HB1416: (New Title) extending the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits and establishing a committee to study issues related to the exemption.

CHAPTER 35

HB 1416-FN – FINAL VERSION

18Mar2004… 0564h

2004 SESSION

03-2346

09/10

HOUSE BILL 1416-FN

AN ACT extending the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits and establishing a committee to study issues related to the exemption.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hess, Merr 37; Rep. Thomas, Belk 31; Rep. Roessner, Rock 83; Rep. DeStefano, Merr 41; Sen. D’Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Boyce, Dist 4

COMMITTEE: Ways and Means

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill extends the prospective repeal of the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits to July 1, 2006.

The bill also establishes a study committee on issues related to the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18Mar2004… 0564h

03-2346

09/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Four

AN ACT extending the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits and establishing a committee to study issues related to the exemption.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

35:1 Prospective Repeal Date Extended for Exemption of Wooden Poles and Conduits Under RSA 72:8-b. Amend 1998, 304:6, I as amended by 1999, 163:7, 2001, 158:2, and 2003, 270:8 to read as follows:

I. Section 5 of this act shall take effect July 1, [2004] 2006.

35:2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study issues related to the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits.

35:3 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

35:4 Duties.

I. The committee shall consider issues related to the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits, including but not limited to:

(a) Whether the property tax exemption for wooden poles and conduits should be continued.

(b) The feasibility of sharing communications services tax and potential property tax revenues between local communities and the state.

(c) Wireline companies profits, the pass through to customers of any property tax, and the public benefits provided by wireline companies and the property tax exemption.

(d) Methods to access and assess poles.

II. The public utilities commission shall provide information and assistance to the committee, upon the request of the committee.

35:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

35:6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2004.

35:7 Effective Date.

I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2004.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Approved: April 23, 2004)

(Effective Date: I. Section 1 shall take effect June 30, 2004.

II. The remainder will take effect April 23, 2004)