Tennessee Senate Votes For Resolution Blocking Statewide Property Tax

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –

The Tennessee Senate on Thursday passed a joint resolution to ban a statewide property tax.

“The property tax belongs in counties and cities, that’s a local tax,” Niceley said.

The resolution will next have to pass both bodies of the Legislature by a two-thirds margin next year before it would go on a statewide ballot in 2026.

Americans For Prosperity-Tennessee has pushed for the statewide property tax ban.

“Over the next two years, AFP-TN will activate grassroots volunteers and engage in campaigns to educate Tennesseans about the process for amending our state constitution,” AFP-Tennessee State Director Tori Venable said. “We look forward to building off this legislative success and keeping up the momentum to ensure Tennessee constitutionally bans the statewide property tax as we did the income tax.”

Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said he thinks it is disingenuous for the state Legislature to pretend it doesn’t have a property taxing role because it requires local governments to have local property taxes.

About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.