No conference committee for HB 111

House Bill 111, the oil and gas tax credit bill passed in different versions by the House and Senate, is still awaiting appointment of Senate members of a conference committee as the Alaska Legislature approaches the mid-way point of a 30-day special session.

HB 111 was one of the items, along with the operating and capital budgets, included in Gov. Bill Walker’s call for a special session, which began May 18.

House members of the conference committee were named May 22, but when this issue of Petroleum News wrapped, Senate conference committee members had not yet been named. The Senate was scheduled to meet June 1 after this issue went to press.

HB 111 originated in the House Resources Committee and Resources co-Chairs Geran Tarr and Andy Josephson, both Anchorage Democrats, were named to the conference committee, along with Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy, a minority member of the Resources Committee. Tarr is the House chair of the conference committee.

The House version of HB 111 would provide an increase in revenue, in addition to ending North Slope cashable credits. The House Finance Committee substitute for HB 111 passed by the House April 11 also made a number of other changes to oil and gas tax law.

The Senate Finance Committee version, passed May 15, focused on ending cashable credits. Senators have argued that more time than is available in this year’s session is required to thoroughly analyze and model the impact of tax changes proposed by the House.

Additional revenue which would be provided by the House Finance CS for HB 111 is a part of the House plan to finance state government.

- KRISTEN NELSON