Proposed constitutional amendment to cap assessed-value increases fails in House after heated debate

Representative Adam Smith presented the conference committee report on STR6003, a proposed constitutional amendment to limit assessed-valuation increases year-to-year instead of using a rolling average.

Smith said the conference language removes the rolling average and sets a year-to-year limit on assessed valuation—described on the floor as "9% or lesser as provided by law"—and explained implementation choices (including a rollback baseline year discussion) and fiscal impacts to both state and local governments. He emphasized the intent to protect homeowners and to allow statutory flexibility for maintenance/repair exclusions and application of new construction to assessed valuations.

Representative Sawyer urged defeat, characterizing the amendment as a tax shift rather than a cut and warning of wide disparities and long-term inequalities if the measure were adopted. Sawyer and others cited analysis and examples from other states showing uneven impacts across neighboring properties.

After debate, the clerk recorded 59 in favor and 63 against; because a constitutional amendment requires a higher threshold, the House declared STR6003 lost. Members subsequently voted to reconsider and to return the matter to conference committee so conferees can continue negotiations.