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SF0082 • 2021

Local impact assistance payments.

AN ACT relating to impact assistance payments; amending requirements related to impact assistance payments as specified; providing definitions; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Healthcare Taxes
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Appropriations
Last action
2021-04-01
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass the House Committee of the Whole (COW) stage, which means it did not move forward.

Local Impact Assistance Payments

This act amends requirements for impact assistance payments to local governments affected by industrial facility or project construction, adjusting the payment percentages based on project costs.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the percentage of total estimated material costs that can be used as an impact assistance payment. For projects under $350 million, it's now 2.25%, and for those over $725 million but less than or equal to $1 billion, it's 1.75%.
  • Requires the industrial siting council to consider any disproportionate impacts on smaller communities when determining distribution ratios.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governments (counties, cities, towns) affected by industrial facility or project construction.
  • The person constructing the industrial facility or federal/state government projects within the state.
  • The Industrial Siting Council and Department of Revenue.

Terms To Know

Industrial Facility
A large-scale manufacturing, processing, or production site as defined by Wyoming law.
Unmitigated Impact
Expenses incurred by local governments due to construction that are not mitigated by other entities and include medical services, fire and law enforcement services, roads, and public utilities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • Specific details about how the percentages apply for projects between $350 million and $725 million are not provided.
  • It is unclear if there were any public hearings or comments on this bill.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0082HS001

Standing Committee • House Minerals, Business and Economic Development

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes the language in the bill to require justification for rejecting impact assistance payment requests and adjusts the percentage rate from 2.25% to 2%

  • Adds a requirement that justifications must be provided when rejecting impact assistance payment requests, either fully or partially.
  • Changes the specified percentage rate from two and twenty-five hundredths percent (2.25%) to two percent (2%).
  • The amendment text does not provide additional context on what constitutes a valid justification for rejecting payment requests.
SF0082S2001

2nd reading • Senator Boner

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds language to the bill to ensure that impact assistance payments consider any disproportionate effects on smaller communities, in addition to towns.

  • Adds the phrase ', including any disproportionate impacts on smaller communities,' after 'towns' in two places of the bill.
  • The amendment does not specify what constitutes a 'disproportionate impact' or how such impacts will be addressed beyond mentioning them.
SF0082S2002

2nd reading • Senator Hicks

Failed

Plain English: The amendment changes how impact assistance payments are calculated based on different cost ranges for facilities and projects.

  • For projects costing up to $350 million, the payment rate is set at 2.76% of total estimated material costs.
  • For projects between $350 million and $550 million, the payment rate drops to 2.25%. For those between $550 million and $725 million, it further decreases to 2.25%.
  • Projects costing more than $725 million but not exceeding $1 billion will receive a payment of 1.75% of the total estimated material costs.
  • The amendment does not specify how payments are calculated for projects over $1 billion, which is an important detail missing from this text.
  • Some parts of the original bill's language were deleted or reinserted without clear context, making it hard to fully understand all changes.
SF0082S3001

3rd reading • Senator Hicks

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the percentage used in calculating impact assistance payments from two percent to two and twenty-five hundredths percent (2.25%).

  • Changes 'two percent' to 'two and twenty-five hundredths percent (2.25%)' at multiple places in the bill.
  • Removes specific text that was previously defined on page 6, lines 15 through 18.
  • The exact impact of removing text from page 6, lines 15 through 18 is not fully explained and may require further context to understand the full implications.
SF0082SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Appropriations Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording of a requirement related to impact assistance payments by adding 'or indirectly' after 'directly'.

  • Adds the phrase 'or indirectly' after 'directly' in the bill's text.
  • The exact implications and scope of this change are not fully explained in the provided amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-01 House

    H COW:H Did not consider for COW

  2. 2021-03-29 House

    H Placed on General File

  3. 2021-03-29 House

    H09 - Minerals:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0

  4. 2021-03-17 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H09 - Minerals

  5. 2021-03-04 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2021-03-03 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 27-3-0-0-0

  7. 2021-03-02 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2021-03-01 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  9. 2021-03-01 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  10. 2021-03-01 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0

  11. 2021-02-04 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S02 - Appropriations

  12. 2021-02-04 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  13. 2021-02-03 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
21LSO-0364
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-0364
ENGROSSED
3.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0082

Local impact assistance payments.

Sponsored by: Joint Appropriations Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to impact assistance payments; amending requirements related to impact assistance payments as specified; providing definitions; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 39
‑
15
‑
111(c) and (d) by creating a new paragraph (iii) and 39
‑
16
‑
111(d) and (e) by creating a new paragraph (iii) are amended to read:

39
‑
15
‑
111.

Distribution.

(c)

If any person commences after the effective date of this act to construct an industrial facility, as that term is defined in W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
102, under a permit issued
pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
106, or if the federal or state government commences to construct any project within this state with an estimated construction cost as specified in the definition of industrial facility in W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
102 the department of revenue shall thereafter pay to the county treasurer and the county treasurer will distribute to the county, cities and towns of that county in which the industrial facility or project is located, impact assistance payments from the monies available under paragraph (b)(i) of this section. Each payment to the county treasurer shall be equal to an amount determined by the industrial siting council under this subsection and shall continue during the period of construction except that in the case of an industrial facility or a federal or state government project which is expected to continue in phases for an indefinite period of time, the department of revenue shall discontinue payments under this section when construction of any phase has ceased or been substantially completed for twelve (12) consecutive months. The person constructing the industrial facility and the counties affected by the construction of the industrial facility shall provide evidence at the public hearing held pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
110(f)(i) of the mitigated and unmitigated
impacts that the construction will have on the counties, cities and towns determined by the industrial siting council to be affected by the construction of the industrial facility. The industrial siting council shall review the evidence of the impacts and determine, applying a preponderance of evidence standard, the dollar amount of the unmitigated impacts. The council shall state, in the order issued under W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
113(a), the total dollar amount of the impact assistance payment and
the reasons for determining that amount
include specific findings of fact detailing the basis for the total dollar amount determination
. The impact assistance payment shall be distributed by the department of revenue in an amount and on a schedule determined by the council, based on evidence presented at the hearing. Under no circumstances shall the
total dollar amount of the
impact assistance payment exceed
two and seventy
‑
six hundredths percent (2.76%)
two and twenty-five hundredths percent (2.25%)
of the total estimated material costs of the facility, as those costs are determined by the council. The impact assistance payments shall be distributed to the county treasurer and the county treasurer will distribute to the county and to the cities and towns therein based on a ratio established
by the industrial siting council during a public hearing held in accordance with W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
110(f)(i).

In determining the distribution ratio, the industrial siting council may consider the extent and location of the unmitigated impacts, the populations of the affected counties, cities and towns, including any disproportionate impacts on smaller communities, and any other equitable factor.

The industrial siting council shall review the distribution ratio for construction projects on a regular basis and make appropriate adjustments. A governing body which is primarily affected by the facility, or any person issued a permit pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
106, may petition the industrial siting council for review and adjustment of the distribution ratio or the amount of the impact assistance payment upon a showing of good cause. The impact assistance payment shall be in addition to all other distributions under this section, but no impact assistance payment shall be made for any period in which the county or counties are not imposing at least a one percent (1%) tax authorized by W.S. 39
‑
15
‑
204(a)(i) and 39
‑
16
‑
204(a)(i) or at least a total of a two percent (2%) sales tax authorized under W.S. 39
‑
15
‑
204(a)(i), (iii) and (vi) and at least a total of a two percent (2%) use tax authorized under W.S.
39
‑
16
‑
204(a)(i), (ii) and (v). For purposes of this subsection, the industrial facility or federal or state government project will be deemed to be located in the county in which a majority of the construction costs will be expended, provided that upon a request from the county commissioners of any adjoining county to the industrial siting council, the council may determine that the social and economic impacts from construction of the industrial facility or federal or state government project upon the adjoining county are significant and establish the ratio of impacts between the counties and certify that ratio to the department of revenue who will thereafter distribute the impact assistance payment to the counties pursuant to that ratio. The industrial siting council shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this subsection.

(d)

As used in subsection (c) of this section:

(iii)

"Unmitigated impact" means an expense:

(A)

Incurred by a county, city or town directly or indirectly attributable to the construction of an industrial facility;

(B)

That is not otherwise mitigated by any other entity;

(C)

For medical services, fire and law enforcement services, roads and public utilities.

Expenses shall be supported by an analysis prepared by the county, city or town of the current excess capacity in each of these areas.

Expenses in these areas may include the employment of additional employees or officers only if the county, city or town has determined overtime compensation or contract labor would not be appropriate; and

(D)

Excluding expenses for which a county, city or town previously received an impact assistance payment unless the county, city or town can demonstrate the expenses are new or ongoing.

39
‑
16
‑
111.

Distribution.

(d)

If any person commences after the effective date of this act to construct an industrial facility, as that term is defined in W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
102, under a permit issued
pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
106, or if the federal or state government commences to construct any project within this state with an estimated construction cost as specified in the definition of industrial facility in W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
102 the department of revenue shall thereafter pay to the county treasurer and the county treasurer will distribute to the county, cities and towns of that county in which the industrial facility or project is located, impact assistance payments from the monies available under paragraph (b)(i) of this section. Each payment to the county treasurer shall be equal to an amount determined by the industrial siting council under this subsection and shall continue during the period of construction except that in the case of an industrial facility or a federal or state government project which is expected to continue in phases for an indefinite period of time, the department of revenue shall discontinue payments under this section when construction of any phase has ceased or been substantially completed for twelve (12) consecutive months. The person constructing the industrial facility and the counties affected by the construction of the industrial facility shall provide evidence at the public hearing held pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
110(f)(i) of the mitigated and unmitigated
impacts that the construction will have on the counties, cities and towns determined by the industrial siting council to be affected by the construction of the industrial facility. The industrial siting council shall review the evidence of the impacts and determine, applying a preponderance of evidence standard, the dollar amount of the unmitigated impacts. The council shall state, in the order issued under W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
113(a), the total dollar amount of the impact assistance payment and
the reasons for determining that
include specific findings of fact detailing the basis for the total dollar
amount
determination
.

The impact assistance payment shall be distributed by the department of revenue in an amount and on a schedule determined by the council, based on evidence presented at the hearing. Under no circumstances shall the
total dollar amount of the
impact assistance payment exceed
two and seventy
‑
six hundredths percent (2.76%)
two and twenty-five hundredths percent (2.25%)
of the total estimated material costs of the facility, as those costs are determined by the council. The impact assistance payments shall be distributed to the county treasurer and the county treasurer will distribute to the county and to the cities and towns therein based on a ratio established
by the industrial siting council during a public hearing held in accordance with W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
110(f)(i).

In determining the distribution ratio, the industrial siting council may consider the extent and location of the unmitigated impacts, the populations of the affected counties, cities and towns, including any disproportionate impacts on smaller communities, and any other equitable factor.

The industrial siting council shall review the distribution ratio for construction projects on a regular basis and make appropriate adjustments. A governing body which is primarily affected by the facility, or any person issued a permit pursuant to W.S. 35
‑
12
‑
106, may petition the industrial siting council for review and adjustment of the distribution ratio or the amount of the impact assistance payment upon a showing of good cause.

The impact assistance payment shall be in addition to all other distributions under this section, but no impact assistance payment shall be made for any period in which the county or counties are not imposing at least a one percent (1%) tax authorized by W.S. 39
‑
15
‑
204(a)(i) and 39
‑
16
‑
204(a)(i) or at least a total of a two percent (2%) sales tax authorized under W.S. 39
‑
15
‑
204(a)(i), (iii) and (vi) and at least a total of a two percent (2%) use tax authorized under W.S.
39
‑
16
‑
204(a)(i), (ii) and (v). For purposes of this subsection, the industrial facility or federal or state government project will be deemed to be located in the county in which a majority of the construction costs will be expended, provided that upon a request from the county commissioners of an adjoining county to the industrial siting council, the council may determine that the social and economic impacts from construction of the industrial facility or federal or state government project upon the adjoining county are significant and establish the ratio of impacts between the counties and certify that ratio to the department of revenue who will thereafter distribute the impact assistance payment to the counties pursuant to that ratio. The industrial siting council shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this subsection.

(e)

As used in subsection (d) of this section:

(iii)

"Unmitigated impact" means as defined by W.S. 39
‑
15
‑
111(d)(iii).

Section 2.

This act shall only apply to impact assistance payments for industrial facilities approved on
or after the effective date of this act.

The impact assistance payments for industrial facilities that are not subject to this act shall be determined on the basis of the law as it existed at the time the request for the impact assistance payment was submitted to the industrial siting council.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

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SF0082