Transcript Highlights:

• This is a roll call for House Revenue, February 19, 2026. Representative Brown here.
• And welcome to the Revenue Committee.
• <00:10:20.000> I welcome to the revenue committee. I welcome to the revenue committee.
• Because this is, uh, maybe a little bit new territory for the Revenue Committee.
• little bit new territory for the revenue little bit new territory for the revenue committee.<01:

Bills: HB0101, HB0062, HB0109

Keywords: guardianship, monitoring, ward protection, financial independence, case management, governmental claims, liability limits, inflation adjustment, public safety, local government insurance, property tax, tax exemption, homeowner, armed forces, residency requirement, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ON THE OTHER HAND, DATA CENTER DRIVEN GROWTH WILL SIGNIFICANT LEAD GROW REVENUES FOR UTILITIES AND THE
• REVENUE CAN CREATE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE RATES THAT ALL CUSTOMERS PAY.
• DATA CENTERS ARE 3 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL LAND AREA IN THE COUNTY AND 40 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL REVENUE
• AND GENERAL OPERATING REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY.
• AND THAT REPRESENTS A SALES TAX REVENUE.

Transcript Highlights:

• Revenue last year.
• The red line on that graph represents the revenue.
• Most revenues come from scratch tickets, which are impulse purchases with immediate gratification.
• From each ticket, the state's only getting about eight to ten cents of revenue.
• And as they rely on scratch tickets so much, the revenues look pretty, and they're able to say, hey,

Bills: SB82, SB1807, SB2254, HB119, HB130, HB581, HJR98, SB1988, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: business liability, concealed carry, handgun policy, premises liability, criminal acts, civil liability, business premises, concealed handgun, property liability, property rights, gun regulations, criminal liability, protective order, confidentiality, personal information, court records, victim protection, charitable raffle, nonprofit, wildlife conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:42.120> bonds known as litec tax exempt revenue bonds known as litec tax exempt revenue
• OHA would control 100% of that revenue.
• <01:49:00.280> it would control 100% of that Revenue it would control 100% of that Revenue
• <01:49:02.599> from would also get 100% of the revenue from would also get 100% of the revenue
• <01:49:33.360> for<01:49:33.520> OHA additional revenues for OHA additional revenues

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the Water and Land, Hawaiian Affairs, and Housing committees on January 29, 2025 focused on SB 534, with the chairs outlining hearing procedures, public testimony limits, and plans to allow extended presentations from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) before moving to other testifiers. The hearing was presented as a public, transparent discussion of OHA’s plans for Kakaʻako Makai, with committee members noting that decision-making would follow if time permitted. OHA testified in strong support of SB 534. The chair of OHA’s Board of Trustees said the bill was a novel proposal for the legislature and emphasized that OHA was bringing together a broad coalition of partners and stakeholders, including representatives from construction, hospitality, education, law enforcement, civil service, and schools, as well as longtime community advocates who have opposed development in Kakaʻako Makai. OHA’s presentation reviewed the history of the area, the creation and role of HCDA, prior master plans, the 2012 land conveyance to OHA, and the argument that OHA has not been able to realize the full economic value of the lands because desired entitlements were not secured. OHA linked the bill to its constitutional mission to improve conditions for Native Hawaiians and argued that the state’s housing crisis makes additional development, including residential use, especially important. A major theme of the testimony was housing. OHA argued that Hawaiʻi faces severe affordability pressures, out-migration, and workforce shortages, and said that residential development in Kakaʻako Makai would help address those needs while also supporting the value of the trust lands. The presentation described HCDA’s authority over zoning and development in Kakaʻako, the existing reserved housing requirements, and the need for a master plan that could move forward if SB 534 becomes law. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the discussion remained in the presentation and testimony phase.

Transcript Highlights:

• It shows up in household income, home ownership, business ownership, firm revenue, and family assets.
• The result is lost revenue, reduced hours, postponed expansion, and, in some cases, businesses pausing
• As these institutions pull back, Black-owned firms lose contracts and revenue at the very moment costs
• About 25% of the governor's proposed budget is supported by federal revenue.
• About 25% of the governor's proposed budget is surspied federal revenue.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held a hearing on the impact of federal policy on the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts, the fourth in a series on federal impacts on racial equity. Chair Bud Williams and Chair Miranda opened by emphasizing that no bills were being heard and that the committee would instead take testimony from invited witnesses; public written testimony was also accepted. The chairs and witnesses repeatedly cited long-standing wealth disparities affecting Black and brown communities, including homeownership, wages, business ownership, and access to capital, and linked those disparities to federal policy changes, housing, education, health care, and workforce development. Administration officials testified first. Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones described persistent labor market disparities, including higher unemployment for Black and Latino residents, lower median hourly wages, and underemployment among degree holders, and highlighted state efforts such as ESOL-for-work funding, workforce training grants, MassHire career centers, skills-based hiring, and the state equity dashboards. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiami Mahania argued that poverty drives poor health, not the reverse, and said wealth gaps contribute to chronic disease, maternal health inequities, medical debt, and shorter life expectancy; she pointed to the Advancing Health Equity Massachusetts initiative, a health care affordability working group, and the governor’s push to bar medical debt from credit reporting. Assistant Secretary Juan Vega of EOED focused on entrepreneurship and procurement, citing technical assistance grants, founder support programs, place-based investment, the Business Front Door, and the need to broaden access to contracts, capital, and business growth opportunities. Committee members pressed the panel on the effects of the federal “big beautiful bill” on households, especially single-parent and Black women-led households, and on whether the state could develop more timely data systems instead of relying on federal numbers. Officials said the impacts were still being monitored, but warned that Medicaid and SNAP changes would likely hit lower-income households and community institutions hard. Members also asked about unions and apprenticeships, microbusiness definitions, supplier diversity, pay equity, and degree inflation; the administration said registered apprenticeships and skills-based hiring are key tools, and noted that wage equity reporting is still in its early stages. Later testimony from BECMA’s Nicole O’Bean stressed that tariffs, DEI rollbacks, immigration enforcement, capital gaps, and federal funding cuts are constraining Black-owned businesses and inclusive procurement, while Gastón Institute researchers described severe Latino homeownership and rent burdens, educational inequities, and the need for housing, labor, and education policy changes to close the wealth gap.

Transcript Highlights:

• presented as a solar bill, but that’s not really... ...but it’s fundamental about maximizing the revenue
• bill, but that's not really the idea, maybe partially, but it's fundamental about maximizing the revenue
• In other words, if you have a parcel of land that would generate more revenue for the state for a mining
• Trussell, since some of the comments are around, I think, revenues for the government, state, federal
• So, can you put or can you get for the members how much revenue, since you operate this, how much revenue

Bills: HB2014, HB2055, HB2145, HB2150, HB2696, HB2755, HB2763, HB2781, HB2782, HB2787, HB2795, HB2889, HB2975, HB2985, HB2986, HCM2009, HCR2020, HCR2038

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals

Transcript Highlights:

• Our governmental system gives local governments four different ways to generate revenue.
• use, based on the staff analysis, was about $188.6 million in local revenue.
• It was about $188.6 million in local revenue, and by 2031, that could go to $204 million.
• And the reality is that just because the revenue goes away doesn't mean the costs go away.
• general revenue obligation bonds.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Joseph Di Alessandro, the Pledge of Allegiance, and announcements confirming a quorum. Members also adopted the special order report and recognized several guests in the gallery, including former Speaker Dan Webster and law enforcement and civic visitors. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar of bills, mostly on third reading, with several measures passing unanimously or by wide margins. Among the bills considered were measures on civil procedure and estates, including C.S. HB 1407 on commencement of civil actions, HB 895 on trustee settlement and discharge, C.S. HB 1337 on estates, HB 131 on curators of estates, and C.S. HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over military installations. The House also passed C.S. HB 441 on conservation lands, which would lengthen notice and increase transparency for land swaps involving conservation property, and C.S. CS HB 919 on commercial service airports, which created a statutory definition for major airports and preempted local naming authority for several airports. HB 919 drew extensive debate over the proposed naming of Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald J. Trump, with amendments to delay or alter the naming failing before the bill passed. Other bills approved included HB 409 requiring K-12 schools to observe Veterans Day, CS HB 461 allowing certain students to volunteer at polling places for community service hours, CS HB 1115 creating grants for genetic counseling education, HB 569 revising forensic client services, CS HB 505 regulating virtual currency kiosks to address fraud, and HB 271 on foreign and alien bail bond insurers. The House also passed HB 191 on re-employment assistance eligibility verification after extended questioning about its effects on benefits, appeals, and suitable work standards. One bill, CS HB 243 on electric bicycles, was temporarily postponed, and CS HB 1073 on school districts was also postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So first off, this isn't a spending bill; this is a revenue bill, right?
• So we're not talking about spending, we're talking about revenue here and the creation of new revenue
• So first off, this isn't a spending bill; this is a revenue bill, right?
• So we're not talking about spending, we're talking about revenue here and the creation of new revenue
• So we're not talking about spending, we're talking about revenue here and the creation of new revenue

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Daniel, what are the current revenue estimates for this next year?
• Chairman, first of all, I didn't bring the binder where I printed out the revenue estimates.
• year, we've been using revenue minus all spending, including nonrecurring spending.
• That that new money figure is all revenues minus all spending, including nonrecurring spending.
• done the same appropriation using non-recurring revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• related to enhanced uh federal revenue related to enhanced uh federal revenue for<00:09:41.040><
• related to prescription drug rebates, which has the effect of increasing revenue to the Health Care
• uh related to prescription gross revenue uh related to prescription drug<00:13:08.720> rebates
• <00:13:12.399> to<00:13:12.560> the<00:13:12.720> healthcare increasing revenue
• to the healthcare increasing revenue to the healthcare access<00:13:13.440> fund<00:13:14.399

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you and I both know, the PUF fund and the oil and gas industry that provides incredible revenues
• to those funds for our flagships and regional universities and others... ...revenues to those funds
• So the city would effectively lose its tax revenue for the period of pendency of that dispute?
• So the city would effectively lose its tax revenue for the period of pendency of that dispute?
• For that 90 days, they don't lose any of that revenue?” Senator Creighton responds, “Correct.”

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, adopted the prior day’s journal, received House messages, and adopted several resolutions and recognitions, including Senate Resolution 496 honoring Leadership Garland and resolutions 503 and 504. The chamber also recognized guests, including a North Dakota senator and the Doctor of the Day, and received gubernatorial nominations for the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board and the Nueces River Authority Board. The Senate then took up and passed a series of bills, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Measures approved included SB 614 on Texas Forensic Science Commission referrals to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs; SB 250 on municipal annexation across railroad rights-of-way; SB 1660 on toxicological evidence retention and destruction procedures; SB 2586 requiring property owners associations to file governing documents with the Texas Real Estate Commission; SB 1588 increasing penalties for certain failures to report child sexual abuse; HB 912 on compensation for distributed renewable generation outside ERCOT; SB 1957 setting eligibility standards for civilian oversight boards; HB 2525 clarifying a charitable property tax exemption; SB 1525 limiting repeated prior authorization for neurodegenerative disease drugs; SB 865 requiring CPR/AED training and cardiac emergency response planning in schools; SB 1212 elevating human trafficking penalties; SB 2690 on solicitations for Secretary of State documents; SB 1802 on landlord repair duties for ramps, elevators, and handrails; SB 905 on licensing rules for speech-language pathologists and audiologists; SB 2929 allowing removal of disruptive spectators at school athletic events; SB 2675 creating a narrow McAllen-specific parkland conveyance exception; SB 872 increasing punishment for burglary of a vehicle involving firearm theft; and SB 1113 clarifying sales rules for certain converter-license holders. Several bills drew extended debate. SB 2487, dealing with crisis and mental health services for homelessness, was amended to make the county model permissive rather than mandatory and to remove state funding/assistance requirements before passing 28-3. SB 2138, barring higher education funds from contracting with firms that boycott fossil fuels through ESG policies, also passed after questions about fiscal effects and First Amendment concerns. SB 2615, restricting remote work at public institutions of higher education, advanced 22-9. The Senate also began consideration of SB 3016, which would expand enforcement tools against local governments that fail to comply with state law, but the transcript cuts off before action on that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• bond for Koi farming and egg revenue bond for Koi farming and egg enterprises<00:55:49.280> for
• It increases the total principal amount of special facility revenue bonds that may be issued without
• It increases the total principal amount of special facility revenue bonds that may be issued without
• By requiring the project cost and debt repayment to be secured through lease revenue streams, ensuring
• The de the additional revenues 2026.

Keywords: Conference Notices: AGR 2:30 PM:, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, the South by Southwest generated $217.8 million, including $9.6 million in sales tax revenue
• We're a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization funded primarily by Arlington Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to
• In 2024, the South by Southwest generated $217.8 million, including $9.6 million in sales tax revenue
• In 2024, the South by Southwest generated $217.8 million, including $9.6 million in sales tax revenue
• Under current law, if an event is expected to generate less than $200,000 in new tax revenue...

Bills: HB2385, HB3349, HB3962, HB3883, HB4396, HB4811, HB5088, HB4588, HB4867, HB4895, HB5398, HB5616

Keywords: NRA, funding, major events reimbursement, annual meetings, exhibits, events trust fund, Pan American Games, Olympic Games, motor sports racing, local control, event support contract, INDYCAR, Arlington, tourism, funding eligibility, sporting events, economic impact, local governments, American Performance Horseman, American Rodeo

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the overall revenue estimate is around $10 million and um for returning members I know that we had
• Um, the overall revenue estimate is around $10 million and um for returning members I know that we had
• Um the overall revenue estimate is around $10 million and um for returning members I know that we had
• I'm the legislative director at the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Uh, and Mr.
• <00:35:17.480> more it's going to make our our revenue more it's going to make our our revenue

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 18 was taken up in committee, with the chair noting a preference to hear testimony from people who had traveled farther before hearing from lobbyists or other local witnesses. Representative Engan presented the bill as a family-support measure that would exempt certain infant care items from sales tax, arguing that the cost of raising children has risen sharply and that the bill would provide immediate relief to parents. He cited examples of potential savings on cribs, mattresses, strollers, and baby bottles, and said he was open to expanding the list of covered items. Chair Gomez offered a DE1 amendment that would replace the blanket sales tax exemption with an expansion of Minnesota’s child tax credit, arguing that the child-rearing cost burden is better addressed through targeted assistance rather than a broad exemption that could also benefit higher-income purchasers. After discussing the policy differences and the fiscal impact, Gomez withdrew the amendment. Members then asked questions about the bill’s scope, whether luxury items should be excluded, and why the exemption was limited to baby items rather than older children’s needs. Engan said he would be open to excluding luxury items and to discussing broader expansions, including school supplies. The committee then heard testimony in support from Sarah Gangelhoff of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, who said the bill would help families facing high housing, food, and child care costs and would especially benefit women and single-mother households. Maggie Hanggi of the Minnesota Catholic Conference also supported the bill, saying the tax relief could help families afford essential infant items and reduce fear for prospective parents. Members raised concerns about whether tax exemptions effectively reach the families most in need, with one member noting that low-income families may not even be in a position to shop for these items; Engan responded that the savings would still be real for those who do purchase them. No final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But also, On the other side, the Department of Revenue is working behind the scenes doing its part too
• When it comes down to implementing the credit, the Department of Revenue had their own set of regs and
• And I'm not even sure what the requirements are for the Department of Revenue.
• Any questions regarding the implementation of the credit can go directly to the Department of Revenue
• We didn't even hear from the Department of Revenue the name of the company, the industry that they're

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met on May 18 and approved the prior meeting minutes. The first presentation was an update on the Massachusetts Disability Employment Tax Credit from MassAbility. The speaker explained that the credit, created in 2022, offers employers up to $5,000 in the first year and $2,000 in later years for hiring certified employees with disabilities. He described a streamlined self-attestation certification process, the online application and outreach tools, and noted that the first full tax season resulted in one company successfully claiming the credit. Members asked about how employers learn to file, available data, carry-forward rules, and whether more information from the Department of Revenue could be shared. The second presentation was from the Office of the Veteran Advocate. The speaker described the office as an independent agency created after COVID and the state veterans home tragedy to improve veteran services and investigate problems. He reviewed VA disability ratings, the fact that service-connected disability does not necessarily prevent work, and the barriers faced by veterans with less-than-honorable discharges. He also highlighted vocational rehabilitation, GI Bill and housing supports, and the office’s work on professional licensure barriers, especially for nurses and other skilled trades. Members discussed whether Massachusetts is behind other states on licensure reciprocity and the need for more openness from licensing boards; the office said it is starting with a narrow nursing-focused review and will report back on findings. In the final portion of the meeting, members discussed a lengthy policy brief from Seed and agreed it should be taken up at the August 31 meeting rather than rushed through by email. The group focused on two emerging areas of work: the benefit cliff and youth/young adult pathways into employment, including apprenticeships. Members suggested creating a clearer tool or spreadsheet to map existing resources and possibly a white paper for appointing authorities, while noting the commission’s limits on direct advocacy. The meeting ended with an invitation for members interested in the benefit cliff work or youth employment pipeline to join follow-up discussions, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2, it provides the executive with the authority to draw from the operating reserve if the revenues
• So, what the executive is asking for is to. up their books, where they think the revenues didn't come
• FY 25, and this indicates to me that now that the year has ended and they closed their books. the revenues
• That tells me that revenue. revenues were well below the revenue estimate.
• The updated revenue estimate will be worked on this month for December.

Transcript Highlights:

• AND THE LEGISLATURE BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 APPROPRIATED NONRECURRING GENERAL REVENUE TO SUPPORT
• TO THE LEGISLATURE IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND YOU APPROPRIATED $1.8 MILLION AND NONRECURRING GENERAL REVENUE
• THE LEGISLATURE PROVIDED STARTUP MONEY LAST SESSION, $2 MILLION IN THE STATE COURT REVENUE TRUST FUND
• RETAIN SOME FILING FEE AND THEN SOME GO INTO OTHER POTS WITHIN THE STATE BUDGET INCLUDING GENERAL REVENUE
• WE DO WANT TO RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED BOTH WITH GENERAL REVENUE AND A FUNDS AND NOT TO

Transcript Highlights:

• According to fiscal note, this would be a revenue reduction.
• It's not an appropriation; it's a revenue reduction of about $20 million.
• I think the issue is we're having a revenue correction going down.
• And so you're generating that revenue for those smaller group of people that consume more of the health
• And so you're generating that revenue for those smaller group of people that consume more of the health

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider four policy bills and discussed a possible later return to handle DOCR amendments and budget work. They first took up HB 1327, funding for the Agricultural Diversification and Development Fund, and adopted an amendment striking language that would have capped up to $10 million for agricultural infrastructure grants to political subdivisions. The bill was then passed as amended on a 22-0 vote, with Rep. Belts assigned as carrier. Next, the committee considered SB 2256, the Research Technology Park grant. Rep. Stemen offered an amendment reducing the appropriation amounts from the original figures to $10 million and $5 million levels, citing available funding; the amendment passed 19-3. The bill then passed as amended 22-0, and Rep. Stemen agreed to carry it. The committee then debated SB 2093, which combined a retired peace officers/surviving spouses benefit with an added income tax reduction. Rep. Munson moved to remove the income tax portion, and the committee agreed 17-4. The remaining peace officer benefit portion was then passed as amended 21-0, with Rep. Kempenich carrying it. Finally, the committee considered HB 2160, changing the state health plan from grandfathered to non-grandfathered status. Members discussed cost shifting, employee retention, out-of-pocket exposure, and the updated fiscal note; the committee adopted an amendment updating the appropriation figures to match the current PERS/Deloitte analysis, then passed the bill as amended 15-7-1, with Rep. Worry originally the carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• natural gas defense fund and to the permissible use of money deposited in the Texas severance, tax revenue
• By Isaac relating to the allocation and deposit of certain surplus state revenue to the property tax
• HB 228 by Bell of Montgomery Ruling. to the allocation and disposition of certain surplus state revenue
• transportation funding SB 264 by Bell of Kaufman related to the dedication of certain surplus state revenue
• district maintenance and operations of ad valorem taxes through the use of certain surplus state revenues

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's mainly a story about lower general fund revenue estimates in the budget year.
• Turning to page two, we think the general fund revenue estimates here are reasonable.
• But they put the state, and really districts too, in a bad position if revenues continue to decline.
• I would have to defer to our revenue department.
• I think it's clear that we need to explore new revenue streams.

Keywords: 988, house, all