Video & Transcript : 'taxpayers' :
Page 31 of 445
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Transportation Subcommittee Feb 16th, 2026 at 10:30 am
A&B Transportation Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, every situation is different than having to go to courts and then, you know, OTA, taxpayers,
- All of this is not state money because it either... state money is taxpayer money.
- So it's difficult on both sides because our job is to guard those taxpayers.
- So, but when you ask me that, I have to be mindful of what we're doing for the taxpayers.
- because we have someone from another taxpayer from another state giving us income for that.
Committee:
House A&B Transportation Subcommittee
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Sections that were also rewritten for taxpayers' ease and compliance.
- Statutes, the rules that remain were written in a way to make taxpayers more able to follow the, since
- So it puts both the taxpayer and the agency on the same footing.
- As you know, we need to pass the conformity bill in order for Idaho taxpayers to file and get their taxes
- So, you know, once we get the conformity bill passed, there's going to be those Idaho taxpayers, the
Committee:
Senate Local Government and Taxation
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
REVENUE & TAXATION- HOUSE May 4th, 2026
REVENUE & TAXATION- HOUSE SALES, USE, MISC. TAXES & EXEMPTIONS SUBCOM.
Transcript Highlights:
- Over the last decade, Arkansas has returned billions of dollars to its taxpayers.
- Under this bill, income above $26,400 for taxpayers in the lower table will be taxed at 3.7%.
- The benefits reach more than a million Arkansas taxpayers.
- For the average taxpayer, to put this in real-world terms, it means real money back in their household
- goalpost to a point where we would never do anything to help taxpayers if that were the standard.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- If passed after January 1, 2027, the taxpayer may deduct $2,400 for each child to which a taxpayer gives
- They would have to be a taxpayer also. So this isn't a give-me for someone who's not paying taxes.
- If they're a taxpayer in Missouri, and they would qualify, yes.
- If they're a taxpayer in Missouri, and they would qualify, yes.
- Hopefully, we'll stay in Missouri and become taxpayers.
Committee:
House Ways and Means
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 26th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII
Transcript Highlights:
- Yes. by taxpayers that is correct yeah it's a lot of money how many projects have you subsidized with
- I'm really struggling with whether more taxpayer money is needed whether we should have done this in
- the first place or not because as you've acknowledged this is taxpayer money.
- Like why would we put more of my constituents taxpayer money at risk?
- There's reducing the burden on oil and gas producers as opposed to just coming in with more taxpayer
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Apr 8th, 2026
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- The interim charge is on preventing taxpayer funds and preventing fraud, protecting taxpayer funds and
- We recovered over $465 million for taxpayers, that's both state and federal dollars.
- But I realized that Texas taxpayers were footing the bill.
- We strongly support the goal of protecting taxpayer dollars and preventing...
- And is there anyone else... to protect taxpayers' dollars.
Committee:
Senate Health & Human Services
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> $13,000 of taxpayer money. $13,000 of taxpayer money. um<00:56:10.240><c> what</c><00:56:10.559>
- And save taxpayer dollars and hassle.
- This is a win for taxpayers.
- It's a win for is a win for taxpayers.
- ><c> for</c><01:53:43.679><c> something,</c> charging every taxpayer for something, charging every taxpayer
Committee:
Senate Ways and Means
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- That the taxpayers of the entire city.
- Who are the taxpayers paying for?
- Who are the taxpayers who's in the room. Who are the taxpayers paying<04:18:10.000><c> for?
- <04:18:17.520><c> dollars,</c> taxpayer dollars, taxpayer dollars, they<04:18:19.840><c> are</c><04:18
- ><c> of</c><04:19:34.560><c> being</c> Minnesota taxpayers are tired of being Minnesota taxpayers are
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Tax Reform Apr 2nd, 2026 at 08:30 am
Special Committee on Tax Reform
Transcript Highlights:
- to me, so going through our assessment challenges in Jackson County, I probably heard from more taxpayers
- What we're talking about here is them going out and interfacing with the taxpayer in a positive experience
- I'm a taxpayer in Jackson County, and I've got a short statement to read, and it also describes a few
- The feedback I've seen online about this legislation is that some taxpayers want the tax exemption to
- That are taxpayers 30, 40, and 50 years old.
Committee:
House Special Committee on Tax Reform
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance Feb 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Due to the fact that there are fewer than three taxpayers that claim this exemption, the department cannot
- 2% to 3% for all premiums and prepayments for health care services collected or received by the taxpayer
- The tax is equal to 1% of all premiums and prepayments collected or received by the taxpayer for health
- The tax is equal to 1% of all premiums and prepayments collected or received by the taxpayer for health
- Because I think the issue around keeping public lands that have been purchased with taxpayer dollars
Summary:
House Finance heard several bills and took no recorded votes. HB 2367 would end special tax and emissions exemptions for the Centralia coal plant by limiting its Climate Commitment Act exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas requirements, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. The sponsor, Rep. Fitzgibbon, said the bill would help keep the plant’s transition to cleaner natural gas generation on track; Climate Solutions supported it, while business and clean-energy groups raised concerns about allowance-market impacts and asked for amendments to adjust the cap-and-invest allowance budget.
HB 1974 would authorize public housing authorities, public corporations, and nonprofits to operate as land banks for affordable housing, give them priority for tax-foreclosed properties, and provide property tax, leasehold excise tax, and REET exemptions for land bank transactions. Rep. Hill said the bill was narrowed to reduce fiscal impact and support existing land banking work in Spokane; supporters said it would lower land costs and speed affordable housing development, while questions focused on how public land would be used and whether affordability should be permanent rather than limited to 30 years.
HB 2650, a Department of Revenue request, would standardize notice and effective dates for local REET and lodging tax changes and clarify documentation for an affordable housing sales tax deferral. DOR supported the bill as an administrative efficiency measure, and there was no opposition testimony. HB 2626 would raise the premium tax on health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements from 2% to 3%, remove a dentistry-related exemption, and add a new 1% tax on certain disability and group stop-loss insurers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help fund Apple Health and subsidies amid federal funding concerns; insurers and business groups opposed it as a cost increase likely to be passed on to consumers and employers, while patient and advocacy groups supported the revenue idea but urged that funds be dedicated to subsidies or other health care supports and that pass-through to consumers be prevented.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The clerk will take the roll. protecting taxpayer dollars. It's about protecting taxpayer dollars.
- </c> going out the door, hard-earned taxpayer going out the door, hard-earned taxpayer dollars.<02:41
- </c> while protecting the taxpayers. while protecting the taxpayers.
- </c> taxpayers. Members, this is a good bill. taxpayers. Members, this is a good bill.
- </c> and protect our taxpayers. Thank you. and protect our taxpayers. Thank you.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Otherwise, if it's always a shall, the plaintiff is getting the taxpayers to pay for their suit.
- If it were to be a shall, it would burden the other taxpayers.
- It strengthens accountability and public trust by empowering taxpayers with information they need to
- What it could cost taxpayers. And these are the ones voting to authorize it. It may pass.
- But we want to make sure taxpayers know what they're on the hook for, right?
Bills:
SJR12 , SJR81 , SCR39 , SB22 , SB32 , SB241 , SB393 , SB414 , SB458 , SB464 , SB568 , SB583 , SB609 , SB660 , SB693 , SB731 , SB732 , SB746 , SB783 , SB785 , SB897 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1008 , SB1029 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1120 , SB1122 , SB1147 , SB1163 , SB1188 , SB1197 , SB1209 , SB1227 , SB1245 , SB1267 , SB1307 , SB1321 , SB1332 , SB1386 , SB1394 , SB1396 , SB1470 , SB1494 , SB1537 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1610 , SB1664 , SB1814 , SB1822 , SB1841 , SB1948 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2406 , SB2407
Summary:
The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, approval of routine motions, and the reading of gubernatorial nominations and several honorary resolutions. The chamber adopted resolutions recognizing Jack and Jill of America Day and DJ Daniel Day at the Capitol, with multiple senators offering remarks praising youth leadership, perseverance, and public service. The Senate also introduced the Doctor of the Day and then proceeded to a long series of floor actions on bills.
A major focus was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 568, which overhauls special education funding and services in public schools by moving from a placement-based model to an intensity-based system tied to student needs and IEPs. Senators Bettencourt, Creighton, and Menendez emphasized transparency, parent input, evaluation funding, dyslexia services, and better alignment of funding with actual services; Senator Hinojosa shared a personal story about dyslexia and the importance of early intervention. The bill was advanced on second and third reading and finally passed 30-0. The Senate also passed SB 1396 to prohibit national sex education standards in public schools, SB 2065 on the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System, SB 1664 requiring clearer public disclosure of transmission and distribution utility rate changes, SB 1029 on advertising certain used motor vehicles, SB 1120 expanding rights for family violence victims, SB 1036 regulating residential solar retail transactions, SB 464 creating school-proximity restrictions and penalties for tobacco and vaping sales, SB 1035 giving farmers and ranchers equitable relief from certain local agricultural regulations, SB 1610 addressing civil commitment facility safety and prosecution issues, SB 1197 extending drone restrictions to spaceports, and SB 1386 changing legislative witness immunity from transactional to testimonial immunity.
Another major bill was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1188, which updates electronic health record requirements. Senator Kolkhorst said the bill builds on Texas medical privacy law by requiring U.S.-based storage of EMR data, prohibiting recording of voter registration status and credit score information, requiring provider verification and disclosure for AI-assisted diagnosis or treatment recommendations, preserving parental access to minors’ records until age 18, and ensuring EMRs can capture metabolic health and biological sex information. A floor amendment clarified the bill’s scope and enforcement, and the bill passed 23-7. Several measures drew debate, especially SB 414 on bond ballot transparency, where Senators Eckhardt and Menendez questioned whether requiring estimated interest and total debt cost on ballots could be misleading or difficult to implement because interest rates and financing terms can change before issuance or over time. The transcript ends during that discussion, with no final action shown on SB 414.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The credit can be claimed by the eligible taxpayer or transferred to another taxpayer, subject to the
- </c><00:03:22.480><c> who</c> certificate to an eligible taxpayer who certificate to an eligible taxpayer
- It ultimately drives up project costs to the local property taxpayer.
- It ultimately drives up project costs to the local property taxpayer.
- of another taxpayer they need dependent of another taxpayer they need to<01:14:39.520><c> be</c><01:
Committee:
House Taxes
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> million um from non-compliant taxpayers million um from non-compliant taxpayers and<00:02:40.720
- </c><00:02:55.560><c> regarding</c> 1,600 uh individual taxpayers regarding 1,600 uh individual taxpayers
- </c> employees to come in in the taxpayers employees to come in in the taxpayers services<00:41:10.839
- They're really individual income taxpayers. This all nets out.
- They're really individual income taxpayers. This all nets out.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm for Senator Middleton's ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, so. Okay. Taxpayer funded lobbyists.
- Taxpayers, right? Correct. And so you would agree, would you agree to an amendment that...
- No, taxpayer dollars can be used to lobby.
- Taxpayers' dollars will be able to be used. in order to lobby us for this particular program.
- So, precious dollars that taxpayers intended for their community. will be sent away.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 086 Part 1fix Apr 10th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> said,</c><01:18:07.360><c> "Okay,</c> because the taxpayers said, "Okay, because the taxpayers said
- </c> don't get any refunds under the taxpayer don't get any refunds under the taxpayer bill<01:53:34.239
- </c> because of the taxpayer bill of rights. because of the taxpayer bill of rights.
- limit that the taxpayers rights, the the limit that the taxpayers put<01:55:49.679><c> on</c><01:55:
- </c> the taxpayer bill of rights. the taxpayer bill of rights.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We don't have good numbers in other areas, actually. of cost to our local and state taxpayers.
- One estimate is perhaps $7 billion per year. in our public school system so the local taxpayers in the
- I think there could be some potential benefits to our state taxpayers in asking for reimbursements with
- open border where you know that those children are going to our public schools and our our local taxpayers
- You know, there's been a huge cost to local taxpayers who really can't afford to absorb this.
Bills:
SB825
Committee:
Senate Border Security
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 19, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- So it’s ultimately an effort to save taxpayer dollars and the citizens of Martin County.
- And so there is a concern that outside of a contract, there really is no predictability for the taxpayer
- I know it will save taxpayer money.
- And so, There really is no, there's no predictability for the taxpayer to know.
- I know it will save taxpayer money.
Summary:
The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee heard and passed two measures before receiving a staff presentation on the local bill process and local delegation meetings. HB 4007, by Rep. Snyder, would cap reimbursement for certain inmate emergency medical services in Martin County at 110% of the Medicare rate, with a higher cap if a provider shows it is operating at a loss. Snyder said the bill is intended to create predictability and save taxpayer dollars; members asked about fiscal effects and whether other counties could adopt similar language. Public testimony came in support from Martin County and related local officials, and the bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote.
The committee also passed HM 4005, by Rep. Daly, which urges Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Daly argued Florida’s troop allocation is outdated and inadequate for the state’s population and disaster demands, contributing to burnout and recruiting problems. Members asked about the basis for the current allocation, possible budget and infrastructure impacts, and the National Guard’s needs; there was no opposition or public testimony, and the memorial was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote.
After the votes, Reps. Holcomb and Kendall gave a detailed presentation explaining how local bills differ from general laws, constitutional limits on local legislation, required local delegation meetings and notice, certification and economic impact forms, and amendment procedures. Members asked several process questions, including about multi-county delegations and Miami-Dade’s special status. The meeting ended with a few recognitions and adjournment before session.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> plaguing generations of their taxpayers. plaguing generations of their taxpayers.
- </c> taxpayers have to pick up the bill. taxpayers have to pick up the bill.
- </c><00:57:08.160><c> of</c> testament to the property taxpayers of testament to the property taxpayers
- That is paid by local property taxpayers. That is paid by local property taxpayers.
- </c> increasing strain and property taxpayers increasing strain and property taxpayers are<02:44:43.120
Committee:
House Ways and Means
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Transportation Subcommittee Feb 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, every situation is different than having to go to courts and then, you know, OTA, taxpayers,
- to answer the question to me, all of this is not state money because it either…” “State money is taxpayer
- So it’s difficult on both sides because our job is to guard those taxpayers.
- So, but when you ask me that, I have to be mindful of what we’re doing for the taxpayers.
- because we have someone from another taxpayer from another state giving us income for that.
Summary:
The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee for Transportation heard two bills. House Bill 3758, by Representative Sterling, would require higher compensation standards for property taken through eminent domain for state infrastructure projects, setting compensation at the greater of 150% of fair market value or the cost of comparable replacement property, while limiting deductions for project-related benefits. Members raised concerns about whether the bill would apply to OTA, ODOT, county-managed projects, and existing projects, whether it would affect the right to contest awards, potential lawsuits, and the fiscal impact on road projects. Sterling said the bill was still being refined and was intended as a benchmark to better protect affected property owners. The subcommittee adopted the PCS and passed the bill 5–4.
The committee then considered House Bill 4392, also with a PCS, which would create a pilot program called the Sustainable Emerging Aviation Services Investment Program (C-SIP) to support advanced air mobility infrastructure through a public-private partnership model. The bill was described as a community-led program that would invest in enabling infrastructure and near-term services with a path to self-sustainment, eventually supported by user revenues and fees. After brief explanation and no debate, the PCS was adopted and the bill passed 9–0.
At the end of the meeting, members were told they would move to another room to discuss transportation funding options for the session, and the meeting was adjourned.