SB 1517
Modifies provisions relating to property taxes
Sponsor:
LR Number:
6510S.01I
Committee:
Last Action:
1/7/2026 - S First Read
Journal Page:
Title:
Effective Date:
August 28, 2026

Current Bill Summary

SB 1517 - This act modifies provisions relating to property taxes.

TAX BALLOT MEASURE LANGUAGE

This act provides that a political subdivision or election authority shall not advertise or describe any proposed property tax as not increasing taxes unless failing to adopt the measure would cause an actual increase in the tax rate and adopting the measure would cause the tax rate to stay the same or decrease. (Section 67.496)

This act requires an election authority to label tax ballot measures numerically or alphabetically in the order in which they are submitted. (Section 115.240)

This act modifies multiple provisions of current law to provide that any ballot measures proposing a new or increased real or personal property tax levy shall be submitted on a general election day and shall include certain information, as described in the act. (Section 115.706 and multiple other sections)

LOCAL ELECTIONS

This act provides that all general elections for local, state, and national offices and issues shall be conducted on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (Section 115.123)

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS

This act provides that a political subdivision that adopts a tax abatement or similar economic incentive shall decrease any real property tax levy that is increased on property located in the political subdivision that does not receive an abatement. (Section 137.039)

PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS

Current law provides that new construction and improvements shall not be included in the total assessed valuation for the purposes of calculating property tax levies. This act repeals such provisions. (Sections 137.055 and 137.073)

This act requires that if the voters in a political subdivision approve an increase to the tax rate ceiling prior to the expiration of a previously approved temporary levy increase, the new tax rate ceiling shall remain in effect only until such time as the temporary levy increase expires under the terms originally approved by a vote of the people, at which time the tax rate ceiling shall be decreased by the amount of the temporary levy increase.

If, prior to the expiration of a temporary levy increase, voters are asked to approve an additional permanent levy increase, voters shall be submitted ballot language that clearly indicates that if the permanent levy increase is approved, the temporary levy shall be made permanent. (Section 137.073.5(3))

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 119 (2025), HB 660 (2025), HB 1497 (2025), HCS/HB 2058 (2024), HCS/HB 1517 (2024), HCS/HB 2140 (2024), CCS/HS/HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 96 (2023), and HCS/SS#3/SCS/SB 131 (2023), and is substantially similar to SB 880 (2018) and SB 357 (2017).

This act provides that, if the total assessed valuation in a political subdivision decreases in the tax year immediately following a tax year in which the voters approved an increase to the tax rate ceiling, such political subdivision may increase its levy such that the revenue received equals the amount that would have been received from the increased rate of levy had there been no decrease in the total assessed valuation. (Section 137.073.5(6))

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 119 (2025), HB 660 (2025), HB 1497 (2025), HCS/HB 2058 (2024), HCS/HB 1517 (2024), and HCS/HB 2140 (2024).

Current law requires an assessor to conduct a physical inspection of any residential real property prior to increasing the assessed valuation of such property by more than 15%. This act applies such requirement to all utility, industrial, commercial, railroad and other non-agricultural real property. (Section 137.115.10)

PROPERTY TAX CREDITS

Current law allows counties to provide a property tax credit to certain seniors. This act requires counties to provide such credit and makes technical changes to the definitions of "eligible credit amount" and "eligible taxpayer". The act also requires the statement of tax due to include certain information about the proportional amount of the credit attributable to each taxing jurisdiction. Finally, the act provides that the credit shall apply to all property tax levies, including debt service levies. (Section 137.1050)

Current law also allows counties to provide a property tax credit to all other taxpayers, with certain counties able to annually increase the real property tax liability by five percent or the percent increase in inflation, whichever is greater. This act limits such increase to the lesser of the two amounts. (Section 137.1055)

TOTALED MOTOR VEHICLE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT

This act authorizes any taxing entity to provide a property tax credit to a taxpayer to reduce the total personal property tax owed on a totaled motor vehicle. The amount of the property tax credit shall be equal to the amount of property tax owed on such vehicle, prorated for the amount of months left in the tax year.

In order to authorize a property tax credit pursuant to the act, the governing body of the taxing entity shall adopt an ordinance, as described in the act. (Section 139.035)

This provision is identical to HCS/HB 708 (2025).

PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENTS

Current law authorizes counties to provide for the payment of real and personal property taxes in installments, but excludes township counties from utilizing such payment plans. This act repeals such prohibition for township counties. (Section 139.053)

This provision is identical to SB 1211 (2026) and HB 388 (2025).

SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX LEVIES

Current law requires school districts to impose a property tax levy for operating purposes of not less than $2.75 in order to receive the full amount of state aid. This act lowers such required levy to $1.50 beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. (Section 163.021)

BLIND PENSION FUND

Current law imposes a state property tax of $0.03 per $100 assessed valuation for the purposes of funding the Blind Pension Fund. This act eliminates such property tax upon the adoption of a constitutional amendment requiring the General Assembly to appropriate moneys to the Blind Pension Fund. (Section 209.130)

SEVERABILITY

This act contains a severability clause. (Section B)

JOSH NORBERG

Amendments

No Amendments Found.