Video & Transcript : 'governor powers' :
Page 307 of 500
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
May 13, 2025 - 02:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, I just wanted to let you know, obviously, the governor has taken a great interest in this committee
- I just wanted to let you know, obviously, the governor has taken a great interest in this committee and
- Therefore, today, Chair Lopez and I delivered an invitation to the governor to join us at one of our
- We dropped off a letter to him, and hopefully we'll have the governor here to present his proposals to
- We will do everything in our power to meet your needs as they're expressed to us.
Summary:
The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for a listening session focused on a presentation by Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research on local government revenues and expenditures. Baker reviewed statewide financial data for counties, municipalities, and independent special districts, using 2018-19 as a baseline year because it was stable and pre-COVID. She explained that counties rely heavily on taxes, with ad valorem taxes making up about 73% of county tax revenue and about 24% of total county revenues statewide, while municipalities rely more on charges for services and have a lower statewide ad valorem share of about 14.7%. She also noted wide variation across local governments, with some counties and cities highly dependent on property taxes and others using them minimally or not at all. Special districts were shown to be very different from counties and cities, with hospital-related revenues and expenditures dominating many of them, while water management districts were more reliant on ad valorem taxes and focused expenditures on the physical environment.
Baker also summarized expenditure patterns: counties spent the largest share on public safety, while municipalities spent the largest share on general government services, followed by physical environment and public safety. She emphasized that local government structures vary widely and that the committee should study what characteristics are associated with greater property tax reliance. She said the next research steps would be to extend the analysis through later years, including the COVID and inflation period, and to examine institutional and legal factors that shape local fiscal structures. Members asked about unfunded mandates, fuel taxes, reserves, school taxes, millage rates, and how property taxes relate to specific services such as police and fire. Baker said the current analysis did not yet account for mandates or school taxes and that further work could examine links between revenues and expenditures, commercial versus residential tax burdens, and other factors.
After the presentation, members reported back on local meetings with counties and municipalities. Several described large differences in millage rates, revenue mixes, and the impact of any property tax changes on fiscally constrained counties versus larger, wealthier ones. Concerns were raised about how local governments would replace lost revenue, especially for public safety and emergency response, and members discussed the need to consider both revenue replacement and ways to rein in spending. The co-chairs said the committee would continue gathering information, send members follow-up homework and requests for panel suggestions, and invite additional input from constituents, stakeholders, and local governments. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Bidders, and so you all and the governor recently signed that bill to look at the unique challenges around
- At SJRC, our philosophy is simple, but powerful: we believe that children belong with their families
- I'm concerned why you all would sign a letter and send it to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker
- Sending letters to the governor and other offices opposed to this legislation that have passed this chamber
Committee:
House Human Services
Keywords:
DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (3-3-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- They're going to have arrest powers, and they're going to show up in a uniform, which is a great deterrent
- They mention being in Governor Hutchinson's in the Arkansas state capital when a tornado hit Little Rock
- I</c><00:13:35.880><c> was</c><00:13:36.320><c> uh</c><00:13:36.680><c> in</c><00:13:36.920><c> Governor
- </c> last couple years I was uh in Governor last couple years I was uh in Governor Hutchinson's<00:13
Summary:
The Senate VMAP Committee met with a quorum and heard several measures focused on public safety and emergency preparedness. Senate Bill 266, sponsored by Vice Chair Aaron Reed, would allow Kentucky State Police troopers to engage in secondary employment under a policy set by the commissioner. Reed argued the change would improve morale, recruitment, retention, and compensation opportunities. Senators Boswell, Nunn, and Higden asked about when the extra work would occur and whether the commissioner had been consulted; Reed said the policy would be left to KSP leadership and cited examples such as convention centers and events like the Derby. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to the floor.
The committee then adopted a committee substitute for Senate Concurrent Resolution 67, which creates a task force to study disaster preparedness, mitigation, and related issues such as flooding, wind events, insurance, communications, and coordination among state and local agencies. The sponsor described recent severe weather and flooding across Kentucky and said the resolution was intended to help the state identify risks and best practices, save money, and save lives. Senators discussed whether the National Guard should be included, and the sponsor said they would not object to adding a representative. The resolution passed unanimously.
House Bill 234, presented by Representative Wade Williams with the Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, would add airport police departments to the list of agencies eligible for grants funded through confiscated or abandoned firearms sold through the Kentucky State Police auction process. Williams said the grants support life-saving equipment such as tasers and bulletproof vests and that airport police had been inadvertently left off the eligibility list. Senators asked whether the change would reduce funding for other departments, and Williams said he did not expect a detrimental effect. The bill passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with an invitation to legislators to attend a National Guard briefing and aerial flight event, followed by adjournment.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- for a park or a highway, but to turn around and sell the land to Costco under the theory that the power
- of eminent domain was appropriate in that case because the sales tax The power of eminent domain was
- But the point is that these powers, like eminent domain, are supposed to actually benefit the town or
- We have Republican and Democrat governors across the country right now enacting reforms similar to this
- HOA's wield power comparable with none of these safeguards.
Committee:
House Commerce
Keywords:
workers' compensation, industrial commission, safety regulations, employee protection, penalties, compliance, municipal planning, homeowners associations, design regulations, property rights, building permits, single-family homes, liquor, alcohol, spirituous liquor, liquor license, liquor licensing, Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, restaurant to-go cocktails, mixed cocktails
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Community Safety Feb 23rd, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Community Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- and the sheriff's deputies may call to their aid volunteers and youth cadets rather than persons or power
- Is there concerns that it would be for this person that would be able to take and have arrest powers?
- So I'm really grateful that the governor requested this bill and that we've gotten it this far.
- Law enforcement has given extensive power and authority.
- This power and authority is even more significant for those who lead law enforcement agencies, and the
Committee:
House Community Safety
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- ...cuts, but you have the power to work within the California budget to make sure that even if this
- That was powerful and such a beautiful description. That's at risk.
- That was powerful and such a beautiful description. Yes. Thank you very much.
- That was powerful, and such a beautiful description of how important the child care safety net is to
- I always say speaking truth to power is extremely important.
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the Trump administration’s freeze of federal child care and social services funding and its potential impact on California. The chair opened by emphasizing that child care is economic infrastructure and warning that the freeze could destabilize California’s $10 billion child care system. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Social Services explained that California child care programs rely on roughly $1.4 billion in federal CCDF and TANF funds, which are blended with state dollars and support hundreds of thousands of children and families. CDSS said the state and four other Democratic-led states quickly sued, obtaining a temporary restraining order that has kept the funds flowing for now.
Witnesses including Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, child care provider Amisha Griffin, and parent advocate Mara Linda Bustamante described the practical consequences of a funding interruption: providers could lose reimbursement, close centers, cut enrollment, or lay off staff; parents could lose child care, jobs, or school opportunities; and counties could not backfill the lost federal dollars. Several speakers stressed that child care centers also provide wraparound supports such as nutrition, developmental screening, and referrals, especially in rural and low-income communities. Mitchell and others argued that the freeze would worsen child care deserts and disproportionately harm women, single parents, and communities of color.
Members repeatedly challenged the federal rationale of “waste, fraud, and abuse,” asking for oversight details. CDSS said providers face extensive audits, fraud policies, monitoring, and recoupment procedures, and that identified fraud amounts to about $7 million over two years compared with roughly $6.5 billion in annual child care spending. Several members said the fraud rate is under 1 percent and criticized the freeze as politically motivated and illegal. They also discussed the need for a state “bridge plan” to protect families if federal funds remain disrupted, and some members referenced prior legislation to modernize CalWORKs and child care eligibility.
During public comment, parents, providers, county representatives, and advocacy groups echoed the same concerns, citing waiting lists, workforce losses, and the risk of families falling back into homelessness or poverty. No formal vote was taken; the hearing concluded with broad bipartisan expressions of support for child care funding and a commitment to continue working on state protections and federal advocacy.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environmental Quality Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the need not to have a seat at the table, but not to be able to take that ultimate decision-making power
- time, I think, in the relationship between the state of California and our tribes, thanks to our governor
- Interfaith Power and Light; Camp Fire Collaborative; Catalyst California; Center for Biological Diversity
- That was really powerful testimony. And thank you for waiting all day to talk to us.
- Shane Levine, Northern California Power Agency in support. Thank you. Do we have any more me-toos?
Summary:
The committee heard extensive testimony on AB 2218, which would declare state policy to recognize and address water-related inequities affecting California Native American tribes and require several state agencies to incorporate that policy into water-related decisions. The author and tribal witnesses said the bill would codify a seat at the table for tribes and build on existing consultation and equity commitments, while supporters from environmental and tribal organizations backed the measure. Opponents from municipal utilities, water agencies, cities, counties, agriculture, and business groups argued the bill was too vague, could create uncertainty for water supply and project approvals, and might invite litigation. The chair signaled support, and the author said the bill was intended as a consultation measure rather than one that would usurp agency authority.
The committee then took up AB 1795, a wildfire smoke-damage bill that would establish statewide standards for inspecting, testing, and remediating smoke-damaged homes and create clearer insurance claim handling rules. The Department of Insurance supported the bill, saying it would bring consistency and accountability after major urban-interface fires, while wildfire survivors and advocates said current insurer practices leave families unable to safely return home. Insurance and local government groups opposed unless amended, warning about cost, implementation uncertainty, and the bill’s scope. Members discussed unresolved issues, including how the bill would interact with a separate wildfire health-and-safety bill, whether it would apply to existing policies, and how presumptions and testing standards should work. The committee voted AB 1795 out on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations.
AB 1642, another wildfire-related bill, was also heard and focused on setting science-based testing and clearance standards for homes, schools, and businesses after urban and wildland-urban interface fires. The author and a Caltech scientist described contamination from lead and other heavy metals in fire-affected homes and argued for a presumption that certain contaminants found after a fire came from the wildfire, to reduce costly disputes. Survivors and many advocacy groups supported the bill, while insurers and other industry groups opposed, saying the testing regime was too broad, the geographic scope was unclear, and the presumptions could function like strict liability and raise insurance costs. Senators pressed both sides on how AB 1642 would overlap with the CDI smoke-claims task force and with AB 1795, and the author said the two bills were intended to be complementary and would continue to be reconciled.
The committee also briefly heard AB 1976, which would create a CEQA exemption for pedestrian malls and limit certain local procedural delays for pedestrian and traffic-calming projects. Supporters said it would make it easier to create safer, more walkable, and more livable streets, and there was no opposition testimony. The chair described it as a narrow CEQA exemption for active transportation-related projects and indicated support. The committee then moved on to AB 2026, a groundwater recharge permitting bill, with the author explaining that it would streamline permitting so more recharge projects can capture floodwater and store it for drought years; testimony on that bill began as the transcript ended.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services Mar 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The Legislature and governor have systematically expanded Medi-Cal to all eligible Californians regardless
- Seeing someone say something important for the first time on their device is incredibly powerful.
- And I think HR1 will be reversed, maybe earlier than the federal administration still in power.
- This allows us to run analyses more quickly and accurately by providing the computational power needed
- Imagine an extended power outage.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a governor-sponsored and driven bill. I was proud... ...revenue estimate came in.
- This is a governor-sponsored and driven bill. I was proud to carry it for him.
- So HB 145 is a request to expand the powers of the law enforcement and firefighter's Survivor Review
- Also, the proposed laws, the duties and powers include identifying and prioritizing resources to improve
Committee:
Senate Finance
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee met on May 18, 2026, with eight members present and began by noting the state’s projected REC budget deficit and the need to consider fiscal impacts carefully. The committee first advanced HB 12, which extends the $250,000 surviving spouse benefit to reserve officers killed in the line of duty. Members noted the bill is prospective and that it draws from the same capped fund as other related bills, but it was reported favorable without opposition. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported HB 874 favorable as amended; the bill allows colleges, technical schools, the Louisiana Bar Association, and additional credentials to be added to LA Wallet, with the amendment changing mandatory language to permissive language. HB 951 was then reported favorable, creating an employer-facing workforce unit within Louisiana Works, to be funded through repurposed state and federal funds and existing staff, with a floor amendment expected to rename the unit. The committee also reported HB 979 favorable with amendments after reducing the proposed increase in survivor benefits because members learned several bills were drawing from the same $5 million fund, and HB 1193 favorable as amended, after striking a section that would have extended IDIQ authority to supply contracts for CPR.
The committee then heard HB 909, which would require commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services. Representative Spell and LDH officials said the measure is intended to support crisis response centers and steer patients away from emergency rooms when appropriate, and they testified that it should be cost-neutral or absorbed within existing funding. Despite concerns raised by Senator Andrews about premiums, the bill was reported favorable after discussion of its potential savings and a possible pilot in Acadiana. HB 222, requiring Medicaid to cover dental procedures when needed to complete another medically covered procedure, was also reported favorable; LDH said it would absorb the cost within its existing budget and draw down federal matching funds. HB 291, which prevents health plans from penalizing hospitals when an out-of-network physician is involved in an otherwise covered hospital service, generated extensive debate over a disputed fiscal note and the No Surprises Act. OGB officials said any network “leakage” could cost the plan money, while supporters argued the policy is preventative and that the fiscal estimates were speculative. The committee adopted amendment 3941 to exempt OGB from the bill, then reported HB 291 favorable as amended.
Later, the committee took up HB 145, which expands the authority of the law enforcement and firefighter survivor benefit board to cover extraordinary medical and dental expenses. Because members learned it also draws from the same fund as HB 12 and HB 979, an amendment reduced the amount from $50,000 to $25,000, and the bill was reported favorable as amended. HB 430, a local bill for Lafayette to continue paying health insurance costs for surviving families of fallen officers until Medicare eligibility, was reported favorable. Finally, HB 821, which establishes the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools within the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement Administration and transfers related duties from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, was introduced and discussed as a move with a one-time general fund expenditure already included in HB 1. The committee then adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study May 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- basic, as I've already talked about, risk insurance Premiums, the cost of platforms for software, power
- Governor DeSantis was doing a press conference in the state of Florida, and he was talking about their
- That student doesn't need to be in that classroom, You, whenever there was a governor that did away with
- and always to foster the values New Mexicans share of a vibrant civil society that invests in the power
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- And we had a billion dollars when Governor Huckabee left and Governor B.B. came in.
- There are more tools for economic development, broader powers for a wider variety of projects that promise
- The big sticking point is eminent domain, so no more eminent domain power.
Committee:
All HOUSE RULES
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Apr 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- look forward to moving this forward and getting it approved and ultimately getting signed by the governor
- Higher education is one of the most powerful factors for upward economic and social mobility.
- Higher education is one of the most powerful factors for upward economic and social mobility.
- Former Governor Jerry Brown once said that if the federal government wouldn’t act, California would launch
Summary:
The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a series of bills focused on student access, equity, and campus support services. AB 2660 would codify the CalBridge and ENLACE STEM pipeline programs to help underrepresented students move from high school through Ph.D. and faculty or industry careers; AB 2121 would let community colleges temporarily exclude certain local backfill dollars from the 50% instructional spending law so they can replace lost federal funding for MSI and TRIO programs; and AB 1920 would clarify that students do not lose California College Promise eligibility if they earn a certificate as part of a stackable pathway to an associate degree. AB 1636 would authorize Cerritos College to use voluntary data-sharing agreements with K-12 districts to create ready-to-enroll student records, AB 1845 would add human trafficking training and reporting requirements to campus Title IX-related processes, AB 1784 would extend pregnancy and parenting protections to undergraduate students, AB 2229 would create a CSU reentry support program for stopped-out students, AB 1852 would create a conditional pathway for a Kern County medical school if UC does not act, AB 1928 would allow both an advisor and a support person in campus sexual misconduct proceedings, and AB 2392 would require training before AI tools are deployed to students, faculty, or staff.
Testimony was largely in support of the measures, with authors and witnesses emphasizing student success, equity, and removing administrative barriers. Supporters included community college and university officials, student leaders, advocacy groups, and survivors. AB 2121 drew the most mixed testimony: community college leaders and students supported it as a temporary response to federal cuts, while faculty groups opposed it or raised concerns about weakening the 50% law and the need for the proposal. AB 1852 also drew opposition from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, which argued the proposal could have broader operational and governance implications, though supporters said Kern County’s doctor shortage justified a local solution. AB 1784, AB 1845, and AB 1928 were framed as protections for vulnerable students in pregnancy, trafficking, and sexual misconduct proceedings, respectively, while AB 2392 was presented as a modest training and transparency requirement to accompany AI adoption.
The committee took action on the bills after testimony. Most measures were approved on bipartisan roll calls and re-referred to the appropriate committees, including AB 1636, AB 1784, AB 1845, AB 1920, AB 1928, AB 2229, AB 2392, and AB 2660. AB 2121 and AB 1852 also advanced, though AB 1852 had several members not voting and AB 2121 drew one no vote. The committee also approved a consent calendar that included AB 1591, AB 2203, and AB 2572, and members were invited to add on to bills after the votes.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Care & Wellness Feb 20th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Health Care & Wellness
Transcript Highlights:
- The criteria must be developed in consultation with the OIC, the health care authority, the governor,
- These are the powerful things that the 340B program does directly for the patients that health centers
- the state of California, where I was the director for five years and served under three different governors
- We also wanted to increase our purchasing power for the negotiation of supplemental rebates with manufacturers
Committee:
House Health Care & Wellness
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- reporting annually to state leadership, and by that it means reports annually to the DED, to the governor
- But again, the Department of Economic Development, the governor sees it every year, the Speaker Pro Tem
- Yeah, so we went back and forth on the structure of that, and there's a lot of executive power in here
- It's complete executive power. Thank you. Representative Gragg, please proceed.
Committee:
House Commerce
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 13th, 2026 at 05:31 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- study to the Education Study Committee shall submit a final report on the comprehensive study to the Governor
- Section 8 on page 7, the department shall submit an annual report to the governor and the appropriate
- And I think that would be based upon who's in power.
- And I think that would be based upon who's in power as far as the executive office that could either
Committee:
House House Appropriations & Finance
Keywords:
distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- But there's also a potentially unlikely situation where the governor could end up appointing a nonpartisan
- administrative agency that has an appointed head that's depending upon the political party, the governor
- So we're asking this committee and the legislature as a whole to do everything in their power to uphold
- and as a scholar of the modern Middle East, I understand the human cost of unaccountable military power
Bills:
SB5837 , SB6011 , SB6009 , SB5868 , SB5974 , SB5720 , SB5833 , SB5936 , SB5993 , SB6070 , SB6002 , SJM8014 , SB6086
Committee:
Senate Law & Justice
Keywords:
guardianship, conservatorship, protective arrangement, protective arrangements, supported decision-making, supported decision making, court visitor, adult guardianship, limited guardianship, full guardianship, adult conservatorship, less restrictive alternative, capacity, legal capacity, respondent rights, due process, vulnerable adults, disability rights, elder abuse, estate management
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Law & Justice Jan 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But there's also a potentially unlikely situation where the governor could end up appointing a nonpartisan
- administrative agency that has an appointed head that's depending upon the political party, the governor
- So we're asking this committee and the legislature as a whole to do everything in their power to uphold
- and as a scholar of the modern Middle East, I understand the human cost of unaccountable military power
Summary:
The Law and Justice Committee heard multiple Senate bills and took executive action on several of them. Bills discussed included SB 5837 on guardianship and conservatorship, SB 6011, SB 6009 on consent language in proceedings, SB 5868, SB 5974 on sheriffs and related law enforcement volunteers, SB 5720 on consumer debt default judgments, SB 5833 on leaving engines running to protect pets, SB 5936 on human trafficking remedies, SB 5993 on medical debt interest, SB 6070 on missing persons alerts and investigative tools, and SB 6002 on driver privacy and ALPR data. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments for each, with members raising concerns about scope, constitutionality, consumer protections, law enforcement authority, privacy, and debt collection practices. Several amendments were adopted, withdrawn, or rejected during the discussion.
In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes or amendments for SB 5837, SB 6009, SB 5974, SB 5720, SB 5833, SB 5936, SB 5993, SB 6070, and SB 6002. SB 6011 also received a due pass recommendation. SB 5974, after debate over sheriff certification and recall provisions, was advanced to Ways and Means. SB 5993, dealing with medical debt interest, drew multiple proposed amendments that were withdrawn, and the committee ultimately advanced the bill with the substitute. SB 6002 on ALPR privacy was advanced after discussion of retention periods, ownership of data, and evidentiary use.
The committee then held a public hearing on SB 6086, which would strengthen security protections for judicial officers and court personnel by expanding who may request removal of personal information, broadening Address Confidentiality Program eligibility, and allowing AOC security consultants to conduct threat assessments. Proponents, including judges, clerks, and court officials, described rising threats and the need for stronger protections; county officials and prosecutors raised implementation, constitutional, and records-management concerns. The committee also heard Senate Joint Memorial 8014, requesting a U.S.-led investigation into the killing of Washingtonian Aishanur Esgi Yegi. The memorial drew extensive testimony from family members, advocates, academics, and community groups in support, while a few opponents argued the memorial was factually incomplete or politically selective. No final action was taken on SB 6086 or SJM 8014 during the hearing, and the committee closed after noting very large numbers of signed-in supporters and opponents for the memorial.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance Dec 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- collects the tax from the purchaser and gives it to the state, so the vendor holds a tremendous amount of power
- collects the tax from the purchaser and gives it to the state, so the vendor holds a tremendous amount of power
- Before it was signed, we sent a rare veto request to the governor, not only because of the complexity
- Before it was signed, we sent a rare veto request to the governor, not only because of the complexity
Summary:
The House Finance Committee held a work session that began with welcoming new member Rep. Janice Zahn, who introduced herself as representing the 41st Legislative District. The Department of Revenue then gave an update on the Antio-related legislation following the Washington Supreme Court decision and the 2025 session changes. DOR explained its voluntary disclosure program and the new expanded voluntary disclosure agreement for taxpayers with unreported investment income, including broader eligibility and interest/penalty relief, but said utilization has been minimal so far because additional implementation questions remain unresolved.
The committee next received the annual update on the Working Families Tax Credit. DOR reported record participation in 2025, with about $205 million refunded through October and a major increase in applications after TurboTax added the credit to its filing software. Officials said most dollars went to households with children, outreach efforts remained important, and community partners and state agencies helped increase uptake. Members focused heavily on fraud concerns, especially tax preparers allegedly filing claims without applicants’ knowledge or diverting refunds; DOR said it is using fraud detection tools, training preparers, and trying to make applicants whole, but current law does not provide direct penalties against preparers.
The final portion covered implementation of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5814, which expanded sales tax to certain services. DOR described the new tax framework, its guidance process, and the large volume of ruling requests and outreach since the law took effect October 1. Committee members asked about fiscal assumptions, the scope of taxable services, and whether the department had revised its implementation estimates; DOR said the fiscal note assumed broad application absent explicit exemptions and that no expenditure revision had been made. In stakeholder testimony, Expedia and T-Mobile argued the law creates complexity and competitive disadvantages for Washington businesses, while a construction training provider said the tax raises tuition for workers seeking required certifications. School and nonprofit representatives said the tax will increase costs for special education services, arts programming, and other public-facing activities, and urged exemptions or further legislative fixes. The chair closed by noting the committee would revisit 5814 in the next session and then adjourned the meeting.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Nov 5th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- public retirees, mostly senior citizens, have watched their pensions drop twenty percent in spending power
- importance of COLAs and how they really help; they really help to prevent the erosion of retirees' buying power
- And if the legislature and governor could find it to give us 2.7 billion dollars, that would bump us
- And if the legislature and governor could find it to give us 2.7 billion dollars, that would bump us
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- they could easily mistake for food or or chips or something we've seen that we saw the Lieutenant Governors
- evident, child-resistant, and resealable, and addresses the interstate commerce concerns raised by the governor
- So the Department of State Health Services does not have the power to make something illegal. trying
- Truly two differences. point I'm making is Department of State Health and Services does not have the power
Keywords:
hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity