A. As used in the Ad Valorem Tax Code:

1. "Public service corporation" means all transportation companies, transmission companies, all gas, electric, light, heat and power companies and all waterworks and water power companies, and all persons authorized to exercise the right of eminent domain or to use or occupy any right-of-way, street, alley, or public highway, along, over or under the same in a manner not permitted to the general public;

2. "Transportation company" means any company, corporation, trustee, receiver, or any other person owning, leasing or operating for hire, a street railway, canal, steamboat line, and also any sleeping car company, parlor car company and express company, and any other company, trustee, or person in any way engaged in such business as a common carrier. As used in the Ad Valorem Tax Code, the term "transportation company" shall not include any railroad or any air carrier. However, all railroad and air carrier property shall continue to be valued and assessed by the State Board of Equalization for purposes of ad valorem taxation;

3. "Transmission company" means any company, corporation, trustee, receiver, or other person owning, leasing or operating for hire any telegraph or telephone line or radio broadcasting system;

4. "Person" means individuals, partnerships, associations, and corporations in the singular as well as plural number;

5. "Video services provider" means a subclass of public service corporations consisting of any public service corporation offering video programming services; and

6. "Video programming" shall have the same meaning as set forth in 47 U.S.C., Section 522(20).

B. As used in the Ad Valorem Tax Code, "transmission company" and "public service corporation" shall not be construed to include cable television companies.

C. Any real or personal property used by any company, corporation, trustee, receiver, or other person owning, leasing, or operating for hire any pipeline or oil or gas gathering system which was assessed by the State Board of Equalization after January 1, 1997, shall continue to be assessed by the State Board of Equalization through ad valorem tax year 1998.

Added by Laws 1988, c. 162, § 8, eff. Jan. 1, 1992. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 258, § 5, emerg. eff. June 27, 1988; Laws 1995, c. 57, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1997, c. 337, § 1, eff. July 1, 1997; Laws 2009, c. 119, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.