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Senate circles bill to revise vehicle-registration fees after debate over 'hold harmless' language
Summary
Senate debate on SB 23 centered on a new schedule of registration fees that lawmakers say is broadly revenue neutral but removes a 'hold harmless' provision; sponsors moved to circle the bill pending an amendment to strike the hold‑harmless language and return for final action.
Senator Curtis Bramble reviewed Senate Bill 23 on Jan. 18, describing a revised fee schedule for tangible personal property registrations that, he said, ‘‘for the most part . . . is a slight fee decrease in most categories’’ while acknowledging some low‑value items could see modest increases. He gave examples, saying a 1997 personal watercraft’s current tax of $46 would become $35, while a hypothetical 2003 street motorcycle valued at $4,400 would see a proposed fee rise from $66 to $95.
Bramble said the bill’s drafters had worked for two years with the Tax Commission, county assessors and other stakeholders to refine rates to be ‘‘as close as we could statewide’’ so there would not be large winners and losers. He told senators the county assessors had recommended deleting a ‘‘hold harmless’’ clause from the bill and that language was the subject of a forthcoming amendment.
Several senators pressed how revenue neutrality would be maintained if collections proved lower than projected. Senator Eastman asked how shortfalls would be addressed once actual collections were known; Bramble and supporters said the counties, not state assessors, would be responsible for making up shortfalls through local actions. Senator Thomas clarified that boards of county commissioners—not assessors—would face public hearings and local political pressure if fees changed.
Senator Hilliard urged obtaining an amended fiscal note for any amendment; Bramble said the fiscal note in the current bill is zero and he would obtain updated fiscal material if the amendment changed fiscal assumptions.
Because the amendment to strike the hold‑harmless language was not yet available on the floor, Bramble moved to circle SB 23 and return it to the third‑reading calendar when the amendment was prepared. The Senate approved the motion to circle the bill; senators indicated the amendment and any revised fiscal note would be provided before further action.
The Senate will take up the bill again once the sponsor delivers the amendment and supporting fiscal information.
