What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to solar energy systems
In Assembly Committee · Real Property Taxation · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to solar energy systems
Purpose of the bill
To exempt a solar energy system located on any real property owned by the state, a municipality, a school district, or a special district from real property taxation.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the real property tax law to add a new section 409, which provides that a solar energy system located on any real property owned by the state, a municipality, a school district, or a special district, shall be exempt from taxation.
Section two provides the effective date.
Justification
Real property owned by municipalities and school districts is exempt from taxation. This exemption includes solar energy systems installed on the property that are owned by the municipality or school district. However, a solar energy system located on such real property under an arrangement where the ownership is retained by a third party and the municipality or school purchases the electricity produced is currently subject to taxation.
This has led to instances where a municipality has been taxed on the value of the solar system by the overlapping school district, and vice versa. The amount of taxes charged on a solar system could equal or exceed the savings achieved on the municipality's energy costs from installing the system.
In addition, the exemption in Real Property Tax Law section 487 for solar and other renewable energy generating equipment installed on privately owned property applies regardless of whether the owner of the property owns the equipment. Since it is recognized that the solar equipment on private property should qualify for a tax exemption when it is owned by a third party, solar equipment located on property owned by municipalities and schools should be treated the same.
This anomaly in the real property tax law must be remedied to make it viable for municipalities and schools to install solar projects. These types of projects are an important component of reaching New York's ambitious renewable energy goals, and should be encouraged.
Fiscal implications
None.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill.
Effective date
Immediate.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.