Legislative special session through Feb. 24, 2018

What little happened during first of two weeks of the special session was not encouraging. Two bills introduced in the interim largely mimicked other bills: HB 29 by Speaker Taylor Barras reflected HB 1 and SB 7 by Sen. Mike Walsworth reflected HB 2.

THE GOOD: HB 24 by Rep. Pat Smith would consolidate the confusing patchwork of sales tax holidays.

THE BAD: HB 25 by Jay Morris would alter certain tax exceptions in an incoherent manner; HB 26 by Rep. Stephen Dwight would increase permanently sales taxes; HB 27 by Smith would increase taxes on telephone lines (similar bill: HB 28).

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 12 passed House committee; HB 15 with minor amendment passed House committee; with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 24 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 29 passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 27 passed House committee; HB 28 passed House committee.