This bill amends existing laws regarding the taxation of electric generating facilities, specifically addressing their exemption from the utility property tax and the state education tax. It establishes that electric generating facilities exempt from the utility property tax and making payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to municipalities will not be liable for the state education tax until their PILOT agreement expires or until July 1, 2032, whichever comes first. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for the calculation and payment of utility property tax in future agreements, and it requires owners of exempted properties to file a form with the Department of Revenue Administration to help maintain an inventory of taxable and non-taxable properties.

The bill also includes a new subparagraph that defines property used for generating electricity as exempt from the utility property tax, with specific exclusions for entities involved in the distribution or transmission of electricity. Furthermore, it clarifies that while properties subject to the utility property tax are exempt from the state education tax, they are still liable for local school, municipal, district, or county taxation. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2027, and will apply to tax periods beginning on or after April 1, 2028. The fiscal impact is expected to decrease revenue for the Education Trust Fund by an indeterminable amount starting in FY 2028, as the properties previously subject to the utility property tax will no longer contribute to this fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 83-F:1, 83-F:9
As Amended by the Senate: 72:74, 83-F:1, 83-F:9