FIRST REGULAR SESSION [PERFECTED] SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 35 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBERTS. 0483S.05P KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary AN ACT To amend chapter 99, RSMo, by adding thereto six new sections relating to tax credits for downtown revitalization. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 99, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1 six new sections, to be known as sections 99.720, 99.722, 2 99.724, 99.726, 99.728, and 99.730, to read as follows:3 99.720. 1. Sections 99.720 to 99.730 shall be known 1 and may be cited as the "Revitalizing Missouri Downtowns and 2 Main Streets Act". 3 2. As used in sections 99.720 to 99.730, the following 4 terms mean, unless the context requires otherwise: 5 (1) "Department", the Missouri department of e conomic 6 development; 7 (2) "Qualified conversion expenditures", any amount 8 properly chargeable to a capital account. The term 9 "qualified conversion expenditures" shall not include: 10 (a) The cost of acquisition; 11 (b) Any expenditure attrib utable to the enlargement of 12 an existing building; or 13 (c) Tax-exempt properties; 14 SS SCS SB 35 2 (3) "Qualified converted building", any building and 15 its structural components if: 16 (a) Prior to conversion, such building was 17 nonresidential real property , as defined in 26 U.S.C. 18 Section 168(e)(2)(B), as amended, which was leased, or 19 available for lease, to office tenants, or utilized for 20 office purposes by the owner -occupant; 21 (b) Such building has been substantially converted 22 from an office use to a predominantly residential use, 23 defined as more than fifty percent of the gross square 24 footage of the building, and may also include retail, or 25 other commercial use, and may also include accessory on -site 26 parking; and 27 (c) Such building was in itially placed in service at 28 least twenty-five years before the beginning of the 29 conversion; 30 (4) "Qualified Missouri main street district", an 31 accredited, associated, or affiliated main street district 32 of the Missouri main street program created pursuant to 33 sections 251.470 to 251.485; 34 (5) "Substantially converted", qualified conversion 35 expenditures incurred during the twenty -four-month period 36 preceding final approval of tax credits that in total are 37 greater than: 38 (a) The adjusted basis of such building and its 39 structural components, as determined as of the beginning of 40 the first day of such twenty -four-month period, or of the 41 holding period of the building, whichever is later; or 42 (b) Fifteen thousand dollars if the propert y is 43 located in a qualified Missouri main street district, or 44 five hundred thousand dollars if the property is not located 45 in a qualified Missouri main street district. 46 SS SCS SB 35 3 In the case of any conversion which may reasonably be 47 expected to be completed in p hases set forth in 48 architectural plans and specifications completed before the 49 conversion begins, qualified conversion expenditures shall 50 be totaled for the sixty -month period preceding final 51 approval of tax credits rather than the twenty -four-month 52 period preceding such final approval; 53 (6) "Upper floor housing", any housing that is 54 attached to or contained in the same building as commercial 55 property, whether located on the ground floor behind the 56 traditional storefront or on other floors of t he property. 57 99.722. 1. For all tax years beginning on or after 1 January 1, 2026, the department shall issue a taxpayer a 2 credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability equal to 3 twenty-five percent of qualified conversion expendit ures 4 with respect to a qualified converted building. If the 5 amount of such tax credit exceeds the taxpayer's state tax 6 liability for the year in which tax credits are issued, the 7 amount that exceeds the state tax liability may be carried 8 back to any of the three preceding tax years or carried 9 forward for credit against state tax liability for the 10 succeeding ten tax years, or until the full credit is used, 11 whichever occurs first. 12 2. Tax credits authorized pursuant to this section may 13 be transferred, sold, or assigned, and shall retain the same 14 attributes as in the hands of the assignor. Tax credits may 15 be transferred multiple times. In order to transfer a tax 16 credit authorized pursuant to this section, the assignor and 17 assignee shall complete and submit a tax credit transfer 18 form provided by the department of revenue. Such transfers 19 may be facilitated through an intermediary entity as 20 SS SCS SB 35 4 permitted by law without affecting the nature or attributes 21 of the tax credit. 22 3. Tax credits authorized for a partnership, a limited 23 liability company taxed as a partnership, or multiple owners 24 of property shall be passed through to the partners, 25 members, or owners respectively pro rata, or pursuant to an 26 executed agreement among the partners, members, or owners 27 documenting an alternate distribution method. 28 4. The assignee of a tax credit may use the acquired 29 tax credits to offset up to one hundred percent of the 30 taxpayer's state tax liability. The assignor shall perfect 31 such transfer by notifying the department in writing within 32 thirty calendar days following the effective date of the 33 transfer and shall provide any information as may be 34 required by the department. 35 99.724. 1. For all tax years beginning on or a fter 1 January 1, 2026, the department shall issue a taxpayer a 2 credit against the taxpayer's state tax liability equal to 3 thirty percent of qualified conversion expenditures with 4 respect to upper floor housing located in a qualified 5 Missouri main street district. If the amount of such tax 6 credit exceeds the taxpayer's state tax liability for the 7 year in which tax credits are issued, the amount that 8 exceeds the state tax liability may be carried back to any 9 of the three preceding tax years or carrie d forward for 10 credit against state tax liability for the succeeding ten 11 tax years, or until the full credit is used, whichever 12 occurs first. 13 2. Tax credits authorized pursuant to this section may 14 be transferred, sold, or assigned, and shall retai n the same 15 attributes as in the hands of the assignor. Tax credits may 16 be transferred multiple times. In order to transfer a tax 17 SS SCS SB 35 5 credit authorized pursuant to this section, the assignor and 18 assignee shall complete and submit a tax credit transfer 19 form provided by the department of revenue. Such transfers 20 may be facilitated through an intermediary entity as 21 permitted by law without affecting the nature or attributes 22 of the tax credit. 23 3. Tax credits authorized for a partnership, a limited 24 liability company taxed as a partnership, or multiple owners 25 of property shall be passed through to the partners, 26 members, or owners respectively pro rata, or pursuant to an 27 executed agreement among the partners, members, or owners 28 documenting an altern ate distribution method. 29 4. The assignee of a tax credit may use the acquired 30 tax credits to offset up to one hundred percent of the 31 taxpayer's state tax liability. The assignor shall perfect 32 such transfer by notifying the department in writing w ithin 33 thirty calendar days following the effective date of the 34 transfer and shall provide any information as may be 35 required by the department. 36 99.726. 1. The total amount of tax credits authorized 1 pursuant to sections 99.720 to 99 .730 shall not exceed fifty 2 million dollars in any fiscal year. 3 2. Fifty percent of the maximum amount of tax credits 4 available to be authorized to taxpayers in a fiscal year 5 pursuant to this section shall be authorized solely for 6 structures of more than seven hundred fifty thousand gross 7 square feet. If the total amount of such reserved tax 8 credits have been authorized, structures of more than seven 9 hundred fifty thousand gross square feet may receive tax 10 credits from the remaining unreserve d amount of tax 11 credits. If the total amount of reserved tax credits have 12 not been authorized by the department, structures of less 13 SS SCS SB 35 6 than seven hundred fifty thousand gross square feet may be 14 authorized tax credits from such reserved amount. The total 15 amount of tax credits for a structure of more than seven 16 hundred fifty thousand gross square feet may be allocated to 17 the annual limits provided in this section over a period of 18 up to ten years, if: 19 (1) The project otherwise meets all the requir ements 20 of sections 99.720 to 99.730; and 21 (2) The project meets the ten percent incurred costs 22 test under subsection 6 of section 99.728 within thirty -six 23 months after an award is authorized. 24 3. Twenty-five percent of the maximum amount of ta x 25 credits available to be authorized to taxpayers in a fiscal 26 year pursuant to this section shall be authorized solely for 27 upper floor housing projects located in a qualified Missouri 28 main street district. If the total amount of such reserved 29 tax credits have been authorized, upper floor housing 30 projects located in a qualified Missouri main street 31 district may receive tax credits from the remaining 32 unreserved amount of tax credits. If the total amount of 33 reserved tax credits have not been authori zed by the 34 department, projects not located in a qualified Missouri 35 main street district may be authorized tax credits from such 36 reserved amount. 37 4. If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any 38 fiscal year, as provided pursuant to this sec tion, is 39 authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits allowed 40 pursuant to subsection 1 of this section shall be adjusted 41 by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for 42 All Urban Consumers, or its successor index, as such index 43 is defined and officially reported by the United States 44 Department of Labor, or its successor agency. Only one such 45 SS SCS SB 35 7 adjustment shall be made for each instance in which the 46 provisions of this subsection apply. The department shall 47 publish such adjusted amount. 48 5. In the event the department authorizes tax credits 49 equal to the total amount available pursuant to this 50 section, or sufficient that when totaled with all other 51 approvals, the amount available pursuant to this section is 52 exhausted, all taxpayers with applications then awaiting 53 approval or thereafter submitted for approval shall be 54 notified by the department that no additional approvals 55 shall be granted during the fiscal year and shall be 56 notified of the priority given to such taxpayer's 57 application then awaiting approval. Such applications shall 58 be kept on file by the department and shall be considered 59 for approval for tax credits in the order established in 60 this section in the event that additional tax credits become 61 available due to the rescission of approvals, or when a new 62 fiscal year's allocation of tax credits becomes available 63 for approval. 64 99.728. 1. To obtain approval for tax credits 1 pursuant to sections 99.720 to 99.730, a taxpayer shall 2 submit an application for tax credit authorization to the 3 department. The department shall have sixty days to review 4 the application and shall notify the applicant in writing 5 within thirty days of the decision of whether the 6 application has been authorized for tax cr edits. Each 7 application for approval, including any applications 8 received for supplemental allocations of tax credits as 9 provided pursuant to subsection 2 of section 99.730, shall, 10 if approved, be authorized for tax credits in the order of 11 submission. 12 SS SCS SB 35 8 2. Each application shall be reviewed by the 13 department for approval. In order to receive approval, an 14 application shall include: 15 (1) Proof of ownership or site control. Proof of 16 ownership shall include evidence that the taxpayer is the 17 fee simple owner of the eligible property, such as a 18 warranty deed or a closing statement. Proof of site control 19 may be evidenced by a leasehold interest or an option to 20 acquire such an interest. If the taxpayer is in the process 21 of acquiring fee simple ownership, proof of site control 22 shall include an executed sales contract or an executed 23 option to purchase the eligible property; 24 (2) Floor plans of the existing structure, 25 architectural plans, and, where applicable, plans of the 26 proposed conversion of the structure, as well as proposed 27 additions; 28 (3) The estimated cost of conversion, the anticipated 29 total costs of the project, the actual basis of the 30 property, as shown by proof of actual acquisition costs, the 31 anticipated total la bor costs, the estimated project start 32 date, and the estimated project completion date; 33 (4) Proof that the property is an eligible property; 34 (5) A copy of all land use and building approvals 35 reasonably necessary for the commencement of the pr oject; and 36 (6) Any other information which the department may 37 reasonably require to review the project for approval. 38 Only the property for which a property address is provided 39 in the application shall be reviewed for approval. Once 40 selected for review, a taxpayer shall not be permitted to 41 request the review of another property for approval in the 42 place of the property contained in such application. Any 43 SS SCS SB 35 9 disapproved application shall be removed from the review 44 process. If an application is rem oved from the review 45 process, the department shall notify the taxpayer in writing 46 of the decision to remove such application. The taxpayer 47 may subsequently submit a revised application. For the 48 purposes of determining the order of submission and 49 authorization of credits, the revised application shall be 50 considered a new application. 51 3. If the department determines that the application 52 meets the requirements of sections 99.720 to 99.730 to 53 receive an authorization of tax credits, the taxpayer shall 54 be notified in writing of the approval for an amount of tax 55 credits equal to the amounts provided in sections 99.722 and 56 99.724, less any amount of tax credits previously approved 57 pursuant to this section. Tax credits approved pursuant to 58 this section shall be approved and administered 59 independently and shall not be evaluated in conjunction with 60 any other state tax credit program. Such approvals shall be 61 granted to applications in the order of priority established 62 under this section and sh all require full compliance 63 thereafter with all other requirements of law as a condition 64 to any claim for such tax credits. 65 4. Following approval of an application, the identity 66 of the taxpayer contained in such application shall not be 67 modified except: 68 (1) The taxpayer may add partners, members, or 69 shareholders as part of the ownership structure, so long as 70 the principal remains the same; provided, however, that 71 subsequent to the commencement of renovation and the 72 expenditure of at leas t ten percent of the proposed 73 rehabilitation budget, removal of the principal for failure 74 SS SCS SB 35 10 to perform duties and the appointment of a new principal 75 thereafter shall not constitute a change of the principal; or 76 (2) Where the ownership of the project is changed due 77 to a foreclosure, deed in lieu of a foreclosure or voluntary 78 conveyance, or a transfer in bankruptcy. 79 5. All taxpayers with applications receiving approval 80 shall submit within one hundred twenty days following the 81 award of credits evidence of the capacity of the applicant 82 to finance the costs and expenses for the conversion of the 83 eligible property in the form of a line of credit or letter 84 of commitment subject to the lender's termination for a 85 material adverse change impacting the extension of credit. 86 If the department determines that a taxpayer has failed to 87 comply with the requirements of this subsection, then the 88 department shall notify the applicant of such failure and 89 the applicant shall have a thirty -day period from the date 90 of such notice to submit additional evidence to remedy the 91 failure. 92 6. All taxpayers with applications receiving approval, 93 excluding projects described in subsection 2 of section 94 99.726, shall commence conversion within twelve months of 95 the date of issuance of the letter from the department 96 granting the approval for tax credits. For the purposes of 97 this subsection, "commence conversion" shall mean that, as 98 of the date in which actual physical work, contemplated by 99 the architectural plans submitted with the application, has 100 begun, the taxpayer has incurred no less than ten percent of 101 the estimated costs of rehabilitation provided in the 102 application. Taxpayers with approval of a project shall 103 submit evidence of compliance with the provisions of this 104 subsection. If the department determines that a taxpayer 105 has failed to comply with the requirements of this 106 SS SCS SB 35 11 subsection, the approval for the amount of tax credits for 107 such taxpayer shall be rescinded and such amount of tax 108 credits shall then be included in the total amount of tax 109 credits from which approvals may be granted. Any taxpayer 110 whose approval shall be subject to rescission shall be 111 notified of such from the department and, upon receipt of 112 such notice, may submit a new application for the project. 113 99.730. 1. To claim a tax credit authorized pursuant 1 to sections 99.720 to 99.730, a taxpayer with approval 2 shall, except with respect to a tax credit authorized 3 pursuant to subsection 2 of section 99.7 26, apply for final 4 approval and issuance of tax credits from the department, 5 which shall determine the final amount of qualified 6 conversion expenditures and whether the completed 7 rehabilitation meets the requirements of this section. A 8 taxpayer shall submit to the department a final application 9 demonstrating: 10 (1) That the taxpayer has substantially converted a 11 qualified converted building or upper floor housing; 12 (2) Satisfactory evidence of any qualified conversion 13 expenditures for the structure, as determined by the 14 department; and 15 (3) Any other information reasonably requested by the 16 department relating to verifying qualified conversion 17 expenditures or compliance with the requirements of sections 18 99.720 to 99.730. 19 For financial institutions, tax credits authorized pursuant 20 to sections 99.720 to 99.730 shall be deemed to be 21 redevelopment tax credits for the purposes of sections 22 135.800 to 135.830. The approval of all applications and 23 the issuing of certificates of eligibl e tax credits to 24 SS SCS SB 35 12 taxpayers shall be performed by the department. The 25 department shall inform a taxpayer of final approval by 26 letter and shall issue, to the taxpayer, tax credit 27 certificates. The taxpayer shall attach the certificate to 28 all Missouri income tax returns on which the credit is 29 claimed. 30 2. (1) The department shall issue seventy -five 31 percent of the approved tax credits within sixty days of 32 receiving all required final application materials. Within 33 sixty days, the department sha ll make a final determination 34 of costs and issue the remaining twenty -five percent of 35 approved tax credits, or request repayment from the 36 applicant if the final determination results in an over - 37 issuance of tax credits. In the event the amount of 38 qualified conversion expenditures incurred by a taxpayer 39 would result in the issuance of an amount of tax credits in 40 excess of the amount authorized pursuant to subsection 3 of 41 section 99.728, such taxpayer may apply to the department 42 for issuance of tax c redits in an amount equal to such 43 excess. Applications for issuance of tax credits in excess 44 of the amount provided under a taxpayer's application shall 45 be made on a form prescribed by the department. Such 46 applications shall be subject to all provisi ons regarding 47 priority provided under subsection 1 of section 99.728. 48 (2) For tax credits authorized pursuant to subsection 49 2 of section 99.726, the applicant may submit to the 50 department an application for the issuance of tax credits 51 annually prior to final completion of the project. Upon 52 approval of the annual application for issuance, the 53 department shall issue eighty percent of the amount of tax 54 credits that would result from the qualified expenditures, 55 provided the total amount of credit s issued to date does not 56 SS SCS SB 35 13 exceed the total amount of credits authorized for the 57 project to date. Any remaining authorized tax credits shall 58 be issued upon the final approval of the project. The 59 department shall issue eighty percent of the approved 60 credits within sixty days of receiving all required 61 application materials. Within sixty days, the department 62 shall make a final determination of costs and issue any 63 remaining authorized tax credits upon the final completion 64 of the phased project, or re quest repayment if an over - 65 issuance of credits is determined. 66 3. The department shall determine, on an annual basis, 67 the overall economic impact to the state from the 68 rehabilitation of eligible property pursuant to sections 69 99.720 to 99.730. 70 4. No taxpayer shall be issued tax credits for 71 qualified conversion expenditures on a qualified converted 72 building within twenty -seven years of a previous issuance of 73 tax credits pursuant to sections 99.720 to 99.730 on such 74 qualified converted build ing. 75 5. The department may promulgate any rules and 76 regulations necessary to administer the provisions of 77 sections 99.720 to 99.730. Any rule or portion of a rule, 78 as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created 79 under the authority d elegated in this section shall become 80 effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of 81 the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 82 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 83 if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 84 pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 85 date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 86 held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 87 SS SCS SB 35 14 authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 88 2025, shall be invalid and void. 89 6. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 23.253 of 90 the Missouri sunset act to the contrary: 91 (1) The program authorized pursuant to sections 99.720 92 to 99.730 shall automatically sunset on December 31, 2033, 93 unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and 94 (2) If such program is reauthorized, the program 95 authorized pursuant to sections 99.720 to 99.730 shall 96 automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date 97 of the reauthorization; 98 (3) Sections 99.720 to 99.730 shall terminate on 99 September first of the calendar year immediately following 100 the calendar year in which the program authorized pursuant 101 to sections 99.720 to 99.730 is sunset; and 102 (4) The provisions of this subsecti on shall not be 103 construed to limit or in any way impair: 104 (a) A taxpayer's ability to complete a project and 105 receive authorization for tax credits pursuant to sections 106 99.720 to 99.730 for any project for which the taxpayer has 107 submitted an initial application on or before the date the 108 program authorized pursuant to sections 99.720 to 99.730 109 expires; or 110 (b) The department of revenue's ability to redeem tax 111 credits authorized on or before the date the program 112 authorized pursuant to section s 99.720 to 99.730 expires, or 113 a taxpayer's ability to redeem such tax credits. 114