Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2946, relating to development fees. You've heard the third reading of House Bill 2946.
• A small one-bedroom workforce unit could be charged the same fee as a much larger luxury unit.
• When we weaken the ability of cities to structure and collect those fees responsibly, the cost does not
• This bill strengthens protections against sudden fee increases during long buildouts.
• the East Valley, they're charging $30,000 for impact fees on a home, new construction.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona should only have to pay a minimal processing fee.
• They should pay what it costs to actually process the fees.
• Lowering fees protects equal access to our constitutional right.
• It's predictable, reasonable fees improve compliance.
• Predictable, reasonable fees improve compliance.

Bills: SB1003, SB1006, SB1029, SB1037, SB1038, SB1039, SB1040, SB1053, SB1057, SB1060, SB1061, SB1068, SB1069

Keywords: election, canvass, certification, ballot tabulation, write-in candidates, registration, voting procedures, campaign finance, contribution limits, reporting requirements, political action committees, elections, campaign contributions, candidate committees, posthumous provisions, termination process, Arizona Revised Statutes, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, as a fee-based agency, we collect approximately $30 million in license revenue, and then
• County, and my grandsons and myself, we pay a fee to fish at a pay lake, and that was one of my main
• County, and my grandsons and myself, we pay a fee to fish at a pay lake, and that was one of my main
• County, and my grandsons and myself, we pay a fee to fish at a pay lake, and that was one of my main
• grandsons and myself and we we pay a fee grandsons and myself and we we pay a fee to<00:21:26.200

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 01:45 SB 245 Discussion 02:20 SB 245 Roll Call Vote 04:12 SB 112 Discussion 05:25 SB 8 Discussion 25:20, 958, all

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then took up Senate Bill 245, which would give the legislature more authority to review appointments to the Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission and clarify language about commissioners serving before confirmation. The sponsor said the bill was meant to allow a deeper background review and prevent unconfirmed appointees from voting on budget matters. The bill was adopted with a sub and title amendment, and Senator Boswell explained his yes vote as a way to ensure timely and proper confirmation votes in the future. The committee then discussed Senate Bill 112, concerning fishing on privately owned lakes and ponds. Senator Boswell argued that landowners should be able to fish on their own property without a license and should control fish harvest on private waters, while still requiring permission for others to fish. Commissioner Rich Storm opposed the proposal, saying landowners already may fish on their property, warning that the bill could reduce fishing-license revenue and federal grant support, and noting the department’s work stocking fish, maintaining access, and funding conservation programs. Senator Webb said he was exploring possible compromise language, and other members raised concerns about pay lakes, youth access, and potential abuse of exemptions. Boswell ultimately withdrew the bill voluntarily, and the committee agreed not to vote on it that day. Finally, the committee heard a discussion-only presentation on Senate Bill 8, focused on long-term energy policy and the role of the Public Service Commission. The sponsor said Kentucky needs a broader energy strategy to address growing demand from new industries such as large data centers, grid capacity limits, and the need for expertise and possibly different pay scales to recruit qualified staff. Members responded positively to the discussion, noting the importance of the PSC and the need for continued work on the issue, but no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We no longer collect the host fee.
• The ESMC program has played an fee.
• And I know come out a delivery fee.
• <00:42:37.839> is heard the delivery fee is heard the delivery fee is underperforming.<00:
• <00:42:51.760> is we know how this delivery fee is we know how this delivery fee is performing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this structure works in conjunction with credits against foreign taxes paid, right?
• And so the structure that was put in place that's been updated now through the bill from a few months
• How do we appropriately treat it here in a way that we are accounting for it within our tax structure
• I think that the current structure that was put in place, implemented in law in 2018, absolutely does
• So when I was in law firm, I would take some contingent fee cases.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, this bill imposes a cap structure that creates tremendous uncertainty for consumers, investors
• NIL is structural. It is not optional. And falling behind shrinks that visibility.
• Colleagues, this bill is about fairness, structure, and bringing our laws in line with the reality of
• This bill provides the structure needed to navigate this landscape.
• This year it's an endowment structure.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At a time when California is facing a structural deficit, these tax breaks are tax subsidies.
• At a time when California is facing a structural deficit, these tax breaks are tax subsidizations by
• California already imposes specific taxes and fees on industries such as oil, lithium extraction, and
• This structure is designed to promote balanced decision-making and transparency in the appeal process
• Additionally, this reform addresses a structural imbalance in the subject matter expertise.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills, most of them referred to the suspense file because of their fiscal impact. AB 2465 and AB 1675 would deny state grants, loans, tax credits, or other benefits to companies doing business with ICE or related immigration-enforcement agencies; both drew strong support from immigrant-rights, labor, and community groups, and opposition from CalChamber and industry groups that argued the bills were overly broad and could affect unrelated federal contracts. AB 1633 would impose a 50% gross receipts tax on for-profit private immigration detention facilities, with supporters saying it would hold companies accountable for dangerous conditions and opponents warning it was punitive and could disrupt detention operations. The committee also heard AB 2089, which would streamline the welfare property tax exemption process for affordable housing, and AB 2250, a cleanup bill to clarify hemp enforcement laws; both were supported by affected industry and advocacy groups, while county assessors and tax collectors opposed AB 2089 unless amended over workload and implementation concerns. AB 2172, which would allow counties to use a single-member assessment appeals commissioner for complex property tax appeals, was the only bill taken up for a vote during the meeting. Supporters, including Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, said the change would reduce a large backlog and speed resolution of appeals; the committee adopted amendments and passed the bill 4-0 to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2319, creating a proposed post-production tax credit to keep film and television post-production work in California, with support from labor and industry representatives who said jobs and spending were leaving the state; the author said the bill still needed work on labor standards and the annual credit cap. Finally, AB 2403 was presented to create a commercial production tax credit to keep commercial shoots in California. The author and supporters said commercial production has declined sharply in the state and that other states are winning work through targeted incentives, while labor-backed witnesses argued the bill would protect middle-class jobs and local spending. The transcript ends during the presentation of AB 2403, before any vote or final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s about $32 million a year, and vehicle fees and a surcharge go into the Capital Vessel Replacement
• Pre-CCA, when we set these things up and we added the fees to fund this average here of $122 million,
• So our first priority is looking at the bridge needs, looking at the structure needs across the state
• I'm the state bridge and structures engineer. I'm responsible... Committee, my name is Evan Grimm.
• I'm the state bridge and structures engineer.

Summary: The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel. Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs. The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions. Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems. Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at this time, the Those anticipation notes and revenue notes are structured in a way that allows
• And I'd appreciate it if I could just kind of see how this structured deal works, how the money flows
• We believe that, because hanging in the balance is a very expensive structure, we can move through an
• We have a study done in 2018 to explore options for essentially better securing the structure.
• We then transform that data into a structure into graphs and charts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Allotment bonus structures. We're good, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Hagenmuth.
• And do they pay you a fee to help them implement it? They do not pay us a dime.
• Incentives and bonus structures, or if the district hasn't yet applied, many teachers in that district
• In Dallas ISD, the district has worked to create a structured, transparent pathway for all teachers,
• So that’s an incredible structure for being as pro-teacher as we've ever been.

Bills: SB26, SB 26

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, SB 26, Texas Property Code, colonia, colonias, Spanish translation, bilingual contract, real estate contract, executory contract, residential property, border county, international border, economically distressed area, consumer protection, language access, translator certified in Spanish

Transcript Highlights:

• This will provide those jurisdictions time to conduct a fee study and implement potential changes.
• Together, these programs create structured pathways. Mr.
• Alvarez: These programs create structured pathways from high school to community colleges to the CSU
• This funding structure does not include any new taxes or fees and contains safeguards and transparency
• Assembly Bill 2428 by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez and others, relating to fees.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the fact that that system has an alarm that goes off and is sounded inside of that safe structure
• gives me the comfort to ...and is sounded inside of that safe structure gives me the comfort to know
• It provides for priority docketing and prevailing party attorney's fees in law.
• It provides for priority docketing and prevailing party attorney's fees in lawsuits brought under the
• It exempts the Wekiva study area and Everglades Protection Area, revises attorney's fees to favor the

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including students, business groups, and university basketball coaches. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar, taking up a series of bills on trust law, school district reporting, debt collection, service of process, lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ownership/health care licensure issues, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving the scene of a crash, background screening for athletic coaches, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. Several bills were temporarily postponed, and multiple House companion bills were substituted where the measures were identical or had only drafting differences. Debate focused on a few measures. Senators questioned the trust code bill’s effect on out-of-state attorneys general; the school reporting bill was described as strengthening arrest and misconduct reporting for instructional personnel; and the service-of-process and lodging bills were presented as technical and consumer-protection fixes. The fentanyl testing bill drew emotional support from the sponsor and families affected by overdose deaths. The surrendered-infant bill prompted opposition over safety, anonymity, and the limited use of baby boxes, while supporters argued it could save lives. The affordable housing bill, updating the Live Local Act, was amended to adjust parking reductions and allow certain properties to use the administrative approval process, with additional limits and exclusions added. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, including the trust code bill, school reporting, debt collection, service of process, lien waivers, public records, foreign-country business interest restrictions, diabetes management in schools, platting, fentanyl testing, third-party reservation platforms, electronic landlord-tenant notices, leaving-the-scene restitution, athletic coach background screening, surrendered infants, and affordable housing. The day’s most divided vote was on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, which drew extended debate over fluoride policy and other provisions; it passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to immediately certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a Taiwan-related resolution for the journal, made additional announcements, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• with limited purpose fee-for-service with limited purpose fee-for-service contracts. contracts.
• already said about the delivery fees. already said about the delivery fees.
• That's structural violence.
• That's structural violence.
• That's structural violence.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an annual fee, and it's about $475. Okay, gotcha.
• Associations... are adding various additional charges disguised as inspection fees, processing fees,
• rush fees, document assembly fees, document preparation fees, or other creative labels to effectively
• In some cases, they charged contingency fees for work never performed.
• Attorney's fees should they lose.

Bills: HB 1087, HB2504, HB4113, HB5144, HB5146, HB5377, HB5543, SB140, SB264, SB1244, SB1343, SB2121, HR868

Keywords: property owners, board vacancy, special election, association governance, community management, property owners' association, resale certificate, fees, real estate regulation, homeowners, HB 4113, Texas Rising Star Program, child care, child-care providers, Texas Workforce Commission, TWC, safety barriers, crash-rated bollards, bollards, playground safety

Transcript Highlights:

• 1, Article 2 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to public records and a legislative records fee
• The sponsor said that she was attempting to allow a non-waivable fee that is charged to people who have
• But this statute referenced in this bill allows the fee to be waived and it allows it to qualify for
• homeless and indigent people would be discriminated against and would not be allowed to have their fee
• And on the one hand, it prohibits a legislator from being charged a fee for public records requests.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, we decided to have those options side by side and structure the benefits to be the same or
• Medicare Advantage, instead of paying fee for service, pays a capitated rate up front to the carrier,
• This bundled structure made sense for years.
• And this bundled structure made sense for years.
• Obviously, some significant changes in the structure through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Summary: The committee received an update from Grant Wallace on the rebid and possible decoupling of the state’s Medicare Advantage retiree coverage. He said the state is exploring splitting medical and pharmacy benefits for post-65 retirees, with UnitedHealthcare as the incumbent vendor, and that preliminary estimates suggested savings of about $100 to $200 per participant per month. He outlined the expected timeline for final CMS rate announcements in April 2026, with contract amendments likely to come before the committee in May or June after review by the EBD Advisory Commission and State Board of Finance. Representatives from Segal Consulting then reviewed the history and current structure of the Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan, explaining that the plan was adopted after a 2021 recommendation and launched in 2023 alongside the existing Med-Sup option. They said the Medicare Advantage option has produced substantial savings, including a lower monthly rate than the Med-Sup plan and about $40 million in savings from initial enrollment, while also restoring pharmacy benefits for some retirees. The presenters then explained recent federal changes under the Inflation Reduction Act, including major changes to Part D funding, the direct subsidy, and risk-score methodology, which they said have made risk adjustment much more important and are driving interest in separating medical and pharmacy contracts. In response to questions from senators, the presenters said the Medicare Advantage plan covers post-65 teacher and state employee retirees, including retirees from state agencies and K-12 public schools. They also explained that the new Part D structure has reduced out-of-pocket costs for members, with a $2,000 annual cap and lower average member spending to reach it, while shifting more cost to the plan. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported; the committee simply received the update and was told to expect further information after the April rate notice. The meeting adjourned with the committee scheduled to return on May 13.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'd see fee uh to process that.
• fee is what it would amount to. fee is what it would amount to.
• So it would be an NSR fee funds.
• <01:09:42.239> uh background, uh the application fee uh background, uh the application fee
• reduction led to a need for a fee reduction led to a need for a fee increase<01:43:15.360> which

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session the parental fees for MAPD.
• In the governor's proposal, there was licensing fees and application fees that went into the state government
• fees and application fees u licensing fees and application fees that<01:12:28.560> went<01:12:
• not going to ever do the parental fee not going to ever do the parental fee thing<01:54:31.599><
• the people not getting rides are the fee the people not getting rides are the fee for<01:55:15.119

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• structural safety and health building structural safety and health building standards<00:12:07.600>
• quick is that um that uh this structure quick is that um that uh this structure I<00:21:22.960><
• And I is currently structured right now.
• were not a part of that structured deal. were not a part of that structured deal.
• Uh next historic<01:08:19.440> structure<01:08:19.839> rehabilitation historic structure

Transcript Highlights:

• And to me, that's, you know, I'm paying a fee, I don't get the service, I get my money back.
• The experiment of a voluntary structure for designers has failed.
• The experiment of a voluntary structure for designers has failed.
• In addition to education and examination requirements, many licensees must pay recurring renewal fees
• In addition to education and examination requirements, many licensees must pay recurring renewal fees

Keywords: 987, senate, all