Transcript Highlights:

• Paz County to Area 4 of the six geographical planning areas of Arizona for representation on the Tourism
• We are adding it to the list of counties that are represented for the Tourism Advisory Council.
• Goldwater Institute then sued the county after the county started to collect the taxes.
• , not the consumers who the tax got passed down to.
• So we paid into this tax.

Bills: HB2065 , HB2066 , HB2071 , HB2106 , HB2237 , HB2258

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

Keywords: appropriation, housing, Apache Junction, affordable housing, rehabilitation, blight abatement, broadband, fiber optic, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, rural development, workforce hub, health services, transportation tax, county excise tax, regional transportation authority, public transportation authority fund, regional transportation fund, ADOT

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism committee will come to order.
• Chair, this is a request bill from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.
• them to enter into contracts and agreements with private entities to execute an annual statewide tourism
• I I guess that's my big question: whether it's just gonna be taking a portion of the state's sales tax
• If it's sales tax-based and it's increasing sales tax, I think that's great.

Bills: SB1332 , SB1378 , SB1525 , SB1771 , SB1919 , SB1998 , SB2018 , SB260 , SB264

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Keywords: housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, Olympics, funding, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, local businesses, revolving fund, event hosting, SB1525, tourism, recreation, conference, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism will come to order.
• Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism will come to order.
• My argument for that is the sales tax revenue for the municipalities.
• I mean, you can see the proof in the sales tax collections.
• If it's sales-tax-based and it's increasing sales tax, I think that's great.

Bills: SB1332 , SB1378 , SB1525 , SB1771 , SB1919 , SB1998 , SB2018 , SB260 , SB264

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Keywords: housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, Olympics, funding, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, local businesses, revolving fund, event hosting, SB1525, tourism, recreation, conference, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission

Summary: The Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee met for its first meeting of the session and reviewed several bills related to infrastructure planning, tourism, housing, workforce data, and event incentives. The chair also announced committee procedures, including a request that amendments be submitted 24 hours in advance and a decision to lay over Senate Bill 264. Senator Mann presented SB 260, creating the Oklahoma Infrastructure Long Range Planning Commission within the Department of Commerce to coordinate long-term infrastructure planning across state, local, tribal, and utility stakeholders; it passed 8-1. Senator Frix presented SB 1525, allowing the Department of Tourism and Recreation to contract with private entities for an annual statewide tourism and recreation conference up to $75,000; it passed 9-0. Senator Kirt presented SB 1332, aimed at helping cities address housing growth and infrastructure needs through a one-time pot of low- or no-interest loans for water, sewer, and storm sewer projects; it passed 8-1. Senator Coleman presented SB 1998, which would expand the Quality Events Act so smaller communities can define qualifying events and use program funds for items such as equipment; members discussed whether the bill would support existing or new events, and it passed 9-0. Chairwoman Thompson presented SB 1771, authorizing the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to collect workforce development funding and expenditure metrics from agencies and to hire outside counsel when needed because of data-collection workload; it passed 9-0. She also presented SB 1378, creating the Olympics and Oklahoma revolving fund, with discussion that funding requests would later go through the budget process; it passed 9-0. Thompson then presented SB 1919, increasing the cumulative inducement limit in the Oklahoma Tourism Development Act from $30 million to $60 million. She said the current cap is being reached and that the program supports projects that generate sales tax revenue and visible community development, while members asked for more detail on prior uses and program outcomes; it passed 9-0. Finally, SB 2018 was laid over because amendments were not ready in time. The committee adjourned after noting the meeting moved quickly.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you and I know, tourism has had an ongoing issue of deferred Maintenance costs that no operation of
• SB248 would create a guardrail system on the cell of land that is Currently under the Department of Tourism
• Currently, that falls under the board of the Department of Tourism, as you know, which has appointments
• This simply provides a fund by which, instead of it going into the general fund of tourism, which is
• So, I would think it would be very Beneficial to the Department of Tourism to take those things into

Bills: SB248 , SB985 , SB1307 , SB1319 , SB1405 , SB1530 , SB1919

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Keywords: tourism, revolving fund, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, real property, fund management, Oklahoma Local Food for Schools, school meals, local food procurement, farm to school, school districts, Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, local producers, meat processors, reimbursement program, agriculture, nutrition, farmers, ranchers, local sourcing

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, in that tax-exempt account, if you have a disaster—like a tornado or a hurricane—you can use

Bills: SB197 , HB140 , SB214 , HB214 , HB147 , HB270 , SB73

Committee: Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

Keywords: food trucks, mobile vendors, health inspection, fire safety, state law, regulation, food service, business license, subdivision, transfer of land, immediate family, exemption period, county regulations, Sweet Home Alabama Tourism Investment Act, tourism rebate, tax rebate, sales tax rebate, lodging tax rebate, transactional taxes, tourism development

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's the largest enabler of local sales tax revenues in the city of Nogales, Arizona.
• The trail area is one of the major arteries for tourism attraction in that area.
• It's going to reduce taxes and change the bonding rates.
• sales tax.
• sales tax.

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

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

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

Transcript Highlights:

• a milliliter tax.
• Milliliter tax, and it modifies the 95% other tobacco products tax by increasing the cap on cigars to
• This would restore the 50% and 25% tax reductions from the tobacco products tax for products that are
• more aggressive taxes in our tax structure.
• This tax exemption is already on the books. This tax exemption is already on the books.

Bills: HB2713 , HB2730 , HB2297 , HB2487 , HB2382 , HB2089 , HB2431 , HB2451 , HB2590 , HB2325 , HB2278 , HB2224 , HB2322

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• The state tax rebates that these cities receive are from the state hotel occupancy tax.
• , state hotel occupancy tax, and mixed beverage taxes that exceeds the base year.
• Tourism and local attractions by building a convention center and seeking the hotel occupancy tax to
• Hospitality tax revenues are used strictly for projects that generate tourism and economic return.
• Tourism is important because these hotels... ...collecting hotel taxes takes the pressure off the M&O

Bills: SB1071 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB1756 , SB1854 , SB2036 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2622 , SB2779 , SB2955 , SB2979

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: municipality, tax revenue, hotel project, convention center, economic development, hotel tax, municipal authority, local governments, local authority, convention centers, hotel occupancy tax, municipal finance, local tax revenue, tourism, hotel and convention center project, Tax Code Chapter 351, city revenue, special district, Texas municipalities, venue financing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> less state control over the tax system. less state control over the tax system.
• </c> the, uh, TCJA tax and jobs act of 2017. the, uh, TCJA tax and jobs act of 2017.
• </c> income that's taxed in Minnesota. income that's taxed in Minnesota.
• tax.
• </c> because it affects two tax types. because it affects two tax types.

Bills: HR1 , HF387

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: January 6 insurrection, pardon, law enforcement, violent crimes, public safety, justice system, political accountability, Blaine, local sales tax, special tax, restaurant tax, lodging tax, admissions tax, amusement tax, hotel tax, redevelopment, capital improvements, municipal finance, bonding authority, tourism tax

Transcript Highlights:

• Tourism is not a side industry in Arizona. It is a core foundational economic engine.
• Tourism represents a disproportionate share of the local economy.
• Tourism improvement areas, Many are outspending and outmatching us.
• Before I start, the tourism improvement areas are not experimental.
• Madam Chair, coming from a historic and tourism-driven district, this one is a no-brainer.

Bills: HB2107 , HB2588 , HB2946 , HB2950

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

Keywords: SNAP, nutrition assistance, fast food, vitamins, waiver, food policy, municipal planning, homeowner association, building permits, single-family home, property rights, design standards, development fees, municipalities, infrastructure, public services, annual reporting, property development, tourism improvement area, TIA

Transcript Highlights:

• The fish don't pay taxes.
• hotel occupancy taxes, property taxes, and sales tax.
• If hotel occupancy taxes are diverted from their legally intended uses, such as tourism, marketing, and
• Funds not spent on tourism will reduce property taxes or the increase in property taxes.
• They're paying taxes.

Bills: SB317 , SB1250 , SB1520 , SB1950 , SB2298 , SB2532 , SB2539 , SB2747 , SB2925 , SB2993

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: monuments, memorials, public property, historical significance, civil penalties, local governance, project financing zone, municipal tax revenue, convention centers, multipurpose arenas, infrastructure development, hike and bike trails, outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, Bicentennial Trail, Texas history, cultural heritage, unemployment benefits, eligibility, Texas Workforce Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to pay that tax'?
• Chairman, why should it be a tax?
• The budget process, which is for a future year, is different than tax, the tax filing system, which is
• None of those properties are paying any other taxes because they are now on tax-protected jurisdiction
• None of those properties are paying any other taxes because they are now on tax protected jurisdiction

Bills: HB2091 , HB2140 , HB2320 , HB2384 , HB2398 , HB2502 , HB2780 , HB2918 , HB2939 , HB2950 , HB2999 , HB4020 , HB4026 , HB4029

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Bills: HB277 , SB89 , HB135 , HB277 , SB89 , HB135

Committee: House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit

Keywords: HB277, 2A Sales Tax Holiday, firearms tax exemption, ammunition, hunting supplies, sales tax holiday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Second Amendment, gun tax holiday, gun rights, outdoor gear, hunting equipment, state sales tax, use tax, local option tax exemption, county opt-in, municipal opt-in, Department of Revenue, Alabama

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to use some hotel tax revenue for hunting, golf resorts, and increase sports tourism very broadly
• This PFZ would capture incremental state hotel occupancy taxes, sales taxes, and mixed beverage taxes
• to support tourism.
• The revenue generated by this tax would go to support the multi-event civic center, tourism promotion
• The revenue generated by this tax would go to support the multi-event civic center, tourism promotion

Bills: HB 1039 , HB2289 , HB2370 , HB2404 , HB3066 , HB3076 , HB3117 , HB3118 , HB3169 , HB3178 , HB3179 , HB3182 , HB3196 , HB3241 , HB3377 , HB3500 , HB3567 , HB3715 , HB3954 , HB4098 , HB4109 , HB4222 , HB4226 , HB4412 , HB4659 , HB4682 , HB4683 , HB4755 , HB4926 , HB5165 , HB5562 , HB5596

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax authority, border counties, tax legislation, municipalities, hotel tax revenue, convention centers, economic development, local government authority, HB 2370, HOT tax, venue projects, convention center, municipal finance, local government code, Section 334.0082, tourism tax, debt financing, bond repayment

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, most of them expanding or adjusting hotel occupancy tax or qualified hotel project authority for specific local governments. Measures discussed included HB 2404 for Childress County; HB 3066 for Allen’s Kalahari resort project; HB 4682 for Plano; HB 4683 for Anna; HB 3076 creating a project finance zone in Frisco; HB 3567 for Wichita County; HB 3715 for McAllen; HB 1039 for Alpine; HB 3182 for Burleson; HB 4926 for Grimes County; HB 4222 for Victoria County; HB 3377 for Katy; HB 4659 for Addison; HB 3241 for Georgetown; HB 4098 for Taylor; HB 3178 for Kerr County; HB 3179 for Mason County; HB 2289 for New Braunfels; HB 4412 for Kermit; HB 5165 for Monahans; HB 3500 for Bastrop; and HB 3169 for Carrollton. In each case, authors and local officials described tourism, convention, hotel, airport, or mixed-use development needs and argued the bills would help attract visitors, investment, and jobs. One non-hotel-tax bill, HB 4226, would exempt Texas food banks from sales tax on vehicle purchases and rentals, with testimony emphasizing the scale of food bank operations and the savings’ impact on meal delivery and disaster response. Testimony was generally supportive from city officials, economic development representatives, and industry groups such as the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Several witnesses described major private projects, including Kalahari in Allen, a proposed hotel and conference center in Addison, a mixed-use project in Georgetown, and a large development tied to Samsung growth in Taylor. For HB 4226, food bank representatives said the bill would help them purchase refrigerated trucks and other delivery vehicles, while an opponent questioned the fiscal note and the scope of the exemption. HB 4926 drew opposition from Camp Allen, whose representative argued a new county hotel tax would raise costs for guests and could hurt the retreat center’s operations. HB 3178 also drew an objection from a Kerr County resident who argued the tax would grow county government and pointed to event center losses, though the author said the revenue would support tourism-related county uses. The committee took no final votes on the bills in this transcript. After each bill was laid out and testimony concluded, the chair repeatedly asked whether there was objection to leaving the bill pending; in each instance, no objection was heard, and the bills were left pending. Several committee substitutes were offered and then withdrawn or noted as conforming drafts, but no bill was reported out or otherwise acted on beyond being left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the first meeting this year of the Tourism Committee.
• Years ago, when this particular Community Development District came in, there was a tax on any alcohol
• We added another tax for beer and wine.
• , but it goes to support education, civic, and community activities within the county, as well as tourism

Bills: SB25 , HB243

Committee: Senate Tourism

Keywords: SB25, community development district, community development districts, alcoholic beverage tax, alcohol sales tax, sales tax proceeds, county treasury, special fund, grant distribution, tourism funding, economic development, local grants, education grants, civic activities, community activities, tourism activities, Alabama Code 35-8B-5, county revenue, legislator recommendation, local government finance

Transcript Highlights:

• property tax on the equipment.
• Tax, that personal property tax on the equipment, and that equipment depreciates over time.
• . ...replacing that property tax, which we agree isn't working, with an excise tax.
• the underlying property tax.
• Because the amount of tax that is collected when that personal property goes on to the tax rolls will

Bills: HB2325 , HB2521 , HB2720 , HB1960 , HB2073 , HB2675 , HB2681

Keywords: tourism, tourism promotion, Washington Tourism Marketing Authority, assessment, self-supported assessment, visitor economy, destination marketing, statewide marketing, lodging, hotels, restaurants, travel services, attractions, recreation, retail, beverage producers, arts and culture, tribal nations, tribal businesses, rural communities

Transcript Highlights:

• property tax on the equipment.
• Tax, that personal property tax on the equipment, and that equipment depreciates over time.
• Replacing that property tax, which we agree isn't working, with an excise tax.
• Because the amount of tax that is collected when that personal property goes on to the tax rolls will
• Madam Speaker, we hear from time to time on this floor certain fees or taxes described as poll taxes.

Bills: HB2325 , HB2521 , HB2720 , HB1960 , HB2073 , HB2675 , HB2681

Keywords: tourism, tourism promotion, Washington Tourism Marketing Authority, assessment, self-supported assessment, visitor economy, destination marketing, statewide marketing, lodging, hotels, restaurants, travel services, attractions, recreation, retail, beverage producers, arts and culture, tribal nations, tribal businesses, rural communities

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the previous day’s minutes, and heard a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber also moved several bills through routine orders, including placing House Bill 273 on health carrier surpluses and House Bill 2681 on cannabis license fees on the second reading calendar, and welcoming guests and honored families to the gallery. The main floor action centered on three bills. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325, establishing a tourism self-support program, was amended with a technical clarification and passed 84-5. Supporters said the industry should fund a statewide tourism marketing effort to attract visitors year-round and compete with other states. Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960, on renewable energy, was amended to address local tax treatment of wind, solar, and battery storage projects and passed 74-15; proponents said it would replace a shifting property-tax burden with a more stable excise tax so host communities receive lasting benefits. House Bill 2521, concerning firearms background checks, drew the most debate. Amendments to raise the fee cap and to set the fee at zero were both rejected, with opponents arguing the bill would burden constitutional rights and supporters saying the fee should cover the State Patrol’s costs. The bill then passed 53-36. House Bill 2675, the annual accounts bill, passed unanimously 89-0 after brief support from both parties. The House then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Bills: SB1390

Committee: House A&B Transportation Subcommittee

Keywords: gross production tax, oil and gas, natural gas, casinghead gas, oil revenue, tax apportionment, revenue sharing, county highway fund, school funding, average daily attendance, general revenue fund, revenue stabilization fund, county bridge and road improvement, state transportation fund, preserving and advancing county transportation fund, education funding, higher education, student aid, tourism funding, conservation funding

Bills: HB247 , HB317 , HB318 , HB253 , HB271 , HB135 , HB247 , HB317 , HB318 , HB253 , HB271 , HB135

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: Gulf of America, name change, state compliance, educational materials, local resources, historical reference, age verification, parental consent, consumer protection, app store regulations, data privacy, Internet filters, digital safety, minors protection, civil liability, device manufacturers, obscenity, aircraft tax, aviation tax, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Would they still just have, would they be taxed, or would there be another mechanism to pay the tax?
• on the tax rolls, is making up for that by paying higher taxes.
• Chair, it would be a smaller tax shift, but it would still be a tax shift.
• No, the bill is looking to remove 73% of the K through 12 taxes that are in that excise tax.
• No, the bill is looking to remove 73% of the K through 12 taxes that are in that excise tax.

Bills: SB1221 , SB1293 , SB1294 , SB1430

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: taxpayer protection, law interpretation, transparency, public hearings, tax policies, GPLET, abatement, tax incentives, local government, property improvement, central business district, property tax, assessment, destruction, proration, Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona tax corrections act, transaction privilege tax, sales tax, use tax