No. HB 723
Filed under Taxes & Budget.
Rural Counties; Provides exemption from sales & use tax for industrial machinery & equipment used by wholesalers in fiscally constrained counties; prohibits state from purchasing certain land in fiscally constrained county; requires DEP to provide certain explanation to fiscally constrained county; increases amount of annual appropriation to Small County Road Assistance Program; authorizes specified amount from State Transportation Trust Fund to be used to fund Small County Outreach Program; requires AHCA to determine which providers in hospitals located in rural areas are essential Medicaid providers; creates Rural District Graduate Placement Incentive Pilot program within DOE; subject to legislative appropriation, requires DOE to provide certain bonus to school district or charter school located in fiscally constrained county; provides for program requirements & expiration; requires SBE to adopt rules. APPROPRIATION: Indeterminate
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDFood wholesalers in fiscally constrained counties no longer pay sales tax on industrial machinery and equipment used in their operations. This exemption applies to tangible property with a depreciable life of at least three years.
The state is prohibited from purchasing land in a fiscally constrained county if federal and state-owned lands already exceed 40 percent of the county's total land area, unless the county approves the purchase.
The Small County Road Assistance Program funding increases from $25 million to $50 million annually, and a new $50 million annual allocation is created for the Small County Outreach Program.
School districts in fiscally constrained counties may receive bonuses for increasing high school graduation rates, industry certification attainment, and local employment of graduates, subject to legislative appropriation.
AICreates a new sales and use tax exemption for industrial machinery and equipment used by food wholesalers in fiscally constrained counties.
AIProhibits the state from purchasing land in a fiscally constrained county if federal and state-owned lands exceed 40 percent of the county's total land, unless the county approves the purchase.
AIRequires the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct an analysis and provide a detailed written explanation to a fiscally constrained county within 90 days if the county requests it regarding a state land purchase.
AIIncreases the annual appropriation from the State Transportation Trust Fund for the Small County Road Assistance Program from $25 million to $50 million starting in fiscal year 2026-2027.
AIAuthorizes at least $50 million annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund to fund the Small County Outreach Program starting in fiscal year 2026-2027.
AIDesignates hospitals located in rural areas as essential Medicaid providers, requiring managed care plans to contract with them or pay 110 percent of the Medicaid rate if they do not.
AICreates a pilot program requiring the Department of Education to provide a bonus to school districts or charter schools in fiscally constrained counties for increasing student graduation, certification, and local employment rates.