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Senate Approves Option Letting Counties Collect Local Transient-room Tax
Summary
Senate passed Senate Bill 95 to allow counties, at their option, to collect transient-room taxes locally rather than remitting them through the state tax commission; counties would assume auditing responsibility. The measure passed to third reading (25–1).
Senator Hilliard presented SB95, which would permit counties to collect local transient-room (hotel/motel) taxes directly rather than remitting those receipts to the state tax commission. The change is optional: counties may choose local collection and then assume auditing responsibilities rather than pay the state tax commission’s 2.5% service charge.
Proponents said counties and certain local businesses favor local collection for timeliness and lower administrative cost; opponents include the state tax commission, which would lose the service fee and central accounting. Senator Hilliard said the change is permissive and that some counties would continue to remit through the state.
Outcome: The Senate called the question and the clerk reported SB95 passed to third reading with 25 ayes, 1 nay and 3 absent.
