Transcript Highlights:

• our state fire code and our State Building Code here in our state to provide some better access to four-story
• amendments at the that the the codes amendments at the state<01:10:41.080> level<01:10:41.560
• Amendment state level our in our code Amendment state level our in our code Amendment package
• The four-story buildings, if we didn't have the conflict today between our current State Building Code
• and State Fire Code, we could build four-story buildings that are sprinklered and have one exit.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A big part of this is the limitation on state and local taxes.
• We don't have a role in that at the State Department of Tax. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• They want to help a certain thing through the tax code, a certain activity.
• The provisions in the tax code also are there to prevent us from violating the U.S. Constitution.
• So, previously, under this tax code, the tax base was based on just severed.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what this bill will do is apply the Trump tax cuts to the Arizona tax code.
• It is a common-sense, pro-taxpayer bill that conforms Arizona's tax code with the federal tax code and
• It does not reduce the state income tax. So there's no cost to the state.
• By conforming Arizona's tax code with the federal tax code, we provide immediate relief to seniors, working
• .where we align Arizona's tax laws with the federal tax code.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, Texas tax code, uh, 151.309 exempts political subdivisions from paying sales taxes.
• The MGRT, uh, defect in the tax code als also subjects individual taxes, uh, Texans to double or even
• It's not only 2%, it actually doesn't tax some people in the state and taxes others.
• In 2024, shoppers saved approximately $143.4 million in state and local taxes during the tax-free weekend
• code states that a person is entitled to a tax exemption if the property he owns is used exclusively

Transcript Highlights:

• requiring adherence to the state requiring adherence to the state building<01:10:53.800> code
• There are other appendixes that go to the code standards, but the state of New Hampshire has adopted
• state building code and regulated by the state building code and we<01:37:08.960> would<01:37
• Part B reads, "another approved agency in accordance with the state building code."
• accordance with the state building code. accordance with the state building code.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't pay taxes on that.
• So maybe it used to be Transportation Code, but now it's another tax code, and...
• So maybe it used to be Transportation Code, but now it's another tax code, and under the tax code they
• It's under the tax code. I'm sorry, but it's under a couple of tax codes.
• This bill asks in our tax code and provides, includes the exemptions and the expansion of those activities

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on transportation infrastructure, public safety, and local commemorations. SB 2841 would clarify the overweight corridor designation for the Port of Brownsville so all three statutorily approved bridges are treated uniformly for northbound and southbound overweight traffic; the Port of Brownsville testified in support, and the bill was left pending. SB 39 would restore the commercial motor vehicle “admission rule” framework in collision cases; Senator Birdwell explained the committee substitute, and the bill was later reported favorably. The committee also heard and later advanced SB 682, SB 1369, and SB 1422, which rename stretches of highway or a bridge in honor of fallen firefighters and military service members, with no opposition testimony and all left pending before final votes. The committee also heard SB 2366, which would create a grant program for short-line railroad projects through rural rail transportation districts for track, bridge, capacity, and restoration work. Senator Hughes and several witnesses from rural rail districts and rail advocacy groups supported the bill, while TxDOT explained current rail funding is limited and that the bill would be the first such grant program for Class 3 short lines; members discussed that the bill would need a floor amendment because state funds cannot be paid directly to railroads. SB 1013 would expand crosswalk protections under the Lisa Torrey-Smith Act to include certain driveway curb cuts along sidewalks; it was supported by the author and left pending before later being reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 2080, which would modernize port and navigation district rules by easing records and procurement requirements, exempting certain security and cybersecurity discussions from recording, and expanding some operational authority. Port Houston and the Texas Ports Association supported the bill, while the City of Corpus Christi raised concerns that the language could expand port economic-development authority beyond navigation purposes and affect local tax bases; the Port of Galveston also noted concerns about the filed version but supported the bill as presented, and the committee substitute was later reported favorably. SB 2001 would create specialty license plates and related parking/toll benefits for permanently disabled peace officers; SB 2705 would codify registration exemptions for certain farm equipment and some specialty plates. Both were supported by witnesses, adopted with committee substitutes where applicable, and reported favorably. Final votes on the reported bills were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, and the committee recessed after leaving some motions open briefly.

Transcript Highlights:

• So tax conformity is the process states use to align income tax laws with the Internal Revenue Code.
• Federal tax conformity simplifies the process for filing state income tax returns.
• So, other states tax GILTI in a variety of ways.
• or deduction for state and local taxes or deduction for state and local taxes or salt<00:38:12.960
• state tax collection perspective? state tax collection perspective? >> Mr. >> Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Payroll totals were provided to a CPA to prepare tax reports net of tax.
• Payroll totals were provided to a CPA to prepare tax reports net of tax.
• No. were provided to a CPA to prepare tax reports net of tax.
• The sales tax monies that he’s referring to are general sales tax money, so they can be moved.
• Now, if this is state, do we have, does the state demand if the governor give some money Does the state

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the code sections for it.
• There's been certain the state.
• these are the code sections for it. these are the code sections for it.
• So, code sections brought forward.
• So, code sections brought forward.

Keywords: Economic and Workforce Development - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 9:45 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 2417 on employment telework policies. The chair explained the bill was intended to give agencies, boards, and other groups clear authority to set telework policies, noting much of the issue arose during COVID and that the Personnel Board may already have adopted similar rules. The committee adopted a title-sufficient do pass motion and reported the bill out without opposition. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2419, a child care workforce proposal from Senator Boyd. The chair described it as a companion to another finance bill and said it would create an employee child care tuition assistance partnership program to help address child care costs that can keep people out of the workforce. The bill was moved as title sufficient do pass and reported out. The committee then advanced Senate Bill 2671, which would bring forward code sections related to state salary-setting and economic development hiring, especially for positions such as MDA and Accelerate Mississippi leadership that are not currently at market rates. Senate Bill 2672 was also advanced; it concerns code sections tied to economic development and Accelerate Mississippi’s role in recruiting, training, and speeding business investment and startup in the state. Both bills were reported out on title-sufficient do pass motions. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2678, a proposal by Senator Taylor to index unemployment benefit duration to the state or regional unemployment rate. Taylor said the bill would shorten benefits when jobs are plentiful and extend them when unemployment is high, citing other states that use similar systems. Members asked whether the measure should be based on state, region, or county data, and the chair agreed it should be made region-specific or county-specific if needed. The committee then adopted a title-sufficient do pass motion, reported the bill out, and adjourned on a motion to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the other hand, if you have a tax structure that is more friendly to the state, then a lot of times
• On the other hand, if you have a tax structure that is more friendly to the state, then a lot of times
• We don't have much in the way of benefits that the state is going to get as far as taxes from data centers
• public utility tax, which are really kind of the big taxes that we have at the state level.
• We don't have a business equipment tax, which is how, particularly in Virginia, the states and governments

Summary: The committee heard several bills, but much of the meeting focused on House Bill 306, which would require disclosure when a consumer is interacting with a chatbot rather than a human. Sponsor Senator Townsend described it as a consumer protection measure and said the bill is meant to keep pace with rapidly changing AI technology. Committee members and witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s enforcement structure, especially private rights of action and penalties that could apply even without actual consumer harm. The Department of Justice said the bill would apply where the conduct has a Delaware nexus, and that the disclosure requirement is the key consumer protection. Industry witnesses and chambers of commerce opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it would create broad compliance burdens and expose businesses to excessive litigation risk without a harm requirement or clearer safe harbor language. Earlier in the meeting, the committee discussed House Bill 429, which would update Delaware’s step therapy exception process to include biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Senator Poore and supporters from Highmark and the Department of Insurance said the bill would modernize insurance law, improve access to effective treatments, and reduce costs; they cited national savings from biosimilars and said the bill has agency support. Members asked about Delaware-specific savings, patient switching, and how the process would work, but no vote was taken during the discussion. The committee also heard House Bill 310, which would exclude large data centers from Blue Collar Jobs Act tax credits; the sponsor said the bill is intended to ensure large energy users contribute more to state and local revenues, while supporters and opponents debated competitiveness and community impacts. House Bill 406, on allowing insureds to choose their auto repair shop, and Senate Bill 347, a cleanup bill related to medical debt collection and personal property levies, were also presented without opposition in the hearing. House Bill 253, concerning who may receive letters testamentary or of administration, was described as a cleanup to align statute with existing practice. The committee approved the meeting minutes, but the transcript does not show final votes on the bills discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, most states have a sales tax and a use tax. We, instead, have a GRT and a compensating tax.
• state tax credits.
• They're money foregone by the state or, in some cases, money spent by the state through the tax code.
• Policy of the federal tax code.
• that changed the tax code and tax policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but um we do have a complex tax code.
• , but um we do have a complex tax code.
• Um, talking points shape our tax code.
• rate in this state is 5.35%. tax rate in this state is 5.35%.
• to our tax code.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3524 and House File 3525 and laid both over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill, with no amendments adopted and no vote taken at this stage. HF 3524 would conform Minnesota law to the federal overtime tax deduction, and HF 3525 would conform to the federal tip-income deduction. The author argued both bills would help workers keep more of their earnings, simplify tax filing, support labor-force participation, and provide relief to workers in hospitality, trades, health care, and other industries. The committee heard testimony in support from a restaurant owner, Sandra Weiss of the Finnish Beastro in St. Paul, who said the bills would help tipped workers keep more of their income and would support hospitality businesses. She described her staff as roughly half men and half women, including students and long-term employees, and said front-of-house tipped workers and back-of-house workers face different pay levels. She also said Minnesota’s tip rules and lack of a tip credit create challenges for the industry. During questioning, members discussed wage disparities, the makeup of her workforce, and the practical effects of the proposals. Opposition testimony came from Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project and Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota, both of whom argued the bills are regressive, poorly targeted, and costly. They said the deductions would mainly benefit higher earners, violate horizontal equity by treating similar incomes differently, and could encourage compensation restructuring. They also warned the combined cost would exceed $500 million over the 2028-29 biennium and could pressure funding for health care, education, and other public services. Mark Havenman of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence similarly criticized the bills on tax fairness and administrative grounds, noting the federal tip deduction framework is still under development and could create enforcement issues. Nonpartisan staff provided revenue estimates showing HF 3524 would reduce general fund revenue by about $365.9 million in fiscal 2027 and HF 3525 by about $126 million in fiscal 2027, with smaller ongoing impacts in later years. Members also raised questions about how the bills would be paid for and what income would qualify under the overtime deduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nine other states have passed a State-level Voting Rights Act, and there are 12 other states that are
• Even conservative states like Florida and Texas have filed State-level Voting Rights Acts.
• relating to school taxes.
• Tax relief by lowering school taxes for New Castle County residents.
• would see their taxes decrease.

Summary: The House received a series of Senate communications and committee reports, then took up a long consent calendar and several individual measures. Early actions included passing consent calendar items, recognizing Freedom of Speech Week and Juneteenth, and hearing numerous introductions and tributes, including remarks honoring House fellows, Father’s Day, and Representative Mara Gorman. The chamber also adopted several procedural motions and recesses, with roll calls recorded throughout. Among the bills considered, the House passed House Bill 134 on animal cruelty, increasing penalties for repeat offenses; House Bill 131 with Senate Amendment 1 on pet stores and animal welfare; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 320 on technical corrections to the Delaware Constitution; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 407 on technical updates to the Hazardous Substance Control Act; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 425 on salary supplements for certain school employees; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 450, the Road Delaware Act, on land use and permitting reform; House Bill 459 on restricting energy drink sales in schools; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 439 on electric moped and motorcycle disclosures; and House Bill 444, the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act, after amendment delaying its effective date to July 1, 2027. House Amendment 1 to House Bill 459 was adopted, and House Amendment 1 to House Bill 444 was adopted before final passage. The House also rejected House Amendment 1 to House Substitute 1 for House Bill 425 after debate over salary supplement policy for school-related certifications, then passed the substitute bill itself. House Bill 407 prompted questions about the increase in civil penalties, which DENREC said was intended to update outdated fines and align the penalty structure with other laws. House Bill 444 drew floor speeches emphasizing voting rights protections and concerns about voter suppression and dilution. The session ended with the House moving to recess after continuing consideration of House Bill 355, the Speaker Truth Act, which had just adopted an amendment changing damages language to attorney’s fees and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a pretty full agenda today, starting with an update from the State Building Code Council.
• We have a pretty full agenda today, starting with an update from the State Building Code Council.
• Yeah, so with that, we will start with the update from the State Building Code Council.
• I am Todd Bayreuther, chair of the Washington State Building Code Council.
• that is credited against the sales tax collected by the state.

Summary: The committee held a work session on local government issues, beginning with an update from the State Building Code Council on four legislatively mandated code amendments now in CR-102 rulemaking: temporary emergency shelters, reduced minimum dwelling unit size, multiplex housing up to three stories and six units, and single-exit apartment buildings up to six stories. Council staff also described a separate embodied-carbon appendix proposal that remains under public review, with testimony both supporting and opposing it. Members asked about the rationale for some of the code limits, including the restriction on connecting multiplex buildings. The committee then heard a panel on annexations from MRSC, Pierce County, and the Association of Washington Cities. Witnesses reviewed annexation methods, including petition, election, and interlocal agreement approaches, and said larger annexations are increasingly using interlocal agreements because they can address infrastructure, revenue sharing, and public process concerns. They described barriers such as inconsistent local standards, the cost of infrastructure, referendum risk, census requirements, and the difficulty of persuading residents and local officials to support annexation. Members asked about the five-year restriction on residential zoning changes in one annexation method and whether a hearing examiner could reduce political pressure on local decision-makers. A second panel discussed subdivision reform. The Master Builders Association urged raising the short-plat threshold within urban growth areas to 30 lots as a simpler first step, citing permitting delays and added housing costs. The City of Spokane described implementation problems with recent housing laws, including uncertainty about how to review plats under HB 1110, lot-splitting administration, and added notice requirements for unit lot subdivisions. AWC said there was broad agreement that subdivision decisions should be more administrative, but public hearings remained a point of disagreement. The committee also heard from FutureWise, the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lewis County on county development regulation and enforcement, with witnesses emphasizing underfunded code enforcement, inconsistent standards between counties and cities, and the need for better coordination, incentives, and possibly stronger enforcement tools. No votes were taken; the chair said the committee would continue working on possible solutions in future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the state directed payments are funded through provider taxes which is a tax on net patient
• So it freezes the hold harmless provision at 6% for taxes currently in place for not expansion states
• This is a really it's requiring states to really have a more uniform, a broad base provider tax.
• And what this is really doing is it's it's some states have tax utilization Medicaid providers at a higher
• with the state director payments with the provider, taxes with the uniform.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's in other states, but there is currently no mechanism in place right now in the state of Louisiana
• Many are from New Orleans and across the state.
• Up to a dozen states have already done it.
• premiums in those states to premiums in states that have not.
• So for you to say that this hasn't happened in any other state, has any other state also not had that

Bills: HB591, HB765, HB826, HB870, HB938, HB1151, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1236, HB1241

Keywords: family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, liability insurance, coverage defenses, direct action, judgment enforcement, legal procedures, insurance referrals, compensation, non-licensed agents, consumer protection, insurance products, HB 870, Act 907, Louisiana insurance, health insurance, prescription drugs

Transcript Highlights:

• > state<00:23:08.760> law<00:23:08.920> remedies obtain state remedies state law
• Are we losing on go to another state? Are we losing on tax<00:46:47.040> revenue?
• revenues, the state economy through tax revenues, the state economy through tax revenues, fees
• landlord-tenant code. landlord-tenant code.
• thousands of homeowners in the state. thousands of homeowners in the state.

Bills: SB2607, SB2031, SB2043, SB2623, SB2876, SB2396, SB2964, SB2089

Keywords: landscape architecture, licensure, educational requirements, examination, professional standards, consumer protection, junk fees, live-event tickets, short-term lodging, transparency, pricing disclosure, deceptive practices, insurance, captives, regulations, policyholders, SB2623, Hawaii pharmacy law, Board of Pharmacy, registered pharmacy technician

Summary: The committee first heard HCR 168 and HR 158, which would create a temporary working group to study utility capacity, coastline infrastructure lifespan, and the costs of needed expansions. Public Utilities Commission staff said the commission was not the right entity to direct all of the work because it lacks authority over many affected agencies. Members discussed whether the study should be limited to a coastal area or broadened to the whole island, and in decision-making the committee amended the measure to focus on the County of Honolulu, correct references to the Public Utilities Commission, and revise the working group membership to include the PUC chair, legislative designees, and directors or designees from DLNR, DOT, HIEMA, and DCCA Consumer Advocacy. The committee then passed both resolutions with amendments; the vote was adopted unanimously, with some members excused. The committee next considered HCR 145 and HR 137, which would convene a working group on climate change impacts on insurance availability and affordability. The Insurance Division stood on its written comments, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission supported the intent, and the Attorney General opposed the measure, warning that a working group could create discoverable materials that might complicate the state’s climate litigation and noting a technical ambiguity in the reference to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund administrator. After questions about discovery and the lawsuit, the committee amended the resolutions to replace the administrator reference with the chair of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund Board of Directors, remove the Attorney General as convener while keeping the office as a member, and have the working group share findings and recommendations with the House CPC and Senate CPN committees instead of issuing a report. The committee passed the measures with amendments, with Rep. Martin voting with reservations. In the later agenda, the committee heard SB 2607, SD 1 on landscape architect licensure. The Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects supported the bill, explaining it modernizes licensure requirements to align with national standards and clarifies the profession’s design-focused role. The bill was discussed as distinguishing landscape architecture from groundskeeping and from civil engineering drainage work. No opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 2031, SD 2 on consumer protection and price transparency for live ticket events and short-term lodging. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill, saying it largely mirrors an FTC rule requiring all-in pricing and would give the state enforcement authority and remedies. The Hawaii Financial Services Association opposed the bill as drafted and sought a limited exemption for credit card issuers relying on third-party hotel information, while the Hawaii Hotel Alliance supported the measure but asked for language deeming compliance with the federal rule sufficient for short-term lodging. Committee members questioned whether those proposed exemptions would conflict with federal law or weaken state enforcement, and the discussion focused on preemption, liability, and the value of state remedies such as restitution.

Transcript Highlights:

• What if the fire was on state trust lands, for example?
• Would this defense be for the state of Arizona?
• . accountable utilities that serve people throughout the state.
• Humane Society of the United States.
• as the state looks for new generation resources for the state.

Bills: HB2013, HB2026, HB2056, HB2098, HB2113, HB2156, HB2158, HCM2011, HCR2057

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply

Transcript Highlights:

• . 5 to$10 an acre stipen from the state. 5 to$10 an acre for<00:06:58.160> reducing<00:06:59.120
• Of course, if you're filing a 990, it means that you already have received tax-exempt status from the
• Of course, if you're filing a 990, it means that you already have received tax-exempt status from the
• Um, they're under the IRS code. They're required to make annual filings with the IRS.
• And, you know, I'll just tell you, in the tax code, we give away hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• And you know, I'll just tell you in the tax code, we give Clebourne has brought out a 990.
• Um they're under the the IRS code.
• tax code, we give away hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate tax giveaways to entities about
• We still the state of Minnesota.
• recommended for that 47% from the states recommended for that 47% from the states state<01:20:41.520

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant