Connecticut Senate Bill SB00644

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/17
• Refer: 1/25/17
• Refer: 3/23/17
• Report Pass: 3/24/17
• Refer: 4/5/17
• Report Pass: 4/11/17
• Refer: 6/1/17
• Report Pass: 6/5/17
• Engrossed: 6/6/17
• Report Pass: 6/7/17

Caption

An Act Concerning The Registration Of Motor Vehicles Registered Out Of State.

Impact

The enactment of SB00644 impacts the property tax laws within Connecticut by modifying the process for assessing property taxes on out-of-state registered vehicles. With the provisions of this bill, assessors gain a mechanism for assessing taxes that would have otherwise been challenging due to lack of information about such vehicles. This legislative change reflects a shift towards a more systematic approach to capturing all vehicles in tax assessments, possibly leading to increased tax revenue for local towns.

Summary

SB00644, titled 'An Act Concerning The Registration Of Motor Vehicles Registered Out Of State', addresses the registration and property tax implications for motor vehicles that are registered in states other than Connecticut. The bill stipulates that if a local assessor identifies a motor vehicle not registered in Connecticut but subject to property tax, they are required to inform the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The commissioner must then provide the assessor with relevant information regarding the vehicle, allowing for accurate property tax assessment and inclusion in the local grand list.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SB00644 appears to be supportive amongst many lawmakers, with indications that it was passed unanimously by a Senate roll call vote. This suggests a general consensus on the necessity of the bill for improving tax administration and ensuring fairness in vehicle taxation. However, there may be underlying concerns regarding its implementation and the administrative burden it could place on assessors and the DMV, although these were not explicitly documented in the discussions.

Contention

While SB00644 holds promise for creating better revenue streams from the previously unaccounted out-of-state vehicles, there may be areas of contention regarding how local assessors will manage the increased workload associated with tracking and assessing these vehicles. Questions about the efficiency of communication between assessors and the DMV, as well as the potential pushback from vehicle owners who may not support additional scrutiny in taxation processes, could represent points of debate as the bill is enacted.