Committee OKs measure allowing counties to elect separate tax collectors

A sponsor presented House Bill 10 90, filed on behalf of Senator Crowell, to allow counties that combine the elected sheriff and tax-collector offices to separate those duties and elect a distinct tax collector. The sponsor said the bill changes a statutory provision that ties the two roles in certain counties and would permit separation subject to constitutional and local procedures.

Committee members asked whether the change reflected local preferences. The sponsor said citizens in the affected county indicated support and that any new elected office would be decided by voters. "It's a constitutional role ... by statute, we gotta change it to allow Hempstead County to be able to break apart that rule," the sponsor said, noting similar changes have passed in prior sessions.

There were no registered opponents at the hearing. The committee moved, recorded a second (Senator McKee), and approved the bill by voice vote.

What happens next: The bill advances out of committee and, if passed by the legislature, would allow counties seeking to unbundle the sheriff and tax-collector duties to proceed through whatever local or constitutional steps apply.