Proposes a constitutional amendment modifying the taxation of property
Summary
HJR5 is a proposed constitutional amendment to Article X of the Missouri Constitution that would substantially restructure how property is taxed in the state. The resolution would repeal several existing property-tax provisions and replace them with a new framework that limits property taxation to real property, prohibits local governments from levying or collecting property taxes on tangible or intangible personal property, and creates new categories and tier-based methods for assessing residential real property. It also preserves separate treatment for agricultural/horticultural property and keeps existing approaches for utility, industrial, commercial, railroad, and other nonresidential real property.
The measure would require the State Tax Commission to establish and periodically update residential property tiers and tier factors, with local assessors classifying parcels into those tiers. It also includes provisions for adjusting local tax rates to offset lost personal-property revenue, accounting for tax abatements, and limiting how much residential tier factors can rise based on inflation over a quadrennium. The amendment would be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election or a special election called for that purpose.
Impact
If adopted, HJR5 would amend the Missouri Constitution and significantly change the legal structure governing property taxation under Article X. It would eliminate local property taxes on tangible and intangible personal property, alter assessment and classification rules for real property, and shift residential taxation to a tier-based system rather than traditional assessed valuation. It would also affect county, municipal, school district, and other political subdivision tax levies by tying them to new constitutional limits, requiring new state rules and local implementation procedures, and potentially changing revenue streams for local governments and taxing districts.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears procedural and reform-oriented rather than clearly partisan in the record available here. The proposal is expansive and would likely appeal to taxpayers and property owners concerned about personal-property taxes and assessment practices, while also signaling concern for local revenue stability through offset and adjustment mechanisms. Because no discussion transcripts or vote history were provided, there is no documented public sentiment from committee debate in this record.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to be the elimination of local personal-property taxes, the creation of a new residential tier system, and the extent of state control over local property-tax administration. Local governments and school districts may object to the loss of a tax base and the complexity of replacement revenue mechanisms, while taxpayers may support relief from personal-property taxation and limits on residential tax growth. Additional controversy may arise over how the State Tax Commission would set tiers, how appeals would work, and whether the amendment could shift burdens among property classes or jurisdictions.