SB 1131: Property Tax Oversight & Assessment Reform
Sponsor: Ben Brown
WATCH / MIXED
Strong positives on sovereignty/advocacy, offset by process concerns.
SB 1131 reshapes how the State Tax Commission (STC) oversees assessment and equalization, tightens rules around state reimbursement for county assessment costs, creates and funds a strengthened Office of State Ombudsman for Property Assessment and Taxation, and adds a cap on year-over-year assessments for most motor vehicles.
What Does This Bill Do?
- Ban on IAAO Standards: The bill explicitly bans the State Tax Commission from using standards from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) or any other external organization.
- Strengthened Ombudsman: Establishes a full Office of State Ombudsman to investigate taxpayer complaints, review records, and educate citizens on assessment rights.
- Motor Vehicle Assessment Cap: Prohibits raising the assessed value of motor vehicles worth less than $50,000 if they were properly assessed the previous year.
Constitutional or Critical Context
While legally defensible under a broad title, this bill bundles disparate significant reforms—like a vehicle tax cap and a new state office—under the generic label of "STC duties." This approach pushes the boundaries of the single-subject rule and makes transparency difficult for citizens.
Red Flags & Recommended Amendments
Funding by "Skimming" Reimbursements
If the legislature underfunds the Ombudsman, the bill triggers a cut to county assessment reimbursements to make up the difference—a clumsy "backdoor" funding method.
Our recommendation is to retain the Ombudsman office and its funding, while requiring the STC to prioritize financing the Ombudsman position from its staff budget. As this is the only role mandated by State Statute, it should be given precedence. The allocation and selection of any additional positions should be determined based on the remaining available budget after the Ombudsman position has been secured.
Title Breadth & Bundling
The generic title masks major policy changes like the vehicle tax cap, bundling multiple clusters of law into one package contrary to the spirit of transparency.
Act for Missouri Recommendation:
We strongly applaud the ban on international standards and the creation of a taxpayer advocate. However, due to concerns about the funding mechanism and the "omnibus" style bundling of unrelated tax policies, we remain at "Watch/Mixed." We would prefer to see these excellent provisions passed in clean, stand-alone bills.