Committee adopts amendment and advances auctioneer sales-tax bill with added medical-equipment exemption
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Summary
The committee adopted a House Committee sub amendment to House Bill 18 83 that adds an exemption for certain medical equipment and then voted to advance the substitute 5–4 after debate over whether eliminating auction sales tax is appropriate.
The House Ways and Means Committee advanced a substitute for House Bill 18 83 after adopting a committee sub amendment and a substitute. The bill, as discussed, addresses sales-tax treatment for auctioneers; during debate members questioned whether removing sales tax on auctions would harm viable retail auction businesses.
Chair Mcgill explained the amendment (LR028) would add language to exempt certain medical equipment — equipment the sponsor said had been left out of federal guidelines dating to Jan. 1, 1980 — and framed it as noncontroversial relief for individuals who rely on that equipment. Representative Taylor said he opposed the auctioneers bill itself and worried that "eliminating the sales tax on auctions...is doing our community a disservice." Representative Strickler said he would vote for the amendment and hoped to support a full bill later on the House floor.
Committee members adopted the sub amendment and then the substitute. Roll call recorded five members in favor and four opposed; the chair announced the substitute had been advanced by a vote of 5–4.
The committee record shows the amendment was described as technical and previously agreed in past sessions; the debate focused on scope and whether the medical-equipment language belonged in an auctioneer bill. The transcript does not record floor language beyond the substitute and the committee vote.
