HB 54

This bill would revise the lodging tax law to exclude certain rentals that are not for overnight accommodations from the lodging tax consistent with the department rule on this subject

To amend Section 40-26-1, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to lodging tax; to provide that the rental of room or space in a hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, or any other place which is not a room, lodging, or accommodation regularly furnished for overnight sleeping purposes would not be subject to the lodging tax.

Section 1

Section 40-26-1, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§40-26-1.

(a) There is levied and imposed, in addition to all other taxes of every kind now imposed by law, a privilege or license tax upon every person, firm, or corporation engaging in the business of renting or furnishing any room or rooms, lodging, or accommodations to transients in any hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, tourist cabin, or any other place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are regularly furnished to transients for a consideration, in any county which is located in the geographic region comprising the Alabama mountain lakes area, those being Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston, in an amount to be determined by the application of the rate of five percent of the charge for such room, rooms, lodgings, or accommodations, including the charge for use or rental of personal property and services furnished in such room, and the rate of four percent of the charge in every other county. There is exempted from the tax levied under this chapter any rentals or services taxed under Division 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 23 of this title.

(b) The tax shall not apply to rooms, lodgings, or accommodations supplied: (i) For a period of 180 continuous days or more in any place; (ii) by camps, conference centers, or similar facilities operated by nonprofit organizations primarily for the benefit of, and in connection with, recreational or educational programs for children, students, or members or guests of other nonprofit organizations during any calendar year; or (iii) by privately operated camps, conference centers, or similar facilities that provide lodging and recreational or educational programs exclusively for the benefit of children, students, or members or guests of nonprofit organizations during any calendar year.

(c) For purposes of subsection (b): "Children" means individuals under age 21; "student" is defined in accordance with 26 U.S.C. §151(c)(4), as in effect from time to time or by any successor law; "nonprofit organization" is an organization exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3), as in effect from time to time or any successor law; and "privately operated" refers to any camp, conference center, or similar facility other than those operated by a nonprofit organization as herein defined.

(d)(1) Charges made for the rental of a ballroom, dining room, club room, sample room, conference room, wedding chapel, or similar room or space that is not intended nor suitable for overnight sleeping purposes and that is not used for overnight sleeping purposes is not subject to the tax levied pursuant to this chapter if the charges for the rental are separately stated by the facility and the room or space is used exclusively as a room or space for a meeting, conference, seminar, club meeting, private party, or similar activity.

(2) The exclusion provided in subdivision (1) applies solely to the transient occupancy tax levied under this chapter and does not apply to any other taxes, licenses, or fees except a separately stated rental charge for a meeting room or other space excluded pursuant to subdivision (1) is also excluded from the tax levied by Chapter 23 of Title 40."

Section 2

All laws or parts of laws which conflict with this act are repealed.

Section 3

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.