On February 28, 2023, MACo Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 896 – Property Tax Appeals – Commercial and Industrial Property – Fees.

This bill applies reasonable fees for commercial and industrial property tax appeals under specified circumstances. This bill makes meaningful progress toward eliminating a means of tax evasion that benefits commercial and industrial property owners at the expense of other property owners and taxpayers.

From the MACo Testimony:

The bill requires owners of substantial commercial or industrial properties to have “skin in the game” when appealing property tax assessments. This could help reduce the barrage of frivolous assessment appeals. Baseless appeals waste valuable time and resources and jeopardize limited local funds for schools, housing, public safety, public health, and other essential services.

The bill’s cross-file, SB 885, sits before the Senate Rules Committee.

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