SCR 138

UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 2296
1A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION directing the establishment of the Property Tax
2 Relief Task Force.
3WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky continues to be a desired location for
4 individuals and families to live, but rising property taxes place a financial strain on many
5 and make it difficult for individuals and families to thrive; and
6WHEREAS, property values throughout the Commonwealth have risen at a steeper
7 rate than household incomes, underscoring the necessity for a thorough and
8 comprehensive examination of the impacts of escalating property taxes on individuals
9 and families; and
10WHEREAS, home ownership is considered a core part of the American Dream, and
11 escalating property taxes pose a major barrier to Kentuckians achieving or retaining home
12 ownership; and
13WHEREAS, lower property taxes act as a key component of state and local
14 economic development strategies for attracting business and job growth in local
15 communities; and
16WHEREAS, raising revenue to fund government operations through property
17 taxation has deep roots in Kentucky tracing back to its statehood and established in the
18 Kentucky Constitution; and
19WHEREAS, local taxing districts rely on property tax operations to provide public
20 education, public safety, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and various other public
21 services; and
22WHEREAS, taxation is complex and relies on many pillars that operate
23 interdependently, and rising property taxes do not have one simple solution, but provide
24 the Commonwealth with a complex problem that requires a multifaceted approach to
25 identify actions available to work toward a solution;
26NOW, THEREFORE,
27 Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
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 UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 2296
1 Kentucky, the House of Representatives concurring therein:
2Section 1.      The Legislative Research Commission shall establish the Property
3 Tax Relief Task Force. The task force shall take a holistic approach to study and review
4 the taxation of property and make recommendations regarding the current and future
5 policy needs of the state to address affordability issues in the Commonwealth.
6Section 2.      In the development of policy recommendations and strategies, the
7 task force shall seek input from organizations and associations whose members are
8 impacted by property taxation, advisory groups, researchers, and appropriate
9 stakeholders, as determined by the task force.
10Section 3.      The task force shall be composed of the following members, with
11 final membership of the task force being subject to the consideration and approval of the
12 Legislative Research Commission:
13(1)    Three members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate,
14 one of whom shall be designated as a co-chair;
15(2)    One member of the Senate, to be appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of
16 the Senate;
17(3)    Three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the
18 Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated as a co-chair;
19 and
20(4)    One member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Minority
21 Floor Leader of the House of Representatives.
22Section 4. The Property Tax Relief Task Force shall meet monthly during the
23 2026 Interim of the General Assembly. The task force shall submit findings and
24 recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the appropriate
25 committee or subcommittee thereof by December 1, 2026.
26Section 5.      Provisions of this Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the
27 Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the
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UNOFFICIAL COPY  26 RS BR 2296
1 issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to
2 designate a study completion date.
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