Bill > H0899

This bill imposes additional taxes on gross receipts from electrical power or energy, with the rate increasing annually from 1.5% in 2015 to 3.5% in 2017, and revises existing exemptions from utility and communications services taxes, while also providing new exemptions specifically for this additional electrical power tax, including for certain agricultural uses, household fuel, enterprise zones, and for entities holding a Consumer's Certificate of Exemption, foreign diplomats, and the Federal Government. It also modifies the state sales tax rate on electrical power or energy, phasing it down from 7% to 0% by 2017, but clarifies that local discretionary sales surtaxes, which are additional local taxes, will still apply to electrical power and energy charges unless specifically exempted, and requires these surtaxes to be levied on all charges unless exempted. Furthermore, the bill establishes a sales tax holiday for certain Energy Star and WaterSense products, such as air conditioners and showerheads, during a specific weekend in September 2014, with a limit on purchases of more expensive items, and authorizes emergency rules for its implementation.