H-0504.1  _______________________________________________

                    HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4212

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State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Morris and Quall

Read first time 02/28/95.  Referred to Committee on Finance.

Amending the constitution to allow property tax refunds to homeowners and renters.

    BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

    THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article VII, section 10 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:

    Article VII, section 10.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, section 1 (Amendment 14) and Article 7, section 2 (Amendment 17), the following tax exemption shall be allowed as to real property:

(1) The legislature shall have the power, by appropriate legislation, to grant to retired property owners relief from the property tax on the real property occupied as a residence by those owners.  The legislature may place such restrictions and conditions upon the granting of such relief as it shall deem proper.  Such restrictions and conditions may include, but are not limited to, the limiting of the relief to those property owners below a specific level of income and those fulfilling certain minimum residential requirements.

(2) The legislature shall have the power, by appropriate legislation, to grant to homeowners and renters relief from the property tax on the real property occupied as a residence by those persons.  The legislature shall limit the relief to refunds of a specific percentage of income and tax paid and may place other restrictions and conditions upon the granting of such relief as it shall deem proper.  Such restrictions and conditions may include, but are not limited to, the limiting of the relief to those property owners fulfilling certain minimum residential requirements.

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.

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