Video & Transcript Research : 'refund'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Special Session E May 29th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also creates a three-year refund process for property owners to receive a refund on sales tax paid
  • Additionally, it allows refunds of previously paid taxes.
  • completed refund application, interest accrues after 90 days.
  • And then we're offering them a little refund or rebate for doing that.
  • Homes, and then we're offering them a little refund or rebate for doing that.
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/17/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • And if you pay it off early, you don’t receive a refund of that interest.
  • <00:02:21.120> Well,<00:02:21.360> that's refund of that interest.
  • Well, that's refund of that interest.
  • Is it actually not refunded until they file the taxes a year from now, or how is that done?
  • We are journ... refund till a year from now if we don't refund till a year from now if we don't do<00
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance. (3-4-26)

Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • And also this limits the refunds for fraud to fees.
  • Uh, there is fraud provisions where the entire transaction would be refunded if a kiosk operator was
  • Uh, there is fraud provisions where the entire transaction would be refunded if a kiosk operator was
  • if entire transaction would be refunded if a<00:34:28.720> kiosk<00:34:29.359> operator
  • if the kiosk operator was not refunded if the kiosk operator was not directly<00:34:41.760> in
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum and took up three bills. Senate Bill 153, sponsored by Sen. Greg Elkins, aimed to combat insurance fraud tied to post-disaster contractor scams. Testimony from the Attorney General’s Office and committee members described problems involving roofing, siding, and debris-removal scams, including vandalism used to create claims and companies that disappear before victims can recover losses. The bill would expand enforcement tools by making certain vandalism-related conduct criminal, giving the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction with local prosecutors, creating a post-disaster contractor registry, and banning door-to-door solicitation during declared emergencies. The committee approved the bill by roll call and sent it forward with a favorable recommendation. Senate Bill 118, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Storm, addressed credit property insurance offered by consumer loan companies. The sponsor and a representative of the Kentucky Consumer Finance Association explained that the product has been offered for years and that the bill would provide statutory authority for its continued use. The committee raised no substantive objections, and the bill passed on a roll call vote with a favorable recommendation. House Bill 380, sponsored by Rep. Tom Smith, focused on regulating cryptocurrency kiosks in convenience stores to curb fraud against seniors. The committee heard emotional testimony from a sheriff and a fraud victim describing scams that led victims to deposit cash into crypto kiosks, often under pressure from callers posing as authorities or relatives. AARP Kentucky supported the bill, citing widespread losses to older adults and the need for guardrails. A committee substitute was adopted that would cap daily transactions at $2,000, require fee disclosure and customer consent, impose licensing and compliance requirements, mandate identification for transactions, and add criminal penalties and Attorney General enforcement. Members discussed the bill’s scope, including that it would not address gift card scams, and noted the delayed effective date was requested so regulators could write rules. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed the bill favorably on roll call.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • During those questions, I was never, ever offered a refund to my original form of payment.
  • And then the refund issue, I... So that was why.
  • And then the refund issue, I guess I understand that. I think they could have refunded.
  • And then the refund issue, I I age. And then the refund issue, I guess I understand that.
  • I think they could have refunded. It's my own personal opinion.
Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee met with a new membership roster and adopted its committee rules after quorum was established. The hearing then began with AB 412, the AI Copyright Transparency Act, which would require generative AI developers to provide copyright holders notice when registered copyrighted works are used in training data. The author and supporters, including SAG-AFTRA, the Transparency Coalition, voice actors, writers, labor groups, and other creators, argued the bill would give artists a practical way to learn whether their works were used and to vindicate their rights. Opponents, including EFF, CalChamber, RIAA, CCIA, Chamber of Progress, Bay Area Council, BSA, and TechNet, said the proposal was technically unworkable, could burden startups, conflict with existing law and pending litigation, and raise federal preemption concerns. Members discussed the bill’s amendments, including a fingerprinting approach and narrowing the bill to model developers, and the committee voted 8-2 to pass AB 412 as amended to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then heard AB 446, which would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” or the use of personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service. The author and supporters, including Consumer Watchdog, UFCW, labor organizations, and consumer/privacy groups, described examples of differential pricing tied to device type, location, shopping behavior, and digital price tags, and argued the bill would protect consumers from discriminatory and predatory pricing. Business and industry opponents, including CalChamber, grocers, retailers, travel, broadband, and other associations, said the bill could conflict with the CCPA, interfere with loyalty and rewards programs, and create confusion about personalized discounts and dynamic pricing. The discussion focused on how the bill would treat loyalty programs, whether existing privacy law already covers the issue, and whether the proposal would unintentionally affect legitimate discounts and promotions.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Taxes Committee 3/12/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill would provide property tax refund for nonprofit daycares who rent their facilities and mirror
  • that would equal Revenue for refund that would equal about<01:05:20.880> 10%<01:05:21.480>
  • Is there any exemption right now for home-based child care refunds or any kind of exemptions?
  • is what they receive in a refund.
  • for some the exact same reasons refund for some the exact same reasons and<01:10:21.400> it's
Keywords: 1183, house
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee 3/5/25

Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • of projected revenues that exceed 105% of projected expenditures that the legislature must use to refund
  • of projected revenues that exceed 105% of projected expenditures that the legislature must use to refund
  • <00:02:41.040> or you legislature must use to refund or you legislature must use to refund
  • The children that we serve will not get a tax refund, but they will be severely affected by a system
  • You can either give it back as an income tax refund, or you can do it back as property tax.
Keywords: 1183, house
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Mar 24th, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we had a Certificate of Obligation, but we did a refunding of our 2013 Certificate of Obligation.
  • We just refunded those probably about a year ago.
  • Through a refunding, that can defuse the existing CO, but then there's a new one.
  • There might be a refunding or refinancing of that previous debt obligation? Yes.
  • It includes a 72-hour refund policy for fraud victims who are new customers.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Finance and Tax Jan 28th, 2026

Finance and Tax

Transcript Highlights:
  • That was increased a little bit because of some refunds. Thank you.
  • That was increased a little bit because of some refunds that were received from Department of Education
  • There was another refund mechanism that the Legislature put in.
  • And any collections in excess of that amount were refunded back.
  • And any collections in excess of that amount were refunded back to corporate income tax filers.
Bills: S0110, S0434, S0856
Summary: The committee heard and passed three bills before moving to a staff presentation on the state revenue forecast and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SB 856, by Senator DeSantis? [sic], would require online real estate listing platforms to display estimated property taxes for residential properties using prescribed methods and DOR-developed formulas rather than the current owner’s tax bill. Supporters from county, city, and property appraiser groups said the bill would improve transparency and help homebuyers avoid surprise tax and escrow increases. The bill was reported favorably after debate about making sure the estimate appears on realtor and platform sites for first-time buyers. SB 110, by Senator Arrington, was amended and then reported favorably. The bill clarifies that people holding 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead tax exemption even if the lease ends upon the tenant’s death, aligning those leaseholds with life estates for estate-planning purposes. The amendment, supported by the Florida Bar’s real property, probate and trust law section, clarified that lease provisions terminating at death are valid under current law. SB 434, by Senator Leak, was also reported favorably; it would prevent property tax assessments from reflecting increased just value attributable to wind-hardening improvements such as stronger roof attachments, shutters, and roof-to-wall reinforcements. The committee then received an update from staff director Azar Khan on the new general revenue forecast. He said collections had been running slightly above estimate overall, but the Revenue Estimating Conference reduced corporate income tax projections because of weaker recent collections and uncertainty around tariffs, while increasing some other revenue sources. Members then discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which staff said would significantly reduce Florida corporate income tax revenue, with a large first-year impact driven by retroactive provisions such as bonus depreciation, research expensing, and business interest deductions. Senators and the appropriations chair said the forecast and federal changes would affect budget planning, and the committee adjourned after noting the bills had been favorably reported and the meeting was complete.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • These companies are not required to refund the veteran for their portion of the overpayment or take responsibility
  • So, for example, charging upfront non-refundability... about violating federal law.
  • So, for an example, charging upfront non-refundability.
  • So, for example, charging upfront non-refundable fees and not doing work.
  • We could legislate against upfront non-refundable fees and require any fee to be contingent on a successful
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs met as a subcommittee because a quorum was initially lacking, and heard six bills. AB 81 by Assemblymember Ta would require CalVet to study the mental health needs of women veterans; supporters from county veterans service officers, veterans organizations, and behavioral health groups said women veterans face higher rates of military sexual trauma, PTSD, depression, and suicide, while no opposition appeared. The bill was later passed 7-0 and re-referred to Appropriations. AB 826 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would prohibit unaccredited individuals or businesses from charging veterans fees to file or assist with VA benefits claims, impose a civil penalty, and direct penalty revenue to veterans services and district attorneys. Supporters argued the bill would curb predatory “claim sharks” and protect veterans from exploitation, while opponents from private claims consulting firms and several veterans said the measure could restrict access to legitimate help and should be narrowed to target bad actors instead of banning paid assistance broadly. After extensive testimony and discussion about federal law, accreditation, and possible amendments, the committee passed the bill 8-0 and re-referred it to Judiciary. AB 556 by Assemblymember Patterson would clarify that campus-level mandatory fees are covered under the CalVet fee waiver for dependents of certain veterans and Medal of Honor recipients. Supporters said the bill would fulfill the state’s promise to veterans’ families, while concerns were raised about fiscal impacts on CSU campuses and the need for more precise cost estimates. The bill was passed 6-0 and sent to Appropriations. The committee also adopted its rules 7-0 and approved the consent calendar, which included AB 264, AB 1508, and AB 1509, all re-referred to Appropriations.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

State Bond Commission May 21st, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • School Board, Consolidated School District, for not exceeding $38.89 million of general obligation refunding
  • School Board, consolidated school district for not exceeding 38.89 million of general obligation refunding
  • for reference. 35 is the consideration of Resolution No. 2 for not exceeding $425 million of GO refunding
  • bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings.
Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21, established a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then considered a long agenda of bond, refunding, and election-related requests. Items 3 through 10 were election propositions for the November 3 ballot involving ad valorem taxes, parcel fees, and charter amendments for purposes such as fire protection, agricultural centers, neighborhood security, recreation, aging services, drainage, and roads and bridges; staff said they met technical and legal requirements, and the commission approved them. The commission also approved several local financings, including water and sewer projects, fire district equipment and facility improvements, school board and parish bonds, and refunding transactions for the East Baton Rouge City-Parish and St. James Parish School Board. A retroactive approval request from the City of Kenner related to a CEA with GMB Basketball LLC was discussed; staff made no recommendation because it was retroactive, but noted it appeared to be an oversight, and item 22, the related airport district agreement, was approved. The commission approved additional financing for the Louisiana Housing Corporation’s Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, a preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport, and two Louisiana Public Facilities Authority projects: Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools project for Harriet Tubman Charter School. During discussion of the Crescent City Schools financing, a commissioner asked about the use of MFP funds; staff explained that lease payments would be the repayment source and that MFP dollars are generally split between educational expenses and facilities costs, with the school’s typical split around 72% instructional and 28% administrative/facilities-related. Both items were approved. The commission then received six cost-of-issuance reports for previously approved bond issues, with various fee adjustments but no motions required. It also reviewed a debt schedule update and adopted Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. In other business, the commission heard a brief public comment from New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell thanking the commission for helping place a charter amendment on the ballot to improve New Orleans budgeting transparency and oversight. The meeting ended after monthly reports were noted and no further business was raised.
NY

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering - 05/20/2026

Racing, Gaming And Wagering

Transcript Highlights:
  • to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law in relation to unclaimed winnings and refunds
  • to amend the Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law in relation to unclaimed winnings and refunds
  • to amend the racing, paramutual wagering, and breeding law in relation to unclaimed winnings and refunds
Keywords: 993, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee held what was described as its final meeting, with Chair Joe Addabbo and Ranking Member Tedisco offering brief remarks thanking colleagues, staff, and stakeholders for bipartisan work on gaming and racing issues. The chair emphasized the committee’s goal of promoting legal, safe gaming and supporting related industries such as horse racing. The committee then advanced several bills. S-2294 (Scufis) on employees of authorized organizations operating games of chance was approved unanimously. S-4865 (Fahy) would allow the Capital District Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation to retain and distribute certain uncashed tickets; it was approved, with Senator Helming voting without recommendation. S-5614 (Addabbo) would remove restrictions on how often certain authorized organizations may conduct bingo games; it passed unanimously and was sent to the calendar. The committee also approved S-9414 on prediction markets, with members noting the issue’s growing importance and thanking the Gaming Commission, Governor’s Office, and Attorney General’s Office for their efforts; Senator Helming voted without recommendation. S-9415 (Addabbo) would require mobile sports wagering operators to share monthly invoice statements with authorized consumers and was sent to the calendar. S-9545 (Fahy) on unclaimed winnings, refunds, and tax remittance was also approved and sent to the Finance Committee. No opposition votes were recorded on the measures that were advanced.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Commerce (01/27/2026)

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, when this happened, the refunds.
  • Um, the other aspect that I've mentioned is the 90-day refund window.
  • <01:27:04.960> window transactions and a 90-day refund window transactions and a 90-day refund
  • refund window is so important. refund window is so important.
  • daily limit and the $90 refund window. daily limit and the $90 refund window.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Yes, and it's non-refundable. Okay. Thank you very much. Department of Taxation. Yes.
  • And it's non-refundable.<00:15:43.920> Non-refundable.<00:15:44.800> Okay.
  • non-refundable. Non-refundable. Okay. non-refundable. Non-refundable. Okay.
  • <00:16:00.320> No, on a $5,000 non-refundable credit.
  • No, on a $5,000 non-refundable credit.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee opened its Health and Human Services calendar, noted quorum, and first took up HB 194. The chair explained amendments to add an exemption for a person invited by a patient to attend a birth outside an accredited birth facility when no compensation is involved, remove a date reference in section 9, and accept Department of Health amendments. Members raised no objections, and the committee voted to pass HB 194 with amendments. The committee then heard HB 139 on insurance, with the Attorney General flagging possible unlawful delegation issues and suggesting clarifying language, while the Insurance Division stood on written testimony. A number of health organizations and advocates, including HMSA, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, oncology and fertility groups, testified in support. HB 613 on homeless youth drew broad support from state agencies, counties, youth advocates, and community groups; testimony emphasized the need for permanent safe spaces and more attention to unaccompanied minors, with one witness asking for clarity on funding and shelter capacity. HB 71 on a tax credit for family caregivers drew support from AARP, Alzheimer’s and children’s advocates, and several individuals, while the Tax Foundation raised concerns about blank provisions and the cost-effectiveness of administering a small credit. The Department of Taxation said a prior version with a $5,000 nonrefundable credit would have cost the general fund about $397.4 million. HB 716 on health care technology support received strong support from SHPDA, OHIN, and many provider groups, who described it as a one-time investment of roughly $20–25 million to connect rural and neighbor island providers to electronic health records; members questioned how the grant program would be allocated. HB 799 on physician hospital privileges also drew mixed testimony: supporters said it would align Hawaii with updated CMS rules and improve access, especially on Maui, while Maui Health and some members worried it could reduce on-call coverage and hospital safety, leading to discussion of a possible report and sunset date.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • It obligates an officer or employee to request a complete refund from the travel vendor for travel not
  • 00:38:56.240> request<00:38:56.640> a<00:38:56.880> complete<00:38:57.280> refund
  • employee to request a complete refund employee to request a complete refund from<00:38:58.000>
  • to<00:39:14.480> testify<00:39:14.800> on<00:39:14.960> this partial refund
  • First to testify on this partial refund.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Transportation Apr 29th, 2025

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The MVCPA collects these fees and handles refunds, but there are gaps and inefficiencies present under
  • controller's expertise in this area by formally transferring MVCPA fee collection, enforcement, and refund
  • the controller to do that, where you have procedures if a company owes money or if they're due a refund
  • The MVCPA collects these fees and handles refunds, but there are gaps and inefficiencies present under
  • the controller to do that, where you have procedures if a company owes money or if they're due a refund
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

05/06/2026 - Joint Legislative Budget Committee

Joint Legislative Budget Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • numbers, and even though tax returns are due by April 15th, it takes a while to process them, send out refunds
  • , collect the payments, so I don't have anything definitive... ...send out refunds, collect the payments
  • We are in the ball... send out refunds, collect the payments.
Summary: The Joint Legislative Budget Committee approved the minutes from its March 5, 2026 meeting and then entered executive session, where it approved a recommended settlement. After returning to open session, the committee took up the Attorney General’s opioid settlement expenditure plan. Staff explained that Arizona will receive opioid settlement funds over many years and that the FY 2026 budget appropriated $10 million for distribution to five counties. The plan would allocate $2 million each to Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai counties. Members expressed support, noting the funds would continue programs they viewed as effective, and the committee gave the plan a favorable review. The committee also considered an Arizona Department of Administration request to transfer $7 million within the risk management revolving fund. Of that amount, $5 million would go to workers’ compensation losses and premiums to cover higher program costs, and $2 million would go to administrative expenses for higher-than-budgeted Attorney General contracted legal costs. Members described the transfer as a routine budget adjustment, and the committee approved it. Before adjournment, members asked staff about recent revenue trends, including April numbers and sports betting revenue. Staff said April data were still being analyzed and no definitive figures were available yet. On sports betting, staff said Arizona’s tax rate is in the range of other states but tends to be on the lower end. The committee then adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • Nearly $1 billion in property tax relief through targeted refunds for homeowners, renters, seniors, and
  • :08:55.839> direct<00:08:56.320> property<00:08:56.720> tax<00:08:57.080> refunds
  • <00:08:57.800> to in direct property tax refunds to in direct property tax refunds to Minnesotans
  • this<00:08:59.120> year<00:08:59.880> in<00:09:00.000> a<00:09:00.040> refund
  • <00:09:00.480> that Minnesotans this year in a refund that Minnesotans this year in a refund
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: Senate DFL leaders held a press conference focused on affordability, federal cuts, and end-of-session negotiations. Senators Heather Gustafson, Erin Maye Quade, Liz Boldon, Grant Hauschild, and Majority Leader Erin Murphy highlighted prior DFL accomplishments such as universal school meals, North Star Promise, paid family and medical leave, property tax relief, the child tax credit, and Social Security tax cuts, while arguing that House Republicans have not shown enough urgency on current affordability issues. A major theme was the impact of federal policy on Minnesota, especially cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, rising health care and energy costs, and cost shifts to counties and local governments. The senators said the state is spending heavily to backfill federal cuts and protect Minnesotans from higher costs, with particular concern for rural communities, hospitals, EMS, food shelves, and county property taxes. Hauschild emphasized that rural counties and seniors would bear added burdens from federal mandates, while Murphy said the Senate is trying to put money directly into people’s pockets through rental assistance, heating assistance, food support, and targeted property tax relief. The leaders also discussed a Senate Tax Committee proposal for about $100 million in direct property tax refunds, and Murphy said the Senate’s position on HCMC funding is the strongest, while also needing support for rural hospitals and providers statewide. In response to questions, she said the Senate hopes to reach a global deal before the weekend and by Sunday midnight, described the Senate’s proposals as public and already passed, and said some items, including rental relief for people affected by an ICE operation, still have support and may move in the House. No votes were taken at the event.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Financial Services Committee Mar 18th, 2026

Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • These tax burdens are high for these families, and waiting for a possible tax refund in April leaves
  • 50.240> tax families, and waiting for a possible tax families, and waiting for a possible tax refund
  • 00:15:52.639> them<00:15:52.800> in<00:15:52.959> a<00:15:53.120> more refund
  • Uh, but it's not refundable.
  • Uh so if somebody it's not refundable.
Bills: HB585
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Commerce and Tourism Feb 4th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • It requires refund protections for first-time transactions involved.
  • Refund protections for first-time transactions involving non-U.S. wallets when fraud is reported with
  • Second, the 72-hour refund provision. This is real consumer protection here with teeth.
  • Now, law enforcement tells us that most ...and request that full refund.
  • Transaction hashes, wallet addresses, and refund policies on every digital receipt gives victims and
Summary: The committee first took up SB 1236, which would condition state economic development incentives on employers at subsidized companies using secret-ballot union elections and prohibiting neutrality agreements. The sponsor said the bill is meant to protect workers and taxpayer dollars, and he noted he would amend the Attorney General enforcement language to allow appeals. Supporters argued it protects secret ballots and transparency, while opponents said it is a form of union-busting, could conflict with federal labor law, and would burden contractors and workers. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably on a roll call vote, with Senators Bracey Davis, Smith, and Errington voting no and the remaining recorded votes in favor. The committee then heard CS/SB 198, which regulates cryptocurrency kiosks to combat fraud, especially against seniors. The bill requires kiosk registration, fraud warnings, blockchain analytics, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections for certain first-time transactions involving non-U.S. wallets. Supporters from consumer and senior advocacy groups said the bill would help stop widespread scams, while one industry witness praised the bill’s fraud protections but suggested narrowing the daily limits and new-customer period. The committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 1356 on dog breeding, pet sales, and breeder registration. The sponsor described it as a work in progress aimed at ending inhumane breeding conditions, improving consumer disclosures, and creating breeder standards and penalties; an amendment removed state oversight of local animal shelters. Pet store representatives supported many animal welfare provisions but objected to the three-day financing waiting period, shelter-space requirements, expanded reimbursement, and litigation exposure. Animal welfare supporters backed the bill, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also heard SB 1722 on app stores and minors’ access to apps. The bill requires age verification, parental consent for minors, notice of app changes, and enforcement by the Department of Legal Affairs. Supporters said it would better protect children online and help enforce existing age-based restrictions, while opponents warned it could require overcollection of personal data, create privacy and constitutional problems, and duplicate tools parents already have. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee took up CS/SB 422, which would bar use of ADS-B aviation data to calculate or collect certain airport fees, with an amendment adding departures to the covered activities. A pilot supported the bill as a safety and privacy measure, while airport advocates opposed it, saying it would undermine airport finances and force less efficient fee collection methods. The transcript ends during testimony on this bill, before final action is shown.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 28th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is to send refunds for overpayment of estimated quarterly premium taxes.
  • that they are closely meeting those goals and objectives, and if they are not, then they are not refunded
  • that they are closely meeting those goals and objectives, and if they are not, then they are not refunded
  • that they are closely meeting those goals and objectives, and if they are not, then they are not refunded
  • . goals and objectives, and if they are not refunded.
Keywords: 1204, all