Bill > HB0484

This bill, titled "Property Tax Changes," amends existing Utah law to modify how taxing entities, such as cities or school districts, can increase their property tax revenue. Primarily, it introduces changes to the "truth-in-taxation" process, which requires public notice and hearings before a taxing entity can raise property taxes beyond a certain threshold. Key provisions include a new limit on how much a taxing entity can increase its property tax budget without voter approval, capping it at 5% of "last year's property tax budgeted revenue" (which refers to the revenue budgeted for the previous fiscal year, excluding certain items like debt service levies voted on by the public or revenue from charter school levies). If a taxing entity wishes to exceed this 5% limit, it must submit a question to voters in a general election, specifying the amount of additional revenue it seeks. If voters approve this question, the taxing entity is then exempt from the usual notice and public hearing requirements for that fiscal year. The bill also makes adjustments to how state guarantee money for school districts is calculated and phased out, particularly concerning "excess funds" that a school district might have received in the 2025 fiscal year due to state guarantees. This bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0484.html