HB 511 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Property Tax Revenue Increase Amendments

HB 511 requires local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) to seek voter approval via an "opinion question" before raising property tax revenue. If they do this, they are exempt from standard truth-in-taxation notice and hearing requirements. The bill also limits how much new revenue a local government can collect from increased property values due to new construction or development. These changes apply to property tax rate increases under specific Utah code sections and aim to give voters more direct input on tax hikes while simplifying the process for governments that choose to seek approval.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025
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What changed between versions

Introduced Substitute #1 · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill clarifies when local governments must ask voters to approve property tax increases, exempts those who do ask from certain notice requirements, and limits how much revenue can come from new property growth. It also updates several Utah Code sections to align budget and levy deadlines with the new voter approval rules.
Scope change
The bill applies to all taxing entities (counties, cities, towns, school districts) that propose property tax rate increases exceeding their certified tax rate, with specific provisions for school districts and charter schools.
REQUIREMENT

Requires taxing entities to submit an opinion question to registered voters before adopting a budget that exceeds last year's budgeted revenue, unless the increase is limited to 'maximum new growth revenue'.

Exempts taxing entities that submit a voter opinion question from certain truth-in-taxation notice and public hearing requirements that would otherwise apply to tax increases.

TIMELINE

Updates budget adoption deadlines for towns and cities from June 22 to June 22 or September 1 depending on whether a property tax rate increase is proposed under the new voter approval rules.

DEFINITION

Clarifies the definition of 'certified revenue levy' to limit how much revenue can be generated from eligible new growth versus existing property values.

ENFORCEMENT

Adds audit authority for county auditors to verify compliance with public hearing and notice requirements for tax increases.

TECHNICAL

Makes technical corrections to code sections including fixing typos, updating cross-references, and clarifying language throughout multiple Utah Code sections.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Tiara Auxier
Tiara Auxier
RRepublican
UT
4