1     
TAXATION OF PROPERTY AMENDMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Douglas V. Sagers

5     
Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions related to the taxation of property.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     requires a county assessor to consider certain factors in determining the fair market
14     value of property; and
15          ▸     provides that provisions requiring a county assessor to consider certain factors in
16     determining the fair market value of property apply to the privilege tax.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          This bill provides a special effective date.
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          59-4-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 36
24     ENACTS:
25          59-2-301.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28          Section 1. Section 59-2-301.7 is enacted to read:
29          59-2-301.7. Definitions -- Assessment of property used for radioactive or
30     hazardous waste storage.
31          (1) As used in this section:
32          (a) "Hazardous waste" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section
33     19-6-102.
34          (b) (i) "Radioactive waste" means:
35          (A) low-level radioactive waste as defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10101; or
36          (B) high-level radioactive waste as defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10101.
37          (ii) "Radioactive waste" does not include naturally occurring radioactive materials.
38          (2) Subject to Subsection (3), in assessing the fair market value of property, a county
39     assessor shall consider, as part of the determination of fair market value, whether property that
40     is not currently used for the storage of hazardous waste or radioactive waste has been used in
41     the past for the storage of hazardous waste or radioactive waste in a manner that affects:
42          (a) the functionality of the property;
43          (b) the ability to use the property; or
44          (c) property rights.
45          (3) Subsection (2) applies to the extent a county assessor knows, or reasonably should
46     have known, that property has been used in the past for the storage of hazardous waste or
47     radioactive waste.
48          (4) This section does not prohibit a county assessor from including as part of a
49     determination of the fair market value of property any other factor affecting the fair market
50     value of the property.
51          Section 2. Section 59-4-101 is amended to read:
52          59-4-101. Tax basis -- Exceptions -- Assessment and collection.
53          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (1)(b) and (c), a tax is imposed on the
54     possession or other beneficial use enjoyed by any person of any real or personal property which
55     for any reason is exempt from taxation, if that property is used in connection with a business
56     conducted for profit.
57          (b) Any interest remaining in the state in state lands after subtracting amounts paid or
58     due in part payment of the purchase price as provided in Subsection 59-2-1103(2)(b)(i) under a

59     contract of sale is subject to taxation under this chapter regardless of whether the property is
60     used in connection with a business conducted for profit.
61          (c) The tax imposed under Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to property exempt from
62     taxation under Section 59-2-1114.
63          (2) The tax imposed under this chapter is the same amount that the ad valorem property
64     tax would be if the possessor or user were the owner of the property. The amount of any
65     payments which are made in lieu of taxes is credited against the tax imposed on the beneficial
66     use of property owned by the federal government.
67          (3) A tax is not imposed under this chapter on the following:
68          (a) the use of property which is a concession in, or relative to, the use of a public
69     airport, park, fairground, or similar property which is available as a matter of right to the use of
70     the general public;
71          (b) the use or possession of property by a religious, educational, or charitable
72     organization;
73          (c) the use or possession of property if the revenue generated by the possessor or user
74     of the property through its possession or use of the property inures only to the benefit of a
75     religious, educational, or charitable organization and not to the benefit of any other person;
76          (d) the possession or other beneficial use of public land occupied under the terms of an
77     agricultural lease or permit issued by the United States or this state;
78          (e) the use or possession of any lease, permit, or easement unless the lease, permit, or
79     easement entitles the lessee or permittee to exclusive possession of the premises to which the
80     lease, permit, or easement relates. Every lessee, permittee, or other holder of a right to remove
81     or extract the mineral covered by the holder's lease, right, permit, or easement except from
82     brines of the Great Salt Lake, is considered to be in possession of the premises,
83     notwithstanding the fact that other parties may have a similar right to remove or extract another
84     mineral from the same lands or estates;
85          (f) the use or possession of property by a public agency, as defined in Section
86     11-13-103, to the extent that the ownership interest of the public agency in that property is
87     subject to a fee in lieu of ad valorem property tax under Section 11-13-302; or
88          (g) the possession or beneficial use of public property as a tollway by a private entity
89     through a tollway development agreement as defined in Section 72-6-202.

90          (4) A tax imposed under this chapter is assessed to the possessors or users of the
91     property on the same forms, and collected and distributed at the same time and in the same
92     manner, as taxes assessed owners, possessors, or other claimants of property which is subject to
93     ad valorem property taxation. The tax is not a lien against the property, and no tax-exempt
94     property may be attached, encumbered, sold, or otherwise affected for the collection of the tax.
95          (5) Sections 59-2-301.1 through 59-2-301.7 apply for purposes of assessing a tax under
96     this chapter.
97          Section 3. Effective date.
98          This bill takes effect on January 1, 2016.






Legislative Review Note
     as of 12-5-14 3:41 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel