Legislative leaders say cutoff leaves room to finish affordability agenda, debate tweaks to millionaire's tax
Loading...
Summary
Senate and House leaders said cutoff brought progress on bills addressing affordability and protecting residents from federal actions, but members will weigh governor suggestions and caucus priorities before finalizing the millionaire's tax and other measures.
Legislative leaders held a media availability after cutoff and framed the remainder of the short session as a sprint to finish bills on affordability and federal protections.
Jamie Peterson, identifying himself as from the Senate Democrats, called cutoff "one of the best days on the calendar when cutoff is passed" and listed priorities that include shielding residents from federal actions, expanding housing options and advancing a proposed income surtax on very high earners. Peterson said the session produced bills on expanding housing in commercial and mixed-use zones, capping interest on medical debt and enlarging a senior property-tax exemption.
House leaders likewise touted volume and bipartisan cooperation. An unidentified House speaker said roughly 190 bills were moved off the House floor, with about 80% drawing some bipartisan support, and described a collaborative process to send measures to the Senate.
On the proposed millionaire's tax, members said they welcome ideas from the governor but will balance tax reductions with long-term fiscal sustainability. One questioner noted the governor's proposals, including a sales-tax holiday; a House leader responded that "we welcome his suggestions" while adding caucus members have other proposals they are reviewing.
Leaders described the updated revenue forecast as "breathing room" that allows reevaluation of some previously planned operating reductions, but they warned that caseload increases in some programs will absorb part of the gains. "It provides the ability to take another look at some of the reductions that were planned to be in our proposed operating budget," a leader said.
What comes next: leaders said the House will conduct hearings and the finance and appropriations committees will consider amendments. Several measures remain under negotiation between the chambers and may return in the supplemental budget or in next-year work if they do not clear both houses this session.
