Georgia Agricultural Trust Fund; exempt sale or use of diesel exhaust fuel
Impact
If enacted, HB1459 would directly impact the financial responsibilities of qualified agricultural producers by providing exemptions that can lead to significant cost savings. The intent is to foster a more robust agricultural sector by enabling producers to allocate resources more effectively towards production rather than tax expenditures. The exemption is also likely to incentivize the use of diesel exhaust fuel, which may contribute to efficiencies in energy utilization within agricultural practices.
Summary
House Bill 1459 proposes to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated by exempting the sale or use of diesel exhaust fuel from sales and use taxes for qualified agricultural producers. This change is aimed at supporting agricultural operations by lessening the tax burden associated with necessary operational inputs. The bill is positioned as part of broader efforts to maintain and enhance the viability of agricultural production within the state of Georgia.
Contention
While the text of the bill does not highlight notable points of contention, concerns around similar exemptions often include discussions about the equitable distribution of tax relief. Stakeholders may debate the fairness of such exemptions and consider their effects on state revenues against the potential economic benefits for the agricultural community. Additionally, there may be an examination of the environmental impacts of increasing diesel usage versus the long-term sustainability of agricultural practices.
(Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to sales and use tax exemptions for gasoline, diesel fuels, special fuels, food for home consumption, certain residential utilities, and prescription drugs