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House Finance advances local tax-relief tool for cell carriers after amendment makes bill cost-neutral
Summary
The House Finance Committee advanced House Bill 10 80 as amended, a bill that would let local governments offer property-tax relief to cell providers in underserved areas; sponsors adopted Amendment L005 to remove a sales-tax refund and make the measure fiscally neutral before sending it to the Committee of the Whole.
The House Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced House Bill 10 80 after sponsors adopted Amendment L005, which sponsors said eliminates the bill’s net fiscal cost.
The bill, sponsored in the committee by Representative Lukens and co-prime sponsor Representative Soper, would authorize local governments to offer property-tax relief to communication service providers in areas that are underserved or unserved by cell phone coverage. Representative Lukens said the amendment “makes the bill cost no money,” and added that it clarifies local property tax relief, expands the list of eligible underserved areas and removes a sales-tax refund that had been in an earlier draft.
Why it matters: Sponsors described HB 10 80 as a tool local governments can use to incentivize mobile carriers to invest in coverage in high‑cost or sparsely populated parts of the state. Representative Soper said it is “a tool in the toolbox” for local governments wanting to incentivize coverage expansion and emphasized the bill was shaped through an interim cell‑phone connectivity committee.
What changed: Amendment L005 (adopted by voice vote) struck the sales tax refund for rural broadband providers from the bill and revised language about local property‑tax relief so the measure would not create a net cost to the state. Sponsors said the amendment was circulated with a fiscal memo showing the change and that, if the amendment passed, the bill would not require an appropriation to proceed.
Procedural outcome: Representative Soper moved the amended bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried unanimously. Ms. Shipley called the roll and the clerk recorded the affirmative votes of members present; the chair announced the bill was passing unanimously to the Committee of the Whole.
What the committee did not decide: The committee did not adopt any additional amendments after L005 and heard no extended debate. The committee’s action was procedural—moving the bill forward for full chamber consideration rather than adopting a final enacted policy.
Ending note: Sponsors said they expect the bill to remain a local option—an incentive local governments may use if they choose—and that additional technical work was completed through the amendment to address fiscal concerns.
