Video & Transcript : 'rules reform' :
Page 54 of 500
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I move that the rules be waived and C.S. for H.B. 697, be read that the rules be waived and C.S. for
- That the rules be waived.
- I move that the rules be waived, and C.S. for C.S.
- Literally a couple of years ago, when we were talking about tort reform, we still brag about tort reform
- Now, that's not tort reform.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for two fallen service members, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and several recognitions, including law enforcement officers and visiting students and advocates. Members then adopted the special order report and moved into the special-order calendar. The first major item was HB 7031, the annual tax package, which was explained as a broad measure covering sales tax holidays, property tax changes, tax credits, pari-mutuel tax reductions, vacation-rental tax collection, and decoupling from federal tax changes. Members asked about the fiscal impact of decoupling and the firearm-accessories holiday; supporters emphasized fiscal caution and the package’s mix of consumer and housing provisions, while opponents objected to the gun-related tax holiday. The bill passed 105-2.
The House then passed CS/CS/CS HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations 107-0, with supporters saying it would strengthen Florida’s competitiveness in commercial aerospace. CS for SB 246 on specialty license plates also passed unanimously after a strike-all amendment that added several new plates, revised the Fraternal Order of Police plate, and tightened specialty-plate financial and nonprofit requirements. CS HB 697 on drug prices and coverage passed 100-0 after supporters said it built on prior PBM reforms by requiring fairer pharmacy reimbursement and limiting forced losses on drugs. CS/CS HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation passed 109-0 after an amendment clarifying fingerprinting requirements, and CS/CS HB 527 on insurance claim denials passed 100-0 with a requirement for human review before claims are denied or reduced solely by AI.
The House also passed CS HB 1449 on the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program 100-0 after narrowing the bill to out-of-network emergency services and claims at or below $50,000. CS HB 93 on protection from surgical smoke passed 178-0 after extensive emotional debate, with supporters describing it as a long-sought patient and worker safety measure requiring smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers. Later, CS HB 1217 on prohibited governmental greenhouse-gas policies passed 29-0 after questions clarified that it would bar net-zero policies and related funding arrangements but not general energy efficiency or incidental emissions reductions; opponents argued it would preempt local climate and resilience efforts, while supporters said it protected energy reliability and affordability. The House then began debate on CS/CS HB 1461 on advanced nuclear reactors, with sponsors describing a framework for licensing and oversight of small modular and microreactors and supporters arguing it would help meet future energy demand and improve reliability.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- We don't need to fix bail reform because we know that when bail reform went into effect, there were a
- We don't need to fix bail reform because we know that when bail reform went into effect, there were a
- 00.799><c> that</c> fix bail reform because we know that fix bail reform because we know that when<01
- </c><01:12:55.679><c> Bill</c> under the bipartisan bail Reform Bill under the bipartisan bail Reform
- </c> number two gets two stab wounds the rule number two gets two stab wounds the rule on<01:21:19.920
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> to rule 40.7. to rule 40.7.
- </c> pursuant to rule 40.7. Thank you, Mr. pursuant to rule 40.7. Thank you, Mr.
- </c> vote those voting pursuant to rule 40.7. vote those voting pursuant to rule 40.7.
- </c> pursuant to rule 40.7. Thank you, Mr. pursuant to rule 40.7. Thank you, Mr.
- I'll wait. pursuant to rule 40.7. pursuant to rule 40.7.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Additional comments will be ruled out of order.
- Violations of these rules may subject you to removal or other enforcement actions.
- I believe that voters, if this legislature fails to act on common sense election integrity reforms, I
- These are not abstract rules.
- It simply reinforces the rules we already have and ensures the integrity of California's ballot.
Committee:
House Elections
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 1758 will enact five reforms.
- Under Rule 2.394 and the Germanity standards outlined in the Senate's rules, Amendment 802-316 is out
- And I'm not saying that it can't be reformed.
- What is the point of the rules? Someone please tell me why.
- What's the point of the rules if we're not going to follow them?
Bills:
S0006 , S0026 , S0206 , S0532 , S0576 , S1012 , S1110 , S1178 , S1192 , S1758 , S1760 , S7046 , S7048
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee met and considered a large agenda of bills, reporting several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and the estate of Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, which was approved for $3.8 million. The committee also passed a cybersecurity internships bill creating a Department of Commerce program with Cyber Florida, and SB 532, which lets clerks of court retain the full amount of certain excess revenue and clarifies foreclosure-sale procedures. Veterans housing measures, CS for CS for SB 1602 and SB 1604, were approved to create a pilot program and a related trust fund for vacancy relief and risk mitigation for veteran housing. The committee also favorably reported SB 1110 on Medicaid and insurance coverage for orthotics and prosthetics, with emotional testimony from a student and family describing the high cost and importance of activity-specific prosthetics.
Members also approved CS for CS for SB 1012 after adopting an amendment that removed inmate emergency and specialty medical service compensation provisions while retaining changes to the contractor-operated institutions inmate welfare trust fund. Another bill, CS for CS for SB 1614, was narrowed by a delete-all amendment to focus on limiting the use of excess fees for new building construction by local governments. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate, with some support testimony submitted in writing or waived.
The most extensive discussion centered on CS for CS for SB 17, a major Medicaid and public assistance overhaul. The bill would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Oversight, allow the Legislature to retain its own actuary, tighten Medicaid program oversight, update encounter-data reporting, set performance standards for managed care plans, revise pharmacy benefit manager rules, and require DCF to implement SNAP fraud-reduction and payment-accuracy reforms, including photo IDs on EBT cards and updated work requirements. It also would direct agencies to seek federal waivers for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and expanded behavioral health services. After lengthy questioning and testimony, the committee adopted amendments adding a transitional medical benefits glide path for people who gain employment and later lose Medicaid eligibility, and exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would improve accountability, reduce fraud, and save money, while opponents warned it would create administrative burdens, increase paperwork, and cause eligible people to lose coverage or food assistance. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably as amended.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- The Committee on Rules recommends the following bills are proper for consideration.
- The Committee on Rules recommends the following bills are proper for consideration.
- I know on the House side, at least, for reform.
- I know in the House side at least for reform.
- And also, On the need for reform and creating our rural groundwater management act.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and several guest recognitions, including a student honored for a national Mandarin speech contest, a Ms. Black Arizona candidate, and a Madison Elementary School reusable-tray pilot program. The body also recognized interns and approved the prior journal. The chamber then moved through Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted committee reports recommending passage of a series of budget-related bills.
The main legislative business centered on the 2026-27 budget package and related omnibus measures, including appropriations, budget implementation, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, K-12 education, state property, revenue/taxation, and transportation bills. Most of these measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, with repeated debate focused on the tax omnibus and the overall budget’s policy choices. Supporters argued the package provided affordability, tax relief, conformity with federal tax changes, reduced government spending, and reforms to entitlement and other programs; opponents argued it favored corporations and wealthy taxpayers, cut health care, food assistance, housing, tourism, wildfire response, and education, and would forfeit federal matching funds.
Several members specifically criticized the failure to close the data center tax exemption and to raise sports betting taxes, while supporters defended those provisions as pro-business and pro-growth. There was also discussion of fund sweeps, including university research funds, housing trust funds, and other agency balances, with opponents saying the sweeps targeted encumbered or already-committed money. After debate, the Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and advanced the bills, and later took up House bills introduced and placed on third reading, with members explaining their votes on HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act, largely along party lines.
At the end of the session, the Senate processed messages from the House requesting the return of SB 1160 and SB 1786 for reconsideration, and the Senate requested the House return HB 2415 for reconsideration. The chamber also introduced and placed several House budget bills on third reading, including HB 4138 through HB 4153, continuing the budget process.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Thirty Seven - Thursday, March 12
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- There's some conditional release reform, time served credits, and again reform on some other criminal
- There's some conditional release reform, time served credits, and again reform on some other criminal
- In Rules, we kept it open. We kept our Rules session open so it could come over. We waited.
- The point of this is that this is not criminal justice reform.
- Members of... ...this system needs reform.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- Can you please offer us a motion to suspend rules to take up House Bill 211 off the notice calendar take
- >> Madam Speaker, I make a motion to suspend rules in order to take up H. 211 for immediate consideration
- off the notice calendar. >> The member from Poultney moves that we suspend our rules to take up House
- Bill 211 suspend our rules to take up House Bill 211 off the notice calendar for immediate consideration
- Member from Poultney, can you please offer us a motion to suspend rules to take up House Bill 955 for
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Dec 18th, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Those are all in your public education reform fund, non-recurring section.
- And so you're going to see on line 87 what says Public Education Reform Fund, 52.2 million.
- That's actually money from the general fund to go into the Public Education Reform Fund.
- That's the overall purpose of the Public Education Reform Fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And Mr.
- It's actually in rule.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- F, as we do the work of the state of Florida, dealing with a very important issue of property tax reform
- They deserve reform where reform is needed. But this bill is not reform.
- And I don't know why the concept of home rule has gotten so overruled and become such a...
- Additionally, this bill takes an additional step at property tax reform.
- Madam Rules Chair, you... Madam Rules Chair, you are recognized for a motion. Thank you, Mr.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Scott Kupor, of California, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and Eric Matthew Ueland, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. Apr 3rd, 2025 at 08:30 am
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- This means that hundreds of thousands of bureaucrats writing rules, managing programs and often dodging
- accountability are sheltered by a system that protects performance mediocrity and resists reform.
- Past administrations have pursued reforms.
- will change under your leadership and how you will work with Congress and this committee to pursue reform
- Reforms in a thoughtful and collaborative manner and I look forward to having a productive discussion
Keywords:
nominations, Scott Cooper, Eric Ulan, federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, accountability, collective bargaining
Summary:
The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Labor and Industrial Relations May 13th, 2026
Labor & Industrial Relations
Transcript Highlights:
- But, like, just kind of a recap of what this overall omnibus reformation does.
- Since the question was brought up, I do rule that these are germane.
- So I will rule that they are germane to the argument here. Okay.
- We had a major workers' comp reform that year under Governor Treen.
- But it has to do with this all-encompassing reformation that we're kind of talking about.
Committee:
House Labor & Industrial Relations
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a workers’ compensation overhaul creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and setting up confidentiality, rulemaking, and penalties. Senator Myers said the bill was meant to modernize a paper-based system, speed injured workers back to care and work, reduce disputes through a more predictable fee schedule, address outliers and abuse, and generate reliable data for future fee-schedule decisions. Representative Melarine then offered a large amendment package combining portions of House Bills 780 and 1101 into SB 408, adding preliminary-determination procedures, changes to benefit durations, fraud language, and a deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached. Supporters said the package would create a more complete reform; opponents argued the additions were rushed, not germane, and would harm injured workers, especially those without lawyers, by adding technical filing burdens and stricter fraud consequences. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment package, then adopted a follow-up amendment removing the word “potential” from a fines provision and deleting the fraud section, and finally reported SB 408 with amendments on a divided vote.
Testimony on SB 408 was sharply split. Proponents, including Alton Ashy and Trey Mustian, argued the bill’s transparency and data-collection provisions were the most important part, that the system needs a modern fee schedule, and that the added reforms would help control costs and speed payment. Opponents, including Shannon Lindsay and another injured-worker advocate, said the original bill was a good compromise but the added provisions changed its character and would disadvantage pro se claimants, remove materiality from fraud law, and reduce benefits for seriously injured workers. Committee members also questioned the timeline for the database and fee schedule, the effect of historical data gaps, and whether the reforms would help employers and injured workers alike. The committee ultimately agreed the bill still contained its core goals of faster care, predictable fees, anti-abuse measures, and modernization.
The committee then moved to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, a workplace-violence/safety measure for small-box discount retailers. Chasson explained that the bill had been narrowed to require retailers to submit an existing written workforce safety plan, or develop one if they do not already have one, with no penalties attached. The committee adopted a substitute bill incorporating prior amendments. Representative Glorioso noted continuing concerns about civil-liability implications and the duty to protect against third-party criminal acts, but the bill was advanced from committee after the substitute was adopted.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Insurance Committee Apr 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Underinsurance has become the rule, not the exception. Replacement cost estimates are outdated.
- So I’m in with claim reform.
- But you need to submit your rate file so that you are now subject to these new rules, right?
- But this is the consumer portion of these reforms.
- Any attempt to reform Proposition 103 is probably doomed to failure.
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 1315, the “Drive My Car Act,” from Senator Cabaldon. The author explained that the bill was intended to address the overlap between autonomous features and human driving, with a focus on preventing software updates from disabling a purchaser’s ability to drive a vehicle they bought for that purpose. He said the bill would be redirected to the Transportation Committee and amended to remove insurance provisions. Members broadly supported the concept as a forward-looking issue, and the committee voted due pass to Transportation on a roll call vote, with the bill held on call until all members were recorded.
The committee then took up SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, presented by the Insurance Commissioner and the committee chair. The bill would make a broad set of changes to disaster claims handling and coverage after declared wildfires, including stronger replacement-cost and contents coverage, higher additional living expense limits, building code upgrade coverage, faster claim payment timelines, adjuster status updates, insurer emergency response plans, and stronger penalties and restitution for unfair claims practices. Supporters, including United Policyholders, California Environmental Voters, the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, AARP California, and the Consumer Federation of California, said the measure would help wildfire survivors avoid underinsurance, delays, and repeated trauma in the claims process.
Opposition came from insurance industry and related groups, including APCIA, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies, the Civil Justice Association of California, and the California Building Industry Association. They argued the bill remained too broad even after amendments, would raise premiums, increase claim severity, reduce flexibility, and potentially worsen availability in an already fragile market. Committee members questioned several provisions, especially the cost and feasibility of mandatory coverage expansions and faster timelines. The commissioner and author said the bill was about disaster recovery rather than rates, that many provisions were optional or limited to declared disasters, and that any cost impacts could be reflected in future rate filings. The committee ultimately passed SB 876 as amended to Judiciary on a due pass vote, with one member absent and the bill held open briefly for additional votes.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Underinsurance has become the rule, not the exception. Replacement cost estimates are outdated.
- So I'm in with claim reform.
- But you need to submit your rate file so that you are now subject to these new rules, right?
- But this is the consumer portion of these reforms.
- Any attempt to reform Proposition 103 is probably doomed to failure. ...to reform Proposition 103 is
Committee:
Senate Insurance
PA
Transcript Highlights:
- It replicates Act 110 of 2012, and powers state and local law enforcement to enforce the rules related
- Chair, there will be a brief Rules Committee meeting in the Majority Caucus Room.
- Representative Bradford, Chair of the Committee on Rules, reports the following bills: House Bill 482
- Madam Speaker, there will be an immediate meeting of the House Rules Committee in the majority caucus
- The House will be at ease for the purpose of an immediate meeting of the Rules Committee.
Summary:
The House met in extended session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and a series of journal, committee, and Senate bill reports. Members also received several referrals and Senate messages, and the Speaker signed multiple bills already prepared for the Governor. The chamber then took up a long slate of measures, largely budget-related and conference/concurrence items, with repeated roll-call votes and several brief floor remarks for and against the bills.
Among the major actions, the House passed or concurred in a number of Senate bills addressing fiscal code and budget implementation, abusive towing practices, telemarketing robocalls and caller ID spoofing, prostitution penalty changes, veteran notification procedures, the cosmetology licensure compact, solar decommissioning, Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, E85 flex fuel definitions, local road transfers, civil penalties for unlicensed commercial driving schools, and trailer sales. The House also adopted House Resolution 580 designating July 18, 2026, as Piping Plover Day. Most of these measures passed overwhelmingly, many by unanimous or near-unanimous votes.
The most significant debate centered on House Bill 2400, the General Appropriations budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, and House Bill 1505, the education-related budget implementation bill. Supporters described the budget as a bipartisan compromise that funds adequacy and tax equity for schools, public safety, mental health, roads and bridges, veterans, seniors, and workforce programs while avoiding broad-based tax increases. Opponents argued the budget used accounting maneuvers, deferred spending, and was structurally unbalanced. After extended debate, the House concurred in the Senate amendments to HB 2400 by a 167-35 vote and to HB 1505 by a 172-30 vote.
The House also considered House Bill 2559, which included Commonwealth property conveyances and a controversial provision affecting Penn State branch campus properties. A motion to recommit the bill failed, and the House ultimately concurred in the Senate amendments by a 105-97 vote after members debated property rights, labor effects, and the future use of the campuses. The session concluded with the Senate later concurring in several House amendments, the Speaker signing the final bills, and the House adjourning until September 9, 2026, unless recalled sooner.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 97 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Warnes-August moved suspension of the rules. The rules are suspended.
- Padger of Plymouth moved suspension of Rule 7A. Mr. Padger of Plymouth moved suspension of Rule 7A.
- Rule 7A is suspended.
- Audit and Rules.
- Rules are suspended.
Summary:
The House opened with ceremonial business, including adoption of resolutions recognizing the Copernicus Institute and honoring October 2025 as Polish American Heritage Month. Members also concurred in Senate petitions and suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several new petitions to be referred, including proposals on employer notice of I-9 records, Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, a sick leave bank for a trial court employee, and the purchase or lease of Fenn Farm. The chamber then advanced several local and administrative bills, including legislation authorizing MassDOT to convey land in Stoneham and bills on child welfare protections, transit-worker assault penalties, and other local matters.
The most substantial debate centered on House No. 4645, a substitute bill addressing assault and battery on transit workers. Supporters argued that transit employees face rising violence and deserve protections similar to other public employees, citing MBTA assault statistics and testimony from workers describing threats, spitting, weapons, and serious injuries. The House accepted the substitute bill and passed it to be engrossed by roll call, 116-0. The chamber also passed to be engrossed a child welfare bill, House No. 4644, after debate on expanded DCF reporting, discharge planning, the independence of the Office of the Child Advocate, education coordination for children in care, and child fatality review reforms; amendments were adopted, including one adding a Department of Social Services social worker to the fatality review team and another creating a commission to study a digital education portfolio for foster youth.
The House also adopted an emergency preamble for a bonds bill and passed several engrossed local bills, including measures affecting Hull, Lanesborough, and Norton. The session included a formal visit from a Hokkaido, Japan delegation marking the 35th anniversary of the Massachusetts-Hokkaido sister-state relationship, with remarks entered into the Journal. Members observed moments of silence for Bernard Fang and former Representative Thomas George, and the House later adopted a special adjournment in memory of Mark Haren before adjourning to meet the next day.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- We have H. 519 being on the calendar for notice and carrying an appropriation under Rule 31 is referred
- </c><00:06:28.320><c> 31</c> carrying an appropriation under rule 31 carrying an appropriation under
- procedure, Rule 32.
- of criminal procedure believe the rules of criminal procedure rule<00:17:33.760><c> 32.
- </c> rule 32. rule 32.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I also want to call attention to the previous bill you passed last year, the Recycling Reform Act
- A lot of reforms at the federal level to make sure that open access to the grid does happen.
- And then there was, for the transmission system, a very recent major connection reform in 2023.
- And so implementation around the states really depends on state-level rules.
- Them according to their own state rules. So let me pause there.
Summary:
The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee held public hearings on two producer-responsibility bills and then a work session on consumer electrical equipment. On SB 6271, which would create an extended producer responsibility program for mattresses, staff explained the bill’s requirements for a producer responsibility organization, collection and recycling targets, reporting, and enforcement. Senator Hunt said the measure would reduce landfill burden and illegal dumping while creating recycling jobs. Local governments, a recycler, and environmental advocates testified in support, citing landfill capacity concerns, high disposal costs, and the potential to recover most mattress materials. Retail and industry groups said they support the goal but opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it differs from existing state models and could create unnecessary cost and administrative burden. The hearing closed with 459 signed in support and 172 opposed.
The committee then heard SB 6174, a proposed substitute on textile producer responsibility that would first require a needs assessment and the creation of a coordinating organization. Supporters, including the sponsor, environmental advocates, Seattle Public Utilities, and a student testifier, described textiles as a fast-growing waste stream with major landfill, pollution, and global labor impacts, and said the needs assessment is an important first step. Opponents from retail, business, apparel, and hospitality groups said they support continued stakeholder work and the needs assessment concept, but raised concerns that the bill still presumes a future EPR program, could impose fees and penalties, and may sweep in retailers and company uniforms in ways that create burdens for small businesses. The hearing closed with 1,253 signed in support and 364 opposed.
In the work session, Jeremiah Miller of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory briefed the committee on codes and standards for grid-connected and portable solar equipment. He explained how the National Electrical Code, UL certification standards, and IEEE interconnection standards work together, and described newer supplemental standards such as UL 3141 for power control systems and UL 3700 for portable or plug-in solar. Members asked about safety, certification timing, and how Washington could allow these products while ensuring proper installation and consumer protection. Miller said UL 3700 is very new and not yet widely certified in the market, but that the current code framework can accommodate certified products while standards continue to evolve. The committee took no votes and adjourned after the work session.
MI
Transcript Highlights:
- President, I move the rules be suspended, allowing for the immediate consideration of Senate Concurrent
- He also led an effort to reform the friend of the court system, chairing a subcommittee that studied
- The rules have been suspended to allow for immediate consideration of the resolution.
- The rules have been suspended to allow for immediate consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution 13
- President, I move the rules be suspended to allow for the immediate consideration of Senate Concurrent
Summary:
The Senate convened with 30 members present, heard the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, and approved several temporary excusals. The chamber received gubernatorial appointments to multiple boards and commissions, then recessed and later took up resolutions and legislation. It adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, a tribute memorializing former Senator and Representative Robert Geake, after remarks honoring his long legislative career and public service; the resolution was adopted and all members and the Lieutenant Governor were added as co-sponsors.
The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which approved an extension of a state of emergency related to gasoline prices through Labor Day. Senator Camilleri argued the extension would help lower fuel costs for residents, while Senator McBroom later criticized the resolution as political theater and urged action on substantive energy legislation, including a pending Upper Peninsula-related bill. The resolution passed by roll call, 36-1.
In floor action, the Senate introduced and referred several bills, including measures on the Income Tax Act, Michigan Trust Fund Act, road classification, the Food Law, Motor Fuels Quality Act, and automated decision tools in employment. The chamber then passed three bills on third reading: Senate Bill 480 on child care organization licensing and regulation, Senate Bill 517 amending the Revised School Code, and Senate Bill 278 amending the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966. The Senate adjourned after statements and a final motion to adjourn until June 25 at 10 a.m.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Ways and Means Mar 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We made changes in every taxing area except for one, and that was reforming our outdated and cumbersome
- Each with their own rules, each with their own interpretation of what's taxed and what is exempt, each
- There are dozens of independent local taxing authority, non-uniform rules, exemptions, and enforcement
- To pay for the 2024 reforms, the statewide sales tax rate was increased without meaningfully expanding
- We want to see these new reforms that we've passed, the rates play out another year or so.
Summary:
The committee first took up HB 620, a constitutional amendment and companion legislation to centralize collection of state and local sales taxes. The author and supporters from the Tax Foundation, COST, NFIB, and LABI argued that Louisiana’s decentralized system creates high compliance costs, inconsistent administration, and lost revenue, especially for small businesses and out-of-state sellers. Several members raised concerns about the recent rollout of the hybrid e-file system, the effect on local cash flow and auditability, and whether the state could implement a fully centralized system without disrupting parish and municipal revenues. The author ultimately agreed to voluntarily defer HB 620 and its companion HB 658 so the committee could see how the current system performs and continue working with local stakeholders.
The committee then heard HB 898, which would dedicate a portion of surplus revenue to reducing and eventually eliminating the state income tax. The author described it as a gradual, revenue-triggered approach to tax elimination, while another member suggested pairing it with reductions in tax exemptions and credits. The bill was voluntarily deferred for future consideration.
Next, the committee considered HB 217 and HB 214, a bill and constitutional amendment creating an optional property tax exemption for rehabilitated blighted or derelict properties. Support came from local government and law enforcement groups, who said the measure would give parishes and municipalities a tool to encourage redevelopment and reduce blight. Members discussed safeguards, including local option, whether the exemption should follow the property for 20 years, and whether a step-down at the end of the exemption period should be considered. HB 217 was reported favorably as amended, and HB 214 was also reported favorably.
The committee also advanced HB 514 and HB 561, both by Rep. Farnum, which expand property tax relief for seniors and certain trusts. HB 514 creates an optional additional ad valorem tax exemption for homeowners age 65 and older, and HB 561 extends eligibility to certain trusts when the qualifying owner occupies the home. Both measures were described as local-option tools to help seniors remain in their homes, and both were reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 812, by the vice chair, was heard to allow limited annual compensation increases for parish assessors. Assessor representatives said their duties have expanded and their pay has fallen behind clerks of court; members questioned the lack of direct local voter input, but the bill was presented as optional and funded locally, with discussion of transparency and a possible task force to coordinate future compensation policy.