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Ways and Means committee issues mixed recommendations on interim bills, records several unanimous 'not recommended' votes
Summary
The Ways and Means committee took final positions on nearly a dozen interim-study bills — recommending several for future legislation (including HB224, HB660, HB1646, HB1647) while unanimously voting not to recommend others (including HB417, HB635, HB1599). Roll-call outcomes and assigned report authors were recorded.
The Ways and Means committee met in a work session and executive session to consider a slate of interim-study bills and, by roll-call votes, issued committee recommendations that will appear in the fall calendar.
Chairman Jenigian opened the session and said school-funding bills would be deferred to a September meeting. The committee then examined bills ranging from renewable-energy rebates to property-tax treatment of nonprofit-owned land.
On HB 224, addressing rebates from the Renewable Energy Fund, Representative Ulm moved that the committee ‘‘recommend for future legislation’’ the bill subject to revisions. Representative Schamberg said he would oppose the recommendation, arguing the draft ‘‘removes the legal basis for renewable programs,’’ fails to define ‘‘excess funds,’’ and creates conflicting goals between rebates and energy investments. The clerk’s roll call recorded 11 yes, 8 no; the committee’s recommendation will be to advance the bill as a suggested priority for the next term.
The committee unanimously voted not to recommend HB 417, which would repeal the communication services tax. Members cited unresolved revenue impacts and complications for municipal taxation of poles and 9-1-1 funding; the motion not to recommend passed 18 to 0.
Representative Cole moved that HB 635 (taxing nonprofit entities alleged to settle undocumented immigrants) not be recommended for future legislation, noting the topic is largely a federal responsibility. The motion passed 18 to 0.
On HB 660 (historic horse-racing facility host-community compensation), members debated local impacts, the charitable-gaming operators’ current practice of assigning up to 10 charity days, and whether the state should redirect some gaming revenue to affected host and neighboring communities. Representative Ulm moved, and the committee voted 18 to 0 to recommend the bill for future legislation, subject to commission comments and the committee’s discussed revisions.
HB 1293, which would alter property taxation for certain high-value nonprofit-owned parcels, drew sustained concern about the potential effects on food banks, hospitals and other local services. Representative Cole moved not to recommend HB 1293; the motion passed on roll call 15 to 3.
The committee also declined to recommend HB 1599 (allowing net operating losses to be carried forward in perpetuity), citing fiscal risk from an unlimited carryforward. Representative Breyer’s motion not to recommend passed 18 to 0.
By contrast, the committee voted to recommend HB 1646 (an off-site infrastructure improvement tax credit) for future legislation, with multiple speakers urging an aggregate cap to limit long-run revenue erosion; the motion passed 14 to 4. The committee likewise recommended HB 1647 (taxation of farms and farm structures) for future legislation, 12 to 6, while emphasizing the need for clearer definitions to preserve equitable local tax bases.
The chair assigned authors for interim-study reports (for example, Representative Olmi to write the HB224 report and Representative Cole to write HB635 and HB1293 reports), asked for drafts by the end of the week, and noted the reports will publish in September. The committee adjourned until its fall meeting.
Votes at a glance
- HB 224 (Renewable Energy Fund rebates): Committee recommends for future legislation — Roll call: 11 yes, 8 no. (Mover: Rep. Ulm; 2nd: Rep. Cole.) - HB 417 (Repeal communication services tax): Not recommended — Vote: 18 yes to not recommend, 0 no. - HB 635 (Tax nonprofits that settle undocumented immigrants): Not recommended — Vote: 18 to 0. - HB 660 (Historic horse-racing facility host-community compensation): Recommend for future legislation — Vote: 18 to 0. - HB 1293 (Tax certain high-value nonprofit properties): Not recommended — Vote: 15 yes to not recommend, 3 no. - HB 1599 (Perpetual NOL carryforwards): Not recommended — Vote: 18 to 0. - HB 1646 (Off-site infrastructure improvement tax credit): Recommend for future legislation — Vote: 14 yes, 4 no. - HB 1647 (Taxation of farms/farm structures): Recommend for future legislation — Vote: 12 yes, 6 no.
What’s next
Authors were assigned to draft interim-study reports for each bill; the committee requested drafts by the end of the week with publication planned for September. The committee will reconvene after the primaries to continue work on several education-related bills that were deferred to the fall meeting.
