H.J.R. 16

             1     

JOINT RESOLUTION ON THE ASSESSMENT OF LAND

             2     
SUBJECT TO A CONSERVATION EASEMENT

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Dixon M. Pitcher

             6     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to
             11      enact a provision relating to the assessment of land that is subject to a conservation
             12      easement.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to:
             15          .    authorize the Legislature to provide by statute that land subject to a conservation
             16      easement be assessed based on its value for agricultural use.
             17      Special Clauses:
             18          This resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit this proposal to voters.
             19          This resolution provides a contingent effective date of January 1, 2015 for this proposal.
             20      Utah Constitution Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22           ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 2
             23     
             24      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each
             25      of the two houses voting in favor thereof:
             26          Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution, Article XIII, Section 2, to read:
             27           Article XIII, Section 2. [Property tax.]


             28          (1) So that each person and corporation pays a tax in proportion to the fair market
             29      value of his, her, or its tangible property, all tangible property in the State that is not exempt
             30      under the laws of the United States or under this Constitution shall be:
             31          (a) assessed at a uniform and equal rate in proportion to its fair market value, to be
             32      ascertained as provided by law; and
             33          (b) taxed at a uniform and equal rate.
             34          (2) Each corporation and person in the State or doing business in the State is subject to
             35      taxation on the tangible property owned or used by the corporation or person within the
             36      boundaries of the State or local authority levying the tax.
             37          (3) The Legislature may provide by statute that land that is subject to a conservation
             38      easement or used for agricultural purposes be assessed based on its value for agricultural use.
             39          (4) The Legislature may by statute determine the manner and extent of taxing livestock.
             40          (5) The Legislature may by statute determine the manner and extent of taxing or
             41      exempting intangible property, except that any property tax on intangible property may not
             42      exceed .005 of its fair market value. If any intangible property is taxed under the property tax,
             43      the income from that property may not also be taxed.
             44          (6) Tangible personal property required by law to be registered with the State before it
             45      is used on a public highway or waterway, on public land, or in the air may be exempted from
             46      property tax by statute. If the Legislature exempts tangible personal property from property tax
             47      under this Subsection (6), it shall provide for the payment of uniform statewide fees or uniform
             48      statewide rates of assessment or taxation on that property in lieu of the property tax. The fair
             49      market value of any property exempted under this Subsection (6) shall be considered part of the
             50      State tax base for determining the debt limitation under Article XIV.
             51          Section 2. Submittal to voters.
             52          The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of
             53      the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
             54          Section 3. Effective date.
             55          If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
             56      voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
             57      2015.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-31-14 2:23 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]