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Committee approves limited disaster‑recovery sales‑tax rebate for utility lodging and meals
Summary
Lawmakers approved a narrowly tailored rebate that would return state sales taxes paid on lodging and meals for utility crews during a 10‑day declared disaster period, with a $55,000 annual state cap and per‑diem limits tied to federal GSA rates to reduce the risk of excessive claims.
The Ways and Means Committee reported House Bill 614 as amended after adopting language that narrows eligibility and places fiscal limits on a proposed disaster‑recovery rebate. The measure — styled in the amendment as the "No Tax on Recovery" Act — would allow regulated utilities to seek rebates for state sales tax paid on lodging and meals for personnel working disaster response during a 10‑day rebate period starting on the first day of a declared disaster.
Representative Stephen Jackson led the presentation and introduced Elijah Brown, an eighth‑grade student participating in a civics program, who summarized the bill’s intent to reduce recovery costs passed on to ratepayers. Amendments adopted in committee narrowly defined qualifying "utilities" as providers of water, gas or electric service regulated by the Public Service Commission, tied allowable lodging and meal reimbursements to the federal GSA per diem to limit costs, and capped total annual state rebates at $55,000. Committee members discussed administrative costs and audit controls; the Department of Revenue said it would process rebate applications and perform audits to prevent duplicate reimbursement. The committee approved the measure with an 8–7 recorded vote.
