WR is closely monitoring the bills that have advanced through the legislative process. Each week, we’ll spotlight our weekly “hot list” key legislation that could have the most significant impact on WR members.
Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) (SB 5976/HB 2274)
The bill passed out of the Senate Business, Economic Development and Trade Committee on the cutoff date despite internal committee tensions and limited bills moving forward. Both retail priority bills, the CEMA bill and the penny rounding bill, were advanced. The bill has now been referred to Senate Rules. Meetings have been held with key lawmakers, including the Senate floor leader and the bill sponsor, who expressed support and a willingness to help move it from Rules to the Senate floor. The coming week is critical to secure a floor vote before the next cutoff. Conversations have also taken place with the Governor’s Office, and with opposition neutralized, including the Attorney General’s Office. The outlook remains cautiously optimistic pending final passage and signature.
Position: WR supports this bill.
Status: In Senate Rules 2nd reading. The bill passed out of the Senate Business, Economic Development and Trade Committee on the cutoff date despite limited bills moving forward. Both retail priority bills, the CEMA bill and the penny rounding bill, were advanced. The bill has now been referred to Senate Rules. Meetings have been held with key lawmakers, including the Senate floor leader and the bill sponsor, who expressed support and a willingness to help move it from Rules to the Senate floor. The coming week is critical to secure a floor vote before the next cutoff. Conversations have also taken place with the Governor’s Office, and with opposition neutralized, including the Attorney General’s Office. The outlook remains cautiously optimistic pending final passage and signature.
Plastic Bag Ban (SB 5965)
SB 5965 was originally introduced as an outright ban on plastic retail bags and an increase of the paper bag fee to 20 cents. An amendment adopted in Ways and Means instead lowers the paper bag fee to 8 cents and implements gradual increases to plastic bag fees over several years rather than banning them.
With the amendment adopted, neutrality was secured. However, support for moving the bill to the Senate floor remains uncertain, as some lawmakers oppose a full product ban. The bill’s future is unclear, but if it advances, maintaining the amendment is a priority. If it does not move forward, the issue is likely to return next year.
Position: WR is opposed to this bill.
Status: In Senate Rules 2nd reading
Budget
Both the House and Senate budgets rely on approximately $800 million from the Budget Stabilization Account to address the current fiscal shortfall. The proposed millionaire tax is separate from this immediate budget solution. Budget bills are moving out of Ways and Means and Appropriations and will proceed to floor debates, where final House and Senate negotiations will occur. The final stretch of session will focus primarily on budget votes, budget cleanup, and implementing legislation. A key development was the absence of the Apple Health Care assessment tax, which created a nearly $1 billion gap for the Senate and led to greater reliance on stabilization funds instead.
