THE END IS NEAR

The General Assembly prepared to adjourn with marathon sessions Monday, Aug. 22, and Tuesday, Aug. 23, completing all but a few loose ends by 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 24. The House met the afternoon of Aug. 24 with a short calendar. The Senate was to meet later in the week without voting.

Within the next two to three weeks, the Association will compile a summary of legislative activity during the 2005 Session.

LEFTOVER – FROM LAST WEEK

A number of issues left hanging last week were resolved in the late hours of the session:

• Lottery – No lottery bill was brought to the floor of the Senate.
• Cable Franchising – A section of the “Technical Corrections Act” that would have removed video programming service from the definition of cable television systems was removed before the bill was considered in committee and the Senate floor.
• Economic Development Records – A compromise was reached between media representatives, economic development officials and the Department of Commerce, leading to the approval of S393, “Economic Incentives Made Public Records,” in the form of a conference report.
• Landfill Bans – The House voted to concur in Senate changes to H1465, “Disposal in Landfills/Additional Bans.” The bill was ratified and sent to the governor.
• Tax Exemption, “Culture” – The General Assembly approved and sent to the governor H105, “Motor Fuel Tax Changes and Revenue Laws Technical Changes,” with a proposed property tax exemption for certain cultural facilities. The provision exempts buildings used for “nonprofit cultural purposes” if owned by 1) a charitable association or institution, 2) an historical association or institution, 3) a veterans’ organization or association, 4) a scientific association or institution, 5) a literary association or institution, 6) a benevolent association or institution, or 7) a nonprofit community or neighborhood organization A number of facilities owned by such institutions or organizations are already exempt from property tax, including those used for educational, scientific, literary or charitable purposes.