Approximately $20 million of that total would be set aside toprovide business tax credits for companies relocating within thestate. For companies with 500 employees or more, the credit wouldamount to $1,500 for each retained job. Companies moving at least2,000 workers into one of the state's urban enterprise zones wouldget an additional credit of $750 per job.

Another $20 million, meanwhile, would be utilized to expand thestate's technology tax transfer program, under which start-uptechnology-based companies can sell unused tax credits to othercompanies. The balance of the $65 million being set aside would gofor sales tax exemptions for companies moving 500 or more employeesto new headquarters locations in designated areas of the state, andfor similar exemptions on energy costs generated by manufacturingcompanies in urban enterprise zones.

Lawmakers yesterday also agreed to reduce certainbusiness-related taxes and fees, notably scrapping thepetrochemical environmental impact fee outright. And a proposedincrease in business taxes to pay for the cleanup of hazardousmaterials, originally set at $20 million, has been cut in half.