Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to skip over the slides of the marriage credit and the solar energy system since we'll provide
• The marriage credit, the wind energy conversion systems, and the solar energy systems are those that
• credit and the slides of the marriage credit and the solar<00:07:25.280><c> energy</c><00:07:25.599>
• Um the marriage<00:07:38.240><c> credit,</c><00:07:38.479><c> the</c><00:07:38.639><c> wind</c><00:07
• :38.800><c> energy</c> marriage credit, the wind energy marriage credit, the wind energy conversion<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't mean just by marriage.
• So within a marriage, though, you know, you marry your person for love and happiness, but also you get
• could open a joint account, but they also have the option to open an account in the name of the marriage
• So, for example, your debts that you come into a marriage with, your spouse actually does not owe those
• If you have those debts before the marriage, those do not automatically transform into marital property

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sects of the religion of Islam, including the religious laws that condone honor killings, forced marriages
• , marriages of minors, domestic violence, and things of that nature.
• sects of the religion of Islam, including the religious laws that condone honor killings, forced marriages
• , marriages of minors, domestic violence, and things of that nature.

Summary: The committee considered several Senate bills for whether they were constitutional and in proper form. Senate Bill 1018 would add Sharia law to Arizona’s definition of foreign law and bar its enforcement when it would conflict with constitutional rights or state or federal law. The Rules Attorney flagged potential Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause problems, citing the Oklahoma Sharia-law case, but the committee still recommended the bill by a 5-3 vote. Senate Bill 1075 would restrict conveyances of real property to hostile foreign governments or their agents unless approved by a new state commission. The Rules Attorney warned it may be preempted by federal foreign-affairs authority and conflict with federal law governing foreign investment and national security. The committee nevertheless recommended it by a 5-3 vote. Senate Bill 1095, which bans gender transition procedures for minors and also restricts referrals for those procedures, was described as consistent with recent Supreme Court precedent on the underlying ban, but the referral restriction raised First Amendment concerns under Ninth Circuit case law; it was also recommended 5-3. Senate Bill 1635 would address alerting someone to an imminent law-enforcement arrest effort, with the Rules Attorney saying it was generally consistent with free-speech principles but suggesting clearer drafting around arrest-warrant execution and surveillance language. It was recommended 5-3. The committee then took up a large mass motion covering many additional Senate bills and several Senate Concurrent Memorials, which the Rules Attorney said were all constitutional and in proper form; that package was approved unanimously, 8-0, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was experiencing serious trouble in his marriage and quote unquote fell in love with his computer.
• was experiencing serious trouble in He was experiencing serious trouble in his<00:03:14.360><c> marriage
• <c> quote</c><00:03:15.840><c> unquote</c><00:03:16.120><c> fell</c><00:03:16.360><c> in</c> his marriage
• and quote unquote fell in his marriage and quote unquote fell in love<00:03:16.800><c> with</c><00:03
• or family therapist or um marriage or family therapist or psychologist<00:03:30.680><c> or</c><00:03

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Licensed marriage and family therapists...
• Licensed marriage and family therapists can fill multiple roles within our system.
• One is an expert in marriage and family counseling.
• I'm here on behalf of the California Marriage and Family Therapists.
• do, and can they only do marriage and family therapy?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They say that there are thousands of qualified licensed marriage and family therapists in California
• Licensed marriage and family...
• One is an expert in marriage and family counseling.
• I'm here on behalf of the California Marriage and Family Therapists.
• and can they only do marriage and family therapy?

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Office of the Inspector General and California Correctional Health Care Services on prison oversight, medical care, reentry, and related budget requests. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two additional intake analysts, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025 and explaining that the unit reviews and routes complaints, including PREA and staff misconduct allegations, within 30 days. Its medical inspection unit reported on cycle seven prison health inspections, noting generally adequate case-review performance but weak policy-compliance results, especially in medication management and health care environment indicators, and said it was beginning cycle eight with revised inspection methods. Members questioned the OIG about what kinds of complaints were driving the increase, whether the office tracks validity or systemic patterns, and how it distinguishes duplicative complaints from those already handled by CDCR. OIG said the largest categories were prison conditions and staff misconduct, that it does not determine whether complaints are “valid” in a statistical sense, and that it forwards issues to CDCR or other entities as appropriate. Senators also asked about the medical inspection findings, the remaining prisons not yet delegated back from federal receivership, and whether more detail should be provided in future reports. LAO and Department of Finance staff said they had no concerns with the OIG proposal. The committee then reviewed the correctional health care budget, including staffing, pharmacy, contract medical costs, and the state’s progress toward ending the Plata medical receivership. CDCR said it is trying to reduce vacancies through hiring events, social media outreach, new classifications, and more on-site care, while also using CalAIM to improve reentry services; CalAIM officials reported 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% managed care assignment, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about $14.7 million in reimbursements to date. Members pressed staff on the cost of receivership, the pace of delegation, whether more care could be consolidated into fewer facilities, and whether the state should seek more federal reimbursement or alternative staffing models. Finally, the committee discussed the new mental health receivership and a telemental health staffing proposal. The receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for the receiver’s office and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent; CDCR also sought about $8.9 million for telemental health staffing, growing to $13 million ongoing. LAO recommended approving the action plan and portions of the telehealth request, but urged the Legislature to monitor progress, consider out-of-state recruitment and expanded telehealth, and avoid across-the-board salary increases; Finance cautioned that out-of-state licensure would require major statutory changes and that staffing-ratio changes would need receiver approval. Senators raised concerns about the high cost of receiverships, vacancy-driven fines, the need for more detailed benchmarks, and whether the state should consolidate mental health populations and better target recruitment to fill hard-to-staff positions.

Transcript Highlights:

• fine with pushing a constitutional amendment to take away basic rights when they supported the anti-marriage
• fine with pushing a constitutional amendment to take away basic rights when they supported the anti-marriage
• fine with pushing a constitutional amendment to take away basic rights when they supported the anti-marriage
• <c> the</c> basic rights um when they supported the basic rights um when they supported the anti-marriage
• amendment um but second if anti-marriage amendment um but second if you're<00:21:47.799><c> so</c><00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 361 reclassifies registered interns as registered associates for clinical social work, marriage
• House Bill 361 reclassifies registered interns as registered associates for clinical social work, marriage
• an internship while you're getting your master's degree, whether it's mental health counseling, marriage
• So I am a registered marriage and family therapist intern.
• I'm currently getting my PhD in marriage and family therapy over at Florida State University.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee met with a quorum present and considered two bills. HB 361, by Rep. Nix, would reclassify registered interns as registered associates for clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, and mental health counseling, and would streamline supervision rules by removing the requirement that licensed supervisors be physically present in private practice settings. Supporters said the bill would modernize terminology, reduce barriers to practice, and expand access to mental health care while maintaining supervision and public safety. Several members raised concerns about possible unintended effects on community health centers and Medicaid workforce issues, but the bill drew broad support and passed 17-0, reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 1341, by Rep. Gonzales Pittman, which is aimed at preventing misuse of physician specialty titles and limiting those titles to practitioners who are actually board-certified in the specialty they claim. The sponsor emphasized that the bill does not address the general use of “doctor” or “physician,” only specialty designations such as dermatologist, gynecologist, neurologist, or plastic surgeon. Testimony in support came from medical and professional groups, including anesthesiologists and plastic surgeons, who said clearer titles help patients know who is treating them and improve safety. The Florida Optometric Association opposed the bill, arguing it could create confusion or omit optometric titles and other designations. Two amendments were adopted without objection. One removed a hospital name-tag requirement from the bill. The other changed a claims-denial provision so that denial letters need only disclose that a Florida-licensed physician in good standing made the decision, while the insurer must retain the physician’s identifying information for potential litigation or discovery. Some members supported the privacy protections, while others questioned whether the amendment was germane to the bill. As amended, HB 1341 passed 13-4 and was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• They say that there are thousands of qualified, licensed marriage and family therapists in California
• Licensed marriage and family...
• One is an expert in marriage and family counseling.
• I'm here on behalf of the California Marriage and Family Therapists.
• do, and can they only do marriage and family therapy?

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program, and the Coleman mental health receivership. The hearing focused on correctional health care, reentry, aging incarcerated populations, and the state’s progress toward compliance in the Plata and Coleman receiverships. Members also discussed the OIG’s intake complaint workload and medical inspection findings, as well as broader questions about staffing, vacancies, and the cost of court oversight. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two permanent positions in its intake processing unit, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025. OIG officials said complaints are categorized by issue and prison, prioritized by urgency, and generally responded to within 30 days, but they do not track complaint “validity” rates. The medical inspection unit reported that in cycle seven, case review performance was generally adequate while policy compliance was often inadequate; the lowest-scoring areas included emergency services, medication management, and health care environment. Members asked for more detailed reporting on complaint types, priority levels, and systemic issues. CCHCS described rising health care costs driven by an aging prison population, staffing vacancies, and contract medical expenses. Officials said more than 80% of the budget is personal services, and they are using hiring events, social media outreach, and expanded classifications to reduce vacancies. CalAIM officials reported early implementation success in pre-release and reentry services, including 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% assigned managed care plans, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about 169,000 claims submitted and $14.7 million reimbursed. The LAO noted that the Plata medical receivership has increased per-person costs and that the state should continue oversight while seeking ways to reduce vacancies and expand federal reimbursement opportunities. For the Coleman mental health receivership, the receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for receiver office staffing and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent. The LAO supported continued oversight but recommended additional steps to address vacancies, including greater out-of-state recruitment, expanded telemental health, and possible consolidation of mental health services. The LAO also recommended reducing the telemental health staffing request and monitoring its effects. Members questioned the long-term cost of receiverships, the pace of compliance, and whether more detailed benchmarks and staffing data should be provided. No formal votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• On what form, like a marriage license? Sure. Okay, a marriage license, yes.
• I had to have my marriage license and my current...
• Marriage-related name change.
• Marriage License, Divorce Decree, Annulment, Department of State, Health Services, Marriage verification
• Mexico to obtain a new marriage certificate, if necessary.

Bills: HB2442 , HB3697 , HB4288 , HB5256 , HB5337 , HB5362 , HJR161

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: HB 2442, Texas Election Code, Election Code Section 84.001, early voting, ballot by mail, mail ballot, absentee voting, runoff election, primary runoff, general runoff, voter application, election administration, county election officials, opt-out, voter choice, mail voting, ballot application, voting by mail, Election Code, size requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• After 46 years of marriage, I'm not confused. Smart man.
• </c><00:05:27.000><c> 46</c><00:05:27.600><c> years</c><00:05:27.840><c> of</c><00:05:27.919><c> marriage
• ,</c><00:05:28.400><c> I'm</c><00:05:28.560><c> not</c> I After 46 years of marriage, I'm not I After
• 46 years of marriage, I'm not confused.

Committee: Senate Confirmations

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> After 41 years of marriage, which we celebrated on Monday? No, I am not.
• after<00:09:48.399><c> 41</c><00:09:48.959><c> years</c><00:09:49.279><c> of</c><00:09:49.519><c> marriage
• </c><00:09:49.920><c> which</c><00:09:50.160><c> we</c> &gt;&gt; after 41 years of marriage which we
• &gt;&gt; after 41 years of marriage which we celebrated<00:09:50.880><c> on</c><00:09:51.120><c> Monday

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you be surprised that marriage records, vital statistics, both birth records and marriage records
• Would you be surprised that marriage records, vital statistics, both birth records and marriage records
• Would you be surprised that marriage records, vital statistics, both birth records and marriage records
• Would you be surprised that marriage records, vital statistics, both birth records and marriage records
• Marriage records, vital statistics, both birth records and marriage records, is supposed to be available

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't mean just by marriage.
• business account, I mean, what are some of the scenarios where a joint account would be necessary, marriage
• So within a marriage, though, you know, you marry your person for love and happiness, but also you get
• So, for example, your debts that you come into a marriage with, your spouse actually does not owe those
• If you have those debts before the marriage, those do not automatically transform into marital property

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2116, which drew comments about children’s education and an amendment offered by Representative Hinman. Hinman explained the amendment would phase out the Missouri tax subtraction for contributions to non-Missouri 529 plans for new users beginning January 1, 2027, while allowing existing users to continue. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a substitute, and then voted the House Committee substitute do pass by a vote of 11 yeas, 3 nays, and 1 present. Hinman also noted concerns from the investment community about the absence of an advisor-sold 529 option and urged the department to work toward restoring it. In public hearing, Representative Lane Roberts presented House Bill 1870, a garnishment and exemption update that would modernize long-outdated exemption amounts, tie some amounts to CPI adjustments, increase the homestead exemption, and create new procedures for garnishment of financial institution account funds. The Missouri Bankers Association supported the bill, saying it was the product of extensive work with stakeholders and would improve efficiency and reduce legal risk for banks, while also protecting debtors’ rights. Questions focused on joint accounts, business accounts, and notice to account holders; a private attorney speaking in opposition argued the bill could improperly shift burdens onto non-debtor account holders and raised concerns about tenancy by the entirety, corporate accounts, and equitable garnishment. Representative Castile then presented House Bill 2586, which would lower the minimum credit union membership share from $25 to $1 and allow credit union board and committee meetings and voting by electronic means. The Missouri Credit Union Association supported the bill, saying it would improve access for members who need the $25 and help boards meet despite weather or distance, while also aligning state law more closely with federal practice. Finally, Representative Oehlerking presented House Bill 3107, the “Safe Harbor” bill, which would shield financial institutions from civil liability under state law when they act in good faith reliance on written guidance from regulators, while excluding fraud, intentional misconduct, willful wrongdoing, and gross negligence. Credit union and banking representatives supported the measure as a defense against costly litigation based on compliance with required forms and guidance, while an opposing attorney argued the bill relied on nonpublic agency guidance, raised separation-of-powers concerns, and could leave consumers without recourse; witnesses also discussed possible examples such as overdraft fee litigation and the need for any guidance to be public and reviewable.

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution or the state constitution where marriage is included.
• Representative Fugate: Yeah, if you'll look closely, you'll find that marriage is not in the Constitution
• Constitution or the state constitution where marriage is included.
• I don't have anything. where marriage is included.
• Yeah, if you'll look closely, you'll find that marriage is not in the Constitution at all.

Bills: HB3015 , HB3114 , HB3411 , HB3567 , HB3568 , HB3749 , HB3891 , HB4229 , HB4237 , HB4253 , HJR1019 , HJR1046 , HJR1084

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: electronic credentials, Service Oklahoma, digital identification, data protection, driver's license, electronic monitoring, criminal justice reform, nonviolent offenders, Department of Corrections, parole, state law, biosolids, PFAS, environmental safety, agriculture, public health, Department of Environmental Quality, testing regulations, soil amendments, HB3567

Summary: The committee first announced that House Bills 3568 and 3891 and H.J.R. 1019 would be laid over and not heard that day. It then took up a series of bills, adopting PCS versions where offered and generally moving them forward with do-pass recommendations. House Bill 3015 would allow Oklahomans to add a driver’s license to a digital wallet and use it as an optional credential; members questioned why legislation was needed now versus the 2019 digital ID effort and whether the state would work directly with Apple and Google rather than a third-party vendor. The bill passed 10-0. Other measures included House Bill 314, which adds a DOC electronic monitoring ineligibility item; House Bill 3567, which increases transparency in campaign fund use and was amended to correct a citation; House Bill 3749, which lets county clerks, county court clerks, and county commissioners retain outside counsel; House Bill 4229, which narrows when schools may declare emergencies for contracts when facilities are unusable; and House Bill 4237, which modernizes collection of criminal court fees, fines, and costs. Each of these bills advanced, with HB 3749 drawing the most discussion over whether it duplicates district attorney services and whether county commissioners would be approving their own outside-counsel contracts. The committee also advanced House Bill 4253, a union-related bill that the author said he was carrying as a vehicle and would substantially revise before final passage; members discussed federal labor-law concerns and the bill passed 10-0. House Joint Resolution 1046 would exempt homeowners from property tax for a year if a residence is uninhabitable for six months after a disaster; members debated the impact on local tax bases and whether existing ad valorem refund mechanisms should be used instead, and it passed 10-0. House Joint Resolution 1084, which states that Oklahoma and U.S. constitutional standards govern courtroom matters and no court should enforce incompatible religious law, passed 8-2 after questions about whether it addressed a current problem. Finally, House Bill 3411 on biosolids and PFAS testing would require DEQ testing and disclosure to landowners and authorize treatment protocols; it passed 9-1. The meeting ended with notice that the next rules meeting was moved to Thursday at 11:30 in a different room due to technical difficulties.

Transcript Highlights:

• As an organization based on religious values, we believe that marriage is one of the most sacred commitments
• However, based on statistical realities and data that has emerged over the years, legal marriage does
• This results in better outcomes for individuals in that marriage and for children in the home as well
• that spouses should not be forced to choose between continuing their college education and their marriage
• Balancing education and marriage is crucial.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• I also learned about the risks of engaging in sexual activities before marriage.
• </c><00:43:47.839><c> Everything</c><00:43:48.079><c> I</c> activities before marriage.
• Everything I activities before marriage.
• In a culture that often rushes intimacy, delaying sexual activity until marriage is a countercultural
• </c> delaying sexual activity until marriage delaying sexual activity until marriage is<00:52:02.000>

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the summer of 2020, they had decided to marry, but there was an impediment to this marriage, and it
• She was told she would lose her health care by the marriage, and then she would not be eligible for..
• She was told she would lose her health care by the marriage, but she would not be eligible for her husband's
• would assume the $720 monthly penalty that would be required when she would go on Medicare after the marriage
• would assume the $720 monthly penalty that would be required when she would go on Medicare after the marriage

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public employees, retirees, and public safety personnel. Early testimony focused on House Bill 2859, which would make Massachusetts Department of Correction industrial instructors permanent civil service employees after years of provisional status, and House Bill 2995, which would reduce the Boston Fire Cadet Program service requirement from two years to one year. Supporters of the Boston fire cadet bill argued it would improve equity, expand opportunities for Boston residents, and help diversify the Boston Fire Department; committee members asked about the current makeup of academy classes and the effect of a hybrid model, and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association was described as neutral on a separate age-related police bill. The committee also heard several proposals related to post-retirement earnings and civil service rules for police and fire retirees. Testimony supported bills including H. 2903 and H. 2966, which would loosen earnings limits for retired public safety workers returning to work, and related measures affecting civil service exemptions and professional services for retirement boards. Speakers argued the current limits are confusing, discourage experienced workers from filling needed municipal jobs, and can create safety issues on public works and construction sites. One witness from Worcester Police supported raising the police academy age limit from 32 to 39 to improve recruitment, especially in BIPOC communities, while Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata supported a separate bill to raise the Boston Police Academy age cap from 39 to 45. A substantial portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 2812 and S. 1817, which would increase the pension COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and freeze certain retiree health insurance contribution rates, with additional testimony about capping out-of-pocket health costs for some retirees. Educators and union representatives said the current COLA structure has eroded pension value and leaves retirees struggling with rising costs, while one witness described long delays and confusion in navigating retiree health coverage. The committee took no substantive votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after hearing all testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• colleagues, Senator Leas, who, when we talked about this issue and the claim that there's this big marriage
• colleagues, Senator Leas, who, when we talked about this issue and the claim that there's this big marriage
• I don't know, Madam Speaker or Senator Peterson, the non-discrimination initiative in 1997 on to marriage
• I mean, that was passed then a decade by the legislature, but marriage equality supported by the voters
• In a decade by the legislature, but marriage equality supported by the voters by well over 50%.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders announced and defended a new “Millionaire’s Tax” bill, saying it is intended to raise revenue from the highest earners while reducing reliance on sales tax and B&O tax and funding education, health care, community safety, and other state needs. They said the proposal is a starting point and will likely change as they continue talks with the governor, business groups, local governments, and other stakeholders. They also said the bill is not subject to cutoff because it affects state revenue, and that the Senate hearing is scheduled first in Ways and Means, with the House expected to follow after the Senate version moves over. The leaders described the bill as narrowly targeted at roughly 30,000 individual payers, with the first $1 million of income taxed at zero and the rate matching the state capital gains tax above that level. They argued the measure is not a broad income tax and rejected claims that it creates a marriage penalty, saying the structure mirrors the capital gains tax and uses Washington’s capital gains definitions. They also said the bill includes credits and deductions to address pass-through businesses, including dollar-for-dollar credits for B&O and public utilities taxes and an election allowing some businesses to pay the tax at the entity level. A major part of the discussion focused on how the bill would use revenue. Leaders said about 5% would go to counties for public defense costs tied to a new Supreme Court mandate, while the rest would support tax relief and new spending. They said the package would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, increase the small business credit, end the B&O surcharge a year early, and exempt some hygiene and grooming products from sales tax, with the tax-relief share estimated in the 20% range. They also said the necessity clause is needed because of structural budget problems and federal policy changes, and they expressed confidence that voters and lawmakers have become more open to taxing high earners, citing the capital gains tax vote and broader public concern about inequality and federal cuts.

Transcript Highlights:

• colleagues, Senator Leas, who, when we talked about this issue and the claim that there's this big marriage
• colleagues, Senator Leas, who, when we talked about this issue and the claim that there's this big marriage
• don't know, Madam Speaker or Senator Peterson, the non-discrimination initiative in 1997, on to marriage
• I mean, that was passed then a decade by the legislature, but marriage equality supported by the voters
• In a decade by the legislature, but marriage equality supported by the voters by well over 50%.

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders, joined by Speaker Laurie Jinkins and House Finance Chair April Berg, introduced a “Millionaire’s Tax” proposal and framed it as a way to reduce Washington’s reliance on sales tax and B&O tax while raising revenue from the state’s highest earners. They said the bill is a starting point and will continue to change through negotiations with the governor, business groups, local governments, and lawmakers. The leaders also said the proposal is intended to support education, health care, public safety, and tax relief measures such as sales tax exemptions on hygiene products, an expanded working families tax credit, a larger small business tax credit, and an early end to the B&O surcharge. The governor had already said he could not support the bill in its current form, which the sponsors said surprised them because they had spoken positively with him the day before. They said the bill will not be the same by the time it reaches his desk and that they expect continued talks to address his concerns, including more money for small business relief and the working families tax credit. They also defended the bill’s structure, saying it mirrors the state capital gains tax, uses Washington’s capital gains definition, and includes credits intended to prevent double taxation for pass-through businesses and others already paying B&O or related taxes. Much of the discussion focused on criticism from Republicans and outside groups that the proposal amounts to a marriage penalty or could drive away high earners and tech businesses. Democratic leaders rejected those concerns, saying the tax applies only to income above $1 million, that the first million is taxed at zero, and that the state would still compare favorably with other income-tax states. They said about 30,000 taxpayers would be affected and estimated the bill would raise roughly $3.5 billion, with about 5% dedicated to county public defense costs. They also said the bill is not subject to cutoff because it affects state revenue, and that the Senate public hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Ways and Means, with the House expected to hear the Senate version later in the process.