Subcommittee backs HB 1096 to add website or QR code listing county property-tax credits

Delegate Kent Roberson, chair of the Ways and Means subcommittee on local revenues, opened the panel and introduced House Bill 1096 and an amendment that would change the bill to require counties to include a website address or QR code with property tax bills.

Stan Ward, legislative staff, said the amendment removes existing bill language and instead requires that the written materials sent with a property tax bill include either a website address or a QR code that leads to a county webpage listing all available credits and basic application information. "[T]he materials that are sent... include either a website address or... a QR code that leads to a website where all the credits that are available in the county would be listed and some basic information on how to apply for those credits," Ward explained.

Delegate Jeffrey Long said the amendment was a good start but raised concerns about outreach: "Most people don't open up their tax bills because their banks pay their property taxes," Long said, urging additional ways to notify homeowners about available credits.

After discussion the subcommittee adopted the amendment and moved HB 1096 favorable as amended. Chair Roberson recorded six votes in favor; there was no recorded opposition.

The subcommittee did not adopt additional outreach requirements beyond the website/QR-code provision during the session. The bill will proceed to the next stage of committee consideration as amended.