Senate Bill 456 was moved to be laid over following a lengthy discussion in the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.
The motion arose following committee chair, Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, expressing confusion over the legislation, which would authorize railroads and commercial watercrafts to claim refundable exemptions from the motor fuel excise tax.
“Right now I’m not satisfied with the testimonies of this committee and don’t want this bill to die,” the committee chair stated. “I would rather have more information before this bill moves any further.”
Before closing, Blair, who is lead sponsor of the bill, addressed representatives from the Tax Division and requested for more individuals to come before the committee and answer questions before the end of the week.
If passed, the bill would remove the exemption refund tax on fuel for railroads and commercial watercrafts, ultimately resulting in a $2.4 million loss for the State Road Fund, a $1.9 million additional exemption for railroads and a $1.5 million increase of commercial watercrafts exemptions.
Prior to the review of SB456, three other pieces of legislation were also reported to the full Senate.
Following the approval of minutes, members reviewed a bill relating to retirement and pension benefits of certain PERS and Teachers Retirement System members who serve in Legislature. If passed, Senate Bill 11 would make two changes on the state’s education retirement system and reduce reduce the amount of service credit a new member of the systems would get.
Currently the bill, which only effects new members, shows a fiscal savings of $1,000 for new members who join the two systems.
Senate Bill 86, which would require county boards to provide free feminine hygiene products in grades six to 12, and Senate Bill 383, which would create the WV Healthy Food Crop Block Grant Program, were quickly reviewed by committee members as well.
