FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2848

FULL VETO

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Changing the expiration date for the sales and use tax exemption of hog fuel to coincide with the 2045 deadline for fossil fuel-free electrical generation in Washington state and to protect jobs with health care and retirement benefits in economically distressed communities.

Sponsors: Representatives Chapman, Orcutt, Tharinger, Walsh, Blake, Tarleton, Springer, Maycumber, Fitzgibbon and Lekanoff.

House Committee on Finance

Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Retail Sales and Use Tax.

Retail sales taxes are imposed on retail sales of most articles of tangible personal property, digital products, and some services. A retail sale is a sale to the final consumer or end user of the property, digital product, or service. If retail sales taxes were not collected when the user acquired the property, digital products, or services, then use tax applies to the value of property, digital product, or service when used in this state. The state, all counties, and all cities levy retail sales and use taxes. The state sales and use tax rate is 6.5 percent; local sales and use tax rates vary from 0.5 percent to 3.9 percent, depending on the location.

Hog Fuel Tax Exemption.

Hog fuel used to produce electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel is exempt from sales and use tax. Taxpayers claiming the exemption are required to complete an annual tax performance report for each facility owned or operated in the state. If a taxpayer claiming the exemption closes a facility in the state, resulting in a loss of jobs in the state, the amount of the tax exempted for the previous two calendar years is due immediately. The hog fuel sales and use tax exemption expires June 30, 2024.

Tax Preferences.

A range of tax preferences confer reduced tax liability upon a designated class of taxpayer. Tax preferences include tax exclusions, deductions, exemptions, preferential tax rates, deferrals, and credits. Currently, there are over 650 tax preferences, including a variety of sales and use tax exemptions. Legislation that establishes or expands a tax preference must include a Tax Preference Performance Statement that identifies the public policy objective of the preference, as well as specific metrics that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee may use to evaluate the effectiveness of the preference. All new tax preferences automatically expire after 10 years unless an alternative expiration date is provided.

Summary:

The hog fuel sales and use tax exemption is extended until June 30, 2034.

"Biofuel" means a liquid or gaseous fuel derived from organic matter intended for use as a transportation fuel, including, but not limited to, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, renewable natural gas, and renewable propane.

Votes on Final Passage: