This is an email from Jennifer Maffessanti. She is from an organization called libertas.org. This is a submission for caucus corner. The links got disabled. Email me if ou want the email with the links.
Nearing the home stretch
Hello, everyone! Only a week and a half remain in the 2022 legislative session. That means fewer new bill write-ups but more readings, debates, and votes on the bills we’ve already got. Get ready because this is where it gets pretty real.
Items of note:
New bills we’re tracking
The elderly shouldn’t face homelessness because of property taxes
How to best use the tracking tools
Jen Maffessanti
Director of Communications, Libertas Institute
past due
Nobody likes property taxes
And I mean nobody. But not liking something and facing fines, fees, and even losing your home because of skyrocketing property taxes are different levels.
That’s the reality facing too many of Utah’s senior citizens. Our very own Ben Shelton partnered up with Danny Harris from AARP Utah for his latest op-ed about this growing problem.
It’s no secret that housing prices all over the state have been shooting upward. But property taxes are also on the rise. Places like Charleston and Joseph have seen their property taxes increase by 130% in 2019 alone.
This can pose an enormous problem for retirees on a fixed income. Many people over 75 bought their houses decades ago when Utah was one of the most affordable places in the country to live. These Utahns’ tax bills keep rising while their retirement income does now, and it forces them to make heartbreaking choices like paying their taxes or covering medical care — or even just keeping their homes.
Thankfully, this year Sen. Fillmore is sponsoring SB 25, which allows for qualifying seniors 75 and older to be able to defer their property tax bill until they either sell the house or the property otherwise changes hands. At that point, the tax bill would be due with a little bit of interest.
It’s an elegant solution that doesn’t put undue hardship on either elderly Utahns or the property owners around them. The state still gets its tax money, just a little bit later.
Read the Op-Ed Here
New bills
SB 62: Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Expansion
HB 412: Rewarding Those Who Prevent Recidivism
HB 386 & SB 191: Enabling Innovation in Education
HB 341: Clarifying Requirements for Birth Certificate Applications
HB 372 & HB 407: Weakening Free Speech and Property Rights for Short-term Rentals
How to keep up to date every day
If you’ve ever tried to keep up with the happenings up at the State Capitol during the legislative session, you know that things can and do happen quickly. It’s hard to keep track of what all is happening and when.
Thankfully, our very own Ben Shelton has taken the guesswork out of where to find the information you’re looking for regarding bills’ statuses, various committee meeting timings, and what votes are coming up soon. This handy guide will tell you how to find exactly what you’re looking for, complete with helpful pictures so you don’t get lost.
Our Legislative Tracker is also updated regularly, so you can see, at a glance, what all we’re keeping our eyes on in particular, as well as their status, priority, and whether or not we support it.
We’ll also be publishing more write-ups on most of the bills you’ll see there, so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and especially Twitter for as-they-happen updates and news.
