Sarah Matz Posts

The Florida Legislature's special session adjourned June 19 after the House and Senate passed a $78.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 (which begins July 1, 2015). The budget included over $400 million in tax reductions approved earlier in the week, including a reduction in the communications services tax, a 10-day sales tax holiday on the first $750 of the price of computers and accessories, and an expansion of the R&D tax credit.

In an effort to fill a $1.6 billion budget shortfall, the Louisiana legislature ended its session with a final budget that eliminates several business tax credits.

Last Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a $2.56 billion bill cutting the franchise tax rate paid by businesses by 25 percent. The bill, House Bill 32, by state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, was endorsed by CompTIA (formerly TechAmerica) and signed by Abbott at the Austin office of AMD, a California-based chipmaker.

Last Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) delivered his 2015 State of the State address to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate. In his remarks, Governor Abbott laid out his legislative priorities and detailed a roadmap to achieve his agenda. The Governor also announced five emergency items: early education, higher education research

State of Texas technology contracts—specifically Texas Cooperative Contracts—have recently drawn increased scrutiny from the Governor’s office, legislators, and media. As lawmakers work to craft appropriate solutions and reforms, TechAmerica, the public policy arm of CompTIA, has expressed its support for the transparency and accountability measures outlined by Governor Abbott, Speaker Straus, and the proposed bills by Senator Nelson and Rep. Price in SB 353 and HB 1027.