Establishes the task force on education funding and property tax reform within the education department to conduct a comprehensive study and provide recommendations on education funding and the role of property taxes in funding New York's education system.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5049
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JACOBSON, EACHUS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to establish a task force on education funding and property tax
reform
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Task force on education funding and property tax reform.
2 1. There is hereby created a task force on education funding and proper-
3 ty tax reform in New York state within the state education department.
4 The purpose of the task force shall be to conduct a comprehensive study
5 and provide recommendations on education funding and the role of proper-
6 ty taxes in funding New York's education system to ensure an effective,
7 efficient, and equitable system of funding public education. The task
8 force shall review and offer recommendations on the following:
9 (a) the current reliance on property taxes to fund New York's educa-
10 tion system, including its impact on taxpayers and high-need school
11 districts;
12 (b) district-specific factors, such as the impact of regional costs
13 and student need in education funding;
14 (c) federal changes which impact property taxes, including but not
15 limited to, the federal cap on the state and local tax deduction;
16 (d) community and school district income and wealth as it relates to
17 local property taxes;
18 (e) the use of property taxes to fund education in other states;
19 (f) spending disparities among neighboring school districts; and
20 (g) additional relevant factors that the task force deems necessary.
21 2. (a) The task force shall consist of seventeen members as follows:
22 (i) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee, who
23 shall serve as chair of the task force;
24 (ii) four people appointed by the governor;
25 (iii) four people appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02335-01-5
A. 5049 2
1 (iv) four people appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
2 (v) four people appointed by the commissioner of education.
3 (b) All appointments of members of the task force shall be made no
4 later than thirty days after the effective date of this act. The task
5 force may begin its duties when a majority of the total number of posi-
6 tions have been appointed. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing
7 authority. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation
8 for their services.
9 3. The task force shall make a report to the governor, temporary pres-
10 ident of the senate and speaker of the assembly of its findings, conclu-
11 sions and recommendations on or before December 31, 2025.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
