No deal yet on Wyoming property tax cut bill
CHEYENNE – With deadlines looming, a joint conference committee of three Wyoming senators and three representatives failed to reach a deal on a sweeping property tax cut measure early Tuesday morning.
The deal on the table was to amend Senate File 69, 'Homeowner property tax exemption,' to include a 25% property tax cut for residential structures up to $1 million in value with no backfill from state savings. The proposal also included no sunset date, although the cuts may have to be repealed, depending on the outcome of a 2026 ballot initiative to cut 50% of homeowners' property taxes.
The Senate position on the bill had been a 50% tax cut without backfill, to sunset in two years. The House had inserted over $200 million from state savings to make up for lost revenue to cities, towns and counties that depend on property tax revenue for local services, and included a 25% cut in perpetuity without a sunset date.
Sens. Troy McKeown, R-Gillette; Tim Salazar, R-Riverton; and Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, all voted for a 25% cut as proposed by the joint conference committee Tuesday morning. All three lawmakers from the House, including Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River; Rep. Tony Locke, R-Casper; and Rep. Christopher Knapp, R-Gillette, voted against the proposal.
Senate leaders left the meeting frustrated.
Wyoming Legislature's 2025 Session
Sen. Tim Salazar, R-Riverton, listens during the a committee meeting on Jan. 16. Salazar was one of three members of a joint conference committee that failed to reach a compromise on a property tax cut bill Tuesday morning.
'As of yesterday, we both had decided to have a 7 a.m. JCC meeting, and we came to agree (on) the understanding we had (made) yesterday,' Salazar told reporters after the meeting. 'It was a surprise to me that this occurred.'
Salazar said that while the Senate would prefer a 50% cut, 25% would offer a measure of property tax relief as requested by 'the people back home," while not being a deep enough cut to require backfill, in his opinion.
'I've always said that perfection is the enemy of the good. This was a good deal. We supported it. We came here at 7 a.m. to sign our names, and it didn't occur,' Salazar said.
Senate President Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, told reporters that the House and Senate had made a deal Monday night prior to calling the joint conference committee.
Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester (2025)
Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester
'We shook hands. We had a deal,' Biteman said.
When asked if the three representatives on the committee may have needed time to take the proposal back to that body, Biteman added that the representatives 'wouldn't have made a deal (Monday) if they didn't have the votes."
Gierau also said that it seemed the two chambers had reached an agreement on Monday, but 'then our friends on the other side, for some reason between yesterday and today, decided – they said they wanted to go confer.'
Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson (2025)
Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson
The proposal Tuesday was not a surprise to the House, Gierau said.
'When they have agreed and shook on a deal, I find it interesting that they have to talk to their body,' Gierau said. '(Senate) leadership has been forthright and open. It is not everything I wanted, but it has been totally transparent on our side.'
Heiner told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that SF 69 is an 'important piece of legislation that has wide implications for the citizens of Wyoming." He said he did not feel the House leadership had rejected the proposal by voting against it.
Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River (2025)
Rep. Scott Heiner, R-Green River
'After getting the Senate's proposed amendment this morning, we wanted to go back to our chamber and discuss it with our members and to run the numbers,' Heiner said. 'We asked for a couple days and (will) reconvene for further discussion.'
Locke also told the WTE that the intention was not to 'burn anything down,' but to give the House time to deliberate.
'I'm very in favor of property tax relief. It was not an intention to burn anything down. It was just more of a ... we need a little time to discuss exactly the direction we want to take this,' Locke said.
When asked if the House knew what deal would be on the table Tuesday morning, Locke said that 'a lot of ideas had been thrown around, and we wanted to make sure we knew the nuance of what was being proposed.'
McKeown said that as it stands, any large-scale property tax relief is in representatives' hands. Sticking points in the negotiations leading up to the joint conference committee included the percentage of the cut and backfill.
'I am not going to mince words. This wasn't just our offer. This was what they wanted. It is what they agreed to, until this morning. It is very, very disappointing,' McKeown said. 'I have been pushing this bill for three years, and I thought we were there. This morning was hugely disappointing, and it will be what they want to do with it. We can't make them vote yes.'
Salazar said that he was concerned the bill might not meet legislative deadlines at this rate. Gierau said he had hoped the joint conference committee could get back together Tuesday to agree on a deal, but Heiner said negotiations may take another day or two.
Friday is the last day to send bills to Gov. Mark Gordon's office in order to allow enough time for a veto override by lawmakers before they adjourn March 6.
Locke said to expect ongoing negotiations over the next day or two.
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