Friday Reports
The Friday Report, is prepared and distributed every Friday of the legislative session. The most recent Friday Report will always appear on the home page.
The full Senate met in perfunctory session this week while the Senate Finance Committee debated and passed their version of the budget bill, H. 4025, and the Capital Reserve Fund bill, H. 4026. The budget will be debated on the Senate floor the week of April 21 and includes a $14,566,488 increase to the Local Government Fund. This represents full funding to the LGF under the statutory formula. See the estimated LGF county allocations forRead Full Report
The Senate spent the week debating H. 3309, the comprehensive energy reform bill. Members worked late into the night Wednesday debating over 30 amendments before giving the bill a second reading. The Senate gave the bill a third reading Thursday, sending H. 3309 back to the House for consideration of the Senate amendments.
The House debated and passed H. 3927, a bill relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at state agencies and political subdivisions including local governments. A House Ways and Means subcommittee debated and passed a bill (H. 4216) to lower the state income tax to a flat rate of 3.99%, but the bill stalled in full committee amid concerns that the bill needs amending. Read Full Report
The Senate worked until 10 p.m. Wednesday to reach a compromise on the tort reform bill, S. 244. After the compromise amendment was presented and explained to members, the Senate adopted it and gave the bill a second reading. Before adjourning for the week, the Senate moved H. 3309, the comprehensive energy reform bill, to special order status Thursday, ensuring its debate soon.
The House debated H. 3927, a bill relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at state agencies and political subdivisions including local governments. After several procedural motions, the House adjourned debate on H. 3927 until next week. Several committees in the House and Senate met to take up bills of interest to counties.
These and other bills of interest are detailed in the Friday Report.Read Full Report
The Senate spent a large portion of their time this week on the floor debating several amendments to S. 244, the tort reform bill, in a continued effort to reach a compromise. As of Thursday, the bill remains in Special Order status with debate likely to continue next week. Meanwhile, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee continued taking testimony on H. 3309, the comprehensive energy reform bill, and advanced the legislation to the full committee.
The House met in perfunctory session this week, meaning there were no bills debated on the floor. However, several House committees met, including the House Education and Public Works Committee, which took up H. 3927, relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, and advanced the bill to the House calendar.
These and other bills of interest are detailed in the Friday Report.Read Full Report
Members of the House worked Monday through the early morning Wednesday to debate and pass their version of the $14 billion FY 2025-26 state budget (H. 4025) and Capital Reserve Fund (H. 4026). The House gave the bills second reading around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and adjourned until 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, when it reconvened to give H. 4025 and H. 4026 third readings. The House will meet in perfunctory session next week, but several subcommittees have scheduled meetings.
Throughout the week, members of the Senate met with stakeholders to work on a compromise to S. 244, the tort reform bill. On Thursday, Senate leadership announced that a compromise had not yet been reached. The Senate also polled the liquor liability bill (Read Full Report
The Senate spent the week in chamber debating their version of the tort reform bill (S. 244).
An amendment introduced Thursday afternoon changed the trajectory of the original legislation and turned the entire debate into a whirlwind, leading to early adjournment and no vote on the bill. It is uncertain how the Senate will move forward with the tort reform bill in the weeks to come.
Across the hall, the House on Thursday hastily passed their liquor liability bill (Read Full Report
The House continued their work in chamber debating and passing several bills, including the school voucher bill (S. 62), in preparation to debate the budget bill on the floor in a few weeks. House Judiciary Committee members had a busy week in committee and subcommittee meetings debating several bills, including their version of a liquor liability bill (H. 3497).
The Senate Judiciary Committee met Tuesday to debate their liquor liability (S. 184) and tort reform (Read Full Report
Members of the House Ways and Means Committee met Tuesday and Wednesday to debate and pass their version of the 2025-26 state budget (H. 4025). The House continued their work in chamber debating and passing several bills of interest to counties in preparation to debate the budget bill on the floor in a few weeks.
The Senate spent most of the week in subcommittee meetings receiving testimony on liquor liability (S. 184), tort reform (S. 244) and energy reform (H. 3309). The Senate Finance Committee also advanced several bills of note to the Senate floor.
Thank YOU to all the county officials who attended Counties Connect: A Legislative Action Day on Wednesday. Your presenceRead Full Report
The House spent time on the floor moving through their calendar in preparation for debate on the budget bill on the House floor in a couple weeks. The Senate continued work in subcommittees and committees to bring bills to the floor for debate, including S. 171, a bill to address the financial burden many counties are currently facing with waste tires.
The General Assembly met on Wednesday in Joint Assembly to elect judges. The House Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee briefly debated and passed the comprehensive energy bill (H. 3309) on Wednesday. The bill includes a provision requiring solar arrays larger than 125 acres coming into a county to also get approval from the Public Service Commission. H. 3309 is now pending second reading on the House calendar.
A House Judiciary subcommittee began debating a liquor liability bill (H. 3497) similar to several bills already being debated in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate gave second and third readings to the school voucher bill (S. 62), which allows for public funds to be used for private and religious schools.