Transcript Highlights:

• They have to adjust their levies. This all takes time.
• All it does is it addresses all the, all the, this type of tax levy and this type of tax levy, or this
• suggesting that we lower those levies some more.
• A school district may levy the operating levy for school purposes, require by subsection, less all adjustments
• They're sitting at 275... ...a school district may levy the operating levy for school purposes, require

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appropriation authority uh still exists. appropriation authority uh still exists.
• </c><01:06:10.160><c> Uh</c> temporary transfer authorization. Uh temporary transfer authorization.
• </c> Senate file 85 and this would authorize Senate file 85 and this would authorize the<01:08:51.440
• :55.600><c> Plymouth</c><01:11:56.000><c> to</c> authorize the city of Plymouth to authorize the city
• </c> than currently authorized purposes. than currently authorized purposes.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it's a twenty-year lease they're currently under.
• Where do they draw their taxing authority from? Uh, Mr.
• It provides authority for the district to establish a property tax levy on real property within the boundaries
• How long, uh, is it the reino that they're leasing their property? How long is their lease?
• Authorized representative.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such investment authority, administrative oversight, and the fiduciary duty legally lies with the plan's
• The availability of the full eight-year property tax abatement currently authorized in state statute
• or operational expenses for the school districts are levied on the primary levies or operational expenses
• for the school districts are levied on the primary.
• So levies for what we call liabilities in excess or adjacent ways levies, there is no payment made by

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and held Senate Bill 1090. It then took up SB 1503, which would require pension fiduciaries and proxy advisory firms to base voting and advice solely on economic interests, prohibit ESG or ideological considerations except in limited circumstances, and authorize attorney general enforcement. The sponsor said the bill was meant to protect investors and align with federal action; supporters argued proxy advisors lack transparency and can influence votes against shareholders’ financial interests. Arizona retirement system representatives said they were neutral but warned the bill would add major operational costs, create reporting burdens, increase litigation risk, and could narrow the market for proxy advisory services. The committee passed SB 1503 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1293, which would bar GPLET abatements from applying to school-district revenue during the eight-year abatement period. Supporters said the bill would protect school funding and reduce the state aid backfill tied to GPLET projects, while opponents from Phoenix, Mesa, and economic development groups said GPLET is a key redevelopment tool that helps finance downtown and blighted-area projects and that the bill would weaken future investment. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1293 on a 4-3 vote. It also heard and passed SB 1414, which gives insurers 30 days to review and respond to third-party settlement demands; insurers supported the bill as a reasonable commercial timeframe, while trial lawyers opposed it as too slow and urged a 15-day standard, with members indicating they expected a possible friendly amendment. Next, the committee heard SB 1633, which would create an Arizona income tax subtraction for capital gains from the sale of a primary residence, after five years of occupancy. Opponents argued it would mainly benefit wealthy homeowners and could cost the state tens of millions annually, while the sponsor said it could help homeowners move without facing large tax bills and improve housing turnover. The committee passed the bill 4-2. It also adopted an amendment to SB 1429, which would have expanded Arizona Commerce Authority board ex officio membership, then held the bill for further consideration. Finally, the committee passed SB 1536, allowing temporary consolidation of street light improvement districts, and heard SB 1724, which clarifies when property splits or consolidations trigger limited property value recalculation, with county assessors supporting the measure as an anti-gaming reform.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill simply amends that code section which allows and authorizes them.
• maximum annual debt service payable to all authority obligations.
• in a manner consistent with this article and determined by resolution of the authority.
• This bill will give the Alabama ABC board the authority to...
• This bill creates a tax of 10 cents per milliliter of vape product tax levied.

Bills: HB227 , HB255 , HB465 , HB472 , HB482 , HB483 , HB526 , HB529 , HB484

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness

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:

• House Bill 2156 relates to the authority of the Attorney General's Office investigators, and there are
• by a law enforcement agency in that capacity when the item was issued, and the person is still authorized
• The substitute provides that peace officer includes any general authority, limited authority, or specially

Bills: HB1228 , HB1982 , HB2156 , HB2165 , HB2173 , HB2203 , HB2220 , HB2362 , HB2403 , HB2464

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, impaired driving, toxicology, forensic toxicology, breath test, blood test, THC, marijuana, cannabis, alcohol concentration, state toxicologist, implied consent, evidence admissibility, venous blood draw, forensic phlebotomist, certified laboratory, accredited laboratory, law enforcement, DWI

Transcript Highlights:

• long as the materials meet health and safety requirements imposed by state and local permitting authorities
• long as the materials meet health and safety requirements imposed by state and local permitting authorities
• long as the materials meet health and safety requirements imposed by state and local permitting authorities
• It specifies that the authority to the Commission to directly make mortgage loans, the that the authority
• to the Commission to directly make mortgage loans does not include the authority to make residential

Bills: SB6001 , SB6015 , SB6054 , SB5470 , SB5884 , SB6018 , SB6027 , SB6028

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: building code, scissor stairs, safety regulations, construction standards, statebuilding regulations, residential building, construction permits, housing development, planning efficiency, state regulations, wildfire, home hardening, fire-resistant materials, fire-hardened building materials, common interest communities, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, condo association, wildland urban interface

Bills: HB23 , HB23 , HB363 , HB447 , HB954

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest, county property tax, nonprofit-owned property, third-party review, property development, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• However, currently, if a county by agreement If a county has been granted the authority to have sole
• jurisdiction of regulation within that ETG. under 242-001-D2, and there is no local authority, there
• is no. local authority that can cancel that plant or that subdivision.
• This, this, I don't know that it. has the authority to do anything with them.
• I don't think it overlaps in grants authority over a MUD other than what the authority . . . that they

Bills: HB23 , HB363 , HB447 , HB954 , HB23

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, municipal utility district, petition, county clerk, water code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, traffic impact studies, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, extraterritorial jurisdiction, county authority

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 63, introduced by Representative Kates, an act relating to finance, authorizing the New Mexico
• House Bill 63, introduced by Representative Kates, an act relating to finance, authorize, Introduced
• by Representative Kates, an act relating to finance, authorizing the New Mexico Finance Authority to
• Special Assessment Act shall be paid by property owners or lessees who hold industrial revenue bond leases
• Special Assessment Act shall be paid by property owners or lessees who hold industrial revenue bond leases

Summary: The Senate debated and passed Senate Bill 241, a child care assistance measure. Opponents raised concerns about the bill’s education requirements, residency definitions, sustainability if oil and gas revenues decline, fraud and misuse of funds, staffing needs for unannounced inspections, liability insurance, and whether the state would be left covering costs in a shortfall. Supporters argued the bill reflects the reality of working families, would expand access to child care, and includes guardrails and a five-year funding plan. After debate, the Senate passed the Senate Finance Committee substitute for SB 241, as amended, by a vote of 25-15. The chamber then received House messages announcing passage of several House bills and referred them to committees: HB 63 on water project funding to Senate Conservation, HB 64 on appropriations to Senate Finance, HB 165 on industrial revenue bond lease assessments to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation, HB 285 on disabled veteran property tax exemptions to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation, HB 184 on the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund to Senate Finance, and HB 291 on a range of tax and revenue changes to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation. Senate Memorial 30, requesting a study of safety and maintenance issues on U.S. Highway 491, was introduced and referred to Senate Rules. During announcements, members outlined upcoming committee meetings, including Rules, Tax, Business and Transportation, Education, Finance, Conservation, and others. The Senate also discussed the upcoming 100th Bill Party and related social events. The body then recessed until 11 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And because you said that if they tried to lease it or sell it, it could take time.
• And because you said that if they tried to lease it or sell it, it could take time.
• To do that, they need to have examination authority.
• So I vote no on this bill because it removes the authority.
• To have examination authority, so I vote no on this bill because it removes the authority of DIFI to

Bills: HB2016 , HB2104 , HB2105 , HB2174 , HB2256 , HB2289 , HB2477 , HB2903 , HB2939 , HB2979 , HB2996 , HB4103

Committees: Senate Finance , Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:01.959><c> chair</c> CEO of the white tourism Authority chair CEO of the white tourism Authority
• good afternoon chair Vice Authority good afternoon chair Vice chairs<00:04:43.680><c> members</c><00
• Next up, Gwen Yamamura for Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority in support. Leah L.
• Stewardship goes beyond the lease, the agriculture lease issue, but start somewhere.
• > issue</c><00:52:30.359><c> but</c> lease the agriculture lease issue but lease the agriculture lease

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and on Water and Land heard testimony on HB 504, a measure relating to environmental stewardship and funding for natural resource protection and restoration. Supporters included multiple state agencies and advocacy groups, such as DLNR, HTA, Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resources Legacy Fund, the Hawaiʻi Climate Action Coalition, and others, who said the bill would create dedicated funding for environmental, climate, and cultural resource needs and help address wildfire, flood, coastal storm, and tourism-related impacts. Several witnesses emphasized that Hawaiʻi’s environmental funding gap is large and that visitor contributions should be directed to stewardship and restoration. Some supporters also urged that the measure be applied equitably across all visitor accommodations and related uses, including cruise ship cabins and state rooms, while a few suggested amendments to broaden coverage or create a working group for implementation. Opposition and concerns focused largely on the bill’s tax structure and legal/administrative issues. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Tax Foundation questioned the reimbursable general obligation bond special fund in part two, suggesting it be converted to a regular special fund or deleted. The Attorney General’s office said part two may violate the single-subject rule in the state constitution and recommended deleting it. The Department of Taxation said the proposed points-and-miles language would be difficult to audit and enforce, and Expedia and others said the proposed tax treatment of loyalty points and certain payment forms would be operationally difficult. Industry witnesses also warned the bill could raise costs in a high-tax destination and asked for more marketing support if the tax is increased. The committee also heard concerns that a new tax on cruise ship cabins could raise federal preemption issues. The chair noted the testimony count as 23 in support, 179 in opposition, and one with comments. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the hearing ended with questions from senators and agency responses about possible amendments, enforcement, and constitutional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> do is bring forward the leasing do is bring forward the leasing authority<00:04:31.440><c> of</c
• They're exempted from DFA taking over their leasing authority. >> Right.
• They're exempted from DFA taking over their leasing authority. >> Right.
• </c> DFA taking over their leasing authority. DFA taking over their leasing authority. Right.
• If they don't the authority to lease it.

Committee: Joint Public Property

Transcript Highlights:

• Districts may impose up to three regular property tax levies.
• by the total combined levy of the district as proposed in the resolution.
• Regional fire authorities can be effective, but they are not all... for fire services.
• Regional fire authorities can be effective, but they are not always feasible or desired.
• Voters will see up front the levy amounts and the estimated impact on property owners.

Summary: The Senate Local Government and State Parks Committee heard several bills focused on local government finance, land use, and public safety. SB 5903 would deem a cemetery district commissioner elected if only one qualified candidate files, with sponsor Senator Cortez saying it would save ballot-printing costs and local resources; there was no testimony in opposition. SB 6037 would create or modify a voter-approved option for cities and towns to form a single-city fire protection district, adjust levy and notice rules, allow administrative service contracts with the city, and clarify commissioner elections; Senator Cortez and multiple city and fire officials said it would give communities more flexible, locally controlled funding tools for fire service, while committee members asked about how it would work and the fiscal impact. SB 5983 would exempt certain current-use land transferred to a government entity for right-of-way from rollback taxes when the transfer is tied to development conditions and stays within a 20% acreage limit; Senator Leas described it as helping a family farm avoid an unfair tax bill, and there was no testimony on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5995, which would remove the 2031 sunset on the prohibition against using port funds to buy fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The sponsor and labor witnesses argued the bill protects jobs, keeps public dollars from underwriting automation, and still allows zero-emission, human-operated equipment; port and labor representatives testified in strong support, while the sign-in sheet showed substantial public interest both for and against. SB 6016 would change how urban growth area swaps treat critical aquifer recharge areas, making the rules for annual and periodic updates more consistent and allowing swaps if they do not increase net CARA acreage within the UGA; the sponsor, Commerce, housing, business, and development interests said it was a technical fix that supports housing and consistency, while one witness warned it could weaken groundwater protections and create litigation risk. Finally, the committee heard SB 6066, which would let counties, cities, towns, or WSDOT designate “accident risk zones” on roads with repeated crashes, require a public hearing and engineering review, double certain traffic penalties in the zone, and dedicate half the extra revenue to safety improvements before dissolving the zone. Supporters from cities, counties, and Pasco said it could help address dangerous intersections and fund fixes, though several witnesses raised liability and implementation concerns and asked for further stakeholder work. No votes were taken in the transcript; the chair closed each hearing after testimony and sign-in counts were noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• is an airport authority?
• authority, you have...
• “Say, if you have a taxing mill-level, mill-levy authority, you have a reporting requirement.
• And they do have taxing authority.
• They get authority to implement it.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Summary: The task force met with a quorum and first reviewed a memorandum summarizing a survey of state agencies on possible statute revisions. Levi reported that 20 agencies submitted 70 proposals, with about 33 potentially becoming agency pre-file bills. Common themes included procurement, concessions, architect/engineering services, liability limits, and IT-related efficiencies. Members asked about sharing the survey results more broadly and about cross-agency coordination, especially with higher education and ITD-related issues. OMB then presented three topics from its survey responses: concessions, pre-qualification of architects/engineers/construction managers/land surveyors, and publication of legal notices. OMB said the current concessions law is too rigid because it requires award to the highest responsible bidder and does not fit newer concession models, and it suggested a best-value approach, a higher threshold, and standardized templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB said the law is fragmented across several statutes and should be consolidated and expanded for broader use. On legal notices, OMB described the current rate-setting and publication process, noted rising costs and shrinking newspaper availability, and proposed a collaborative effort to modernize notice delivery, improve accessibility, and explore online options. The task force discussed how to move these ideas forward, and a motion passed directing OMB to implement its suggestions and report back at the next meeting. The University of North Dakota then presented several proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND recommended raising the threshold for treating routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements as construction, arguing that the current $250,000 threshold forces unnecessary architect/engineer involvement and adds cost. It also proposed changes to bid advertisement language to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement criteria, a higher direct-hire threshold for design services, and an increase in the legislative approval threshold for privately funded projects. Members discussed the need for data, risk and complexity considerations, and collaboration with counsel and industry groups. A motion passed directing Levi and counsel to work with UND on bill drafts based on its proposals for a future meeting. DPI followed with a shorter presentation on credentialing and statutory cleanup. It suggested reviewing the department’s 23 credential categories for relevance, and said DPI and the Education Standards and Practices Board have discussed transferring some credentialing authority to ESPB. DPI also recommended removing outdated school safety patrol language, cleaning up waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so districts are not burdened by obsolete reporting mandates. Members agreed the screening itself should remain in place, while the reporting requirement could be reconsidered. The committee then recessed until the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• amount that does not exceed 30% of the income, and the affordable housing development is part of a lease
• So if they're donating land, if they're doing a land lease, say a 50-year land lease for a dollar a year
• It authorizes the state or a local government to assist a social housing public development authority
• They sign leases, pay rent, and make their own choices.
• Stable lease housing is not the same as short-term or service-intensive shelter models.

Bills: HB2304 , SGA9280 , SGA9281

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> take a five-year average of the levies take a five-year average of the levies so<00:03:52.720><c
• ><00:04:22.360><c> your</c><00:04:22.639><c> Aid</c><00:04:23.000><c> would</c> levied low you your Levy
• your Aid would levied low you your Levy your Aid would be<00:04:23.320><c> going</c><00:04:23.560><c
• Again, it's Holly Mik from the Bloomington Port Authority.
• </c> your comment that uh the Port Authority your comment that uh the Port Authority uh<00:21:06.720>

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill's author. Hearing none, we're going to open up public testimony.
• that have licensing authority.
• Right now, people are levied fines.
• As an amenity at the time that the tenant signed the lease.
• We want to thank Senator Hancock for authoring this important bill.

Bills: SB1113 , SB1117 , SB1206 , SB1460 , SB1802 , SB1906 , SB1917 , SB2340 , SB2455 , SB2680 , SB2690 , SB705 , SB748

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee took up pending business first and reported several bills favorably, including SB 2139, SB 2610, SB 1856, SB 2530, SB 2401, SB 2858, and SB 3016, with most of those measures moving out on committee substitutes and being sent to the local and uncontested calendar or to the full Senate. The committee also heard SB 1906 on expanding Chapter 342E consumer lending rates; supporters argued it would modernize Texas law and expand access to safe, regulated credit, while opponents from Texas Appleseed and AARP warned it would raise costs on already expensive loans and worsen debt burdens. SB 1906 was left pending after testimony. The committee also reconsidered and re-voted SB 1856 after a procedural issue, with the substitute ultimately adopted and the bill reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1113, which would clarify that certain vehicle converters, including a Texarkana business, do not need an additional dealer license to sell converted vehicles. The bill’s supporters described a long-standing business model and said the new metal license plate rules had created problems, while the Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill in its current form and said it could be resolved through DMV action or narrower changes. DMV said it was still researching a possible administrative fix, and SB 1113 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2680, a Public Information Act cleanup bill dealing with emergency deadlines, business-day exclusions, and litigation timing; broadcasters and other open-government advocates argued the issues were already addressed by prior law and court rulings, while the Attorney General’s office said the bill would help with catastrophe notices and timing conflicts. SB 2680 was left pending. Other bills heard included SB 1117, which would allow any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin neuromodulators for aesthetic purposes in the oral and maxillofacial region; the author and dental witnesses said it would clarify scope and improve access, and the bill was left pending. SB 2340 would clarify the Attorney General’s investigative authority over Texas corporations, including pre-suit depositions and sworn written questions; opponents raised due process and separation-of-powers concerns, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 705 and SB 748, both TDLR cleanup bills, and SB 1206, which would impose timelines and notice requirements on municipalities reviewing transmission projects; SB 1206 was supported by an electric cooperative and left pending. SB 1460, creating an ethics violation registry tied to licensing consequences, drew constitutional and due-process objections from several witnesses and was also left pending. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1802 on landlord duties to repair mobility assistance devices like elevators and ramps in rental housing, with the author describing prolonged outages affecting seniors; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 2455, creating an Energy Waste Advisory Committee to coordinate efficiency and demand-response programs, drew support from energy-efficiency and environmental witnesses and was left pending, and SB 2690, targeting deceptive business-certification solicitations, was laid out and opened to testimony before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> situations uh the person who is leasing situations uh the person who is leasing or<01:26:11.960>
• and preventing skyrocketing levies.
• and preventing skyrocketing levies.
• </c> us when all of a sudden your your levies us when all of a sudden your your levies go<01:37:58.840
• all</c> uh preventing from skyrocketing Levi all uh preventing from skyrocketing Levi all these<01:38

Committee: House Taxes