Committee tables proposal to decouple opportunity‑zone gain deferral from federal law

The Appropriations Committee unanimously moved to table Part YYY, a change‑package item that would decouple Maine from the federal qualified opportunity‑zone capital‑gains deferral for investments made after Dec. 31, 2026 (tax years beginning Jan. 1, 2026 through Jan. 1, 2028).

Representative Matlack and others said the Tax Committee found little in‑state uptake of opportunity‑zone investments and so recommended decoupling. Some members asked about a roughly $5 million fiscal note referenced in committee discussion. Dr. Allen, representing the administration, explained the governor’s change package defers conformity for certain opportunity‑zone provisions in 2027 and that the $5 million figure reflects timing and coupling with other conformity items.

Chris Nolan noted that the assumed savings rest on adoption of a related conformity provision (Part K) in the governor’s package; if Part K is not adopted, the savings assumptions for Part YYY would not be realized. After those clarifications, the committee voted unanimously to table the item for consideration alongside the broader conformity changes.

Next steps: The item was tabled for later consideration with Part K (broader conformity). The transcript records committee discussion about fiscal assumptions; it does not record a final departmental fiscal estimate beyond the $5 million figure referenced in committee debate.