Bill Text: MS HB1622 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015; create.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2015-02-25 - Died In Committee [HB1622 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2015-HB1622-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2015 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Smith (39th)

House Bill 1622

AN ACT TO ENACT THE "FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTERS ACT OF 2015"; TO PROVIDE THAT AN OUT-OF-STATE BUSINESS THAT CONDUCTS OPERATIONS WITHIN THE STATE FOR PURPOSES OF PERFORMING WORK OR SERVICES RELATED TO A DECLARED STATE DISASTER OR EMERGENCY DURING THE DISASTER RESPONSE PERIOD SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE ESTABLISHED A LEVEL OF PRESENCE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT BUSINESS TO REGISTER, FILE AND/OR REMIT STATE OR LOCAL TAXES OR THAT WOULD REQUIRE, THAT BUSINESS OR ITS OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYEES TO BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN STATE LICENSING OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT AN EMPLOYEE OF SUCH A BUSINESS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE ESTABLISHED RESIDENCY OR A PRESENCE IN THE STATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT PERSON OR THAT PERSON'S EMPLOYER TO FILE AND PAY INCOME TAXES OR TO BE SUBJECTED TO TAX WITHHOLDINGS OR TO FILE AND PAY ANY OTHER STATE OR LOCAL TAX OR FEE DURING THE DISASTER RESPONSE PERIOD; TO REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING AN OUT-OF-STATE BUSINESS SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE PROVIDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-7-15, 27-7-37, 27-7-305, 27-7-333, 27-17-9, 27-31-1, 27-65-101, 27-65-107 AND 27-65-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015."

     SECTION 2.  The Legislature finds that:

          (a)  During times of storm, flood, fire, earthquake, hurricane or other disaster or emergency, many businesses bring in resources and personnel from other states throughout the United States on a temporary basis to expedite the often enormous and overwhelming task of cleaning up, restoring and repairing damaged buildings, equipment and property or even deploying or building new replacement facilities in the state.

          (b)  This may involve the need for out-of-state businesses, including out-of-state affiliates of businesses based in the state, to bring in resources, property and/or personnel that previously have had no connection to the state, to perform activity in the state, including, but not limited to, repairing, renovating, installing, building, rendering services or other business activities and for which personnel may be located in the state for extended periods of time to perform such activities.

          (c)  During such time of operating in the state on a temporary basis solely for purposes of helping the state recover from the disaster or emergency, these businesses and individual employees should not be burdened by any requirements for business and employee taxes as a result of such activities in the state for a temporary period.

          (d)  The state's nexus and residency thresholds are intended for businesses and individuals in the state as part of the conduct of regular business operations or who intend to reside in the state and should not be directed at businesses and individuals coming into the state on a temporary basis to provide help and assistance in response to a declared state disaster or emergency.

          (e)  To ensure that businesses may focus on quick response to the needs of the state and its citizens during a declared state disaster or emergency it is appropriate for the Legislature to deem that such activity for a reasonable period of time before, during and after the disaster or emergency for repairing and restoration of the often devastating damage to critical property and infrastructure in the state as defined in this act shall not establish presence, residency, nor doing business in the state nor any other criteria for purposes of state and local taxes, licensing and regulatory requirements.

     SECTION 3.  As used in Sections 3 through 5 of this act:

          (a)  "Registered business in the state" or "registered business" means a business entity that is currently registered to do business in the state prior to the declared state disaster or emergency.

          (b)  "Out-of-state business" means a business entity that, except for disaster or emergency related work, has no presence in the state and conducts no business in the state whose services are requested by a registered business or by a state or local government for purposes of performing disaster or emergency related work in the state.  This shall also include a business entity that is affiliated with the registered business in the state solely through common ownership.  The out-of-state business has no registrations or tax filings or nexus in the state other than disaster or emergency related work during the tax year immediately preceding the declared state disaster or emergency.           (c)  "Out-of-state employee" means an employee who does not work in the state, except for disaster or emergency related work during the disaster response period.

          (d)  "Critical Infrastructure" means property and equipment owned or used by communications networks, electric generation, transmission and distribution systems, gas distribution systems, water pipelines and related support facilities that services multiple customers or citizens, including, but not limited to, real and personal property such as buildings, offices, lines, poles, pipes, structures and equipment.

          (e)  "Declared state disaster or emergency" means a disaster or emergency event:

              (i)  For which the Governor has issued state of emergency proclamation;

              (ii)  For which a presidential declaration of a federal major disaster or emergency has been issued; or

              (iii)  For which a good faith response effort is required, and for which another authorized official of the state is given notification from the registered business and such official designates such event as a disaster or emergency thereby invoking the provisions of this act.

          (f)  "Disaster response period" means a period that begins ten (10) days prior to the first day of the Governor's proclamation, the President's declaration or designation by another authorized official of the state, whichever occurs first, and that extends sixty (60) calendar days after the declared state disaster or emergency, or any longer period authorized by the Governor.

          (g)  "Disaster or emergency related work" means repairing, renovating, installing, building, rendering services or other business activities that relate to critical infrastructure that has been damaged impaired or destroyed by the declared state disaster or emergency.

     SECTION 4.  (1)  (a)  An out-of-state business that conducts operations within the state for purposes of performing work or services related to a declared state disaster or emergency during the disaster response period shall not be considered to have established a level of presence that would require that business to register, file and/or remit state or local taxes or that would require, except as otherwise provided in this section, that business or its out-of-state employees to be subject to any state licensing or registration requirements.  This includes any and all state or local business licensing or registration requirements or state and local taxes or fees, including, but not limited to, unemployment insurance, occupational licensing fees, privilege taxes, sales and use tax or ad valorem tax on equipment brought into the state temporarily for use during the disaster response period and subsequently removed from the state, Public Service Commission or Secretary of State licensing and regulatory requirements.  For purposes of any state or local tax on or measured by, in whole or in part, net or gross income or receipts, all activity of the out-of-state business that is conducted in this state pursuant to this act shall be disregarded with respect to any filing requirements for such tax including the filing required for a unitary or combined group of which the out-of-state business may be a part.  For the purpose of apportioning income, revenue or receipts, the performance by an out-of-state business of any work in accordance with this act shall not be sourced to or shall not otherwise impact or increase the amount of income, revenue, or receipts apportioned to this state.

          (b)  Any out-of-state employee shall not be considered to have established residency or a presence in the state that would require that person or that person's employer to file and pay income taxes or to be subjected to tax withholdings or to file and pay any other state or local tax or fee during the disaster response period.  This includes any related state or local employer withholding and remittance obligations, but does not include any transaction taxes or fees as described in subsection (2) of this section.

     (2)  Out-of-state businesses and out-of-state employees shall be required to pay transaction taxes and fees including, but not limited to, fuel taxes or sales/use taxes on materials or services consumed or used in the state subject to sales/use tax, hotel taxes, car rental taxes or fees that the out-of-state affiliated business or out-of-state employee purchases for use or consumption in the state during the disaster response period, unless such taxes are otherwise exempted during a disaster response period.   (3)  Any out-of-state business or out-of-state employee that remains in the state after the disaster response period will become subject to the state's normal standards for establishing presence, residency or doing business in the state and will therefore become responsible for any business or employee tax requirements that ensue.

     (4)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any out-of-state business, out-of-state employee or individual from securing and paying applicable license and related fees imposed by professional licensing board of this state.

     SECTION 5.  (1) (a)  The out-of-state business that enters the state shall, upon request, provide to the Department of Revenue a statement that it is in the state for purposes of responding to the disaster or emergency, which statement shall include, the business' name, state of domicile, principal business address, federal tax identification number, date of entry and contact information.

          (b)  A registered business in the state shall, upon request, provide the information required in paragraph (a) of this subsection for any affiliate that enters the state that is an out-of-state business.  The notification shall also include contact information for the registered business in the state.

     (2)  An out-of-state business or an out-of-state employee that remains in the state after the disaster response period shall complete state and local registration, licensing and filing requirements that ensue as a result of establishing the requisite business presence or residency in the state applicable under the existing rules.

     (3)  The Department of Revenue shall promulgate necessary regulations, develop and issue forms or online processes, and maintain and make available an annual record of any designations pursuant to Sections 3 through 5 of this act.

     SECTION 6.  Section 27-7-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-7-15.  (1)  For the purposes of this article, except as otherwise provided, the term "gross income" means and includes the income of a taxpayer derived from salaries, wages, fees or compensation for service, of whatever kind and in whatever form paid, including income from governmental agencies and subdivisions thereof; or from professions, vocations, trades, businesses, commerce or sales, or renting or dealing in property, or reacquired property; also from annuities, interest, rents, dividends, securities, insurance premiums, reinsurance premiums, considerations for supplemental insurance contracts, or the transaction of any business carried on for gain or profit, or gains, or profits, and income derived from any source whatever and in whatever form paid.  The amount of all such items of income shall be included in the gross income for the taxable year in which received by the taxpayer.  The amount by which an eligible employee's salary is reduced pursuant to a salary reduction agreement authorized under Section 25-17-5 shall be excluded from the term "gross income" within the meaning of this article.

     (2)  In determining gross income for the purpose of this section, the following, under regulations prescribed by the commissioner, shall be applicable:

          (a)  Dealers in property.  Federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures shall be followed with respect to installment sales unless a transaction results in the shifting of income from inside the state to outside the state.

          (b)  Casual sales of property.

              (i)  Prior to January 1, 2001, federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures shall be followed with respect to installment sales except they shall be applied and administered as if H.R. 3594, the Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000 of the 106th Congress, had not been enacted.  This provision will generally affect taxpayers, reporting on the accrual method of accounting, entering into installment note agreements on or after December 17, 1999.  Any gain or profit resulting from the casual sale of property will be recognized in the year of sale.

              (ii)  From and after January 1, 2001, federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures shall be followed with respect to installment sales except as provided in this subparagraph (ii).  Gain or profit from the casual sale of property shall be recognized in the year of sale.  When a taxpayer recognizes gain on the casual sale of property in which the gain is deferred for federal income tax purposes, a taxpayer may elect to defer the payment of tax resulting from the gain as allowed and to the extent provided under regulations prescribed by the commissioner.  If the payment of the tax is made on a deferred basis, the tax shall be computed based on the applicable rate for the income reported in the year the payment is made.  Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (b), deferring the payment of the tax shall not affect the liability for the tax.  If at any time the installment note is sold, contributed, transferred or disposed of in any manner and for any purpose by the original note holder, or the original note holder is merged, liquidated, dissolved or withdrawn from this state, then all deferred tax payments under this section shall immediately become due and payable.

              (iii)  If the selling price of the property is reduced by any alteration in the terms of an installment note, including default by the purchaser, the gain to be recognized is recomputed based on the adjusted selling price in the same manner as for federal income tax purposes.  The tax on this amount, less the previously paid tax on the recognized gain, is payable over the period of the remaining installments.  If the tax on the previously recognized gain has been paid in full to this state, the return on which the payment was made may be amended for this purpose only.  The statute of limitations in Section 27-7-49 shall not bar an amended return for this purpose.

          (c)  Reserves of insurance companies.  In the case of insurance companies, any amounts in excess of the legally required reserves shall be included as gross income.

          (d)  Affiliated companies or persons.  As regards sales, exchanges or payments for services from one to another of affiliated companies or persons or under other circumstances where the relation between the buyer and seller is such that gross proceeds from the sale or the value of the exchange or the payment for services are not indicative of the true value of the subject matter of the sale, exchange or payment for services, the commissioner shall prescribe uniform and equitable rules for determining the true value of the gross income, gross sales, exchanges or payment for services, or require consolidated returns of affiliates.

          (e)  Alimony and separate maintenance payments.  The federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures in determining the deductibility and taxability of alimony payments shall be followed in this state.

          (f)  Reimbursement for expenses of moving.  There shall be included in gross income (as compensation for services) any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, by an individual as a payment for or reimbursement of expenses of moving from one * * *(1) residence to another residence which is attributable to employment or self-employment.

     (3)  Except as otherwise provided in Sections 1 through 5 of this act, in the case of taxpayers other than residents, gross income includes gross income from sources within this state.

     (4)  The words "gross income" do not include the following items of income which shall be exempt from taxation under this article:

          (a)  The proceeds of life insurance policies and contracts paid upon the death of the insured.  However, the income from the proceeds of such policies or contracts shall be included in the gross income.

          (b)  The amount received by the insured as a return of premium or premiums paid by him under life insurance policies, endowment, or annuity contracts, either during the term or at maturity or upon surrender of the contract.

          (c)  The value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or descent, but the income from such property shall be included in the gross income.

          (d)  Interest upon the obligations of the United States or its possessions, or securities issued under the provisions of the Federal Farm Loan Act of * * * July 17, 1916, or bonds issued by the War Finance Corporation, or obligations of the State of Mississippi or political subdivisions thereof.

          (e)  The amounts received through accident or health insurance as compensation for personal injuries or sickness, plus the amount of any damages received for such injuries or such sickness or injuries, or through the War Risk Insurance Act, or any law for the benefit or relief of injured or disabled members of the military or naval forces of the United States.

          (f)  Income received by any religious denomination or by any institution or trust for moral or mental improvements, religious, Bible, tract, charitable, benevolent, fraternal, missionary, hospital, infirmary, educational, scientific, literary, library, patriotic, historical or cemetery purposes or for two (2) or more of such purposes, if such income be used exclusively for carrying out one or more of such purposes.

          (g)  Income received by a domestic corporation which is "taxable in another state" as this term is defined in this article, derived from business activity conducted outside this state.  Domestic corporations taxable both within and without the state shall determine Mississippi income on the same basis as provided for foreign corporations under the provisions of this article.

          (h)  In case of insurance companies, there shall be excluded from gross income such portion of actual premiums received from an individual policyholder as is paid back or credited to or treated as an abatement of premiums of such policyholder within the taxable year.

          (i)  Income from dividends that has already borne a tax as dividend income under the provisions of this article, when such dividends may be specifically identified in the possession of the recipient.

          (j)  Amounts paid by the United States to a person as added compensation for hazardous duty pay as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat zone designated by Executive Order of the President of the United States.

          (k)  Amounts received as retirement allowances, pensions, annuities or optional retirement allowances paid under the federal Social Security Act, the Railroad Retirement Act, the Federal Civil Service Retirement Act, or any other retirement system of the United States government, retirement allowances paid under the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System, Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System or any other retirement system of the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof.  The exemption allowed under this paragraph (k) shall be available to the spouse or other beneficiary at the death of the primary retiree.

          (l)  Amounts received as retirement allowances, pensions, annuities or optional retirement allowances paid by any public or governmental retirement system not designated in paragraph (k) or any private retirement system or plan of which the recipient was a member at any time during the period of his employment.  Amounts received as a distribution under a Roth Individual Retirement Account shall be treated in the same manner as provided under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The exemption allowed under this paragraph (l) shall be available to the spouse or other beneficiary at the death of the primary retiree.

          (m)  National Guard or Reserve Forces of the United States compensation not to exceed the aggregate sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for any taxable year through the 2005 taxable year, and not to exceed the aggregate sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) for any taxable year thereafter.

          (n)  Compensation received for active service as a member below the grade of commissioned officer and so much of the compensation as does not exceed the maximum enlisted amount received for active service as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces of the United States for any month during any part of which such members of the Armed Forces (i) served in a combat zone as designated by Executive Order of the President of the United States or a qualified hazardous duty area as defined by federal law, or both; or (ii) was hospitalized as a result of wounds, disease or injury incurred while serving in such combat zone.  For the purposes of this paragraph (n), the term "maximum enlisted amount" means and has the same definition as that term has in 26 USCS 112.

          (o)  The proceeds received from federal and state forestry * * *incentives incentive programs.

          (p)  The amount representing the difference between the increase of gross income derived from sales for export outside the United States as compared to the preceding tax year wherein gross income from export sales was highest, and the net increase in expenses attributable to such increased exports.  In the absence of direct accounting, the ratio of net profits to total sales may be applied to the increase in export sales.  This paragraph (p) shall only apply to businesses located in this state engaging in the international export of Mississippi goods and services.  Such goods or services shall have at least fifty percent (50%) of value added at a location in Mississippi.

          (q)  Amounts paid by the federal government for the construction of soil conservation systems as required by a conservation plan adopted pursuant to 16 USCS 3801 et seq.

          (r)  The amount deposited in a medical savings account, and any interest accrued thereon, that is a part of a medical savings account program as specified in the Medical Savings Account Act under Sections 71-9-1 through 71-9-9; provided, however, that any amount withdrawn from such account for purposes other than paying eligible medical expense or to procure health coverage shall be included in gross income.

          (s)  Amounts paid by the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission from the Mississippi Soil and Water Cost-Share Program for the installation of water quality best management practices.

          (t)  Dividends received by a holding corporation, as defined in Section 27-13-1, from a subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 27-13-1.

          (u)  Interest, dividends, gains or income of any kind on any account in the Mississippi Affordable College Savings Trust Fund, as established in Sections 37-155-101 through 37-155-125, to the extent that such amounts remain on deposit in the MACS Trust Fund or are withdrawn pursuant to a qualified withdrawal, as defined in Section 37-155-105.

          (v)  Interest, dividends or gains accruing on the payments made pursuant to a prepaid tuition contract, as provided for in Section 37-155-17.

          (w)  Income resulting from transactions with a related member where the related member subject to tax under this chapter was required to, and did in fact, add back the expense of such transactions as required by Section 27-7-17(2).  Under no circumstances may the exclusion from income exceed the deduction add-back of the related member, nor shall the exclusion apply to any income otherwise excluded under this chapter.

          (x)  Amounts that are subject to the tax levied pursuant to Section 27-7-901, and are paid to patrons by gaming establishments licensed under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act.

          (y)  Amounts that are subject to the tax levied pursuant to Section 27-7-903, and are paid to patrons by gaming establishments not licensed under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act.

          (z)  Interest, dividends, gains or income of any kind on any account in a qualified tuition program and amounts received as distributions under a qualified tuition program shall be treated in the same manner as provided under the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended.  For the purposes of this paragraph (z), the term "qualified tuition program" means and has the same definition as that term has in 26 USCS 529.

          (aa)  The amount deposited in a health savings account, and any interest accrued thereon, that is a part of a health savings account program as specified in the Health Savings Accounts Act created in Sections 83-62-1 through 83-62-9; however, any amount withdrawn from such account for purposes other than paying qualified medical expenses or to procure health coverage shall be included in gross income, except as otherwise provided by Sections 83-62-7 and 83-62-9.

          (bb)  Amounts received as qualified disaster relief payments shall be treated in the same manner as provided under the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

          (cc)  Amounts received as a "qualified Hurricane Katrina distribution" as defined in the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

          (dd)  Amounts received by an individual which may be excluded from income as foreign earned income for federal income tax purposes.

          (ee)  Amounts received by a qualified individual, directly or indirectly, from an employer or nonprofit housing organization that are qualified housing expenses associated with an employer-assisted housing program.  For purposes of this paragraph (ee):

              (i)  "Qualified individual" means any individual whose household income does not exceed one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the area median gross income (as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development), adjusted for household size, for the area in which the housing is located.

              (ii)  "Nonprofit housing organization" means an organization that is organized as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of this state or another state and has as one (1) of its purposes:

                   1.  Homeownership education or counseling;

                   2.  The development of affordable housing; or

                   3.  The development or administration of employer-assisted housing programs.

              (iii)  "Employer-assisted housing program" means a separate written plan of any employer (including, without limitation, tax-exempt organizations and public employers) for the exclusive benefit of the employer's employees to pay qualified housing expenses to assist the employer's employees in securing affordable housing.

              (iv)  "Qualified housing expenses" means:

                   1.  With respect to rental assistance, an amount not to exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) paid for the purpose of assisting employees with security deposits and rental subsidies; and

                   2.  With respect to homeownership assistance, an amount not to exceed the lesser of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or six percent (6%) of the purchase price of the employee's principal residence that is paid for the purpose of assisting employees with down payments, payment of closing costs, reduced interest mortgages, mortgage guarantee programs, mortgage forgiveness programs, equity contribution programs, or contributions to home buyer education and/or homeownership counseling of eligible employees.

          (ff)  For the 2010 taxable year and any taxable year thereafter, amounts converted in accordance with the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended, from a traditional Individual Retirement Account to a Roth Individual Retirement Account.  The exemption allowed under this paragraph (ff) shall be available to the spouse or other beneficiary at the death of the primary retiree.

     (5)  Prisoners of war, missing in action-taxable status.

          (a)  Members of the Armed Forces.  Gross income does not include compensation received for active service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any month during any part of which such member is in a missing status, as defined in paragraph (d) of this subsection, during the Vietnam Conflict as a result of such conflict.

          (b)  Civilian employees.  Gross income does not include compensation received for active service as an employee for any month during any part of which such employee is in a missing status during the Vietnam Conflict as a result of such conflict.

          (c)  Period of conflict.  For the purpose of this subsection, the Vietnam Conflict began February 28, 1961, and ends on the date designated by the President by Executive Order as the date of the termination of combatant activities in Vietnam.  For the purpose of this subsection, an individual is in a missing status as a result of the Vietnam Conflict if immediately before such status began he was performing service in Vietnam or was performing service in Southeast Asia in direct support of military operations in Vietnam.  "Southeast Asia," as used in this paragraph, is defined to include Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and waters adjacent thereto.

          (d)  "Missing status" means the status of an employee or member of the Armed Forces who is in active service and is officially carried or determined to be absent in a status of (i) missing; (ii) missing in action; (iii) interned in a foreign country; (iv) captured, beleaguered or besieged by a hostile force; or (v) detained in a foreign country against his will; but does not include the status of an employee or member of the Armed Forces for a period during which he is officially determined to be absent from his post of duty without authority.

          (e)  "Active service" means active federal service by an employee or member of the Armed Forces of the United States in an active duty status.

          (f)  "Employee" means one who is a citizen or national of the United States or an alien admitted to the United States for permanent residence and is a resident of the State of Mississippi and is employed in or under a federal executive agency or department of the Armed Forces.

          (g)  "Compensation" means (i) basic pay; (ii) special pay; (iii) incentive pay; (iv) basic allowance for quarters; (v) basic allowance for subsistence; and (vi) station per diem allowances for not more than ninety (90) days.

          (h)  If refund or credit of any overpayment of tax for any taxable year resulting from the application of subsection (5) of this section is prevented by the operation of any law or rule of law, such refund or credit of such overpayment of tax may, nevertheless, be made or allowed if claim therefor is filed with the * * *State Tax Commission Department of Revenue within three (3) years after the date of the enactment of this subsection.

          (i)  The provisions of this subsection shall be effective for taxable years ending on or after February 28, 1961.

     (6)  A shareholder of an S corporation, as defined in Section 27-8-3(1)(g), shall take into account the income, loss, deduction or credit of the S corporation only to the extent provided in Section 27-8-7(2).

     SECTION 7.  Section 27-7-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-7-37.  (1)  Every corporation subject to taxation shall make a separate return, stating specifically the items of its gross income and the deductions and credits allowed by this article.  The return shall be signed by either the president, vice president, secretary or treasurer.

     (2)  (a)  (i)  Two (2) or more members of an affiliated group of corporations, each taxable in Mississippi, may elect to file a combined income tax return.  Corporations electing to file combined returns under this section shall determine the Mississippi net business income (or loss) on an individual corporate member basis as required in Section 27-7-23 and, if applicable, Sections 27-7-24, 27-7-24.1, 27-7-24.3, 27-7-24.5 and 27-7-24.7.  The Mississippi net business income (or loss) so computed for each individual member shall be combined to determine the Mississippi net business income (or loss) of the combined group of affiliated corporations.  To the amount so determined shall be added nonbusiness income of the combined members directly allocable to Mississippi to determine Mississippi taxable income.

              (ii)  The commissioner may require a corporation taxable under this article that is affiliated with one or more corporations that are not taxable under this article to file a combined return with the affiliated corporation or corporations if he establishes by preponderance of the evidence that the intercompany transactions of such taxable corporation have resulted in the shifting of taxable income from itself to another member or members of its affiliated group not subject to tax under this article.  Also, the commissioner may require a group of affiliated corporations taxable under this article to file a combined return if he establishes by preponderance of the evidence that the intercompany transactions of such corporations have resulted in the shifting of taxable income between members of the included affiliated group.  In the event that such a combined return is required, the net income or loss of each member of the group required to be combined, shall be combined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the commissioner to determine the total combined taxable income and the Mississippi taxable income of the group.  The tax imposed by this article shall be computed and assessed upon the Mississippi taxable income of the combined group which shall be treated as the taxpayer.

               (iii)  The commissioner shall not require the filing of a combined return pursuant to the authority granted under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph until regulations shall have been enacted specifying the criteria and circumstances that form the basis for meeting the preponderance of the evidence standard required to support a conclusion that intercompany transactions of such taxable corporation have resulted in the improper shifting of taxable income from a taxpayer to another member or members of its affiliated group not subject to tax under this article, or that the intercompany transactions of such corporations have resulted in the improper shifting of taxable income between members of the included affiliated group.

              (iv)  The commissioner shall be prohibited from assessing any penalties related to a deficiency arising from the exercise of the authority granted under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph unless the commissioner shall establish by preponderance of the evidence that the taxpayer's filing method was without reasonable basis or the intercompany transactions at issue lacked any material nontax business purpose.

          (b)  The privilege to file combined returns shall be limited to members of an affiliated group of corporations which are subject to taxation under the provisions of this article.  The privilege of making a combined return may be exercised only if all corporations subject to taxation under this article which were members of the affiliated group at any time during the taxable year consent to a combined return prior to the last day prescribed by law for the filing of such return.  The making of a combined return shall be considered as such consent.  In the case of a taxable corporation which is a member of the affiliated group for a fractional part of the year, the combined return shall include the income of such corporation for such part of the year as it is a member of the affiliated group.

          (c)  The commissioner shall prescribe such regulations as he may deem necessary in order that the tax liability of any affiliated group of corporations making a combined return and of each corporation in the group, both during and after the period of affiliation, may be returned, determined, computed, assessed, collected and adjusted, in such manner as clearly to reflect the income tax liability and the various factors necessary for the determination of such liability, and in order to prevent avoidance of such tax liability.

          (d)  As used in this article, the term "affiliated group" means one or more corporations connected through stock ownership with a common parent corporation where at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all classes of stock and at least eighty percent (80%) of each class of the nonvoting stock of each of the member corporations, except the common parent corporation, is owned directly by one or more of the other member corporations; and the common parent corporation owns directly stock possessing at least eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of all classes of stock and at least eighty percent (80%) of each class of the nonvoting stock of at least one (1) of the other member corporations.  As used in this subsection, the term "stock" does not include nonvoting stock which is limited and preferred as to dividends.

          (e)  If a corporation elects or is required to file returns on a combined basis, all subsequent returns shall be made upon the same basis unless permission to change the basis is granted by the commissioner, or unless the commissioner requires a change in the basis.

     (3)  If any foreign corporation has no office or place of business in this state but has an agent in this state, the returns shall be made by the agent.

     (4)  In the case of a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or assignees operating the property or business of a corporation, such receiver, trustee or assignee shall make returns for such corporation in the same manner and form as corporations are required to make returns; and any tax due on the basis of such returns shall be collected in the same manner as if collected from the corporation of whose business or property they have custody or control.

     (5)  A corporation required to include the activity of a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes shall do likewise for the purpose of computing income for this state.

     (6)  An out-of-state business as defined in Section 3 of this act shall be exempt from the requirements of this section to the extent provided for in Section 4 of this act.

     SECTION 8.  Section 27-7-305, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-7-305.  (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, every employer making payments of wages to employees shall deduct and withhold from such wages an amount determined from withholding tables promulgated by the commissioner and furnished to the employer.  The full amount deducted and withheld from any employee's wages during the income year shall be credited against the tax liability of the employee under the provisions of Article 1 of this chapter for that year.  Any such tables promulgated by the commissioner shall not be designed to collect more than the amount of tax that the taxpayer can reasonably be expected to owe for the income year.  Businesses that lease employees by a contract of employment with a leasing firm may be considered the employer for Mississippi withholding tax purposes.  In such cases payments to the leasing company may be attached for such withholding taxes upon default by the leasing firm.

     (2)  Firms that lease employees to businesses are required to maintain separate ledgers of account for these employees.  These lease firms shall furnish the * * *Tax Commission Department of Revenue annually a summary of wages paid, number of employees and amounts withheld by location.  In addition, the commissioner shall require firms that lease employees to businesses to give a cash bond or an approved surety bond in an amount sufficient to cover twice the estimated tax liability for a period of three (3) months.  This bond shall be filed with the commissioner prior to beginning business in this state.  Failure to comply with this provision shall subject such person to the penalties provided by this chapter.

     (3)  An out-of-state business as defined in Section 3 of this act shall not be subject to any employer tax withholdings for income that is not subject income taxation under Sections 1 through 5 of this act.

     SECTION 9.  Section 27-7-333, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-7-333.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, employer's withholding account number.  Every employer, as defined herein, shall, on or before January 1, 1969, make application to the commissioner for and be assigned an employer's withholding account number.  The account number assigned to an employee shall be used by such employer on all returns, reports and inquiries addressed to the commissioner.

     This section shall not apply to an "out-of-state business" during a "disaster response period" as such terms are defined in Section 3 of this act.

     SECTION 10.  Section 27-17-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-17-9.  (1)  Every person desiring to engage in any business, or exercise any privilege hereinafter specified, if such business is located outside a municipality, shall first, before commencing the same, apply for, pay for and procure from the tax collector of the county in which such business is located, or if such business is located within a municipality, shall apply for, pay for and procure from the tax collector of the municipality, a privilege license authorizing him to engage in the business or exercise the privileges specified therein, and the amount of tax shown in subsection (2) of this section, except as otherwise specifically established in this chapter, is hereby imposed for the privilege of engaging or continuing in the business set out therein.

     (2)  (a)  The amount of a privilege license shall be Twenty Dollars ($20.00) annually for a business having three (3) or fewer employees.

          (b)  The amount of a privilege license shall be Thirty Dollars ($30.00) annually for a business having more than three (3) but fewer than eleven (11) employees.

          (c)  The amount of a privilege license shall be Thirty Dollars ($30.00) annually plus an additional assessment of Three Dollars ($3.00) for each employee over ten (10) employees, not to exceed a maximum payment of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00), for a business (other than a manufacturer) having eleven (11) or more employees.

          (d)  The amount of a privilege license shall be Eighty Dollars ($80.00) annually for a manufacturer having eleven (11) or more employees; manufacturers having ten (10) or fewer employees shall pay an annual privilege license pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection (2), whichever is applicable.

     (3)  This section shall not apply to an out-of-state business or out-of-state employee to the extent provided for in Sections 1 through 5 of this act.

     SECTION 11.  Section 27-31-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-31-1.  The following shall be exempt from taxation:

          (a)  All cemeteries used exclusively for burial purposes.

          (b)  All property, real or personal, belonging to the State of Mississippi or any of its political subdivisions, except property of a municipality not being used for a proper municipal purpose and located outside the county or counties in which such municipality is located.  A proper municipal purpose within the meaning of this section shall be any authorized governmental or corporate function of a municipality.

          (c)  All property, real or personal, owned by units of the Mississippi National Guard, or title to which is vested in trustees for the benefit of any unit of the Mississippi National Guard; provided such property is used exclusively for such unit, or for public purposes, and not for profit.

          (d)  All property, real or personal, belonging to any religious society, or ecclesiastical body, or any congregation thereof, or to any charitable society, or to any historical or patriotic association or society, or to any garden or pilgrimage club or association and used exclusively for such society or association and not for profit; not exceeding, however, the amount of land which such association or society may own as provided in Section 79-11-33.  All property, real or personal, belonging to any rural waterworks system or rural sewage disposal system incorporated under the provisions of Section 79-11-1.  All property, real or personal, belonging to any college or institution for the education of youths, used directly and exclusively for such purposes, provided that no such college or institution for the education of youths shall have exempt from taxation more than six hundred forty (640) acres of land; provided, however, this exemption shall not apply to commercial schools and colleges or trade institutions or schools where the profits of same inure to individuals, associations or corporations.  All property, real or personal, belonging to an individual, institution or corporation and used for the operation of a grammar school, junior high school, high school or military school.  All property, real or personal, owned and occupied by a fraternal and benevolent organization, when used by such organization, and from which no rentals or other profits accrue to the organization, but any part rented or from which revenue is received shall be taxed.

          (e)  All property, real or personal, held and occupied by trustees of public schools, and school lands of the respective townships for the use of public schools, and all property kept in storage for the convenience and benefit of the State of Mississippi in warehouses owned or leased by the State of Mississippi, wherein said property is to be sold by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the Department of Revenue of the State of Mississippi.

          (f)  All property, real or personal, whether belonging to religious or charitable or benevolent organizations, which is used for hospital purposes, and nurses' homes where a part thereof, and which maintain one or more charity wards that are for charity patients, and where all the income from said hospitals and nurses' homes is used entirely for the purposes thereof and no part of the same for profit.

          (g)  The wearing apparel of every person; and also jewelry and watches kept by the owner for personal use to the extent of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in value for each owner.

          (h)  Provisions on hand for family consumption.

          (i)  All farm products grown in this state for a period of two (2) years after they are harvested, when in the possession of or the title to which is in the producer, except the tax of one-fifth of one percent (1/5 of 1%) per pound on lint cotton now levied by the Board of Commissioners of the Mississippi Levee District; and lint cotton for five (5) years, and cottonseed, soybeans, oats, rice and wheat for one (1) year regardless of ownership.

          (j)  All guns and pistols kept by the owner for private use.

          (k)  All poultry in the hands of the producer.

          (l)  Household furniture, including all articles kept in the home by the owner for his own personal or family use; but this shall not apply to hotels, rooming houses or rented or leased apartments.

          (m)  All cattle and oxen.

          (n)  All sheep, goats and hogs.

          (o)  All horses, mules and asses.

          (p)  Farming tools, implements and machinery, when used exclusively in the cultivation or harvesting of crops or timber.

          (q)  All property of agricultural and mechanical associations and fairs used for promoting their objects, and where no part of the proceeds is used for profit.

          (r)  The libraries of all persons.

          (s)  All pictures and works of art, not kept for or offered for sale as merchandise.

          (t)  The tools of any mechanic necessary for carrying on his trade.

          (u)  All state, county, municipal, levee, drainage and all school bonds or other governmental obligations, and all bonds and/or evidences of debts issued by any church or church organization in this state, and all notes and evidences of indebtedness which bear a rate of interest not greater than the maximum rate per annum applicable under the law; and all money loaned at a rate of interest not exceeding the maximum rate per annum applicable under the law; and all stock in or bonds of foreign corporations or associations shall be exempt from all ad valorem taxes.

          (v)  All lands and other property situated or located between the Mississippi River and the levee shall be exempt from the payment of any and all road taxes levied or assessed under any road laws of this state.

          (w)  Any and all money on deposit in either national banks, state banks or trust companies, on open account, savings account or time deposit.

          (x)  All wagons, carts, drays, carriages and other horse-drawn vehicles, kept for the use of the owner.

          (y)  (i)  Boats, seines and fishing equipment used in fishing and shrimping operations and in the taking or catching of oysters.

              (ii)  All towboats, tugboats and barges documented under the laws of the United States, except watercraft of every kind and character used in connection with gaming operations.

          (z)  All materials used in the construction and/or conversion of vessels in this state; vessels while under construction and/or conversion; vessels while in the possession of the manufacturer, builder or converter, for a period of twelve (12) months after completion of construction and/or conversion, and as used herein the term "vessel" shall include ships, offshore drilling equipment, dry docks, boats and barges, except watercraft of every kind and character used in connection with gaming operations.

          (aa)  Sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of nuclear fuel and reprocessed, recycled or residual nuclear fuel by-products, fissionable or otherwise, used or to be used in generation of electricity by persons defined as public utilities in Section 77-3-3.

          (bb)  All growing nursery stock.

          (cc)  A semitrailer used in interstate commerce.

          (dd)  All property, real or personal, used exclusively for the housing of and provision of services to elderly persons, disabled persons, mentally impaired persons or as a nursing home, which is owned, operated and managed by a not-for-profit corporation, qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, whose membership or governing body is appointed or confirmed by a religious society or ecclesiastical body or any congregation thereof.

          (ee)  All vessels while in the hands of bona fide dealers as merchandise and which are not being operated upon the waters of this state shall be exempt from ad valorem taxes.  As used in this paragraph, the terms "vessel" and "waters of this state" shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in Section 59-21-3.

          (ff)  All property, real or personal, owned by a nonprofit organization that:  (i) is qualified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (ii) assists in the implementation of the national contingency plan or area contingency plan, and which is created in response to the requirements of Title IV, Subtitle B of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-380; (iii) engages primarily in programs to contain, clean up and otherwise mitigate spills of oil or other substances occurring in the United States coastal or tidal waters; and (iv) is used for the purposes of the organization.

          (gg)  If a municipality changes its boundaries so as to include within the boundaries of such municipality the project site of any project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1, Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or 57-75-5(f)(xxviii), all real and personal property located on the project site within the boundaries of such municipality that is owned by a business enterprise operating such project, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) years upon receiving approval for such exemption by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to authorize a breach of any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 21-1-59.

          (hh)  All leases, lease contracts or lease agreements (including, but not limited to, subleases, sublease contracts and sublease agreements), and leaseholds or leasehold interests (including, but not limited to, subleaseholds and subleasehold interests), of or with respect to any and all property (real, personal or mixed) constituting all or any part of a facility for the manufacture, production, generation, transmission and/or distribution of electricity, and any real property related thereto, shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation during the period as the United States is both the title owner of the property and a sublessee of or with respect to the property; however, the exemption authorized by this paragraph (hh) shall not apply to any entity to whom the United States sub-subleases its interest in the property nor to any entity to whom the United States assigns its sublease interest in the property.  As used in this paragraph, the term "United States" includes an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America.  This paragraph (hh) shall apply to all assessments for ad valorem taxation for the 2003 calendar year and each calendar year thereafter.

          (ii)  All property, real, personal or mixed, including fixtures and leaseholds, used by Mississippi nonprofit entities qualified, on or before January 1, 2005, under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to provide support and operate technology incubators for research and development start-up companies, telecommunication start-up companies and/or other technology start-up companies, utilizing technology spun-off from research and development activities of the public colleges and universities of this state, State of Mississippi governmental research or development activities resulting therefrom located within the State of Mississippi.

          (jj)  All property, real, personal or mixed, including fixtures and leaseholds, of start-up companies (as described in paragraph (ii) of this section) for the period of time, not to exceed five (5) years, that the start-up company remains a tenant of a technology incubator (as described in paragraph (ii) of this section).

          (kk)  All leases, lease contracts or lease agreements (including, but not limited to, subleases, sublease contracts and sublease agreements), and leaseholds or leasehold interests, of or with respect to any and all property (real, personal or mixed) constituting all or any part of an auxiliary facility, and any real property related thereto, constructed or renovated pursuant to Section 37-101-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.

          (ll)  Equipment brought into the state temporarily for use during a disaster response period as provided in Sections 1 through 5 of this act and subsequently removed from the state.

     SECTION 12.  Section 27-65-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-65-101.  (1)  The exemptions from the provisions of this chapter which are of an industrial nature or which are more properly classified as industrial exemptions than any other exemption classification of this chapter shall be confined to those persons or property exempted by this section or by the provisions of the Constitution of the United States or the State of Mississippi.  No industrial exemption as now provided by any other section except Section 57-3-33 shall be valid as against the tax herein levied.  Any subsequent industrial exemption from the tax levied hereunder shall be provided by amendment to this section.  No exemption provided in this section shall apply to taxes levied by Section 27-65-15 or 27-65-21.

     The tax levied by this chapter shall not apply to the following:

          (a)  Sales of boxes, crates, cartons, cans, bottles and other packaging materials to manufacturers and wholesalers for use as containers or shipping materials to accompany goods sold by said manufacturers or wholesalers where possession thereof will pass to the customer at the time of sale of the goods contained therein and sales to anyone of containers or shipping materials for use in ships engaged in international commerce.

          (b)  Sales of raw materials, catalysts, processing chemicals, welding gases or other industrial processing gases (except natural gas) to a manufacturer for use directly in manufacturing or processing a product for sale or rental or repairing or reconditioning vessels or barges of fifty (50) tons load displacement and over.  For the purposes of this exemption, electricity used directly in the electrolysis process in the production of sodium chlorate shall be considered a raw material.  This exemption shall not apply to any property used as fuel except to the extent that such fuel comprises by-products which have no market value.

          (c)  The gross proceeds of sales of dry docks, offshore drilling equipment for use in oil or natural gas exploration or production, vessels or barges of fifty (50) tons load displacement and over, when the vessels or barges are sold by the manufacturer or builder thereof.  In addition to other types of equipment, offshore drilling equipment for use in oil or natural gas exploration or production shall include aircraft used predominately to transport passengers or property to or from offshore oil or natural gas exploration or production platforms or vessels, and engines, accessories and spare parts for such aircraft.

          (d)  Sales to commercial fishermen of commercial fishing boats of over five (5) tons load displacement and not more than fifty (50) tons load displacement as registered with the United States Coast Guard and licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources.

          (e)  The gross income from repairs to vessels and barges engaged in foreign trade or interstate transportation.

          (f)  Sales of petroleum products to vessels or barges for consumption in marine international commerce or interstate transportation businesses.

          (g)  Sales and rentals of rail rolling stock (and component parts thereof) for ultimate use in interstate commerce and gross income from services with respect to manufacturing, repairing, cleaning, altering, reconditioning or improving such rail rolling stock (and component parts thereof).

          (h)  Sales of raw materials, catalysts, processing chemicals, welding gases or other industrial processing gases (except natural gas) used or consumed directly in manufacturing, repairing, cleaning, altering, reconditioning or improving such rail rolling stock (and component parts thereof).  This exemption shall not apply to any property used as fuel.

          (i)  Sales of machinery or tools or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof, fuel or supplies used directly in manufacturing, converting or repairing ships, vessels or barges of three thousand (3,000) tons load displacement and over, but not to include office and plant supplies or other equipment not directly used on the ship, vessel or barge being built, converted or repaired.  For purposes of this exemption, "ships, vessels or barges" shall not include floating structures described in Section 27-65-18.

          (j)  Sales of tangible personal property to persons operating ships in international commerce for use or consumption on board such ships.  This exemption shall be limited to cases in which procedures satisfactory to the commissioner, ensuring against use in this state other than on such ships, are established.

          (k)  Sales of materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the building, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified businesses, as defined in Section 57-51-5, which are located in a county or portion thereof designated as an enterprise zone pursuant to Sections 57-51-1 through 57-51-15.

          (l)  Sales of materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the building, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified businesses, as defined in Section 57-54-5.

          (m)  Income from storage and handling of perishable goods by a public storage warehouse.

          (n)  The value of natural gas lawfully injected into the earth for cycling, repressuring or lifting of oil, or lawfully vented or flared in connection with the production of oil; however, if any gas so injected into the earth is sold for such purposes, then the gas so sold shall not be exempt.

          (o)  The gross collections from self-service commercial laundering, drying, cleaning and pressing equipment.

          (p)  Sales of materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the building, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified companies, certified as such by the Mississippi Development Authority under Section 57-53-1.

          (q)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein, and sales of manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, not later than three (3) months after the initial start-up date, to permanent business enterprises engaging in manufacturing or processing in Tier Three areas (as such term is defined in Section 57-73-21), which businesses are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this paragraph (q).

          (r)  (i)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of the building, addition or improvement thereon, to be used therein, for any company establishing or transferring its national or regional headquarters from within or outside the State of Mississippi and creating a minimum of twenty (20) jobs at the new headquarters in this state.  The Department of Revenue shall establish criteria and prescribe procedures to determine if a company qualifies as a national or regional headquarters for the purpose of receiving the exemption provided in this subparagraph (i).

              (ii)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of the building, addition or improvement thereon, to be used therein, for any company expanding or making additions after January 1, 2013, to its national or regional headquarters within the State of Mississippi and creating a minimum of twenty (20) new jobs at the headquarters as a result of the expansion or additions.  The Department of Revenue shall establish criteria and prescribe procedures to determine if a company qualifies as a national or regional headquarters for the purpose of receiving the exemption provided in this subparagraph (ii).

          (s)  The gross proceeds from the sale of semitrailers, trailers, boats, travel trailers, motorcycles and all-terrain cycles if exported from this state within forty-eight (48) hours and registered and first used in another state.

          (t)  Gross income from the storage and handling of natural gas in underground salt domes and in other underground reservoirs, caverns, structures and formations suitable for such storage.

          (u)  Sales of machinery and equipment to nonprofit organizations if the organization:

              (i)  Is tax exempt pursuant to Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

              (ii)  Assists in the implementation of the contingency plan or area contingency plan, and which is created in response to the requirements of Title IV, Subtitle B of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-380; and

              (iii)  Engages primarily in programs to contain, clean up and otherwise mitigate spills of oil or other substances occurring in the United States coastal and tidal waters.

     For purposes of this exemption, "machinery and equipment" means any ocean-going vessels, barges, booms, skimmers and other capital equipment used primarily in the operations of nonprofit organizations referred to herein.

          (v)  Sales or leases of materials and equipment to approved business enterprises as provided under the Growth and Prosperity Act.

          (w)  From and after July 1, 2001, sales of pollution control equipment to manufacturers or custom processors for industrial use.  For the purposes of this exemption, "pollution control equipment" means equipment, devices, machinery or systems used or acquired to prevent, control, monitor or reduce air, water or groundwater pollution, or solid or hazardous waste as required by federal or state law or regulation.

          (x)  Sales or leases to a manufacturer of motor vehicles or powertrain components operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1, Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) of machinery and equipment; special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes; or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof; repair services thereon; fuel, supplies, electricity, coal and natural gas used directly in the manufacture of motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts or used to provide climate control for manufacturing areas.

          (y)  Sales or leases of component materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon to an enterprise operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1, Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii) and any other sales or leases required to establish or operate such project.

          (z)  Sales of component materials and equipment to a business enterprise as provided under Section 57-64-33.

          (aa)  The gross income from the stripping and painting of commercial aircraft engaged in foreign or interstate transportation business.

          (bb)  [Repealed]

          (cc)  Sales or leases to an enterprise owning or operating a project that has been designated by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) of machinery and equipment; special tooling such as dies, molds, jigs and similar items treated as special tooling for federal income tax purposes; or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof; repair services thereon; fuel, supplies, electricity, coal and natural gas used directly in the manufacturing/production operations of the project or used to provide climate control for manufacturing/production areas.

          (dd)  Sales or leases of component materials, machinery and equipment used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon to an enterprise owning or operating a project that has been designated by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) and any other sales or leases required to establish or operate such project.

          (ee)  Sales of parts used in the repair and servicing of aircraft not registered in Mississippi engaged exclusively in the business of foreign or interstate transportation to businesses engaged in aircraft repair and maintenance.

          (ff)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales or leases of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the building or any addition or improvement thereto, to a permanent business enterprise operating a data/information enterprise in Tier Three areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority.

          (gg)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, and sales of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the facility or any addition or improvement thereto, to technology intensive enterprises for industrial purposes in Tier Three areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), as certified by the Department of Revenue.  For purposes of this paragraph, an enterprise must meet the criteria provided for in Section 27-65-17(1)(f) in order to be considered a technology intensive enterprise.

          (hh)  Sales of component materials used in the replacement, reconstruction or repair of a building or facility that has been destroyed or sustained extensive damage as a result of a disaster declared by the Governor, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein to replace machinery or equipment damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster, including, but not limited to, manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, to enterprises or companies that were eligible for the exemptions authorized in paragraph (q), (r), (ff) or (gg) of this subsection during initial construction of the building that was destroyed or damaged, which enterprises or companies are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this paragraph.

          (ii)  Sales of software or software services transmitted by the Internet to a destination outside the State of Mississippi where the first use of such software or software services by the purchaser occurs outside the State of Mississippi.

          (jj)  Gross income of public storage warehouses derived from the temporary storage of raw materials that are to be used in an eligible facility as defined in Section 27-7-22.35.

          (kk)  Sales of component building materials and equipment for initial construction of facilities or expansion of facilities as authorized under Sections 57-113-1 through 57-113-7 and Sections 57-113-21 through 57-113-27.

          (ll)  Sales and leases of machinery and equipment acquired in the initial construction to establish facilities as authorized in Sections 57-113-1 through 57-113-7.

          (mm)  Sales and leases of replacement hardware, software or other necessary technology to operate a data center as authorized under Sections 57-113-21 through 57-113-27.

          (nn)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales or leases of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of the construction of the facility, to be used in the facility, to permanent business enterprises operating a facility producing renewable crude oil from biomass harvested or produced, in whole or in part, in Mississippi, which businesses meet minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority.  As used in this paragraph, the term "biomass" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-113-1.

          (oo)  Sales of supplies, equipment and other personal property to an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is the host organization coordinating a professional golf tournament played or to be played in this state and the supplies, equipment or other personal property will be used for purposes related to the golf tournament and related activities.

          (pp)  Sales of materials used in the construction of a health care industry facility, as defined in Section 57-117-3, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales of any machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition thereon, to be used therein, to qualified businesses, as defined in Section 57-117-3.  This paragraph shall be repealed from and after July 1, 2022.

          (qq)  Sales or leases to a manufacturer of automotive parts operating a project that has been certified by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii) of machinery and equipment; or repair parts therefor or replacements thereof; repair services thereon; fuel, supplies, electricity, coal, nitrogen and natural gas used directly in the manufacture of automotive parts or used to provide climate control for manufacturing areas.

          (rr)  Gross collections derived from guided tours on any navigable waters of this state, which include providing accommodations, guide services and/or related equipment operated by or under the direction of the person providing the tour, for the purposes of outdoor tourism.  The exemption provided in this paragraph (rr) does not apply to the sale of tangible personal property by a person providing such tours.

          (ss)  Retail sales of truck-tractors and semitrailers used in interstate commerce and registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) or any similar reciprocity agreement or compact relating to the proportional registration of commercial vehicles entered into as provided for in Section 27-19-143.

          (tt)  Sales exempt under the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015 (Sections 1 through 5 of this act).

     (2)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a building, or any addition or improvement thereon, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein, and sales of manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, not later than three (3) months after the initial start-up date, to permanent business enterprises engaging in manufacturing or processing in Tier Two areas and Tier One areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), which businesses are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this subsection, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.

     (3)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereon, and sales or leases of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the building or any addition or improvement thereto, to a permanent business enterprise operating a data/information enterprise in Tier Two areas and Tier One areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), which businesses meet minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transaction under this chapter.

     (4)  Sales of component materials used in the construction of a facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, and sales of machinery and equipment not later than three (3) months after the completion of construction of the facility, or any addition or improvement thereto, to be used in the building or any addition or improvement thereto, to technology intensive enterprises for industrial purposes in Tier Two areas and Tier One areas (as such areas are designated in accordance with Section 57-73-21), which businesses are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the exemption granted in this subsection, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.  For purposes of this subsection, an enterprise must meet the criteria provided for in Section 27-65-17(1)(f) in order to be considered a technology intensive enterprise.

     (5)  (a)  For purposes of this subsection:

              (i)  "Telecommunications enterprises" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 57-73-21;

              (ii)  "Tier One areas" mean counties designated as Tier One areas pursuant to Section 57-73-21;

              (iii)  "Tier Two areas" mean counties designated as Tier Two areas pursuant to Section 57-73-21;

              (iv)  "Tier Three areas" mean counties designated as Tier Three areas pursuant to Section 57-73-21; and

              (v)  "Equipment used in the deployment of broadband technologies" means any equipment capable of being used for or in connection with the transmission of information at a rate, prior to taking into account the effects of any signal degradation, that is not less than three hundred eighty-four (384) kilobits per second in at least one (1) direction, including, but not limited to, asynchronous transfer mode switches, digital subscriber line access multiplexers, routers, servers, multiplexers, fiber optics and related equipment.

          (b)  Sales of equipment to telecommunications enterprises after June 30, 2003, and before July 1, 2020, that is installed in Tier One areas and used in the deployment of broadband technologies shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.

          (c)  Sales of equipment to telecommunications enterprises after June 30, 2003, and before July 1, 2020, that is installed in Tier Two and Tier Three areas and used in the deployment of broadband technologies shall be exempt from the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.

     (6)  Sales of component materials used in the replacement, reconstruction or repair of a building that has been destroyed or sustained extensive damage as a result of a disaster declared by the Governor, sales of machinery and equipment to be used therein to replace machinery or equipment damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster, including, but not limited to, manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment which is permanently attached to the ground or to a permanent foundation and which is not by its nature intended to be housed within a building structure, to enterprises that were eligible for the partial exemptions provided for in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section during initial construction of the building that was destroyed or damaged, which enterprises are certified by the Department of Revenue as being eligible for the partial exemption granted in this subsection, shall be exempt from one-half (1/2) of the taxes imposed on such transactions under this chapter.

     SECTION 13.  Section 27-65-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-65-107.  The exemptions from the provisions of this chapter which relate to utilities or which are more properly classified as utility exemptions than any other exemption classification of this chapter shall be confined to those persons or property exempted by this section or by provisions of the Constitutions of the United States or the State of Mississippi.  No utility exemption as now provided by any other section shall be valid as against the tax herein levied.  Any subsequent utility exemption from the tax levied hereunder shall be provided by amendment to this section.

     No exemption provided in this section shall apply to taxes levied by Section 27-65-15 or 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     The tax levied by this chapter shall not apply to the following:

          (a)  Sales and rentals of locomotives, rail rolling stock and materials for their repair, locomotive water, when made to a railroad whose rates are fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission or the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

          (b)  Rentals of manufacturing machinery to a manufacturer or custom processor where such manufacturer or custom processor is engaged in, and such machinery is used in, the manufacture of containers made from timber or wood for sale.  The tax, likewise, shall not apply to replacement or repair parts of such machinery used in such manufacture.

          (c)  Sales of tangible personal property and services to nonprofit water associations or corporations in which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder, group or individual.  Only sales of property or services which are ordinary and necessary to the operation of such organizations are exempt from tax.

          (d)  Wholesale sales of tangible personal property for resale under Section 27-65-19.

          (e)  From and after July 1, 2003, sales of fuel used to produce electric power by a company primarily engaged in the business of producing, generating or distributing electric power for sale.

          (f)  Sales of electricity, current, power, steam, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel to a manufacturer, custom processor, technology intensive enterprise meeting the criteria provided for in Section 27-65-17(1)(f), or public service company for industrial purposes, which shall include that used to generate electricity, to operate an electrical distribution or transmission system, to operate pipeline compressor or pumping stations, or to operate railroad locomotives.

          (g)  Sales of electricity, current, power, steam, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel to a producer or processor for use directly in the production of poultry or poultry products, the production of livestock and livestock products, the production of domesticated fish and domesticated fish products, the production of marine aquaculture products, the production of plants or food by commercial horticulturists, the processing of milk and milk products, the processing of poultry and livestock feed, and the irrigation of farm crops.

          (h)  Sales of electricity, current, power, steam, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or other fuel to a commercial fisherman, shrimper or oysterman.

          (i)  Sales exempt under the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015 (Sections 1 through 5 of this act).

     SECTION 14.  Section 27-65-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     27-65-111.  The exemptions from the provisions of this chapter which are not industrial, agricultural or governmental, or which do not relate to utilities or taxes, or which are not properly classified as one (1) of the exemption classifications of this chapter, shall be confined to persons or property exempted by this section or by the Constitution of the United States or the State of Mississippi.  No exemptions as now provided by any other section, except the classified exemption sections of this chapter set forth herein, shall be valid as against the tax herein levied.  Any subsequent exemption from the tax levied hereunder, except as indicated above, shall be provided by amendments to this section.

     No exemption provided in this section shall apply to taxes levied by Section 27-65-15 or 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     The tax levied by this chapter shall not apply to the following:

          (a)  Sales of tangible personal property and services to hospitals or infirmaries owned and operated by a corporation or association in which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder, group or individual, and which are subject to and governed by Sections 41-7-123 through 41-7-127.

     Only sales of tangible personal property or services which are ordinary and necessary to the operation of such hospitals and infirmaries are exempted from tax.

          (b)  Sales of daily or weekly newspapers, and periodicals or publications of scientific, literary or educational organizations exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as it exists as of March 31, 1975, and subscription sales of all magazines.

          (c)  Sales of coffins, caskets and other materials used in the preparation of human bodies for burial.

          (d)  Sales of tangible personal property for immediate export to a foreign country.

          (e)  Sales of tangible personal property to an orphanage, old men's or ladies' home, supported wholly or in part by a religious denomination, fraternal nonprofit organization or other nonprofit organization.

          (f)  Sales of tangible personal property, labor or services taxable under Sections 27-65-17, 27-65-19 and 27-65-23, to a YMCA, YWCA, a Boys' or Girls' Club owned and operated by a corporation or association in which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder, group or individual.

          (g)  Sales to elementary and secondary grade schools, junior and senior colleges owned and operated by a corporation or association in which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder, group or individual, and which are exempt from state income taxation, provided that this exemption does not apply to sales of property or services which are not to be used in the ordinary operation of the school, or which are to be resold to the students or the public.

          (h)  The gross proceeds of retail sales and the use or consumption in this state of drugs and medicines:

              (i)  Prescribed for the treatment of a human being by a person authorized to prescribe the medicines, and dispensed or prescription filled by a registered pharmacist in accordance with law; or

              (ii)  Furnished by a licensed physician, surgeon, dentist or podiatrist to his own patient for treatment of the patient; or

              (iii)  Furnished by a hospital for treatment of any person pursuant to the order of a licensed physician, surgeon, dentist or podiatrist; or

              (iv)  Sold to a licensed physician, surgeon, podiatrist, dentist or hospital for the treatment of a human being; or

              (v)  Sold to this state or any political subdivision or municipal corporation thereof, for use in the treatment of a human being or furnished for the treatment of a human being by a medical facility or clinic maintained by this state or any political subdivision or municipal corporation thereof.

     "Medicines," as used in this paragraph (h), shall mean and include any substance or preparation intended for use by external or internal application to the human body in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease and which is commonly recognized as a substance or preparation intended for such use; provided that "medicines" do not include any auditory, prosthetic, ophthalmic or ocular device or appliance, any dentures or parts thereof or any artificial limbs or their replacement parts, articles which are in the nature of splints, bandages, pads, compresses, supports, dressings, instruments, apparatus, contrivances, appliances, devices or other mechanical, electronic, optical or physical equipment or article or the component parts and accessories thereof, or any alcoholic beverage or any other drug or medicine not commonly referred to as a prescription drug.

     Notwithstanding the preceding sentence of this paragraph (h), "medicines" as used in this paragraph (h), shall mean and include sutures, whether or not permanently implanted, bone screws, bone pins, pacemakers and other articles permanently implanted in the human body to assist the functioning of any natural organ, artery, vein or limb and which remain or dissolve in the body.

     "Hospital," as used in this paragraph (h), shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 41-9-3, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     Insulin furnished by a registered pharmacist to a person for treatment of diabetes as directed by a physician shall be deemed to be dispensed on prescription within the meaning of this paragraph (h).

          (i)  Retail sales of automobiles, trucks and truck-tractors if exported from this state within forty-eight (48) hours and registered and first used in another state.

          (j)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the Salvation Army and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Inc.

          (k)  From July 1, 1985, through December 31, 1992, retail sales of "alcohol blended fuel" as such term is defined in Section 75-55-5.  The gasoline-alcohol blend or the straight alcohol eligible for this exemption shall not contain alcohol distilled outside the State of Mississippi.

          (l)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the Institute for Technology Development.

          (m)  The gross proceeds of retail sales of food and drink for human consumption made through vending machines serviced by full line vendors from and not connected with other taxable businesses.

          (n)  The gross proceeds of sales of motor fuel.

          (o)  Retail sales of food for human consumption purchased with food stamps issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, or other federal agency, from and after October 1, 1987, or from and after the expiration of any waiver granted pursuant to federal law, the effect of which waiver is to permit the collection by the state of tax on such retail sales of food for human consumption purchased with food stamps.

          (p)  Sales of cookies for human consumption by the Girl Scouts of America no part of the net earnings from which sales inures to the benefit of any private group or individual.

          (q)  Gifts or sales of tangible personal property or services to public or private nonprofit museums of art.

          (r)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to alumni associations of state-supported colleges or universities.

          (s)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Inc., and chapters of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Inc.

          (t)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to domestic violence shelters which qualify for state funding under Sections 93-21-101 through 93-21-113.

          (u)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mississippi Chapter.

          (v)  Retail sales of food for human consumption purchased with food instruments issued the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians under the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.

          (w)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to a private company, as defined in Section 57-61-5, which is making such purchases with proceeds of bonds issued under Section 57-61-1 et seq., the Mississippi Business Investment Act.

          (x)  The gross collections from the operation of self-service, coin-operated car washing equipment and sales of the service of washing motor vehicles with portable high-pressure washing equipment on the premises of the customer.

          (y)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the Mississippi Technology Alliance.

          (z)  Sales of tangible personal property to nonprofit organizations that provide foster care, adoption services and temporary housing for unwed mothers and their children if the organization is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

          (aa)  Sales of tangible personal property to nonprofit organizations that provide residential rehabilitation for persons with alcohol and drug dependencies if the organization is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

          (bb)  Retail sales of an article of clothing or footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body if the sales price of the article is less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and the sale takes place during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the last Friday in July and ending at 12:00 midnight the following Saturday.  This paragraph (bb) shall not apply to:

              (i)  Accessories including jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, backpacks, briefcases, garment bags and similar items carried on or about the human body, without regard to whether worn on the body in a manner characteristic of clothing;

              (ii)  The rental of clothing or footwear; and

              (iii)  Skis, swim fins, roller blades, skates and similar items worn on the foot.

     From and after January 1, 2010, the governing authorities of a municipality, for retail sales occurring within the corporate limits of the municipality, may suspend the application of the exemption provided for in this paragraph (bb) by adoption of a resolution to that effect stating the date upon which the suspension shall take effect.  A certified copy of the resolution shall be furnished to the Department of Revenue at least ninety (90) days prior to the date upon which the municipality desires such suspension to take effect.

          (cc)  The gross proceeds of sales of tangible personal property made for the sole purpose of raising funds for a school or an organization affiliated with a school.

     As used in this paragraph (cc), "school" means any public or private school that teaches courses of instruction to students in any grade from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

          (dd)  Sales of durable medical equipment and home medical supplies when ordered or prescribed by a licensed physician for medical purposes of a patient.  As used in this paragraph (dd), "durable medical equipment" means equipment, including repair and replacement parts for the equipment, which:

              (i)  Can withstand repeated use;

              (ii)  Is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose;

              (iii)  Generally is not useful to a person in the absence of illness or injury; and

              (iv)  Is not worn in or on the body.

          (ee)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to Mississippi Blood Services.

          (ff)  (i)  Subject to the provisions of this paragraph (ff), retail sales of firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies if sold during the annual Mississippi Second Amendment Weekend holiday beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in September and ending at 12:00 midnight the following Sunday.  For the purposes of this paragraph (ff), "hunting supplies" means tangible personal property used for hunting, including, and limited to, archery equipment, firearm and archery cases, firearm and archery accessories, hearing protection, holsters, belts and slings.  Hunting supplies does not include animals used for hunting.

              (ii)  This paragraph (ff) shall apply only if one or more of the following occur:

                   1.  Title to and/or possession of an eligible item is transferred from a seller to a purchaser; and/or

                   2.  A purchaser orders and pays for an eligible item and the seller accepts the order for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the time period provided in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (ff), provided that the purchaser has not requested or caused the delay in shipment.

          (gg)  Sales of nonperishable food items to charitable organizations that are exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and operate a food bank or food pantry or food lines.

          (hh)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to The United Way of the Pine Belt Region, Inc.

          (ii)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the Mississippi Children's Museum.

          (jj)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the Jackson Zoological Park.

          (kk)  Sales of tangible personal property or services to the Hattiesburg Zoo.

          (ll)  Gross proceeds from sales of food, merchandise or other concessions at an event held solely for religious or charitable purposes at livestock facilities, agriculture facilities or other facilities constructed, renovated or expanded with funds for the grant program authorized under Section 18, Chapter 530, Laws of 1995.

          (mm)  Sales of tangible personal property and services to the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi and the Mississippi Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

          (nn)  Sales of potting soil, mulch, or other soil amendments used in growing ornamental plants which bear no fruit of commercial value when sold to commercial plant nurseries that operate exclusively at wholesale and where no retail sales can be made.

          (oo)  Sales exempt under the Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disasters Act of 2015 (Sections 1 through 5 of this act).

     SECTION 15.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

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