Video & Transcript : 'county excise tax' :
Page 61 of 500
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- General excise tax is up 7.3%, and individual income tax is up 2.2%. a 2024 estate tax payment is um
- General<00:08:27.120><c> excise</c><00:08:27.680><c> tax</c><00:08:28.000><c> is</c><00:08:28.319><c>
- up</c><00:08:28.639><c> 7.3%</c><00:08:29.919><c> and</c> General excise tax is up 7.3% and General
- excise tax is up 7.3% and individual<00:08:30.960><c> income</c><00:08:31.520><c> tax</c><00:08:31.840
- </c><01:44:24.400><c> tax</c><01:44:24.719><c> collections</c> and general excise tax collections and
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Judiciary Committee Apr 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- , and federal excise tax imposed on the Internal Revenue Code.
- So federal excise tax and North Dakota state tax, which amounts to about 10%, is taken out in taxes.
- So federal excise tax and North Dakota state tax, which amounts to about 10% is taken out in taxes.
- For those defendants in Burke County versus Burleigh County or another smaller populated county, there's
- For those defendants in Burke County versus Burleigh County or another smaller populated county, there's
Summary:
The Judiciary Interim Committee met to begin its study of charitable gaming and the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations, a study directed by Senate Bill 2334. Legislative Council gave an overview of the constitutional and statutory framework for charitable gaming, site authorizations, rent limits, proceeds, and recent legislative changes. The Attorney General’s Gaming Division then clarified the financial flow of gaming, explaining that in fiscal year 2025 North Dakota had about $2.5 billion in gross gaming proceeds, with roughly 88-90% paid back in prizes and about $256 million available to organizations after taxes; most of that activity came from electronic pull tabs. Members asked for more detail on winnings, replays, rent, and the breakdown of manufacturer/distributor revenues, and the AG’s office agreed to provide supplemental information.
The committee also heard from the League of Cities and the Association of Counties about local site authorization. Cities said they have a limited role in approving gaming sites, can adopt policies after public hearing, may charge up to $100, and can set certain conditions, including local nexus requirements, but cannot require donations or force a specific charity or site. The League said it had worked with stakeholders on a model policy to provide more consistency, though members raised concerns that local requirements could become too restrictive for charities serving broader areas. Counties said the issue is mostly a city matter, with little county involvement beyond minimal site fees and general site approval.
The North Dakota Gaming Alliance testified in support of the study and provided IRS-related material suggesting charities may use asset diversification, while emphasizing it had not taken a position on whether charities should own bars. Members questioned whether bar ownership is being used for site stability or to channel charitable gaming dollars, and whether city policies might disadvantage charities with broader missions. The committee also discussed the relationship between gaming organizations, manufacturers, and distributors, including restrictions on incentives and interference, and asked for more information on those entities and their ownership. Later in the meeting, the Racing Commission gave its regular update on live racing, pari-mutuel wagering, ADW providers, purse and promotion funds, a new TRPB contract, and concerns about cease-and-desist actions from other states. Finally, the State Hospital superintendent briefly reported on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s support services, including the SORT team, training, and security assistance for the hospital campus.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Judiciary Committee in Session Mar 11th, 2026 at 03:59 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- “What I’m going after is that we had legislation a couple years back where we got rid of the excise tax
- When there was an excise tax, I’m sure it’s in a taxation section of code that I can help you find later
- I know that we have the prosecutor from Mongeley County, Montegaly County, who has appeared before us
- live in Grant County or somewhere like that.
- County, there's a little more of a media presence.
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and then took up House Bill 4852, a strike-and-insert bill revising West Virginia’s food additive restrictions. Counsel explained that it moved the existing additive list into a new code section, kept the 2028 effective date, added exceptions for dietary supplements, alcoholic liquor, non-intoxicating beer, and small sellers under $5,000 per month, and created civil penalties for knowing violations. Testimony split between industry witnesses, who argued the bill and last year’s law would raise costs, burden interstate commerce, and conflict with federal regulation, and advocates who said the law is already prompting companies to reformulate and that the bill clarifies vague language tied to a federal injunction. Several amendments were offered to tie the law to FDA action or exempt soda, pepperoni rolls, frozen confections, and snack foods; some were adopted and others failed. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment as amended and reported HB 4852 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation.
The committee next considered House Bill 5484, which creates felony offenses for interfering with a victim’s access to medical treatment or forensic care related to a sexual offense, or for forcing a victim of a sexual offense who becomes pregnant to have an illegal abortion, along with a conspiracy offense. Counsel said the strike-and-insert added clarifying language and definitions. Members raised concerns that the conspiracy language could be read to include the victim herself, and the bill sponsor said the intent was to target traffickers and abusers who keep victims from medical care and force abortions outside medical facilities. An amendment was adopted clarifying that nothing in the subsection imposes criminal liability on the victim of the sexual offense. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported HB 5484 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and adopted a title amendment.
The final bill discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 4468, which narrows confidentiality protections for victims in criminal complaints by limiting redaction to names and addresses, while still allowing disclosure to other governmental entities and permitting victims to request redaction of addresses from appellate decisions after July 1, 2026. Counsel said the bill would replace broader existing confidentiality language and remove provisions allowing disclosure upon a showing of justice or by subpoena. Members questioned whether the change would weaken victim privacy protections, noting that identifying information can include much more than names and addresses. The committee then began hearing testimony from a county prosecutor on the bill, but the excerpt ends before any vote or final action on HB 4468.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- , and imposes a sales and use tax of 1.4%. ...of King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties, and imposes a
- sales and use tax of 1.4%, an annual 1.1% motor vehicle excise tax, an annual 25% per thousand dollars
- That's the biggest investment in our county.
- County residents.
- I just checked my property tax statement.
Bills:
SB6148
Committee:
House Transportation
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 16th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We've talked before about schools having a 12% cap on new money and with our taxes and that stuff.
- Madam President, the Senate Finance and Tax Committee voted 6-0 on a due pass recommendation.
- Madam President, the Senate Finance and Tax Committee voted 6-0 on a due pass recommendation.
- tax if they were to buy a new fire truck.
- Fire departments from paying the motor vehicle excise tax if they were to buy a new fire truck.
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge, a quorum call, and approval of journal corrections. It then handled several House messages, appointing conference committees on Senate Bills 2004 and 2006 and House Bills 1018, 1019, and 1363, and re-referring House Bill 1216 to Appropriations. The chamber also adopted amendments to House Bill 1601, which would have expanded special assistant attorney general authority for certain offices, but the bill failed on final passage after strong opposition centered on preserving the Attorney General’s control and avoiding a solution in search of a problem.
A major portion of the day focused on education funding. House Bill 1369 was amended to raise per-pupil aid from 2% and 2% to 3% and 3% and to increase the school construction loan transfer from $75 million to $100 million; supporters said this would help local schools and military base projects, while opponents raised questions about special education placement language and state coordination. The bill passed 44-3. House Bill 1013, the DPI budget, was also amended extensively to adjust staffing, funding sources, grants, meal assistance, teacher training, and other education programs; it passed 45-2. House Bill 2234, dealing with Choice Ready grants, was amended to shift funding away from general funds and toward federal or other sources, but then failed on final passage after the sponsor urged a red vote.
The Senate also approved House Bill 1482, restricting bond and indebtedness elections for counties, cities, school districts, and park districts to primary or general election days, and House Bill 1332, creating a value-added agriculture facility incentive program with an emergency clause. House Bill 1010, the Insurance Department budget, passed unanimously after amendments reflecting the merger of the Securities Department into Insurance and adding staff and fee changes, while House Bill 1011, the separate Securities Department budget, failed because its funding was already included in HB 1010. House Bill 1584, a major pharmacy benefit manager reform bill, passed with an enforcement fund and new licensing/enforcement structure despite debate over ERISA and market transparency.
In other action, the Senate concurred in House amendments and passed Senate Bills 2226, 2230, 2069, 2082, 2387, 2385, and 2186, with SB 2186 on parenting time interference and a child custody task force passing 27-20 after debate over whether the issue should be left to the courts. Senate Bill 2234, on Choice Ready grants, and Senate Bill 2243, on driver’s license points and traffic penalties, both failed after concurrence motions were adopted but final passage votes were overwhelmingly negative. The chamber also advanced Senate Bill 2291 to conference committee consideration near the end of the transcript.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Legislative Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- By having a sales tax—no sales tax—I think that's a very fair way to go.
- I think the opportunity you have in terms of maybe giving a little bit of a break, limit excise tax of
- some sort, offers the opportunity A break, limit, excise tax of some sort, offers the opportunity for
- We also, in that case, offered a tax incentive, which I don’t support.
- I don’t support a tax incentive.
Summary:
The Special Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology met to review its work on intentional microstamping and personalized firearms and to discuss draft recommendations for a final report. The co-chairs summarized testimony received from manufacturers, advocates, law enforcement, and officials from New Jersey, New York, and California. For microstamping, the discussion focused on how the technology could help trace spent casings, its limits in forensic use, and concerns about wear, tampering, implementation costs, and whether it would burden lawful gun owners. For personalized firearms, members reviewed testimony about biometric smart guns, their current commercial availability, higher cost, and potential benefits for preventing accidental shootings and unauthorized use, especially involving children and suicide prevention.
Commissioners expressed a range of views. Several supported microstamping as a crime-solving tool and endorsed a recommendation that the legislature direct a feasibility and viability study, set standards and training, fund implementation, and create penalties for tampering. Others opposed microstamping, arguing it has not worked in other states, may not reduce crime, and could impose costs on manufacturers and owners. On personalized firearms, most commissioners supported encouraging the technology, but there was disagreement over whether to create a temporary sales tax exemption; some favored an incentive to promote adoption, while others opposed any tax subsidy for firearms or questioned whether the data justified it.
The co-chairs said they would draft a report reflecting the majority consensus and circulate it for review before a final vote at a later meeting, likely in July. The commission also discussed which executive branch agency should conduct the microstamping feasibility study, with the Attorney General’s office and EOPSS mentioned as possibilities. The meeting ended with agreement to reconvene for final votes on the report and recommendations.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EDT DEFER, EDT-EDU, WLA-EDT-EDU, EDT Public Hearings 02-17-2026
Economic Development and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- Versus if you gave, uh, like, I don't know, excise tax exemptions or whatever for certain things, um,
- I mean, I don't know if I could evaluate that because if it was a general excise tax exemption, but if
- I suppose you mean if you have a general excise tax exemption over the board, then everybody would have
- </c> expenses as well as do tax? expenses as well as do tax?
- </c><00:54:31.359><c> I</c> agencies and county agencies. I agencies and county agencies.
Committee:
Senate Economic Development and Tourism
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information.
In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Paul and the seven-county metro are net contributors to our tax system.
- Paul and the seven-county metro are net contributors to our tax system.
- Those funds, which are mostly from excise tax, gas taxes, registration fees, are constitutionally dedicated
- distribution fund, and that those funds are mostly from excise tax, gas taxes, and registration fees
- tax come from um you know exer excise tax gas<01:18:25.480><c> taxes</c><01:18:26.480><c> uh</c><01:
Committee:
House Taxes
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on the Transportation Costs and Impact of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Aug 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's also worth noting that the environmental fees and taxes paid by consumers yield direct benefits
- But as you look at the rest of it, whether the state taxes, federal excise tax, state excise tax, and
- the environmental programs, The state taxes, federal excise tax, state excise tax, and the environmental
- The federal renewable fuel standards and the federal tax incentives—does that even still exist today
- and local governments have decided to tax themselves to, there's a component of that.
Summary:
The hearing was a select committee discussion on the transportation costs and impacts of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), with opening remarks from the co-chairs and members emphasizing affordability, climate goals, and the need to explain the program’s benefits to the public. The first panel from CARB and the California Energy Commission described how LCFS works as a market-based, declining carbon-intensity program that rewards lower-carbon fuels, supports zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and is intended to reduce greenhouse gases and local air pollution. They argued the program has driven billions in private investment, increased alternative fuel use, and that LCFS credit prices are not the main driver of retail gasoline prices, which they said are dominated by crude oil, refining, and distribution costs.
Members questioned the panel on the gap between the regulatory target and actual carbon-intensity performance, the role of credit banking, which fuels are generating the most credits, how the 2025 amendments affected the program, and whether LCFS credits are truly additional. CARB explained that banking helps cost-effectiveness and investment certainty, that ethanol, renewable diesel, and biodiesel currently provide the largest volumes while electricity is expected to grow, and that the updated targets were informed by the state’s 2045 carbon-neutrality goals and the 2030 scoping plan. The Energy Commission said its data show environmental programs add some cost to gasoline but do not drive price volatility, which is mainly tied to crude oil and refinery margins.
The second panel, featuring academic and research experts, focused on program design, out-of-state credit generation, and broader economic effects. Speakers said LCFS is successful because it ties incentives to emissions benefit, uses life-cycle analysis, and allows flexible compliance that lowers costs compared with more direct regulation. They also said the program’s benefits generally outweigh costs, that it can reduce air pollution disparities and support equity, but that some issues—especially indirect land use change, additionality, and older program assumptions—need more research and may warrant future rulemaking. One researcher noted that while LCFS likely raises gasoline prices somewhat, the effect is uncertain by design and usually smaller than normal market fluctuations, and another warned that limiting credit generation too narrowly could create legal and efficiency problems.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Ways & Means Feb 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I lead our state's largest county, and I'm here to lend my strong support for the millionaire's tax,
- Our reliance on excise taxes makes it so that Washingtonians with lower incomes pay proportionally more
- This bill tries to get around that by calling it an excise tax on income, but in practice, it still taxes
- It does not replace sales tax, excise, or I agree with that. But this bill does not fix it.
- It does not replace sales tax, excise, or B&O tax. It just adds another tax on top.
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346.
Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured.
Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.
NY
Transcript Highlights:
- First of all, I certainly acknowledge that there would be a cost associated with the counties.
- As you know, every dollar that local counties collect in their share of property tax goes to cover the
- But we have to recognize the fact that counties can only bear so much.
- I know that there are tools that are available in the budget already for water quality that counties
- On counties and so forth must be considered. Thank you. Any further questions and comments?
Committee:
Senate Health
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Health considered a series of health-related bills, many of which were reported favorably. Among the measures approved were SB 999, which would restructure Medicaid reimbursement for early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services for children with IEPs or disabilities; SB 1816, lowering the state definition of elevated blood lead levels to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter; SB 1911A, extending due process protections for health care professionals when insurers terminate or fail to renew them; and SB 3105, allowing reciprocity for out-of-state medical cannabis patients. The committee also advanced SB 4589 on federally qualified health center rate adequacy, SB 4955B on Medicaid Inspector General audit procedures, SB 9196 to ban new for-profit hospices, SB 9237 expanding the definition of family for certain foster care health facility services, and SB 9275 requiring Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care and prohibiting related discrimination. Several of these bills were sent to Finance, while others were sent to First Reading or Higher Education as noted.
The committee also discussed SB 2625, which would expand pharmacists’ authority to prescribe, administer, and dispense medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. One member raised concerns about expanding scope of practice without coordination with primary care or a holistic review of patient conditions, and indicated opposition; the bill was nevertheless referred to Higher Education. SB 5056B, requiring the Department of Health to examine heat vulnerability and heat-related deaths, prompted discussion about whether the bill should explicitly require recommendations for prevention; the sponsor said the idea was to gather data and that recommendations could be added, and the bill advanced with some reservations.
Other measures included SB 7460, reauthorizing a maternal infant care centers pilot program using an existing $350,000 appropriation, and SB 9388, requiring public notice and engagement when a general hospital closes or shuts down a psychiatric, mental health, or substance use unit. The hospital closure bill drew discussion about relocations and whether moves that shift services to a new site would trigger the community engagement process; the sponsor said they would. Most bills were approved by voice vote, with some members voting no or without recommendation on certain measures, and the committee adjourned after reporting the bills onward.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Aug 27th, 2026
Privacy and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- His father was an officer in the sheriff's department when I worked for the county, so it's a small town
Bills:
SB1078
Committee:
House Privacy and Consumer Protection
Keywords:
Santa Cruz, taxation, transactions and use tax, local government, public services, voter approval
Summary:
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard one bill, SB 1078 by Senator Laird. The bill would create a temporary safe harbor allowing businesses to continue using preprinted gift cards with outdated cash-redemption disclosures for a limited period, so long as consumers are clearly informed of their current right to redeem cards with balances under $15 for cash. Senator Laird said the measure was intended to prevent businesses from having to destroy large inventories of otherwise usable cards after the recent change in redemption threshold.
Support testimony came from Chris Reyes of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, who said the boardwalk had about a million preprinted cards that would otherwise become obsolete, representing roughly $250,000 in cost. He emphasized that the bill would not weaken consumer protections or redemption rights and would simply allow a transition period. Sabrina DeMaio Lockhart, representing the California Attractions and Parks Association and the California Travel Association, also voiced support. There was no registered opposition.
After some delay while waiting for a quorum, the committee took up the bill and members voiced general support, including a comment that the measure would help smaller businesses. The committee voted do pass, and SB 1078 received enough votes to pass out of committee, with the roll left open briefly for absent members before the hearing adjourned.
US
Transcript Highlights:
- to American tax law.
- out more tax cuts, including tax cuts to your former clients.
- a tax cut?
- and payroll taxes. payroll taxes which is also an important part of the tax burden on small businesses
- . the validity of no tax on tips or no tax on Social Security or no tax on overtime.
Committee:
Senate Finance Committee
Keywords:
Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns
Summary:
The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- transit accommodation tax the GT tax F transit accommodation tax the GT tax F tax<00:02:55.239><c> you
- on our tax rates.
- County facilities and maintained by County Associates.
- on taking that up with our general excise tax funds.
- </c> taking that up with our general excise taking that up with our general excise tax<01:23:27.920><
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Amendment number nine creates the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund.
- if you look on page two of it in lines three through 28, this establishment of the Louisiana Income Tax
- And in this income tax elimination fund, as we buy down, or as we find the ability to have rates come
- So the recurring revenue would go toward paying or reducing our personal income tax.
- They hope to pay less taxes. He's been waiting to do that to me for some time.
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There's a federal tax exemption on exported fuel. Well, the exported fuel...
- tax evasion into their country.
- Can you give us an idea of how many of these fuel depots are out there in those border counties?
- code on the 162 for the motor fuel tax code.
- Concerned about the tax, you know, making sure that all that tax-free exported fuel actually leaves the
Committee:
House Energy Resources
Keywords:
LP-gas, property owner notice, natural resources, gas installations, safety notification, motor fuel, fuel transport, fuel export, transloading, export fuel transloading facility, fuel terminal, terminal operator, comptroller, Texas Tax Code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Department of Public Safety, DPS, border security, ports of entry
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a district judge. ...in Northeast Texas, Bowie County, and Cass Counties.
- They have to pay the entire freight through their taxes, which means either their taxes go up for something
- Montgomery County is very strategically located next to Harris County.
- Like everybody else, but we do, believe it or not... and my Harris County and Cullen County colleagues
- down to 1,000 per county.
Bills:
HB4011 , HB2680 , HB4325 , HB4327 , HB4944 , HB1761 , HB4688 , HB3453 , HB40 , HB1707 , HB4749 , HB2322 , HB3647 , HB4139 , HB4081 , HB2203 , HB2100 , HB4170 , HB3104 , HB4623 , HB40
Committee:
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Keywords:
partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- time, but I just want to let you know that in Harris, in Galveston County, in Uvalde County, in Collin
- In Galveston County, in Uvalde County, in Collin County, we've had significant trouble recruiting seasoned
- in my other county.
- in my other county.
- Contrary to the name, though, we take cases ranging from Cameron County to Collin County.
Bills:
HB4011 , HB2680 , HB4325 , HB4327 , HB4944 , HB1761 , HB4688 , HB3453 , HB40 , HB1707 , HB4749 , HB2322 , HB3647 , HB4139 , HB4081 , HB2203 , HB2100 , HB4170 , HB3104 , HB4623 , HB40
Committee:
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Keywords:
partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death
Summary:
The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges.
Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets.
There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jan 13th, 2026
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Transcript Highlights:
- tax to be about halfway where our neighboring states are.
- tax that some of it is split with the county government, so I just want to understand a little bit about
- So I'm not thinking of the county government side.
- But I have to follow up with more specific information about tax policy.
- I live in Springfield, which is the poorest city in the Commonwealth, located in the poorest county in
Bills:
S2542
Keywords:
climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/18/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- A county chairman in Maricopa County oversees 30 legislative districts, over 900 precincts.
- Nothing diminishes county committees. Counties under 500,000 keep current law.
- Same thing in Pima County.
- This is something that some counties do, not all counties do, as we found with Yuma County, who stopped
- counties under this bill.
Committees:
House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections , House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference
Keywords:
foreign law, Sharia law, cultural practices, women's rights, marriage laws, domestic violence, honor killings, Arizona legislation, elections, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system, EMS gateway