Click here for a spreadsheet with GST information on bills with hearings this week.
The spreadsheet shows bill titles, links (in blue), hearing dates and comments on bills of GST interest.
The GST Summary includes information on all public hearings this week.
There are several bills that GST recommends you consider commenting on:
SB221
Support
relative to the verification of the checklist.
H Election Apr 22 2:20 PM LOB 306
This bill changes the verification of the checklist from every 10 years to every 4 years. More accurate checklists improve election integrity.
SB287
Support
requiring applicants for absentee ballots to send a copy of photo ID with the application.
H Election Apr 22 2:40 PM LOB 306
Support SB 287 to require photo ID, but prefer HB217 that requires absentee ballot voters to submit proof of citizenship, age, domicile, and identity in order to qualify to vote. Voter ID provides more in-person election security; why should absentee voting be different? .
SB272
Oppose
relative to electric-vehicle charging station funding.
H Transport Apr 22 10:50 AM LOB 203
This bill authorizes towns to create revolving funds for installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging stations. Not a proper role for government. Let private enterprise pay for vehicle fueling infrastructure.
HB115
Support
relative to universal eligibility for the education freedom account program.
S Ed Apr 22 10:15 AM LOB 101 Competition improves the quality, availability and cost of products and services in every area of our economy.
GST enthusiastically supports the following bills for giving voters more information about the tax consequences of their votes and improving legislation for tax caps.
HB138
Support
relative to tax impact notation on warrant articles with multi-year tax impacts.
S Election Apr 22 9:30 AM LOB 103
This bill requires a notation stating the estimated tax impact for any special warrant article with a multi-year tax impact in towns that have voted to require a notation stating the estimated tax impact of the annual budget and all special warrant articles. Provides better public awareness of tax impact of proposed projects.
HB284
Support
requiring tax impact statements on municipal warrant articles.
S Election Apr 22 10:00 AM LOB 103
This bill requires that municipalities require tax impact statements on budgets and warrant articles and a total tax summary statement. This bill requires cities and towns to provide public notice of historical tax rates and proposed building projects. Provides better public awareness of tax impact of proposed projects.
HB200
Support
relative to the procedure for overriding a local tax cap.
S Election Apr 22 10:15 AM LOB 103
This bill requires a supermajority vote of the legislative body to override a local tax cap. Anything (like this bill) that makes it harder to override a tax cap is worth support.
HB374
Support
(New Title) relative to local tax cap and budget laws.
S Election Apr 22 10:30 AM LOB 103
This bill clarifies references to the procedure for adopting a local tax and budget cap and clarifies warrant language for adopting such a cap and budget. While this seems like housekeeping, there is significant confusion as to what is and is not required in terms of wording (as became apparent in the Bedford deliberative session), so this will enable the local tax cap law to be clearer and more effective.
Click here for the Senate Remote Sign In Sheet to give your position on bills.
Click here for the House Remote Sign In Sheet to give your position on bills.
This must be done before 11:59 PM on the day of the hearing.
Click here go to the GST website for more information on how to comment on bills.
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Ray Chadwick, GST Board Member