D) and (E) is amended to read:

39
‑
13
‑
109.

Taxpayer remedies.

(c)

Refunds.

The following shall apply:

(v)

The following shall apply to the property tax refund program:

(A)

On or before the first Monday in June, upon the filing of an affidavit demonstrating an adequate showing that
he
the owner
is qualified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of this paragraph, any person may apply to the county treasurer or department of revenue for a property tax refund from property taxes paid with any applicable interest and penalties on or before the first Monday in June for the preceding calendar year upon his principal residence including the land upon which the residence is located. An applicant shall have been a resident of this state for not less than five (5) years prior to applying for a refund under this paragraph
and the applicable property shall be occupied by the owner for not less than nine (9) months of the applicable tax year
. Subject to legislative appropriation, the affidavit shall include information as required by rule and regulation on a form approved by the department of revenue.

The tax refund granted shall be as provided by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph;

(B)

Gross income as used in this subparagraph shall be defined by the department through rules and regulations. Such gross income shall be verified by federal income tax returns which shall accompany the application for refund, if federal income tax returns were required and filed, or whatever other means necessary as determined by the department through rules and regulations.

The tax refund for qualifying persons shall be in the form of a refund of any ad valorem tax due and timely paid upon the person's principal residence for the preceding calendar year in the amount specified in this paragraph.

The department shall issue all refunds due under this paragraph on or before September 30 of the year in which application is made for the refund.

Any person shall qualify for a refund in the amount specified under this paragraph if the person's gross income including the total household income of which the person is a member does not exceed the greater of
three
‑
fourths (3/4)
one hundred twenty
‑
five percent (125%)
of the median gross household income for the applicant's county of residence or the state, as determined annually by the economic analysis division of the department of administration and information.

Additionally,
unless the person's tax liability is greater than ten percent (10%) of the person's household income,
no person shall qualify for a refund under this paragraph unless the person has total household assets as defined by the department of revenue through rules and regulations of not to exceed
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)
one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00)
per adult member of the household as adjusted annually by the statewide average Wyoming cost
‑
of
‑
living index published by the economic analysis division of the department of administration and information, excluding the following:

(C)

A refund granted under this paragraph shall not exceed
one
‑
half (1/2)
seventy-five percent (75%)
of the applicant's prior year's property tax, but in no instance shall the amount of refund exceed one
‑
half (1/2) of the median residential property tax liability for the applicant's county of residence as determined annually by the department of revenue;

(F)

The department shall prepare a list of applicants with the amount of refunds issued per county and submit the list to each county treasurer no later than September 30 of each year.

(vi)

Each county shall have the option to implement a county
‑
optional property tax refund program which
,
is in addition to the program established under paragraph (v) of this subsection,
subject to the
adoption of rules as required by subparagraph (H) of this paragraph. The following shall apply to a county
‑
optional property tax refund program implemented under this paragraph:

(A)

On or before the first Monday in
June
September
, an applicant may apply to the county treasurer for a property tax refund from property taxes paid on or before the first Monday in June for the preceding calendar year upon the applicant's principal residence including the land upon which the residence is located. An applicant shall have been a resident of this state for not less than five (5) years before applying for a refund under this paragraph. The affidavit shall include information as required by rule of the county on a form approved by the county. The tax refund granted shall be as provided by subparagraph (E) of this paragraph;

(C)

Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, any person in the participating county shall qualify for a refund in the amount specified under this paragraph if any ad valorem tax due upon the person's principal residence in the county for the preceding calendar year was timely paid and if the person's gross income including the total household income of which the person is a member does not exceed an amount as determined by the county, which shall not exceed
three
‑
fourths (3/4)
one hundred twenty
‑
five percent (125%)
of the median gross household income for the county, as determined annually by the economic analysis division of the department of administration and information. As used in this subparagraph "gross income" shall have the same meaning as defined by department rules promulgated under paragraph (v) of this subsection. Gross income shall be verified by federal income tax returns, which shall accompany the application for refund, if federal income tax returns were required and filed, or by whatever other means necessary as determined by the county through rules;

(D)

Unless the person's tax liability is greater than ten percent (10%) of the person's household income, n
o person shall qualify for a refund under this paragraph unless the person has total household assets not to exceed an amount as determined by the county which shall not exceed an amount as provided in subparagraph (v)(B) of this subsection and as defined by the department through rules promulgated under subparagraph (v)(B) of this subsection;

(E)

The tax refund for qualifying persons shall be in the form of a refund of any ad valorem tax due and timely paid upon the person's principal residence for the preceding calendar year in the amount specified in this paragraph. A refund granted under this paragraph shall not exceed a percentage of the applicant's prior year's property tax as determined by the county subject to this paragraph, which shall not exceed
one
‑
half (1/2)
seventy-five percent (75%)
of the applicant's prior year's property tax. In no instance shall the amount of the refund exceed one
‑
half (1/2) of the median residential property tax liability for the applicant's county as determined annually by the department of revenue.
The total amount of the refunds under this paragraph and paragraph (v) of this section shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the applicant's prior year's property tax.
The county shall issue all refunds due under this paragraph on or before
September 30
December 30
of the year in which application is made for the refund;

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1