Modifies provisions relating to taxation of property

TAX BALLOT MEASURE LANGUAGE This act requires an election authority to label property tax ballot measures numerically or alphabetically. (Section 115.240)

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SB 1517 (2026) and HCS/HB 1790 (2026).

This act provides that any ballot measures proposing a new or increased real or personal property tax levy shall include certain information, as described in the act. (Section 115.706)

ASSESSMENT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS This act modifies the definition of "residential property" for the purposes of the taxation of real property by providing that such definition shall include single family homes that are owned by a sole proprietor, individual, partnership, or limited liability company and leased, in whole or in part, for a term of less than thirty consecutive days. (Section 137.016)

This provision is identical to SCS/SBs 1066 & 1088 (2026) and SCS/HB 1086 (2025), and is substantially similar to SB 1303 (2026), SB 699 (2025), and SB 784 (2025), and to a provision in HB 660 (2025).

REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS Current law provides that the burden of proof to sustain a property valuation shall be on the assessor for any assessment of residential real property that is made by a computer, computer-assisted method, or a computer program. This act applies such provision to all non-agricultural real property. (Section 137.115.1(5))

Current law requires an assessor to conduct a physical inspection prior to increasing the assessed value of residential real property by more than 15%. This act applies such provision to all non-agricultural real property and requires such physical inspections to be conducted prior to July 1. The act also prohibits any increase in the assessed value of real property of more than 15% over a two-year reassessment cycle and requires any increases of 15% to be spread over the two-year cycle, as described in the act. (Section 137.115.10 to.12)

Current law requires assessors to provide notice to taxpayers when the valuation of the taxpayer's real property has increased. This act requires an assessor to provide any third party documents, reports, or other data that was relied upon in the computation of assessed value. (Sections 137.180 and 137.355)

These provisions are identical to SB 1521 (2026) and SB 787 (2025), and to provisions in SCS/SB 85 (2025) and HB 780 (2025), and are substantially similar to provisions in HB 1582 (2025).

APPEALS OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS This act provides that any appeal of an assessment involving an increase of more than fifteen percent that is not disposed of by the board of equalization by September 30 shall be dismissed and the assessor's increased assessed valuation shall be void. (Section 138.010)

Current law provides that a taxpayer shall prevail in any appeal of an assessed valuation for which an assessor fails to provide evidence of a required physical inspection. This act provides that, in such cases, the increased assessed valuation shall be void.

This act also provides that if a taxpayer submits a written appraisal report certified by the Missouri Real Estate Appraisers Commission at least five days in advance of a board of equalization hearing, the value of the property as determined in the appraisal report shall presumptively determine the property's true value in money. (Section 138.060)

This act provides that if a transfer of ownership of real property occurs after January 1 of a non-reassessment year, the new owner shall be entitled to appeal the assessed value of such property directly to the State Tax Commission by no later than December 31 of such year, regardless of whether the previous owner appealed the value of the property during the previous reassessment year. (Section 138.135)

The act provides that if an assessor appeals a decision of the State Tax Commission on any grounds other than overvaluation and the taxpayer is the prevailing party, the taxpayer shall be awarded costs of appeal and attorney's fees. (Section 138.430)

Current law authorizes any first class charter county or city not within a county to require, by ordinance or charter, the reimbursement of just and reasonable appraisal costs, attorney fees, and court costs resulting from hearings before the State Tax Commission for taxpayer appeals of property assessments. This act requires such reimbursements. This act also increases the maximum amount of fees to be reimbursed from $1,000 to $5,000 for residential property appeals, and from $4,000 to $5,000 for utility, industrial railroad, or other subclass three property appeals. (Section 138.434)

STATE TAX COMMISSION This act provides that when the State Tax Commission equalizes the valuation of a class or subclass of property that results in an increase of more than fifteen percent, such increase shall be evenly divided between each of the successive reassessment cycles in a manner that does not cause an increase of more than fifteen percent for any two-year assessment cycle. (Section 138.390)

PROTESTED PROPERTY TAXES Current law requires a taxpayer to file a written protest of property taxes with the collector at the same time such taxpayer makes full payment of such taxes. This act repeals such requirement.

This act also provides that the interest due to a taxpayer whose protested taxes were distributed to a taxing authority shall be calculated from the date that the protested taxes were distributed to the taxing authority through the date of the refund.

Any taxpayer determined by a circuit court or the State Tax Commission to be entitled to a refund of property taxes shall receive such refund from the collector within thirty days of the final determination of the refund amount by the circuit court or State Tax Commission. If such refund is not issued within thirty days, the taxpayer shall be entitled to interest on the refund as calculated under current law. (Section 139.031)

These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 1522 (2026).

This act is identical to HCS/HB 2178 (2026). JOSH NORBERG