House Revenue and Taxation committee introduces RS 32801, sends it to second-reading calendar

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on April 1 introduced RS 32801 and recommended it be placed on the second-reading calendar after a brief explanation from the bill sponsor.

Representative Jeff Ehlers, R‑District 21 of Meridian, told the committee the draft should look familiar because it carries remaining provisions from the tax trailer bill, House Bill 435, after a portion of that bill was amended in the Senate. "This was the tax trailer bill, that went unanimously through the floor, House Bill 435," Ehlers said, adding that the Senate amended the bill and the committee removed the disputed part. He said the disputed language concerned "the assessment ratio between 9,110" and that the committee would let the Senate address that portion.

Ehlers also said the only other change in RS 32801 was wording requested by the state comptroller's office to clarify that money will move from the tax relief fund to the school district facilities fund. "The state comptroller's office just wanted a little language to clearly state the money's coming from the tax relief fund to ... the school district facilities fund," he said.

Representative Weber moved to introduce RS 32801 and recommend that it be placed on the second-reading calendar. Representative Birch spoke in support, saying she was "delighted that we have finally reached the halfway point of the session." The committee adopted the motion by voice vote; the clerk did not record individual tallies in the transcript. The chair announced, "That motion carries," and stated that RS 32801 was introduced and would be recommended to the second-reading calendar.

The meeting contained a single agenda item and ran briefly. The committee adjourned "subject to call of the chair."