b'2023 WPMA State ReportUTAH Petroleum Marketers & Retailers Association ReportUPMRA UPDATEUtahs 2023 Legislative SessionranDEQ/DERR Newsits 45 days until March 3rd and true to Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Brad Wilsons word at the beginning of thesession, this was the third year in a rowUtahns got an income tax cut. John HillHighlights from this years legislative session UPMRA include HB 54, Tax Revisions that provides Executive Director (1) a reduction in the individual and corpo-rate income tax rates from the current 4.85% to 4.65%; (2) an expansion in the income taxDEQ and the Utah Undergroundexemption for Social Security income; (3) an in- Storage Tank taskforcemet early this year crease in the earned income tax credit that will U increase from 15% of the federal credit to 20%;and updated taskforce members on several is-sues, including the current status of compliance P and (4) an addition to Utahs current taxpayerto the AST regulations, labor rate adjustments, credit to provide an additional personal exemp-M tion for a dependent born during the tax year.and implementation of DAQs gasoline tank R These changes all have retrospective effect tovapor recovery requirements (Rule 307-328). A January 1, 2023.On Vapor Recovery, DAQ and DEQ are cur-The House Majority Leader introduced andrently drafting a memorandum of understanding passed HB301, which reduces the indexedin order for DAQ to utilize DEQs current tank portion of the State gas tax by 2 cents untilinspection program and shift DAQs required 2028, and shifts some of the tax burden to pub- compliance and testing (every three years) to lic electric vehicle charging stations, where aDEQ, since they have the expertise and an ex-12.5% charging fee is imposed. Residential andisting relationship with tank owners. This shift free charging is exempt. The bill also imposes aalso reduces the chance of fines being imposed higher ($7) registration fee on EV vehicles. by DAQ if an order must be issued against a tank owner for non-compliance. SB 173, Alcoholic Beverage Control ActDEQ also announced that as of November Amendments has a provision dealing with the2022, the PST Trust Funds negative equity training of managers and retail staff of off- balance was eliminated, and that the funds premise retail licensees prior to supervisingequity balance is now approximately $600-others and prior to selling beer at retail.700,000 with a cash balance of $28,445,900. Addressing alcohol sales to minors, the StateAt $50 million, the current .065 cent fee (with Liquor Commission imposed harsher penaltiesrebates for upgraded tanks) would revert back for violations, starting with a notification provi- to a quarter cent, but a big unknown is what sion for all off-premise retail violations.adding ASTs will do to the fund balance.Working with the UPMRA Executive Commit-tee, UPMRA signed onto a letter from the UtahEMA News Business Coalition opposed to SJR 001, whichWashington Conference and Day on proposed a ballot initiative for a constitutionalthe Hill - May 10-12amendment that would allow the Legis-lature to exempt up to 100% of theJoin UPMRA membersat value of primary residential prop- EMAs annual Washington erty from taxation, which wouldConference and Day on the shift the burden to commercialHill in meetings with Utahs real estate to replace that incomemembers of Congress (May for cities and counties. The UBC10-12) in Washington, DC at Letter prompted the resolutionThe Mayflower Hotel. This sponsor, Sen. Dan McCay to holdmeeting is a great opportunity the bill for further study during theto network with other marketers 2023 interim period.from across the country!WPMA News / Post WPMAEXPO 202329'