Governor Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Toni Atkins have reached agreement on a more than $300 billion “budget framework” for the state’s 2022–23 budget. The full Legislature must approve...more
On Monday, December 20, 2021, for the second time in three years, the Washington State Legislature sued Governor Inslee over his line-item vetoes related to climate change policy. ...more
California Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a strong warning to cities and counties early this year: Meet your state housing goals or forfeit your Senate Bill 1, or “Gas Tax,” road repair dollars. Originally published in...more
For the first time in a decade, Ohio’s legislature failed to meet the June 30 statutory deadline to pass its two-year operating budget and were forced to take the unusual step of suspending the state constitution to pass an...more
With 10 days to go until the Minnesota Legislature must adjourn, budget negotiations between Governor Walz and House and Senate leadership have stalled. In turn, the work of conference committees, who need agreed-to budget...more
Legislators return to St. Paul today after their 10-day Easter/Passover break. Legislators left town on Friday, April 12 after meeting the third and final deadline for finance committees to complete their work before heading...more
This week, House finance committees unveiled and passed DFL proposals to fund state government over the next biennium. Because of the lack of movement in the Senate on key House policy priorities, finance bills also became...more
Ohio’s Transportation Budget has been a source of controversy and compromise. The original March 31 deadline came and went without a deal. The Conference Committee, which is a bipartisan committee of House and Senate members...more
During the crush of the legislative session, the focus is typically on the bright, flashy bills that contain policies that tilt the scale on visceral issues. For instance, Rep. Karianne Lisbonee’s HB 205 Down Syndrome...more
The South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act, 2017 Act 40, was recently enacted and is designed to enhance South Carolina’s economic competitiveness. The Act, commonly referred to as the gas tax bill,...more
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam recently signed into law the “Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy (IMPROVE) Act” or the “2017 Tax Cut Act” (the “Improve Act”). ...more
The Tennessee Legislature completed its first session of the 110th General Assembly this Wednesday. The flag flying over the Capitol, signifying the body is in session, was taken down. The General Assembly will reconvene on...more
South Carolina’s gas tax is one of the lowest in the country. The result is the deplorable condition of the state’s highway system and roads. South Carolina is a conservative state, politically, and any tax increase, gas or...more
For years, policymakers and economists around the country have been well aware that the federal gas tax is dying. In its report to Congress, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission, on...more