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St. Louis committee backs ban on city tax incentives for data centers
Summary
Committee gave a do‑pass recommendation to Board Bill 55, which would bar the city and any city decision‑making body from approving local tax incentives — TIFs, abatements, PILOTs and similar instruments — for data centers as defined in Board Bill 49; sponsor said state incentives are not affected and the bill depends on final definitions in Bill 49.
The Housing, Development and Zoning Committee voted Tuesday to recommend Board Bill 55, which would prohibit the City of St. Louis and any city decision‑making body from granting local tax incentives to data centers.
Sponsor Vice Chair Sonier told the committee the measure would bar municipal tax incentives — including tax increment financing, abatements, PILOTs and Chapter 100/353 instruments — for any facility that meets the data‑center definitions set out in Board Bill 49. She made clear the ban would not affect state‑level incentives.
Public testimony included environmental groups and neighborhood advocates who urged the city not to subsidize large new electricity‑intensive loads that could raise utility and water costs for residents and shift environmental burdens to frontline communities. Business‑community speakers noted concerns about competitiveness but did not oppose the committee’s decision to forward the bill.
The committee recommended a do‑pass; the sponsor said the bill relies on the definitions still being finalized in Board Bill 49 and indicated she would place Board Bill 55 on the informal calendar at first reading if Bill 49 was not ready in time.
