Transcript Highlights:

• their disability benefits as income when determining eligibility for the disabled veterans property tax
• through the low-income category of the disabled veterans' property tax exemption.
• from the calculation of household income for purposes of the low-income disabled veterans' property tax
• Excuse me, file item nine: Personal Income Tax Law, Exclusive Military Retirement Pay. Thank you.
• Item 9, Personal Income Tax Law, Exclusive Military Retirement Pay. Oh, that's the one I just did.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this bill is to provide a reduction in the personal income tax.
• The Senate version also provided an increase in the sales tax on vape products.
• To preserve the income tax, I urge its adoption. Is there further discussion?
• Can you explain what the language around the tax credit you mentioned?
• income tax.

Summary: The Senate took up a series of House amendments to enrolled bills and, in each case, accepted the amendments and passed the bills, often with effective dates set by separate motions. Measures approved included pay increases for the judiciary (SB 29), regulation of homemade food sales (SB 44), protections against financial exploitation of eligible adults (SB 617), involuntary hospitalization changes (SB 742), transfer of the court security fund (SB 952), asbestos and silica statute-of-limitations changes (SB 1008), cooperation with bordering states by law enforcement agencies (SB 723), birth certificate access for homeless minors (SB 947), personal income tax reduction (SB 392), criminal penalties for abuse or neglect of incapacitated adults (SB 54), child abuse investigation technology and a caseworker aid pilot program (SB 228), value-based payment requirements (SB 231), workforce readiness and micro-credential provisions (SB 402), contractor license transfer rules for immediate family members (SB 553), refusal review hearings (SB 575), coal code modernization and minors protection (SB 686), lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations (SB 906), penalties for disturbing religious worship (SB 1026), the Sustaining Opportunities for Academics and Rural Schools Act (SB 63), women’s collegiate sports protections (SB 502), and modernization funding for Workforce West Virginia (SB 153). Most of these bills passed with unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 392 passed 31-2 on the first vote and was later reconsidered and passed again 32-2. Several bills were made effective from passage or on July 1, 2026. The Senate also considered Senate Executive Message No. 4 from the Committee on Confirmations. The chamber confirmed all nominees except number 54 in one vote, then separately confirmed nominee 54 by a 30-3 vote. After the confirmation business, the Senate briefly recessed and later returned to additional floor business. During the session, the majority leader also delivered remarks on affordability, citing prior tax reductions, a personal property tax rebate, elimination of state income tax on Social Security for seniors, and efforts to increase homestead exemptions. He urged the governor to explore ways to address rising gasoline prices. The remarks were entered into the journal by unanimous consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this bill is to provide a reduction in the personal income tax.
• To preserve the income tax, I urge its adoption. Is there further discussion?
• Can you explain what the language around the tax credit you mentioned?
• To that, with an additional 5% reduction in personal income tax.
• income tax.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> conform with the federal tax credits. conform with the federal tax credits.
• I mean, tax side of the ledger, speaking of failed ideas, he's talking about expanding the sales tax
• and lowering it, social media tax, those types of things.
• we tax Minnesotans more?"
• </c> child care that you're open to that tax child care that you're open to that tax provision,<00:24

Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press event focused on school safety, student performance, and relief from what they described as burdensome mandates on districts. Sen. Zach Duckworth promoted the SHIELD Act, which would provide grant funding through the Minnesota School Safety Center for security upgrades such as access controls, ballistic-resistant materials, mass notification systems, and staff training. He also highlighted other education bills, including measures to require parental and teacher notification of violent incidents within 24 hours, allow short removals after serious incidents in K-3 classrooms, expand retention and intervention policies for students not meeting grade level, and increase parental access to curriculum materials and consent for sex education. Duckworth said the school safety proposal has bipartisan support and argued schools should have flexible, locally driven tools to protect students. Sen. Julia Coleman and other Republicans framed the agenda as a response to classroom violence, learning loss, and a lack of transparency. Coleman said teachers and parents are seeing serious problems firsthand and argued that schools should not hide violent incidents. She described Senate File 676 as a notification and anti-retaliation bill, and said Senate File 4023 would give schools a brief reset after serious incidents in early grades. She also backed the transparency bill requiring parental review of curriculum and written consent for sex education. The group repeatedly argued that schools, parents, and teachers should be prioritized over what they called political secrecy or overreach. Sen. Jason Rarick focused on school finance, saying new state mandates have left districts in deficit despite prior funding increases. He discussed bills to expand safe school aid to nonpublic schools, increase staffing at the Minnesota School Safety Center, expand counselor funding for nonpublic students to K-6, and conform state law to federal tax credits that could support scholarships and tutoring. Sen. Carla Nelson Housley argued that more than 60 unfunded mandates have strained districts and said Senate File 3361 would temporarily let districts transfer funds between accounts and opt out of certain new mandates from 2023-24, with public board discussion and votes. In the question period, Republicans also discussed the governor’s supplemental budget, fraud enforcement, possible bonding for IT upgrades, and potential tax and child care credit changes, while emphasizing they want bipartisan cooperation on fraud and school safety but oppose new taxes and what they called harmful mandates.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the governor's tax commission came in that much significantly higher.
• And I suspect that by lowering the taxes that we did last year, With that increase.
• And I think that we'll have tax revenues come in. When we cut taxes, usually revenues go up.
• And so I think by lowering the tax rate, we'll see higher revenues, Time.
• And so I think by lowering the tax rate, we'll see higher revenues.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard the Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee’s report on Idaho’s general fund revenue projections for FY 2026, FY 2027, and FY 2028. The report recommended revenues of about $5.665 billion for FY 2026 and $5.8166 billion for FY 2027, both above Governor Little’s projections, with committee members describing the outlook as generally conservative but supported by recent revenue collections and expert testimony. Members also noted a correction to the FY 2027 percentage increase in the report, changing it from 2.8% to 2.4%. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on parliamentary procedure and the difference between “accepting” the report and “adopting” it. Staff explained that accepting the report would acknowledge the committee’s work, while adopting it would set the revenue number for JFAC. After motions were withdrawn and clarified, members debated the implications of the revenue level for future budgeting, including possible impacts on Medicaid, state employee compensation, education, transportation, fire funding, and conformity to federal tax changes. Several members said the recommendation was a prudent middle ground, while others emphasized caution and the need to preserve services or consider tax policy changes. In the end, JFAC voted to adopt the Economic Outlook report with the FY 2027 percentage corrected to 2.4%. The motion passed unanimously, 10-0 in both the House and Senate votes. The committee then adjourned until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, as you know, you saw that skinny-down version of the tax bill.
• Um, right now that taxes bill is being looked at.
• Um right now that taxes bill is it?
• Why do members of your caucus not like the tax bill?
• </c><00:07:02.240><c> bill</c> been proposed as that skinny tax bill been proposed as that skinny tax

Transcript Highlights:

• So, moving use tax into sales tax and reorganizing the entire set.
• </c> use tax reorganization. use tax reorganization.
• into sales tax and So, moving use tax into sales tax and reorganizing<00:30:39.919><c> the</c><00:30:
• And And And on<02:19:23.840><c> tax</c><02:19:24.160><c> issues,</c> on tax issues, on tax issues, general
• </c> on general tax bills. Now, Mr. on general tax bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 295 this is a bill which will use my tax 295 this is a bill which will use my tax dollars<01:06:
• I don't like taxes.
• I don't like taxes.
• I don't like taxes.
• I don't like taxes.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It reinvests tax dollars into the local and national economy, provides growth, expands the tax base,
• </c><00:09:43.040><c> base,</c> expands the tax base, expands the tax base, uh<00:09:45.040><c> creates
• ><c> that</c><00:10:46.959><c> shift</c> Tax dollars reward companies that shift Tax dollars reward companies
• , or Medicare tax.
• </c> duct deducted federal and state taxes duct deducted federal and state taxes from<01:14:27.120><c

Summary: The committee met on October 23, 2025, approved the September minutes, and heard testimony on a proposed “Kentucky by America” procurement preference bill. Representative Patrick Flannery described the concept as giving preference in public construction and public works contracts to iron, steel, aluminum, and other manufactured goods made in the United States, while emphasizing he wanted to avoid excessive taxpayer costs and was open to changes. Chad Connley of the United Steelworkers and Dustin Reinsteller of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO supported the idea, arguing it would strengthen domestic manufacturing, keep tax dollars in the local economy, and support jobs; Connley said the bill would include waivers for items not made domestically and noted Kentucky has opted out of the GPA trade agreement. Mike Buckington of Metals Innovation Initiative, testifying virtually, also supported the concept and said Kentucky’s metals sector has seen significant investment and can supply most construction needs, while stressing supply-chain reliability and national security concerns. Members generally expressed support but raised questions about implementation. Representative Branscum asked who would grant waivers and how contractors would know the rules during bidding; Flannery said he was open to revising the language and process. Representative Gentry supported the concept but said the bill would likely need editing to avoid harming businesses or markets. Senator Nun suggested aligning the bill’s definition of a U.S. good with industry country-of-origin standards to make compliance easier. Representative KC Carney asked for data on the impact of similar laws in other states, and Connley said he could provide numbers later but did not have them on hand. Senator Boswell supported the concept and asked about the cost threshold for waivers; Connley said the federal standard is a 25% cost increase, while the prior Kentucky version used 10%, and that the threshold is a key detail. The committee then shifted to an informational presentation on building trade apprenticeships. Eric Elie of the Kentucky State Pipe Trades Association, Nick Brown of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 502, and retired IBEW training director Steve Willinghurst explained how union apprenticeship programs work. Brown described earn-while-you-learn training, with apprentices placed on jobs by signatory contractors and attending classes two nights a week for five years. He outlined the work of plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and HVACR technicians, emphasizing that these trades support construction, industrial facilities, distilleries, and other critical infrastructure. No votes or formal actions were taken on the policy topics beyond approval of the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as interest rates rise, as the cost of insurance rises, as property taxes rise, all of that is
• "Well, when you look at property taxes, that is something that legislators can and should be taking a
• so those costs across the property taxes so those costs across the board<00:07:17.400><c> are</c><00
• the cost of the cost of property taxes the cost of an<00:07:24.639><c> interest</c><00:07:25.039><c>
• </c> the bill would impact property taxes the bill would impact property taxes payable<00:27:00.039><

Transcript Highlights:

• rate or tax mechanisms such as the company's tax, and to dedicate a portion of this increase tax revenue
• rate or tax through available tax rate or tax mechanisms<01:56:29.040><c> such</c><01:56:29.199><c>
• One way is the conveyance tax. It's basically a sales tax that's applied when properties are sold.
• One way is the conveyance tax. It's basically a sales tax that's applied when properties are sold.
• We'd like to the conveyance tax.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1768, which would prohibit state and county law enforcement agencies and officials from entering into federal immigration-enforcement agreements under 8 U.S.C. 1357(g) and from assisting in certain immigration enforcement actions except in limited circumstances. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi all testified in strong support, arguing the bill would protect due process, reduce fear in immigrant communities, preserve trust in local police, and keep local resources focused on public safety. Testifiers said cooperation with immigration enforcement can chill court attendance, crime reporting, and cooperation with police, and they emphasized that the bill would not stop federal enforcement or affect other deputization agreements for environmental or other criminal matters. Committee members asked whether any 287(g) agreements currently exist in Hawaiʻi; testifiers said they were unaware of any and believed the bill would maintain the status quo. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up House Bill 1548, which would reduce the maximum sentence for misdemeanors from one year to 364 days and allow people previously sentenced to one year to seek sentence modification. The Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, and the William S. Richardson School of Law immigration clinic all supported the measure, saying the one-day change could prevent severe immigration consequences such as detention, removal, and bars to relief that can be triggered by a sentence of 365 days or more. Testifiers stressed that the bill would not change criminal liability or public safety, but would align Hawaiʻi law with similar reforms adopted in other states. Members questioned whether the change would affect citizens or create an automatic immigration process; witnesses responded that the issue is the federal immigration consequence tied to the maximum sentence, not actual time served, and that citizens would not face that consequence. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 1548, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one of the things that the CalCompetes tax credit is for.
• Film and television tax credit program.
• Could get access to the opportunity created by our tax dollars.
• That battle on the underlying tax credit is done.
• So the tax credit...

Transcript Highlights:

• But I'm also concerned about giving a credit for the tax against the timber tax.
• </c> about giving a credit for the tax about giving a credit for the tax against<00:10:09.920><c> the
• them twice, two different HCA, we tax them twice, two different taxes<00:10:23.760><c> on</c><00:10:
• No, I mean the carbon tax, right?
• </c><00:12:09.440><c> in</c> No, there's no new tax in No, there's no new tax in this<00:12:12.160><c

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, the bill requires several tax incentives for AJF to take effect no later than July 1,
• for the manufacturer of alternative jet fuel, the B&O tax credit for the manufacturer of AJF, the B&
• O tax credit for the use of AJF, and the public utility tax credit for AJF.
• All of the AJF tax incentives would expire on June 30, 2046.
• incentives, which include a preferential tax rate and various tax credits.

Bills: HB2416 , HB2537 , HB2575 , HB2322

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: waste management, energy, climate action, environmental regulations, fair treatment, renewable energy, sustainability, emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, alternative fuel, carbon reduction, aviation, energy production

Transcript Highlights:

• We've eliminated taxes on baby items, disaster supply, and completely eliminated the tax on business
• We do not and will never have an income tax in the Sunshine State.
• property tax assessments and millage increases at the local level.
• Taxes are solely the province of government.
• Tax relief is at the discretion of the people acting through our constitutional amendment process.

Summary: The House and Senate met in joint session to receive the Governor’s annual message. After the customary opening, prayer, pledge, and motions to notify the Governor, the Governor and First Lady were received and the Governor delivered a lengthy address reviewing his administration’s record and outlining priorities for the coming session. The Governor highlighted what he described as major accomplishments over the past seven years, including stronger state reserves, debt reduction, tax relief, economic growth, school choice expansion, higher teacher pay, civics education, higher education reforms, Everglades restoration, hurricane response improvements, public safety measures, and immigration enforcement. He also discussed affordability concerns, especially rising local property taxes, and urged lawmakers to pursue a ballot measure for property tax relief. He called for legislation on informed consent in medical decisions, regulation of artificial intelligence, and bills already filed on issues such as eliminating DEI in local governments, further restricting illegal immigration, expanding Second Amendment rights, and blocking Sharia law. No substantive votes were taken on legislation during the address. After the Governor concluded, the joint session approved a motion to dissolve, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the Feds provided $10 million of tax the Feds provided $10 million of tax credits<00:24:17.840><
• </c> um investment back from federal tax um investment back from federal tax dollars.<00:35:15.920><c
• I've also heard federal tax policy mentioned. We have zero control over federal tax policy.
• And are they federal tax credits or state tax credits? Senator Abler to the question.
• </c> the sales tax on building materials. the sales tax on building materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tom Yamachika, Tax Foundation of Hawaii. Tom Yamachika, Tax Foundation of Hawaii.
• It also has a tax increase.
• Next we have Ho Land Trust in support. yamachika tax Foundation of Hawaii uh yamachika tax Foundation
• </c> the transing Accommodations Tax the transing Accommodations Tax currently<00:17:04.919><c> are</
• Tax does apply to transen Accommodations Tax does apply to all<00:17:23.360><c> accommodations</c><00

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1077, a governor’s administration bill to increase transient accommodations tax revenue and split it between two new special funds: a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund and an economic development and revitalization special fund for tourism/resort areas. Supporters, including the Governor’s Office, recovery and resilience staff, climate and conservation groups, and several state agencies, said the bill would create a dedicated, more reliable funding stream for wildfire mitigation, coastal resilience, land clearing, infrastructure, and community-led projects. Some supporters also urged changes to the bill, including moving the fund to DLNR, adding DHHL and OHA representation, clarifying community grants, and ensuring the fund can support both state-led and community-led resilience work. The Attorney General’s office flagged a drafting issue, noting that the bill references fees deposited into the new fund even though the new chapter does not authorize fee collection, and recommended deleting that language or adding fee authority. The Climate Advisory Team representative also suggested adding DHHL to the decision-making body and requiring at-large members to have climate, resilience, conservation, or infrastructure expertise. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast Resort Association opposed the measure, arguing that the special fund structure does not meet statutory criteria, that the bill functions as a tax increase, and that the transient accommodations tax is not being collected equitably across all lodging types before any increase is imposed. Other opponents, including tourism and lodging interests, warned that hotels and timeshares already bear most of the tax burden and that raising the TAT could hurt an already struggling visitor industry and drive tourists away. Supporters countered that current funding is far short of what is needed and that a dedicated revenue stream is necessary to address climate impacts now. Committee members questioned why the Legislature should cede spending decisions to a separate executive-branch process, and the administration responded that the bill is intended to create a transparent, recurring mechanism for funding priorities that can be adjusted over time. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's more we're working on developing, but total tax returns processed, total tax revenue collected
• Total tax returns processed.
• There's more we're working on developing, but total tax returns processed, total tax revenue collected
• Total tax collected, a 7% increase. Total tax debt collected on the budget dollar, 19%.
• </c> my very first Committee in your tax my very first Committee in your tax committee<01:26:18.880><

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• We pay about $5.5 million in taxes, and then on top of that are the coal taxes.
• So that could be some property tax, employment tax, sales tax, and it's, again, from all of that extra
• So that could be some property tax, employment tax, sales tax, and it's, again, from all of that extra
• Coal severance tax—when you mine the coal from the earth, there is a tax that you pay, a per-ton tax.
• and use tax exemptions to property tax abatements.

Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, some revenue shifts and closing some tax...
• Next, some revenue shifts and closing some tax preferences.
• As I mentioned, there's three tax pieces of legislation.
• sets of tax preferences for data centers, a sales tax exemption for data centers on construction when
• The Working Families Tax Credit is an amazing program.

Summary: The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard an overview from OFM Director Katie Chapman See on Governor Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental budget proposal. She said the budget was built in response to higher caseloads and inflation, a roughly $390 million revenue forecast drop, new federal costs tied to H.R. 1, and a relatively small ending fund balance. The proposal would increase near general fund spending by about $1.1 billion and solve an estimated $2.3 billion two-year gap through about $800 million in reductions, revenue shifts and tax preference changes, use of other funds, and about $1 billion from the budget stabilization account. She also noted the budget is balanced over two years but not fully over four years under the state’s outlook rules. Chapman See highlighted reductions in Working Connections Child Care, including a soft cap on enrollment and holding subsidy rates at the 75th percentile, delays to long-term care and developmental disability-related changes, and across-the-board reductions to higher education and administrative spending. She also described investments in wildfire suppression and preparedness, affordability programs like utility rebates and home energy assistance, housing-related planning and permitting support, One Washington IT replacement, behavioral health workforce programs, and continued support for some K-12 initiatives such as ninth grade success and homeless student stability. In response to questions, she said some proposed cuts were based on the governor’s subjective judgment about what was critically necessary, that current child care enrollees would not be cut off immediately, and that the budget would maintain services for about 500 highest-acuity Medicaid clients who lost eligibility under federal changes. Public testimony was largely critical of the proposed cuts in K-12, early learning, and higher education. School officials, educators, nurses, and advocacy groups opposed reductions to Transition to Kindergarten, Local Effort Assistance, Running Start, MSOC, school leadership and support grants, and higher education funding, arguing the cuts would worsen existing funding gaps and harm student outcomes. Several witnesses supported restoring or maintaining funding for ninth grade success, Treehouse’s foster youth graduation program, homeless student stability, and Science on Wheels. In early learning, child care providers and advocates opposed the Working Connections cap and subsidy-rate reduction, warning it would reduce access and destabilize providers. In higher education, campus leaders and labor representatives opposed across-the-board cuts and fund shifts, while some institutions and advocates supported targeted investments such as behavioral health workforce programs and DigiPen aid restoration. In human services, Planned Parenthood advocates praised restored abortion access funding and Medicaid reimbursements. The committee took no votes or final action in the transcript provided.