The National Congress sanctioned a bill that allocates R$ 5 billion in tax incentives for the data center sector and enables the budgetary execution of Redata. Despite the quick vote in the Chamber and Senate, parliamentarians used the urgency of the agenda to incorporate several modifications that satisfy political interests both regional and sectoral.
The original initiative aimed to make Redata viable, a fiscal advantage program intended for data centers, with validity extended until 2034. This R$ 5 billion package was considered a government priority within a political agreement involving legislative leaders.
When analyzed in the Chamber, the report presented by Congressman Isnaldo Bulhões (MDB-AL) underwent an alteration to the Fiscal Responsibility Law (LRF). This change exempts municipalities with populations of up to 65 thousand inhabitants from certain obligations when receiving federal funds, such as punctual fulfillment of duties with the transferring body and accountability for previously received amounts. In practice, this expands the scope of financial transfers.
Members of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration expressed their opposition to the change confidentially and defended its rejection. Nevertheless, during the vote, the government leadership instructed parliamentarians to vote in favor of the matter. The result in the Chamber was 346 votes to 46. In the Senate, there were 66 favorable votes and no dissenting votes.
The project's processing allowed for the inclusion of other demands. Bulhões added norms regarding the tax regime for free trade zones, including a provision aimed at facilitating the creation of a commercial benefits area in Amapá, the state of the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP).
Additionally, the text included the exemption from CSLL and IRPJ for regional insurers. This measure benefits the IRB (Re), which is managed by Maurício Quintella, former Minister of Transport during the Michel Temer government and an ally of Bulhões' group in Alagoas.
What started as a proposal to enable Redata incentives was approved with modifications that also impact parliamentary amendments, municipalities, insurance, and commercial benefits.