2019 House Bill 5187 / 2020 Public Act 29

Revise source of foregone revenue from “data center” tax breaks

Introduced in the House

Oct. 31, 2019

Introduced by Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-55)

To establish that the effect of tax revenue that is not collected due to selective tax breaks granted to a “data center” must be limited to non-school budgets only. Specifically, this and House Bill 5188 would require that tax revenue that would have gone to a state school aid fund, but was "forgone" because of sales and use tax breaks granted to “data centers,” must be “reimbursed” by transferring a comparable amount of revenue from other taxes to the school aid fund. This refers to benefits granted to a Nevada company that occupied the former Steelcase Pyramid building in Grand Rapids, and to other “data center” businesses under the political deal that authorized these privileges.

Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Tourism

Jan. 16, 2020

Reported without amendment

Refer to the Committee on Ways and Means with the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted.

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

Jan. 22, 2020

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted, and that the bill then pass.

Jan. 23, 2020

Passed in the House 95 to 12 (details)

Received in the Senate

Jan. 28, 2020

Referred to the Committee on Economic and Small Business Development

Feb. 11, 2020

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Passed in the Senate 35 to 2 (details)

To establish that the effect of tax revenue that is not collected due to selective tax breaks granted to a “data center” must be limited to non-school budgets only. Specifically, this and House Bill 5188 would require that tax revenue that would have gone to a state school aid fund, but was "forgone" because of sales and use tax breaks granted to “data centers,” must be “reimbursed” by transferring a comparable amount of revenue from other taxes to the school aid fund. This refers to benefits granted to a Nevada company that occupied the former Steelcase Pyramid building in Grand Rapids, and to other “data center” businesses under the political deal that authorized these privileges.

Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Feb. 13, 2020