Applicants for new business licenses or those reopening businesses would pay a higher, one-time handling fee under a bill being developed by the state Department of Revenue.

The bill also calls for a decrease in handling fees for those businesses that are renewing license applications. State law requires Revenue to collect handling fees on each business license application and renewal.

According to a bill draft supplied by Revenue:

• A one-time handling fee of $19 to open or reopen a business would increase to $85.
• The $11 renewal fee would be reduced to $10.

If approved by the 2020 Legislature, the new fees would take effect on July 1, 2020.

Revenue operates the Business License Service that allows businesses to register with dozens of state agencies, cities and towns. With the proposed fees, Revenue hopes to cut down on applicants who file for licenses without ever opening a business while offering a slight reduction in cost to existing businesses, said David Duvall, Revenue’s Legislative & External Affairs Liaison.