WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SF 67

Long-term homeowner tax exemption-revisions.

2025 Regular Session

Repeal the sunset on Wyoming's long-term homeowner tax exemption, making it permanent from 2026.

S COW:Failed 13-15-1-0-2
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SF 67

Summary — SF 67: Long-term homeowner tax exemption — revisions

Status
- Introduced January 17, 2025. Referred to Revenue committee (S03). Committee recommended “Do Pass” (3–2). Placed on General File. Failed in the Senate Committee of the Whole on January 28, 2025 (vote 13–15–1–0–2). Sponsors listed as SALMON and WESTRICH; bill carried by the Joint Revenue Interim Committee (25LSO-0170).

Purpose / intent
- To amend Wyoming’s property tax exemption for long‑term homeowners (W.S. 39‑11‑105(a)(xlv)) by (1) changing eligibility/definition language for “primary residence,” (2) modifying survivor qualification language, and (3) repealing the statutory sunset so the exemption continues beyond the previously scheduled repeal date. The goal is to clarify and expand who may claim the long‑term homeowner exemption and to make the exemption permanent.

Key provisions
- Eligibility adjustments
- Alters the statutory definition of “primary residence” for exemption claimants. Committee and fiscal documents describe reducing the explicit residency requirement from eight (8) months to six (6) months (and an adopted Committee amendment also added that residency for claimants must be in Wyoming, to be defined by Department of Revenue rule).
- Removes (beginning January 1, 2026) an automatic surviving‑spouse qualification that allowed a surviving spouse who would not otherwise qualify to continue to receive the exemption.
- Adds a rule‑making note: “Each owner claiming the exemption … shall be a resident of Wyoming. … residency shall be determined by rule of the department.”
- Repeal of sunset
- The bill repeals the current statutory sunset for the exemption that was scheduled to end (per 2024 Session Law) on July 1, 2027, thereby making the exemption permanent. (A Committee amendment that would have extended repeal to 2030 was proposed but failed; the bill as introduced sought full repeal.)
- Applicability / effective date
- The amended exemption language would first apply to the tax year beginning January 1, 2026. The bill is effective upon completion of the acts necessary for a bill to become law (upon enactment).

Who is affected
- Long‑term homeowners claiming the exemption (statute targets owners or spouses age 65+ with long prior Wyoming residential tax payment history).
- Surviving spouses who currently relied on the automatic continuation would be affected by the removal of that specific surviving‑spouse qualification.
- School Foundation Program (state education funding) and local taxing entities because the exemption reduces assessed value subject to property taxation.

Fiscal impact (LSO fiscal note)
- FY 2026: no administrative impact estimated.
- FY 2027: impact indeterminable (changes take effect for tax year 2026 but full revenue effect depends on claims).
- FY 2028 (tax year 2027): estimated total property tax revenue decrease ≈ $31.5 million, comprising approximately $19.8 million loss to the School Foundation Program (the 43 mills supporting K‑12) and $11.7 million to other local taxing entities.
- Assumptions behind estimates: 23,000 qualifying applications, average assessed value exempted $20,000, and average mill levy of 68.504 mills. The fiscal note warns the Legislature may need to appropriate additional SFP funds to offset reduced local levy revenue.

Procedural / timeline notes
- Committee action included two Committee‑of‑the‑Whole amendment efforts: one (to change repeal date to 2030) failed; another (to add residency language and remove explicit “six months” wording) was adopted. Despite amendment activity, the bill failed in the Committee of the Whole on January 28, 2025 and did not advance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.