HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJR 4208

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                           Revenue

Brief Description:  Amending the Constitution to allow the legislature to grant low‑income property owners relief from owner occupied residences.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Wang, Holland, Nelson, Phillips, Fraser, Brumsickle, Rust, Ballard, Leonard, Ferguson, Haugen, Horn, Morris, Heavey, May, Jacobsen, O'Brien, Appelwick, Winsley, H. Sommers, Dorn, Belcher, Van Luven, Morton, Kremen, Locke, Brekke, Pruitt, Spanel, Wineberry, Paris, Cooper, Betrozoff, Jones, Franklin, Dellwo, H. Myers, Ogden and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Revenue, January 29, 1991, DP

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

REVENUE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Wang, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Holland, Ranking Minority Member; Wynne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Brumsickle; Day; Leonard; Morris; Morton; Phillips; Rust; Silver; and Van Luven. 

Staff:  Rick Peterson, (786-7150).

Background:  The Washington Constitution requires that taxes be uniformly applied to real estate.  The voters have approved constitutional amendments to allow exceptions for property owned by retired persons (senior citizens and retired disabled persons property tax exemption program) and agricultural lands, timberland and other open space lands.

Summary of Bill:  A constitutional amendment is submitted to the people at the next general election.  The amendment allows the Legislature to grant low-income property owners relief from property taxes on their residences.  The amendment requires the Legislature to limit the program to property owners below a specific income level.  The Legislature may place additional restrictions on the program. 

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 30, 1991.

Effective Date:  After approval by the voters at the November general election.

Testimony For:  Low income homeowners need property tax relief.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (In favor) Tony Lee, Washington Association of Churches; David West, Washington Citizen Action; Enid Layes, Association of Washington Business; and Jerry Schmidt.