MORGANTOWN – The differing House and Senate proposals to allow the Legislature to set property tax rates became essentially the same on Tuesday when the House approved an amendment to its version adding vehicle taxes to the list.
HJR 3 was on second reading, the amendment stage. In its original form it proposes a constitutional amendment to provide “the Legislature with authority to exempt tangible machinery and equipment personal property directly used in business activity and tangible inventory personal property directly used in business activity from ad valorem property taxation by general law.
Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Minority Leader Doug Skaff proposed to add the phrase “personal property tax on motor vehicles” after the words “business activity.”
The question will be before the voters, Fluharty said. “I’d like for them to have some skin in the game and know they’re going to get something in return. … I want to have the people represented in HJR 3 and not just the business community,” which also deserves the tax break.
It was adopted 99-0.
SJR 7 is a bit more complex but does the same thing in different words: “To permit the Legislature to eliminate or lower the ad valorem personal property tax on motor vehicles and all other species of tangible personal property; to permit the Legislature to establish different statewide rates of taxation, rates of assessment, and methods of valuation for different species of tangible personal property; and to permit the Legislature to classify property as real property or personal property for ad valorem taxation.”
HJR 3 will be on third reading in the House Wednesday. SJR 7 will be on third reading in the Senate with possible amendment pending.
Maroney cleared
A significant item of Senate news occurred off the floor. Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, announced he was cleared of a misdemeanor Marshall County charge of soliciting a prostitute, a charge he’s consistently maintained is baseless and politically motivated and has hung over his head for more than a year.
The special prosecutor dropped all charges last week, Maroney said in a press release.
“I thank the special prosecutor for his professionalism and integrity,” Maroney said. “My earlier statement suggesting politically motivated, unjust charges by the former Marshall County prosecutor has now been validated. This brings closure to an injustice that has had an enormous negative impact on me and my family. The damage that was done to me will never be completely erased, but the healing has now begun. Many questions remain, and from my standpoint, this is not over. I will proceed to find those answers.”
Other Senate action
The Senate unanimously approved SB 657, the Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act.
It’s aimed at preserving free speech on college campuses. It does away with free speech zones — areas set aside to permit and essentially sequester free speech events.
Institutions must permit free speech as long as it isn’t illegal or disruptive. Colleges may restrict time, place and manner of speech “only when such restrictions employ clear, published content and viewpoint-neutral criteria.”
Institutions may not deny a religious, political or ideological student organization any benefit or privilege available to any other student organization, or otherwise discriminate against such an organization. The institution must publish its free-speech policies. The bill provides for legal action for students to seek relief if they allege their rights have been violated.
SB 657 heads to the House.
SB 231, the bill expanding and improving the state medical cannabis program, saw an additional tweak Tuesday. Senators adopted an amendment to prohibit edible forms from being sold in shapes enticing to children.
Judiciary chair Charles Trump, R-Morgan, said the amendment brought the bill into line with SB 590, which also authorizes edible forms and passed last week. SB 590 is sitting in the House Health Committee.
SB 231 will be on third reading for passage Wednesday, which is Crossover Day – the last day for bills to leave their house of origin and cross to the other house.
Tweet David Beard@dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com
