John Shirts — Asked to take over as proofreader and agreed to do so.
Jason Monks — Identified as the sponsor of RS 32920.
Jason Monks — Introduced himself as being from District 22 and is the sponsor of RS 32920.
Jason Monks — Explained that he represents District 22 and introduced the STARS program.
Jason Monks — Closed his presentation and invited questions.
Jason Monks — Asked to identify the language limiting rebates to repayment of invested amounts.
Jason Monks — Explained that the rebate language is existing law and began reading the relevant section.
Jason Monks — Explained that the rebate applies only to new revenue from new development and said he would do more research for a future hearing.
Jason Monks — Responded to questions and was asked for rebate figures by Representative Gannon.
Jason Monks — Said about $5 million in sales tax was currently being rebated and offered to provide more detailed information later.
Jason Monks — Was asked to provide more recent rebate figures and fiscal-note clarification.
Jason Monks — Was asked to confirm the fiscal consequence of the bill.
Jason Monks — Explained that the bill could redirect up to $100 million of future sales tax, but argued those revenues would not exist without the project.
Jason Monks — Continued arguing that the state benefits more overall from the new project.
Jason Monks — Said the program is a good example of growth paying for itself because developers build the infrastructure.
Jason Monks — Explained that developers bear the risk and the state is not out anything if the project fails.
Jason Monks — Said the developer takes most of the risk and reimbursement is based on actual sales.
Jason Monks — Raymond asked Monks to address the issue in a future public hearing.
Jason Monks — Said he was taking notes and would address the question later.
Jason Monks — Said he would follow up with more detail at a hearing and explained that highway districts and ITD plan for growth-related projects.
Jason Monks — Said the program is a way of pre-funding infrastructure and that he would check whether engineering services are covered.
Jason Monks — Responded humorously to a new committee member's question.
Jason Monks — Said the program has been around for 20 years and he was not planning to change its structure.
Jason Monks — Said he was only changing the limits and would look into possible assurances or guarantees.
Jason Monks — Was asked to return to the table for debate and discussion.
Jason Monks — The sponsor was referenced in the closing comment before the vote.
Britt Raybould — Representative Britt Raybould first offered a motion, then engaged in a series of questions and comments about the bill’s fiscal note and revenue implications, including whether the bill could reduce future revenues and how that aligns with the idea that growth should pay for itself. She later raised concerns about limiting repayment language to actual expenditures and, when invited to comment on the motion, said she was concerned about actions that reduce additional state revenue but would support the motion while wanting to learn more about the bill’s details and work with the sponsor.
Vito Barbieri — Representative Barbieri questioned the sponsor about the $100 million maximum and the duration of the rebate, and the sponsor indicated a clearer response would be provided at a later hearing.
John Gannon — Representative Gannon asked how much had been rebated by the Tax Commission on eligible projects, listened as Monks responded with rebate figures, and then noted that rebate information for the last year or two would be helpful before indicating he was finished.
Jerald Raymond — Representative Raymond asked about the proposal as a public-private partnership, including how highway districts and ITD would be involved, and followed up by asking whether engineering and design costs for highway districts and ITD would be covered by the STAR program.