Transcript Highlights:

• As we reduce our income tax rate, we become more reliant on our already high sales tax, which shifts
• the tax burden further onto the poor.
• As we reduce our income tax rate, we become more reliant on our already high sales tax, which shifts
• the tax burden further onto the poor.
• This is from sales taxes and some other fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the taxes in that district went up tremendously.
• tax.
• on personal property tax that they don't have to?
• In regards to the property tax, we do get, we now have a... ...property tax.
• So the sometimes the concerns with the property tax like us being able to verify the property tax comes

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:

• You can submit tax returns to the state and federal government online.
• tax rate, revenue, and duration, all with a strict 75-word limit.
• State programs and federal tax credits help. AB699 provides a smart, transparent fix.
• Voters need to be fully aware of the taxes that they will potentially pay.
• This is about raising taxes.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have one on the property tax.
• Because this only mentions the sales tax, so I was just curious.
• there could be a PILOT, for example, of fixing, but there will be property taxes paid.
• I would just say something came to mind when you were speaking: the earnings tax and the income tax revenue
• and the payroll tax revenue.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm thinking specifically of some of the taxing jurisdictions, such as school districts.
• I have one on the property tax.
• Because this only mentions the sales tax, so I was just curious.
• I would just say something came to mind when you're speaking about the earnings tax and the income tax
• revenue and the payroll tax revenue.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 3395, sponsored by Representative Christ, which would reauthorize and update the Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Act (MODESA) to spur redevelopment in downtown St. Louis and Kansas City. Christ said the program previously helped create Ballpark Village and Power & Light District through a no-upfront-cost, tax-revenue-sharing model, and he indicated a committee substitute would significantly revise the bill language while keeping the same overall concept. Representative Sides supported the bill in principle but said he wanted the final version to read more like standard Missouri statute. A long line of witnesses testified in support, including representatives of the Cordish Companies, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Greater St. Louis, Inc., St. Louis City SC, the City of St. Louis, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas City Chamber/Civic Council, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, J.E. Dunn, and the Missouri Chamber. Supporters described MODESA as a proven tool that leveraged private investment, created jobs, increased visitors and tax revenue, and helped revitalize downtown areas. Cordish said the company had invested more than $2 billion in Missouri and would pursue another large mixed-use project, including residential, office, and entertainment components, if the program were renewed. Testimony focused heavily on two proposed St. Louis projects: redevelopment of the Millennium Hotel site and broader riverfront/downtown connectivity around the Arch grounds. Gateway Arch Park Foundation said it had purchased the Millennium site, was demolishing the old tower, and believed the project would connect the Arch grounds to downtown with a high-rise residential and office mixed-use development. Committee members asked about impacts on taxing jurisdictions, property taxes, retail demand, and whether the bill would benefit communities broadly rather than only developers; witnesses said cities would be applicants, property taxes would still be paid, and the projects were intended to bring new residents and activity rather than simply shift existing development. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee took no vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• 60,000 Minnesotans losing health care coverage just because of the increased premium, the loss of those tax
• Healthcare coverage just because of the increased premium, the loss of those tax credits.
• But right now, at this point, where the advanced premium tax credits are on the table, that's why we
• </c> tax credits are not saved. tax credits are not saved.
• </c><00:05:20.800><c> No</c> level to not cut these tax credits."

Transcript Highlights:

• So during a committee meeting on a proposed tax for social media companies, you gave one of the most
• The conversation was about updating our tax code and how the economy works now. Exactly. Exactly.
• I mean, you're always and that's what I love most about the being on the tax committee is you're always
• those extractions because that we tax those extractions because they're<00:04:40.000><c> taking</c><
• </c> conversation was about updating our tax conversation was about updating our tax code<00:05:00.880

Transcript Highlights:

• taking on those taxes.
• </c> payment in l of taxes. Correct. Okay. payment in l of taxes. Correct. Okay.
• </c> pilot instead of property taxes. pilot instead of property taxes.
• </c> property taxes. property taxes.
• </c> it's about a pilot. payment tax. Okay. it's about a pilot. payment tax. Okay.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this statute is that it requires tax this statute is that it requires tax dollars<00:05:07.680><
• It ensures tax dollars are used only for It ensures tax dollars are used only for their<00:07:20.720>
• </c> for by tax dollars. for by tax dollars.
• </c> there was a large school board tax there was a large school board tax increase<00:27:03.600><c>
• Um, given a tax recall.

Summary: The committee met to approve the October 21 minutes and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and public resources. The sponsors said the bill is intended to strengthen existing law by adding civil and criminal penalties for taxpayer-funded advocacy on ballot questions, especially in light of controversies during the 2024 election over school officials and districts using public resources to oppose a constitutional amendment. They also described related concerns about school districts hiring third-party lobbyists and public relations firms, particularly in Fayette County, and said the proposal was meant to keep tax dollars focused on public services rather than political persuasion. Committee members raised several concerns about scope and drafting. Some asked whether the bill should specifically mention schools, school boards, and school employees, and the sponsors said they would add that language. Others questioned whether the measure would also affect local government lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, and the sponsors said they intended to focus narrowly on schools while exempting certain advocacy organizations and internal government lobbyists. Members also asked whether public employees could still speak as private individuals, and the sponsors said yes. Several members suggested splitting the lobbying and ballot-advocacy issues into separate bills, and the sponsors said they would consider that. Members also pressed for clarification on how the bill would apply in practice, including whether it would cover legal challenges to petition drives or only advocacy after a question is on the ballot. Counsel for the sponsors said the bill would not cover some petition-related litigation as drafted, though they believed it should. The sponsors and supporters argued the proposal was needed to give the existing prohibition real enforcement, while some members warned that the language could unintentionally limit legitimate public representation or be too broad if not carefully drafted. No final vote was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they don't have a large tax excess or a tax shortfall the following year.
• So they don't have a large tax excess or a tax shortfall the following year.
• So they don't have a large tax excess or a tax shortfall the following year.
• the</c> large tax excess or a tax shortfall the large tax excess or a tax shortfall the following<00:
• </c> income tax refund. income tax refund.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• investment tax billion to clean energy investment tax credits<01:07:07.760><c> EV</c><01:07:08.279><
• ><c> billion</c> credits EV tax credits at $316 billion credits EV tax credits at $316 billion $23<01
• :07:20.359><c> end</c> over1 trillion tax dollars we can end over1 trillion tax dollars we can end the
• Israel, with our tax dollars and some of their own and others perhaps, but our tax dollars, destroyed
• </c><03:13:41.479><c> reform</c> tax reform thank you the 2017 tax reform tax reform thank you the 2017

Bills: HR26

Keywords: domestic terrorism, Antifa, law enforcement, criminal activity, violent protests, political ideology, federal response, socio-political conflict

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh their revenue for income tax 60%. uh their revenue for income tax 60%.
• , tobacco tax, and real estate transfer tax distributions.
• , tobacco tax, and real estate transfer tax distributions.
• </c> retaliatory uh tax laws on our books. retaliatory uh tax laws on our books.
• </c> your insurance premium tax revenues? your insurance premium tax revenues?

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• sales tax, and Route 66 is one of the biggest economic drivers that we have.
• The Oklahoma company is taxed at a 22.8% tax rate.
• And then on the other side of the road, the out-of-state company is taxed at 15%.
• Because we're in a tax deficit right now and a general revenue deficit, aren't we?
• We also have a flat budget, and we also know it is nigh impossible to pass a tax.

Bills: HB4028 , HB4075 , HB4077 , HB4074 , HB4076 , SB1221 , SB1921 , SB2118 , SB1932 , SB2134 , HCR1025 , SB1432 , HCR1024 , HCR1022 , SB1122 , HB4029 , HB4063 , HB4073 , HB4078 , SB1936 , SB44 , SB237 , SB248 , SB1360 , SB985 , SB1204 , SB1239 , SB1307 , SB2143 , SB1428 , SB1390 , SB1400 , SB1405 , SB1732 , SB1832 , SB1859 , SB1989 , SB2018 , SB1427

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including Deer Creek students, Skiatook Chamber members, Sand Springs youth leaders, and international visitors studying U.S. energy policy. The chamber also honored the Nurse of the Day, Marla Lyceum, and heard a lengthy farewell speech from Minority Leader Munson reflecting on her service, constituent work, leadership, and bipartisan relationships. Members then took up several special presentations and resolutions, including HCR 1024 recognizing Route 66 Day and its economic importance, HCR 1022 honoring National Lineman Appreciation Day, and a citation for Langston University Day at the Capitol. The House also recognized Deputy Kenton Blumenthal as Oklahoma’s 2025 Officer of the Year for heroic actions during a dangerous pursuit. Later, the House introduced the pages of the week. On legislation, the House passed SB 1122 on ad valorem tax, which supporters said would equalize tax treatment for broadband infrastructure and promote business fairness, over some concern about tax policy and revenue impacts. The chamber also passed HB 4029, HB 4063, HB 4073, HB 4078, and SB 1936, with emergency clauses adopted on the first four. HB 4063, which referred two previously approved state questions to a special August election, drew extended debate over ballot timing, turnout, and whether combining the questions was appropriate; it ultimately passed and the special election referral was approved. SB 1936, which elevates falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer to a D1 felony, passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are taxes on groceries, taxes on school supplies, taxes on building materials in the middle of a
• Let me be clear, tariffs are at the core of taxes. And like any tax, they're being paid."
• tax.
• You're calling this a tax? Wasn't the gas tax a tax? Isn't cap-and-trade a tax?
• Assembly Member Gallagher: "...another tax here in California. Who's the party of taxes?

Summary: The Assembly convened after a delayed quorum call, then moved through routine procedural actions, including unanimous-consent requests on guest seating and committee referrals. A motion by Assembly Member DeMaio to withdraw AB 2624 from committee failed on a roll call vote, 14-44. The chamber also heard multiple guest introductions and held an Armenian Genocide Remembrance ceremony with a prayer, pledge, and moment of silence. The main floor action centered on H.R. 97, commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Assembly Member Schultz and numerous colleagues spoke in support, emphasizing historical recognition, solidarity with Armenian Californians, and opposition to denial. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 66 co-authors were added. Later, H.R. 99 recognizing California Agriculture Day also drew extensive support from members highlighting the state’s agricultural economy, farmworkers, and the need for continued investment in agriculture; it was adopted by voice vote after 65 co-authors were added. Several bills were also considered and passed: AB 1838 on contractor wage-and-hour disclosure for public works bids, AB 1562 authorizing counties to randomly select poll workers, AB 2297 standardizing restitution rules in diversion programs, AB 1659 improving school re-enrollment support for justice-impacted youth, AB 1974 creating an optional temporary firearm storage program for law enforcement, AB 2402 updating health studio fee rules, and AB 1607 extending the Maddy Emergency Medical Services Fund. AB 1607 drew sharp opposition over fee funding and broader policy concerns, but passed 66-1. The Assembly also adopted ACR 129 establishing a sister-state relationship with Lagos State, Nigeria, and considered a Senate joint resolution on tariffs, with members split over whether tariffs or state policies were the main driver of higher costs; the transcript ends during debate on that resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• They didn't pay their tax.
• They didn't pay their tax.
• And so they don't have to pay that tax going forward.
• One is the collection of unpaid taxes.
• But a city cannot collect taxes that the city is owed.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Expenses and our track and trace system to Tier 1 in the cannabis excise tax fund.
• And also, I think when we're spending out of cannabis excise tax on enforcement, I think we obviously
• Well, in last year, there was a trigger on the tax, excise tax from 19% that the Legislature reduced
• So at the state level, there is no near-term cannabis excise tax increase or licensing fee increase.
• And that was late action on the, I think it actually went into July. ...the tax, excise tax from 19%

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several CalVet budget updates first. CalVet reported progress on the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, explaining that DGS is revising the earlier feasibility study to reflect a smaller footprint and lower grading costs, with updated numbers expected by the end of April. Members and public commenters emphasized the project’s importance and asked whether additional budget authority or trailer bill language was needed; CalVet said it may need more spending authority but wanted to return after the revised study is complete. The committee also reviewed the Yountville skilled nursing facility replacement project, where CalVet said construction is nearing completion, a certificate of occupancy was received, and the new 240-bed facility will replace Holderman Hospital while older buildings will be repurposed for lower levels of care. CalVet also defended eliminating about 178 vacant positions at Yountville and West Los Angeles as a fiscal and staffing efficiency measure, saying current care levels can still be met and that retention and hiring efforts are improving. The committee then took up the Department of Cannabis Control’s enforcement and legal affairs proposal. DCC described the size of the illicit cannabis market, said enforcement alone cannot solve the problem, and asked for additional sworn staff, a new Redding-area field office, and more analysts to focus on distribution networks, organized crime, environmental harms, and high-priority public safety cases. Finance supported the proposal as a targeted investment, while the LAO had no additional comment. Members asked about funding impacts and local co-location options, and DCC said the request would be funded from cannabis excise tax revenues and could help shift sales into the legal market. Public testimony from the cannabis industry strongly supported more enforcement against illicit retail and said it would help legal operators compete. DCC also presented its hemp enforcement and regulation proposal tied to AB 8. The department said the law closes loopholes around intoxicating hemp products, strengthens enforcement across agencies, and prepares for hemp to enter the cannabis regulatory framework in 2028. DCC requested staff for a civil enforcement unit, field-testing equipment, lab capacity to detect synthetic cannabinoids, a track-and-trace specialist, and a policy specialist. Members asked about enforcement in informal retail settings and consumer confusion, and DCC said the biggest problems have been smoke shops and online sales. Public commenters from the legal cannabis industry supported the proposal, saying intoxicating hemp has harmed the regulated market and created public safety risks. The Cannabis Control Appeals Panel then requested ongoing funding of $3.4 million to support 12 positions and its quasi-judicial appeals function. The panel said that with provisional licenses largely phased out, more annual licensees now have appeal rights and the workload is beginning to increase, with two cases currently on the docket. The LAO recommended limiting funding to three years and requiring a workload and comparative analysis before making the funding permanent, while Finance supported ongoing funding as consistent with the panel’s permanent statutory role. Members questioned the panel’s compensation and workload, noting that the five-member body is paid at a high statutory rate despite historically meeting only quarterly, though panel staff said the work now includes substantial case preparation and monthly hearings. Finally, the Department of Consumer Affairs introduced two proposals: $2 million ongoing for the Contractors State License Board’s IT needs and $251,000 plus one limited-term position for the Board of Pharmacy to implement Proposition 34-related licensing policy and reduce barriers to licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also preserves our incredible California film industry by increasing the film tax credit.
• Receive these additional tax credits, and frankly, that's just not good enough.
• I just paid the taxes on our property. What about those families?
• California taxpayers and say that it's time for a massive tax increase.
• Hard-working Californians are paying taxes that folks in Washington are sending to other states.

Summary: The Assembly met on June 4, 2025, first establishing a quorum and then moving through a long budget and concurrence session. After procedural motions, the house took up several budget trailer bills and related measures presented by Assembly Member Gabriel. SB 103, a technical budget cleanup bill addressing the Public School System Stabilization Account, a CDCR shortfall, and Middle Class Scholarship funding, passed 52-16. SB 120 on child care and preschool funding passed 65-1; SB 124 on natural resources and wildfire response passed 69-1; SB 127 on climate change and zero-emission transportation passed 53-17; SB 128 on transportation and DMV/LA Olympics implementation passed 53-17; SB 132 on taxation, veterans, wildfire settlements, film tax credits, and housing passed 64-1; SB 141 on cannabis enforcement and illicit market suppression passed 71-1; and SB 142 extending the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program passed 68-1 on both urgency and the measure. The Assembly also approved a motion to re-refer several bills to committees and later suspended rules to take up Senate-amended bills without reference to file. The chamber then considered AB 102, the main budget bill reflecting the final three-party agreement with the Governor. Supporters said it balanced compassion and fiscal responsibility while preserving housing, health care, child care, education, wildfire resilience, and public safety funding. Opponents criticized it for unsustainable spending, insufficient Prop. 36 funding, and other omissions. After extended debate, the Assembly concurred in the Senate amendments by a 55-16 vote and sent the bill to the Governor. The Assembly then concurred in Senate amendments to AB 116 on health care, AB 118 on human services, AB 121 on TK-12 education, AB 123 on higher education, AB 134 on public safety, AB 136 on courts, AB 137 on general government, and AB 143 on developmental services, with each bill passing on largely party-line or broad bipartisan votes. Debate on AB 116 focused on Medi-Cal, HIV program backfills, pharmacy benefit managers, and health care cuts; opponents objected to funding for undocumented immigrants and to hospice prior authorization. AB 118 drew support for child welfare, CalFresh disaster readiness, and CalWORKs simplification. AB 121 emphasized record K-12 funding and a $1.7 billion block grant. AB 123 extended the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and supported higher education and fire-impacted career technical education. AB 134 updated CDCR and tribal policing provisions, AB 136 streamlined court reporting and funded courthouse facilities, AB 137 made technical budget adjustments and fee changes, and AB 143 made developmental services reforms while preserving the state’s entitlement commitment. The final item shown was AB 470 on telecommunications, which was presented and discussed as a transition away from copper landlines toward fiber and modern networks, with supporters emphasizing public benefits and labor concerns, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• my official capacity as Galveston County tax assessor-collector.
• You, the legislator, have de-incentivized delinquent taxes.
• Further, when tax... ...harm.
• deferral, I will therefore defer my property taxes, right?
• , in this case, my example is taxes, they pay.

Bills: HB40 , HB1916 , HB1973 , HB2524 , HB2530 , HB3180 , HB3421 , HB3783 , HB4170 , HB4213 , HB40

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support

Summary: The committee heard several House bills, most of them relating to family law and court procedure, and left each bill pending after testimony. House Bill 1916 would clarify that the court that issued a final divorce decree retains exclusive jurisdiction over later actions involving undivided property. House Bill 1973 would require a certified birth certificate, if reasonably available, to be filed with a SAPCR petition or allow alternative proof of parentage while keeping the information confidential. House Bill 2530 would add qualifications and procedural safeguards for appointing amicus attorneys in SAPCR cases, including notice and hearing requirements, minimum qualifications, conflict rules, and limits on what amicus attorneys may do. House Bill 2524 would make Family Code references to attorney’s fees consistent by using “reasonable and necessary” language. House Bill 3180 would correct a scrivener’s error in the civil discovery rules by changing “settlement” to “statement.” The committee also heard House Bill 4213, which would change the interest rate on overdue child support from the current 6 percent simple interest to a fixed 5 percent and require the Attorney General to report on the impact of the change. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters argued lower interest could improve collections and help low-income obligors catch up, citing research and the size of child-support arrearages; opponents said lowering the rate would reduce incentives to pay and harm custodial parents and children. The Attorney General’s office raised implementation concerns about a House version that would have created a variable rate, while the committee substitute was described as restoring a simple fixed rate. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also discussed House Bill 40, updating business court provisions and supplemental jurisdiction; House Bill 3421, streamlining probate procedures for original wills and copies; and House Bill 417, clarifying venue for lawsuits involving private transfer fees on real property. Each drew limited testimony and was left pending. Finally, House Bill 3783 drew extensive testimony on court-ordered counseling and reunification therapy in family cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would protect children and abuse victims from coercive, unregulated reunification practices, while opponents argued it was too broad, could interfere with legitimate therapy and judicial discretion, and might affect military families and other high-conflict cases. The committee heard testimony from judges, therapists, parents, survivors, and advocates, but took no final action and left the bill pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, As it relates to fiscal notes dealing with tax policy.
• I mean, there were five events that I spoke at this weekend, and naturally the income tax got brought
• And so it is for the director and, you know, their analyst who would be working on tax policy.
• Perhaps like it was with the capital gains tax; that modeling was simplistic.
• That the oath, the auditor's office has to take related to those tax returns, 23-156.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The Budget Committee met in executive session and considered Senate Bill 1470, with a House Committee Substitute offered and adopted. The bill updates statutes governing the Joint Committee on Legislative Research and its oversight functions. The sponsor and Chairman Deaton described the measure as modernizing LR operations, including reducing the committee from 20 members to 12, adding legislative leadership and minority representation, allowing electronic delivery of reports, and changing references to public colleges and universities. They also explained that the bill would create post-implementation fiscal notes to compare projected and actual fiscal impacts after enactment. A major point of discussion was the bill’s provision allowing legislative oversight staff to access certain Department of Revenue tax-return information under confidentiality rules so they can independently verify data used in fiscal notes, especially for tax policy bills. Several members supported the goal of improving accuracy and checks and balances, while also raising concerns about protecting taxpayer privacy and ensuring the committee does not improperly access confidential information. The sponsor and chairman said the committee would not see individual returns, that staff would remain bound by confidentiality, and that they would follow up on any legal concerns before floor action if needed. Members also discussed a section striking language that had prohibited committee employees from opposing or urging legislation. The sponsor said this was cleanup because LR no longer drafts ordinary bills, only revision bills, and the remaining drafting role is limited and noncontroversial. Representative Mayhew said he would not offer a planned amendment at the meeting but still wanted clarification on the tax-information language. Representative Fogle asked how post-implementation fiscal notes would be shared, and the sponsor said the committee would likely determine the process. After adopting the substitute, the committee voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 25 yes and 1 no.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> their other taxes, right? So, yes. Okay. their other taxes, right? So, yes. Okay.
• </c> unemployment tax rate their payroll tax unemployment tax rate their payroll tax rate<01:51:32.560
• </c> those milestones keeping employer tax those milestones keeping employer tax rates<01:51:43.080><
• </c><01:52:04.639><c> rates</c> keeps those employer payroll tax rates keeps those employer payroll tax
• </c><01:52:12.800><c> rate</c> want as saw fit through those tax rate want as saw fit through those tax

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.