House rejects amendment to historic-preservation tax-credit bill in 101-101 tie

Representative Kephart offered an amendment to the historic preservation tax-credit bill that would have required the Independent Fiscal Office to conduct a performance audit five years after implementation. The House voted on the amendment and it failed in a 101-101 tie.

The amendment, A01333, was described on the floor by Representative Kephart as a measure that “builds off language in the performance based budgeting act by requiring the independent fiscal office to perform a performance audit in 5 years.” Representative Gogenhauer, the bill’s sponsor on the floor, opposed the amendment, saying, “This is not agreed to amendment. I urge a no vote.”

The underlying measure, House Bill 15 72 (printer’s number 1885), was described to members as increasing the maximum historic-preservation tax credit available per project. The amendment debate and tied vote occurred after the clerk read the bill’s summary on the floor. The transcript shows no further amendment adoption on the bill at that point; the amendment itself failed and was not incorporated.

The tied vote left the proposed audit requirement out of the bill; the amendment’s failure means the Independent Fiscal Office audit provision will not be added unless revisited in a future motion or bill.

No further formal action on House Bill 15 72 is recorded in the transcript excerpts covering this debate and the amendment vote.