Chamber opposes department bill that proposes new tax
 
On Tuesday, February 11, the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation tabled LD 2011, An Act to Update Certain Provisions in the Income Tax and Service Provider Tax Laws, a department bill sponsored by Rep. Ryan Tipping (D-Orono). Linda Caprara testified on behalf of the Maine State Chamber in opposition to the bill the week before because it would impose a new tax on users of streaming services transferred for less than permanent use. 

The enactment of the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement (BETR) and Business Equipment Tax Exemption (BETE) programs are perhaps, two of the most important tax programs the Maine Legislature has enacted for capital intensive industries. The BETR program was enacted in 1995 and reimbursed dollar-for-dollar personal property taxes paid on qualified business equipment placed in service after April 1, 1995. The BETE program was enacted in 2006 and exempts qualified eligible equipment from personal property tax but reimburses municipalities for a portion of the lost property tax revenues. 

​LD 1760 isp an important first step and merits state investments
 
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following testimony was delivered by Megan Diver, senior government relations specialist, on behalf of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce in support of LD 1760,  An Act To Support Children’s Healthy Development And School Readiness, at a public hearing held on Thursday, February 13, 2020, before the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. We have reprinted it here for your review. Megan Diver can be reached directly by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 108, or by emailing [email protected].
 
Senator Gratwick, Representative Hymanson, distinguished members of the Health and Human Services Committee, I am Megan Diver, senior government relations specialist at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and a member of the business organization, ReadyNation. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is also proud to be a co-leader of the MaineSpark Coalition that is dedicated to achieving the state’s education attainment goal that 60 percent of Maine adults have a credential of value by 2025. 

by Dana Connors
 
Last week, we hosted our 21st annual Leadership Summit, and despite some icy winter weather, it didn’t disappoint! You can read all about it starting on page 1 of the February 13 edition. Each year, once the dust settles a bit, I take some time to reflect on this event. And each year, I’m grateful for the willingness of legislators and business leaders to come together for frank, open dialog to the public policy issues facing our state. 

The 21st annual Leadership Summit prioritizes talent, innovation, and critical support
 
For the past 21 years, the Maine State Chamber’s annual Leadership Summit has provided board members and business leaders an opportunity to discuss critical public policy issues with key public officials from both sides of the aisle, as well as with administrators and representatives of the executive branch. Again this year, the Chamber’s board of directors and key business leaders gathered with legislative leaders and members of the Mills administration on Thursday and Friday, February 6 and 7, at Sunday River with the shared goal of finding ways to attracting and building talent, fostering innovation, and the building the critical support tools necessary to achieve the goals laid out in Governor Mills’ recently-released 10-year Economic Development Strategy for Maine.

In addition to voting “ought-not-to-pass” on LD 1647, the Taxation committee also gave the same disposition on another carryover bill, LD 903, An Act to Improve Corporate Tax Fairness by Amending the Rates Imposed on Corporate Income, which was sponsored by Rep. Scott Cuddy (D-Winterport). The Maine State Chamber opposed the bill last session.