CBW Lobbyist Report
by Brad Tower, Tower Ltd |

March 22, 2015 -
Top issues for this week:
Week 10 was the first full week of committee hearings for bills that have passed their House of origin. Policy committee hearings will continue until April 1st. The first budget proposal from the House is expected that week as well.
Our reciprocal funds bill (HB 1304) was passed out of the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee to Rules this week after a very brief hearing. Public hearings were also held on the DFI request bills, AG request bills, the credit unions’ governance proposal, and the cities’ nuisance abatement bill. The nuisance abatement bill (SB 5694) was amended by Rep. McCaslin in the House Local Government Committee, increasing the maximum amount of the assessment that would be eligible for a priority lien from $2,000 to $5,000, calling into question our neutral position on the bill.
Late this week, Rep. Reykdal introduced HB 2201, which dedicates taxes received from lending institutions to higher education and eliminates the first mortgage interest deduction enjoyed by community banks. This bill is a discussion piece, and is not expected to move beyond a public hearing in the Higher Education Committee, but still demands a strong response.
Week 10 was the first full week of committee hearings for bills that have passed their House of origin. Policy committee hearings will continue until April 1st. The first budget proposal from the House is expected that week as well.
Our reciprocal funds bill (HB 1304) was passed out of the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee to Rules this week after a very brief hearing. Public hearings were also held on the DFI request bills, AG request bills, the credit unions’ governance proposal, and the cities’ nuisance abatement bill. The nuisance abatement bill (SB 5694) was amended by Rep. McCaslin in the House Local Government Committee, increasing the maximum amount of the assessment that would be eligible for a priority lien from $2,000 to $5,000, calling into question our neutral position on the bill.
Late this week, Rep. Reykdal introduced HB 2201, which dedicates taxes received from lending institutions to higher education and eliminates the first mortgage interest deduction enjoyed by community banks. This bill is a discussion piece, and is not expected to move beyond a public hearing in the Higher Education Committee, but still demands a strong response.