Video & Transcript : 'severance tax' :

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

TRS-LBT, TRS Public Hearings 03-19-2026

Transportation

Summary: The joint hearing of the Transportation and Labor and Technology committees considered HB 2097, which would allow administrative driver’s license revocation hearings to be held by interactive conference technology such as Zoom and permit electronic exchange of evidence. DOT and the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office supported the bill, saying Zoom hearings have worked well since 2021 and save time and money. Both committees passed HB 2097 with technical and nonsubstantive amendments. The Transportation Committee then heard HB 1163 on commercial driver licensing, HB 2113 on funding vegetation removal from the Kaola Stream drainage way, HB 2283 on port pilotage, HB 1588 on a noise detection camera program, and HB 2333 on airport special districts and aeronautics penalties. DOT asked for HB 1163 to use “non-domiciled” language to match federal rules, and the committee passed it with amendments. For HB 2113, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity said the project would likely need about $1 million, and the committee passed the bill with amendments while noting the funding would be reflected in the committee report rather than the measure itself. HB 2283 drew broad support from maritime and labor interests, but the committee deferred it, saying the Senate version was already moving and would be used instead. HB 1588 received support from DOT and several community and health-related testifiers who said noise from traffic is a serious problem, but the committee expressed concern about enforcement language and re-referred the bill to Judiciary/Ways and Means while still passing it forward. HB 2333 was supported by DOT and airline interests; after questions about airport loitering and sleeping rules, the committee passed it as is. In the final decision-making, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on HB 1163, HB 2113, HB 1588, and HB 2333, and deferred HB 2283.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/26

Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> it is they're taxed between 48 and 52%. it is they're taxed between 48 and 52%.
  • </c> I and I'm not saying that we should tax I and I'm not saying that we should tax ourselves<00:29:
  • And six in several other states as well.
  • </c> property taxes, and utilities. property taxes, and utilities.
  • I mean, taxes, I mean, we we drivers.
Bills: HF3403 , HF2687 , HF2381
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Feb 23rd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • property tax on the equipment.
  • Tax, that personal property tax on the equipment, and that equipment depreciates over time.
  • . ...replacing that property tax, which we agree isn't working, with an excise tax.
  • the underlying property tax.
  • Because the amount of tax that is collected when that personal property goes on to the tax rolls will
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Feb 23rd, 2026

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • property tax on the equipment.
  • Tax, that personal property tax on the equipment, and that equipment depreciates over time.
  • Replacing that property tax, which we agree isn't working, with an excise tax.
  • Because the amount of tax that is collected when that personal property goes on to the tax rolls will
  • Madam Speaker, we hear from time to time on this floor certain fees or taxes described as poll taxes.
Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the previous day’s minutes, and heard a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber also moved several bills through routine orders, including placing House Bill 273 on health carrier surpluses and House Bill 2681 on cannabis license fees on the second reading calendar, and welcoming guests and honored families to the gallery. The main floor action centered on three bills. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325, establishing a tourism self-support program, was amended with a technical clarification and passed 84-5. Supporters said the industry should fund a statewide tourism marketing effort to attract visitors year-round and compete with other states. Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960, on renewable energy, was amended to address local tax treatment of wind, solar, and battery storage projects and passed 74-15; proponents said it would replace a shifting property-tax burden with a more stable excise tax so host communities receive lasting benefits. House Bill 2521, concerning firearms background checks, drew the most debate. Amendments to raise the fee cap and to set the fee at zero were both rejected, with opponents arguing the bill would burden constitutional rights and supporters saying the fee should cover the State Patrol’s costs. The bill then passed 53-36. House Bill 2675, the annual accounts bill, passed unanimously 89-0 after brief support from both parties. The House then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee Feb 11th, 2026

State Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • They're using it for tax around.
  • </c> Uh, look, I've got uh uh several Uh, look, I've got uh uh several concerns<00:13:31.920><c> with
  • There's several others out there that are doing it.
  • </c> &gt;&gt; Uh the collection of the adorum tax &gt;&gt; Uh the collection of the adorum tax [snorts
  • ." tax." tax."
Bills: SB223 , SB271 , SB223 , SB271
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Public Safety REVISED Feb 10th, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • Because basically what we're doing is this is a tax. Is that correct? No, this is not a tax.
  • of every income tax credit that they can.
  • income tax.
  • I see your point, but again, most people are using some form of tax software to file their taxes, whether
  • , all the tax credits that they can.
Summary: The Public Safety Committee took up several criminal justice and public safety measures. Senate Bill 1936, as amended, increased penalties for impersonating law enforcement from a misdemeanor to a felony and expanded seizure provisions; amendments added federal law enforcement agents and state troopers to the covered officers, and the bill passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1612, requested by Tulsa police, would require limited reporting and sharing of certain injury-related information and hospital video/photo evidence with law enforcement to aid violent-crime investigations; members raised HIPAA, scope, and criminalization concerns, but the bill passed 5-2. Senate Bill 1543 would aggregate multiple DUI offenses within one year into a single felony case; after questions about sentencing, municipal charges, and deterrence, it passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1260 would require child sex traffickers and human traffickers to serve 100% of their sentences without parole or earned credits, and it passed 6-2. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1988, which would increase wire-transfer fees on funds sent outside the United States and restore an income-tax credit for Oklahoma filers; members questioned whether it functioned as a tax, its impact on lower-income senders and service members, and its connection to drug trafficking. The bill failed on a 4-4 vote. Senate Bill 1859, creating an OSBI cybercrime and fraud unit with an estimated $3 million fiscal impact, passed unanimously after testimony that cyber and cryptocurrency fraud are growing and often harm elderly victims. Senate Bill 2041 would make a third possession offense for methamphetamine, fentanyl, or cocaine a felony, with supporters saying it would push offenders toward drug court and opponents warning it would increase incarceration; it passed 6-2. Finally, Senate Bill 1257 would classify THC as a Schedule I drug to align with federal law and close trafficking loopholes, and it passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1584 was laid over at the author’s request.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Fiscal Responsibility Committee Mar 19th, 2025

Fiscal Responsibility

Transcript Highlights:
  • I liken it to the fact that we were crawling for several years. We...
  • Crawling for several years knocked us out for a year, and then we're crawling again.
  • funding stream be created, and we proposed a and we proposed a method for doing that through a 988 tax
  • , and I know you all have heard about that tax over the last several years.
  • Because what we found is their program had a severe lack of... ...had a severe lack of accountability
Bills: SB197 , HB140 , SB214 , HB214 , HB147 , HB270 , SB73
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Feb 3rd, 2026

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, as I read the bill, several questions and concerns arise.
  • dollars, without additional subsidies, while we're working to create a lower property tax base and lower
  • There are several appearance forms: Brendan Burke, Florida Home Builders Association, is in support.
  • We will continue with the Senator Martin show, and we'll move to tab 8, SB 1320 on tax referendum by
  • So there are several steps in that process.
Bills: S0484 , S0698 , S0706 , S0968 , S1118 , S1122 , S1134 , S1320 , S1342 , S1548 , S1614
Summary: The committee heard several housing, local government, utility, and transparency bills. SB 1342 on transportation infrastructure and land development regulations, by Sen. Rouson, was presented as a housing-affordability measure modeled on the Live Local Act for transit corridors. After adopting an amendment that removed the bill’s compelling-governmental-interest language in enforcement provisions, the committee heard testimony from local-government and housing interests both supporting and opposing the bill’s zoning preemption approach. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably CS/SB 1614, by Sen. Leek, which was amended to remove stormwater and code-enforcement spending provisions and to tighten restrictions on local governments seeking state appropriations after audits or without required affirmations. SB 1548, the next Live Local Act iteration by Sen. Claddie Ude, was also reported favorably; it expands where Live Local projects may be located and adds fair-housing protections. SB 968 on home backup power systems, by Sen. McLean, was reported favorably after testimony from builders and energy-related stakeholders, with the sponsor noting he was still working on amendments to refine permit provisions. The committee then approved CS/SB 698, by Sen. Martin, which allows building permits for single-family homes to be issued before septic permits are finalized if application has been made, while still requiring septic approval before occupancy. Builders testified that septic permit delays were causing lengthy project delays and contract cancellations. The committee also reported favorably SB 1320, by Sen. Martin, requiring county tax-increase referenda to include a Department of Financial Services spending analysis if available; the sponsor said the goal was to give voters more standardized fiscal information, while opponents argued existing law already provides similar transparency. SB 484, by Sen. Avila, on data centers, was reported favorably after an amendment adding a knowledge requirement to the foreign-country-of-concern service prohibition; the bill addresses local planning authority, nondisclosure agreements, utility tariff requirements, and water-use limits for large data centers. The committee also reported favorably SB 1118, by Sen. Avila, creating a one-year public-records exemption for data-center location and proprietary information, with testimony split between economic-development supporters and transparency concerns. Finally, the committee took up SB 706, by Sen. Mayfield, preempting naming of major commercial service airports to the state and designating Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to federal and trademark conditions; it was reported favorably after questions about local input and airport naming. The committee then heard extensive public testimony on SB 1134, by Sen. Yarbrough, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official actions related to DEI and would create penalties and a private right of action for residents. The sponsor argued the bill was aimed at preventing taxpayer-funded DEI programs and cited examples from Jacksonville and other jurisdictions; opponents said the bill was vague, overbroad, and would chill local programs, public education, and civil-rights-related activities. The transcript ends during continued public testimony on SB 1134, with no final committee action shown in the excerpt.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Feb 24th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Several? Maybe just one, I don't know. Okay, you're recognizing. It depends on the answers.
  • no faculty members who are requesting this extra responsibility and exposure, and have spoken to several
  • And has spoken to several who are very concerned with what would happen in the results.
  • I don't have a list of all their names or occupations, but I know we have several that are represented
  • The documentation transparently notes several simplifications, treating the susceptible population as
Bills: S0118 , S0896 , S1690 , S1756
Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 896, a school safety bill expanding the Guardian program to public postsecondary institutions. The bill requires active assailant response plans, security risk assessments, threat-management protocols, use of the suspicious activity reporting tool, and allows voluntary participation in Guardian for colleges and universities. A late-file amendment by Senator Polsky was adopted to clarify that students who are also employees or faculty are not eligible for Guardian. Members debated campus carry concerns, storage of firearms, and whether the bill could lead to broader gun access on campuses. Several faculty and gun-safety advocates testified against the bill, while supporters argued trained guardians can deter violence. The committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote. The committee then approved CS for CS for CS for SB 1690 on child care and early learning services. The bill updates child care laws, clarifies regulations, and reduces overregulation of before- and after-school programs. An amendment expanded authority for the Florida Education Foundation to fundraise for early learning from birth to VPK. Testimony was largely supportive, emphasizing affordability, access to quality child care, and relief for working families, though one speaker opposed the bill as an expansion of government. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee passed CS for CS for SB 118, which clarifies how non-ad valorem special assessments are applied to recreational vehicle parks and limits the square footage used for assessment purposes to the maximum size of an RV space. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 1220, the Department of Transportation package, which addresses seaport and airport planning, personal delivery devices, autonomous vehicles, advanced air mobility, toll programming, and other transportation-related changes. Amendments modified provisions on personal delivery devices, utility permits, autonomous vehicle penalties, and law-enforcement cruiser lights. Both bills were reported favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1756, the medical freedom bill, which proposes new vaccine information requirements, conscience-based school immunization exemptions, limits on compelled vaccination during public health emergencies, and behind-the-counter access to ivermectin for adults. The sponsor and supporters framed the bill as strengthening informed consent and parental rights, while opponents and some senators raised concerns about vaccine hesitancy, herd immunity, and the inclusion of ivermectin. Public testimony was extensive and sharply divided. The transcript ends during continued testimony and debate on SB 1756, before a final vote is taken.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government May 12th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • This generally works just fine, but sometimes the tax assessor may be delayed in sending out tax bills
  • The tax assessor may be delayed in sending out tax bills until after November 30th for some properties
  • So if the tax bill went out on January 2nd, the first installment would be due by February 28th.
  • But I, as a former tax assessor, will say this is a wonderful idea and stand in their place.
  • Several years back, we lowered the percentage rate that counties and cities could raise your taxes, right
Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard and discussed a series of House bills dealing with municipal structure, tax payment timing, local provider participation funds, firefighter cancer screenings, sunset review of the Trinity River Authority, replacement certificates of occupancy, and open meetings enforcement. HB 303 would remove the 501-resident floor so very small type A and B municipalities can convert to type C cities; HB 2742 would give property owners a later first split-payment deadline when tax bills are mailed after November 30; HB 3305 and HB 3348 were local provider participation fund measures with committee substitutes; HB 198 would require political subdivisions to offer occupational cancer screenings for firefighters; HB 1535 was a sunset bill for the Trinity River Authority; HB 4753 would allow a municipality-issued proof of a certificate of occupancy to substitute for a lost original; and HB 3711 would treat certain Open Meetings Act violations as offenses against public administration and require public explanation when prosecutors decline to act. Testimony was generally supportive or limited, with several witnesses and senators emphasizing practical fixes, firefighter health and cost savings, local government transparency, and administrative cleanup. For HB 198, firefighter representatives gave emotional testimony about cancer deaths and the value of early screening. On HB 3711, a witness supported the bill but urged stronger enforcement and broader application. Several senators raised policy concerns on HB 2715 about routing removal proceedings through a regional presiding judge rather than the local county, arguing it could politicize the process. The committee took no public testimony on most bills and repeatedly left them pending subject to call of the chair before later voting them out. HB 21, HB 30, HB 1535, HB 1520, HB 198, HB 303, HB 2742, and HB 4753 were reported to the full Senate, generally by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HB 30 passed on a 5-1 vote, while the other reported bills were approved unanimously or with no recorded opposition. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • There are several populations that this bill would target, but today we have to do more.
  • The bill verifies the authority of the Brazoria County Commissioner's Court to execute tax abatement
  • interests in tax-exempt real property and tangible personal property or improvements located on tax-exempt
  • The ability for the county to execute the tax abatement. So I'm here to answer any other questions.
  • Texas tax code.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 13th, 2026 at 05:31 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the last two weeks, we have done several committee substitutes, and we've worked on this bill to more
  • The Industrial Carbon Reduction Act provides production tax credits at $85 per metric ton of CO2 reduced
  • Chair and Representative, what could happen is a low-carbon wood manufacturer—of which there are several—could
  • I was just hoping that they might be able to get a tax credit from it. Mr.
  • bill precludes the ability to stack the production incentive or the grant with any sort of 45Q CCS tax
Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 13th, 2026

House Appropriations & Finance

Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177
Summary: The committee first corrected its action on Senate Bill 151, noting that the earlier motion had been made incorrectly after the committee substitute was amended. Members then moved to do not pass the Senate Finance Committee substitute and do pass the same committee substitute so it could be sent to the floor. The only change identified in the substitute was an adjustment to the sunset date. A roll call vote followed, with several members voting yes and a few voting no or being excused, and the motion to report the committee substitute out with a due pass recommendation carried. After the SB 151 vote, the chair said the committee was essentially finished and expected to meet on the floor the next day, likely around noon, with a plan to come in earlier and handle a few more bills. The discussion then shifted to House Bill 2 and the broader issue of state employee compensation. One member argued that over the past several years the state had already provided substantial pay raises and benefits, citing roughly $1.3 billion in raises, about $184 million annually for health care costs, and $116 million annually for employer pension costs, for a total of about $1.6 billion over four years. That member said the state had done enough on employee compensation and that a proposed 1% increase did not make sense given competing priorities such as child care and other needs. The committee then adjourned, and there was a brief question about when the university fund bill would be heard, but no firm timing was given.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Safeguarding women's private spaces and reining in runaway local taxes.
  • Immediately to pass a strong pro-life bill to protect women's spaces and more property tax protections
Bills: HB4 , HB1 , HB2 , HB18 , HB19 , HB20 , HB4 , HB1 , HB 2 , HB20 , HB19 , HB18 , HB 4 , HB 1 , HB 2 , HB 18 , HB 19 , HB 20
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Land & Resource Management May 1st, 2025

Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:
  • but fails to pay property tax on the acquired property for two years.
  • So, we're against this bill for several reasons. One is...
  • We are still being billed property taxes every year. The business is closed.
  • He probably supported as many, if not more, affordable housing bills over the last several years.
  • We haven't had any interim hearings for this committee in the last several sessions.