Christmas Tree Tax Exemption Act

Bill: 114-hr-4205
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
Introduced: 2015-12-09
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Agricultural marketing and promotion

Agricultural research

Commemorative events and holidays

Department of Agriculture

Forests, forestry, trees
Latest action: action_date: 2015-12-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-12-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Christmas Tree Tax Exemption Act </b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permit &quot;choose and cut&quot; Christmas tree producers to opt out of USDA's Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order with respect to trees sold directly to final consumers. </p> <p>(The order was authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and includes an assessment on Christmas tree producers to fund a promotion, research, and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees.) </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4205 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 9, 2015 Mr. McCaul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To permit producers of Choose and Cut Christmas trees to opt out of the Christmas tree promotion, research, and information order.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Christmas Tree Tax Exemption Act . 2. Authority of Choose and Cut Christmas tree producers to opt out of the Christmas tree promotion, research, and information order (a) Authority of producers To opt out The Secretary of Agriculture shall permit a Choose and Cut Christmas tree producer to opt out of the Christmas tree promotion, research, and information order contained in part 1214 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, and issued by the Secretary pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7411 et seq. ) with respect to Christmas trees produced by the producer and sold directly to final consumers. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Choose and Cut Christmas tree producer The term Choose and Cut Christmas tree producer means a producer who produces Christmas trees in the United States, allows consumers to select a Christmas tree for purchase before the Christmas tree is severed or cut from its roots, and sells that Christmas tree directly to the final consumer. (2) Christmas tree The term Christmas tree means any tree of the coniferous species that is severed or cut from its roots and marketed as a Christmas tree for holiday use. (3) Producer The term producer means any person who is engaged in the production of Christmas trees in the United States, and who owns, or shares the ownership and risk of loss of the production of Christmas trees or a person who is engaged in the business of producing, or causing to be domestically produced, Christmas trees beyond personal use and having value at first point of sale.