Transcript Highlights:

• It is actually adding information or changes. I am curious about the adding a section four.
• We benefited from the tax credit.
• We benefited from the tax credit.
• We benefited from the tax credit.
• property taxes are significant.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• , as well as other consumption taxes.
• </c> you know hold hold the numbers to a tax you know hold hold the numbers to a tax Gap<00:34:01.720
• </c> that tax that tax bill<00:42:25.200><c> and</c><00:42:26.200><c> in</c><00:42:26.400><c> my</c><
• Have gone up in the property taxes.
• These are funds that are added in and were also added in the current budget as well.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 713, which would require mile markers on Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway. The sponsor and DOT testimony described the road as a heavily traveled but isolated corridor with little or no cell or radio service, frequent accidents and breakdowns, and serious public-safety problems when emergency responders cannot quickly locate incidents. Members discussed where markers should be placed, how frequently they should appear, whether both sides of the road should be marked, and the potential cost; DOT said the project could be done with federal funds and might be combined with other work to reduce mobilization costs. The committee agreed the bill was straightforward and voted OTP 18-0, with discussion that a friendly amendment might be offered later to refine the language. The committee then heard HB 563, concerning calculation of adequate education grants. Testimony explained that the bill would add fiscal capacity disparity aid in FY 27 and increase the special education differentiated aid factor, while also reducing extraordinary needs grants so the overall fiscal impact would be net neutral. Members noted the changes were limited to the second year because of the budget process and school district ballot timing. Supporters argued the fiscal capacity aid would help property-poor towns and should be expanded, while others emphasized the bill’s budget-neutral structure. The committee voted to retain HB 563 for further consideration in the budget process. Finally, the committee opened HB 675, which would limit the authority of school districts to make certain appropriations. A Derry resident and former local official testified in favor, arguing that property taxes are too high, that school spending has outpaced town-side tax caps, and that local voters should have more control over school budgets. Committee members questioned whether the issue should instead be handled locally through existing processes or broader governance changes, and one member noted the state’s constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. The discussion continued, but no final action on HB 675 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and adding some confusion.
• a tax.
• But really, that impact fee is just a tax.
• But really, that impact fee is just a tax.
• Was there a similar push for this to be added?

Bills: HB5489 , HB5695 , HB5699 , SB291 , SB292

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: impact fee, moratorium, local government, Texas legislation, infrastructure funding, municipal utility district, eminent domain, bonds, assessments, infrastructure, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Harris County, Municipal Utility District, territory exclusion, debt service taxes, property taxation, condemnation, property acquisition, real property, appraisal reports

Transcript Highlights:

• This is adding law qualify for.
• And then you'll see in double tax.
• </c> contracts, they will be double taxed. contracts, they will be double taxed.
• </c> property taxes. property taxes.
• </c> property taxes come down. property taxes come down.

Transcript Highlights:

• The highest business taxes in America, the corporate transit fee you added last term, the three business
• tax.
• This is not a tax. I know someone's going to call this the fifth tax.
• Now the tax is another cost that's added on top of that.
• taxes in America.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• tax cuts.
• tax cuts.
• money to cut taxes.
• , or if it’s corporate franchise taxes, or if it’s really that sales tax.”
• “It’s sales tax, ma’am.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• We added that. They asked for mental health funding. We added that.
• We added that. They asked for mental health funding. We added that.
• We added that.
• </c><00:19:49.680><c> on</c> it's no tax on tips and no tax on it's no tax on tips and no tax on overtime
• the overtime or overtime, don't tax the overtime or don't<00:20:35.880><c> tax</c><00:20:36.200><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• One is conforming to state income tax laws to the federal tax law changes.
• There is the one-cent per gallon tax, and taxes probably— is it a tax, is it a fee?
• Roughly how much insurance premium tax comes into the state?
• But, you know, during tax season, when you've got some heavy lifting to do with taxes, people come on
• temporarily, get the taxes done.

Bills: HB2053 , HB2116 , HB2148

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: stormwater, recharge mapping, water resources, groundwater, appropriation, Arizona, HB2116, Colorado River, litigation fund, water rights, Arizona water law, general fund appropriation, state budget, interstate water compact, Colorado River Compact, water litigation, A.R.S. 45-119, natural resources, water policy, river management

Transcript Highlights:

• One is conforming to state income tax laws to the federal tax law changes.
• They're paying that through their taxes and the Obamacare subsidy.
• There is the one cent per gallon tax, and taxes probably, is it a tax, is it a fee?
• But, you know, during tax season, when you've got some heavy lifting to do with taxes, people come on
• temporarily, get the taxes done.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee of Appropriations met on January 21, 2026, and first considered House Bill 2116, which would appropriate $1 million in fiscal year 2027 to the Colorado River Litigation Fund. The sponsor and Arizona Department of Water Resources both supported the bill, describing it as a backup measure to protect Arizona’s Colorado River entitlements if post-2026 negotiations among the basin states fail. Members discussed how the bill relates to the governor’s separate Colorado River Protection Fund proposal, and staff clarified the two funds serve different purposes. The committee approved HB 2116 on a 17-1 roll call vote. The committee then took up House Bill 2053, which would provide $100,000 for updated stormwater recharge mapping and expand the work beyond state trust lands to private lands. An amendment in the chair’s name was adopted to extend the coordination timeline, broaden the agencies involved, and revise language about mapped sites and appropriable surface water. The sponsor said the bill is intended to identify more places to capture stormwater for recharge rather than letting most rainfall evaporate. ADWR testified neutrally, supporting the mapping effort but raising a concern about language that could be read as requiring the department to determine whether water is appropriable, which it said is a legal question for the courts. The amended bill passed 11-7. House Bill 2148, as amended, was then heard and approved 11-7. The bill would give the legislature authority to appropriate non-custodial federal monies and set requirements for those appropriations. The chair’s amendment excluded federal research grants to universities, university employees, and the Arizona Board of Regents. The sponsor framed the bill as a transparency measure, saying the legislature should know how federal funds are being spent. No outside testimony was offered, and the committee approved the measure after debate about legislative oversight of federal funds. After the bills, the committee received a lengthy JLBC presentation comparing the executive budget with the JLBC baseline. Discussion focused on revenue forecasts, tax conformity, sports betting, lottery and tourism revenue assumptions, SNAP administrative costs and error-rate penalties, developmental disability and Access caseload growth, and K-12 enrollment and ESA spending. Members repeatedly questioned the executive budget’s use of one-time funding for ongoing costs, especially for SNAP administration and DES staffing, and expressed concern about rising supplemental needs and the lack of long-term budget capacity. No votes were taken on the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but what is left in terms of capacity for tax reform, tax cuts, tax credits, what kind of tax you can
• Oh, sorry, Senate tax, yes, OK, right.
• Um, we added.
• The tax credit adopted two years ago for EVs can be coupled with a federal tax credit as well.
• But we'll get a tax credit that we can apply to our taxes this year or next. apply to our taxes this

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So the tax credit, the disability employment tax credit, is basically an incentive very much like the
• Just the one this past tax season. Okay. And have— —past tax season. Okay.
• Last tax season was the full year. First tax season, we had a full year.
• conditions adding up together to...
• Individual disabilities adding up together, individual conditions adding up together to get to that point

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met on May 18 and approved the prior meeting minutes. The group heard first about the Massachusetts Disability Employment Tax Credit from MassAbility staff, who explained that the credit offers employers an incentive for hiring workers with disabilities, that the certification process is designed to be simple and largely self-attesting, and that outreach is being done through MassAbility’s website, business relations team, flyers, and a dedicated email address. Members asked about employer filing, available data, and whether credits can be carried forward; the presenter said the Department of Revenue handles implementation questions and that the program had recently resulted in its first company receiving the credit, though broader employer uptake remains limited. The subcommittee then heard from Scott Pitt of the Office of the Veteran Advocate, who described the new independent agency’s role in helping veterans access timely services, investigating problems, and improving coordination across state systems. He focused on veterans’ disability ratings, the fact that VA disability does not necessarily prevent work, and the importance of discharge status for access to benefits such as the GI Bill and state programs. He also highlighted vocational rehabilitation, housing and caregiver supports, and the office’s work on professional licensure barriers, especially in nursing, where Massachusetts is exploring whether military training can be recognized more directly. Members discussed other states’ approaches, the need for more data, and possible connections to workforce and nursing stakeholders. In the final portion of the meeting, members discussed a lengthy policy brief and the subcommittee’s future work. They identified two main areas of interest: the “benefit cliff” and youth/young adult pathways into employment, including apprenticeships. Members agreed the brief should be revisited at the August 31 meeting and that they may need a more structured format, such as a spreadsheet or landscape map, to organize the information. The chair emphasized that the commission can collect and share information and develop a white paper for appointing authorities, but cannot lobby or legislate, and invited members interested in the benefit cliff work to join follow-up discussions. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• portion and the use tax portion.
• luxury vehicle tax as well.
• Or is it going to be taxed again? You will, under the luxury tax provisions, you would be taxed.
• sales and use tax and any local sales and use taxes, that's the value that would be taxed.
• In the case of the luxury vehicle tax, for the value over $100,000, that trade-in value would be added

Summary: The Transportation Committee met in executive session on Gross Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources measure, after a staff walkthrough of the Senate striking amendment S-5820.4. Staff explained that the striker largely replaced the bill with provisions from Senate Bill 6352 and related transportation revenue and policy changes, including updates to mobile driver’s licenses, account interest provisions, recreational vessel and luxury vehicle tax clarifications, peer-to-peer tax administration changes, fuel tax timing changes, aircraft fuel tax and account changes, bicycle education grants, ferry payment-card fee authority, traffic safety camera revenue and rebuttable presumption rules, online driver education regulation, transit annexation tax/liability clarification, Sound Transit 75-year bond authority limits, stolen copper protections for light rail and DOT communications infrastructure, and a highway contracting threshold change. Staff also reviewed fiscal impacts, including revenue gains from trade-in value clarifications and aircraft fuel changes, and losses from the diesel tax delay, motorhome exemption, and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax. Members asked several clarifying questions, including the luxury RV tax threshold, how trade-in value is treated under the luxury vehicle tax, whether ferry debit-card fees are authorized, and the legality of passing card-processing fees to customers. Staff and counsel said the luxury vehicle tax applies to value over $100,000, trade-in value is added back for the luxury tax calculation, and the ferry provision is intended to clarify that both credit and debit card surcharges may be passed through. On the traffic safety camera section, staff described a revised approach that would require stronger proof from registered owners to rebut presumed responsibility, and on Sound Transit bonds, staff clarified that bonds over 40 years would be limited to federal transportation loan purposes and would affect eligibility for certain state grants. After caucus, the committee returned to executive session, waived the amendment posting deadline under Senate Rule 45, adopted the striking amendment, and then voted to advance ESHB 2711 as amended with a do pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The motion carried, and the chair thanked staff before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona tax code.
• Governor Hobbs is looking to cut taxes for the middle class, cut taxes for seniors, eliminate taxes on
• the tax year.
• This bill includes no taxes on tips, no tax on overtime.
• This applies the Trump tax cuts to the Arizona tax code.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a proclamation recognizing February 2026 as American Heart Month, with Representative Willoughby emphasizing CPR and AED readiness. Members also welcomed students and guests from Wilcox Christian School, the Arizona State Fair Association, and other visitors. The chamber then handled routine business including attendance, journal approval, committee assignments, and first and second readings of numerous bills. The Committee of the Whole considered several measures, including HB 2016, HB 2133, HB 2223, HB 2459, HB 2501, and HB 2785. Most received do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and amendments. HB 2785, a major tax conformity bill, drew the most debate: supporters said it would align Arizona law with federal tax changes, prevent taxpayers from having to amend returns, and provide certainty during filing season, while opponents argued it would create a large revenue loss and benefit corporations and the wealthy without a clear funding plan. The committee adopted the Ways and Means amendment to HB 2785 by a 31-22 division vote, and the bill ultimately received a do-pass recommendation. Back on the floor, the House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and sent HB 2016, HB 2133, HB 2123, HB 2459, HB 2501, and HB 2785 to engrossing. In third reading, HB 2029, HB 2120, HB 2126, and HB 2131 passed, while HB 2045 failed on a 19-36 vote and then failed again on a reconsideration motion by 25-27. Members then made several personal privilege remarks about legislative process, representation, and Black History Month, and the House adjourned until the following Wednesday afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• a sales-price-based tax to a volume-based tax.
• Tax.
• and use taxes.
• These families are already juggling bills, and adding this tax will only put...
• Families are already juggling bills, and adding this tax will only put on financial stress.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on several tax and retirement bills, beginning with Senate Bill 6073, which would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff described the higher retirement age and benefit differences between the systems and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR, the Washington Public Employees Association, and a committee member all raised support or questions, with DNR acknowledging additional review with the LEOFF board was still needed. The hearing then turned to Senate Bill 6113, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, including clarifications tied to last session’s ESSB 5814 service-tax changes, a six-month transition period for reclassified businesses, and a section affecting advertising-related exclusions. DOR said the bill was revenue neutral and intended to codify guidance and improve certainty, while school districts, arts groups, broadcasters, newspapers, and business groups testified both in support of the technical fixes and in opposition to provisions they said would continue or worsen unintended consequences from last year’s tax law. Senators also questioned how some definitions would apply, especially to school and higher-education-related services. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor-products tax structure by moving nicotine-containing vapor products back under the per-milliliter vapor tax instead of the 95% other tobacco products tax, and would restore distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and Foundational Public Health Services account. Public health agencies, cancer research representatives, and some retailers supported the bill as a fix to funding disruptions, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax and argued it would weaken public health policy. The committee also heard that the current law creates a double-tax issue on pre-existing inventory because products held when the definition changed became subject to a new tax classification. Finally, Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader nicotine-tax overhaul, including a 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% tax on flavored nicotine products, higher cigarette taxes, and new revenue distributions and tribal compact provisions. Supporters, including public health organizations, pediatricians, and civil rights advocates, said higher taxes would reduce youth use and restore funding for cancer research and public health; opponents, including retailers, tobacco and vapor businesses, broadcasters, and some harm-reduction advocates, argued the bill was regressive, would fuel illicit markets, and would harm small businesses and adult consumers using lower-risk products. The committee then began a briefing on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, adjust state property tax rates, and change property tax billing statements, but the hearing on that bill was not completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like other similarly functioning gross receipts taxes on business inputs, this tax will increase operating
• taxes on electronic commerce, as the tax is on digital advertising, not all advertising.
• So the Maryland advertising tax imposes a tax on annual gross revenue derived from digital advertising
• And the tax rates range from 2.5% to 10%. It's a broad form of tax.
• Nobody likes taxes. Everybody hates taxes.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• And my question is about sales tax.” “What in the law, if anything, limits local sales tax?
• Would we come back and try to raise taxes?”
• Senator, I seem to recall in 2013 when we started cutting the income tax rate, that the income tax rate
• I understand why lowering taxes is a goal of people. I do want to pay lower taxes.
• rate has, their effective tax rate has decreased by 45% since 2013.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a tax increase.
• And this bill imposes a brand new sales tax on downloaded software and channels... tax on downloaded
• This was a... from the sales tax.
• This was a recognition that taxing digital goods the same way that we tax a toaster from Target or a
• to tax it also.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a business may have paid their sales tax late or didn't file at all because they had no liability,
• And if you do file late, even if you owe no sales tax, it's a $25 fine. I rise to explain my vote.
• And if you do file late, even if you owe no sales tax, it's a $25 fine.
• Even if you owe no sales tax, it's a $25 fine. So this bill came about.
• And we were left only with income tax, saying that if you fail to file your income tax, you would not

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair Avila: GOOD AFTERNOON, THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND TAX WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
• Collins: THE BILL IS THE MOTOR VEHICLE PACKAGE, IT BRINGS FLORIDA INTO COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL TAX
• THE STORY FROM THE LAST, FROM THIS SLIDE IS THE WE ADDED BASED ON WHAT YOU SAW BEFORE.
• THE TWO BIGGEST FORECAST CHANGES WERE SALES TAX AND EARNINGS ON INVESTMENT.
• THAT GENERATES TAX COLLECTIONS.

Transcript Highlights:

• He added that the companies and advanced industry sectors that make use of this tax credit, when they
• building, then they would be adding to the property tax assessment into the property tax base.
• building, then they would be adding to the property tax assessment into the property tax base.
• , the utility property tax and the municipal property taxes and the host communities.
• , the utility property tax and the municipal property taxes and the host communities.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means