Sales and use tax; creates a state sales tax and use tax in the Historic Triangle. (SB942)

Introduced By

Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

State sales and use tax; Historic Triangle. Creates a one percent state sales and use tax in the Historic Triangle. Fifty percent of the revenues will be used to market, promote, and advertise the Historic Triangle as an overnight tourism destination and the other 50 percent will be distributed to the localities in which the revenues were collected. The revenues for tourism will be deposited into a fund to be administered by the Tourism Council of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance (the Council), created by the bill. The Council will oversee an office of tourism and will report annually to the chief executive officer of each locality in the Historic Triangle and to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Finance and Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance. The bill defines the Historic Triangle as the City of Williamsburg and the Counties of James City and York, an area of historic significance that generates substantial employment and economic benefit for the Commonwealth. The bill removes the authority of these localities to impose the current $2 transient occupancy tax used to promote tourism in the area. The bill is contingent on the City of Williamsburg repealing recent ordinances raising the local transient occupancy, food and beverage, and admission taxes and will expire if any of the localities in the Historic Triangle raise or reinstate such taxes in the next seven years. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/19/2018Presented and ordered printed 18101134D
01/19/2018Referred to Committee on Finance
01/28/2018Impact statement from TAX (SB942)
02/04/2018Impact statement from TAX (SB942)
02/08/2018Reported from Finance with substitute (10-Y 4-N) (see vote tally)
02/08/2018Committee substitute printed 18106684D-S1
02/12/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2018Read second time
02/13/2018Reading of substitute waived
02/13/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18106684D-S1
02/13/2018Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB942S1
02/13/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/13/2018Passed Senate (27-Y 10-N) (see vote tally)
02/19/2018Placed on Calendar
02/19/2018Read first time
02/19/2018Referred to Committee on Finance
02/20/2018Impact statement from TAX (SB942S1)
02/26/2018Reported from Finance (12-Y 9-N) (see vote tally)
02/27/2018Read second time
02/28/2018Taken up out of order pursuant to House Rule 52 (96-Y 0-N)
02/28/2018VOTE: AGREE TO MOTION (96-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2018Read third time
02/28/2018Passed House (65-Y 32-N)
02/28/2018VOTE: PASSAGE (65-Y 32-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2018Reconsideration of House passage agreed to by House
02/28/2018Passed House (63-Y 34-N)
02/28/2018VOTE: PASSAGE #2 (63-Y 34-N) (see vote tally)
03/01/2018Enrolled
03/01/2018Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB942ER)
03/01/2018Signed by Speaker
03/02/2018Impact statement from TAX (SB942ER)
03/03/2018Signed by President
03/05/2018Signed by President
03/06/2018Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 6, 2018
03/06/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
04/09/2018Governor's recommendation received by Senate
04/18/2018Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (28-Y 11-N)
04/18/2018House concurred in Governor's recommendation (70-Y 26-N)
04/18/2018VOTE: ADOPTION (70-Y 26-N)
04/18/2018G Governor's recommendation adopted
04/18/2018Reenrolled
04/18/2018Reenrolled bill text (SB942ER2)
04/18/2018Signed by President as reenrolled
04/18/2018Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/18/2018Enacted, Chapter 850 (effective 7/1/18)
04/18/2018G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0850)
04/18/2018Enacted, Chapter 850 (effective - see bill)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 3 minutes.

Transcript

This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.

I would say to [Break in audio] >> does the delegate want to ask another question? >> yes. >> all right. Mr. Speaker. I will answer his question. >> yeah. will the delegate yield for another question? >> I yield. the delegate yields. >> as the gentle lady referred to how those taxes are used, are the taxes essentially going to be very similar in nature in that some of it is going to be used like the transient occupancy tax that is used for tourism and then some of them are going back to the localities to be used for regular governmental services? >> Mr. Speaker, I would say it is my understanding currently the $2 per night tax is used exclusively for marketing and tourism. I could be mistaken but I think so. That will be repealed and then this tax would be implemented in the three jurisdictions, 50% would go to a council that is made of representatives one from the city council of williamsburg and one from the boards et cetera and they would determine how to spend those dollars, 50% percent. They would hire an executive director to do the marketing and all of the above. The 50% that goes to the jurisdictions as I understand it is the maintenance of effort required. You can not go below what you are doing today and use the excess dollars as they would see fit, I believe, within their jurisdictions. >> I thank the gentleman. the delegate from suffolk, delegate jones. Mr. Speaker, finally speaking to the bill. >> the delegate has the floor. I did not note this in my earlier remarks. Williamsburg city council and york county board of supervisors and james city county acting administrator and williamsburg motel and hotel association and busch gardens all of in support of this as the industry is certainly suffering in that region. It is a vital part of our economy. And anyone who would buy any merchandise or pay any sales tax in the three jurisdictions would in fact be paying for -- paying the additional tax. the delegate from virginia beach, delegate knight. Mr. Speaker, speak to the measure. >> the delegate has the floor. Mr. Speaker, senate bill 972 I think behave been reading in the paper around hampton roads where they have been having issues with something very, very historic to us which is colonial williamsburg where we hold our commemorative session from time to time where the house of burgesses met. They are having some maybe financial difficulties for awhile that more tourism and marketing would help them. Last year they had to lay off 362 full-time employees and recognize and take money out of savings. I believe this will help turn this around and make it a priority for people to maybe come to virginia beach to take a day trip to see colonial williamsburg. I urge you to consider passing senate bill 972.

Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights): shall the bill pass? The clerk will close the roll.