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Senate passes resolution to allow future consideration of a progressive income tax
Summary
Delegates approved Executive Bill 3.25, a proposed constitutional change to remove a flat-rate requirement and permit the legislature to implement a progressive income tax in the future; supporters said it would allow more equitable revenue options.
The youth senate approved Executive Bill 3.25, a resolution to remove a constitutional provision that requires a flat income tax rate and to allow the legislature to consider a progressive tax system in future years.
Rebecca Fleischman spoke for Governor Campbell Phillips and described the proposal as a step to give lawmakers the option to address the state’s regressive tax structure. “This resolution would not directly create an income tax, but rather allow it to be an option in the future,” a governor’s cabinet representative told the chamber, and Fleischman argued that removing the flat-rate mandate would permit more equitable revenue options to fund education and public services.
Debate covered how the change would enable future policy choices rather than immediately altering tax rates; proponents said the measure opens the door to progressive taxation while opponents raised fairness concerns. After discussion and a governor’s cabinet endorsement, the presiding officer announced a unanimous vote in favor and the bill passed.
What’s next: The resolution passed in the chamber; as a constitutional amendment-style measure in this recorded context, further procedural or public-approval steps would be required for a binding change.
