2004 House Bill 6026 / Public Act 251

Tax breaks for “start-up business"

Introduced in the House

June 16, 2004

Introduced by Rep. Scott Hummel (R-93)

To allow local governments to exempt a "qualified start-up business" that has not made a profit from paying the obsolete properties tax on a rehabilitated facility. 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 Tax Policy

June 23, 2004

Reported without amendment

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

June 24, 2004

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 House 103 to 1 (details)

Received in the Senate

June 29, 2004

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

July 1, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the amendment be adopted and that the bill then pass.

July 6, 2004

Amendment offered

To allow a qualified start-up business to receive the proposed tax break in nonconsecutive years.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To allow local governments to exempt a "qualified start-up business" that has not made a profit from paying the obsolete properties tax on a rehabilitated facility. 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 House

July 6, 2004

Passed in the House 101 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

July 22, 2004