04/16/2026

CTAO Friday Focus

Key Updates from the Statehouse and
Beyond for CTAO Members

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE + ACTION NEEDED

The legislature is in recess until after the May 5 primaries. However, we need YOU to TAKE ACTION on specific legislation of importance to county treasurers. Legislators respond most strongly to the voices of elected officials from their own districts and often lack deep expertise in the operational realities of county government. Building a direct relationship ensures that county treasurers have a seat at the table when future legislation affecting their offices is being shaped.

Contact your legislators on the following bills:

-HB 443 (Rep. Thomas, Rep. A. Mathews) Prohibit enforcing property tax liens against certain homesteads

HB 443 prohibits a county treasurer or prosecutor from enforcing a lien for delinquent
taxes against the owner-occupied homes, or “homesteads,” of certain qualifying individuals, either by initiating a foreclosure action or through a tax certificate sale.

Opponent Action Needed: Contact your local state representative and state senator to counter the "don't throw grandma out of the house" bill and let your legislators know how this would negatively impact your county. Remind your legislators that treasurers routinely work with property owners on an individual basis to remedy back taxes.

-HB 493 (Rep. Thomas, Rep. Troy) Sunset the sale of delinquent property tax certificates

HB 493 prohibits the sale or delivery of new delinquent property tax certificates after
December 31, 2026. Certificates sold or delivered before that date may still be enforced.

Opponent Action Needed: Contact your local state representative and state senator to reinforce that this is a valuable mechanism for county treasurers to use to address tax delinquencies, and removing this tool would be detrimental to your county. Emphasize that this bill cannot be compared to "Pay Day Lending" and is not predatory in any way. Again, reinforce the message that treasurers routinely work with property owners on an individual basis to remedy back taxes.

-SB 366 (Sen. Blessing, Sen. Ingram) Require some delinquent property tax payments upon lot transfer

SB 366 requires property sellers to pay delinquent property taxes before a real estate transfer can be completed and recorded.

Proponent Action Needed: Contact your local state senator to request a hearing on the bill and educate them on how this would create an automatic collection mechanism that would enable county treasurers to capture delinquent funds at the moment of sale, and close the gap between the delinquent and new property owner. Capturing those funds at the moment of sale converts long-outstanding receivables into actual revenue more predictably for the county.

Not sure who to contact? Use this link to find your legislators and contact information.

NEWS TO PERUSE

Statewide coalition begins public education on property tax abolishment (website)

Contact: Email the CTAO team using these links:
Kevin Futryk
Victoria Gresh, CAE
RJ Mancini