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House debate clarifies bill setting minimum TAT for points‑booked reservations
Summary
Representative Tam told colleagues the measure under standing committee report 669 would apply a $20 minimum transient accommodations tax (TAT) charge to reservations made with points, miles or rewards when the booking otherwise triggers no TAT payment.
On the House floor Representative Tam sought to clarify the scope of the measure tied to standing committee report 669, saying the bill as written would apply only to reservations made through points, miles, or rewards programs.
“As it’s written right now, only applies to those that are using points, miles, and rewards programs to book their hotel rooms,” Tam said. “This just basically says that they need a minimum of $20 per night if people are not paying any VAT tax because they're using points.”
Representative Shimizu expressed reservations earlier in the debate about a broader visitor-fee increase, saying it might be “too much of an increase that would affect our tourist industry” and requested more review and coordination before implementation. Tam’s floor clarification limited the immediate scope to points‑booked stays and a $20 per‑night minimum where no TAT otherwise applied.
The measure was included among the standing committee reports advanced through the omnibus action later in the session; the transcript does not show a separate roll‑call tally for report 669.
