Transcript Highlights:

• $0. $0 for voterapproved operating levy $0. $0 for voterapproved operating levy authority.<01:16
• operating levies. operating levies.
• properties should pay into a state levy properties should pay into a state levy instead.<01:17:10.159
• <01:25:41.040> That's referendum levies. That's referendum levies.
• Between fiscal needed operating levies.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be the local option levy. It could be the local option revenue.
• It could be the local option levy. It could be the local option revenue.
• It could be the local option levy. It could be the local option revenue.
• It could be the local option levy. It could be the local option revenue.
• <01:47:21.639> shift the 9010 shift and then a levy shift the 9010 shift and then a levy shift

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Melville was having a hard time getting anybody to approve levies.
• And they said, in that language, that now the levy will remain at Now the levy will remain at, and they
• So whenever the levies, the new assessments come in, So whenever the new assessments come in, the levies
• They were not required to readjust their levy that year.
• They were not required to readjust their levy that year.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wadena County levied an 8% tax increase for FY 25 in the city of Suba, and levied another 8% increase
• Wadena County levied an 8% tax increase for FY 25 in the city of Suba, and levied another 8% increase
• Wadena County levied an 8% tax increase for FY 25 in the city of Suba, and levied another 8% increase
• Wadena County levied an 8% tax increase for FY 25 in the city of Suba, and levied another 8% increase
• technology and capital project Levy technology and capital project Levy Support<00:08:38.560>

Bills: HF957, HF877

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:02.640> capacity is set to expire or when levy capacity is set to expire or when levy
• McLaughlin. sentence does not reflect how levies sentence does not reflect how levies impact<00:09:49.360
• property levies affect different property levies affect different property classifications<00
• <00:22:58.880> refer- for the capital project levy refer- for the capital project levy refer
• is no levy anymore. is no levy anymore.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second relating to the review and comment authority or requirement for school building lease levy
• authority for those districts to apportion the levy among themselves.
• purposes of the building lease levy purposes of the building lease levy program.<00:35:56.640>
• > for<00:36:09.359> arenas arena uh levies that are for for arenas arena uh levies that
• That was in the levy among themselves.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, in a couple slides, you'll see that we have one levy for our tax levy for special education.
• So on those levy numbers, levy percentages, is that set by the state or, you know, how are those numbers
• and the general fund education levies next week.
• You know, in North Dakota, we levy a lot in mills.
• Does our tuition levy already kind of do that?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Levy pointed out.
• Levy touched on earlier that is in statute that we need to adhere to.
• Levy touched on, that's a DOR function. They test our results.
• Levy spoke about it.
• Levy spoke about.

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• general education revenue aid and levy general education revenue aid and levy is<00:40:23.200>
• <00:40:52.079> by reduce property tax levies by reduce property tax levies by approximately
• or capital levies.
• seeking operational levies. seeking operational levies. or<00:59:35.440> capital or capital
• This means that without an levies.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ask the Levi to take the roll. Chairman Toman, here. Representative Bosch, Weiss, here.
• I think we were going to toss it over to Levi first, correct? Yeah, Mr.
• Levi, can we back up?
• Levi, can we back up?
• Levi, I believe we're trying to figure out... We should come.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some small number of cities have transportation levies and levy lid lifts, which allocate funding to
• We're finding, at least in the Wenatchee Valley, levies such as school district levies are failing.
• We're finding, at least in the Wenatchee Valley, levies such as school district levies, are failing.
• of the following year that we can levy toward.
• That actually puts into the levy for that following year.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• be one levy adjustment that would happen on the payable 2026 levy for fiscal year 2027 disbursements
• be one levy adjustment that would happen on the payable 2026 levy for fiscal year 2027 disbursements
• be one levy adjustment that would happen on the payable 2026 levy for fiscal year 2027 disbursements
• be one levy adjustment that would happen on the payable 2026 levy for fiscal year 2027 disbursements
• be one levy adjustment that would happen on the payable 2026 levy for fiscal year 2027 disbursements

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, as we're waiting for Levi. Mr. Murphy?
• Levi, anything to add? No, Mr.
• So I have the advantage of having Levi sitting next to me.
• Levi. Mr.
• Not seeing any discussion... ...that Levi provided.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider four policy bills and discussed a possible later return to handle DOCR amendments and budget work. They first took up HB 1327, funding for the Agricultural Diversification and Development Fund, and adopted an amendment striking language that would have capped up to $10 million for agricultural infrastructure grants to political subdivisions. The bill was then passed as amended on a 22-0 vote, with Rep. Belts assigned as carrier. Next, the committee considered SB 2256, the Research Technology Park grant. Rep. Stemen offered an amendment reducing the appropriation amounts from the original figures to $10 million and $5 million levels, citing available funding; the amendment passed 19-3. The bill then passed as amended 22-0, and Rep. Stemen agreed to carry it. The committee then debated SB 2093, which combined a retired peace officers/surviving spouses benefit with an added income tax reduction. Rep. Munson moved to remove the income tax portion, and the committee agreed 17-4. The remaining peace officer benefit portion was then passed as amended 21-0, with Rep. Kempenich carrying it. Finally, the committee considered HB 2160, changing the state health plan from grandfathered to non-grandfathered status. Members discussed cost shifting, employee retention, out-of-pocket exposure, and the updated fiscal note; the committee adopted an amendment updating the appropriation figures to match the current PERS/Deloitte analysis, then passed the bill as amended 15-7-1, with Rep. Worry originally the carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because when the sales tax goes up, the levy goes down.
• When sales tax is reduced, the levy goes up. That's just the way the law is written.
• And then, off of that bottom-line number... ...on your local levy.
• The levy went up.
• When the local sales tax got eliminated, their taxes went up on the levy.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The additional revenue would increase levy authority for those school districts.
• section 16 provides some definitions for the purpose of the building lease levy program.
• The additional revenue would increase levy authority for those school districts.
• The additional revenue would increase levy authority for those school districts.
• the qualifying levy costs and levy<01:36:07.440> amount<01:36:08.239> among<01:36:08.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• playing field when it comes to the distribution for charter schools from voter-approved property tax levies
• by school districts to apply to such levies authorized by a vote of the electors on or after... or are
• by school districts to apply to such levies authorized by a vote of the electors electors on or after
• So, in essence, making this prospective as it relates to those levies and those collections from those
• millages levied by school districts.

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met with a quorum and considered two Senate proposed bills. The first, SPB 7046, was the Senate tax package. It included changes to Live Local property tax exemptions, charter school distributions from voter-approved property tax levies, limits on special assessments for RV parks, revisions to fiscally constrained county funding and eligibility, a permanent sales tax exemption for small propane tanks, a hunting/fishing/camping sales tax holiday, restrictions on governmental net zero policies, and new voting thresholds for certain local millage actions. Staff estimated the bill would reduce general revenue by about $77 million in FY 2026-27 and about $50 million recurring. An amendment making the charter-school distribution change prospective starting July 1, 2026, was adopted. A late-filed amendment by Senator Gaetz on disability tax exemptions was withdrawn for lack of a fiscal analysis. The charter school provision drew the most debate. Senator Jones and Senator Bernard raised concerns that expanding eligibility to charter schools authorized through alternate authorizers could reduce funding available to traditional neighborhood public schools and that the effective date did not give districts enough time to plan. Senator Avila argued the change corrected an omission from earlier legislation and ensured public schools, including charter schools, were treated equally. Several speakers supported the fiscally constrained county provisions, while the Florida Association of Counties urged grandfathering for counties that could currently opt out of the Live Local exemption and asked the committee to review language on millage thresholds and net zero provisions. SPB 7046 was ultimately reported favorably as a committee bill by a roll call vote. The committee then took up SPB 7048, which updates Florida’s conformity to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026, and partially decouples from federal changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill addresses federal changes to bonus depreciation, Section 179 expensing, research and experimental expenses, business meals, and business interest deductions, with some provisions phased in or adjusted over time. The Florida Chamber testified in support of continued conformity but expressed concerns about administrative burdens and the bill’s partial decoupling structure. After brief debate, the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill by roll call vote, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 25 of the spreadsheet is the ice arena levy.
• <00:28:41.200> under zero net change to state levies under zero net change to state levies
• with lease levy with lease levy proceeds.<00:53:42.160> Section<00:53:42.640> 8<00
• <00:53:54.240> in funded with building lease levy in funded with building lease levy in excess
• As a through levy authority or aid.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of aid; then the next year you levied low, your aid would be going up and down.
• with the based on the levies um with the amendment<00:03:47.439> what<00:03:47.599> we
• take a five-year average of the levies take a five-year average of the levies so<00:03:52.720>
• ><00:04:22.360> your<00:04:22.639> Aid<00:04:23.000> would levied low you your Levy
• your Aid would levied low you your Levy your Aid would be<00:04:23.320> going<00:04:23.560>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are one of the few districts that do not have a local operating levy.
• We are one of the few districts that do not have a local operating levy.
• We are one of the few districts that do not have a local operating levy.
• We are one of the few districts that do not have a local operating levy.
• We are one of the few districts that do not have a local operating levy.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools. The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources. Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair. advantage of that Levy opportunity advantage of that Levy opportunity across<00:19:52.760>
• Levy Levy Authority<00:20:38.960> and<00:20:39.280> thank<00:20:39.440> you<00:
• have been excluded because it is a levy have been excluded because it is a levy aid<00:57:36.640
• Districts receive through local levies Districts receive through local levies safe<01:00:02.079>
• <01:25:38.480> like from being excluded from levies like from being excluded from levies like

Bills: HF827, HF1258, HF2387, HF2388, HF2534, HF2016

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding