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:
HB67
Oppose
relative to agreements with the secretary of state for the use of accessible voting systems.
S Election May 6 10:00 AM LOB 103
The state passed universal accessible voting systems last year. Each ballot for every election will need to be made accessible which includes paying for a person to read the ballot and verification that the names are pronounced correctly. The Fiscal Note for the bill shows a combined state and local estimated cost up to $2,917,000 in year 1 and up to $754,000 per year thereafter.
HB123
Support
(New Title) relative to yield taxes on property enrolled or registered for the purpose of generating carbon offset credits.
S Energy May 6 9:00 AM SH 103
This is not a new tax, but is a new application of an old tax. This returns to taxing timber that used to be taxed when harvested but is now taken off of harvest (and taxation) and converted to a new income stream due to carbon offset credits. Removing that tax stream formerly provided by timber tax revenue puts pressure on other sources of tax revenue for local communities.
HB1
Suggest Savings
making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
HB2
Suggest Savings
relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
H Finance Mar 12 2:00 PM SH Reps
The biennial state budget, HB1 and HB2 will be having its public hearing. Other than the possible entertainment value of listening to many people ask for other people’s money, we don’t recommend attending. However, you may still be able to affect the state’s budget, especially if you have ideas of places to spend less, by sending those suggestions to the the House Finance committee as your testimony.
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.
If you know someone who’d like to receive these notices, they can sign up at:
http://eepurl.com/bvTdH1
Ray Chadwick, GST Board Member