Latest news with #SineDie
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austin Mayor says city had a good legislative session
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a 'The Watson Wire' issued Tuesday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson walked through what impact Texas' legislative session will have on the city. Recapping Texas' 89th Legislative Session 'There will continue to be some tension (as there always has been). We will often disagree (on so many things). And those in control of the Capitol will continue to make it harder and harder for all cities (not just Austin) to do what you, the residents, need us to do to be successful and to promote quality of life (ugh),' Watson wrote. Bills that would have had significant impact on Austin included a bill to bring Austin under state control and another that would eliminate the city's light rail. 'District of Austin' bill voted down by Texas House committee That bill to knock out light rail? Authored by former Austin City Council Member Ellen Troxclair. 'We've spent a considerable amount of time and resources over the past two legislative sessions defending this voter-approved investment in light rail primarily because a legislator who used to serve on the Austin City Council (but no longer lives in Austin) pushes it,' Watson wrote. 'Twice now, it's failed.' KXAN reached out to Rep. Troxclair's office for her response to Watson. A bill that passed in Austin's favor included one to strengthen the Austin Firefighters Retirement Fund. Watson also expressed support for several housing bills that passed, calling the topic 'a rare area of bipartisan opportunity' where Austin can lead. 'I'm really proud that Austin and many of our local housing experts have been helping to lead the statewide conversation about housing supply and affordability. Many of the tools that were first proposed and championed by the City of Austin to address housing affordability have been expanded statewide,' he said. Watson also said that he and other local leaders had productive talks with lawmakers during the session. 'Overall, Austin had a good session. There are some things we'll need to sort out and some things we aren't crazy about. But, as a general rule, hard work paid off,' he wrote. Headers in the newsletter included 'Live and Let Sine Die,' 'Sine Die with a Smile,' 'Sine Die Alone,' and 'Sine Die Another Day.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Approves Judicial Pay Bump, Boosting Own Pensions
(Texas Scorecard) – In a dramatic, last-minute deal to end the legislative session, Texas lawmakers approved a measure that will raise judicial salaries—and, in turn, increase their own taxpayer-funded pensions. Passed just before the legislature adjourned Sine Die, Senate Bill 293 sets the starting salary for state district judges at $175,000, up from $140,000. Because legislative pensions are tied to judicial salaries, the vote also raises the maximum annual pension for lawmakers to $175,000. The compromise, however, decouples judicial salaries from future legislative pension increases, a move that had been at the heart of a days-long political dispute. While the legislation tasks the Texas Ethics Commission with reviewing and recommending any changes to legislative pensions every five years, that begins in 2030. In the short term, lawmakers' maximum annual pensions will increase by $35,000. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had accused House sponsor Jeff Leach (R–Allen) of 'killing' the judicial pay raise after Leach's version of the bill removed automatic pension increases for legislators that are typically triggered by judicial salary hikes. Patrick struck down that provision on a rare point of order, citing germaneness. Leach, meanwhile, defended the House's position, saying lawmakers should raise judicial pay without giving themselves a pension bump—a stance backed by House leadership and many rank-and-file members. The stalemate drew the attention of Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who issued a memo over the weekend calling on both chambers to 'find a short-term solution' to address urgently needed judicial pay increases now and revisit the pension debate next session. He noted Texas ranks 49th in the nation in judicial pay. On Sunday night, both chambers appointed conference committees to come up with a compromise. 'While this proposal may not be perfect, I believe it is a thoughtful compromise that balances the concerns of both chambers while achieving our top agenda—that [of] supporting the integrity of our judiciary and getting something done on this issue this session,' said Leach. The legislation passed the Senate unanimously, while it was approved by the House in a 114-26 vote, shortly before both chambers adjourned for the last time during this regular session.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Medical cannabis access, ‘fair' tax policies and more on deck as study committee season cranks up
Lawmakers created a long list of study committees during the 2025 legislative session, laying the groundwork for a busy offseason. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder School may be out for the summer, but at the state Capitol in Atlanta, lawmakers are gearing up for their own version of summer school. Study committees, which meet outside the regular 40-day legislative session, have already begun gathering information and soliciting expert testimony on topics ranging from chronic student absenteeism to improving tourism. All told, 16 different House study committees and 20 Senate panels will convene under the Gold Dome, which is the most each chamber has seen in the past decade. Here is a look at a few notable ones. Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been a hot-button issue both in Georgia and around the country. During the 2025 session, legislators in both chambers introduced bills aimed at increasing regulations on the use of AI technology, but none managed to pass through both chambers by the Sine Die deadline. However, two new study committees will allow legislators in the Senate to continue compiling research and drafting a report that may guide their efforts when lawmakers reconvene for the 2026 session next January. Senate Resolution 391, introduced by Roswell Republican Sen. John Albers, creates a new committee dedicated to examining the use of AI across industries like education, health care and financial services. The committee will also explore the use of digital and cryptocurrency, and how to better prevent security threats. A second AI-related committee, created by SR 431, will study the impact of social media on children across Georgia, examining privacy implications and the impact of chatbots and other AI features on minors. The resolution was introduced by Atlanta Democrat Sen. Sally Harrell, who will serve as co-chair alongside Johns Creek Republican Sen. Shawn Still. Lawmakers are getting a jump start on election policy this year, perhaps hoping to avoid a repeat of the months-long battle between Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and the five-member State Election Board that characterized the lead-up to Georgia's 2024 election. House Resolution 885 established a special panel that will examine Georgia's existing election code and how responsibilities are shared between election officials at the local and state levels. It will be chaired by Rep. Tim Fleming, a Covington Republican. Another study committee, created by SR 429, will research ways to remove barriers for those who are seeking to restore their voting rights after a felony conviction. Georgia 'has one of the longest parole and probationary periods in the nation and the highest number of individuals under supervision per capita of any state,' according to the resolution. The fight to overhaul Georgia's civil litigation landscape may be settled for now, but discussions over Georgia's insurance rates are set to continue. A newly created panel will investigate the driving forces behind insurance rate hikes throughout the state by analyzing insurance industry practices, profit margins and compliance with state regulations. It will be chaired by Duluth Republican Rep. Matt Reeves. House lawmakers will also delve into how the state's reinsurance landscape intersects with climate change in a study committee created by HR 40. Citing the estimated $6.46 billion in damage that Hurricane Helene caused in Georgia, lawmakers are hoping to combat insurance-related challenges that businesses may face during future storms and severe weather events. Co-chaired by Republican Reps. Darlene Taylor of Thomasville and Noel Williams of Cordele, the committee aims to collaborate with the Georgia Office of Insurance and Department of Agriculture to mitigate rising property and casualty insurance costs for small businesses across the state. Cannabis consumption, both medical and recreational, was another prominent issue that surfaced during the 2025 legislative session. While House Bill 227 and Senate Bill 220 both sought to widen access to medical cannabis, neither bill managed to make it over the finish line before lawmakers adjourned for the year. Instead, two separate study committees will tackle the issue over the summer. A House study committee led by Augusta Republican Rep. Mark Newton, who works as a doctor, will dive into Georgia's medical marijuana policies. In the Senate, lawmakers on the Study Committee on Intoxicating Cannabinoids in Consumable Hemp Products will tackle the issue of regulating recreational products like THC-infused drinks, which are chemically similar to medical cannabis but more broadly available to consumers because they fall under the federal 2018 Farm Bill and the Georgia Hemp Farming Act. Georgia lawmakers at both the state and federal level are pushing for legislation that would overhaul the current tax code, replacing the current system with a fixed consumption tax that proponents refer to as 'FairTax.' The congressional version of the bill, which was first proposed in 1999, was sponsored this year by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who recently announced a bid for the U.S. Senate. At the Georgia Capitol, the Senate State FairTax Study Committee will examine similar legislation that would apply a fixed sales tax rate within the Peach State. The committee will be chaired by Rome Republican Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, who also heads the Senate Finance Committee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor vetoes rideshare safety bill: Sponsors call action a ‘devastating blow'
DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a bill that would have implemented safety standards for rideshare drivers, including tougher background checks and a right of action for people injured during a ride. Polis said in his letter justifying the veto that the bill would 'impose unworkable regulations on Transportation Network Companies, and potentially jeopardize their continued operation in Colorado.' Uber previously threatened to pull out of the state if the bill were made into law, and Lyft said the bill would 'leave riders less safe and leave the future of Lyft's operations in Colorado uncertain.' Lyft asks Gov. Polis to veto rideshare safety bill as companies threaten to leave Colorado 'I want to make sure that Uber, Lyft, and others will be able to continue to operate in Colorado, but are far more accountable for the safety of riders and drivers. These services go beyond convenience by providing essential means of travel for many Coloradans and improve public safety primarily by reducing driving under the influence,' Polis wrote to the General Assembly. Sponsors of the bill include Rep. Jenny Willford, who sued Lyft this year after she said she was sexually assaulted while using Lyft. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man in connection with the incident. Officials say he impersonated a rideshare driver. Bill supporters, including Willford, said that Polis was using industry talking points to ignore Colorado constituents and veto the measure. 'If the Governor or his staff had chosen to engage earlier than the Monday before Sine Die, we could have addressed these issues,' the sponsors said in a release. 'We made good-faith amendments throughout the process, including at the Governor's request. What we needed was a partner — not a veto pen.' The bill passed overwhelmingly in the legislature, with the House voting unanimously to concur on amendments made to the bill after also voting 59-6 in favor of the measure, and the Senate voting unanimously on amendments after voting 22-13 to approve the measure. The bill changed while in the legislature, with legislators ultimately nixing a requirement for drivers to use dash cameras and audio record all rides. Denver sues Trump administration over potential loss of transportation funding 'We decided that there was so much in this bill that it was so important to get on the books that we were open to moving off of that required audio and video of every ride, shifted to an opt-in so that riders and drivers can decide what they are comfortable with. I believe this is a tremendous step forward,' Willford told FOX31 on the last day of session. Polis wrote in his letter to legislators that he is 'concerned about the language around audio-visual recording, which was modified at the last minute and is likely unworkable for both the PUC (public utilities commission) and TNCs (transportation network companies) as currently constructed.' 'Drivers and riders are entitled to privacy, and while I appreciate the movement on this issue, the net effect of the remaining language in the bill still strongly suggests making recording mandatory, which will put this law in direct conflict with other state privacy laws and make compliance a challenge. Moreover, the relevant data retention pieces remain challenging, without ensuring proper security protocols, and creates operational difficulties,' Polis wrote. Polis said that while he is vetoing the bill, he is also directing several parts of his administration to take action and help make rideshares safer. Those directions were: For the Department of Regulatory Agencies to work with sponsors to identify policy objectives For DORA to work with PUC to review current rideshare rules and focus on strengthening driver impersonation and penalties For PUC to conduct audits of rideshare companies to ensure they are complying with background check requirements Polis seemed to agree that the current state of rideshare safety in Colorado isn't enough. 'I am also challenging TNCs to do more to protect riders and drivers, including being more transparent about their rights, and more vigorous in preventing serious crimes,' Polis wrote. 'The status quo isn't sufficient. Enhancing criminal record checks for drivers and preventing bad actors, including impersonators, from getting behind the wheel are commonsense steps we canand should take, and steps we can address now.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho state revenues lag nearly $100 million behind Legislature's projections
The rotunda at the Idaho Capitol in Boise on Jan.17, 2022. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun) Through April, state revenues are $97.7 million below the Idaho Legislature's forecast for the current 2025 fiscal year, according to a new monthly revenue report released by the Idaho Legislative Services Office. Although revenue collections are more than they were last year at this time, they are below the Idaho Legislature's forecast for the current fiscal year, according to the April edition of the Fiscal Year 2025 General Fund Budget Monitor report. That's important because the Idaho Legislature used the forecast in the state's 2025 fiscal year budget. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX When legislators left the Idaho State Capitol in Boise at the end of the 2025 session, they were forecasting to end the 2025 fiscal year on June 30 with a positive ending balance of $420.3 million. But just over a month later, the projected ending balance has shrunk to $322.7 million, according to the new budget monitor report. 'Thats why we left such a strong ending balance,' said Rep. Wendy Horman, an Idaho Falls Republican who serves as the co-chair of the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC. JFAC is a powerful legislative committee that sets every budget for every state agency and department. 'At the time we adjourned Sine Die there were questions about the impacts of tariffs, and we gave more tax relief than the governor proposed,' Horman added, using the Latin phrase Sine Die that signifies the annual legislative session has ended for the year 'We wanted to make sure we had a cushion there to cover us – not only through the end of this fiscal year, but also carrying over to start FY26, and that's what we did.' 'At this time, we are still very well positioned moving into the next fiscal year,' Horman said. Idaho's budget runs on a calendar where fiscal year 2025 ends June 30 and fiscal year 2026 begins July 1. For fiscal year 2025, the Idaho Legislature adopted a revenue figure that was $42.1 million higher than the revenue projection Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Division of Financial Management issued. Sales tax distributions appear to be a major driving factor in the revenue picture. The state's April revenue report indicates sales tax distributions to the state's general fund are $95.6 million less than last year. In a written statement Tuesday, Idaho Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolff said she does not foresee the need for any holdbacks in the current budget. With the April revenue numbers coming in, Wolff said the state is still within 1% of its revenue projections. 'The governor and the Legislature left $400 million on the bottom line as cushion, and we do not anticipate any holdbacks will be necessary for FY25,' Wolff wrote Tuesday. 'The Governor's Office and (Division of Financial Management) will continue to monitor revenue, but the strength of our economy combined with responsible budgeting do not create any significant concerns about the state budget at this time.' With only two months left in the 2025 fiscal year, it doesn't look like the state will have a problem finishing this year with a balanced budget. CONTACT US But Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, is worried that revenue cuts approved by legislators could lead the Idaho Legislature to cut funding for programs Idahoans depend on during next year's legislative session. 'It may cause some havoc; in the next session we may see the Legislature cutting things,' Wintrow said in a phone interview Tuesday. 'Overall what I am deeply disturbed by – and what we are seeing in revenue collections – is I don't think Gov. Little or the Idaho Legislature is keeping its promises to Idahoans,' Wintrow added. In addition to serving as the leader of the Democrats in the Idaho Senate, Wintrow is a member of the Legislature's budget committee, JFAC. During the 2025 legislative session, Idaho legislators cut taxes by about $400 million and provided an additional $50 million in a refundable tax credit for education expenses including tuition at a private, religious school. In a press conference Monday, Little said the state can afford the $400 million in tax cuts this year, but it's important to consider the future. To pay for the tax cuts and tax credits, legislators reduced revenue that is available for funding in the state budget by about $453 million. Some of the Idaho Legislature's laws, like 2024's House Bill 521, divert sales tax revenue away from the general fund and put it to other uses, like paying for school facilities or reducing other taxes. On Tuesday, Horman did say she is concerned about the sales tax revenue diverted away before it reaches the state general fund. She said she first spoke out about the issue a couple of years ago. 'There has been a concern as we continue to draw from gross sales tax revenues in a way that distributes them before they are appropriated that we need to be cautious that the percentage going to cities and counties doesn't get so out of balance that when the next recession hits they feel the worst of the brunt of reduced revenues,' Horman said. Wintrow is also concerned about diverting sales tax revenue before it reaches the general fund budget. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Instead of cutting income taxes and diverting sales tax revenue, Wintrow said legislators should push to increase funding for special education programs and increase pay for state employees. Between the revenue cuts and Republican legislators announcing a new Idaho Department of Government Efficiency task force that seeks to consolidate state agencies and reduce the number of state employees – an effort similar to the Trump administration's and Elon Musk's DOGE process –, Wintrow worries cuts to programs are coming next year. 'Its not very conservative to hack your revenue stream so hard it potentially puts us in a place where we may have to continue to whittle at the oak tree until it's a splinter,' Wintrow said. 'Many of us (Democrats), and some Republicans, really were raising the alarm bell on that, to cut revenue so deeply at a time when the economy is going haywire.' The new April budget monitor report isn't the first sign that revenues were lagging projections. Little's budget office released a preliminary revenue report in March that showed revenues were lagging behind state projections at that point. JFAC is scheduled to conduct interim committee meetings next week in Idaho Falls. JFAC members are scheduled to receive a general fund and budget update Monday. Budget and Revenue Monitor 10
