A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution by providing for the assessment of residential real property as a separate property class for the purpose of taxation.
LandTaxes
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Senator Dockstader
Last action
2023-03-03
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
3/3/2023
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide specific details on how residential properties will be valued or taxed differently from other classes, nor does it specify the exact impact on local government revenue and property tax rates.
Separating Residential Property for Tax Purposes
This resolution changes Wyoming's Constitution to create a separate tax class for residential real property and allows the Legislature to make subclasses for owner-occupied primary residences.
What This Bill Does
Changes Article 15, Section 11 of the Wyoming Constitution to add a fourth class specifically for residential real property.
Allows the Legislature to create a subclass within the residential property class for owner-occupied primary residences.
Requires that all taxation be equal and uniform within each new class or subclass of property.
Who It Names or Affects
Residents who own homes in Wyoming, as their properties will now be taxed under a separate residential real property class.
Terms To Know
Property Class
A category of property that is treated the same for tax purposes.
Subclass
A smaller group within a larger property class, with its own specific rules for taxation.
Limits and Unknowns
The resolution does not specify how residential properties will be valued or taxed differently from other classes.
It is unclear what impact this change will have on local government revenue and property tax rates.
The exact details of subclass creation for owner-occupied primary residences are left to future legislation.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: The amendment changes the word 'and' to 'or' in four specific places within the bill text.
Changes 'and' to 'or' on page 1, line 3 of the bill.
Changes 'and' to 'or' on page 2, lines 2 and 6 of the bill.
Changes 'and' to 'or' on page 2, line 18 of the bill.
The exact impact of changing 'and' to 'or' is not explained in the amendment text and may require further context from the original bill to understand fully.
Plain English: The amendment removes an existing committee proposal and adds a new definition for the term 'elderly' in the context of property tax assessment.
Removes the previous House standing committee amendment.
Adds a new definition for 'elderly', specifying that it refers to individuals eligible for social security benefits who have been Wyoming residents for at least thirty years.
The exact impact of this change on property tax assessment is not clear from the provided text alone.
Plain English: The amendment adds a definition of 'infirm' to the existing bill text, specifying that it refers to individuals receiving certain types of disability benefits and who have been Wyoming residents for at least ten years.
Adds a new definition for the term 'infirm', which includes people currently receiving social security disability benefits, veterans administration disability compensation, or railroad disability benefits, and who have lived in Wyoming for at least ten years.
The amendment only adds this specific definition of 'infirm' to the bill text. It does not explain how this term relates to property tax residential property class changes proposed by the original bill.
Plain English: The amendment changes the Wyoming Constitution to classify residential real property as its own separate class for tax purposes and removes certain provisions related to elderly exemptions.
Removes references to an exemption for the elderly and infirm from the bill's title and text.
Inserts a new section in Article 15, Section 11 of the Wyoming Constitution that requires residential real property to be assessed as its own separate class for taxation purposes.
Allows the legislature to create a subclass specifically for owner-occupied primary residences within the residential real property class.
The amendment text does not specify how this change will affect current tax rates or exemptions for other property classes, which may be addressed in future legislation.
Plain English: This amendment changes a specific number in the existing bill text from 'ten' to 'forty'.
Changes the number of years from ten to forty for residential real property assessment purposes.
The exact context and implications of changing this number are not fully explained in the provided amendment text, making it unclear how this change will affect the overall bill's purpose.
Plain English: The amendment adds a definition for the term 'elderly' in the context of property tax assessment for residential real property.
Adds a new definition stating that 'elderly' refers to individuals who are at least seventy-five years old and have been Wyoming residents for at least forty years.
The amendment only provides a specific definition of 'elderly' and does not explain how this will affect property tax assessment or other details about the new residential property class.
Plain English: The amendment adds language to ensure that if property tax exemptions are given under certain sections, the state legislature will provide financial compensation to local government entities for the loss in property tax revenue.
Adds a requirement for legislative reimbursement of local governments when property tax exemptions reduce their revenue.
Specifies that the amount reimbursed must be decreased proportionally if there is not enough funding available.
The amendment does not specify how or from where the funds for reimbursement will come, which could limit its practical implementation.
Bill History
2023-03-03Governor
Governor Signed SEJR No. 0003
2023-03-02House
H Speaker Signed SEJR No. 0003
2023-03-02Senate
S President Signed SEJR No. 0003
2023-03-02LSO
Assigned Number SEJR No. 0003
2023-03-02Senate
S Concur:Passed 22-8-1-0-0
2023-02-28Senate
S Received for Concurrence
2023-02-28House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 53-9-0-0-0
2023-02-27House
H 3rd Reading:Laid Back
2023-02-24House
H 3rd Reading:Laid Back
2023-02-23House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2023-02-22House
H COW:Passed
2023-02-14House
H Placed on General File
2023-02-14House
H03 - Revenue:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-4-0-0-0
2023-02-06House
H Introduced and Referred to H03 - Revenue
2023-01-30House
H Received for Introduction
2023-01-26Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 21-10-0-0-0
2023-01-25Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2023-01-24Senate
S COW:Passed
2023-01-19Senate
S Placed on General File
2023-01-19Senate
S03 - Revenue:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2023-01-11Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S03 - Revenue
2023-01-11Senate
S Received for Introduction
2023-01-11LSO
Bill Number Assigned
Official Summary Text
Bill Summary - 23LSO-0043
Bill No.:
SJ0003
Effective:
Immediately
LSO No.:
23LSO-0043
Enrolled Act No.:
SEJR No. 0003
Chapter No.:
N/A
Prime Sponsor:
Dockstader
Catch Title:
Property tax residential property class.
Subject:
Residential property class.
Summary/Major Elements:
Under Article 15, Section 11 of the Constitution, for purposes of property taxes, all property is required to be uniformly valued at its full value in three classes: the gross production of minerals and mine products; industrial property; and all other property real and personal. The third class includes residential property, commercial property, agricultural property and personal property.
This amendment to the Constitution would create a fourth class of property by making residential property a separate class from the all other property class.
The Constitution also prohibits the Legislature from creating any subclass within the authorized classes of property. This amendment would allow the Legislature to create a subclass of residential property for owner occupied primary residences.
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-0043
ORIGINAL Senate
ENGROSSED
JOINT RESOLUTION
.
SJ0003
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3,
SENATE
SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session
A JOINT RESOLUTION to amend the Wyoming Constitution by providing for the assessment of residential real property as a separate property class for the purpose of taxation.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING,
two-thirds of all the members of the two houses, voting separately, concurring therein:
Section 1.
The following proposal to amend Wyoming Constitution, Article 15, Section 11 is proposed for submission to the electors of the State of Wyoming at the next general election for approval or rejection to become valid as a part of the Constitution if ratified by a majority of the electors at the election:
Article 15, Section 11.
Uniformity of assessment required.
(a)
All property, except as in this constitution otherwise provided, shall be uniformly valued at its full value as defined by the legislature, in
three (3)
four (4)
classes as follows:
(i)
Gross production of minerals and mine products in lieu of taxes on the land where produced;
(ii)
Property used for industrial purposes as defined by the legislature;
and
(iii)
Residential real property; and
(iv)
All other property, real and personal.
(b)
The legislature shall prescribe the percentage of value which shall be assessed within each designated class. All taxable property shall be valued at its full value as defined by the legislature except agricultural and grazing lands which shall be valued according to the capability of the land to produce agricultural products under normal conditions. The percentage of value prescribed for industrial property shall not be more than forty percent (40%) higher nor more than four (4) percentage points more than the percentage prescribed for
residential real property or more than forty percent (40%) higher nor more than four (4) percentage points more than the percentage prescribed for all other
property other than minerals.
(c)
Except as provided in this subsection t
he legislature shall not create new classes or subclasses or authorize any property to be assessed at a rate other than the rates set for authorized classes.
The legislature may create a subclass of residential real property for owner occupied primary residences.
(d)
All taxation shall be equal and uniform within each class
and subclass
of property.
The legislature shall prescribe such regulations as shall secure a just valuation for taxation of all property, real and personal.
Section 2.
That the Secretary of State shall endorse the following statement on the proposed amendment:
The adoption of this amendment would separate residential real property into its own class of property for purposes of property tax assessments. The amendment would authorize the legislature to create a subclass of owner occupied primary residences.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.
Chief Clerk
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