Transcript Highlights:

• And so that's why sales tax was historically earmarked mostly for the general fund and deal with that
• That was the first time we'd actually exceeded revenue collections from sales tax.
• These are total sales tax collections compared to the forecast.
• These are total sales tax collections compared to the forecast.
• The current total sales tax collections to date is about $3.3 billion.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee met on January 22, 2012, for budget briefings from Legislative Services Office staff. Keith Bybee gave an overview of Idaho’s general fund structural balance, explaining that recent revenue projections for FY 2026-2028 still show pressure on the budget if spending continues to grow at historical rates. He reviewed how prior surpluses were used for stabilization funds, transportation, building projects, and other one-time investments, and noted major budget drivers such as Medicaid expansion, the state public defender system, and water-related spending. He also walked through the state’s cash position, explaining beginning balances, reappropriations, carryforwards, reversions, and the governor’s proposed use of cash transfers and temporary spending reductions to help balance the budget. Members asked questions about whether JFAC discusses raising revenues versus cutting spending, whether the figures were inflation-adjusted, and how sales tax exemptions affect the overall picture. Bybee said the charts were nominal, not inflation-adjusted, and estimated sales tax exemptions and exclusions at about $2 billion, with current collections around $3.3 billion. He also addressed contract inflation and health insurance costs, saying health care growth is driven more by actual program costs than contract terms. The committee then discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Idaho tax conformity, with Bybee summarizing Tax Commission estimates for provisions such as the standard deduction, overtime, tips, senior deductions, car loan interest, and research and experimentation expensing; members also raised questions about bonus depreciation and the possible budget impact of conforming to federal changes. Christopher LaHocet then demonstrated LSO budget and revenue tools available online, including the general fund budget monitor, daily updates, the budget book, sales tax distribution tables, and the base budget dashboard. He explained that these resources help track revenue performance, legislative budget actions, and the buildup of agency base budgets over time. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after announcing a follow-up RS hearing on tax conformity for the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS STRICTLY THE VOLUME OF CONDO SALES IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
• THE BLUE LINE REPRESENTS THE PATTERN OF SALES VOLUME IN THIS TIME.
• THE ORANGE LINE IS REPRESENTING THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE.
• THE STATE OF FLORIDA SALES TRANSACTION VOLUME FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
• WE HAVE SEEN A FLATTENING IN THE SALES PRICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that sales tax—that.
• Under this bill, cities would forfeit all of their sales tax.
• You know, we don't get a lot of sales tax.
• All sales taxes are.
• cities or its dedicated sales taxes.

Bills: HB5691 , SB427 , SB2623 , SB2858

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: municipal management district, bonds, assessments, property taxes, economic development, eminent domain, special district, SB 427, local government, political subdivision, state loan, state grant, financial reporting, annual financial statement, annual report, county report, municipal finance, water district, municipality, county auditor

Transcript Highlights:

• They are buying houses, spending sales taxes, and generating other revenues here in the state.
• By instead of collecting the sales tax portion on the purchase of a vehicle, Collecting the sales tax
• SB 1314 would address the proliferation of these illegal sales by prohibiting the sale of nitrous oxide
• So for those reasons, we're pleased to support SBPHA. law and curtail the sale of illicit products.
• I wrote my own ordinance to ban the sale of nitrous oxide in the unincorporated area in our county.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee heard several tax and revenue-related bills. SB 1277, by Senator Grove, proposed a California Cost of Living Tax Credit modeled on the 2022 middle-class tax refund to provide direct relief to low- and middle-income Californians facing high housing, fuel, and utility costs. Supporters argued it would help families struggling with affordability, while opponents, including the California Tax Reform Association and CTA members, said California’s tax system already provides relief and that the bill would reduce General Fund revenue and harm schools. After extended debate, the bill was put on call and later failed on a 1-4 vote, though reconsideration was granted. SB 1287, by Senator Retado, would create a performance-based tax credit for short-line rail investments; supporters said it would improve freight efficiency, safety, emissions, and rural access, while opponents preferred direct grants. The bill was placed on call and later passed 5-0 to Transportation. SB 1407, by Senator Archuleta, would exempt military retirement pay and survivor benefits from state taxes; the author, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and veterans’ groups said it would help retain veterans and their economic contributions in California, while CTA and CTRA opposed on General Fund grounds. The bill passed 5-0 to Military and Veterans Affairs. SB 1349, by Senator Gonzalez, would direct the LAO to review major tax expenditures for effectiveness and impacts on schools and the budget; CTA and CTRA supported it as a way to increase accountability, and it passed 4-1 to Governmental Organization. SB 1120, by Senator McNerney, would extend the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035 and make credits refundable for certain strategic industries; business and industry witnesses said this would help startups and manufacturers monetize credits and attract investment, and it passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 1275, also by Senator McNerney, proposed converting the state sales tax on vehicle purchases into a deductible vehicle license fee to reduce Californians’ federal tax burden; the LAO provided technical testimony, and the bill passed 4-0 to Transportation. The committee also heard SB 1078, by Senator Laird, to let Santa Cruz County voters consider a temporary local tax increase for health and safety-net services, but it was put on call. Later, the committee returned to SB 1314, by Senator Min, addressing youth tobacco and illicit smoke shop sales, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they now have to do it based on their sales in California versus their sales...
• And they now have to do it based on their sales in California versus their sales throughout the country
• SB 122 modernizes our sales tax for the 21st century.
• Now you're talking about sales tax on software. So the sales tax on software is...
• If you buy it in person, it's a sales tax.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it applies only to the state sales and use tax.
• So, in other words, under the amendment, the sale of biodiesel would still be exempt from state sales
• So it applies only to the state sales and use tax.
• So in other words, under the amendment, the sale of biodiesel would still be exempt from state sales
• Senate Bill 606, exempting food banks from the retail sales tax.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 2, 2026, and worked through two large groups of bills, hearing staff briefings, caucusing, and then voting each measure out to the Rules Committee. In the first group, the committee advanced bills on state accounts (HB 2675, with an amendment creating an adult day service facilities account), immigrant worker protections (2SHB 2105, after adopting a striker and Amendment 8 while rejecting amendments that would have changed enforcement and private rights of action), voting rights compliance (E3SHB 1710, with all proposed amendments rejected), AI content provenance and notices (E2SHB 1170, with Amendment 19 adopted to exempt state/local/tribal governments and certain video-game and technical uses), public official protections (2SHB 233, with a technical amendment adopted), WOTEC civil service coverage (HB 2249), JLARC work plan changes (HB 2120), LEOFF Plan 1 termination/restatement (E2SHB 2034, with several amendments adopted including creation of a pension surplus holding account and study directives, while proposals to redirect funds to the Climate Commitment Act or provide a lump-sum payment were rejected or withdrawn), supplemental retirement bargaining (HB 1069, with a striker adopted), port employee retirement exclusions (EHB 2179, with a striker adopted), local government revenue flexibility (ESHB 2442, with Amendment 72 adopted to remove a county public utility tax and other amendments rejected), wildfire mitigation funding (SHB 2089), and timberland REET changes (HB 1983). The committee also noted that it would not take action on some items in the packet, including SHB 1833. In the second group, the committee advanced bills on local housing tax remittance programs (ESHB 1717), renewable energy tax incentives and grants (E3SHB 1960, with a striking amendment adopted that adjusted rates, timing, and related provisions), nonprofit fundraising hall property tax relief (HB 2431), food bank sales tax relief (SB 6006), local tax increment financing (E2SHB 2451), temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health entities (SB 6297), school and child care-related sales tax exemptions (SSB 6351, with a substitute adopted and the competing amendment made out of order), behavioral health work group extension and leadership council creation (2SHB 2429), Working Connections Child Care changes (SB 6353, with Amendment 43 adopted), language access guidelines for state agencies (SHB 2475), unpaid wage recovery (2SHB 2479), firearms background check fee authority (HB 2521, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), public employee information sharing (HB 2091, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), and Office of Independent Investigations jurisdiction changes (ESHB 2508, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided). Throughout the meeting, members and staff discussed fiscal notes, implementation costs, and whether amendments would increase or reduce state impacts, with several amendments aimed at narrowing scope, delaying implementation, or shifting enforcement and funding responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sales tax to the general fund differs from sales tax net revenue for a lot of different reasons.
• There's a lot that comes out of sales tax.
• as miscellaneous, it had been coded as sales tax?
• tax because the origin is sales tax.
• We're seeing retail sales are holding up.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee was convened to review Idaho’s economic outlook and general fund revenue projections for fiscal years 2025-2028, with members instructed to submit “homework” revenue estimates by noon the next day so staff could compile committee averages and medians for deliberations and a final recommendation to JFAC. Opening remarks emphasized the committee’s constitutional charge, the use of the binder materials and online packet, and that the committee would meet again the next day to discuss and vote on the revenue projection recommendation. Staff and agency presentations focused on the state’s budget and revenue picture. Legislative Services Office staff described structural imbalance concerns, noting that statutory spending changes and earmarked sales tax distributions have crowded out flexibility, while cash reserves remain substantial. The Division of Financial Management’s economist explained the official revenue forecast, including revised treatment of sales tax and tax relief fund accruals, and said the forecast largely held steady overall even as corporate and individual income tax categories shifted. She also discussed the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act on SALT deductions and said recent corporate collections had rebounded sharply, suggesting timing and behavior changes rather than a broad economic downturn. Outside economists and labor experts painted a generally stable to positive economic picture. Zions Bank’s economist said the Federal Reserve is likely near the end of major rate cuts, long-term rates and mortgage rates remain elevated, tariffs have risen sharply, but inflation has not yet shown broad tariff-driven acceleration; he described the national labor market as slowing but not contracting and said 2026 could be a rebuilding year. The Idaho Department of Labor reported that Idaho’s unemployment remains historically low, job growth is steady, wage growth is moderating from overheated pandemic-era levels, and the state’s labor market remains healthier and more balanced than the national picture. The committee also heard from Idaho Power’s economist, who began a presentation on broader economic conditions and utility-related demand trends before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you see the sales tax on auto parts is unchanged, and the rental tax...
• </c><00:15:19.839><c> from</c> there are also exemptions on sales from there are also exemptions on sales
• vehicle sales tax.
• So this brings me to the sales tax and the delivery fee.
• And so, transactions not subject to sales and use tax, except for clothing.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of Sales Systems must include Point of Sales Systems must include separate<00:09:25.240><c> classifications
• </c><00:15:41.360><c> from</c> there are also exemptions on sales from there are also exemptions on sales
• </c><00:18:23.520><c> tax</c> actually subject to the fee a sales tax actually subject to the fee a sales
• </c><00:18:30.799><c> tax</c> so in addition to collecting sales tax so in addition to collecting sales
• , and motor vehicle sales tax.

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And do you think any are going to be taking $100 million out of the sales tax revenue?
• Sales tax revenue seems like a pretty big hit. Representative Monk's on that.
• The state will still collect 40% of that new sales tax.
• It's 60% of the new sales tax generated until I hit my total dollars invested.
• Developer is entitled to receive a rebate of up to 60% of all sales tax used.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee approved minutes from February 2, 3, 5, and 9, 2026, then considered several revenue-related measures. RS 33317, a clarification to last year’s urban renewal district changes, would require agencies not to deny fire district or ambulance service district withdrawal requests when no outstanding bonded or written contractual obligations remain, and it was introduced after brief questions about consultation and fiscal impact. The committee then heard House Bill 506 and related RS 33329 on the STARS program, which allows developers to front infrastructure costs for qualifying projects and receive a rebate of up to 60% of new sales tax revenue. Representative Monks explained the bill would raise the program’s floor and ceiling, while the RS would instead lower the floor and keep the ceiling at $100 million; after questions about timing, windfalls, and project scope, the committee held HB 506 in committee and introduced RS 33329 with a due pass recommendation to the second reading calendar. House Bill 610, which would extend homestead exemption treatment to people away on religious missions in the same way it applies to military service members, was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 594, which codifies a Supreme Court ruling directing late property tax fees and interest to the jurisdictions that assess them, also received a due pass recommendation after supportive testimony from county treasurers and a city administrator. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically does four things: exempts sales tax, property tax, there's an investment tax credit of 35 percent
• We're not taking any of our existing sales tax revenues to give to them.
• did make sure that we did was not allow, which we saw with the data centers bill, when we said no sales
• But that's what... ...collect the sales tax on that. So it will not cost us anything.
• We're not taking any of our existing sales tax revenues to give to them.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or what consumers would think of as a sale, right?
• Again, any transfer of data virtually is a sale.
• Who knows that childhood is not for sale?
• Childhood is not for sale.
• Two, a ban on the sale of sensitive data.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a package of Massachusetts privacy and technology bills, especially measures to ban the sale of location data, establish a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, and regulate biometric recognition and surveillance pricing. Chairs and sponsors argued that self-regulation has failed, that data brokers and large tech companies routinely collect and monetize sensitive information, and that state action is needed because federal protections are weak or absent. Several speakers tied the bills to reproductive health, gender-affirming care, domestic violence, children’s data, and other sensitive uses of location and biometric information. Supporters included legislators and advocates who backed H. 86/S. 197 (Location Shield), H. 78/S. 45/H. 104/S. 29 (comprehensive privacy bills), H. 99/S. 47 (surveillance pricing in grocery stores), and H. 36/S. 36 (biometric recognition accountability). They emphasized data minimization, bans on selling sensitive data, consumer rights to access, delete, and opt out, and in some cases a private right of action. Several witnesses said Massachusetts should lead or align with other states, while others argued that stronger protections are needed because data can be weaponized by stalkers, anti-abortion actors, abusive partners, insurers, or law enforcement. Industry and coalition witnesses urged the committee to favor a more standardized, interoperable framework modeled on laws already adopted in other states, warning that novel definitions, data-minimization rules, and private rights of action could create compliance burdens, confusion, and costs for businesses, including small businesses. They argued that entity-level exemptions for sectors already covered by federal laws like HIPAA or GLBA promote consistency, and that Attorney General enforcement is preferable to private lawsuits. Committee members questioned witnesses on patchwork concerns, the scope of exemptions, and whether the proposed bills would harm or help consumers and small businesses. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; written testimony was noted as due later, and the committee continued taking testimony from multiple panels and virtual witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but sales or use to me seems to include the gas tax, so that's broad base for sure. >> Absolutely
• Um, the question is always around, you know, I'm going to cut right to shape, sales and income taxes,
• Um, but sales or use to me seems to include the gas tax, so that's broad base for sure. >> Absolutely
• </c><00:11:55.680><c> So</c><00:11:56.000><c> should</c> sales and income taxes, right?
• </c> there would be a sales tax on it. there would be a sales tax on it.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tax to sales of electronically delivered pre-written software, and extend the sales tax to sales of
• So California sales tax law generally applies only to the sales of tangible goods, but not to their digital
• California sales tax law generally applies only to the sales of tangible goods, but not to their digital
• In recent years, many states have updated their sales tax laws by applying sales tax to electronically
• Evading the sales tax, yes. It's trying to understand that.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, it removes the restriction for alcohol sales on the St. Paul campus.
• Lastly, it removes the restriction for alcohol sales on the St. Paul campus.
• Lastly, it removes the restriction for alcohol sales on the St. Paul campus.
• Alcohol sales would tightly controlled.
• Institutions nationwide have sales.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the sales on one side of January 1st and the sales on the other side of January 1st are going to
• We can take those 50 sales, the actual sale price. and compare them to the actual value on those 50 homes
• . because sales are, there's not a whole lot of arguing sales.
• But a sale is a sale. Was the MLS actually reflective of what the final process was? Right.
• time adjustments to those sales?

Committee: House S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had no sales the last six days because I'm afraid to send an email.
• She starts getting emails saying, “Final hours of a sale.”
• But then another, the next day, saying sale extended.
• One morning, she sends an email with the subject line, flash sale ends midnight.
• She has harmed no one and stolen. the sale for another 24 hours.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills. House Bill 2229 would update the professional engineers registration act by removing the U.S. citizenship requirement for board members, increasing pro tem board positions, giving the board more discretion over experience and continuing education requirements, removing some registration exclusions, and making various technical updates. The bill sponsor and the board described it as a cleanup and modernization measure, and a board representative said one naming change in the draft was unintended and would be corrected. No public testimony was taken before the hearing was suspended and later closed. House Bill 2274 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act after a Washington Supreme Court decision led to a wave of lawsuits over email subject lines. The bill would require a sender to have a “reliable basis” to know an email is held by a Washington resident, narrow when a subject line is actionable, require recipients to show they reviewed and relied on the email to recover damages, and repeal the act’s per se Consumer Protection Act violation while keeping statutory damages. Retailers, small business owners, hospitality groups, and e-commerce representatives supported the bill, saying the current interpretation is producing costly, technical lawsuits over ordinary promotional language and creating settlement pressure even without consumer harm. Consumer advocates opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken protections against deceptive subject lines and that the current law already targets false or misleading claims. The committee took no final action on the bill. House Bill 2294 would prohibit future negative use restrictions on real property that block grocery stores or pharmacies, with exceptions for existing restrictions, relocations, and certain retail centers. The sponsor said the measure is intended to improve food and pharmacy access, especially after grocery closures such as the one in Lake City, and noted similar local ordinances already exist. Food industry and grocery association witnesses generally supported the bill as a way to reduce barriers to food access and help independent grocers, while also asking for clearer guardrails to avoid unintended effects on legitimate business arrangements. The sponsor said she was open to working on enforcement and other details. The committee then moved to executive session and passed House Bill 1269, which would adjust pawn broker loan terms, interest, document preparation fees, storage fees, and allow online payment for renewals. Members described it as a modest increase after 11 years without changes, and the bill was reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation by voice vote, with 15 members voting in the affirmative.

Transcript Highlights:

• for small businesses, increases the tax return filing threshold for B&O to $250,000, provides the sales
• taxes on... ...of $250 million per year and repeals sales taxes on specified services that were enacted
• It provides that diapers are exempt from retail sales and use tax beginning January 1st, 2029.
• Our B&O tax code is as regressive as sales tax is to individuals.
• What is happening is the sales and retail tax laws in this state have become so...

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But essentially, a for-profit business will Context of sales than it is charity.
• So this first one is a point-of-sales solicitation. You've definitely seen these.
• Point-of-sales solicitations are huge.
• So this first one is a point of sales solicitation. You've definitely seen these.
• in donations using point-of-sale between 2021 and 2024.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a work session on emerging consumer protection issues, focusing on elder fraud, charity fraud, and the impact of artificial intelligence on scams. Assistant Attorneys General from the Consumer Protection Division described the division’s broader enforcement work, including actions on rent stabilization, government imposter scams, service member refunds, senior living facilities, data breaches, and cases involving TikTok and Meta. They said elder fraud is often the same fraud seen in other age groups, but older adults tend to lose more money when victimized, especially in imposter scams and investment scams. The attorneys reviewed FTC data showing rising fraud losses nationwide and in Washington, with social media, bank transfers, cryptocurrency, and gift cards highlighted as especially important channels for losses. Members asked about underreporting, recovery of funds, and what consumers should do when they suspect a scam. The presenters said complaints can be reported to the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center and DFI, and that the most effective policy responses would likely target payment methods, especially crypto kiosks and other fast, irreversible transfer systems. They also said the AGO uses enforcement, consumer education, and scam alerts, but that many scams are difficult to pursue because perpetrators are overseas or untraceable. On charity fraud, the Charitable Asset Protection Team described several deceptive practices, including false charities, imposter charities, fundraising-first charities, causewashing, and point-of-sale solicitations. They said charity scams are underreported because donors often do not realize they were misled, and they pointed to concerns about crowdfunding platforms and commercial fundraising processors, including the collapse of Flip Cause and unpaid donations to Washington charities. The presenters recommended modernizing the Charitable Solicitation Act, increasing transparency and disclosure for point-of-sale fundraising, and strengthening public education through the AGO and Secretary of State programs such as Assured Giving and Assured Impact. The presentation closed with a discussion of AI, which the attorneys said is making scams harder to detect through deepfakes, voice cloning, AI-generated messages, and automated scam operations. They said AI can also be used to create fake charities and online ecosystems that appear legitimate, and noted that business and charity registration systems can often be completed without human interaction. No votes were taken; the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the 'No Minor Sale' website, all of these organizations are included.
• Mexico doesn't have money right now for minimum legal sales insurance.
• 2023, and it showed a dip in sales along with that e-registry.
• for sale on the market that have no marketing.
• I do campaigns and work on 24-7 at No Minor Sale. I'm sorry, who are you?

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee