Transcript Highlights:

• > not<00:58:01.000> just Improving clearance rates is not just Improving clearance rates
• top levers to drop our homicide rate. top levers to drop our homicide rate.
• our homicide rate last year by 50%. our homicide rate last year by 50%. 50<01:04:23.880> our<
• > the<01:04:25.040> those 50 our clearance rate for the those 50 our clearance rate for the
• question is 2.8 2.9 it's with high rates question is 2.8 2.9 it's with high rates of<01:08:56.319

Bills: HF1082, HF2099, HF4177, HF2742

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, emergency management, local government, funding, preparedness, Minnesota, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, use of force, police accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse me, the old rollback rate, but now we call it the voter-approved rate.
• tax rates at the voter-approval tax rate, and how often voters have approved tax rates in excess of
• the voter-approval rate.
• rate, and 19% of cities approved by voters tax rates above the voter-approval rate.
• counties had tax rates above the voter-approval rate that were approved by voters.

Bills: SB9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to reduce taxes and change the bonding rates.
• Those rate increases are basically 2, 4, and 6%.
• They are going to increase your rates 237% in Salome. That's quite a bit.
• They are going to increase your rates 237% in Salome. That's quite a bit.
• They're raising the rates on those people. They're raising the rates on those people, 237%.

Bills: HB2113, HB2237, HB2824, HB2926, HB2939, HB2950

Keywords: utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, appropriation, Apache Junction, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, infrastructure, C-PACE, capital expenditure, special assessment, property improvement, local government financing, energy efficiency, water conservation

Summary: The committee began with a presentation on the modernization of the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Testimony from the port authority chair, a county supervisor, and the Nogales mayor emphasized that the port is outdated, flood-prone, congested, and a safety concern because CBP facilities and traffic lanes sit on or near the international boundary and stormwater infrastructure. Speakers said the port is critical to local and state commerce, tourism, and tax revenue, and requested state support and letters backing federal funding efforts. Members discussed the sewer/stormwater flooding issue, the estimated $1.5 billion to $2 billion cost, and the need for federal action; the chair said a letter of support would be prepared for committee members to sign. The committee then heard and passed HB 2237, which appropriates $4.5 million for Apache Junction’s Superstition Trails and visitor gateway project, and HB 2926, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act. HB 2926 would create expedited permitting for workforce housing, provide a single point of contact, reduce the state portion of prime contracting tax for qualifying projects, and lower the population threshold for certain industrial development authority bond actions. After an amendment, the bill passed 6-1. Testimony in support came from the sponsor and housing advocates, who said the bill would help address Arizona’s missing-middle housing shortage and reduce regulatory delays. The committee also passed HB 2113, which would require RUCO to intervene in utility rate cases when proposed residential rate increases are 100% or more. The sponsor argued RUCO should focus more on rural customers facing large percentage increases, while RUCO’s director said the office has only nine staff, a $1.9 million budget, and limited capacity, warning the bill could increase costs and delay cases. Members discussed rural ratepayer impacts, and the bill passed 5-1-1. HB 2824, authorizing local C-PACE programs for voluntary financing of commercial property improvements, also passed unanimously after testimony that it would support energy, water, and infrastructure upgrades without state general fund exposure. Finally, HB 2939, a rural investment tax credit bill tied to large qualifying investments and net new jobs, passed unanimously after Lucid Motors testified in support. The committee held HB 2950 due to time and adjourned, noting it would be heard first next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Texas Municipal retirement System with greater flexibility in determining employee contribution rates
• Under current law, a city may set member contribution rates at 5%, 6%, or 7% of employee compensation
• It does not mandate an increase in contribution rates.
• Municipalities that adopted different contribution rates for different departments prior to September
• adds the option that is completely voluntarily voluntary by municipality to add an 8% contribution rate

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:

• of return, uh, and the interest rates on the ESF and I understand the importance of liquidity, but I
• A $5 billion investment at that rate earns about $210 million a year.
• Their average rate of return has been 8%.
• What's the, what's the rate of return on that?
• Uh, filing it with the rates as an expense or, uh, filing it, uh, with individual policyholders.

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:

• rates should be.
• <00:25:16.720> interim<00:25:17.200> rates being recovered in rates. interim rates
• So they that rather than um through interim rates or rate.
• So they that rather than um through interim rates or rate.
• So they that rather than um through interim rates or rate.

Bills: HF4236, HF4122, HF4377

Keywords: public utility, interim rates, utility rates, rate case, general rate case, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, PUC, rate increase cap, rate freeze, refunds, customer refunds, ratepayer protection, electric utility, gas utility, regulated utility, ratemaking, return on equity, rate base, test year, rate design

Bills: SB15, SB9, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB15, SB9

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap

Bills: SB15, SB9, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB15, SB9

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse me, the old rollback rate, but now we call it the voter-approved rate.
• Draw attention to tax rates.
• Tax rates matter.
• no new revenue rate.
• rate.

Bills: SB9, SB 9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit, school assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• So market value, market rate one bedroom might be $1,500.
• Tax rates change every year.
• So aside from the M&O rate, but if and to the extent you have an I&S rate on your bonds, you may have
• And could that potentially also affect your bond rating?
• Thank you all for talking to the ratings agencies.

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:

• It simply reduces the rollback rate, a.k.a. now the voter-approved tax rate, for taxing jurisdictions
• It simply reduces the rollback rate, a.k.a. now the voter-approved tax rate, for taxing jurisdictions

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance met in the second special session and considered a series of bills, mostly related to flood response, water infrastructure, taxation, school accountability, property fraud, and legislative procedure. Senator Zaffirini presented SB 18 on TCEQ permit exemptions for certain erosion, floodwater, and sediment control dams or reservoirs; Senator Perry presented SB 2 on flood relief preparedness, SB 14 on credit impact fees and water supply/conservation incentives, and SB 5 on Hill Country relief funding; Senator Bettencourt presented SB 3 on early warning flood sirens, SB 9 on replacing STAAR with three annual tests and strengthening A-F accountability, and SB 10 on lowering the rollback tax rate from 3.5% to 2.5%; Senator West presented SB 16 on property transaction ID requirements and new real property theft/fraud offenses; and Chair Huffman laid out SB 34, which changes legislative witness immunity rules from transactional immunity to testimonial immunity consistent with federal law. The committee also heard brief explanations that several bills were the same as versions previously passed by the Senate or committee, and there was limited public testimony, with no witnesses on most bills and only position cards on SB 16. Senator West raised a concern on SB 10 about a possible carve-out for police pay raises, but Senator Bettencourt said no change would be made at that time. For SB 34, Chair Huffman explained the bill would still allow compelled testimony before the legislature but would no longer provide blanket immunity, while preserving the right to counsel. The committee voted favorably on all bills considered. SB 18, SB 2, SB 14, SB 3, SB 16, SB 5, and SB 34 were reported out unanimously or near-unanimously, while SB 9 passed 10-1 and SB 10 passed 8-3. At the end of the meeting, Senator West requested to be shown voting nay on SB 9, and the chair granted unanimous consent. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: HF3487, HF3421

Keywords: anonymous reporting, school safety, education, crisis intervention, threat reporting, early literacy, reading instruction, teacher preparation, teacher candidates, teacher licensure, educator licensing, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, field experience, supervised practicum, evidence-based reading, science of reading, literacy methods, teacher training, preservice teachers

Bills: HB178

Keywords: efficiency audit, political subdivision, tax rate, fiscal management, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• So creating upward pressure on rates.
• If you're doing it through a rate case mechanism, that generally drives a utility to file rate cases
• that really don't exist in a rate case. that really don't exist in a rate case.
• doesn't exist in a traditional rate doesn't exist in a traditional rate case. case. case.
• Uh, that is the penetration rate.

Bills: HF3830, HF3688

Keywords: utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house

Bills: HB17, HB23, SB10

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice

Bills: HB101

Keywords: voter approval, local tax, disaster declaration, tax rate increases, community funding

Bills: SB137

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate and recognize the rate compression policy. and lowering the rate for all taxpayers helps
• What's your all's tax rate?
• We have typically adopted a rate lower than the voter approved rate in the last several years in order
• to keep our property tax rate low.
• If rates go up, if they're not lowered, somebody's going to pay. for that higher rate.

Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22, HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22

Keywords: HB 8, school finance, compressed tax rate, maximum compressed tax rate, MCR, PYMCR, property tax, school district taxes, Education Code, Tax Code, state aid, school funding formula, local school taxes, Texas school finance, tax rate compression, public education funding, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2020, the rate was 20.5%, and since then, we've fallen all the way to 14.7% in 2023.
• All of that takes time and they're assessed to in any additional medical interventions that needs to
• schoolyard hypotheticals, despite consistent evidence showing that false rape accusations occur at rates
• orders prohibiting the parole. from going near her home or work, a condition to complete a battery intervention
• The national reporting rate for rape has plummeted from 40% to just 25% in the last few years, with survivors

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:

• Once your project is complete, your rates get increased to cover the cost of those projects.
• once your project is complete your rates once your project is complete your rates um<00:02:20.879
• Thank you, Representative Noor. question on the rates uh there's a grant question on the rates uh there's
• rather than moving to a their old rate rather than moving to a updated updated updated rate<00:05:20.199
• <00:09:14.800> that sustainable reimbursement rates that sustainable reimbursement rates that

Bills: HF958, HF688, HF702

Keywords: mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric care, collaborative care model, healthcare funding, service dog, service animal, service dog in training, assistance dog, guide dog, disability rights, housing accommodations, fair housing, landlord, rental housing, homeowners association, HOA, Minnesota human services, accessible housing, reasonable accommodation