Legislators advance tax cut bills, handle other business

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 499 views 

Photo courtesy of Marine Glisovic.

While two new companion Freedom of Information Act measures advanced on Wednesday (Sept. 13), state lawmakers also conducted other business in a special session, including mirror tax cut proposals.

The House Revenue and Tax committee approved HB 1007, which reduces the top personal income tax rate from 4.7% to 4.4%. It reduces the corporate income tax rate from 5.1% to 4.8%.

In addition, the bill provides an income tax credit of $150 to taxpayers making less than $90,000 annually. The credit would be retroactive to January 1, 2023.

State Senators passed a companion bill on this tax policy Tuesday.

A bill was also passed in both chambers to create a reserve fund for more than $710 million in surplus funds for later use.

Senators and House members also advanced a bill that prohibits state government from mandating a vaccination or immunization for COVID-19. That measure also instructs the Department of Health to maintain publicly available information on potential risks of COVID-19 vaccines.

Other bills moving through the House and Senate in the special session involves a measure to remove conflicting language related to locked doors during school fire drills and a bill to clarify sentencing for a felony with a firearm.

Legislators are expected to complete the special session on Thursday.