SB 892 — Relating to property valuation

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedCommittee Substitute for Senate Bill 892 ByBYSENATOW SenatorOODRUM Woodrum[Reported [Introduced March 24,27, 2025;2025, from the Committee on Government Organization] CS for SB 892 A BILL to amend and reenact §11-1C-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to property valuation;

referred to the Committee on Government Organization;

and then to the Committee on Finance] Intr SB 892 2025R4048 A BILL to amend and reenact §11-1C-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to property valuation;

Property valuationValuation trainingTraining and proceduresProcedures commissionCommission generally;

(a) There is hereby created, under the Department of Tax and Revenue, a propertyProperty valuationValuation trainingTraining and proceduresProcedures commissionCommission which consists of the State Tax Commissioner, or a designee, who shall serve serves as chairperson of the commission,commission; three county assessors, five citizens of the state, one of which shall be a certified appraiser, and two county commissioners.

Thethree assessors, five citizen members and two county commissionersassessors; shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Forfive eachcitizens assessorof to be appointed, the Weststate, Virginiaone assessorsof associationwhom shall nominate three assessors, the assessors nominated shall be in compliance with the monitoring requirements approved by the Property Valuation Training and Procedures Commission, and the Governor and the assessors association shall give preference to assessors who are designated, licensed, or hold certification through a licensingcertified bodyappraiser; or professional organization recognized by the Appraisal Foundation, no more than two of whom shall belong to the same political party, and shall submit such list of nominees to the Governor.

Forand each of the two county commissionerscommissioners. to be appointed, the county commissioner's association of West Virginia shall nominate three commissioners, no more than two of whom shall belong to the same political party, and shall submit such list of nominees to the Governor.

ExceptThe forassessors, thefive Taxcitizen Commissioner,members, thereand maytwo notcounty commissioners shall be moreappointed thanby onethe memberGovernor fromwith anythe oneadvice county.and consent of the Senate.

No(1) moreFor thaneach sevenassessor membersto ofbe appointed, the commissionWest Virginia Assessors Association shall nominate three assessors no who are in compliance with the monitoring requirements approved by the Property Valuation Training and Procedures Commission, not more than two of whom shall belong to the same political party:party, and shall submit such the list of nominees to the Governor.

Provided,In Thatselecting anythe membernominees, of the commissionassociation whoand isGovernor ashall directgive partypreference to anyassessors disputewho beforeare thedesignated, boardlicensed, shallor excusehold himselfcertification orthrough herselfa fromlicensing anybody consideration or voteprofessional regardingorganization recognized by the dispute.Appraisal Foundation.

By(2) NovemberFor 1,each 1990,ofthe two county commissioners to be appointed, the IntrCounty SBCommissioner's 892Association 2025R4048of GovernorWest Virginia shall appointnominate three commissioners, no not more than two of whom shall belong to the fifthsame citizenpolitical member,party, whoand shall servesubmit asuch two-yearthe term.list of nominees to the Governor.

(b)(3) AllExcept members,for except the Tax Commissioner, shallthere servemay fornot four-yearbe terms:more than one member from any one county.

Provided,No ThatCS offor theSB members892 initially(4) appointed,Not twomore assessors,than oneseven countymembers commissionof memberthe andcommission two citizens shall servemay two-yearbelong terms,to andthe onesame assessor,political oneparty. county commissioner member and three citizen members shall serve four-year terms.

Provided, That (5) Any member of the commission who is a direct party to any dispute before the board shall excuse himself or herself from any consideration or vote regarding thedispute.

By November 1, 1990, the Governor shall appoint the fifth citizen member, who shall serve a two-year term.

(b) All members, except the Tax Commissioner, shall serve for serve four-year terms.

Provided, That of the members initially appointed, two assessors, one county commission member and two citizens shall serve two-year terms, and one assessor, onecounty commissioner member and three citizen members shall serve four-year terms.

Subsequently, meetingsMeetings shall be at the call of the chairperson or at the written request of any four members, except that the commission shall meet at least twice annually.

Assessor members, county commissioner membersmembers, and the Tax Commissioner shall serve without compensation, and citizen members shall receive $50 per day for each day of actual service rendered.

NOTE:

The purpose of this bill is to clarify requirements before an assessor can be nominated and provide preference when certain requirements are met.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.