A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the limitations on the deduction of interest by financial institutions which hold tax-exempt bonds, and for other purposes.

Summary: Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2008 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the small issuer exemption from interest expense allocation rules for financial institutions to: (1) increase from $10 to $30 million the annual limit on small issuers of tax-exempt municipal bonds; (2) allow an inflation adjustment to such increased limit amount after 2009; (3) repeal aggregation rules relating to the determination of small issuer eligibility; (4) allow small issuers an election to treat borrowers separately for purposes of issuance limitations; and (5) allow financial institutions and brokers to hold up to 2% of their assets in tax-exempt securities without affecting their interest expense tax deduction.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF SMALL ISSUER EXCEPTION TO TAX-EXEMPT INTEREST 
              EXPENSE ALLOCATION RULES FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Increase in Limitation.--Subparagraphs (C)(i), (D)(i), and 
(D)(iii)(II) of section 265(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
are each amended by striking ``$10,000,000'' and inserting 
``$30,000,000''.
    (b) Repeal of Aggregation Rules Applicable to Small Issuer 
Determination.--Paragraph (3) of section 265(b) of such Code is amended 
by striking subparagraphs (E) and (F).
    (c) Election To Apply Limitation at Borrower Level.--Paragraph (3) 
of section 265(b) of such Code, as amended by subsection (b), is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) Election to apply limitation on amount of 
                obligations at borrower level.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An issuer, the proceeds 
                        of the obligations of which are to be used to 
                        make or finance eligible loans, may elect to 
                        apply subparagraphs (C) and (D) by treating 
                        each borrower as the issuer of a separate 
                        issue.
                            ``(ii) Eligible loan.--For purposes of this 
                        subparagraph--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The term 
                                `eligible loan' means one or more loans 
                                to a qualified borrower the proceeds of 
                                which are used by the borrower and the 
                                outstanding balance of which in the 
                                aggregate does not exceed $30,000,000.
                                    ``(II) Qualified borrower.--The 
                                term `qualified borrower' means a 
                                borrower which is an organization 
                                described in section 501(c)(3) and 
                                exempt from taxation under section 
                                501(a) or a State or political 
                                subdivision thereof.
                            ``(iii) Manner of election.--The election 
                        described in clause (i) may be made by an 
                        issuer for any calendar year at any time prior 
                        to its first issuance during such year of 
                        obligations the proceeds of which will be used 
                        to make or finance one or more eligible 
                        loans.''.
    (d) Inflation Adjustment.--Paragraph (3) of section 265(b) of such 
Code, as amended by subsections (b) and (c), is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(F) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any 
                calendar year after 2009, the $30,000,000 amounts 
                contained in subparagraphs (C)(i), (D)(i), 
                (D)(iii)(II), and (E)(ii)(I) shall each be increased by 
                an amount equal to--
                            ``(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                            ``(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment 
                        determined under section 1(f)(3) for such 
                        calendar year, determined by substituting 
                        `calendar year 2008' `for calendar year 1992' 
                        in subparagraph (B) thereof.
                Any increase determined under the preceding sentence 
                shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of 
                $100,000.''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to obligations issued after December 31, 2008.

SEC. 3. DE MINIMIS SAFE HARBOR EXCEPTION FOR TAX-EXEMPT INTEREST 
              EXPENSE OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND BROKERS.

    (a) Financial Institutions.--Subsection (b) of section 265 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(7) De minimis exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply 
        to any financial institution if the portion of the taxpayer's 
        holdings of tax-exempt securities is less than 2 percent of the 
        taxpayer's assets.''.
    (b) Brokers.--Subsection (a) of section 265 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(7) De minimis exception.--Paragraph (2) shall not apply 
        to any broker (as defined in section 6045(c)(1)) if the portion 
        of the taxpayer's holdings of tax-exempt securities is less 
        than 2 percent of the taxpayer's assets.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.