Rio de Janeiro state government proposes tax defaulter crackdown and nominates transport regulator board

The Rio de Janeiro state government sent to the Assembleia Legislativa (Alerj) a draft law targeting "devedor contumaz," defined as companies with at least R$15 million in irregular tax debt that exceeds their assets and that have failed to pay for four consecutive or six alternating periods within a year. The proposal would allow the state to suspend tax benefits, bar such firms from public bids and contracts, and even cancel their state registration, preventing the issuance of invoices. Affected companies would be notified, given 30 days to settle the debt or appeal, with the State Treasury, the Attorney General and the Public Ministry responsible for enforcement.

In a separate action, acting governor Ricardo Couto forwarded to Alerj a list of four nominees—Giane Zimmer, Soraya Cesarino, Sérgio Sahione and Fábio Amorim da Rocha—to fill vacancies on the board of the Agência Reguladora de Serviços Públicos Concedidos de Transportes (Agetransp). The appointments aim to restore a quorum for the regulator, which currently has only one of five seats, and will require committee hearings and plenary approval before the candidates can assume their roles.