Video & Transcript Research : 'time limits'
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WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, February 23, 2026
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- limited partnership act, having to do with the structure of the Wyoming law at that time.
- We at that time were forming limited partnerships in Colorado, and Wyoming changed its law, and I think
- part-time employees and full-time<00:49:18.400>
employees. - time.
- Uh, we get so much more out of our full-time employees than part-time.
Bills:
HB0086
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/04/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- decision they wanted at the time. decision they wanted at the time.
- She needs some time to look that Okay. She needs some time to look that over. over. over.
- It changes a time limitation related to when an association may begin a foreclosure proceeding for certain
- 31.679>
time <02:12:32.000>serving <02:12:32.320>the my legislature or time time - dealt with that firsthand many times. dealt with that firsthand many times.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Should you choose to waive your speaking time, your position will be included in the committee meeting
- How many times are we going to increase this thing?
- There is some other language in there dealing with a four-year time period and a site plan.
- And just to, and I know that it's kind of taken a lot of time on this particular issue.
- Thank you for your time.
Summary:
The Finance and Tax Committee met with a quorum and considered two Senate proposed bills. The first, SPB 7046, was the Senate tax package. It included changes to Live Local property tax exemptions, charter school distributions from voter-approved property tax levies, limits on special assessments for RV parks, revisions to fiscally constrained county funding and eligibility, a permanent sales tax exemption for small propane tanks, a hunting/fishing/camping sales tax holiday, restrictions on governmental net zero policies, and new voting thresholds for certain local millage actions. Staff estimated the bill would reduce general revenue by about $77 million in FY 2026-27 and about $50 million recurring. An amendment making the charter-school distribution change prospective starting July 1, 2026, was adopted. A late-filed amendment by Senator Gaetz on disability tax exemptions was withdrawn for lack of a fiscal analysis.
The charter school provision drew the most debate. Senator Jones and Senator Bernard raised concerns that expanding eligibility to charter schools authorized through alternate authorizers could reduce funding available to traditional neighborhood public schools and that the effective date did not give districts enough time to plan. Senator Avila argued the change corrected an omission from earlier legislation and ensured public schools, including charter schools, were treated equally. Several speakers supported the fiscally constrained county provisions, while the Florida Association of Counties urged grandfathering for counties that could currently opt out of the Live Local exemption and asked the committee to review language on millage thresholds and net zero provisions. SPB 7046 was ultimately reported favorably as a committee bill by a roll call vote.
The committee then took up SPB 7048, which updates Florida’s conformity to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026, and partially decouples from federal changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill addresses federal changes to bonus depreciation, Section 179 expensing, research and experimental expenses, business meals, and business interest deductions, with some provisions phased in or adjusted over time. The Florida Chamber testified in support of continued conformity but expressed concerns about administrative burdens and the bill’s partial decoupling structure. After brief debate, the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill by roll call vote, and the committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Finance and Tax Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you. ...the new, don't be confused, because first-time homebuyers don't know that.
- Most of the time that process is its procedure will be updated and then we move on.
- Most of the time that process is its procedure will be updated and then we move on.
- This was what we looked at last time under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also.
- So what that... ...last time under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also.
Summary:
The committee took up three tax-related bills and a staff presentation on the state revenue forecast and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SB 856, by Senator DeSigley, would require online real estate listing platforms to display estimated property taxes using state-prescribed methods rather than the current owner’s taxes. Supporters from county, city, and property appraiser groups said the bill would improve transparency for homebuyers, especially first-time buyers and those facing large tax increases after a homestead cap reset. Senators discussed ensuring the estimate appears directly on listing platforms. The bill was reported favorably.
The committee then considered SB 110, by Senator Arrington, which clarifies that people holding 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead exemption even if the lease ends upon death, aligning such leases with life estates for estate-planning purposes. An amendment was adopted to clarify that leases terminating at the lessee’s death are valid under current law. The Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section supported the bill, and Senator Gates noted its importance for long-term leaseholders on barrier islands. The amended bill was reported favorably. SB 434, by Senator Leak, would prevent property tax assessments from increasing because of improvements made to harden homes against wind damage, such as stronger roof attachments, shutters, and secondary water barriers. The sponsor said homeowners should not be penalized for resilience upgrades, and the bill was also reported favorably.
Staff director Mr. Khan then reviewed the latest general revenue forecast, noting collections were running about $230 million above prior estimates through November and that the new forecast added roughly $500 million in the first budget year, with a smaller increase in the second year. He said corporate income tax was the main weakness in the forecast, due to softer collections and uncertainty around tariffs, while other sources were generally stronger. In the second half of the presentation, he explained that the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act would significantly affect Florida’s corporate income tax base if fully conformed to, with an estimated $3.5 billion general revenue impact in fiscal year 2026-27, largely because of retroactive provisions such as bonus depreciation and research expensing. Senators and the appropriations chair discussed the budget implications, including possible ways to limit the impact through decoupling or prospective treatment. No votes were taken on the forecast presentation, and the committee adjourned after members requested to be recorded as voting in favor on SB 856 and SB 110.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-HOU, AEN, AEN DEFER, AEN DEFER Public Hearings 02-03-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- And because of the 90-minute time limit for our hearings, there'll be a two-minute time limit for all
- And because of the 90-minute time limit for our hearings, there'll be a two-minute time limit for all
- And because of the 90-minute time limit for our hearings, there'll be a two-minute time limit for all
- <00:21:30.840>
and and standardizing loan loan limits and and standardizing loan loan limits - increasing and standardizing loan limits increasing and standardizing loan limits and<00:43:46.520
Summary:
The committees heard several agriculture and food-system bills. SB 1562 would create a Combined Housing Operational Agricultural Mobilization Program to help bona fide farmers live and farm on agricultural lands and provide a tax credit for donated land. Testimony generally supported the goal of housing for farmers and farm workers, but raised concerns about placing the program within the Department of Agriculture, possible constitutional and drafting issues, land-quality standards, lease structure, and whether another agency might be better suited. The committees recommended passing SB 1562 with amendments, including clarifying DOA authority to acquire agricultural lands and establishing an advisory committee within the department; the recommendation was adopted.
The committees also heard SB 1171 on providing monofilament netting through hardware stores to help slow coconut rhinoceros beetle spread, SB 1186 on creating a statewide interagency food systems coordination team and working group, SB 1250 on a Farm to Families program, SB 1303 on agricultural loans, SB 1395 on a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund, SB 504 on a local agricultural transportation cost reimbursement program, SB 1185 on reviewing and repealing obsolete agricultural laws, and SB 187 on funding permanent agricultural biosecurity positions. Most testimony on these measures was in support, with some suggested refinements: for SB 1186, a youth advisory seat and clearer performance benchmarks; for SB 1250, broader eligibility for food pantries, cold storage, and staffing support; for SB 1303, support for lower interest rates and expanded loan tools; for SB 1395, debate over the fund’s structure and revenue source; for SB 504, clearer eligibility for small and beginning farmers, cooperatives, and food hubs; and for SB 1185, interest in joining the working group but concern about overbroad deregulation.
No roll-call votes were taken on the other measures in the excerpt, but the chair reported testimony counts on some bills, including 89 in support and none opposed for SB 1250, 13 in support and one opposed for SB 504, and 14 in support with one comment for SB 1395. SB 1303 and SB 187 also drew supportive testimony from the Department of Agriculture, farm groups, food banks, and industry organizations, with SB 187 emphasizing the need to make Act 231 biosecurity positions permanent and fully funded.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 02/05/25
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- A senator can take as much time as they want, but it's testifiers that will be limited to 2 minutes,
- A senator can take as much time as they want, but it's testifiers that will be limited to 2 minutes,
- You certainly went over your time, but we still gave you a little more time. All right, Ms.
- You certainly went over your time, but we still gave you a little more time. All right, Ms.
- You certainly went over your time, but we still gave you a little more time. All right, Ms.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Legislative Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- And I've asked them, how many times have you come across a damaged firing pin?
- And I've asked them, how many times have you come across a damaged firing?
- And as it was said, I think that cost will come down over time.
- Any other commissioners for the first time? I'm happy to comment.
- Any other commissioners for the first time?
Summary:
The Special Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology met to review its work on intentional microstamping and personalized firearms and to discuss draft recommendations for a final report. The co-chairs summarized testimony received from manufacturers, advocates, law enforcement, and officials from New Jersey, New York, and California. For microstamping, the discussion focused on how the technology could help trace spent casings, its limits in forensic use, and concerns about wear, tampering, implementation costs, and whether it would burden lawful gun owners. For personalized firearms, members reviewed testimony about biometric smart guns, their current commercial availability, higher cost, and potential benefits for preventing accidental shootings and unauthorized use, especially involving children and suicide prevention.
Commissioners expressed a range of views. Several supported microstamping as a crime-solving tool and endorsed a recommendation that the legislature direct a feasibility and viability study, set standards and training, fund implementation, and create penalties for tampering. Others opposed microstamping, arguing it has not worked in other states, may not reduce crime, and could impose costs on manufacturers and owners. On personalized firearms, most commissioners supported encouraging the technology, but there was disagreement over whether to create a temporary sales tax exemption; some favored an incentive to promote adoption, while others opposed any tax subsidy for firearms or questioned whether the data justified it.
The co-chairs said they would draft a report reflecting the majority consensus and circulate it for review before a final vote at a later meeting, likely in July. The commission also discussed which executive branch agency should conduct the microstamping feasibility study, with the Attorney General’s office and EOPSS mentioned as possibilities. The meeting ended with agreement to reconvene for final votes on the report and recommendations.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- While obtaining copies of these impact fee studies is difficult and normally time-consuming, the time
- frame then to review... ...is difficult and normally time-consuming.
- I deal with engineers all the time.
- Senator Bettencourt, within reason and within limitations.
- No, there is no city of Aldine, last time I checked. No, sure.
Keywords:
ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school
Summary:
The Senate Local Government Committee heard several bills by Senator Bettencourt focused on property tax and local government accountability. SB 32 would provide about $700 million in business tax relief by raising the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 and continuing a 20% franchise tax credit for inventory taxes paid. Witnesses from NFIB, the Texas Retailers Association, and Texas Realtors supported the bill, saying business personal property and inventory taxes are burdensome and especially hard on small businesses. After no opposition testimony, SB 32 was left pending.
The committee also heard SB 1453, which would change how interest and sinking tax rates are calculated by using only the minimum debt service required under bond schedules, while still allowing a higher rate with a 60% governing body vote and a public explanation. A witness from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association supported the bill as a way to keep debt rates from rising as property values increase and to preserve tax relief. The bill was left pending after testimony.
SB 1883 would tighten rules on local impact fees by requiring 60 days of public availability for capital improvement plans and land use assumptions, raising the approval threshold for adopting impact fees from a simple majority to two-thirds, limiting how often fees can be increased, and expanding notice requirements. Builders and developers testified in support, arguing that impact fees are often poorly reviewed, lack accountability, and are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. Committee members discussed adding audit provisions and questioned the lack of city testimony. The bill was left pending with subcommittee action. SB 1452 would require a voter election to decide whether a municipal management district continues to exist, with dissolution if voters reject it; supporters said it would add accountability, while others noted some districts provide essential services and infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from district representatives and builders, then left SB 1452 pending before recessing.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Transportation Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we
- I mean, any time it's being used, it's not...
- to time.
- to time.
- My bill right now is looking to limit that ability to three times.
Summary:
The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations.
SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations.
The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations.
The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/03/2026 - House Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Natural Resources, Energy & Water
Transcript Highlights:
- It was a long time ago.
- So please, with all respect, I hope you can take time to read that on your own time, but that is the
- We're looking 20, 30, 40 years at a time.
- We're looking 20, 30, 40 years at a time.
- Yeah, the feds preempt us all the time.
Bills:
HB2014, HB2113, HB2145, HB2331, HB2340, HB2389, HB2400, HB2401, HB2428, HB2494, HB2696, HB2756, HB2795, HB2955, HCM2008
Keywords:
air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Select Agencies Subcommittee Jan 5th, 2026 at 09:00 am
A&B Select Agencies Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- And they said, 'Well, let's put in a limit.'
- I mean, we have 31 full-time employees.
- I've been doing this for a long time.
- So some years we didn't make as much money in recent times.
- They're catching them below the dam all the time now. They're starting to catch.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- limit to 2.5% as part of a modernization of property tax limits in the school system as well as for
- And that's their limit. And then they can take anything from that to the voters.
- That's ample time. But what if they can't? What if they can't pay? So they refuse to cure?
- That's ample time. But what if they can't? What if they can't pay? So they refuse to cure?
- During that time, and over these periods of time, school districts, especially small ones, have been
Summary:
The Senate convened with an invocation and then handled several procedural matters, including a failed motion to excuse Senator Johnson’s absence after a roll-call vote. The chamber also postponed the reading and referral of bills until later in the calendar and adopted motions allowing the Education K-16 Committee to meet while the Senate was in session. The Senate then recessed until 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 6.
The main floor action centered on Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 9, which lowers the voter-approval tax rate for certain cities and counties from 3.5% to 2.5% for maintenance and operations. Senator Bettencourt argued the bill would slow local property tax growth and align city and county limits more closely with school district limits, while Senators Hinojosa and Menendez raised concerns about reduced local revenue, public safety funding, and the short time for cities to assess the impact. The Senate suspended the regular order, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the constitutional three-day rule, and finally passed SB 9, with a clarification later entered that the final passage vote was 18-3.
The Senate also took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 7, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, which sets state policy for the use of certain spaces and facilities according to biological sex and creates enforcement mechanisms for state agencies and political subdivisions. Supporters said the bill was needed to protect women and children in restrooms, locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and schools, while opponents questioned the scope, enforcement, civil penalties, and possible conflicts with federal law and local control. After extensive questioning, the chamber adopted a clarifying amendment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed SB 7 by a vote of 19-2.
Finally, the Senate passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 15, which addresses deed fraud and real property theft by tightening recording requirements for certain property documents and creating new criminal offenses for real property theft and fraud. Senator Hinojosa explained that the bill combined civil and criminal provisions, added photo ID requirements for in-person filings, and included restitution and enhanced penalties for certain victims and properties; a floor amendment made cleanup changes, removed a training mandate, and clarified that electronic and mail filings were not affected. The Senate adopted the amendment, suspended the three-day rule, and passed SB 15 unanimously, 21-0.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Please be respectful of Chair Cook: others' time and keep your testimony limited to three minutes.
- over the country where they've been able to see much greater results with probation, it's making it time-limited
- I want to remind everyone we do have a three minute time limit.
- We want their time to count.
- I mean, when I did my analysis, I read that as limiting... credit for time served for determinate sentence
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee Aug 1st, 2025
Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- We're talking about that over the time frame of 10 years.
- time.
- Yeah, just a little time management here.
- In a timely manner.
- has been established by case law over time.
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Freedom of Information Advisory Council May 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I can give you examples from my time and recent times in Loudoun, primarily, where I believe that
- I did not look at that at this time, but I certainly could.
- And there's a place for fees, especially if you're limited staff.
- Well, we haven't been there for a long time.
- In other words, why limit it to property owners?
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And the only time a, and again what's the process...
- And if we don't do it this time, it'll be two years.
- Appreciate your time greatly, and respectfully ask this.
- Thank you for your time.
- Bill 917 pending at this time.
Bills:
HB32, HB15, HB171, HB421, HB581, HB644, HB745, HB349, HB917, HB204, HB923, HB15, HB171, HB204
Keywords:
eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Health Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- of our time.
- Time and time again, I'm struck by how few people have heard of screening, even if they may be eligible
- At each time that we bring policy forward.
- It is not open-ended; it is reasonable; it is a time-limited fix.
- We will go back one more time through.
Summary:
The Assembly Health Committee heard a series of bills focused on behavioral health, cancer screening, provider reimbursement, research funding, workforce licensing, and tobacco regulation. SB 16 would require counties to maintain procedures for designating and training professionals authorized to perform 5150 evaluations and initiate involuntary holds; supporters said it would expand the pool of qualified clinicians and reduce reliance on law enforcement, while opponents raised concerns about local control and implementation. SB 1124 would require CDPH to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco point-of-sale locations; supporters emphasized low screening awareness and early detection, and the bill was advanced with amendments. SB 28, a CARE Court cleanup bill, proposed an ombudsperson, reporting, electronic petitions, remote participation, and other changes to improve accountability and access; it drew both strong support and significant opposition over concerns about coercion, scope, and whether the program is working as intended, but it passed the committee as amended to Judiciary.
The committee also heard SB 874, which would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, including background checks for providers and a stakeholder workgroup to develop standards; it passed to Public Safety. SB 1049 would let providers resubmit corrected claims within 90 days after a plan’s denial or recoupment action when the original claim had a correctable technical defect; supporters described delayed and withheld payments harming practices, while insurers argued the bill could duplicate existing dispute processes. The bill passed to Appropriations on call. SB 1224 would create a state framework to compete for federal ARPA-H funding for emerging therapies research, with testimony from a UC Davis psychiatrist and veterans’ advocates supporting expanded research into treatments for PTSD, depression, and other conditions; it passed to Military and Veterans Affairs.
Later, SB 1057 would change how the Department of Public Health evaluates conviction history for certified nurse assistants and home health aides, shifting from automatic denial toward individualized assessment based on the offense, time elapsed, and rehabilitation; it passed to Appropriations with some no votes. Finally, SB 1314, a tobacco-related bill, sought to create a 600-foot buffer around schools and day care centers for certain tobacco retailers and address related issues such as cigar lounge definitions and nitrous oxide sales; several local government and public safety groups supported it, while health organizations and business groups opposed it unless amended. The chair announced that committee amendments were being set aside for now and the bill would move forward to Business and Professions with a commitment to continue working on the language; it passed out of committee.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, does that have to be a person, or can the district attorney distribute that full-time, part-time
- Now, does that have to be a person, or can the district attorney distribute that full-time, part-time
- Read one more time.
- And in that time, I could limit the amount of losses that we had, whether those losses were rents, whether
- It's also that time frame.
Bills:
HCR41, HB11, HB227, HB243, HB278, HB335, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB492, HB623, HB641, HB660, HB708, HB719, HB940, HB1029, HB1053, HB1069, HB1077
Keywords:
coupons, rebates, alcohol regulation, malt beverages, Louisiana Department of Revenue, remembrance, Charlie Kirk, state recognition, October 14, memorial day, court filings, electronic filing, letter size paper, privacy, legal procedure, recusal, district attorney, substitute attorney, appointment process, legal proceedings
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for your time and your wisdom, and thanks to my colleagues making time to be here as well.
- Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Thank you.
- Thank you for your time. Questions from committee members? All right, thank you for your time.
- These are perilous times.
- We spent quite a bit of time working on this bill.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing.
Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue.
The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- Speakers are asked to please limit testimony to no more than three minutes.
- Again, testimony is to be limited to three minutes.
- Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Thank you.
- Thank you for your time, and I'm delighted to answer any questions.
- Thank you for your time, Counselor. Okay, good day. Bye.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 32 bills related to veterans and service members, with opening remarks from Chair Madaro and Senator Eldridge emphasizing the committee’s work on tax credits and property tax relief, including follow-up to the HERO Act of 2024. The chairs outlined hearing procedures, noted the August 23 reporting deadline for House-filed matters, and explained that testimony would focus on issues including voluntary contributions, sales tax, property tax, and economic development. No votes were taken during the hearing.
Several bills drew testimony in support of expanding or simplifying veterans’ property tax benefits. Rep. Sylvia supported H. 3255 to raise the veterans’ property tax workoff cap from $1,500 to $2,000, matching the senior workoff program. Rep. Soder and Sen. Moore advocated for stronger property tax relief for disabled veterans, including H. 3245 and S. 2046, with Moore proposing a disability-based exemption and state reimbursement to municipalities. Rep. McGregor supported H. 3175, which would eliminate the need for veterans to refile annually for exemptions unless their status changes, arguing it would reduce burdens on veterans and assessors.
Testimony also addressed line-of-duty death benefits and local implementation concerns. Mary Ann Cardi supported H. 3188 to clarify that surviving spouses of police and fire personnel who died in the line of duty qualify for a full real estate exemption. Chris Clark, Senator Sear, and Counselor Ludke all backed the veterans’ workoff bill, describing it as an equity fix that would align the veterans’ program with the senior program and help municipalities like Barnstable use the benefit more effectively. After hearing from all scheduled speakers and confirming no additional in-person testimony, the chairs adjourned the hearing.