The bill introduces the "Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disaster Act of 2024," which is designed to provide certain exemptions for out-of-state businesses and their employees when they are responding to a declared state or federal disaster or emergency. The bill defines critical infrastructure, declared state disaster or emergency, disaster or emergency-related work, disaster period, out-of-state business, out-of-state employee, and registered business in the state. It specifies that out-of-state businesses operating within the state to perform work on critical infrastructure during a disaster period will not be required to register, file, and remit state or local taxes, nor will they or their out-of-state employees be subject to state telecommunications technician, contractor, or installer licensing requirements.
The bill also outlines that out-of-state employees will not be considered residents for tax purposes during the disaster period, and they will not be subject to income tax withholdings or other state or local taxes or fees, with certain exceptions for transaction taxes and fees. However, if an out-of-state business or employee remains in the state after the disaster period, they will be subject to the state's normal standards for establishing presence or doing business and will be responsible for any ensuing tax requirements. The bill requires out-of-state businesses to provide certain information to the department of business regulation upon request and establishes administrative procedures for the implementation of these provisions. The act will take effect upon passage.