Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 77 leverages private investment to rehabilitate long-vacant properties into homes, expanding
• The issue of vacant and abandoned properties is a real issue in both urban and rural areas, and this
• properties harming our neighbors.
• It also creates a clear pathway to turn long-vacant properties into affordable housing by offering a
• The assumption there is that those properties that have been abandoned and vacant for a longer period

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 77 leverages private investment to rehabilitate long-vacant properties into homes, expanding
• The issue of vacant and abandoned properties is a real issue in both urban and rural areas, and this
• It also creates a clear pathway to turn long-vacant properties into affordable housing by offering a
• The assumption there is that those properties that have been abandoned and vacant for a longer period
• The assumption there is that those properties that have been abandoned and vacant for a longer period

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 296, which would double New Mexico’s working families tax credit. The sponsor said the bill would increase work incentives, reduce poverty, and could provide families up to about $1,900 more per year, with benefits concentrated among families with children and lower earners. Public testimony from advocacy groups and faith organizations supported the bill. Members asked about foster family eligibility, age eligibility, refundability, and how the credit compared with a prior vetoed proposal. After discussion, a member moved to table the bill, and HB 296 was tabled. The committee then took up the committee substitute for House Bill 77, a tax credit for rehabilitating vacant or blighted buildings into affordable multifamily housing, with at least half of the credit reserved for rural New Mexico. Supporters from housing, business, construction, local government, and advocacy groups said it would expand housing supply, revitalize downtowns and vacant properties, and help rural communities. Members questioned the certification and recertification process, affordability requirements, and the role of the Mortgage Finance Authority. The sponsor asked to roll the bill to Friday so an amendment could be considered, and the committee agreed to roll HB 77 rather than vote on it. House Bill 275, authorizing revenue bonds for Hila Regional Medical Center to replace an aging linear accelerator used for radiation cancer treatment, was heard next. The sponsor and supporters said the equipment is essential for cancer care in southwest New Mexico and that patients would otherwise have to travel long distances for treatment. An amendment extending the bond term from 20 to 30 years was adopted after the New Mexico Finance Authority explained declining tobacco-tax revenues and the need to protect against default risk. The committee then gave HB 275, as amended, a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 285, as amended, which clarifies and streamlines the disabled veteran property tax exemption. The sponsor said the bill limits the exemption to a primary residence, clarifies how it applies to multiple owners, and gives veterans more time and clearer procedures to claim or protest the exemption while they await VA certification. County assessors and realtor representatives supported the measure, saying it would reduce administrative confusion and ensure eligible veterans receive the benefit consistently. The committee adopted the bill on a do pass motion. The meeting then adjourned with notice that work would continue on Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are thousands of vacant and abandoned and derelict properties throughout the state.
• There are thousands of vacant, abandoned, and derelict properties throughout the state.
• So if the property qualifies as blighted, vacant, and abandoned, then maybe it's a mobile home park.
• There happens to be in your district a property through introducing the Rural Vacant Building Act.
• We know that property owners are wanting to build additional units on their property for long-term rentals

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• McCarthy, if the city owns this property and is vacant, what taxes are going to be paid? Mr.
• McCarthy, if the city owns this property and is vacant, what taxes are going to be paid? Mr.
• I mean, vacant property still paid tax. Mr.
• taxes, the deal requires them to pay the property taxes that would have been owed on the vacant land
• So I just want to make a point to a question that was asked about a vacant property: the city could go

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee first took up Senate Bill 1293, which would limit Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) abatements so they cannot reduce the portion of property taxes that would otherwise go to school districts. The sponsor and supporters, including the Arizona Tax Research Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, argued that GPLET shifts costs to the state general fund and other taxpayers through school finance backfilling, while city representatives from Phoenix and Mesa and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council said GPLET is an important redevelopment tool that helps projects move forward in difficult urban areas and eventually returns properties to the tax rolls at much higher values. After extended questioning about tax shifts, school district impacts, and whether cities could act without affecting other jurisdictions, the committee voted 5-3 to return SB 1293 with a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1294, a clarifying measure concerning property classification after destruction by fire, flood, or other verifiable accident. The sponsor said the bill was intended to refine language adopted the previous year and to reflect discussions with assessors and ATRA. With little opposition, the committee approved SB 1294 on a 6-1 vote, with one member present and one absent. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 1430, the annual technical corrections bill for tax statutes administered by the Department of Revenue. The sponsor offered an amendment to remove a disputed unclaimed-property provision after concerns were raised, and the department supported the bill as amended. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed SB 1430 as amended on a 7-0 vote, with one member present and one absent, before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• McCarthy, if the city owns this property and it is vacant, what taxes are going to be paid? Mr.
• McCarthy, if the city owns this property and is vacant, what taxes are going to be paid? Mr.
• I mean, vacant property still paid tax. Mr.
• taxes... ...the deal requires them to pay the property taxes that would have been owed on the vacant
• I just want to make a point to a question that was asked about a vacant property: the city could go and

Bills: SB1221 , SB1293 , SB1294 , SB1430

Committees: House Ways & Means , House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Keywords: taxpayer protection, law interpretation, transparency, public hearings, tax policies, GPLET, abatement, tax incentives, local government, property improvement, central business district, property tax, assessment, destruction, proration, Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona tax corrections act, transaction privilege tax, sales tax, use tax

Transcript Highlights:

• And this property has been vacant for a very long time because of all the things that have been happening
• And this property has been vacant for a very long time because of the whole things have been happening
• Representative Mendez said the property had been vacant for a very long time because of all the things
• The site has remained vacant for more than a decade.
• We are looking forward to more discussions on this property.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The committee opened by explaining new attendance and public-testimony procedures, including that testimony would be recorded, livestreamed, and generally made public, with possible redactions for sensitive material. The chairs also noted that no committee rules were being formally adopted yet and that no votes would be taken during the hearing. Senator Collins briefly emphasized the committee’s oversight role on land takings and Article 97 issues, including concerns about proposed regulatory changes and the legislature’s constitutional role. The first major bill discussed was H. 3324, concerning the former Christos site on Crescent Street in Brockton and a proposed transfer of state-owned land from DCAM. Representative Michelle DuBois, Representative Rita Mendes, Mayor Sullivan, the Metro South Chamber’s Chris Cooney, Catholic Charities’ Larry Mayne, and Brockton planning director Rob May all supported the bill, describing the parcel as long vacant and arguing it should be reused for a mixed-use project with Catholic Charities, including affordable/workforce housing, an early education center, food pantry, workforce development, and language classes. Several speakers said the project would help retain Catholic Charities in Brockton and bring tax revenue and community services. DuBois outlined expected amendments, including moving one parcel into a municipal sale partnership and changing a “shall” to “may” regarding a right-turn lane. Some members raised questions about whether a deed transfer to a nonprofit was preferable to a long-term lease and about affordability definitions, but the bill was generally supported. Representative Connolly then testified on two Cambridge bills: H. 3308, relating to the Riverside Boat Club and a reconfigured DCR parcel boundary to support a lease with no loss of public space, and H. 3309, which would facilitate access to justice by preserving consideration of a vacant former probate court site for future court use. Senator DiDomenico supported the Riverside Boat Club measure and the broader goal of restoring court access in Cambridge. Members discussed accessibility, possible future court configurations, and the site’s prior use as an emergency shelter. The committee then heard testimony on S. 2217/H. 2108 concerning Columbia Point and access around the UMass/Bayside area. Harbor Point residents, including Orlando Perrella, Michael Corcoran, Richard Fulham, and Miles Byrne, described severe traffic congestion, emergency-access concerns, and frustration with the UMass Building Authority’s handling of the site and prior community commitments. Senator Collins said the committee should consider seeking an SJC opinion, and possibly an Attorney General opinion, on Article 97 and public-access rights. After the in-person testimony concluded, the committee attempted to reach remaining virtual witnesses on S. 2217 but did not receive testimony. With no further witnesses, the committee adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:33.759><c> properties</c> value on all those vacant properties value on all those vacant properties
• </c> He said there is maybe a vacant or blighted property in your district, maybe a half-empty parking
• It is a shift in policy that incentivizes property owners to use or sell vacant or underutilized sites
• </c><00:25:25.559><c> properties</c> the land underneath on vacant properties the land underneath on
• vacant properties would<00:25:26.159><c> be</c><00:25:26.919><c> taxed</c><00:25:27.320><c> more</c><

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Fifty-two present, zero absent, zero excused, and one vacant.
• This amendment also addresses budgets, vacant positions, and reporting.
• And furthermore, as you sell that property, as you lease out that property, then that ratio increases
• So you lease out that property, then that ratio increases.
• The clerk is 32 ayes, 24 nays, three not voting, and one vacant.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's now look at the vacant positions.
• others have been vacant in excess of 2,000 days.
• So a lot of positions are vacant for a long time because they’re left vacant.
• So you have had several positions that have been vacant for over 1,000 days and one position vacant for
• So on the vacant positions that you have, is your agency using the salaries of those vacant positions

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency vacancy reports and agency-requested budget reductions, with Chair Lopez framing the discussion around stewardship of taxpayer dollars, agency efficiency, and whether long-vacant positions should be cut or repurposed. Members were given vacancy summaries and asked to focus on how agencies are functioning with current staffing, which positions are mission critical, and whether some vacancies reflect market pay issues, re-engineering of work, or true excess capacity. The chair also noted that agency heads had been asked to provide follow-up information on current openings, average vacancy duration, mission-critical roles, and reasons for vacancies. The Department of Revenue was the first major agency reviewed because it had the largest number of vacancies. Its leadership said vacancies had improved from pandemic-era highs due to market pay adjustments, but that some areas—especially general tax and audit—still had long-term openings. The department explained that some positions are intentionally frozen while work is restructured, that it hires above minimum salary in some cases to stay competitive, and that it is using automation and process changes to reduce backlogs. Members raised concerns about vacancies outside Leon County, out-of-state auditor positions, salary compression, and whether the department should provide a list of frozen positions and the salaries actually needed to recruit. The Department of Financial Services said its long vacancies were concentrated in risk management, law enforcement, and the general counsel’s office, where salaries and competition from private employers and other agencies make hiring difficult. DFS said it was using outside vendors in some areas, had reduced vacancies in its general counsel office significantly, and was willing to identify positions that could be cut, including some from treasury and OAT. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported progress in lowering vacancies through statewide recruiting, centralized legal hiring, automation in service operations, and leadership changes in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; it said one recommended cut could be achieved by combining two half-time positions. The Florida Lottery reported a low vacancy rate, said all positions were critical, and explained its longer onboarding time due to extensive background checks; members discussed sales reps, incentives, and the agency’s field-office structure. The Office of Financial Regulation said many of its vacancies were already in the hiring pipeline, with recent vacancies tied to promotions, a death, and internal moves, and noted that it often serves as a training ground for federal agencies. The Office of Insurance Regulation, which had a high vacancy rate concentrated in Leon County, said it had been reducing vacancies from a much higher level and was still working through hiring and administrative constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> multifamily and mixed use properties multifamily and mixed use properties across<00:14:10.160><c
• commercial properties.
• ><c> tax</c><00:15:22.360><c> impact</c><00:15:22.680><c> a</c> properties so the property tax impact
• These properties are challenging.
• These properties end up having to be torn down, and they become that vacant lot, that hole in a neighborhood

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Fifty-two present, zero absent, zero excused, and one vacant.
• This amendment also addresses budgets, vacant positions, and reporting.
• By your vote of 31 eyes, 25 nays, three not voting, and one vacant.
• And furthermore, as you sell that property, as you lease out that property, then that ratio increases
• So you lease out that property, then that ratio increases.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and a series of guest introductions, including the day’s Doctor of the Day and many school board members and students visiting for Arizona School Board Association Advocacy Day. Members repeatedly highlighted concerns about school facilities funding and welcomed local education leaders from across the state. The chamber then moved through attendance, committee assignments, and a large number of Senate and House bill readings and referrals. A major portion of the day was spent in Committee of the Whole considering numerous bills and amendments. Among the most notable was SCR 1054, a memorial resolution honoring former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, which was unanimously adopted after remarks praising his public service and consumer-protection work. The House also considered HB 2728 on Department of Economic Security continuation and policy changes; after divided-question debate and a recorded division vote, the amended bill received a do-pass recommendation by 32-25. Other bills receiving do-pass recommendations in committee included measures on school safety center funding and governance (HB 2142), school board training (HB 2379), HOA disclosure reforms (HB 2397), credit freezes for foster youth (HB 2321), and several health and human services and judiciary measures. The House then took up third-reading votes on several bills. HB 2053, appropriating money to the Department of Water Resources, passed 32-24; HB 2175, on sentencing, failed 25-31; HB 2327, on records confidentiality, passed 54-2; HB 2416, appropriating money to the Department of Public Safety, passed 33-23 after debate over immigration enforcement funding; HB 2492, relating to urban growth boundaries and initiative/referendum effects, failed 27-29; and HB 2805, making school board races partisan, passed 31-25 despite strong opposition from members who argued school boards should remain nonpartisan. The transcript ends with the House continuing through additional business and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have been vacant for at least 180 days.
• keeping our property tax oversight program going.
• As a business person, I'm trying to understand the vacant positions.
• You're funding them at the minimum if they're vacant.
• If you look at report 18, of the 22 vacant positions are in the Citizens Property Insurance Claims Dispute

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a really important bill to help vacant schools, vacant theaters, nonprofits, and large developments
• It is one of the amazing... ...and take all the property values down.
• A decade ago, my husband and I bought a vacant school building in my hometown.
• properties.
• Almost all of those have found a new use today. 30 vacant properties, almost all of those have found

Committee: House Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• One, they're taking vacant properties that are blighted out of communities and bringing those back as
• These vacant properties decrease values not only of that home, but of all the homes in the communities
• Louis last year indicated that they spent $20 million maintaining vacant properties.
• What I think people don't understand from a practical standpoint is a lot of these vacant properties
• Secondly, the... standpoint, a lot of these vacant properties aren't owned by somebody who you can kind

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2508, which would clarify that Missouri series LLCs may obtain standalone certificates of good standing from the Secretary of State and be individually listed on the Secretary of State’s website. Representative Chris Brown said the bill is intended to remove uncertainty created by a newer interpretation of the law and help Missouri businesses operate in other states. Committee members and witnesses from law and business groups generally supported the measure, emphasizing transparency, easier verification of entities, and reduced barriers to interstate business. No opposition was offered, and the hearing on HB 2508 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2517, which would require real estate wholesalers to provide a written disclosure before contracting with a seller, stating that they are acting as a wholesaler, do not represent the seller, may assign the contract, and encouraging the seller to seek legal counsel. Representative Brown described the bill as a consumer protection measure aimed at preventing deceptive practices that can harm distressed homeowners, seniors, heirs, and first-time sellers. Members raised questions about whether the disclosure should be more prominent and whether the bill would affect legitimate investors. Brown and several supporters said the bill targets bad actors without restricting legitimate transactions. Testimony on HB 2517 was mixed but broadly supportive of disclosure. The Missouri Association of Realtors, the Missouri Chamber, and several wholesalers and homebuyers supported the bill’s transparency requirements, while warning that overregulation could hurt the market for distressed and blighted properties. Supporters described wholesalers as important to moving off-market homes into the hands of rehabbers and argued that disclosure helps ensure sellers understand the transaction. One witness said the Senate companion bill had been amended to require disclosure 14 days before contracting and to make Attorney General enforcement discretionary, which would eliminate the fiscal note, though some witnesses said the 14-day requirement could burden sellers in urgent situations. The hearing on HB 2517 was then closed, with no votes taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This erodes private property rights by statutorily allowing nonprofit corporations to dictate real property
• The issue is... ...that are sitting vacant. And as you said, Mr.
• I've been approached by a homeowner in my district who has an R3 property.
• And on the property right now is a two-bedroom, one-bath.
• side of the property, or next door, I should say, is an eight-unit.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• One, they're taking vacant properties that are blighted out of communities and bringing those back as
• These vacant properties decrease values not only of that home, but of all the homes in the communities
• Louis last year indicated that they spent $20 million maintaining vacant properties.
• Also, these properties are the properties. wholesalers undertake.
• What I think people don't understand from a practical standpoint, a lot of these vacant properties aren't

Committees: House Economic Development , House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We can close that and sell off the property.
• to residential property.
• There is immense potential in the conversion of commercial property to residential property to add housing
• We're also hearing it from the commercial property broker saying, I'm literally sitting on a dozen properties
• that has commercial requirements for over 10 years, and even vacant commercial properties that could

Bills: SB5820 , SB5995 , SB5467

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: freight rail, rail corridor, short-line railroad, rail-dependent uses, industrial land use, growth management act, GMA, comprehensive plan, transportation element, land use planning, local government, county planning, city planning, critical areas, agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, urban growth area, development regulations, notice on permits

Transcript Highlights:

• In the end of the 80's, the Legislature gave us property tax oversight 160 people okay and property tax
• We have to fill a vacant positions as quickly as possible.
• So inclusion department is very focused on on filling our vacant positions, all of our vacant positions
• vacant as of July one.
• We have these 5 positions that are vacant.

Transcript Highlights:

• It ensures. ...buyers, and it will help prevent the units from sitting vacant.
• This erodes private property rights by statutorily allowing nonprofit corporations to dictate real property
• I've been approached by a homeowner in my district who has an R3 property.
• And on the property right now is a two-bedroom, one-bath.
• side of the property, or next door, I should say, is an eight unit.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development met first as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking, then later established quorum and heard five housing-related bills. AB 748 would require local governments to create preapproved housing plan programs for single-family and small multifamily projects under 10 units, expanding a model already used for ADUs; the author and Habitat for Humanity argued it would save time and money, and there was no opposition. The committee later passed AB 748 unanimously to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. AB 739 would require managing agents for common interest developments to provide HOAs a summary of fees charged and paid to management companies. Realtors and community managers supported the bill as a transparency measure, while the California Association of Community Managers initially opposed it but said it would remove opposition if committee amendments were adopted to avoid blanket mailings and cost increases. The committee adopted the amendments and passed AB 739 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 939 would remove the 180-day resale restriction for certain income-restricted for-sale units when a developer is under contract with a qualified nonprofit affordable housing organization, allowing units to be sold sooner to low-income buyers. Habitat for Humanity, the California Building Industry Association, and several housing groups supported the measure as a no-cost fix to reduce vacancy and carrying costs, while the California Association of Realtors opposed it, warning it could create a right of first refusal and set a precedent affecting property rights and competition. After discussion about the narrow scope and committee amendments, the bill passed 6-1 to Appropriations. AB 1070 would direct the state to study and potentially modernize building code treatment for small, middle-housing projects so that low-rise buildings with three to ten units could be regulated more like residential structures rather than commercial ones. Supporters said the current code makes small multifamily projects unnecessarily expensive and that other states have adopted similar approaches; there was no opposition. The committee passed AB 1070 unanimously to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1184, by the vice chair, would increase HOA transparency and resident access to records, including recordings of HOA meetings; it had no witnesses in opposition and passed 8-0 as amended to Appropriations. After the meeting, absent members later added votes, and the final recorded votes were 10-1 for AB 939, 11-0 for AB 1070 and AB 1184, and unanimous support for AB 739 and AB 748.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we have a large number of vacant properties in the city of St.
• I mean, we have a large number of vacant properties in the city of St.
• that are vacant.
• to securing and stabilizing their vacant buildings. but Building up properties that are vacant.
• Thank you. building up properties that are that are vacant.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 982. Members adopted a House committee substitute that updated the bill to reflect recently enacted sex offense classifications and added language related to sexual violent predator civil commitment, including permission for the Department of Mental Health to contract with the Department of Corrections for housing. After questions about the civil commitment process and registry-related provisions, the committee adopted two House committee amendments, rolled them into the substitute, and voted the bill do pass by a vote of 14 aye, 1 no, and 1 present. The committee then approved House Bill 3414 by a vote of 12 yes, 1 no, and 3 present. Next, it considered a combined substitute for House Bills 3434, 3460, and 2628, which dealt with emergency contraception and related health care facility language. Members discussed whether the substitute should include religious objection protections and whether the facility definition was broad enough for rural clinics. After adopting an amendment clarifying that emergency contraception does not include medication approved to terminate a pregnancy, the committee adopted the substitute and voted the combined bills do pass by 11 aye, 4 no, and 1 present. In public hearing, the committee heard Senate Joint Resolution 87, which would place the election of sheriffs in the Missouri Constitution and preserve local election of sheriffs, with carve-outs for St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jackson County, and the City of St. Louis. The sponsor and supporting witnesses argued it would protect local control and accountability, while members asked about removal procedures and the role of the Attorney General versus local prosecutors. Supporters, including the Osage County sheriff and the interim sheriff of the City of St. Louis, testified in favor; no opposition testified. The committee also heard House Bills 1868 and 3257, identical bills creating an offense for impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders after an oral warning to stay back. Sponsors said the measure was intended to protect officers, EMS, firefighters, and others from interference at scenes, and supporters from ambulance, physician, and fire service groups backed the bill, with a suggested cleanup to remove the outdated term “ambulance driver.” Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3017, which would create the offense of permitting a public nuisance on property after repeated documented complaints and allow authorities to secure or board up nuisance properties. The sponsor and Kansas City police supported it as a tool for public safety, while members raised concerns about landlord liability, due process, and whether the felony penalty and boarding costs were too burdensome; Kansas City police testified in support and no opposition was heard.