Sales tax funding for Game and Parks passed

A bill that diverts state sales tax revenue to the state Game and Parks Commission was passed by the Legislature March 27.

LB814, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, dedicates the state sales tax revenue derived from the sale or lease of motorboats and personal watercraft for commission infrastructure maintenance projects.

Currently, state sales tax revenue is deposited into the state General Fund, the State Highway Capital Improvement Fund and the Highway Allocation Fund. Under LB814, the revenue will be directed to a newly created Game and Parks Commission Capital Maintenance Fund.

The state sales tax revenue collected from all-terrain and utility-type vehicles that have been titled in Nebraska also will be dedicated to the Game and Parks Commission Capital Maintenance Fund under the bill.

LB814 defines all-terrain vehicles as vehicles 50 inches or less in width with a weight of 1,200 pounds or less. A utility-type vehicle is defined as 74 inches or less in width with a weight of 2,000 pounds or less.

Senators passed the bill on a 43-1 vote.