JEFFERSON CITY — With time running out in this year’s legislative session, an update to the senior property tax relief law passed last year may be in jeopardy because of political dysfunction in the Missouri Senate.
Missouri county officials have requested better guidance on how to implement the senior property tax freeze.
But two versions of legislation that could provide some of those fixes still need a stamp of approval from the Senate.
One version, now in the Senate, would still need a vote by that chamber’s full membership, which is in the midst of working through contested priorities such as passing a $4.5 billion hospital tax levy, negotiating the state budget and changing Missouri’s initiative petition process.
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Another version, in the House, will likely not advance until next week according to House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit. At that point, there will be just two weeks left in the 2024 legislation session.
“I really would like to get one of those bills done because it’s important for all of our constituents back home,†Patterson told reporters Monday. And while he said both options are on the table, he didn’t indicate which might ultimately win the full Legislature’s approval.
Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, who was behind the property tax freeze legislation last year, has been working to add the fixes into state law.
But even Luetkemeyer has acknowledged the dysfunction in his chamber represents a potential threat.
“One of my fears — I don’t think I’m sharing any state secrets here — but the Senate has been a little touch-and-go in terms of functionality this year, and I sense that maybe we might be headed back to a place where it looks kind of like how it did at the beginning of session.â€
He made the comment in late March while presenting proposed changes during a House committee hearing, at which he asked committee members not to make further amendments, which need the Senate’s stamp of approval — a tenuous prospect.
“I’d really hate to jeopardize the things that we’ve been able to navigate through the Senate,†Luetkemeyer said at the time.
The committee made changes anyway.
Last year’s law left open questions on how the credit itself should be implemented, which seniors could qualify and how each county is allowed to tailor its own tax freeze program.
There is broad agreement on certain changes, such as amending the bar for participation to an age requirement of 62 instead of eligibility for Social Security retirement benefits. But some are disputed, such as prohibiting participation by homeowners who owe delinquent property taxes.
Both versions of proposed legislation would prohibit counties from imposing home value caps or a means test to qualify for the tax freeze.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ and ºüÀêÊÓƵ County have both approved home value limits to participate in their programs. The city capped the appraised value of an eligible home at $500,000; the county’s cap is $550,000.
Luetkemeyer’s legislation is and the House legislation, sponsored by Rep. Wendy Hausman, is .