An Act To Provide Maine Land Conservation Tax rncentives II
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0544
Committee Amendment CA_A_H528 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" fl " to H.P. 422, L.D. 544, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Maine Land Conservation Tax rncentives" 
II 
Amend the bill in section I in §5219-BB in subsection I in the 4th line (page 1, line 7 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "200?" and inserting the following: '2009 and 
before January 1, 2014' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §5219-BB in subsection 1 in the 5th line (page 1, line 8 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "25%" and inserting the following: '15%' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §5219-BB in subsection 2 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "taxpayer's tax liability under this Part for the 
taxable year or if it exceeds the" 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §5219-BB in subsection 2 in the 3rd line (page 1, line 
in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "subsection" the following: '3 or' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in § 5219-BB by striking out subsections 3 and 4 and 
inserting the following: 
'3. Refundability. The credit provided by this section is refundable up to 20% of 
the amount of the total credit for which the taxpayer is eligible in a taxable year. 
2S 
4. Limitation. A gift or donation is eligible for a credit under this section only if it 
meets the requirements of rules adopted by the Commissioner of Conservation under this 
subsection. The Commissioner of Conservation shall adopt rules by February 1, 2008 to 
ensure that credits are provided in a manner that ensures that the public receives the 
maximum benefit for the forgone revenue and that the primary users of the credits are 
owners of smaller amounts of land. Rules adopted under this subsection are major 
substantive rules under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 1 the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,~" to H.P. 422, L.D. 544 
'Sec. 2. Application. This Act applies to tax years beginning on or after January 
1,2009.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment decreases the total amount of the credit from 25% to 15% of the 
value of the donation, provides that the credit is refundable up to 20% per year instead of 
being transferable and requires the Commissioner of Conservation to adopt major 
substantive rules to ensure maximum state benefit from the credit and to ensure that 
smaller landowners are the primary users of the credit. The amendment also provides that 
the credit begins with the 2009 tax year and expires after 5 years. 
FISCAL ~OTE REQURED 
~~ee attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/09/07 Mac::::. 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
LD544 
LR 1468(02) 
An Act To Provide Maine Land Conservation Tax Incentives 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A " 
Committee: Taxation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$0 
2008-09 
$53,052 
Projections 
2009-10 
$465,010 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
$0 
$0 
$57,121 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$0 
$0 
($53,052) 
($2,851) 
($407,889) 
($22,374) 
Projections 
2010-11 
$826,]45 
$52,715 
($773,430) 
($42,424) 
Establishing a transferable income tax credit for certain conservation contributions will reduce General Fund revenue 
by an estimated $53,052 in fiscal year 2008-09. Maine Revenue Services will also require a General Fund 
appropriation of $5 7,121 in fiscal year 2009-10 and $52,715 in fiscal year 2010-11 for the administrative costs 
associated with the new credit, including funds for one part-time Tax Analyst position. 
LR J 468(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I