Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we do have the higher deductible plan... If you want that.
• Okay, we do have the higher deductible plan that you can choose to take.
• month with a $500 deductible.
• We had a deductible. public sector, you know, 475 employees self-insured, we had a deductible, but I
• And so, and most of the private parts are 10,000 deductibles.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider four policy bills and discussed a possible later return to handle DOCR amendments and budget work. They first took up HB 1327, funding for the Agricultural Diversification and Development Fund, and adopted an amendment striking language that would have capped up to $10 million for agricultural infrastructure grants to political subdivisions. The bill was then passed as amended on a 22-0 vote, with Rep. Belts assigned as carrier. Next, the committee considered SB 2256, the Research Technology Park grant. Rep. Stemen offered an amendment reducing the appropriation amounts from the original figures to $10 million and $5 million levels, citing available funding; the amendment passed 19-3. The bill then passed as amended 22-0, and Rep. Stemen agreed to carry it. The committee then debated SB 2093, which combined a retired peace officers/surviving spouses benefit with an added income tax reduction. Rep. Munson moved to remove the income tax portion, and the committee agreed 17-4. The remaining peace officer benefit portion was then passed as amended 21-0, with Rep. Kempenich carrying it. Finally, the committee considered HB 2160, changing the state health plan from grandfathered to non-grandfathered status. Members discussed cost shifting, employee retention, out-of-pocket exposure, and the updated fiscal note; the committee adopted an amendment updating the appropriation figures to match the current PERS/Deloitte analysis, then passed the bill as amended 15-7-1, with Rep. Worry originally the carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• for business interest expenses, and increasing the amount of business meals eligible for deduction.
• For the deduction allowed on research and experimental expenses, the changes made to the deduction for
• would add back the amount deducted at the federal level and deduct the amount that would have been deducted
• For the deduction allowed on research and experimental expenses, the changes made to the deduction for
• would add back the amount deducted at the federal level and deduct the amount that would have been deducted

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SPB 7046, was the Senate tax package. It included changes to Live Local property tax opt-outs, charter school distributions from voter-approved property tax levies, RV park special assessments, fiscally constrained county funding, a permanent sales tax exemption for small propane tanks, a hunting/fishing/camping sales tax holiday, and provisions barring governmental net zero policies. An amendment made the charter-school distribution change prospective starting July 1, 2026. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the charter-school language would divert money from traditional public schools and on the fiscal-constrained county formula. The bill was reported favorably as a committee bill after a roll call vote, with Senators Bernard and Jones voting no. The committee also considered SPB 7048, which updates Florida’s conformity to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026 and partially decouples from federal tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill addresses bonus depreciation, research and experimental expenses, business meal deductions, and the business interest deduction, with the Revenue Estimating Conference expected to review the fiscal impact later in the week. The Florida Chamber testified that the bill should better align with federal tax relief and reduce administrative burdens, while senators emphasized the need to balance business tax relief with state revenue constraints. SPB 7048 was also reported favorably as a committee bill by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually takes off the limits as far as the limits that are in place right now, so they can just deduct
• actually takes off the limits as far as the limits that are in place right now, so they can just deduct
• that um from their taxable income deduct that um from their taxable income when<00:09:18.120> they
• child care would be able to be deducted child care would be able to be deducted under<00:09:45.800
• making can now be applied and deducted making can now be applied and deducted to<00:21:26.960>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentation on HF 495, a bill intended to help families with rising child care costs by allowing a subtraction from taxable income for licensed child care expenses. The author said the measure would provide immediate relief to families while broader child care supply and affordability problems are addressed, citing a revenue analysis estimating about 81,700 returns affected and an average tax decrease of $639. The bill was described as applying only to licensed child care centers, family child care, or group family child care under chapter 142B. A virtual testifier, Annel Velasco of St. Paul, opposed the bill. She said child care is indeed expensive but argued the proposal is only a small patch that does not address structural problems such as provider closures, low teacher pay, and lack of available slots. She also said the subtraction would disproportionately benefit higher-income families and would not help providers or teachers. Members debated whether the bill should be more targeted. Representative Smith and Representative Lee argued the proposal is uncapped, expensive, and structured as a subtraction rather than a refundable credit, meaning it would mainly help higher-income households and could divert resources from other credits such as the working family tax credit or child tax credit. Representative Swedzinski supported the bill as allowing families to keep their own money and said child care costs are high across income levels. Chair Gomez and others emphasized that the child care system has broader structural failures, including low pay and lack of slots, and said this bill would address only one part of the problem. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• optional a standard deduction, right? optional a standard deduction, right?
• So, they can deduct $2,500. What's the So, they can deduct $2,500.
• Um there's What about tax deduction. Um there's What about tax deduction.
• So, we're claim the deduction. So, we're claim the deduction.
• So when I'm talking about the deduction that you're the deduction that you're the deduction that you're

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• interest,<00:10:10.800> they deductibility of mortgage interest, they deductibility of mortgage
• , 96% of people take the standard deduction.
• about the mortgage interest deduction about the mortgage interest deduction and<00:26:01.360>
• It people take the standard deduction.
• And so we have to ask deductions.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2499, authored by Representative Lee, which would expand Minnesota’s renters’ credit to more closely match the homestead credit for homeowners. Lee explained that the bill would raise the income cutoff from about $75,389 to $143,140 and increase the maximum credit to $3,500, with the goal of addressing what she described as an inequity between renters and homeowners who both pay property taxes. She cited revenue estimates showing the change could make about 80,000 additional renters eligible, while acknowledging the bill would be costly to enact this year. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in support, describing how the renters’ credit works, including the assumption that 17% of rent goes toward property taxes. She highlighted 2022 data showing most recipients had low incomes, many were seniors or people with disabilities, and participation was higher in greater Minnesota in some respects. Michael Dah of Homeline also supported the bill, saying renters face rising housing costs and use the credit for basic needs such as groceries, school supplies, medical care, and car repairs. Members discussed whether expanding the credit would simply benefit landlords or encourage rent increases. Representative Anderson opposed the bill on the grounds that policy should incentivize homeownership, while Representative Huitt argued the credit could help renters build savings and move toward homeownership if they choose. Representative Lee responded that the housing market is broken and that the credit is one tool to help renters in a broader housing continuum. The discussion also covered outreach and administration of the credit, including the recent move to file it with income taxes, electronic certificates of rent paid, and funding for tax-preparation assistance and outreach through VITA sites and community organizations. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one, the increase to the standard deduction.
• It's not an item of federal income or deduction.
• Those are to which the state is tied, whether it's income or deduction.
• The standard deduction additional for seniors, a little bit of surprise there in that that federal deduction
• And local tax deduction, a minor impact there.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes before hearing a series of informational updates. The Petroleum Council reported that North Dakota oil production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with activity shifting northward in the Bakken as technology improves and three- and four-mile laterals boost well performance. The presentation also discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, the importance of pipelines and other linear infrastructure, and enhanced oil recovery pilot projects supported by state and federal funding. Members asked questions about gas production taxes, natural gas liquids, and the outlook for drilling rigs and future production. The Office of State Tax Commissioner then reviewed the federal “big beautiful bill” and its estimated effect on North Dakota individual and business income tax collections. Staff explained that most of the individual income tax impact comes from the permanent increase in the standard deduction, while temporary provisions such as senior deductions, tip and overtime exclusions, and auto loan interest deductions have smaller or limited-term effects. They also noted that business tax changes, especially depreciation and expensing provisions, create a larger near-term cash impact, and that some FY25 collections likely reflected one-time oil field transactions that may have inflated the baseline used in earlier estimates. OMB provided updates on major capital projects and facility funding. For Capitol grounds improvements, officials described plans for 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding upgrades, public seating, lighting, tree management, and possible restroom and lobby reconfiguration, while also noting the governor’s residence security project and the discovery of human remains on the Capitol grounds. OMB and its consultants also reported on the state facility maintenance fund, including window replacement, boiler work, roof and foundation repairs, and a new facility conditions assessment covering more state buildings. Updates were also given on the new state hospital in Jamestown, the Minot state office building, and the use of federal state fiscal recovery funds, including possible future reallocations to the Department of Corrections. Finally, Legislative Council staff summarized the interim compliance report on legislative intent and trust fund activity, highlighting the status of lines of credit, Bank of North Dakota profit transfers, the statewide litigation pool, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, corrections planning, HHS program updates, and a likely future general fund request for the unemployment insurance modernization project. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes; the meeting was primarily informational, with members asking clarifying questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:49.199> However,<00:07:49.759> payroll<00:07:50.319> growth<00:07:50.639
• However, payroll growth has near term.
• However, payroll growth has weakened<00:07:51.360> and<00:07:51.599> trade<00:07:51.919
• So the, I mean, most of it is that special ed spending is on payroll and fringe costs for personnel,
• <00:45:16.400> and special ed spending is on payroll and special ed spending is on payroll

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Minnesota Management and Budget officials presented the February 2026 budget and economic forecast, saying the state remains in a strong financial position but faces continued structural imbalance and significant uncertainty. Commissioner Aaron Campbell said the FY 2026-27 balance is now projected at more than $3.7 billion, up about $1.3 billion from November, and the FY 2028-29 planning period is projected to end with a $377 million positive balance. He emphasized that the improvement comes largely from higher projected revenues, especially individual income and corporate franchise taxes, but warned that the state is increasingly reliant on more volatile sources such as capital gains, interest income, and corporate profits. State Economist Dr. Anthony Becker said the national outlook improved slightly, with stronger projected GDP, consumer spending, and investment, but weaker payroll growth and ongoing trade-policy uncertainty. He noted that the forecast was complicated by missing federal data because of the federal shutdown, and that tariffs, immigration policy, equity markets, and possible AI-related shifts all present risks. Revenue projections were raised for the current biennium, including individual income tax receipts, sales tax revenue, corporate franchise tax revenue, and other revenues, while Becker stressed that federal funding threats, especially involving Medicaid and other entitlement programs, could materially alter the outlook. State Budget Director Anna Mingi said general fund spending in the current biennium is projected to be $68 million lower than previously estimated, but planning-year spending is up $152 million. The biggest spending changes came from education, where special education costs rose sharply after updated local spending data, and from human services, where a new prepayment review process for certain Medicaid benefits reduced projected spending by $133 million this biennium and $105 million in the next. She also said discretionary inflation is now estimated at $1.04 billion, up $104 million from November. Campbell closed by saying the state’s reserve remains at a record $3.8 billion and that Minnesota’s AAA bond rating and reserve policy help protect against downturns. He cautioned, however, that the long-term structural imbalance remains about $3.4 billion in the planning years, or $2.3 billion excluding discretionary inflation, and urged policymakers to offset any new spending with reductions. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session on the forecast.

Transcript Highlights:

• the ability for the entrepreneurs to be able to use it for business operations, rent and utilities, payroll
• testimonies in this presentation, and the main thing that they've used it for has been equipment, payroll
• operations rent and utilities payroll operations rent and utilities payroll we've<00:04:48.840><
• Shantee used it to get equipment and to support her staff with payroll, and then several of them have
• Shantee used it to get equipment and to support her staff with payroll, and then several of them have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You’ll see the budget proposal would remove that $6,000 senior deduction that was available to everyone
• It would also remove that SALT deduction increase, that state and local tax deduction that was increasing
• And they would also be removing that deduction related to new car auto loan interest.
• You don’t get a tax deduction, and then it grows tax-free.
• Then anything left over in terms of your daycare expenses, you could deduct from your state taxes.

Summary: The meeting began with a JLBC presentation on the state budget proposal. Staff reviewed revenue changes from the April forecast, which lowered expected growth slightly, and then walked through major tax policy provisions. Those included full conformity with HR1 for the current tax year, a shift to the provisions of SB 1106 for future tax years, new deductions for retirement/pension distributions and Roth IRA contributions, an increase in the dependent credit, and a child and dependent care subtraction. Staff said the tax changes had an overall fiscal impact of about $1.4 billion over four years. They also described offsets from repealing several tax credits and exemptions, including solar-related tax breaks, a renewable energy production credit, a new employment tax credit, a refundable R&D credit for smaller employers, and a pollution-control device credit, totaling about $75 million in added revenue. Another budget item would redirect Arizona Commerce Authority Competes Fund lottery distributions to the general fund. Members asked questions about the budget’s effect on ACCESS eligibility checks, state employee health insurance funding, and cuts to one-time funding for area agencies on aging and Alzheimer’s programs. The committee then moved to caucus items on several bills. HB 2249, as amended by the Senate, would expand the parents’ bill of rights to include access to a child’s complete educational record and notice if school staff facilitate social transitioning, and would require investigation of prior violations; the sponsor concurred with the amendment. HB 2035 would require DCS and courts to identify and consider extended family for kinship foster care placement, with Senate changes shortening a reporting deadline and adding adopted family members to the definition. HB 2170 would bar state contracts for electronic or IT goods with PRC-controlled companies, with a certification requirement added in the Senate. HB 2573 would remove a waiting period for ignition interlock restricted licenses after DUI revocation and adjust psychotherapy language. HB 2415 on kratom would classify synthetic kratom as a narcotic drug and add advertising, packaging, and retail restrictions, but the sponsor intended to refuse the Senate changes. HB 2873 would let local petition sponsors withdraw municipal referendum petitions retroactively, which members noted could affect the Marana data center petition effort. The final bill discussed, SB 1798, would create a Financial Aid Awareness Program in the Department of Education to recognize schools that support FAFSA completion. Members questioned whether the department would need additional staff or resources, but no fiscal note had been provided. The meeting ended with recognition of interns and a brief photo opportunity before the caucus moved into closed session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have a very high deductible. You have very limits on coverage.
• deductibles?
• We had two of them, two deductibles, two separate, and of course the hurricane deductible was much higher
• We had two of them, two deductibles, two separate, and of course the hurricane deductible was much higher
• It's just a $500 deductible.

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• deduct deduct. >> Right, so they're going to deduct it on their, you know, on their federal income tax
• >> a straight deduction. Mhm. >> a straight deduction. Mhm.
• It is 100% deductible.
• It is 100% deduct. You you Hampshire. It is 100% deduct.
• it's a business deduction. it's a business deduction.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They include accountants, financial systems experts, payroll specialists, training and communication
• <00:13:05.720> components<00:13:06.320> of uh as well as the payroll components of
• uh as well as the payroll components of the<00:13:06.640> statewide<00:13:07.200> employee<
• system, providing human resource, payroll, and benefits management technology.
• The section is implementing payroll changes that are required by state and federal law.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You get paid time off to care, and your employer pays half the payroll taxes.
• Workforce Development Fund, specifically in this committee, also payroll taxes and other things.
• taxes and others they payroll taxes and others they recommended<00:06:44.880> uh<00:06:45.199
• pay the employer who carry a payroll pay the employer share<00:26:09.880> of<00:26:10.080>
• this criminal business modable payroll this criminal business modable and<00:28:29.279> and<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Remember that Texas payroll is part of that calculation, and so if the residents... ...drops down, the
• payroll is less, and so the ROI will be affected.
• It includes Texas payroll, as we mentioned, so the electricians...
• That money is going to payroll, and it's going to restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, dry cleaners, street
• That doesn't include the ripple effect on all the restaurants, hotels, rental cars, and all the payroll

Bills: HB4568, HB5458, HB4543, HB2703, HB3728, HCR113, HCR126

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• of unexpended balances and 8 million from one-time funding to replace the statewide accounting and payroll
• In a nutshell, is CAPS the statewide HR system that you use to process payroll?
• But yes, essentially it's our HR and our payroll system for the state. What's your projection?
• 2026. 2026, all payroll will be there. 2026. There you go. Yes, sir. Yeah, I've got those.
• 2026. 2026, all payroll will be there. 2026. There you go. Yes, sir. Yeah, I've got those.

Bills: SB 1, SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It further explains who can claim the deduction, that it can only be claimed one time per child, and
• And when all is said and done, of course, that's just the deduction, so it would be much less than that
• But I think if you have 10 children, you could claim 10 deductions, as long as...
• A $2,400 tax deduction? Yeah, that's fine with me.
• Being a $2,400 tax deduction, based on our current tax rate of 4.7 percent, you will pay $112.80 less

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , you'd rather have a higher deductible so that you could have lower premiums.
• , you'd rather have a higher deductible so that you could have lower premiums. pay that deductible.
• You'd rather have a higher deductible so that you could have lower premiums.
• And they just go, 'I'll just stick with the low-deductible plan.' The reality is...
• Picture $15,000 out-of-pocket maximums and $7,500 deductibles.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition. House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1. The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1. The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• which means that the employee and employer contributions are paying a higher share of our retiree payroll
• 70% of our population is now in Tier 2 and not close to retirement, which increases the amount of payroll
• So anytime, I think we assume a 3% payroll growth. Anytime that is higher, we take a loss.
• The more active payroll, the higher active payroll we're taking contributions on is a gain to the system
• We have to take out of the fund to subsidize retiree payroll. So we have to be very prudent.

Transcript Highlights:

• exempt, and that's going to be a great benefit for our communities: occupational taxes, profit taxes, payroll
• exempt, and that's going to be a great benefit for our communities: occupational taxes, profit taxes, payroll
• exempt, and that's going to be a great benefit for our communities: occupational taxes, profit taxes, payroll
• exempt, and that's going to be a great benefit for our communities: occupational taxes, profit taxes, payroll
• exempt, and that's going to be a great benefit for our communities: occupational taxes, profit taxes, payroll

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:27 SB 76 Discussion 01:20 SB 76 Vote 04:51 SB 59 Discussion 05:50 SB 59 Vote 20:49 SB 313 Discussion 23:46 SB 313 Vote 28:18, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met and first took up Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Senator Greg Elkins. The bill would raise the construction retainage/escrow statute threshold from $500,000 to $2 million to reflect inflation, and would also make any contract term waiving the escrow protection void and unenforceable. Elkins said the measure would not apply to government contracts and was intended to protect contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers from delayed payment. The committee voted 9-0 to pass the bill with a favorable expression and send it to the floor. The committee then considered Senate Bill 59, sponsored by Senator Jimmy Higdon, with a committee substitute adopted first. Higdon said the substitute limited the bill to existing church property and the measure would allow religious institutions to build affordable housing on their property while still requiring local governing-body approval and compliance with building codes. Supporters framed it as a housing-supply tool and a way to use nonprofits and churches to help address Kentucky’s housing shortage, while questions focused on tax impacts, local control, and whether the bill could be used for single-family homes or other developments. A public witness from Henry County opposed the bill, arguing it could enable discriminatory housing and reduce local tax revenue. After discussion, the committee voted 9-0 to pass SB 59 with a favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 313 from Senator Phillip Wheeler, which would designate June as Kentucky History Month. Wheeler and Kentucky Historical Society Executive Director Scott Alvi said the bill would help promote Kentucky history statewide, especially in connection with the U.S. 250th commemoration in 2026, and would build on existing June observances such as Statehood Day and Boone Day. The committee approved the bill with favorable expression, and the chair announced it would proceed to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when all is said and done, of course, that's just the deduction, so it would be much less that they
• But I think if you have 10 children, you could claim 10 deductions, as long as...
• A $2,400 tax deduction? Yeah, that's fine with me.
• Being a $2,400 tax deduction, based on our current tax rate of 4.7%, you will pay $112.80 less in taxes
• I support the basic concept of it that families having children should benefit from a tax deduction.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met in executive session and first took up Senate Bill 1032, a tax deduction bill tied to the birth or adoption of a child. Vice Chair Davis offered a committee amendment to broaden eligibility by changing the trigger from “gives birth or adopts” to “attains legal parentage,” expressly including surrogacy, adoption, and legal parent-child relationships by operation of law, while keeping the $2,400 deduction amount and limiting it to one claim per child. Members discussed the bill’s limited practical tax benefit, with supporters saying it would help families and opponents arguing the deduction would amount to only about $112.80 in reduced taxes and would not meaningfully change behavior. The committee adopted the amendment and substitute, but the final do-pass motion failed on a 4-4 vote, so House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1032 did not advance. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 3294, sponsored by Representative Mayhew, which would eliminate the need for active-duty military personnel to file a Missouri income tax return when their military pay is already exempt from state income tax. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would prevent unnecessary withholding and refund processing, reduce administrative work for the Department of Revenue, and leave service members with the same benefit but without paperwork. Members asked about residency, withholding, retirees, and how the change would work for service members stationed in or out of Missouri; the sponsor explained the bill applied only to active duty and that Missouri residents serving elsewhere would still be governed by residency rules. No vote was taken on House Bill 3294 before the committee adjourned, and the chair noted it was likely the last committee hearing of the session.