State Bill of the Month — January 2025: Missouri HB 425
HB 425:
Introduced by Missouri State Rep. Jeff Vernetti (R-123), this bill would phase out the corporate income tax over a four year period. Currently, the corporate income tax in Missouri is four percent. Beginning on January 1, 2026, the Missouri corporate income tax will be reduced by one percent each year until no corporate income tax is administered, starting on January 1, 2029. Eliminating the corporate income tax will reduce prices for consumers and taxpayers throughout Missouri and will make the Show-Me State more attractive to businesses.
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State Bill of the Month — October 2024: New Hampshire SB516
Primary Sponsor: New Hampshire State Senator Bill Gannon (R-23)
SB516:
Introduced by New Hampshire State Sen. Bill Gannon (R-23), this bill, would ensure that workers in New Hampshire would not be forced to join a labor union under a collective bargaining agreement. This will maximize individual freedom of choice in the pursuit of gainful employment and create a business climate that is beneficial to economic advancement. This bill will allow workers to make the best employment decisions for themselves.
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State Bill of the Month — September 2024: New York S9899
Primary Sponsor: New York State Senator Robert G. Ortt (R-62)
S9899:
This bill, introduced by New York State Sen. Robert G. Ortt (R-62), would prohibit any state agency from prohibiting the sale of motor vehicles based on its energy source or fuel. This is to discourage the state from banning gas-powered cars amidst the encouragement from federal and state elected officials to move toward electric vehicles (EVs).
The bill, which was has been referred to the State Senate Rules Committee, would safeguard New York manufacturers and drivers from facing a gas-fueled automotive ban in the future.
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State Bill of the Month — August 2024: Michigan HB 4414
HB 4414:
This bill, introduced by Michigan State Rep. Helena Scott (D-7), would create resources, model curricula, and lesson plans concerning digital literacy and cybersafety. The state Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) would produce these materials in consultation with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (DLEO). These resources would be free of charge to the public.
The bill, which passed the Michigan House of Representatives 279-56 at the end of June, would authorize Michigan’s DTMB to create publicly available materials and information to improve the digital literacy and cybersafety of the public.
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State Bill of the Month — July 2024: Nebraska LB 29
Sponsor: State Senator Jen Day (NE-49)
LB 29:
This bill, introduced by Nebraska State Sen. Jen Day (NE-49), would sell the state-owned plane used by Gov. Jim Pillen and his staff. Profits from the sale would be placed into the General Fund to help offset the revenue losses of the prospective property tax relief package. It would also be used to cover special session costs.
The plane, valued at around $3.6 million, is a luxury that the state should seek to eliminate as a good faith first measure before addressing state spending in other areas. Gov. Pillen’s current property tax relief plan also would cut $200 million from the Department of Health and Human Services programs.
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State Bill of the Month — June 2024: North Carolina HB 1075
HB 1075
Sponsors: Reps. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford), Diamond Staton Williams (D-Cabarrus), Lindsey Prather (D-Buncombe), and Tim Longest (D-Wake)
Background:
Public records laws have been an integral mechanism for holding elected officials accountable since the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was ratified in 1967. Since then, each state has enacted and defined their own public records laws. They also define how those records are taken, retained, and presented to the public. State public records laws vary based on factors such as compliance for certain governing bodies, penalties for noncooperation, exemptions, fees, and response times.
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State Bill of the Month — May 2024: Pennsylvania HB 2298
HB 2298
Introduced by State Rep. Jake Banta (PA-04) in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, this bill would prevent executive agencies from re-interpreting laws enacted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Regulatory overreach is common in states that allow re-interpreting power by state executive agencies. According to Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation, “In federal and state courts around the country, Americans often face an uneven playing field when they square off against executive agencies, thanks to doctrines that require judges to rubber stamp agency interpretations of the law…even if what the agency claims is not the most logical or well-supported interpretation.”
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State Bill of the Month — April 30: Tennessee HB 2269
HB 2269
Introduced by State Rep. Clark Boyd (TN-46), alongside five other cosponsors in the Tennessee House of Representatives, this bill would eliminate many of the state’s certificate of need (CON) laws, which would allow citizens more widespread and affordable access to health care services.
Certificate of need (CON) laws require potential healthcare providers to get approval from a government entity before building any new healthcare facilities in a designated area. New York was the first state to adopt CON laws restricting healthcare facility construction in 1964. The CON process can take years to complete and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars before any decision is made.
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State Bill of the Month — March 2024: Connecticut SB 135
TPA’s State Bill of the Month for March 2024 is Connecticut’s SB 135, which would establish a maximum charge for certain occupational licenses, certifications, permits and registrations while also eliminating application fees for the licenses. The bill was introduced by the House General Law Committee and a bipartisan group of 26 legislators. This legislation would create a flat rate charge for certain occupational licenses, while eliminating the fees altogether.
Background:
Occupational licensing is not new, but it has gotten more prevalent across the nation since the 1950s. According to the West Virginia University Knee Regulatory Research Center, only five percent of occupations in the 1950s required a license or certification.
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State Bill of the Month — February 2024: Utah HB 239
HB 239 – Introduced by State Rep. Carl Albrecht (UT-101) and State Sen. Evan Vickers (UT-28).
The importance of promoting best cybersecurity practices cannot be overstated. Cyberattacks have become increasingly prominent across federal, state, and local governments. They are not just limited to corporations and private companies. According to the National Association of State Chief Intelligence Officers (NASCIO), increased funding for cybersecurity efforts has been the top priority for the past decade.[1] Any entity that handles a significant amount of taxpayer’s personal information should be taking steps to improve their cybersecurity measures.
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State Bill of the Month — January 2024: Missouri HB 2057
HB 2057 – Introduced by State Rep. Ben Keathley (MO-101).
Many localities are trying to implement franchise fees onto streaming services. Franchise fees are fees for the public right-of-way, not for merely providing televised entertainment. Streaming services – like Netflix and Hulu – do not dig up or impede public property, nor do they create costs for local governments.
Courts are already ruling against local governments who are trying to push streaming services into the same corner of cable companies for this fee. Litigating such cases are costly and cumbersome for these cities. And, these costs are paid for by taxpayers. Furthermore, adding an additional tax to consumer services will affect consumers and businesses.
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State Bill of the Month — December 2023: South Carolina HB 4643
TPA’s State Bill of the Month for December 2023 is South Carolina’s HB4643, which would require county councils to develop and update a searchable budget database website, and to provide that certain council meetings be made available to the public via a livestream. The bill was introduced by State Rep. Melissa Oremus (SC-84). This legislation would require counties to create a budget database website for county expenditures, and to livestream and record future county council meetings.
Background:
State open meetings laws have been updated since their inception. Laws requiring city and county budgetary and meeting proceedings to be livestreamed are less common.
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State Bill of the Month — November 2023: Michigan HB 5136
TPA’s State Bill of the Month for November 2023 is Michigan’s HB 5136, an act relating to economic development and auditing tax subsidy projects that would identify and return unused funds back to the general fund or for SOAR projects. This legislation would eliminate the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund. Economic development incentives have run rampant in the State of Michigan, and they need to be reined in.
Background:
The SOAR Fund was created in 2021 to encourage investment in Michigan’s economy.
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State Bill of the Month — October 2023: Michigan SB 520
TPA’s State Bill of the Month for October 2023 is Michigan’s SB 520, an act relating to economic development and eliminating the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund, introduced by State Sen. Thomas Albert (MI-18), alongside State Sens. Michele Hoitenga (MI-36), Joseph Bellino (MI-16), Jonathan Lindsey (MI-17) and Lana Theis (MI-22). This legislation would eliminate the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund. This economic development fund has not been an effective use of taxpayer money.
Background:
The SOAR Fund was created in 2021 to encourage investment in Michigan’s economy.
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State Bill of the Month — September 2023: Wisconsin AB 386
TPA’s State Bill of the Month for September 2023 is AB386, an act Relating to Lowering the Individual Income Tax Rates in the Third Bracket and Increasing and Expanding the Retirement Income Subtraction, introduced by State Rep. David Steffen (WI-4), State Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (WI-19) and others. This legislation would decrease the income tax rate in Wisconsin’s third income tax bracket, while removing the state income tax for retirees with a yearly income of $100,000 if they are filing individually, or $150,000 if they are filing jointly.
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State Bill of the Month — August 2023: New Jersey S3560
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) State Bill of the Month for August 2023 is S3560, an Act concerning the regulation of kitchen appliances and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, introduced by Sens. Joseph Pennacchio (R) and Steven V. Oroho (R). This legislation would prevent governing bodies in the state of New Jersey from banning the use or installation of fossil fuel-powered kitchen appliances.
Background:
Federal officials have discussed a nationwide ban on gas stoves and other kitchen appliances, while New York enacted a ban on gas hookups in most new residential buildings in May 2023.
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State Bill of the Month — July 2023: Massachusetts H.2700
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) State Bill of the Month for July 2023 is H.2700, an act providing for Property Tax Relief for Small Business Owners, introduced by Reps. Bruce J. Ayers (Mass.-1) and Adam Scanlon (MA-14). This legislation would allow small business owners to apply for a property tax exemption of up to 10 percent of all commercial properties and their averaged assessed value.
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