Legislature(2025 - 2026)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/07/2025 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB34 | |
| SB24 | |
| SB92 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 92 | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 7, 2025
9:06 a.m.
9:06:30 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Hoffman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Mike Cronk
Senator James Kaufman
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Sponsor; Senator Gary Stevens,
Sponsor; Tim Lamkin, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens.
SUMMARY
SB 24 TOBACCO/NICOTINE/E-CIG AGE; E-CIG TAX
CSSB 24(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with
two "do pass" recommendations, one "amend"
recommendation, three "no recommendations"; one
new fiscal note from the Department of Revenue,
and seven previously published zero fiscal notes:
FN 1(CED), FN 2(ADM), FN 3(ADM), FN 4(DOH), FN
6(DPS), FN 7(AJS), FN 8(LAW).
SB 34 REPEAL 90 DAY SESSION LIMIT
SB 34 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 92 CORP. INCOME TAX; OIL and GAS ENTITIES
CSSB 92(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with
three "do pass" recommendations, two "do not
pass" recommendations, and two "no
recommendations"; and with one previously
published indeterminate fiscal note: FN 1(REV).
SENATE BILL NO. 34
"An Act relating to the duration of a regular session
of the legislature."
9:07:35 AM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, introduced the legislation.
She believed that the bill would help voter confidence in
the work that was done in the legislature. She relayed that
the bill would repeal the 90-day session statute, which had
been passed in 2006 after a citizen initiative. The
initiative was intended to streamline the legislative
process and encourage legislators to get the work done. She
addressed a chart that quantified how many days the
legislature had been in session (copy on file). She noted
that the bill became effective in 2008. She made note of
special sessions and session lengths. She pointed out that
there had only been two 90-day sessions since that time, in
2010 and 2013. In 2020 there was a session of only 69 days
due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The following year there had
been a legislative session of 217 days in total, including
three special sessions. She believed the 90-day requirement
undermined voter confidence.
Senator Giessel drew attention to a document that listed
the price of oil (copy on file). She contemplated that the
legislature went over 90 days of session due to the
complicated issues it had to deal with. She highlighted
2006 when the initiative passed and noted that the price of
oil in 2008 was $204/bbl and was the highest price to date.
The same year the initiative was also implemented, and the
legislature went for 150 days, including special sessions.
She mentioned policy issues. She highlighted that the oil
price had plummeted to $63/bbl the following year. She
remarked on the oil price volatility shown on the document
and noted the complexities the legislature had to deal
with. She thought that Co-Chair Hoffman had commented that
the fiscal situation was the worst he ever recalled in his
many years in the legislature.
Co-Chair Hoffman clarified that he had been in the
legislature for 39 years.
Senator Giessel emphasized that the 90-day session was
well-intentioned but was unrealistic. She pondered that a
repeal would assuage public frustration. She mentioned that
there was a sectional analysis for member to consider.
Co-Chair Hoffman thought the bill was straightforward and
relayed that the committee would forego consideration of a
sectional analysis.
9:11:53 AM
Co-Chair Stedman recalled that the creation of the 90-day
session had been driven by two members of the legislature,
neither of which were in leadership. He thought both
members had wanted to return home for other business
dealings.
9:12:27 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman reported that he had been to more special
sessions than regular sessions.
9:12:41 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Hoffman CLOSED public testimony.
Senator Kiehl reviewed the fiscal note. The note was
prepared by the Legislative Affairs Agency. There was no
cost to the note, and he affirmed that the legislature
always had a 120-day session in its budget.
9:13:17 AM
AT EASE
9:13:40 AM
RECONVENED
SB 34 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 24
"An Act relating to tobacco, tobacco products,
electronic smoking products, nicotine, and products
containing nicotine; raising the minimum age to
purchase, exchange, or possess tobacco, a product
containing nicotine, or an electronic smoking product;
relating to the tobacco use education and cessation
fund; relating to the taxation of electronic smoking
products and vapor products; and providing for an
effective date."
9:13:40 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that the committee first heard the
bill on April 1 and had taken public testimony and reviewed
the fiscal note at the time. The amendment deadline was
April 11, and the co-chairs had received one amendment. A
small technical change was brought to the attention of the
committee after the amendment deadline. The committee would
consider the amendment.
9:14:30 AM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, SPONSOR, reintroduced the
legislation. He explained that the bill was about
protecting children from becoming addicted. The bill
restricted sales and possession of nicotine products by
young people. The bill was an effort to push back on a
multi-billion industry trying to addict young people to the
substances. The bill raised the legal age to buy, sell,
use, and possess cigarettes, nicotine products, and e-
cigarettes to 21. He relayed that taxing of the products
was shown to reduce consumption.
9:15:27 AM
TIM LAMKIN, STAFF, SENATOR GARY STEVENS, relayed that the
bill was very similar to a bill that had passed the
committee previously. He asked if he should review
components of the bill or address members questions.
9:15:39 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked if SB 24 was identical to the bill
passed in the committee one year previously. He asked about
an effective date change.
9:15:48 AM
Mr. Lamkin replied that there was a slight change to the
bill from the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the change.
Mr. Lamkin explained that there was an exemption added to
the bill related to online sales of cigars and pipe
tobacco.
Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that the committee would consider
amendments.
9:16:37 AM
Senator Kaufman MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1, 34.LS0260\1. I,
Nauman, 4/2/25 (copy on file):
Page l, lines 4-5
Delete "relating to the taxation of electronic smoking
products and vapor products;"
Page 7, line 9:
Delete "43.50.850 - 43.50.900" 7 Insert "43.50.850 -
43.50.870" 8
Page 8, lines 6- Il:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 10, line 15:
Delete "Licensing, and Tax" 16 Insert "and Licensing"
Page 10, line 16, through page 11 , line 15:
Delete all material.
Page 11, line 16:
Delete "Sec. 43.50.860"
Insert "Sec. 43.50.850"
following "faith;":
Insert "or"
Page 11, line 25:
Delete or" 7 Insert 8
Page 11 , line 26:
Delete all material.
Page 12, lines I - 2:
Delete "; and"
Page 12, line 3:
Delete all material.
Page 12, line 20, through page 13, line 5:
Delete all material.
Page 13, line 6:
Delete "Sec. 43.50.880" 27
Insert "Sec. 43.50.860"
Page 13, lines 14 - 15:
Delete "authorized by law to possess electronic
smoking products not taxed under this chapter"
24 - 25:
Delete "authorized by law to possess electronic
smoking products not taxed under this chapter"
Page 13, line 27:
Delete
Insert "and"
Page 13, lines 28 - 29:
Delete ", and the tax imposed on the electronic
smoking product under this chapter has been paid"
Page 14, line 31, through page 15, line 3:
Delete all material.
Page 15, line 4:
Delete "Sec. 43.50.885" 19
Insert "Sec. 43.50.870"
Page 15, line 19, through page 16, line 8:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly.
Page 21, line 9:
Delete "sec. 24"
Insert "sec. 23"
Page 23, line 24:
Delete "sec. 26"
Insert "sec. 5"
Page 23, line 25:
Delete " 16, 19, and 25"
Insert " 18, and 24" 19
Page 23, line 26:
Delete "sec. 29"
Insert "sec. 28"
9:16:44 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion.
9:17:03 AM
AT EASE
9:17:05 AM
RECONVENED
Senator Kaufman explained that the amendment would remove
the tax component of the bill, which he thought had been
the impediment to the legislation moving forward. He
thought the bill would do good work without the tax
component.
Co-Chair Hoffman asked for the sponsors position on the
amendment.
9:17:46 AM
Senator Stevens appreciated the amendment sponsors thought
process. He contended that the tax caused less usage [of
tobacco products]. He used the example of the tobacco tax
and noted that every time the legislature increased the
tax, consumption was reduced. He was opposed to the
amendment.
9:18:26 AM
Senator Kaufman thought it had been reported that there was
already headway being made on the intent of the bill. He
thought the bill might be getting in its own way of getting
into statute.
Co-Chair Hoffman MAINTAINED his OBJECTION.
Senator Kaufman MOVED to WITHDRAW Amendment 1. There being
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:19:21 AM
Senator Kiehl MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2, 34-LS0260\I.2,
Nauman, 5/5/25 (copy on file):
Page 3, line 24:
Delete "19"
Insert "18, 19,"
Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion.
9:19:36 AM
Senator Kiehl explained the amendment, which was a small
technical fix related to putting 18-year-olds in a group
with 19- and 20-year-olds in the context of getting a
ticket and not a mandatory court appearance.
9:20:18 AM
Senator Stevens appreciated and supported the amendment.
Co-Chair Hoffman WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, Amendment 2 was adopted.
9:20:39 AM
AT EASE
9:21:55 AM
RECONVENED
Senator Kiehl MOVED to REPORT SB 24 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSB 24(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with two "do
pass" recommendations, one "amend" recommendation, three
"no recommendations"; one new fiscal note from the
Department of Revenue, and seven previously published zero
fiscal notes: FN 1(CED), FN 2(ADM), FN 3(ADM), FN 4(DOH),
FN 6(DPS), FN 7(AJS), FN 8(LAW).
9:22:41 AM
AT EASE
9:26:56 AM
RECONVENED
SENATE BILL NO. 92
"An Act establishing an income tax on certain entities
producing or transporting oil or gas in the state; and
providing for an effective date."
9:27:34 AM
Senator Kiehl MOVED to REPORT SB 92 out of Committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
9:27:55 AM
Senator Kaufman OBJECTED for discussion. He stated that he
did not support the fiscal plan. He thought the bill
attempted to accomplish the tax pieces of the fiscal plan
but without the other functional pieces, including many
things developed in the Fiscal Policy Working Group. He
thought a comprehensive plan would include such elements as
a spending cap, better management processes within the
executive branch, and other items. He thought the tax
proposed in the bill risked upsetting the apple cart for
those that would come to the state to do transformative
work. He did not support the bill.
Senator Kaufman WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSB 92(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with three "do
pass" recommendations, two "do not pass" recommendations,
and two "no recommendations"; and with one previously
published indeterminate fiscal note: FN 1(REV).
9:29:18 AM
AT EASE
9:31:20 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that the afternoon meeting was
canceled.
ADJOURNMENT
9:31:34 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:31 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 34, Version A.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM SSTA 3/18/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 34 |
| SB 34 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM SSTA 3/18/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 34 |
| SB 34 Supporting Document.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM SSTA 3/18/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 34 |
| SB 34 Opposition Koan.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 34 |
| SB 24 Testimony Andrew W Hb49 and sb24.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 49 SB 24 |
| SB 24 Major New WHO Report Highlights Sweden's Smoke Free Success - Smoke Free Sweden 2024.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SB 24 Amendment 2 Kiehl.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Amendment 1 Kaufman.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 - Research - Article - People Magazine - Teen Popcorn Lung.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 24 |
| SB 34 Support Document- WTI Oil Prices 2000-2025.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 34 |
| SB 24 Public Testimony McDonald.pdf |
SFIN 5/7/2025 9:00:00 AM |
SB 24 |