To amend sections 5727.111, 5727.30, and 5727.38 of the Revised Code to reduce the public utility property tax assessment rate for new pipe-line company property and to exempt the gross receipts of a pipe-line company from the public utility excise tax.

Section 1. That sections 5727.111, 5727.30, and 5727.38 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 5727.111.  The taxable property of each public utility, except a railroad company, and of each interexchange telecommunications company shall be assessed at the following percentages of true value:

(A) Fifty per cent in the case of the taxable transmission and distribution property of a rural electric company, and twenty-five per cent for all its other taxable property;

(B) In the case of a telephone or telegraph company, twenty-five per cent for taxable property first subject to taxation in this state for tax year 1995 or thereafter for tax years before tax year 2007, and pursuant to division (H) of section 5711.22 of the Revised Code for tax year 2007 and thereafter, and the following for all other taxable property:

(1) For tax years prior to 2005, eighty-eight per cent;

(2) For tax year 2005, sixty-seven per cent;

(3) For tax year 2006, forty-six per cent;

(4) For tax year 2007 and thereafter, pursuant to division (H) of section 5711.22 of the Revised Code.

(C) Twenty-five per cent in the case of a natural gas company.

(D) Eighty-eight per cent in the case of a pipe-line, water-works, or heating company;

(E)(1) For tax year 2005, eighty-eight per cent in the case of the taxable transmission and distribution property of an electric company, and twenty-five per cent for all its other taxable property;

(2) For tax year 2006 and each tax year thereafter, eighty-five per cent in the case of the taxable transmission and distribution property of an electric company, and twenty-four per cent for all its other taxable property.

(F)(1) Twenty-five per cent in the case of an interexchange telecommunications company for tax years before tax year 2007;

(2) Pursuant to division (H) of section 5711.22 of the Revised Code for tax year 2007 and thereafter.

(G) Twenty-five per cent in the case of a water transportation company.

(H) In the case of a pipe-line company, for tax years after 2006, twenty-five per cent for taxable property first subject to taxation in this state for tax year 2007 or thereafter, and eighty-eight per cent for all its other taxable property.

Sec. 5727.30.  (A) Except as provided in divisions (B), (C), and (D), and (E) of this section, each public utility, except railroad companies, shall be subject to an annual excise tax, as provided by sections 5727.31 to 5727.62 of the Revised Code, for the privilege of owning property in this state or doing business in this state during the twelve-month period next succeeding the period upon which the tax is based. The tax shall be imposed against each such public utility that, on the first day of such twelve-month period, owns property in this state or is doing business in this state, and the lien for the tax, including any penalties and interest accruing thereon, shall attach on such day to the property of the public utility in this state.

(B) An electric company's or a rural electric company's gross receipts received after April 30, 2001, are not subject to the annual excise tax imposed by this section.

(C) A natural gas company's gross receipts received after April 30, 2000, are not subject to the annual excise tax imposed by this section.

(D) A telephone company's gross receipts derived from amounts billed to customers after June 30, 2004, are not subject to the annual excise tax imposed by this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, gross receipts derived from amounts billed by a telephone company to customers prior to July 1, 2004, shall be included in the telephone company's annual statement filed on or before August 1, 2004, which shall be the last statement or report filed under section 5727.31 of the Revised Code by a telephone company. A telephone company shall not deduct from its gross receipts included in that last statement any receipts it was unable to collect from its customers for the period of July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004.

(E) A pipe-line company's gross receipts received after April 30, 2007, are not subject to the annual excise tax imposed by this section.

Sec. 5727.38.  On or before the first Monday of November, annually, the tax commissioner shall assess an excise tax against each public utility subject to the excise tax under section 5727.30 of the Revised Code. The tax shall be computed by multiplying the taxable gross receipts as determined by the commissioner under section 5727.33 of the Revised Code by six and three-fourths per cent in the case of pipe-line companies, and four and three-fourths per cent in the case of all other companies. The minimum tax for any such company for owning property or doing business in this state shall be fifty dollars. The assessment shall be certified to the taxpayer and treasurer of state.

Section 2. That existing sections 5727.111, 5727.30, and 5727.38 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.