Missouri families needed real property tax relief this legislative session. I was hopeful as session started, since the Senate Republican Caucus made real property tax reform its top priority. But with only two weeks left, so far we've fallen short of that goal.
As the session nears its end, the Missouri Senate passed only one property tax bill just this week, Senate Bill 1410. On paper, this bill addresses property tax policy - but in practice, it focused largely on administrative changes rather than lowering the actual tax burden on property owners.
In a nutshell: the process was adjusted, but the problem remains.
What's Really Happening
Across Missouri - and especially in places like Jackson County - families are dealing with increasing property assessments. Those assessments directly impact how much people pay in property taxes, and for many, the increases have been steep enough to force difficult financial decisions.
While legislation moved forward this week, it did not directly reduce those costs. Instead, the changes focused on areas like ballot language, classification rules, and technical adjustments to how tax limits are calculated under the Hancock Amendment.
Two adopted amendments further weakened taxpayer protections, which is why I ultimately voted against the final version of the bill.
At the same time, my Senate Bill 919 - which included broader, more meaningful reforms - was brought to the floor but there was no path forward.
What I Proposed
During debate on SB 1410, I offered several amendments aimed at delivering practical, real-world relief. Each one was designed to address the actual problem Missourians are facing - not just adjust the process around it.
Here's what those proposals would have done:
1. Cap Assessment Increases at 15%
Prevent sudden spikes in property valuations that lead to unaffordable tax hikes.
2. Increase Transparency in Valuations
Require clear disclosure of how property values are calculated, giving taxpayers a fair chance to understand and appeal assessments.
3. Lower Valuation Ratio Standards
Adjust standards to ensure properties are not assessed above 100% of market value - promoting fairness statewide.
4. Include Jackson County in Relief Measures
Extend relief options to Jackson County, which was previously left out. This amendment was tabled by a Republican senator before it was even fully read. The body didn't even know what was in the amendment.
5. Strengthen the Hancock Amendment
Close loopholes in the underlying bill and ensure the tax burden isn't unfairly shifted onto certain classes of property owners.
Each of these measures was voted down. Several were voted down because there were not enough Republicans on the chamber floor to prevail.
Why This Matters
This issue is about more than policy - it's about people.
Property rights are foundational to liberty. When rising taxes force families out of their homes, something has gone wrong. For many Missourians, especially seniors and working families, homeownership is not just about stability - it's about building a future and passing something on to the next generation.
Jackson County highlights the problem clearly. While 97 of Missouri's 114 counties received some form of relief option during last year's special session, Jackson County was excluded because the two Jackson County democrat senators filibustered. Jackson County got no relief during special session and that is, unfortunately, continuing to be the case.
Families in Jackson County and several others across the state in Senate Districts 6 and 16 and also the districts with Democrat senators, are still waiting for meaningful action.
What Comes Next
At this stage in the session, it is unlikely that comprehensive property tax reform will pass this year. That's the reality.
But this issue is not going away.
I remain committed to working with collegaues at the state level and with local officials to pursue solutions that actually reduce the burden on taxpayers and help families stay in their homes.
We should not accept a system where people are taxed out of their property. We can do better, and we need to.
If you're experiencing rising property taxes or have concerns about your assessment, I encourage you to reach out to our office. We are here to serve you, and your input matters as we continue this work.
It was a busy, short week in Jefferson City thanks to President's Day. Even with fewer days on the calendar, committees kept moving - and we used the time to push forward several of the bills I'm carrying this session.
Please watch the video to get the details. You'll find more information along with links to the bill pages, videos of my committee presentations and more below.
Busy With Committees
This week, we focused on three committee presentations - each dealing with an issue I keep hearing about from people back home:
SB 919 is my top priority. It’s a property tax reform package aimed at giving Missouri families real relief and more predictability. If you’ve been hit with a sudden spike in your tax bill, you know why this matters.
SB 1294 is a public safety and sentencing reform bill. A big part of this effort is simplifying and standardizing parts of the sentencing process—while also tightening penalties for offenses related to sex crimes and trafficking.
SB 1086 would allow ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine tablets suitable for human use to be sold over the counter in Missouri—without a prescription or consultation requirement.
Bills Moving Forward
A few other bills advanced forward this week.
We also held a press conference on this issue, which you can see below.
SB 1085 moved out of committee this week. This bill requires transparency with parents from schools regarding social transitioning and prohibits school employees from participating in the social transitions of students.
SB 1351 continues moving through the process. It would change Independence School District school board terms from six years to three years.
Slow & Steady On The Floor
The Senate chamber floor continues to move slow and steady—which I appreciate. The Senate is meant to be deliberate. A slower pace allows legislation to be thoroughly vetted and debated, and it gives Missourians more time to weigh in.
A Jackson County resident came to testify in favor of SB 919
Photos From Week 7
Behind the scenes at the press conference
Presenting the criminal justice bill in committee
Visiting with the mayor and city officials from Grain Valley
Opening session in prayer
Arrowhead Was Built By Taxpayers
For more than 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs called Arrowhead Stadium home. That didn’t happen by accident.
Jackson County taxpayers paid to build and maintain that stadium through bonds and taxes, year after year. Generations of Missourians invested in Arrowhead long before the Chiefs became the team we know today. Fans stayed loyal through decades of ups and downs. We filled the stands during the rough years, packed the parking lots, and built the best tailgating experience in the NFL.
We supported the team with our time, our money, and our hearts.
A Painful Business Decision
Let’s be clear: as much as we love the Chiefs, the NFL and the KC Chiefs are businesses. Businesses exist to make money, and they pursue deals that best serve their bottom line. As a former small business owner, I understand that reality, and I don’t blame the Chiefs for acting in what they believe is their best interest.
But understanding the business decision doesn’t erase the frustration felt by me and thousands of other Missouri taxpayers. Many lifelong fans feel a deep sense of loss and betrayal—even if the team is moving just a few miles across the state line.
Property Taxes Pushed Jackson County Taxpayers to a Breaking Point
Losing the Chiefs didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t happen in a vacuum.
It’s the result of years of warning signs being ignored, taxpayers being squeezed, and elected officials choosing political games over real relief for the people who actually foot the bill.
For years now, Jackson County residents have been very clear: enough is enough.
Homeowners are still reeling from a property tax crisis that sent assessments skyrocketing, often with little explanation and even less accountability. Families who did nothing wrong suddenly found themselves paying hundreds or thousands more just to stay in their homes.
And as if home owners in crisis wasn't enough, this year our commercial businesses got hit with the same outrageous increases!
So when the idea of new taxes or extensions came up — even tied to beloved teams — taxpayers pushed back. Not because they don’t value the Chiefs or the Royals, but because they are already stretched way too thin. Families were already struggling to pay their mortgages, afford groceries, and stay in their homes when—just months after those tax hikes—the Chiefs and Royals placed a 3/8-cent sales tax renewal on the ballot.
That pushback wasn’t anti-Chiefs or anti-sports. It was about survival.
People who were being taxed out of their homes were not going to approve any additional tax, even a renewal. The vote failed because taxpayers drew a firm and justified line.
Silence Spoke Volumes
Governor Kehoe called the Missouri General Assembly back into a special session for the primary purpose of passing a bill that would fund renovations to Arrowhead and help pay for a new baseball stadium for the Royals, as well.
I was not part of any negotiations with the Chiefs. No one from their organization ever contacted me, visited my office, or came to the Capitol to lobby for the stadium legislation that passed. I stated that plainly on the Senate floor during debate.
That silence was telling. It strongly suggested to me that the Chiefs were never committed to staying in Missouri.
That impression was confirmed when I attended a meeting recently at Arrowhead Stadium. When the Chiefs’ president was asked directly about relocation plans, his response made it clear to me that the organization was more concerned about a billion-dollar, state-of-the-art stadium rather than remaining loyal to the people of Jackson County and renovating the place that helped put them on the football map - Arrowhead.
Leadership Failed
Losing the Chiefs is the predictable result of failed leadership at the city and county level, runaway taxation, and a state legislature that allowed politics to block real relief for the people who are paying the bills.
During special session’s stadium debate, I was clear with the governor: I would not vote for a stadium bill unless we delivered real property tax relief for Jackson County homeowners.
That relief never came.
Democrat senators representing Jackson County chose to filibuster and block that relief, leaving Jackson County homeowners suffering.
Once again, politics won — and taxpayers lost.
The state offered the Chiefs a deal that would allow the team to keep all the tax revenue they generate and use it to fund up to 50% of stadium renovation costs, with additional local investment required. But local government failures and a broken tax system made it impossible to build the trust needed to move forward.
This is Bigger Than Football
The potential loss of the Chiefs isn’t just about sports pride. It’s about jobs, tourism, economic growth, and the signal we send to families and employers deciding whether Missouri is a place worth investing in.
When government fails at the basics — fair taxes, honest assessments, and fiscal responsibility — everything else becomes harder to sustain.
The Fight Isn't Over
My priority in this upcoming session is property tax reform and I've filed SB 919 as a vehicle for that change. Click on the links below to see the official bill page where you can read a summary as well as the full text, or read more practical information in The Senator's Digest article.
SB 919 does the following:
1. 5% cap* on property tax liability increases. *Or CPI, whichever is less.
2. Ensures transparency in property reclassifications
3. 15% cap on residential assessment increases
4. Mandates the State Tax Commission lower the valuation threshold from 90-110% to 75-100%.
Missourians deserve a government that works for them — not one that prices them out of their homes, ignores their concerns, and then asks for more.
If Missouri wants to keep its teams, its jobs, and its people, we must start by respecting the taxpayers who make all of it possible.
Because when taxpayers are ignored long enough, they don’t just vote “no.” They leave. And that's a bigger loss than any stadium.
Why SB 919 Matters
Missouri families are being squeezed out of their homes, and it’s not because they’ve suddenly done something wrong. It’s because the system that governs property assessments and taxes has drifted away from fairness, transparency, and common sense.
Across our state — not just in Jackson County, but in rural, suburban, and urban communities alike — homeowners are opening their tax bills and seeing shocking increases. Although there is a Senior Tax Credit Program, many seniors on fixed incomes are still uninformed of its benefits and how to participate. Young families trying to stay rooted in their neighborhoods, as well as working Missourians who have lived in their homes for decades are all feeling the same pressure: rising property taxes that threaten their ability to buy and keep a home.
The Missouri State Tax Commission has issued memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to more than 80 counties, directing them to raise home assessments to meet a required threshold of 90–110% of market value. As a result, many counties are now implementing drastic assessment increases — often with little warning, limited explanation, and no meaningful safeguard for taxpayers.
Property Rights are Key to Liberty.
I believe strongly in property rights. Your home is not just an asset on a spreadsheet — it’s where you raise your children, care for aging parents, build community, and put down roots. Government policy should help people stay in their homes, not tax them out of them.
SB 919 is a comprehensive, taxpayer-focused response to the property tax crisis Missouri is facing right now. The bill does four important things to restore fairness, accountability, and predictability to the system.
1. 5% Cap on Real Property Tax Liability Every 2 Years
SB 919 expands and strengthens property tax relief statewide.
Instead of limiting tax credits to certain counties, this bill ensures all Missouri counties provide a property tax credit that caps annual increases in real property tax liability at whichever is lower of:
- 5% every 2 years, or
- Consumer Price Index (rate of inflation)
For properties that are officially determined to be undervalued, a temporary cap of 15% every 2 years would apply until valuations are brought back into compliance. Once that happens, the lower cap applies again.
This approach recognizes the need for valuation corrections while still protecting property owners from sudden, destabilizing tax spikes.
2. Protecting Property Owners from Unexpected Reclassification
SB 919 prevents assessors from reclassifying real property without first conducting an in-person consultation with the property owner. Too often, property owners don’t find out their property has been reclassified until they receive their bill.
Under this bill, assessors must make a documented, good-faith effort to contact the owner before a reclassification can occur. This ensures transparency, communication, and basic due process — principles every taxpayer deserves.
3. Stopping Excessive Assessment Increases on Homes
Current law allows residential property assessments to increase by more than 15% if an assessor conducts a physical inspection. Under my legislation, the assessed valuation of residential real property may not increase by more than 15% — period. No exceptions.
Property owners would maintain the right to request a physical inspection of their property, but without fear that doing so could lead to a higher assessment.
4. Requiring Fair and Consistent Valuation Standards
SB 919 brings clarity and accountability to how the State Tax Commission equalizes property values across counties.
The Missouri Constitution requires the Commission to determine whether property is valued above or below true market value. Currently, the STC uses a threshold of 90-110% of true market value. That threshold is set by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), not Missouri statute.
This bill creates Missouri statute that dictates the threshold be lowered to 75% - 100% of true market value. I don't believe anyone should be paying taxes on anything over 100%.
This ensures consistency statewide and prevents extreme valuation swings that harm local communities and household budgets.
Keeping Missourians in Their Homes
The problem of Increasing real property taxes is no longer isolated to Jackson County. It is happening across Missouri, and it demands a statewide solution.
SB 919 is about continuing to fund local government while providing fairness & predictability to taxpayers. Most importantly, it’s about keeping people in their homes rather than taxing people out of them.
I will continue to stand up for property owners, fight for transparency in government, and work to ensure that Missouri’s tax system reflects our shared values of fairness, stability, and respect for the people who call this state home.
WE CANNOT COMPROMISE!
If there’s one principle I believe we must never compromise on, it’s this: property rights are key to liberty.
Our nation was built on the unshakable truth that the right to own property is foundational to a free society. John Adams, one of our founding fathers, put it plainly: “Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.” He understood—and I agree—that without the right to own and control property, all other rights are weakened.
But property rights aren’t just a political issue—they’re a spiritual one, too. From the very beginning, God gave mankind the earth as a gift and a responsibility. In Genesis, God told Adam and Eve to dwell in and care for the Garden of Eden—a defined place with boundaries. This wasn’t a mistake; it was the original model for human freedom and stewardship. Property is a gift from God, and our ability to own, protect, and care for it is one of the freedoms He gave us.
Sadly, that freedom is under serious attack right here in Missouri. Property taxes are skyrocketing in many of our counties—especially in Jackson County, where people are already losing their homes. And it’s not just homeowners at risk. If something isn’t done soon, we’re going to see small businesses—family-run, local institutions that have served our communities for decades—start shutting their doors because they simply can’t afford the tax burden.
This is a crisis. But it’s not one we have to accept.
I believe that if the people of Missouri rise up, educate themselves, and make their voices heard, we can change the course we’re on. We must demand real solutions, lasting reform, and a return to the values that made this nation great.
Spread the Message
To help spread the message, I’m excited to announce that we’ve launched a brand new t-shirt—and it carries a simple but powerful message:
“Property Rights Are Key to Liberty”
Yes, that’s a quote from me—but it’s a message every conservative patriot in Missouri needs to wear, live, and share.
The shirts are available for pre-order right now on our new online store. Orders will close on July 15th, and shirts will be shipped or ready for pickup by the end of July. They’re a great conversation starter, a way to show your support, and an easy way to educate your friends and neighbors about what’s happening in our state.
We are in a battle for our homes, our businesses, and our future. Let’s stand together—loud, proud, and unafraid—to protect what is ours.
👉 Pre-order your shirt today: www.senatorjoenicola.com/store
Let’s spread the message before it’s too late!
