Introduced Nov 9. The bill introduces a mandate regime requiring fuel importers or refiners (excluding aviation fuels) to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of those fuels by blending sustainable biofuels. First reading on Nov 15 with National and Act opposed saying they would repeal the bill. Sent to the environment committee. Bill withdrawn.

Sustainable Biofuel Obligation Bill

A member’s bill in the name of Matt Doocey introduced on March 25. The bill seeks to prohibit the importation, supply and acquisition of synthetic urine to pass a workplace drug test. Voted down on June 30 with only National in favour.  Synthetic Urine (Prohibition on Importation, Supply and Acquisition to Pass a Workplace Drug Test) Bill

This Bill amends law as part of the implementation and ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea agreed in Seoul, Korea, on 23 March 2015. Given its first reading on June 16. The bill was sent to Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee by 95 to 26 with Greens and NZ First opposed. It was given a report back date of November 3 in order to ratify the treaty as quickly as possible.  Reported back on July 30 without amendment or dissent. MPs urged by business groups to pass before the end of the year to allow ratification and tariff impacts to take place in 2016. Second reading completed on September 17. Labour supported the bill despite misgivings over the restrictions on future governments to impose different foreign investment rules. NZ First and Greens still opposed. Committee stage completed on September 22. The third reading was completed by 95 to 25 on September 24.Tariff (Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea) Amendment Bill

Introduced an April 12. The Bill amends  law to implement the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus). It enables the application of preferential tariff rates under the Agreement, and amends the rules on “goods re-entered after repair or alteration” in the Tariff.First reading completed on May 8 without debate and the Greens opposed. Sent to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for consideration. Second reading completed on Sept 4 and the third reading on Sept 6 with the Greens opposed.Tariff (PACER Plus) Amendment Bill

Introduced on August 14, 2018. A local bill sponsored by Nick Smith to enable the Waimea Dam to be built. Its main purpose is to give the council an inundation easement over 9.6 hectares of Conservation land in the Mount Richmond State Forest Park and ownership of the land where the dam will be built. National and Labour have indicated support. After a delay while funding was finalised the Bill received its first reading on Sept 19 with only the Greens opposed. The Bill was sent to the Governance and Administration Committee with a shortened time frame for consideration. Submissions close on Oct 5 and the report back is due by Nov 7. Reported back on Nov 6 with minor amendments. Second reading completed on Nov 28. Committee stage and third reading completed on Dec 12 with the permission of the House. Only the Greens opposed the Bill. Tasman District Council (Waimea Water Augmentation Scheme) Bill

Introduced on Dec 11. The Bill creates a new regulatory body for drinking water regulatory system. Part of a broader package of reforms to the three waters regulatory system. It will be followed by a separate Bill setting up the regulatory regime for drinking water and source water, and the regulation of wastewater and stormwater networks. A governance board will be required to consider and provide for Māori interests through Te Mana o te Wai, though this is not defined in the Bill. First reading on Dec 17 with the support of all parties and sent to the Health Committee. National expressed concern about a number of aspects including the lack of detail around the regulations and potential costs. Reported back on June 17 with minor changes. Second reading on June 24 with all parties in support with committee stage completed on June 30. Third reading completed on July 22 with all parties in support. Taumata Arowai—the Water Services Regulator Bill

Annual tax bill, completed its first reading on March 11 and sent to the Finance and Expenditure Committee with a report back deadline of September 11. The bill also contains changes to the tax treatment of research and development, GST and bodies corporate, as well as wide ranging change to child support clawing back some planned reforms. Reported back Sept 3 with many changes, mostly technical. Notably the eligibility for tax credits for loss making research and development was expanded and the administration handed to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Callaghan Institute. Second reading completed on a voice vote on October 20. Committee stage interrupted on December 1 and completed on February 10 with the Govt making a number of amendments. Third reading completed on February 16 on a voice vote though Opposition parties argued it did not do enough to promote R&D.  Taxation (Annual Rates for 2015–16, Research and Development, and Remedial Matters) Bill

Introduced on May 3 the bill sets tax rates for the coming financial year. The Bill proposes amendments to the definitions of a look-through company and look-through counted owner, to tighten the eligibility criteria for a company electing to become a LTC. Other changes are proposed to non-resident withholding tax for related party and branch lending; the goods and services tax; related parties debt remission; loss grouping and imputation; remission income, insolvency, and bankruptcy; aircraft overhaul reserves; New Zealand double tax agreements; Schedule 32 donee status for charities; land tainting and council controlled organisations; loss offsets by mineral miners; Working for Families tax credits; information sharing; and the application of the time bar to ancillary taxes; and makes other remedial amendments. Received its first reading on June 15 on a voice vote. It was sent to the Finance and Expenditure Committee with submissions closing on July 29 and a report due by December 15. Reported back on November 24 with minor and technical amendments. Second reading completed on March 9 and committee stage on March 14. An attempt by NZ First to bring in tax relief for strengthening earthquake prone buildings was defeated with just Labour in support. Third reading completed on March 23 on a voice vote. Taxation (Annual Rates for 2016-17, Closely Held Companies, and Related Matters) Bill

Introduced on April 6. Omnibus tax bill which continues to update administration of tax law and IRD. This includes measures relating to employment and investment income information, the electronic filing threshold for goods and services tax (GST), amendments to the pay as you earn (PAYE) rules, and amendments to penalty and interest rules. The Bill also roposes a number of changes to the collection of investment income information, changes to the taxation of employee share schemes and the tax treatment of oil rig decommissioning. Completed its first reading on a voice vote on May 24 and was sent to the Finance and Expenditure Committee for consideration. Reported back on Feb 20 with a large number of mainly technical amendments. Completed committee stage on March 20. During this the Govt introduced an amendment extending the two year bright line test for taxation on real estate sales to five years. This was strongly opposed by National. Completed third reading on March 27 with National still opposed. Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017-18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Bill

Introduced on June 28. An omnibus bill amending a number of tax Acts. It confirms the annual rates of income tax for the 2018/19 tax year, contains proposals to modernise and improve the administration of the tax system. Amongst the changes are the rules around secondary tax, automatic refunds for many people whose only income is from salary, wages, or investment. The bill clarifies that information collected for one Inland Revenue purpose can be used for the department’s other functions. There is also the introduction of a short process ruling, where small businesses can more easily apply for a binding ruling from Inland Revenue on a broad range of matters. This bill also provides the Commissioner of Inland Revenue with more flexibility to correct anomalies in the tax legislation. The bill also proposes a suite of changes to KiwiSaver as a result of the Retirement Commission’s 2016 review of retirement income policies. These changes range from introducing more choice for employee contribution rates to making it easier for our older working population to join and stay in KiwiSaver. First reading completed on July 3 with National opposed saying while it supported much of the Bill it could not support the Government’s wider tax programme. Referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. Reported back on Jan 16. Powers for the Commissioner to amend tax legislation have been dropped and there are many technical changes. Second reading interrupted on Feb 14 and completed on Feb 19 with National, ACT and Ross opposed. Committee stage completed on March 5 and the third reading on March 12 with the Government highlighting changes to secondary tax treatment. Taxation (Annual Rates for 2018-19, Modernising Tax Administration, and Remedial Matters) Bill