Transcript Highlights:

• district.
• districts?
• They share that information actively, not only with the school districts, but they also share it with
• Chairman, my school district, Central Consolidated School District, already has a network to allow parents
• And on the note of school districts, Samsara actually just won the largest school district, or excuse

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 10 authorizes a district or charter school to allow a high school student to possess and administer
• ><c> schools</c><00:08:43.760><c> to</c><00:08:44.000><c> provide</c> districts and charter schools to
• school to allow a district or charter school to allow a student<00:10:17.279><c> a</c><00:10:17.440>
• ICE arena levies that are for arenas used cooperatively by more than one school district and would provide
• c> provide</c> one uh school district and would provide one uh school district and would provide authority

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in part two of the state school levy.
• And so generally speaking, excess levies are the voter-approved local school district levies.
• And the state school levy is additionally adding clarity to what that levy is.
• on a formula basis to school districts.
• in the formula basis of school districts.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on several tax and retirement bills, beginning with Senate Bill 6073, which would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff described the higher retirement age and benefit differences between the systems and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR, the Washington Public Employees Association, and a committee member all raised support or questions, with DNR acknowledging additional review with the LEOFF board was still needed. The hearing then turned to Senate Bill 6113, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, including clarifications tied to last session’s ESSB 5814 service-tax changes, a six-month transition period for reclassified businesses, and a section affecting advertising-related exclusions. DOR said the bill was revenue neutral and intended to codify guidance and improve certainty, while school districts, arts groups, broadcasters, newspapers, and business groups testified both in support of the technical fixes and in opposition to provisions they said would continue or worsen unintended consequences from last year’s tax law. Senators also questioned how some definitions would apply, especially to school and higher-education-related services. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor-products tax structure by moving nicotine-containing vapor products back under the per-milliliter vapor tax instead of the 95% other tobacco products tax, and would restore distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and Foundational Public Health Services account. Public health agencies, cancer research representatives, and some retailers supported the bill as a fix to funding disruptions, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax and argued it would weaken public health policy. The committee also heard that the current law creates a double-tax issue on pre-existing inventory because products held when the definition changed became subject to a new tax classification. Finally, Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader nicotine-tax overhaul, including a 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% tax on flavored nicotine products, higher cigarette taxes, and new revenue distributions and tribal compact provisions. Supporters, including public health organizations, pediatricians, and civil rights advocates, said higher taxes would reduce youth use and restore funding for cancer research and public health; opponents, including retailers, tobacco and vapor businesses, broadcasters, and some harm-reduction advocates, argued the bill was regressive, would fuel illicit markets, and would harm small businesses and adult consumers using lower-risk products. The committee then began a briefing on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, adjust state property tax rates, and change property tax billing statements, but the hearing on that bill was not completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Lake Superior School District, Cook County Public Schools. um, which school districts are or um are
• </c> the school district. Yes, the number. the school district. Yes, the number.
• </c><01:25:28.800><c> district</c> 8,127 dwellings in our school district 8,127 dwellings in our school
• </c><01:29:18.560><c> districts,</c> from local school districts, from local school districts, disproportionately
• District 381, Lake Superior School District.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one school district.
• The school district then does what the school district does with it.
• school districts.
• Now, For the school districts.
• Property taxes are levied for a calendar year, but school districts operate on a fiscal year from July

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a of a similar story for the school taxes levied.
• You'll see the millage rate statewide for school. Levies has gone down from almost 9.
• But this story here is same as the non school levies has more taxes can be levied as a result of an increase
• and Non-school in terms of taxes levied.
• It's about a little over 30 billion non-school levees and a little over 20 billion for school levies.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, every school district has to roll back their levy so that they're not gaining any more from
• You know, every school district has to roll back. every two years, you know, every school district has
• Yeah, for example, my school district just passed a levy. Right.
• Now, the school district, that's just where... Or another district. Whatever.
• And then the voters in that district voted for a new tax levy to build a school, which would raise taxes

Summary: The House established a quorum and then moved to House bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2189, sponsored by the gentleman from Jasper, would allow five-year vehicle registrations, eliminate the current odd/even model-year registration rule, and limit the five-year option to vehicles six years old or newer. Members asked about emissions and safety inspections, insurance verification, and personal property tax compliance; the sponsor said the Department of Revenue could track those items electronically and that the bill was intended to simplify registration for citizens. House Amendment 1, which set the five-year fee at $45, was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed as amended. The House then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1790, a “fair ballot language” bill. The sponsor said it would require clearer ballot language for local tax levies, including stating tax rates in cents and their dollar impact, labeling propositions alphabetically, requiring disclosure when a measure would nullify a prior voter-approved sunset, and closing a loophole in the Hancock Amendment so taxing entities still roll back levies after reassessment while retaining voter-approved increases. Members generally supported the transparency goals, and a brief amendment adding a comma to existing statutory language was adopted. The committee substitute was then adopted, perfected, and printed. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2178 was then considered, with several amendments. House Amendment 1, offered by the gentleman from Pike, capped assessment increases at 15% over two years and provided a tax credit for amounts above that threshold; after a roll call, it was adopted 92-43. House Amendment 2, from the gentleman from Clay, prevented assessors from reclassifying short-term rental properties from residential to commercial solely because of short-term rental use; it was adopted after debate over whether LLC-owned properties should be treated differently. House Amendment 3, from the gentleman from Jackson, incorporated ballot-language provisions from earlier bills to require clearer labeling and disclosure on property tax measures, and it was adopted. House Amendment 4, also from the gentleman from Jackson, required assessors to disclose valuation methods and supporting data, set a 30-day refund deadline with interest for late refunds, and allowed taxpayers to recover certain litigation costs when appeals succeed; it too was adopted. The bill then continued with discussion of Hancock-by-subclass and related property tax issues, with members debating how the proposal would affect residential, commercial, and agricultural taxpayers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The levy reassesses.
• cycle to take the levy.
• Most taxing jurisdictions, most school boards, most fire districts, those who charge property taxes,
• So in my district, I live in a historic district. There are 16 houses on my block.
• So in my district, I live in a historic district. There are 16 houses on my block.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 56th day by roll call vote, 131-2. The Speaker also signed several enrolled measures, including HB 1768, HB 1866, HB 1870, HB 2180, and HJR 173 and 174, suspending business for those signings. Members then offered multiple points of personal privilege and introduced numerous student groups, family members, interns, and former Representative Richard Brown as special guests. The main floor business focused on budget conference motions for HB 2002 through HB 2013. The budget chair moved to refuse Senate substitutes and send the bills to conference, and the House approved each motion. In discussion, members highlighted major budget differences, including child care subsidies, transportation funding, higher education funding, and the movement of about $1.76 billion in broadband-related funds into HB 2017, which was noted as affecting how the operating budget totals appear. The House also received Senate messages on several budget bills and other measures, including HB 2002-2013, HB 2637, and HB 3155. The House then took up SB 975, an ambulance district and emergency medical services bill. A House substitute was adopted, along with Amendment 1 adding a compromise community paramedic provision and a minor first-responder mental health change. Members described the bill as helping struggling ambulance districts, improving emergency response, and allowing community paramedics to provide in-home services to reduce unnecessary ER use. The bill passed 136-7. Later, the House considered the combined property tax reform bill on SB 1066 and 1086, adopting three amendments addressing technical cleanup, uniform levy increases and timing of voter-approved tax increases, and assessor training, electronic notices, and changes to payment-under-protest procedures. Supporters said the bill improved transparency and reform; opponents warned it could reduce local control and strain funding for schools, libraries, and other local services. The bill ultimately passed 83-61. The House adjourned until 4 p.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The levy reassesses.
• cycle to take the levy.
• Approve a levy increase. They have that reassessment cycle to take the levy increase.
• Most taxing jurisdictions, most school boards, most fire districts, those who charge property taxes,
• So in my district, I live in a historic district. There are 16 houses on my block.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• districts, our school your school districts, our school districts,<00:58:46.960><c> a</c><00:58:47.200
• So what we have to do, unfortunately, is say, "Okay, school districts, well at least you can levy for
• So what we have to do, unfortunately, is say, "Okay, school districts, well at least you can levy for
• So what we have to do, unfortunately, is say, "Okay, school districts, well at least you can levy for
• So what we have to do, unfortunately, is say, "Okay, school districts, well at least you can levy for

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also exempts schools, school districts, and educational service districts from retail sales and use
• If a school district doesn't pass their levy, it's hard enough.
• If a school district fails its levy, they have nothing to spread that across.
• If a school district doesn't pass their levy, it's hard enough.
• District doesn't pass their levy, it's hard enough.

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on March 2 and reviewed a series of tax and property-tax bills. Staff described measures including removing acreage limits for nonprofit public assembly hall property tax exemptions (ESSB 5252), extending timber tax distributions to certain school districts (SB 5994), expanding housing-related local sales tax uses (SB 6027), updating Department of Revenue tax administration provisions (ESSB 6113), consolidating the state property tax levy and expanding senior/disabled exemptions (ESSB 6162), extending disaster-related property tax relief (SB 6343), rolling back 2025 estate tax changes (SB 6347), adding tribes to the Conservation Futures Program (SB 6097), and extending a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products (SB 6244). Members also discussed several amendments, including changes to rental assistance, library and school tax treatment, veterans’ income definitions and application assistance, estate-tax exemption and CPI language, and reporting requirements for conservation futures land acquisitions. The committee adopted some amendments and rejected others. HRA 440 was adopted to allow rental assistance as an eligible use of the local sales tax revenue for all jurisdictions rather than only Snohomish County. On ESSB 6113, the committee adopted the striking amendment H-3718.2 but rejected amendments to exempt investigative services, live presentations for schools and nonprofits, and library-related exemptions. On ESSB 6162, amendments to modernize veterans’ benefit language, require DOR application assistance, and lower the levy rate were all rejected. On SB 6347, the committee adopted an amendment restoring the estate tax exclusion amount to 2.193 million and changing the CPI reference, while the broader bill was later reported out as amended. On SB 6097, an amendment requiring county reporting on conservation futures acquisitions was rejected. The committee then voted to report several bills out with do pass recommendations: ESSB 5252, SB 5994, ESSB 6027 as amended, ESSB 6113 as amended, ESSB 6162, SB 6343, SB 6097, and SB 6244. SB 6347 was reported out with a do pass as amended recommendation after the adopted amendment. Members generally framed the bills as providing tax relief, clarifying tax administration, supporting housing and schools, or extending existing exemptions, while some members raised concerns about fiscal impact, tax burden shifts, and the need for more accountability or broader policy changes. The meeting concluded with thanks to staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• , school districts, and educational service districts.
• schools.
• state levy.
• levy.
• levy.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:07.240><c> reservations</c> school districts as well as reservations school districts as well
• one</c> the duth school district I have one the duth school district I have one Precinct<00:05:29.360
• > all</c><00:07:42.520><c> of</c> school districts so bringing all of school districts so bringing all
• > directly</c> school districts that reside directly school districts that reside directly within<00:
• </c><01:14:13.080><c> districts</c> drastically impact school districts drastically impact school districts

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• by a school district.
• by school districts to apply to such levies authorized by a vote of the electors on or after... or are
• by school districts to apply to such levies authorized by a vote of the electors electors on or after
• millages levied by school districts.
• , those school districts or those schools that, particularly those charter schools that do not go through

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met with a quorum and considered two Senate proposed bills. The first, SPB 7046, was the Senate tax package. It included changes to Live Local property tax exemptions, charter school distributions from voter-approved property tax levies, limits on special assessments for RV parks, revisions to fiscally constrained county funding and eligibility, a permanent sales tax exemption for small propane tanks, a hunting/fishing/camping sales tax holiday, restrictions on governmental net zero policies, and new voting thresholds for certain local millage actions. Staff estimated the bill would reduce general revenue by about $77 million in FY 2026-27 and about $50 million recurring. An amendment making the charter-school distribution change prospective starting July 1, 2026, was adopted. A late-filed amendment by Senator Gaetz on disability tax exemptions was withdrawn for lack of a fiscal analysis. The charter school provision drew the most debate. Senator Jones and Senator Bernard raised concerns that expanding eligibility to charter schools authorized through alternate authorizers could reduce funding available to traditional neighborhood public schools and that the effective date did not give districts enough time to plan. Senator Avila argued the change corrected an omission from earlier legislation and ensured public schools, including charter schools, were treated equally. Several speakers supported the fiscally constrained county provisions, while the Florida Association of Counties urged grandfathering for counties that could currently opt out of the Live Local exemption and asked the committee to review language on millage thresholds and net zero provisions. SPB 7046 was ultimately reported favorably as a committee bill by a roll call vote. The committee then took up SPB 7048, which updates Florida’s conformity to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026, and partially decouples from federal changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill addresses federal changes to bonus depreciation, Section 179 expensing, research and experimental expenses, business meals, and business interest deductions, with some provisions phased in or adjusted over time. The Florida Chamber testified in support of continued conformity but expressed concerns about administrative burdens and the bill’s partial decoupling structure. After brief debate, the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill by roll call vote, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , school district, or ESD.
• Does this bill apply to all school districts, or only second-class school districts?
• Others, like in the school district that's in financial oversight, they haven't failed a levy.
• Others, like in the school district that's in financial oversight, they haven't failed a levy.
• district, the Vader school district.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and 37 elected from senatorial districts.
• the election of constitutional convention delegates from each state House and Senate legislative district
• If it's granted, they have a de novo review with the district judge at our district.
• If it's granted, they have a de novo review with the district judge at our district.
• Judge at our district.

Bills: HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB244 , HB306 , HB366 , HB446 , HB473 , HB514 , HB1043 , HB1082 , SB127

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: armed security, liability, concealed carry, self-defense, security officers, property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, constitutional convention, delegates, state election, ratification

Bills: HB468 , SB366 , HB468 , HB561 , SB227 , SB32 , HB561 , SB227 , SB32

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: service of process, funding, Marion County, fees, legal documents, firefighters, rights, personnel procedures, state law, public safety, HB468, local commissions, local authorities, municipal planning commission, planning commission, zoning, land use, municipal official, municipal officer, city council

Transcript Highlights:

• Our schools have seen economic impacts.
• Our schools uh target childcare centers.
• Um, I mentioned legislative districts.
• And that's their legislative districts.
• </c><00:48:16.000><c> and</c> take a look at this in the districts and take a look at this in the districts

Bills: HF3477 , HF3480 , HF3781 , HF3357 , HF3737 , HF3664 , HF3621

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, immigration enforcement, economic impact, Operation Metro Surge, study, appropriation, local government, Legislative Commission on Legislative Security, legislator security, elected official security, staff security, statehouse security, capitol security, legislative district safety, political violence prevention, threat assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• just because I think that would be an important conversation to have, because in addition to the district
• that you represent, I have a similar situation to my district as being coastal, and I think these conversations

Bills: H5113 , H5076 , H4972 , H4917 , H4700 , S2896 , S2961 , S2933 , H5141 , H5140 , H5139 , S2877 , H3920

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Keywords: Marion Stoddart, riverwalk, J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Nashua River, Nashua River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, Department of Conservation and Recreation, DCR, trail designation, state forest, conservation, environmental recognition, commemorative naming, signage, public lands, toxic pesticides, Eastham, environmental regulation, local control

Transcript Highlights:

• Even if we used all the schools, which currently we're not allowed to do just because the schools have
• Schools, okay, would you please elaborate on that? Now, we pay taxes for these schools.
• But one of the things that it did was compel schools.
• But one of the things that it did was compel schools.
• Representative Nick Cupper, representing District 25.

Bills: HB2006 , HB2165 , HB2245 , HB2348 , HB2806 , HB2901 , HB2902 , HCR2016

Committee: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Keywords: sample ballots, elections, primary election, general election, mailing deadline, ballot mailing, county election officials, board of supervisors, secretary of state, early voting list, election administration, voter information, postal service, USPS processing center, city elections, town elections, special district elections, Arizona election law, ballot proofing, party chair