Oklahoma House Bill HB2397

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Revenue and taxation; ad valorem tax; inspections; technology; effective date.

Impact

By allowing the use of advanced technologies in conducting visual inspections, HB2397 transforms how real property valuations are completed. County assessors will be required to maintain specific technological standards and tools, which may lead to improved accuracy in assessments and potentially enhanced revenue from ad valorem taxes. This change promotes efficiency within county offices by streamlining the visual inspection cycle and updating cadastral maps.

Summary

House Bill 2397 aims to amend existing legislation regarding the inspection of real property in Oklahoma. The bill permits county assessors to utilize technology such as oblique imagery, ortho-imagery, and high-resolution street-level imagery for inspecting real estate. This modernization effort is intended to improve the processes by which property valuations are conducted, ensuring that assessments reflect the fair cash value of properties based on comprehensive data.

Contention

Debate surrounding HB2397 may arise from concerns regarding the implications of technology dependence in property evaluations. Proponents argue that this bill will aid in obtaining more accurate and just property values, thereby ensuring fair taxation based on current market conditions. However, critics may express worries over whether technology could potentially overlook complexities of individual properties that human inspectors might catch, raising issues about fairness and equity in taxation across different property types.