Beth Houlis

HB1707 makes unnecessary and confusing changes to the definition of “hotels” to include STRs, which are already subject to meals and rooms taxes. Hosting through AirBnB is how I support my parents in retirement. This bill would make it impossible for me to continue to do so, and would force me to sell the house, leaving my parents with no place to go during the many months of the year that they occupy the residence. My ability to generate extra income through the house that we spent three backbreaking years building is a necessity to support my parents - it's not a "nice to have" or a vanity home. I am also not taking a rental property off the market by hosting guests a few months of the year. Eroding personal property rights is not what our state is about, and this committee needs to think again before recommending a bill like this. I believe the unintended consequences of this bill would be severe, and that the state should leverage other options to achieve its goals (which are unclear).