HB 2341 Prorates property taxes due to fire damage

VOTE:YES
Signed into Law by Gov Brown on 06/23/21
Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/HB2341

This bill authorizes tax collector to prorate taxes on property damaged or destroyed in county declared in state of emergency due to fire or act of God, or authority of Governor under Emergency Conflagration Act.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
Those that lots their homes in fires should not have to pay property taxes on a home that no long exists.

Limited Government
Currently, statute provides for an application process that would allow property tax relief for property owners affected by fire. The property relief mechanism differs for damaged property and destroyed property, and can also not be commenced without a completed application. In the case of a wildfire, numerous applications may be received and owners of damaged property may not receive refund until the end of the property tax year. The mechanism for calculating property tax relief is contingent on the real market value of the property dropping below the previously assessed value of the property.

Local Control
County assessors identified situations where due to the complexities of Measure 50 and the calculation of the proration certain homeowners may not see any reduction of their taxes. HB 2341 changes the proration calculation so that all owners who suffered a loss will see a corresponding reduction in their tax.