Senate Budget and Revenue Committee advances six tax-related measures to next steps

The State Senate Standing Committee on Budget and Revenue, chaired by Senator Andrew Benardis, met on March 12, 2025, and voted to advance six bills related to tax law and state finance to their next legislative steps.

All six measures were introduced and moved through the committee with little substantive debate recorded in the transcript. Most bills were reported to the Committee on Finance; one was reported to the calendar for consideration. The items covered amendments to state tax law, including use- and sales-tax exemptions, a public-safety surcharge, and provisions related to affordable housing funding for veterans and seniors.

S.157 (introduced by Senator Salazar) was described as an amendment to the tax law in relation to use-tax exemptions for certain resources and to repeal certain related provisions. The motion to move S.157 passed with a recorded tally of five in favor and one opposed; Senator Donald was recorded as opposed. The committee chair announced the bill was reported to finance.

S.196 (introduced by Senator Martinez) was described as an amendment to the tax law relating to a public safety surcharge. The committee moved the bill and the chair announced it was reported to finance. The transcript records multiple ‘aye’ votes and some ‘no’ responses but does not provide a roll-call tally attributed to specific members.

S.939 (introduced by Senator Sanders) was presented as an amendment to the tax law and the state finance law relating to gifts for affordable housing for veterans and seniors’ funds. The committee moved the bill; the chair reported it to the calendar.

S.3399 (introduced by Senator Gattaros) was described as an act to amend the tax law relating to sales of rental vehicles. After a motion, the chair reported the bill to finance. The transcript includes a comment that “Mister Weber” recorded a ‘‘without recommendation’’ notation but does not attribute a committee vote count.

S.4601 (introduced by Senator Enten--[transcript: "senate entertainers"]) was described as an act to amend the tax law to exempt school supplies from sales tax during a specified period each year. The committee moved the bill; the chair reported it to finance. The transcript records “Miss Krueger” as ‘‘without recommendation.’’

S.5422 (introduced by Senator Skoufis) was briefly described in the transcript as relating to exempting from sales and use tax “0 emissions, school lessons” (transcript phrasing not specified in greater detail). The committee moved the bill and the chair reported it to finance.

Discussion vs. decision: The transcript records motions, seconds and vote announcements but contains no extended debate, policy analysis, or amendments on these bills. The only clearly recorded dissent was on S.157, where Senator Donald was opposed. Several bills received notations of “without recommendation” from staff members noted in the transcript.

The committee chair closed the session after reporting the items, and the listed measures proceed to the Committee on Finance or to the legislative calendar as recorded.