Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves sales-tax coordination bill, directs remote-sales revenue to restricted account
Summary
House Bill 273, a technical bill harmonizing sales-tax provisions and setting a blended vendor discount, passed the House 58–7; sponsors said the bill eases administration and places new remote-sales revenue into a restricted account rather than the general fund.
Representative Harper described House Bill 273 as largely technical language harmonization across a suite of sales-tax and telecommunications bills passed previously. Among its provisions the bill sets a blended vendor discount of 1.31 percent (instead of separate state/local rates), a change Harper said was recommended by retail and food-industry stakeholders to hold businesses harmless for collection costs.
The sponsor said the bill does not implement streamlined sales tax but reduces administrative friction across cities, counties and the state. He also said an amendment ensures new revenues generated by remote sales are placed in a restricted account rather than automatically increasing the general fund.
Representative Bigelow moved Amendment No. 3 in committee to reverse a provision that would have created a significant fiscal note; members argued that appropriations-level decisions should be handled in the Appropriations Act. The House adopted the amendment and, after debate, passed HB273 by a roll-call vote of 58 yes to 7 no. The bill was forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
