Meetings
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[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: Good afternoon. Yep. Good. That's what's happening. Here we are. It's Friday, March 27, the Ways and Means Committee. We are hearing some amendments on H nine three, an act relating miscellaneous administrative and policy changes to the tax laws. We have two amendments before us. They are posted on our committee page. The first one we will hear is from representative Sebelia. Floor is yours. Thank you, Madam Chair. This amendment is simple. It would not create a hole in the budget, or anywhere. It does not attempt to change anything that has happened with pilot this year.
[Rep. Laura Sibilia]: It simply asks that we strike the language that commits, the pilot funds to the, appraisal uses in subsequent years. Just like with Cevelia, we wanted to protect the per parcel payments going directly to towns to make sure that they would be covered fully into the future in a tight fiscal environment. Clearly, people have many large feelings about pilot payments and local And production we have, because of other things on the floor, not been able to schedule more testimony on it. And so I personally am very happy to accept your amendment. And we can all have another conversation about this another day. Madam Chair, I really appreciate that. I would just I mean, I don't know what everyone else can be.
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: Thanks, Brad. Thank
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: you, Madam Chair. Any questions, thoughts? Okay. All those in favor of the Spelea amendment? All those opposed? Representative Holcombe, didn't move your hand for either one. Thank
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: you. Thank you very much.
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: So that's favorable ten-zero-one? I believe so. Right? Yes. Thank you.
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: Yes. Thank you.
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: You. Farewell. Representative Tacklevia.
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: Nice to see you.
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: You, Madam Chair, members of the Ways and Means Committee. I just made a couple of very quick or simple changes. I know in discussion here in committee and out on the floor, it was an aversion to having the governor being the one dealing with the tax disbursements or or designating the taxes. So I had let council do another amendment for me. If I could just read it. My amendment will strike out section 19 federal tax credit for SGOs contributions in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof new section 19 to read as follows. Section 19 to VSA, section 24 is added to read. Scholarship granting organizations annually, the General Assembly may elect to participate in the federal tax credit program under 26 USC 25F in the following year by enactment of an act. B, a legislative enactment made under this section shall identify all qualifying scholarship granting organizations to be listed pursuant to 26 USC subsection 25 f for the following year. The enactment made pursuant to this section shall specify the individual or entity responsible for providing the list of organizations to the US Secretary of Treasury pursuant to 26 USC subsection 25 f g. C, any election made under 26 USC 25 f by any other state official or entity is void and shall not shall have no effect. So, this should cover the legislature making the decision and basically everything else I the other arguments, it's really truly about the kids getting scholarships and having that opportunity. The, to me, the tax credit for the individual making the donation is secondary, but I just wanted to try to, one more try.
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: Representative Kacolovia, I was really just so appreciative of how much you heard exactly what our concerns were and what our goals were and carefully crafted an amendment to meet them. So the way I read your amendment and in the conversation I had with staff, it looks like you're still leaving this in legislative authority, which was really important to the committee. And it still gives the legislature the time that we need to wait for the federal rules to be enacted before we make a decision about it.
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: Right. And the thing, if I could add one little thing, I know in consulting with Legis Council in section G of subsection 25F, it states no later than January 1 of each calendar year, which kind of would have been a problem, or with respect to the first calendar year for which this section applies, as early as practical. So I think, hopefully, fingers crossed, something can be worked out.
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: Thank you. How does that January 1 doubling work, you know, kind of? It would
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: be after we came back with
[Unidentified Committee Member]: his own historical article.
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: That's why I like that section.
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: So, I really appreciate the effort to tailor it to the conserving. I still have the government union concern, in that every state that has done this has seen exponential growth in total education spending. We cannot afford to take the lid off exponential growth in education spending. And what I don't see is what we're going to do to have the data to make an informed decision about that. What are the things that we're going to look at? And so I just, I mean, it sounds great, and then it's definitely less filling of the open. And so, I just have severe concerns about the potential of affordability of this, given what we've seen in other places.
[Unidentified Committee Member]: I think we should all rally around this and have a two thumbs up vote for a couple of amendments here. So I'd appreciate follow-up.
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: Probably only one hand up, we wouldn't want to vote twice with one. I think this still gives us the time to learn what we need to learn to decide whether or not we're going to do this in the future. And I appreciate your work on it. So I'm happy to vote yes when we do this.
[Unidentified Committee Member]: Because some of the discussions that
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: we had was about we don't know
[Unidentified Committee Member]: what the rules are yet. If we want to put limitations on it, say it can only be used for this and that kind
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: of stuff, we don't know if the federal law would override that. I understand that. So
[Unidentified Committee Member]: it gives us time to evaluate what those rules are in January.
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: My line of thinking is in this tough economy in this state, you know, an option, educational options for students, if they can get a scholarship to go to a school that is going to best suit their needs, why not have that as a tool in the toolbox?
[Unidentified Committee Member]: You need a motion, Madam Chair,
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: or just No, just wanna make sure that we're Counsel. We'll just do a straw for Does anyone else have anything they wanna say or any questions? Okay. All those in favor? All those opposed?
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: Do it. Okay. So
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: I think we have two opposed. And Carol, you were
[Rep. Rebecca Holcombe]: in favor? Let's do it. Should we
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: do it again? Yes. Okay, a little slower, ready? And mark only one hand. Okay, all those in favor? All those opposed? Thank you. Thank you for your time.
[Unidentified Committee Member]: Thank you
[Unidentified Representative (SGO amendment sponsor)]: very much. Appreciate your time.
[Rep. Emilie Kornheiser (Chair)]: Folks, there might be another amendment, so pay attention to each other and to your telephones as per usual. Thank you. 821. I'm sorry. Don't think we're going say that. And if we aren't Hi. Just one more second. If we don't come back, have a very nice weekend. We'll see you on Tuesday after all the usual Tuesday things. And we'll be doing straight education next week with the exception of we're going to receive the capital bill.