Legislative Update - Property Tax Relief Plan Still Unclear

Michael Smith Photography for AARP Wyoming

Remember that blog post we sent last weekend that talked about a big change in the way Senate File 69 would offer property tax relief?

Forget we said that.

Such is the way of the 2025 Wyoming Legislature. One week results in serious changes in the tax relief arena. Let’s break down what is happening now and what to expect in the final 10 or so days of the 2025 Session.

Photo by Michael Smith for AARP Wyoming

What happened to Senate File 69? - Last week Senate File 69 was going to offer 50% off the increase in your property’s valuation from 2019-2024. No one loved it, but everyone in the House sort of thought it was a decent compromise, Kumbya was sung, backs were slapped with congratulations. Then came the bill’s third reading on Wednesday and all hell broke loose. A mostly Freedom-Caucus majority brought the bill back to its previous form (50% off the first $1 million of your home’s value) with some backfill for counties, schools, and towns. The Senate predictably rejected that version of the bill, which will now go to a Conference Committee to see if a compromise can be hammered out.

Photo by Michael Smith for AARP Wyoming

Not the only option for relief - As soon as the Senate saw what the House did to Senate File 69, Senate President Bo Biteman assigned two other property tax bills to committees. House Bill 282, which would run your home’s value back to the value it was the day you bought it (or back to 2019 levels for those who bought before 2019), and House Bill 169. Those went to the Senate Revenue Committee Friday. Yet, the horse that is quietly making up ground on the outside is a bill to take your tax rate from 9.5% to 8.3%. Senate File 153 is sponsored by Senator Eric Barlow (R-Campbell). The fiscal note appears to be lower and the counties and cities seem willing to take on the $15 million impact. The bill is on General File in the House, but I don’t get the impression House leadership loves it, given its place low on the schedule. It appears to be a game of chicken between those who think backfills and property tax relief can’t co-exist and those who feel smaller property tax relief is the way to go. Stay tuned.

Starting To Look Forward - With just nine scheduled days left in the 2025 session, deadlines start to be a factor. Specifically, bills that aren’t heard in committee by next Thursday will die. Meanwhile, today was the final day to submit interim topic requests. AARP Wyoming checked in asking the Joint Labor, Health, and Social Services to re-open discussion on emergency medical services and ambulance service in Wyoming. If you are unaware, the state has seen 16 EMS services merge or fold in the last 10 years, and EMS is not considered an essential service in Wyoming. We think it’s time to see what ideas are out there for keeping our ambulances on the road.