The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 9-4 on June 17
to approve a split roll property tax bill authored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who has said his bill (AB 2492)
is the first step in his effort to "nuke" Proposition 13.
The vote was split down party lines, with Democrats in
support. Voting "yes" were Assembly members Ammiano,
Felipe Fuentes, Steven Bradford, Charles Calderon, Joe Coto, Kevin de Leon, Isadore Hall, Nancy Skinner and Tom Torlakson. Opposing the
bill were Assembly members Connie Conway, Diane Harkey,
Jim Miller and Jim Nielsen. Assembly members Mike Davis, Chris Norby, Jose Solorio and Alberto Torrico did not vote.
The bill now goes to the Assembly floor. It requires a
two-thirds vote for passage, which means it cannot
pass unless several Republicans support it.
Cal-Tax and many business and taxpayer groups strongly
oppose the bill.
The Appropriations Committee's meeting was a special
"off the floor" hearing called by Assembly leadership to pass AB 2492, and no testimony was taken.
The bill had been on the committee's "suspense file," and Mr. Ammiano had waived an opportunity to present his bill to
the committee before it was sent to suspense. In the end, the committee
approved the bill without ever holding a true hearing on its merits or taking
testimony from interested parties.
The legislation provides for a change-of-ownership
reassessment of property when 100 percent of the ownership interest in a
corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
or other legal entity holding the property is sold or transferred in a single
transaction or in multiple transactions occurring over a period of up to three
years. Supporters' stated purpose is to increase property taxes on commercial
property owners.
Cal-TaxReports, June 21, 2010
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