Transcript Highlights:

• ’ funds would then flow to non-tax institutions.
• ’ funds would then flow to non-tax institutions.
• Banks are tax-paying institutions.
• for a non-tax entity to then be the surviving entity of a merger.
• Banks are tax-paying institutions.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on consumer debt, mortgage regulation, credit unions, and foreclosure prevention. The Attorney General’s Office strongly supported the Debt Collection Fairness Act (S. 735/H. 1275), saying it would curb abusive debt collection, prevent stale claims, limit civil arrest warrants, modernize wage garnishment rules, and reduce judgment interest rates. Senator Eldridge and legal aid advocates echoed that support, while the Massachusetts Bankers Association and the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association supported bills on credit union mission/competition, consumer privacy in mortgage applications, subprime loan definitions, UCC updates, and protections for vulnerable adults, but opposed foreclosure mediation proposals and several credit union expansion measures, arguing they would distort competition and add unnecessary burdens. A large portion of the hearing focused on foreclosure prevention bills (S. 765/H. 1090), with testimony from homeowners, housing organizers, and legal advocates describing predatory lending, confusing servicing practices, health harms, and displacement caused by foreclosure. Supporters said a statewide pre-foreclosure mediation program would give borrowers and lenders a chance to reach alternatives such as loan modifications or repayment plans, and cited local experience in Lynn where mediation reportedly produced high rates of foreclosure alternatives. Opponents from the banking industry argued Massachusetts already has strong foreclosure protections and that a new mandatory process could delay resolution without added benefit, though they also noted a 2024 pilot should be evaluated first. The committee also heard strong support for H. 1282/S. 684, which would update the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code. State Street and a bankruptcy attorney said the changes are needed to keep commercial law current with electronic transactions, tokenized assets, and blockchain technology, and to maintain competitiveness with other states. The hearing concluded after public testimony, with no bill votes taken during the session; the chair thanked speakers and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• definition for harm to self and harm to others in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code
• Increasing the weight distance tax for motor vehicles other than buses, increasing registration fees
• definition for harm to self and harm to others in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code
• credit pursuant to the Income Tax Act.
• Steinborn, and Campos, an act relating to taxation, extending the sunset date for a gross receipts tax

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• definition of harm to self and harm to others in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code
• definition for harm to self and harm to others in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code
• Creating the physician tax credit pursuant to the Income Tax Act. Senate Bill 12.
• Steinborn, and Campos, an act relating to taxation, extending the sunset date for a gross receipts tax
• . tax deduction for health care practitioners, and expanding the deduction to include co-insurance.

Transcript Highlights:

• state sales and use tax.
• This is not a new tax exemption.
• There's a tax on that. Then there's a tax when... There's a tax on that.
• Last year, the bill just updated the federal reference to the federal tax code from January 1, 2024,
• code.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee considered a large agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and a trust for Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, and CS/CS/SB 1266, which creates a cybersecurity experiential learning and clearance-readiness program through the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida. The committee also approved SB 532 on clerks of court funding, allowing clerks to retain all excess Article V revenue rather than returning half to the state and clarifying foreclosure sale procedures. In addition, the committee passed CS/CS/SB 1602 and CS/CS/SB 1604 to create and fund a pilot housing program for veterans through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and CS/SB 1110 to expand Medicaid and private insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including testimony from affected families and advocates. The committee also adopted an amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/SB 1012 on inmate services, removing the bill’s medical-services compensation provisions while retaining changes to the inmate welfare trust fund and related facility uses. It also adopted a delete-all amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/CS/SB 1614, which was narrowed to remove a provision allowing local governments to use excess fees to construct new buildings. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 17, a Medicaid oversight and transparency bill. The sponsor said the measure would create a joint legislative Medicaid oversight committee, authorize the Legislature to retain its own actuary, modernize Medicaid statutes, strengthen managed-care performance standards, and increase accountability for pharmacy benefit managers and related entities. After amendment, the committee adopted changes removing several PBM-related provisions while retaining the broader oversight framework. Testimony from supporters emphasized transparency, fraud prevention, and cost control, while a PBM trade association asked to continue working on affiliate-manufacturer, network, and payment issues. The bill was reported favorably. The most extensive discussion centered on CS/SB 1758, which proposes major changes to Medicaid and SNAP. The sponsor described five reforms: stronger fraud and overpayment recovery authority, a Medicaid work requirement for certain able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral-health services through Medicaid waivers, pharmacy-program changes to obtain rebates and reduce institutional costs, and SNAP/EBT reforms including photo IDs and work requirements. The committee adopted two amendments: one adding a transitional “glide path” for people who gain employment but risk losing Medicaid, and another exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fraud, improve accountability, and encourage work, while opponents warned it would increase administrative burdens, push eligible people off coverage, and conflict with federal law or guidance. The bill remained under debate with extensive public testimony from advocates, providers, and affected families, and the transcript ends before final disposition on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we've been very busy, uh, for the veteran tax exemptions up through this year.
• We've had many new veterans apply for the $10,000 the veteran tax exemption of 10,000, and uh.
• I think you and the code.
• something to code so something they take into consideration, um.
• Um, maybe we can just add, looking again at taxes, I think in general, um, veterans and military taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• and sales tax.
• and sales tax.
• use tax.
• It creates fairness in the tax code, encourages local reinvestments, and makes it easier for small business
• Senate Bill 1030 removes a significant obstacle in the tax code to allow further expansion of the Texas

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard several tax and economic development bills. SB 935 would exempt counties from the motor fuels tax on fuel used exclusively in county vehicles; Sen. Hall and Cass County Judge Travis Ransom argued it would save counties money without changing fund allocations, and the bill was left pending while the committee waited for the House version. SB 2206 would extend and revise Texas’s research and development incentives by tying the franchise tax credit more closely to federal law and changing the program’s effective date; supporters from business, manufacturing, and tax policy groups said it would protect innovation jobs and help startups, while the Comptroller’s office explained the fiscal note and said the committee substitute was no longer needed. The committee later withdrew the substitute and left the bill pending before ultimately voting it out favorably. The committee also heard SB 2020, which would repeal the “rehab tax” on nonresidential remodeling. Sen. Campbell said a large fiscal note led him to delay a full presentation, but builders, architects, and contractors testified that the tax raises remodeling costs, complicates audits, and discourages reuse and reinvestment in existing buildings. The bill was left pending. SB 2018 would create a two-year “strong families” tax credit for businesses donating to nonprofits that provide family support services; supporters from Family First, Buckner International, and Texas Baptist said it would strengthen families, father engagement, and upstream prevention, while the author said the Comptroller and HHSC were still working on administration details. That bill was also left pending. After a quorum was established, the committee heard and later reported several bills favorably. SB 1030 would exempt certain aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul parts from sales tax for general aviation; industry, airport, and local economic development witnesses said it would keep high-wage aviation work in Texas and improve competitiveness with neighboring states, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 214 would create a temporary sales tax holiday for qualifying residential HVAC systems; it was laid out and left pending. SB 1901 would make administrative and ethics changes to the Opioid Abatement Fund Council, including staggered terms, conflict rules, and fund reallocation procedures; it was reported favorably. SB 266 would repeal the Texas Research Incentive Program and use the appropriation to address the existing backlog of unmatched donations; the chair and Sen. Paxton said the state should honor past commitments, and the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Costs across all P codes. The LFC recommendation is...
• Some notable differences through P codes is for P codes 602, Program Support.
• You know, cannabis, the money that comes in is for taxes, right?
• The money the state gets—we don't keep taxes; it goes to the tax draft.
• , bringing it to current code.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two bills that addressed tax preferences that we recently reviewed and another 16 bills were introduced
• LCB collects a tax on retail sales of cannabis, but since the system does not capture all retail sales
• LCB collects a tax on retail sales of cannabis, but since the system does not capture all retail sales
• The retail sales are coming through on the tax reporting and to DOR for both LCB.
• that those codes that were pulling the data.

Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the tax forms and the tax remittance are pending. That's what we are working on.
• The department is also proposing to amend the Labor Code via the trailer bill process.
• The vast majority of insurers and self- Franchise Tax Board and CDTFA.
• The department has two funding sources, the Cannabis Control Fund and the Cannabis Tax Fund.
• The Cannabis Tax Fund does not receive its allocation until mid-November.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee held a May Revision budget hearing on state administration and related issues, hearing presentations from multiple departments and agencies. Early items included the Public Employment Relations Board on funding for implementation of AB 1 and a reduced request tied to AB 288, the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement on a technical College Corps adjustment, and the Secretary of State on building security upgrades, election security grant matching funds, and payroll system readiness costs. The Department of Consumer Affairs presented a Board of Pharmacy modernization request and a General Fund backfill for the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education; the LAO raised no concerns on the pharmacy item but recommended rejecting the private postsecondary backfill and questioned interest-free loan language. The Employment Development Department outlined several large workload and benefit adjustments, including EDD Next document management funding, UI loan interest, DI/PFL benefit increases, WIOA adjustments, school employee benefits, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical reversion correction; the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL increase and the expansion of the document management scope, while members asked about program impacts and timelines. The California Workforce Development Board presented an April adjustment to reimbursement authority for an interagency agreement with Caltrans, which the LAO said raised no concerns. Public comment on that item and others included support for workforce and apprenticeship initiatives, including the Jails to Jobs proposal and renewal of the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, though those were not part of the May Revision package. The Department of Industrial Relations then presented several proposals: reclassifying legal positions, continuing modernization of the workers’ compensation EAMS system, Cal/OSHA data modernization, creating a Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, reappropriating funds for the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship program, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the statutory treatment of the workers’ compensation administrative director’s salary. The LAO generally found the IT and salary proposals reasonable but urged close monitoring of the new emerging technologies unit. Committee members, especially Assemblymember Ortega, pressed DIR on long vacancy rates, wage theft claim delays, low collection rates for Cal/OSHA fines, and whether new resources would improve outcomes; DIR said it was pursuing recruitment, classification reviews, and process modernization, while the LAO noted that staffing alone may not explain the delays. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board also sought to make permanent a 2024 change to the 60-day reconsideration clock, saying it had reduced backlog and interim orders; the LAO had no concerns. Finally, the Department of Human Resources presented a statewide Employee Assistance Program contract consolidation that would lower costs compared with renewing separate contracts and requested one program manager position to oversee the contract and first responder services; the hearing continued with Finance’s response after the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes some tax provisions.
• The amendment is coded<00:04:34.880> A3.
• I recognize a member from coded A3.
• It removes some um tax amendment.
• So, at carrying those in the tax bill.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 4188, the commerce omnibus policy bill, was presented as a consumer-protection measure covering several areas: a statewide ban on crypto ATMs/kiosks beginning August 1, 2026; new recordkeeping and complaint-handling requirements; student loan borrower protections; restrictions on deceptive insurance advertising and insurance lead generators; bullion dealer jurisdiction clarifications; appraisal and appraisal management reporting requirements; scrap metal transaction tracking; collection agency clarifications; and unclaimed property improvements. The bill author said the overall goal was to address real consumer harm, especially scams and transparency issues. Representative O'Driscoll urged adoption of the A3 amendment, explaining that it removed tax provisions that had come late in the process and could be handled in the tax bill instead. The amendment was adopted without objection. During floor debate on the bill, Representative Roach opposed the crypto kiosk ban, saying the state could regulate fraud without eliminating the machines entirely. Representative O'Driscoll defended the ban as necessary to protect older and vulnerable Minnesotans from scam tactics, and Representative McDonald raised concerns about a separate scrap metal licensing provision and a $500 late fee, which Representative Holland said had been recommended by the Department of Commerce. After discussion, the bill author reiterated support for the measure and thanked committee and staff members. The House then took a roll call vote and passed House File 4188 as amended by a vote of 122-12, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I think it's going to be more up to the municipalities the way they write it into their tax code.
• So, municipalities can't write their own tax code and they can't change the definition of veteran or
• The study on line five, section eight, makes the reference to the tax code here.
• The study on line five, section eight, makes the reference to the tax code here.
• The study on line five, section eight, makes the reference to the tax code here.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're paying the communications services tax, that can be as much as 14% or more depending upon where
• We have to do that. >> Let's go ahead and move to bar Code 7, 7, 7, 2, 7, 2, >> Okay.
• This bill reflects Florida's trust and tax collectors to deliver critical state motor vehicle services
• We have drew minor from the Florida Tax Collectors Association and he is waving in speaking in support
• And those found in state requirements for education facilities of the Florida building code prohibits

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Compensatory relief when a locality is found to be willfully violating the Code of Virginia.
• And that's a dangerous precedent letting a bureaucrat, 400 of them at the VEC, tax their payroll.
• This legislation amends sections of the Code of Virginia relating to the Brown v.
• I've looked in the code.
• I've looked in the code, and I've looked at this bill and 1524 and a couple others.

Keywords: March 11, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is, again, updating the recidivism statute that we've had in code.
• And so, well, that I guess has a problem because there is no 61-2-10-C in code.
• That's not—there's a 61-2-10-C in code. That's not—there's a 61-2-10-C in code.
• I don't believe it's in the code. Yeah, that's how it came. That's fine.
• The House extended the tax credit for an additional two years. I urge its adoption.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The penal code is very confusing when you read it. What does a private establishment mean?
• The penal code should read very clear.
• You, you mentioned the tax revenue the state gets from these.
• So they, so they're paying the alcoholic beverage taxes as well. Thank you very much.
• It does not change the tax on spirit-based RTDs or any other spirits-based product.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Westlin. trust code and I do have um Lauren Baron trust code and I do have um Lauren
• technical changes to our trust code technical changes to our trust code which<00:03:32.519> was
• <00:03:40.840> that chapters of the Minnesota code that chapters of the Minnesota code that
• Nope, this is all in the probate code.
• <00:18:47.480> more opportunity to um bring the code more opportunity to um bring the code

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tax code benefits those who have more money versus those who have less money.
• <00:16:46.480> code<00:16:46.720> benefits know, as per usual the tax code benefits
• know, as per usual the tax code benefits those<00:16:47.400> who<00:16:47.520> have<00
• tax code benefits those who have more money versus those who have less money.
• tax code benefits those who have more money versus those who have less money.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentation on HF 495, a bill intended to help families with rising child care costs by allowing a subtraction from taxable income for licensed child care expenses. The author said the measure would provide immediate relief to families while broader child care supply and affordability problems are addressed, citing a revenue analysis estimating about 81,700 returns affected and an average tax decrease of $639. The bill was described as applying only to licensed child care centers, family child care, or group family child care under chapter 142B. A virtual testifier, Annel Velasco of St. Paul, opposed the bill. She said child care is indeed expensive but argued the proposal is only a small patch that does not address structural problems such as provider closures, low teacher pay, and lack of available slots. She also said the subtraction would disproportionately benefit higher-income families and would not help providers or teachers. Members debated whether the bill should be more targeted. Representative Smith and Representative Lee argued the proposal is uncapped, expensive, and structured as a subtraction rather than a refundable credit, meaning it would mainly help higher-income households and could divert resources from other credits such as the working family tax credit or child tax credit. Representative Swedzinski supported the bill as allowing families to keep their own money and said child care costs are high across income levels. Chair Gomez and others emphasized that the child care system has broader structural failures, including low pay and lack of slots, and said this bill would address only one part of the problem. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't see this tax credit as a liability. I see this tax credit as an investment.
• AB 1519 does not forgive taxes.
• The definition of tax in this bill relates only to the specific section of code and does not affect the
• definition of tax elsewhere.
• And that's where the historic tax credits come in. 38 states have historic tax credit programs.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• compression from the property tax compression from the property tax reform.<01:25:07.520> You
• And so we just have pay the taxes.
• taxes any increase<01:30:53.199> in<01:30:53.440> taxes<01:30:54.400> especially
• ><01:30:54.880> property increase in taxes especially property increase in taxes especially property
• it to bond out and and set their own tax it to bond out and and set their own tax rate. rate. rate

Bills: SF0082

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and zoning code and building code and all those challenges.
• and zoning code and building code and all those challenges.
• tax relief on their donations.
• They have federal revenues, district revenues, that includes ad valorem taxes, agriculture taxes, permit
• They have federal revenues, district revenues that include ad valorem taxes, agriculture taxes, permit

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.