BILL REQ. #:  H-1851.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/25/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to strengthening the integrity, fairness, and equity in Washington's property assessment system; and amending RCW 84.48.150.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 84.48.150 and 1994 c 301 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The assessor shall, upon the request of any taxpayer who petitions the board of equalization for review of a tax claim or valuation dispute, make available to said taxpayer a compilation of comparable sales utilized by the assessor in establishing such taxpayer's property valuation. If valuation criteria other than comparable sales were used, the assessor shall furnish the taxpayer with such other factors and the addresses of such other property used in making the determination of value.
     (2) The assessor shall within sixty days of such request but at least fourteen business days, excluding legal holidays, prior to such taxpayer's appearance before the board of equalization make available to the taxpayer the valuation criteria and/or comparable sales which shall not be subsequently changed by the assessor unless the assessor has found new evidence supporting the assessor's valuation, in which situation the assessor shall provide such additional evidence to the taxpayer and the board of equalization at least fourteen business days prior to the hearing at the board of equalization. A taxpayer who lists comparable sales on a notice of appeal shall not subsequently change such sales unless the taxpayer has found new evidence supporting the taxpayer's proposed valuation in which case the taxpayer shall provide such additional evidence to the assessor and board of equalization at least seven business days, excluding legal holidays, prior to the hearing. If either the assessor or taxpayer does not meet the requirements of this section the board of equalization may continue the hearing to provide the parties an opportunity to review all evidence or, upon objection, refuse to consider sales not submitted in a timely manner.
     (3) Within sixty days from the date a petition challenging the assessed value of commercial property is either postmarked for delivery or delivered in person to the county board of equalization, the taxpayer must submit to the clerk of the county board of equalization income and expense statements for the two years prior to the assessment date. If a taxpayer fails to provide such income and expense statements within the time required, he or she is precluded from challenging the valuation assessment of the commercial property on the basis that the assessor committed an error in the assessor's consideration of any capitalization of income that would be derived from prudent use of the property.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "commercial property" includes any property except:
     (a) A single-family residence, including single-family manufactured homes; and
     (b) A single-family residential unit within a condominium, townhouse, or similar building, excluding such buildings or units that are or have been declared as apartments or are operated as apartments.