2004 Senate Bill 1304 / Public Act 323

Tax breaks for "start-up business"

Introduced in the Senate

June 16, 2004

Introduced by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-24)

To allow local governments to exempt for five years a "qualified start-up business" that has not made a profit from portions of the industrial facility tax which is levied in lieu of property tax on firms which have received an industrial facilities exemption certificate (otherwise known as a property tax abatement). A "qualified start-up business" is defined as a firm that has fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees, has annual sales of less than $1 million, has research and development expenses that make up at least 15-percent of its annual expenses, and is not publicly traded. This does not necessarily apply only to new firms, and the five year exemption is not necessarily the firm's first five years of operation.

Referred to the Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Regulatory Reform

June 24, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 35 to 0 (details)

Received in the House

June 24, 2004

Referred to the Committee on Tax Policy

June 30, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

July 6, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one containing technical changes that do not affect its substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 104 to 0 (details)

To allow local governments to exempt for five years a "qualified start-up business" that has not made a profit from portions of the industrial facility tax which is levied in lieu of property tax on firms which have received an industrial facilities exemption certificate (otherwise known as a property tax abatement). A "qualified start-up business" is defined as a firm that has fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees, has annual sales of less than $1 million, has research and development expenses that make up at least 15-percent of its annual expenses, and is not publicly traded. This does not necessarily apply only to new firms, and the five year exemption is not necessarily the firm's first five years of operation.

Received in the Senate

Aug. 4, 2004

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Aug. 27, 2004