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Committee approves amendment to boost financing cap for certified tech parks tied to military bases
Summary
Senators approved an amendment to increase deposit rules for certified technology parks and advanced a bill that sponsors and industry representatives said will help Westgate At Crane and similar defense-related parks attract investment and high-paying jobs.
The Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee approved an amendment that raises the additional deposit threshold for certain certified technology parks, and then voted the bill to the Senate floor after testimony from park leaders highlighting job growth and defense-industry investment.
Senator Baldwin offered an amendment that would raise the additional deposit for level-2 certified tech parks from $250,000 to $500,000 (meaning level-2 parks meeting statutory requirements could access a larger incremental deposit). "This amendment's pretty simple. It just changes the additional deposit for level 2 tech parks, to $500,000 from $250,000," Baldwin said.
Senator Bassler, sponsor of the underlying bill (House Bill 16-15), described the core bill as creating or clarifying a "level 3" defense-related certified tech park designation for parks near military bases and allowing an extra $250,000 of local deposit authority for level-3 parks. The amendment broadened additional deposit authority to level-2 parks as well.
Kent Perrigan, a board member of the Westgate Authority, testified in support and described recent economic growth at Westgate At Crane. He told the committee the park "has generated 15,900,000.0 in tax revenue and leveraged a 114,600,000.0 in investments" since 2023 and hosts more than 60 innovation tenants working on technologies such as hypersonics, AI and microelectronics. Perrigan said the park's tenants have created high-paying jobs and that the bill would help parks near military bases remain competitive for defense-industry projects.
Committee members asked procedural and scope questions about how parks qualify for level designations and how many military bases would be involved; sponsors said the level-3 designation would apply to parks located near an active military base and that the change is intended to support defense-related economic activity.
The committee recorded a roll-call vote in which all senators present supported the amended bill. The amendment itself was taken by consent and incorporated into the bill before final passage in committee.
Votes at a glance Amendment (Senator Baldwin): increase additional deposit for level-2 tech parks from $250,000 to $500,000 — moved, seconded and adopted by consent. Final motion to move the bill as amended: roll-call recorded unanimous support (yes votes recorded: Senator Kidora; Senator Huntley; Senator Neskaski; Senator Randolph; Senator Baldwin; Senator Buchanan; Senator Gaskell; Senator Niemeyer; Senator Rogers; Senator Walker; Chairman Holden). Outcome: approved; bill moves to the floor.
Next steps The bill will proceed to the Senate floor. Sponsors and witnesses emphasized the measure's goal of supporting military-base-adjacent tech parks to attract defense contracts and high-paying jobs.
