Senate Transportation advances S 46 amendment narrowing tax exemptions for timber equipment

The Senate Transportation Committee advanced S 46, as amended in draft 1.1, by a 5-0-2 roll call, moving the bill to the next stage after lawmakers removed a proposed sales tax exemption and clarified purchase-and-use tax treatment for timber-harvesting equipment.

The amendment, described to the committee by Michael O'Grady of city council staff, removes the sales tax exemption from the draft because of uncertainty about the fiscal impact on the ad fund and retains existing purchase-and-use tax language for specified timber-cutting vehicles and equipment. The amendment also extends purchase-and-use tax treatment to repair parts when those parts are included in the purchase price of the vehicle, adds a definition of “motor truck,” directs DMV to require certification when appropriate, requires DEV to publish guidance on the exemption and…