House approves redirecting certain non-levy education revenue into school-equalization account

House Bill 18 passed second reading unanimously after sponsors described the measure as a cleanup and redirect of certain non-levy revenues into the school equalization and property tax reduction account (referred to in debate as the "scepter" account), a mechanism set up last session to target funds for the school equalization formula or county-level property tax relief when excess revenue is available.

The bill was described as continuing the approach of last session’s House Bill 587. Representative Tang, speaking on the bill, explained that section 1 deals with tax late payment interest and penalties collected from bentonite mines and that a substantial portion of the revenue distribution language is being updated. Tang said "20.75% of that revenue that previously went to the state general fund will now go to the school equalization and property tax reduction account. And 77.95% ... will go to the county of origin where the mining occurs." The sponsor characterized the bill as largely technical cleanup of outdated statutory language related to oil and natural gas taxes and said the fiscal note presents the changes as revenue neutral because funds are redirected into the SCEPTER account rather than retained in the general fund.

House taxation and the revenue interim committee vetted the bill with bipartisan unanimous support. The House voted 100-0 to pass the bill on second reading. Majority Leader Fitzpatrick later moved to refer House Bill 18 to the Appropriations Committee as part of floor procedure.