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S.J.R. 3

             1     

JOINT RESOLUTION AMENDING REVENUE

             2     
AND TAXATION ARTICLE - EXEMPTIONS

             3     
2001 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Michael G. Waddoups

             6      This joint resolution amends the Utah Constitution to allow the Legislature to provide for
             7      a property tax on property owned by counties, cities, towns, special districts, and other
             8      political subdivisions. The joint resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit the
             9      proposed amendment to the voters and provides for an effective date.
             10      This resolution proposes to change the Utah Constitution as follows:
             11      AMENDS:
             12          ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 2
             13      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each of
             14      the two houses voting in favor thereof:
             15          Section 1. It is proposed to amend Utah Constitution Article XIII, Section 2 , to read:
             16           Article XIII, Section 2. [Tangible property to be taxed -- Value ascertained --
             17      Exemptions -- Remittance or abatement of taxes of poor -- Intangible property -- Legislature
             18      to provide annual tax for state.]
             19          (1) All tangible property in the state, not exempt under the laws of the United States, or
             20      under this Constitution, shall be taxed at a uniform and equal rate in proportion to its value, to be
             21      ascertained as provided by law.
             22          (2) The following are property tax exemptions:
             23          (a) the property of the state, school districts, and public libraries;
             24          (b) the property of counties, cities, towns, special districts, and all other political
             25      subdivisions of the state, except that such property may be subject to property tax to the extent and
             26      in the manner provided by the Legislature [the property of a county, city, town, special district, or
             27      other political subdivision of the state located outside of its geographic boundaries as defined by


             28      law may be subject to the ad valorem property tax] in statute;
             29          (c) property owned by a nonprofit entity which is used exclusively for religious, charitable,
             30      or educational purposes;
             31          (d) places of burial not held or used for private or corporate benefit; and
             32          (e) farm equipment and farm machinery as defined by statute. This exemption shall be
             33      implemented over a period of time as provided by statute.
             34          (3) Tangible personal property present in Utah on January 1, held for sale or processing
             35      and which is shipped to final destination outside this state within twelve months may be deemed
             36      by law to have acquired no situs in Utah for purposes of ad valorem property taxation and may be
             37      exempted by law from such taxation, whether manufactured, processed or produced or otherwise
             38      originating within or without the state.
             39          (4) Tangible personal property present in Utah on January 1, held for sale in the ordinary
             40      course of business and which constitutes the inventory of any retailer, or wholesaler or
             41      manufacturer or farmer, or livestock raiser may be deemed for purposes of ad valorem property
             42      taxation to be exempted.
             43          (5) Water rights, ditches, canals, reservoirs, power plants, pumping plants, transmission
             44      lines, pipes and flumes owned and used by individuals or corporations for irrigating land within
             45      the state owned by such individuals or corporations, or the individual members thereof, shall be
             46      exempted from taxation to the extent that they shall be owned and used for such purposes.
             47          (6) Power plants, power transmission lines and other property used for generating and
             48      delivering electrical power, a portion of which is used for furnishing power for pumping water for
             49      irrigation purposes on lands in the state of Utah, may be exempted from taxation to the extent that
             50      such property is used for such purposes. These exemptions shall accrue to the benefit of the users
             51      of water so pumped under such regulations as the Legislature may prescribe.
             52          (7) The taxes of the poor may be remitted or abated at such times and in such manner as
             53      may be provided by law.
             54          (8) The Legislature may provide by law for the exemption from taxation: of not to exceed
             55      45% of the fair market value of residential property as defined by law; and all household
             56      furnishings, furniture, and equipment used exclusively by the owner thereof at his place of abode
             57      in maintaining a home for himself and family.
             58          (9) Property owned by disabled persons who were disabled in the line of duty during any


             59      war, international conflict, or military training in the military service of the United States or of the
             60      state of Utah and by the unmarried surviving spouses and minor orphans of such disabled persons
             61      or of persons who during any war, international conflict, or military training in the military service
             62      of the United States or the state of Utah were killed in action or died in the line of duty as a result
             63      of such service may be exempted as the Legislature may provide.
             64          (10) Intangible property may be exempted from taxation as property or it may be taxed as
             65      property in such manner and to such extent as the Legislature may provide, but if taxed as property
             66      the income therefrom shall not also be taxed. Provided that if intangible property is taxed as
             67      property the rate thereof shall not exceed five mills on each dollar of valuation.
             68          (11) The Legislature shall provide by law for an annual tax sufficient, with other sources
             69      of revenue, to defray the estimated ordinary expenses of the state for each fiscal year. For the
             70      purpose of paying the state debt, if any there be, the Legislature shall provide for levying a tax
             71      annually, sufficient to pay the annual interest and to pay the principal of such debt, within twenty
             72      years from the final passage of the law creating the debt.
             73          Section 2. Submittal to voters.
             74          The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of the
             75      state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
             76          Section 3. Effective date.
             77          If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
             78      voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
             79      2003.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-28-00 12:36 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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