The Arizona House has approved legislation to prevent churches that rent their property from paying taxes on it.
The measure gives churches the same tax-exempt status on leased property they would have if they owned the land. The bill’s sponsor, Flagstaff Republican Bob Thorpe, says the bill is just about leveling the playing field,
“The people that start up a church, many of which are in poor neighborhoods and minority neighborhoods sometimes, they’re oftentimes struggling to establish that church,” said Thorpe.
Opponents of the bill, which was vetoed last year by Former Gov. Jan Brewer, argue other property owners in each county will have to pick up its costs.