SS/SCS/SB 859 - This act modifies local tax increment financing projects by modifying the definitions of "blighted area" and "conservation area". (Section 99.805) This act also provides that a study shall be conducted by a party other than the proponent of the redevelopment plan, which details how the area meets the definition of an area eligible to receive tax increment financing. This act also provides that retail areas, as defined in the act, shall not receive tax increment financing unless such financing is exclusively utilized to fund retail infrastructure projects, as defined in the act, or unless such area is a blighted or conservation area. (Section 99.810) This act prohibits new projects from being authorized in any Greenfield area. (Section 99.843) These provisions are substantially similar to provisions contained in HCS/HB 1236 (2018). EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS This act also modifies several provisions relating to the impact of certain development projects on emergency districts. Current law provides that ambulance and fire protection districts are entitled to a reimbursement of between 50% and 100% of the amount of the district's tax increment deposited into the Special Allocation Fund of a tax increment financing district. This act provides that ambulance and fire protection districts and counties operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services shall annually set such reimbursement rate prior to the time the assessment is paid into the Fund. If the redevelopment plan, area, or project is amended, the ambulance or fire protection district or the governing body of a county operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services shall have the right to recalculate the reimbursement rate. (Section 99.848) This provision is identical to a provision contained in SS/SCS/HB 1355 (2018), CCS/HCS/SS/SB 870 (2018), and SCS/SB 936 (2018), and is substantially similar to SB 1063 (2018), HB 1431 (2018), and HB 2598 (2018), and to a provision contained in HB 1919 (2018). This act also requires plans for Chapter 100 industrial development projects to identify ambulance and fire protection districts that are impacted by such projects, and to include an analysis of the costs and benefits of such projects to such districts. This act also allows ambulance and fire protection districts and counties operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services to receive a reimbursement of between 50% and 100% of the amount of ad valorem property tax revenues the district or county would have received in the absence of a property tax abatement or exemption provided for under a Chapter 100 industrial development project. Ambulance and fire protection districts and the governing body of a county operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services shall annually set such reimbursement rate prior to the time the assessment is determined by the county assessor. If the redevelopment plan, area, or project is amended, the ambulance or fire protection district or county shall have the right to recalculate the reimbursement rate. (Sections 100.050 and 100.059) This provision is identical to provisions contained in SCS/SB 936 (2018) and CCS/HCS/SS/SB 870 (2018). This act also modifies the Urban Redevelopment Corporations Law by allowing ambulance and fire protection districts and counties operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services to receive a reimbursement of between 50% and 100% of the amount of ad valorem property tax revenues the district or county would have received in the absence of the property tax abatement or exemption provided for under current law. Ambulance and fire protection districts and the governing body of a county operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services shall annually set such reimbursement rate prior to the time the assessment is determined by the county assessor. If the redevelopment plan, area, or project is amended, the ambulance or fire protection district or the governing body of a county operating a 911 center providing emergency or dispatch services shall have the right to recalculate the reimbursement rate. (Section 353.110) This provision is identical to provisions contained in SCS/SB 936 (2018) and CCS/HCS/SS/SB 870 (2018). JOSHUA NORBERG