HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE LONG-TERM PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND MODERNIZATION STRATEGIES FOLLOWING STATEWIDE REASSESSMENT.

The document changed from a single-line amendment adding one policy area (transition to uniform tax structures) to a full concurrent resolution establishing an entire working group with defined membership, procedures, and mandate.

The specific language about transitioning toward 'uniform property tax rates across property classes' from HA 1 was not included in the final resolution. The concept was reframed as examining 'differentiated tax treatment among residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, rental, seasonal, vacation, and other categories of property.'

Eight specific policy areas are enumerated for study: homestead exemptions, circuit breaker programs, property reclassification and differential tax treatment, assessment growth limitations, school tax equity, administrative and data requirements, housing affordability and economic impact, and tax deferral programs.

The Working Group must be convened within 60 days of adoption, hold its initial meeting within 30 days of all appointments being made, and submit findings and recommendations (including draft legislative language) to the 154th General Assembly within six months of its convening.

The Working Group composition is specified with 17 named positions including county administrators/executives, the Secretary of Finance, Director of OMB, school association presidents, a taxpayer advocate, a small business representative, and a tax policy/economics expert, plus co-chairs from both chambers' majority caucuses.

A savings clause states that nothing in the resolution mandates adoption of any specific property tax structure or diminishes the independent taxing authority of counties, municipalities, or school districts.