MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE REVENUE AND TAXATION

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 445, State Capitol

February 29, 2016

Members Present:                Rep. Daniel McCay, Chair

                                                Rep. Jeremy A. Peterson, Vice Chair

                                                Rep. Joel K. Briscoe

                                                Rep. Rich Cunningham                                                                                                          Rep. Gage Froerer

                                                Rep. Brian M. Greene

                                                Rep. Eric K. Hutchings

                                                Rep. Ken Ivory                                                                                                                       Rep. Brian S. King

                                                Rep. John Knotwell

                                                Rep. Mike K. McKell

                                                Rep. Douglas V. Sagers

                                                Rep. Jon E. Stanard

Staff Present:                        Leif G. Elder, Policy Analyst

                                                An Bradshaw, Secretary

NOTE: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Vice Chair Peterson called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.

H.B. 242         Alternative Energy Development Tax Amendments (Rep. S. Handy)

Rep. Handy explained the bill to the committee. Samuel Johnston, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, and Sarah Wright, Utah Clean Energy, answered questions from the committee.

Spoke for the bill:       Theresa Foxley, Governor's Office of Economic Development

                                    Paul Rogers, Utah Technology Council

                                    Gary Thorup, eBay

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to replace H.B. 242 with 2nd Sub. H.B. 242. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Hutchings, Rep. Sagers, and

                        Rep. Stanard absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 15, Lines 432 through 435:    

432 (47) (a) sales or uses of electricity, if the sales or uses are made under a  retail  tariff adopted

433by the Public Service Commission [of Utah] only for purchase of electricity produced from a

434new alternative energy source  built after January 1, 2016  , as designated in the tariff by the Public Service Commission [of

435Utah; and];

The motion to amend passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Stanard absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Froerer moved to pass 2nd Sub. H.B. 242 out favorably as amended. The motion passed with Rep. Greene, Rep. Ivory, and Rep. Peterson voting in opposition and Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Stanard absent for the vote.

H.B. 157         Age Limit for Tobacco and Related Products (Rep. K. Powell)

Rep. Powell explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Joseph Miner, M.D., Utah Department of Health, and Joseph Cieslewicz, Student Body President, Wasatch High School. "21 Reasons for Age 21" and a PowerPoint presentation were provided to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:                   Jennifer Dailey, Utah Academy of Family Physicians

                                               Linnea Fletcher, Utah County Health Department

                                               Mark Brinton, Utah Medical Association

Spoke against the bill:            Josh Daniels, Libertas Institute 

MOTION:     Rep. McCay moved to replace H.B. 157 with 2nd Sub. H.B. 157. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Stanard absent for the vote.

MOTION:     Rep. Hutchings moved to pass 2nd Sub. H.B. 157 out favorably. The motion failed with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. Hutchings, Rep. King, and Rep. Peterson voting in favor and Rep. Froerer absent for the vote.

H.B. 122         Sales Tax Exemption for Public Buildings Contractors (Rep. K. Powell)

Rep. Powell explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Joe McAllister, citizen.

Spoke against the bill:            Lynn Pace, Salt Lake City and Utah League of Cities and Towns

MOTION:     Rep. McCay moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Briscoe, Rep. King, and Rep. Stanard voting in opposition.

H.B. 439         Retirement Amendments for Felony Conviction (Rep. D. McCay)

Rep. McCay explained the bill to the committee.

MOTION:     Rep. Greene moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

H.B. 356         Taxation of Solar Energy Devices (Rep. J. Knotwell)

Rep. Knotwell explained the bill to the committee with the assistance of Nick Ball, Vivint Solar.

Spoke against the bill:            Billy Hesterman, Utah Taxpayers Association

                                               Kory Holdaway, Murray City

MOTION:     Rep. King moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with

                       Rep. Ivory, Rep. McCay, and Rep. Peterson voting in opposition.

H.B. 422         Common Area Assessment Amendments (Rep. G. Froerer)

Rep. Froerer explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke in favor of the bill:      John Ulibarri, Weber County Assessor

MOTION:     Rep. McKell moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Stanard absent for the vote.

H.B. 376         Property Tax and Fair Market Value (Rep. B. Greene)

The bill was not considered.

MOTION:     Rep. Knotwell moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hutchings and Rep. Stanard absent for the vote.

Vice Chair Peterson adjourned the meeting at 10:02 a.m.

Daniel McCay, Chair