JEFFERSON CITY -- On Wednesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Chuck Gross, R-St. Charles, which would provide Missouri's senior citizens with relief from rising property taxes. Senate Bill 76 would exempt the homes of anyone 65 or older from an increase in property tax assessments.

"Last session the General Assembly did succeed in passing legislation that provides some reform," said Sen. Gross. "But there is still a great deal of work to be done."

SB 76 would protect citizens 65 and older from increases in property taxes by freezing reassessments on principal residences that they own. Higher assessments would be held in abeyance until the property is sold.

"Most of our state's older residents live on fixed incomes and a rise in property taxes can be devastating," Sen. Gross said. "No one should have to sell their homes because they can't afford the property taxes."

This legislation would apply only to the owner's principal residence and a married couple would become eligible when one is 65 or older.

SB 76 is similar to legislation that Sen. Gross has introduced in the past.

Since his election to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1994, Sen. Gross has championed assessment reform. He continued this fight when elected to the Senate in 2000.

In 1995, Sen. Gross sponsored House Bill 353 that would have provided a partial homestead exemption for anyone 62 or older. In every consecutive legislative session he has introduced similar legislation.

"Any rise in property taxes, even a small one, can wreak havoc on a fixed income," said Sen. Gross. "My legislation would fix property tax assessments to match the fixed income of retired Missourians."

Having been passed out of committee, SB 76 will now be sent to the Senate floor for consideration.