A bill introduced by the Virginia General Assembly that would have imposed a new tax on security company accounts has died in an appropriations subcommittee after being passed by the Senate
on Feb. 9. The bill was strongly opposed by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and alarm industry associations across the country.
The bill, S.B. 1006, would have required alarm monitoring companies to collect a fee of $2 on each system that they track, with the revenues to be deposited into the state’s Line of Duty Death and Health Benefits Trust Fund.
SIA Director of Government Relations Don Erickson testified before the Senate Finance Committee and met with several senators and delegates to urge them to find an alternate source of money for the trust fund.
“This bill would have forced an expensive new burden onto alarm monitoring companies while making security less affordable for Virginia’s residents and businesses,” says Erickson. “Imposing new, unreasonable taxes makes little sense during these trying economic times. We are proud to have helped to stop this misguided proposal.”
The Virginia Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (VBFAA), the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) and the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) were also instrumental in stopping the proposed alarm tax.
