129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 2061		LR 3098(02)
	An Act Regarding the Transportation of Products in the Forest Products Industry
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Taxation
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium revenue increase - General Fund Potential current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds Potential current biennium revenue increase - Municipalities
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill excludes from Maine Tree Growth Tax Law a parcel of land larger than 50,000 acres to which a landowner allows transportation of forest products harvested on the landowner's land from a location in the State to another location in the State in violation of federal law or regulation. To the extent that there are parcels in tree growth that would not meet the new eligibility criteria, those parcels would be removed from the program and Other Special Revenue Funds revenue and municipal revenue would be increased from penalties and increased tax revenue arising from changing the assessment. No estimate of the impact on revenues is made at this time.
	The bill also restricts businesses or contractors that no longer qualify for tree growth because of the eligibility criteria discussed above from receiving a property tax exemption under the Business Equipment Tax Exemption program (BETE), the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement program (BETR) or any other income tax credit provided by the State.  To the extent a contractor or business falls within this ineligibility criteria, General Fund revenues, Local Government Fund revenues (revenue sharing) and municipality revenue would be increased.  It is not known at this time if any contractors or businesses would fall under these provisions and no estimate of any increased revenue is made.