Transcript Highlights:

• This does not cut any property taxes, despite what some in opposition have said.
• on property tax.
• The growth of the increase in the tax valuations on property tax. Move adoption. You'll questions.
• The consumers of property tax, those that receive the taxes on property owners, have continued to see
• The issue is not property valuations or tax valuations.

Bills: SB227 , SB1942 , SB1627 , SB625 , SJR39 , SJR47

Committee: House Rules

Summary: The committee heard several measures, led by SJR 39, a proposed constitutional amendment to send to voters that would cap annual homestead property tax valuation growth at 1% and all other property at 3%. The speaker argued it would not cut taxes but slow growth for taxpayers facing rising assessments, while opponents questioned the effect on county revenues, sheriff funding, and whether growth below inflation would strain local governments. After debate, the committee voted 10-2 to report the resolution due pass. The committee also heard HJR 47, which would place proof-of-identity requirements for voting in the Constitution. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity and noted existing law already requires proof of identity, while opponents raised concerns about impacts on voters with disabilities and the difficulty of changing constitutional language if problems arise. The measure was reported due pass on an 11-1 vote. Senate Bill 227, described as supporting fair taxation and investment without duplicative tax, and SB 1942, clarifying the distinction between reimbursable and reimbursed dental services to protect providers and patients, both passed the committee on near-unanimous votes. The committee then advanced SB 1627, a 116-page sentence-modernization and consolidation bill that was described as a cleanup measure with no substantive change to existing law, and it was reported due pass unanimously. Finally, SB 625 was presented as temporary cleanup language related to domestic violence legislation and judicial requests, with the sponsor noting the bill would be replaced by a floor substitute later; the committee approved it due pass 10-0. The meeting ended with the chair noting the committee was dismissed and likely to meet again under the rules committee schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• reducing income tax anyway then?
• And it would have to be in an ongoing category because that tax cut would be an ongoing income tax cut
• reducing income tax anyway then?
• We are... ...tax effective tax rate reduction.
• When you come to talk to what's happened on sales tax, multiple things have come off of the sales tax

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So this would maintain the tax preference for sales tax exemption for when a new data center is built
• So this would maintain the tax preference for sales tax exemption for when a new data center is built
• There's simply this insatiable tax appetite. There's simply this insatiable tax appetite.
• in the nation, and proposals like a payroll tax or a millionaire's income tax will only accelerate job
• in the nation, and proposals like a payroll tax or a millionaire's income tax will only accelerate job

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that becomes unaffordable for us with a small tax base when we're at the tax cap.
• And that becomes unaffordable for us with a small tax base when we're at the tax cap.
• On the sales tax, we have the third-highest sales tax in the state of Nevada.
• So typically, a tax increment also brings in the property tax rate, right?
• So when, so it's a different question on taxes, not on property tax.

Committee: Senate Government Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The conference committee amendment for HB 7031E provides for a number of tax reductions and other tax-related
• taxes from 8% to 5%, a reduction on slot machine revenue taxes from 35% to 34%, the elimination of a
• sales tax holiday, language clarifying the sales tax exemption for small propane gas tanks, a reduction
• of carbon taxes from 8% to 5%, a reduction on slot machine revenue taxes from 35% to 34%, the elimination
• I know there's the sales tax holidays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax Foundation with comments. Tax Foundation with comments online.
• You have general excise tax being paid. You have payroll tax being paid.
• </c> tax being paid.
• You have payroll tax tax being paid. You have payroll tax being<00:56:49.520><c> paid.
• Uh they're taxed at two different kegs. Uh they're taxed at two different<01:03:19.119><c> rates.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 302, which would expand access to medical cannabis by removing the in-person provider-patient relationship requirement and related restrictions. The Department of Health supported the bill, and multiple advocates and organizations testified in support, including the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance for Cannabis Reform, Marijuana Policy Project, and others. Supporters said the measure would improve access for patients, especially on outer islands, and some urged broader amendments allowing providers to certify cannabis for any medical condition and to speed registration and treat in-state and out-of-state patients equally. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left with no questions after testimony. The committee also heard HB 1052 HD1, which clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission may use universal service fund monies to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the DCCA Division of Consumer Advocacy, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Human Services, the Public Utilities Commission, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii. Witnesses described the program as an important accessibility service that has been operating under prior appropriations and should continue under the universal service program. HB 1482, relating to controlled substances and hemp/synthetic cannabinoids, drew support from the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Health, Honolulu Police Department, and others, with some comments from the Attorney General’s office. Supporters said the bill would clarify that delta-8 THC is a controlled substance and help enforcement against illegal hemp products and synthetic cannabinoids. Testimony and questioning focused on the need for better lab testing capacity, retail registry and age-gating, seizure authority, nuisance abatement, and possible use of special funds or appropriations to support enforcement. Members also discussed enforcement of illegal hemp businesses and whether additional funding or statutory changes would be needed. Finally, the committee took up HB 712, a 340B drug-discount measure affecting safety-net providers and contract pharmacies. Hospitals, health centers, and provider groups testified in support, saying the bill would protect access to discounted drugs and preserve funding for services such as chronic disease management, transportation, and specialty care. Pharmaceutical-industry representatives opposed the bill or sought amendments, arguing the 340B program has expanded beyond its original intent and lacks transparency, and they requested reporting or audit-like provisions to verify claims and revenues. Members questioned both sides about alleged abuse, the growth of contract pharmacies, and whether the bill should include transparency requirements before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, this is a tax that will be voted on by the residents of the city, and it is a tax for
• You know, this is a sales tax.
• revenue than a property tax.
• When you look at your tax bill— ...senior citizens are paying a tax bill, and the majority of it's going
• Currently, seniors don't pay an income tax. Currently, seniors don't pay an income tax.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• the annual non-Medicaid tax liability under the tax at $36 million annually.
• We have the AB 19 tax that is subject to Proposition 35 and the increased tax levels authorized by SB
• The current MCO tax imposes most of the tax on Medi-Cal enrollment and has very little...
• The current MCO tax imposes most of the tax on Medi-Cal enrollment and has very little tax on private
• So I'll start with the MCO tax.

Transcript Highlights:

• taxes, oil production tax, franchise tax, and insurance tax.
• , rental taxes, oil production tax, franchise tax, and insurance tax.
• Total tax.
• property tax relief. $51 billion for property tax.
• You got tax being collected and tax being spent. And we tax to feed the hand that's being spent.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor did not include tax conformity in the bill.
• The governor did not include tax conformity in the bill, in his budget.
• policy and where sales taxes are being spent, right?
• I started talking about sales tax distributions earlier.
• district property tax relief.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• How much will this tax be? His tax will be 10%. Thank you. Representative Underwood?
• The issue remains the 10% tax.
• get the option to tax these areas.
• Um, I don't think that is fair that a statewide tax on junk food should, That a statewide tax on junk
• By lowering the income tax, we attract businesses to Arkansas, and those businesses bring jobs and taxes

Committee: All BOYS STATE

Transcript Highlights:

• RENTAL PROPERTY AND GIVE THEM THE TAX BENEFIT AND THEY SEE THE TAX BENEFIT HOPEFULLY THEY PASS ON THOSE
• BUT THIS IS A TAX SHIFT TO THIS AND IF WE INCLUDE RENTED PROPERTIES IT IS A TAX SHIFT TO THE BUSINESSES
• AND FINANCE AND TAX I'M SORRY.
• THIS WOULD APPLY TO TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES AND LOCAL OPTION TAXES EXCEPT FOR THE TAXES HAVE BEEN PLEDGED
• OF THE LOCAL OPTION TAXES.

Transcript Highlights:

• always cut taxes.
• I paid sales tax on it.
• tax rate.
• That measure failed. taxes. Everybody was they were losing taxes.
• </c> massive tax increase. massive tax increase.

Transcript Highlights:

• property taxes?
• portion of grocery tax.
• It is a tax credit, and I know you know that. So it is a tax credit.
• for this tax credit?
• And that was just over 39,000 tax credits, families that had received the tax credit.

Bills: SB1177 , HB3705 , SB1942 , SB2026 , SB1533 , SB1327 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2159

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, received an invocation focused on grief and remembrance, and heard several special presentations recognizing a brave child, visiting groups, and multiple student-athlete teams and school groups in the galleries. The chamber also introduced the Doctor of the Day and Nurse of the Day. The main business was consideration of the Joint Committee report on Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriations bill, presented by Chairman Caldwell-Trey. Most of the floor time was spent on extended questions about the budget’s major features. Caldwell-Trey explained the bill as a largely flat or modestly increased budget that includes a $200 million transfer to a new sovereign wealth fund, $225 million in set-asides, a $12.5 million “dream accounts” program for newborns, and funding tied to teacher pay, education, workforce, public safety, agriculture, and health agencies. Members questioned the use of one-time funds for recurring expenses, the reduction in state contributions to the OPRS pension system, Medicaid assumptions, emergency management funding, veterans’ services, child care, school counselors, and the lack of funding for some requested items such as National Board Certified Teacher stipends and veterans’ facility maintenance. Caldwell-Trey defended the budget as transparent, early, and designed to preserve cash reserves while supporting core services. No final vote on the appropriations report is reflected in the transcript excerpt. The House also heard explanations that the limits bills would be run later in committee, and that the budget negotiations were still ongoing with the Senate and governor on some related items. The session ended with the queue closed after the budget questioning, and the transcript cuts off during additional remarks from Representative Timmons.

Transcript Highlights:

• is a tax credit scholarship program.
• Eighteen states have ESAs, eighteen states also have tax credit scholarships, three states have tax credit
• Very similar to tax credit scholarship programs, tax credit ESA programs involve scholarship granting
• Eleven states have tax credits and deductions. Minnesota has a tax credit and deduction.
• In terms of tax credits themselves, five states have refundable tax credits, such that an individual's

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> additional taxes on them this year. additional taxes on them this year. really<00:01:11.280><c>
• </c> record surplus that was spent and taxes record surplus that was spent and taxes and<00:02:43.360
• </c> taxes.
• And we made sure that uh taxes taxes.
• I know that's not a tax on cannabis?

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:26.239><c> Exemp</c> File 39, Long-Term Homeowner Tax Exemp File 39, Long-Term Homeowner Tax
• > one</c> sales and use tax statutes into one sales and use tax statutes into one chapter.<00:03:43.120
• </c> legislature that only included sales tax legislature that only included sales tax statutes<00:05
• ,</c> it's sales tax, it applies to use tax, it's sales tax, it applies to use tax, everything's<00:05
• statute or, sorry, in the use tax statutes that's now being put into the sales tax statutes.

Bills: SF0079 , SF0080 , SF0039

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• , there's personal income tax increases, and there's corporate income tax increases.
• Notice I said corporate income tax.
• It's only the corporate income tax.
• , and new corporate new sales taxes, and new corporate income<00:13:51.960><c> tax</c><00:13:52.320><
• </c> income tax that's part of the incentive. income tax that's part of the incentive.

Summary: The speaker outlined Kentucky’s economic development strategy and how the cabinet evaluates and awards incentives. He emphasized using national benchmarks such as Site Selection and Area Development magazines, focusing on real data, competitiveness, and performance-based incentives. He said the state is performing well nationally in investment rankings, and credited the legislature with providing tools that help attract and retain jobs, especially through speed to market, site readiness, transportation, and workforce coordination. A major portion of the remarks described the “anatomy” of an incentive package: first improving sites and infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads, and rail spurs; then using sales tax benefits for construction materials and equipment; then training support through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation; and finally the Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI) program, which reimburses qualifying expenses from incremental tax revenue. He said incentives are negotiated, data-driven, and targeted toward companies with strong wage levels, training plans, growth potential, and, in some cases, agricultural benefits or industry leadership. He also noted special treatment for heritage communities and said the state has expanded KBI beyond heavy manufacturing to include R&D, headquarters, and service businesses. The speaker also described compliance and oversight. Incentive agreements are written with job, wage, investment, and community-benefit terms, and companies must file regular reports and invoices. Cash incentives can be clawed back if commitments are not met, while tax credits are tied to actual investment and job creation. He said the Revenue Cabinet and Environment and Energy Cabinet play important monitoring roles, and that projects go through application review and preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority before final approval and payment. He closed by thanking legislators for their support and for allowing more flexible, capped, and data-driven incentive tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• of her employment taxes and her enterprise taxes.
• any state tax, which includes all of the excise taxes... ...sales tax?
• the local sales taxes in Illinois and the regional sales taxes.
• tax yeah it's any state tax which includes all of the excise taxes in the state of Illinois and all
• We've got the state sales tax and we've got a local option sales tax on meals.

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card heard extensive testimony from credit union, banking, retail, restaurant, and payments-industry representatives about proposals to limit interchange fees, especially on the tax and tip portions of transactions. Several witnesses opposed state-level restrictions, arguing they would create a patchwork of rules, burden state-chartered institutions, raise compliance complexity, and ultimately reduce resources for fraud prevention, cybersecurity, rewards, and access to credit. Others, including retail and merchant advocates, said swipe fees are a significant and growing cost for small businesses and that states should consider reforms such as limiting fees on taxes and tips, allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs more closely. Witnesses also discussed recent legal and regulatory developments, including Illinois’s interchange-fee law, OCC and NCUA interim rules, and the ongoing Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement. Industry representatives said the Illinois law has been delayed and is likely preempted for most transactions, while merchant advocates argued the state efforts and court rulings show that networks and banks do not set fees competitively. The proposed antitrust settlement was described by some as a meaningful but limited merchant victory, with temporary fee reductions and expanded surcharge/steering rights, while others said it still falls short of structural reform. The commission members pressed witnesses on the practical effects of fees, the cost of cash, whether merchants can pass costs through, and whether small businesses are actually seeing benefits from the current system. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for a fair middle ground that protects both small businesses and the payment system. No substantive votes or policy actions were taken beyond accepting testimony, and the meeting ended with adjournment after all scheduled witnesses had spoken.

Transcript Highlights:

• They proposed 2% tax cap. local level. They proposed 2% tax cap.
• </c> there's no tax cap. There's no tax cap. there's no tax cap. There's no tax cap.
• Do something about property<00:28:03.120><c> taxes.</c> property taxes. property taxes.
• </c> tax cap bills are? tax cap bills are?
• Um, have the 13 communities with tax caps experienced property tax relief?

Committee: House Election Law