Transcript Highlights:

• There's a request from them to increase...
• There's a request from them to increase... We have a motion from Senator Hatcher.
• commissioners, probate judge, sheriffs, tax assessor, tax collectors, revenue commissioners, license
• commissioners, and even assistant tax assessors or collectors.
• Between local officials for county commissioners, probate judge, sheriffs, tax assessor, tax collectors

Bills: SB249, SB259, HB67, HB214

Keywords: municipal tax, license fee, local tax increase, ordinance, public hearing, 30-day notice, municipal notice requirements, city council, town council, Alabama municipalities, Code of Alabama 1975, Section 11-45-2, open meetings website, newspaper publication, local government finance, tax transparency, fee increase, municipal ordinance procedure, University of South Alabama, Board of Trustees

Transcript Highlights:

• And we support this bill because it provides a tax savings for local businesses that choose to purchase
• It offers tax relief to businesses that are Investing in local agriculture and supply chains.
• from their tax liability.
• In the tax code from state sales tax on the purchase and rental of its vehicles.
• And may be used against the Texas business franchise tax or the Texas insurance premium tax.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, so, um, just to clarify, the ESF is a tax on oil and gas severance taxes right?
• in a, in a traditional sense like a sales tax or property tax.
• It is still a tax on private industry that we're using.
• What this bill seeks to do is, is increase funding.
• use tax revenues on manufactured housing.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• It's taxing.
• This bill aims to increase the amount of youth who can access rehabilitative treatment and lower long-term
• We do want to increase reporting, Representative Ramos.
• I was never offered a victim advocate by local law enforcement in Georgetown.
• I was never given information about local resources.

Bills: HB47

Keywords: HB 47, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem taxes, property tax, voter-approval tax rate, tax rate election, taxing unit, injunction, taxpayer rights, property owner, local government finance, tax refund, attorney's fees, court costs, voter-approved tax increase, tax reform, municipal taxes, county taxes, school district taxes, bond election

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a $50,000 increase.
• That's a $50,000 increase, coupled with our existing increases to the homestead exemption of SB 4.
• ' increases in Social Security do follow inflation, but a whole lot of that is eaten up by increases
• Renting is not a good thing necessarily because the rents increase when property taxes increase, and
• taxes equals the levy.

Bills: SB23, SJR85

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 23 and its companion constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 85, both by Senator Bettencourt. The bills would increase the additional homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000, which proponents said would significantly reduce property taxes and help seniors and disabled Texans age in place. Bettencourt and supporters described the measure as part of a broader property tax relief package, estimating combined savings of about $950 for over-65 and disabled homeowners when paired with other recent homestead exemption changes. Witnesses largely supported the proposal. Testimony in favor came from a lawyer, a private citizen, Texas Realtors, the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, and the Texas Association of Builders, all emphasizing relief for fixed-income seniors, housing stability, and the ability to remain in their homes. Several witnesses noted rising property taxes, medical costs, and the challenges seniors face in moving or affording home modifications. One witness from Every Texan said a flat homestead exemption is the most equitable way to cut property taxes, but argued against additional tax cuts generally, favoring a circuit-breaker approach and warning that permanent tax cuts could reduce funding for schools and other needs. The committee also discussed data showing many over-65 homeowners already pay no school property taxes in some counties and that the proposed changes would increase that share. After closing public testimony, the committee voted on the measures. Senate Bill 23 was reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote, and S.J.R. 85 was also reported favorably by a 7-0 vote. The transcript also shows Senate Bill 898 being laid out and passed unanimously earlier in the meeting, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• exemptions for state taxes with the opportunity for locals to opt in rather than mandate those local
• . taxes. taxes.
• . taxes. taxes.
• provide tax exemptions for state taxes provide tax exemptions for state taxes with<00:08:48.800>
• than mandate those local taxes.<00:08:53.920> Does<00:08:54.080> this<00:08:54.399>

Bills: HB87, HB96, HB28, HB87, HB96, HB28

Keywords: HB87, Marengo County, coroner, deputy coroner, county commission, expense allowance, mileage allowance, travel reimbursement, local act, local legislation, county general fund, public official compensation, county office, Section 45-46-60, Alabama Code, salary increase, allowance increase, National Signing Day, athletic scholarships, military enlistment

Bills: HB214, HB217, HB253, HB411, HB440, HB514, HB515, HB543, HB614, HB620, HB658, HB812, HB898, HB961

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, income tax, tax repeal, individuals, estates, trusts, tax reduction, state revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• And so these mixed income deals use the reduction in property taxes that they receive from the local
• It is costing your... it is a property tax increase.
• It's a property tax increase.
• It is a property tax increase. Thank you. Chairman: Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you.
• The review of local city charter impact and approval would represent a significant increase in workload

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Local Government will come to order. We'll call the roll in a second.
• That's a $50,000 increase coupled with our existing increases.
• One of the foundations of the Lincoln Land Institute is targeted tax relief.
• There are winners and losers with every tax relief.
• We do have the best property tax system.

Bills: SB23, SJR85, SB 23

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a simple little two-page bill that provides that sales and use tax levied by local law for specific
• As you will know, in Baldwin County, we levy a tax countywide. That tax is for education.
• It is a local issue, and I really have a problem when we have a local issue that we want to spread all
• authorized by local law, not state law.
• fee or an extension of a... ...new tax or fee or an extension of a tax or fee.

Bills: SB270, SB275, HB264, HB281, SB236, SB247, SB249, SB253, SB259

Keywords: county tax, education funding, capital projects, local government, sales tax, food trucks, mobile vendors, business license, health inspection, statewide regulation, zoning ordinances, vessel registration, boating fees, state funds, regulatory changes, water safety, municipal zoning, zoning board, appeals process, circuit court

Transcript Highlights:

• The SMR tax for the city of Coppell is a special sales tax utilized by cities across Texas to repair
• to propose the adoption of an M&O tax rate above the voter approval tax rate for a specific purpose.
• Taxpayers have raised concerns that taxing units re-propose bond propositions and tax rate increases
• Increasing taxes on property owners is a serious matter.
• pay their taxes.

Bills: SB1277, SB1531, SB2452, SB2520, SB2521, SB2529, SB2538, SB2539, SB2541, SB2873

Keywords: municipal sales tax, street maintenance, local option tax, Tax Code Chapter 327, sales and use tax, street repair, sidewalk maintenance, water infrastructure, wastewater system, stormwater system, local election, ballot language, reauthorization, municipal finance, infrastructure funding, Texas municipalities, street and sidewalk tax, special district tax, public works, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• in affordable housing, and then state and local government taxes that investment at anywhere from 5
• would continue roughly at current levels, meaning the proposed tax deduction wouldn't meaningfully increase
• It's a very small hit on state and local taxes in return for a really big benefit. Thank you.
• Increased sales during the tax holiday could boost revenue for these shops, strengthen local economies
• What we did is we increased the tax by 1.25% on every other product.

Bills: SB36, SB88, SB92, SB97, SB48, SB55, SB58, SB76, SB93, SB89, SB60

Keywords: quantum technology, tax credit, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, foster care, income tax, guardianship, youth services, financial relief, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, tax credits

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 120, which is the local journalist employment tax credit, and Senate Bill 133, which is the
• I do want to credit Senator Ramos because for Senate Bill 12, we are able to increase the tax credit
• I do want to credit Senator Ramos because for Senate Bill 12, we are able to increase the tax credit
• We are able to increase the tax credit from $4,000 to $10,000.
• Low-flow gross receipts tax has increased by 85%.

Bills: SB12, SB36, SB92, SB120, SB133, SB151, SB18, SB96

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Transcript Highlights:

• This aligns TIF approval with the same democratic standards applied to bond issues and other tax increases
• Local taxing jurisdictions must explicitly consent.
• The study must analyze the effects on schools, local districts, local taxing entities, net economic activity
• And then the property taxes and sales taxes come in down the line.
• of bonuses and pay increase.

Bills: HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: purchasing, compliance, state employees, longevity pay, contract management, unclaimed property, service charges, property fund, accountability, government transparency, local development, economic impact, voter approval, tax increment financing, review committee, public finance, blight, salary increase, bonus limits, job performance

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires a city or town to submit any proposed increase in a TPT or excise tax to the city or
• Additionally, the bill prohibits a city or town from adopting a new TPT or excise tax, increasing an
• Additionally, the bill prohibits a city or town from adopting a new TPT or excise tax, increasing an
• Phoenix and Tucson have justified recent local tax increases by blaming state income tax policy, particularly
• Phoenix increased its city's transaction privilege tax from 2.3% to 2.8% just effective last year.

Bills: SB1433, SB1434, SB1435, SB1567, SB1571, SB1686, SB1745, SCR1024, SCR1025, HB2671, HB2676, HCR2044

Keywords: county boundaries, Maricopa, Gila, Pinal, Yavapai, Yuma, La Paz, local governance, Arizona Revised Statutes, Maricopa county, county division, new counties, intergovernmental agreements, special election, shared use agreements, education, explicit material, parental consent, student protection, library access

Summary: The committee approved the February 4, 2026 minutes and held SB 1571 until the following week. It then heard and advanced several measures, beginning with SB 1745, which would cap transaction privilege/excise tax rates in the state’s largest cities at 2.5% per classification unless approved by voters, and would allow enforcement through the attorney general and state-shared revenue withholding. Supporters argued it would protect taxpayers and restrain municipal tax increases; the bill received a technical amendment and a due pass recommendation. The committee also advanced SB 1686, renaming Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza as the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza and authorizing memorial placements for Don Bowles and Charlie Kirk, after brief supportive discussion and no substantive opposition testimony. The committee spent substantial time on SB 1567 and SB 1435, both aimed at restricting public entities, schools, and libraries from exposing minors to sexually explicit materials and from using public facilities for sexually explicit filming or access. Supporters framed the bills as child-protection measures and cited examples of explicit books and materials in libraries and schools; opponents, including the ACLU, warned the definitions were broad, could chill speech, and could criminalize librarians and educators for handling constitutionally protected literature or sex-education materials. Both bills were amended and passed on 4-3 votes, with supporters emphasizing existing obscenity standards and opponents stressing First Amendment concerns and implementation problems. The committee also advanced SB 1433 and SB 1434, which would redraw Maricopa County boundaries and, in the latter bill, create three new counties with a transition board and staggered elections. The sponsor argued Maricopa County had become too large and politically dominant, making government less representative and less responsive; opponents called the proposals expensive, disruptive, and politically motivated, citing concerns about debt division, duplicated county systems, and fiscal impacts. Both bills received due pass recommendations on 4-3 votes. Finally, the committee approved SCR 1024, requiring legislators to live in their district for one year before election, and SCR 1025, moving the legislative session start date from the second Monday to the fourth Monday in January; both resolutions passed unanimously or near-unanimously after sponsor testimony that they would modernize outdated rules and improve use of time.

Transcript Highlights:

• A frozen local optional revenue allowance means each year districts absorb inflationary cost increases—salaries
• For many districts with state average or higher tax bases, it's all local levy.
• tax base.
• Without levies as a local tax base, charter schools must carry things in their operating budgets other
• Without levies as a local tax base.

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes a base annual salary of the tax assessor and the tax collector of Jefferson County. and the
• tax collector of Jefferson County.
• assessor or tax collector's office.
• And that base salary may not increase but shall not decrease after... increase but shall not decrease
• Senate local bills. Okay, they're coming. In other words...

Bills: HB375, HB494, HB375

Keywords: pistol permits, Jefferson County, fees, public schools, fund distribution, tax collector, tax assessor, compensation, salary increase, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so these mixed-income deals. use the reduction in property taxes that they receive from the local
• It is a property tax increase. I can't say it any plainer than that. It's a property tax increase.
• It's a taking of the local tax base from a jurisdiction that had no control over it.
• It is a property tax increase. Thank you. Questions? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Also, the reason why local property taxes are so high, especially in El Paso County, is that 70% of El

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 636 seeks to foster a collaborative strategy to... ...increase communication across people experiencing

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• as they pay more in property taxes this means that more money goes to their local school districts.
• tax.
• So as of that date they would pull two numbers, what are my local M&O property tax collections, and what
• should not pay taxes. on that increase because of some border infrastructure.
• tax.

Bills: HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR2, HJR4, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34, HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34

Keywords: school district, ad valorem tax, local revenue, tax collection, education funding, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure, Texas-Mexico border, ad valorem taxation, farm products, livestock, timber, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment