Ways & Means hears two bills proposing sales-tax relief for builders to lower housing costs

Summary

At a March 14 Ways & Means Committee meeting, Representatives Ashley Bartley and Jean Galfetti outlined separate bills that would refund or exempt sales tax on building materials to reduce housing construction costs; members raised concerns about impacts to the education fund and asked for fiscal notes and departmental analysis.

At a Ways & Means Committee meeting Friday, March 14, committee members heard presentations on two bills that would let certain builders recover or be exempted from sales tax on building materials, sponsor Rep. Ashley Bartley said.

The proposals aim to lower construction costs and encourage new housing, but members and witnesses flagged potential fiscal impacts — particularly on the state education fund — and said the Joint Fiscal Office had not produced a complete fiscal note in time for committee consideration.

Rep. Ashley Bartley described her bill as broad, covering building materials generally to reduce costs for builders statewide and to “start a conversation” about ways to make development more feasible. Bartley said the language had originally been included in an omnibus housing bill but was removed because sponsors and…

Ways & Means hears two bills proposing sales-tax relief for builders to lower housing costs

Summary

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