Twitter posts from the day tell a good story:
The day started with a panel of House members who serve on
the House Tax Policy Review Committee. Reps. Tommy Pope (chair), Mandy Powers
Norrell, Chandra Dillard and Joe Daning weighed in on the data-driven work this
committee is doing to analyze the state's tax system and make recommendations
on changes. Committee members stressed they aren't looking for new revenue. Rather, the goal
is making the tax system more fair.
Senators Luke Rankin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, and Shane Massey, Senate Majority Leader, talked about the
political landscape and issues that will be top Senate priorities this year. Both senators noted they hope to pass legislation early in the session to
make the state superintendent of education an appointed office.
Clarence Anthony, executive director of the National League of Cities, gave an analysis of the new political landscape in Washington and stressed NLC’s focus on the Hill is maintaining the tax exemption on municipal bonds.
A draft business license bill topped the list of advocacy initiatives
the Association’s staff discussed. Executive Director Miriam Hair updated local officials about cities' concerns with this proposal.
The largest class in the 20-plus year history of the
Municipal Elected Officials Institute graduated during HLAD. Forty-eight officials completed the MEO Institute while an 70 additional graduated from the Advanced
Institute.
Christy Hall, the state Secretary of Transportation, gave the lunch address
immediately following her testimony about the state of DOT in front of the Senate
Transportation Committee. She shared the details
of that presentation with city officials noting the agency’s recent
successes as well as its looming challenges.
More than 200 local officials marched down Main Street to
the Blatt Building where they told House members that cities support business
license standardization but…authority for business licensing must remain with
cities, there should be no special exemptions and the result must be revenue
neutral for cities.
Business licensing legislation was introduced on Thursday. Read more in today's From the Dome to Your Home and stay tuned for details.
Get links to handouts and presentations here.
Get links to handouts and presentations here.