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Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2197 - Committee on Taxation
Short Title
Providing for abatement of property tax for certain buildings or improvements destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disaster.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 17, 2021
Adam Siebers, Assistant Revisor provided an overview for HB2197 that would expand the eligibility for property tax abatements to allow for buildings and improvements to also qualify if destroyed or substantially destroyed by natural disaster in addition to homesteads. (Attachment 1)
Proponents:
Representative Timothy Johnson, 38th District testified as a proponent for HB2197 stating he experienced tornado damage May 19, 2019 to his home and out buildings. He noted he had insurance but no flood insurance due to massive amounts of rain from the storm cell. Representative Johnson stated as of January 21, 2021 his home and out buildings are not finished being repaired. The City of Leavenworth has raised his 2020 assessed valuation to approximately $26,000. This assessment noted a big increase in improvements which refers to the fact of a roof replacement and other repairs so his family could live there. He noted HB2197 is needed to protect individuals from unfair taxation when natural disaster affect the State of Kansas. (Attachment 2)
Written testimony as a proponent to HB2197 was submitted by the following:
Brian T. Habjan, Leavenworth resident, (Attachment 3)
Dave Trabert, CEO, Kansas Policy Institute (Attachment 4)
Dean Klahr, Director of Stockgrowers Division, Kansas Livestock Association (Attachment 5)
Randy Stookey, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, KGFA, RKBA and Shahira Stafford, Kansas Cooperative Council (Attachment 6)
Mike Stieben, Leavenworth County Commissioner, District #5 (Attachment 7)
Neutral:
Trey Cocking, League of Municipalities testified as neutral to HB2197 stating their concern with the bill is that cities are compact in size and when natural disasters occur, there is a chance that a major portion of the city will be impacted. He noted there was a similar bill last year and the League worked with the proponents of the bill to develop language that would allow a city to be exempted from the provisions of the bill if more than 25% of the real property is damaged. Mr. Cocking provided an amendment to the bill in his testimony. (Attachment 8).
Mr. Cocking stood for questions from Committee members.
Chairperson Smith closed the hearing on HB2197.
