Finance committee advances package of tax, broadband and marine-lease bills

A legislative finance committee advanced a set of tax and policy measures Wednesday, approving bills that extend and clarify tax exemptions, limit certain tax credits and exempt state-owned oyster-lease improvements from local property taxes.

The committee approved a bill to allow an exemption from ad valorem taxes for a qualified homeowner who is an honorably discharged veteran aged 90 or older and to extend that exemption to "the unremarried, widow of the veteran," the chair said. The chair explained the change takes effect for exemptions claimed in 2026 with reimbursements made in 2027 and characterized the measure succinctly: "So we're just adding the surviving spouse of the, 90 year old, just, honorably, discharged veteran, from ad valorem taxes." The committee approved the bill by voice vote and reported it out.

Senator Johnson said the committee approved changes to short-term rental tax collection. Explaining House Bill 919, Johnson said the bill clarifies state code so the definition of "hotel" "will include third party apps or vendors, that broker in things like a VRBO or Airbnb," and places the responsibility for collecting and remitting the tax on the platform rather than on an…