Transcript Highlights:

• code.
• A sales tax or GRT is always going to be regressive because it taxes consumption.
• So it's really exciting to see young people interested in tax law.
• It's really exciting to see young people interested in tax law.
• It's really exciting to see young people interested in tax law.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I always want to say ZIP codes, but on the CIP codes, the good, bad, and whatever of the CIP codes, and
• So what happens when we take out the CIP codes? All right.
• way of using those SIP codes.
• It's more based on CIP codes. And that's not all the CIP codes.
• It's more based on SIP codes. And that's not all the SIP codes.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• But excluded from that are taxes.
• You might ask what kind of taxes those are.
• It could be things like sales taxes, auto insurance premium taxes. It could be gas taxes.
• I don't like tax cheats. I think tax cheating is un-American.
• everybody pays their taxes.

Keywords: House Committee Room 1200, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You press a button, it generates a six-digit code, right?
• And now we're doing more and more investigations for taxes.
• Before that prohibition was codified in the Health and Safety Code.
• It would also be helpful to have diagnosis codes submitted with prescriptions.
• That's a total misuse of our tax dollars.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under Arkansas Code Annotated 23-115-206, we are required to submit our annual budget to this body by
• Under Arkansas Code Annotated 23-115-206, we are required to submit our annual budget to this body by
• For the month of May, we had $900,000 in federal income taxes and $139,431 in state income taxes that

Summary: The committee reviewed two Arkansas Scholarship Lottery contracts and the lottery’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget, along with the monthly disclosure report for May 2026. The first contract was a new three-year advertising and marketing agreement with Cranford Company, running July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, for $19.29 million total, with two optional one-year extensions. Lottery officials said the contract followed an RFP with five bids, no disqualifications, and would cost about $1 million less than the prior contract. Members asked about the bid scoring formula and the weight given to price, and the item was reviewed after a motion and vote. The second contract was a three-year University of Arkansas sponsorship agreement through Learfield for $86,800 per year, or $260,400 total, with no extensions; members questioned a system-generated summary figure that incorrectly showed $1.8 million, and staff clarified that the contract itself did not contain that amount. This item was also reviewed without objection after a motion and vote. In the budget presentation, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery projected about $108.2 million in net proceeds to be transferred to the scholarship account for fiscal 2027. Officials highlighted expected savings of about $1 million each from the new gaming system/scratch ticket printing contracts and the new advertising contract, along with slight shifts in instant and draw ticket revenue forecasts. The committee did not take action on the budget beyond hearing the presentation. The monthly disclosure report showed May 2026 instant game sales were flat year over year, draw game sales were up 12.6%, and total revenue was up 2.2%, while net proceeds were down 8.2% year over year but up 2.5% versus budget for the month. Year to date, draw game sales were up nearly 11.5% and net proceeds were up about 6.4% to 6.5% year over year, with net proceeds ahead of budget by 9.5%. Members asked how unclaimed prizes are handled, and staff explained that scratch-off prizes must be claimed within 90 days and draw prizes within 180 days; unclaimed prizes remain in reserve during the year, then all but $1 million are transferred to the scholarship trust account at fiscal year end. The meeting ended with praise for the lottery’s marketing around a recent large winner and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• changes, particularly requiring the state to pay for county election costs, according to the election code
• , so income tax policy is driving whether you've got a revenue that's insufficient to support the level
• The administration, previous administration had approved that hospital provider tax to pay hospitals
• The Tax provisions that were put in place for 2016 had a sunset date, and they put a sunset date, uh,
• Um, you will see in 4 report cards, uh, that there are QR codes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That would lead to the discussion: why are we using CIP codes?
• I always want to say ZIP codes, but on the SIP codes, the good, bad, and whatever of the SIP codes, and
• SIP codes.
• Their SIP codes are still involved in...
• It's more based on SIP codes, and that's not all the SIP codes.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, she was required to pay taxes in advance of receiving her winnings.
• With that, she was required to pay taxes in advance of receiving her winnings.
• To pay taxes in advance of receiving her winnings.
• We enforce the Arkansas Insurance Fraud Act and the Arkansas Criminal Code.
• We enforce the Arkansas Insurance Fraud Act and the Arkansas Criminal Code.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “This is pretty standard criminal code fare at the federal and state levels, that if someone...” “...
• We pay our taxes. We do our dues. We deserve to be safe. Thank you.” “Questions for the speaker?”
• They fabricate documents like income tax statements, not so much, but pay stubs and things like this
• This conduct is already criminalized under the criminal code that’s recognized in the statute.
• However, unbeknownst to us, a hash-match code of those images remained in cloud storage.

Bills: HB2047, HB2136, HB2198, HB2411, HB2662, HB2966, HB2970

Keywords: forcible entry, detainer, writ of restitution, criminal trespass, judgment enforcement, civil terrorism, disorderly conduct, vandalism, political activism, public order, subversion, government security, criminal records, sealing records, civil rights, expungement, rehabilitation, coerced abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, felony

Transcript Highlights:

• already electric vehicles only pay $75 toward a fee versus the average $219 or $214 they pay in gas tax
• I do have a bill that increases... average $219 or $214 they pay in gas tax average $219 or $214 they
• pay in gas tax um<00:05:04.639> and<00:05:04.759> if<00:05:04.960> if<00:05:05.039
• technical change, a correction, just a change in reference that just needed to be updated in federal code
• uh in federal code great thank you<00:16:45.639> Senator<00:16:46.000> dble<00:16:46.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OKAY, THERE IS A LATE FILE AMENDMENT WITH THE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 327-7698.
• ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY THE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 327698 IS ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• BAR CODE 517760 BY SENATOR GRALL, ANY OBJECTIONS TO TAKING UP THE AMENDMENT?
• SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 7160 IS ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• SEEING NO OBJECTIONS WE WILL TAKE UP AMENDMENT BAR CODE NUMBER 537706. PRES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Being a $2,400 tax deduction, based on our current tax rate of 4.7 percent, you will pay $112.80 less
• in taxes while we still have an income tax in the state of Missouri. ...in taxes while we still have
• an income tax in the state of Missouri.
• Another speaker: Retirees are treated differently under our tax code.
• Montana is an example, I think, in order to avoid certain taxes, one of them probably being income tax

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:58.959> All 1049 to the committee on taxes. All 1049 to the committee on taxes.
• All right, members, thank you for Taxes.
• So what are the uses have eupars code.
• And then we get a code allowable uses?
• Giving taxes, but I support this bill.

Bills: HF1048, HF1049, HF745, HF2210

Keywords: charter schools, education funding, revenue calculation, general education revenue, special education, school library aid, education finance, school districts, funding eligibility, compensatory revenue, task force, free meals, school funding, education equity, HF2210, school unemployment aid, Minnesota Department of Education, general fund appropriation, unemployment insurance, unemployment claims

Transcript Highlights:

• It ensures that the Florida Building Code is consistent with the international code as it relates to
• That city that hosts the facility, it loses tax revenue.
• It's a utility tax that all municipalities charge.
• The 10% utility tax that we speak of is the 10% utility tax that is allowed by law by every municipality
• Non-beachfront taxes, non-beachfront owners' taxes are being used to subsidize the sheriff to serve as

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• and fuel taxes.
• We should pass a gas tax.
• 320 million in severance tax bonds.
• tax and everything.
• tax, special fuel tax, the weight distance tax, vehicle registration.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every child in Massachusetts has a right to a great education, and it is paid for by taxes.
• As a final point, I'm very pleased that this bill includes new taxes to fund the program.
• And if there were codes, the codes were all different in each one.
• We understand that single payer isn't free, but rather shares the tax burden equitably.
• Medicare for All is funded by a payroll tax and only needs 4% administration.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on 16 bills, with the chairs noting a busy legislative day and asking speakers to keep testimony brief. The committee first heard testimony on Senate 860/House 1405, the Medicare for All bill, with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and many advocates, clinicians, municipal officials, and patients arguing that a single-payer system would make care a right, reduce administrative waste, lower costs, and protect residents from rising premiums, medical debt, and hospital closures. Several speakers cited the Steward hospital crisis, affordability problems, and polling or ballot questions showing public support for single-payer coverage. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then took testimony on S. 863, a bill on non-opioid options for chronic pain. Pain specialists, patients, and advocates said the bill would improve care coordination for MassHealth members, expand access to non-opioid medications, require provider education, and collect data on chronic pain. Testifiers described long delays in diagnosis and treatment, stigma toward pain patients, and the need for multidisciplinary care and transportation support. Again, the committee heard testimony only and took no action. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1360/S. 869, which would prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care. Disability advocates, clinicians, and patients described being denied or delayed care, pressured into DNR orders, or treated based on assumptions about quality of life rather than medical facts. Speakers referenced COVID-era crisis standards of care, discriminatory metrics, and personal stories involving canceled procedures, inadequate accommodations, and poor treatment in hospitals. Committee members thanked speakers for their testimony and said they would review the bill and its implications, but no vote was announced. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1399, an individual Medicare marketplace option for municipal retirees, where supporters said it would give cities and towns a lower-cost alternative for retiree health benefits through HRAs and individual Medicare plans. The hearing then returned to Medicare for All testimony, with additional supporters repeating arguments about cost, access, municipal budget pressure, and the need for global budgeting and universal coverage. The transcript ends with continued testimony and no recorded committee vote or final action on any bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They looked at historical issues and code here in our state.
• We think that's what sets it apart from the current code.
• Agencies and where they land in code are all identified now clearly in one statute.
• There's a unique governance structure in this code, and we've had some questions about that, so I want
• You can almost say we're diminishing our code. I think that's a nice thing. Thank you.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, there's some political debate, but whether it's property taxes, whether it's sales taxes, gas taxes
• Impact fees are not a tax.
• , sales taxes, any kind of tax, to pay for our communities?
• We collect regular taxes, sales tax, just any kind of tax, to pay for our communities.
• , their taxes.

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee met for its first meeting of the 2026 session and took up impact fees, with an opening overview from Eric Poole of the Florida Association of Counties. Poole explained that impact fees are one-time charges on new development used only for new infrastructure capacity, not existing deficiencies or maintenance, and must satisfy the dual rational nexus test. He traced their history in Florida and described how comprehensive plans, concurrency, and later mobility fees relate to local infrastructure funding. He argued that impact fees are restricted, tied to capital improvements, and are one tool for paying for growth. Panelists representing counties, cities, builders, and community developers largely agreed that growth creates real infrastructure costs but differed on how those costs should be allocated. County and city representatives said impact fees are a necessary, targeted way to fund roads, water, sewer, fire, schools, and parks without spreading costs across all taxpayers. They pointed to long periods without fee updates, rising construction costs, and examples of large increases justified by studies. Builder and developer representatives argued that fees are often unpredictable, can be doubled or tripled, and contribute to housing affordability problems; they also said the system can be inconsistent across jurisdictions and may encourage sprawl. Several witnesses emphasized that fees must be transparent, proportional, and tied to actual benefits, and some suggested a statewide framework or mobility-fee model with more consistency and peer review. Members asked about how long local governments can hold fee revenue, whether fees can generate profit, what they can be spent on, and whether they can pay for police stations, fire stations, or other public safety facilities. Witnesses said the funds must be used for capital projects and cannot be used for salaries or unrelated purchases, and that refunds may be required if money is not spent within the local ordinance’s timeframe. The discussion also covered examples of local fee increases, the use of impact fees versus direct construction or “pipelining” of infrastructure, and concerns about level-of-service changes and extraordinary-circumstance increases. No votes were taken; the meeting ended after the panel discussion and member questions, with the chair noting the conversation would continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• , sales taxes, as well as tips?
• So the Illinois law that was passed said no tax or, excuse me, no swipe fees imposed on taxes or tips
• So every transaction has a tax, correct?
• How would it ensure that taxes are properly collected, and who bears the liability if taxes are not properly
• "...65 ensures that taxes are properly collected, how would it ensure that taxes are properly collected

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 407, which would expand the California Pollution Control Financing Authority. The author said the measure would increase flexibility and access to resources, and the bill was approved 7-0 and sent to the Committee on Local Government. The committee also adopted the consent calendar, which included AB 76, by a 7-0 vote. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on AB 1065, which would prohibit swipe fees on the sales tax portion of credit card transactions. Supporters, including small business owners, restaurant and grocery representatives, and a payments-policy expert, argued the bill would reduce costs for merchants and consumers and rein in dominant card networks. Opponents, including banks, credit unions, and payment industry groups, argued the bill is likely preempted by federal law, would be difficult to implement, and could disproportionately affect community banks and credit unions. After extensive questioning about preemption, fraud, implementation, and consumer impacts, the committee rejected the bill on a 6-0 vote, but then granted reconsideration by a 7-1 vote. The committee then heard AB 1365, which would create the Cal Account Program, a zero-fee, zero-penalty state banking account for unbanked and underbanked Californians. Supporters said the program would help low-income households, survivors of abuse, and others facing barriers to traditional banking, while opponents from community banks and credit unions argued existing low-cost accounts and the Bank On program already address the need and raised concerns about cost, feasibility, and duplication. The bill advanced on a 6-0 vote and later received enough votes on the reopened roll to move forward to the Committee on Labor and Employment. The committee also approved AB 1052, which would create a legal framework for digital assets and address unclaimed digital property and restrictions on public officials issuing or promoting digital assets, and AB 1180, which would create a pilot program for paying state fees with digital financial assets and require a report on broader adoption. Both bills passed with broad support after brief testimony and discussion. Final roll calls later confirmed AB 1052 and AB 1180, along with AB 407 and AB 1365, were moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess they advertise a lot of places with a QR code, and families can do the QR code or some other
• I guess they advertise a lot of places with a QR code, and families can do the QR code or some other
• I guess they advertise a lot of places with a QR code, and families can do the QR code or some other
• I guess they advertise a lot of places with a QR code, and families can do the QR code or some other
• I guess they advertise a lot of places with a QR code, and families can do the QR code or some other

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first addressed House Bill 415, which would remove the requirement that schools provide menstrual products. Members supporting an ITL said the mandate was unfunded, had been in place since 2019, and was already working without complaints from districts. Other members opposed the bill, arguing menstrual products are essential and that the requirement helps students, especially those with fewer resources. The committee voted ITL on HB 415 by a roll call of 17 yeas, 0 nays. The committee then took up House Bill 388, concerning public reports on special education. Supporters of ITL said they agreed with the goal of transparency but were concerned about student privacy, especially in small districts, and thought the bill’s information requests went too far. They noted that related issues could potentially be addressed in another bill, HB 557. The committee voted ITL on HB 388, 17-0. House Bill 730, which would require schools and some colleges to provide information on adoption, was also moved ITL. The sponsor said adoption is personally important to him but that the bill was not the right vehicle and involved entities such as colleges and the Attorney General unnecessarily; he said related ideas might be folded into other bills later. The committee agreed and voted ITL, 17-0. The committee then discussed House Bill 671, a preschool/early literacy proposal involving a statewide nonprofit digital program, likely Waterford. Members raised questions about who would be covered, data privacy, prior use of federal ESSER funds, whether the program had measurable results, and whether the bill’s nonprofit requirement was too restrictive. Department of Education witness Melissa White said the state had spent $400,000 in FY22 and $600,000 in FY23 on a Waterford contract using ARP ESSER funds, but she did not have participant counts and said the department could not measure literacy gains for that population. She also said the bill’s funding level would likely require an RFP and that, if enacted as written, the program would probably still be Waterford-based. The discussion continued without a final vote in the portion provided.