June 22, 2007

HOUSE NOTES NO. 8









by Sheila McCant

With final adjournment looming, the Senate completed debate this week on the $29.7 billion state budget (House Bill 1), sending it back to the House for concurrence or rejection of the Senate amendments. The House concurred, sending the bill to the governor and avoiding further deliberation in conference committee. The House voted 84-20 to approve House Concurrent Resolution 10 which raises the state spending cap. The Senate agreed, voting 29-5 to approve the measure.
The House also passed House Concurrent Resolution 208, the spending plan for elementary and secondary schools. The funding formula increases spending for the 2007-2008 school year by $209 million. The legislature can approve or reject the plan, but cannot amend it.
A number of tax credit bills also passed the House or House committee this week. Senate Bill 3, which establishes an annual "sales tax holiday, Senate Bill 155, which provides for a refundable child tax credit against individual income tax of 10% of the federal child tax credit, and Senate Bill 341, which provides a refundable state earned income tax credit equal to five percent of the federal earned income tax credit.
To date, the governor has signed 109 bills. Final adjournment must occur no later than 6 p.m. Thursday, June 28. Please see the full edition of House Notes No. 8 located here.




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