Special-session passage a top priority for NFIB
NFIB/Alaska State Director Denny DeWitt reports from the State Capitol on the first legislative week of the fourth special session.
After four days and 40 hours of hearings in the special session, Senate Bill 54 moved out of the House Judiciary Committee and over to the House Finance Committee on the evening of October 26. SB 54 contains three important issues for NFIB members. It addresses penalties for:
- Fourth-degree theft
- Class A-misdemeanors
- Class C-felonies.
The committee added penalties for repeat petty theft offenders.
The House Finance Committee scheduled introduction of the bill at 4 p.m. October 27 and public hearings October 28 and October 29. The bill’s progress can be found here. NFIB members wishing to testify from Juneau can phone 907-586-9085, from Anchorage 907-563-9085, from outside Juneau and Anchorage, 844-586-9085. Click here for more information about testifying.
NFIB expects SB 54 to pass this 4th Special Session.
Employment Tax
Gov. Bill Walker’s employment tax measures, Senate Bill 4001 and House Bill 4001, were introduced during the first week of the fourth special session. The House heard House Bill 4001 on October 25, 26 and 27. There may be further hearings, but any movement is highly unlikely. The Senate has not scheduled its bill for a hearing. It is unlikely either measure will pass.
[Tile photo courtesy of The Alaska State Legislature website]
Previous Reports, Related News Releases, And Editorials
October 21 Report—Small Business Readies for Special Session
October 13 News Release—Walker Thanked for Adding SB 54 to Special Session Call
May 19 Report—Restoration of Petty Theft Penalties Fails to Pass
May 12 Report—Alaska Senate Votes Down State Income Tax Revival
May 9 Editorial—Fundamental Income Tax Lessons for Alaska
May 5 Report—Income Taxes, Petroleum Taxes and Little Else
April 28 Report—Which Will Cave First Over State Income Tax, House or Senate?
April 21 Report—One Adjournment Deadline Ignored. Will a Second Be?
April 14 Report—NFIB Victory: Independent Contractors Pulled out of State’s Crosshairs
April 7 Report—NFIB Forcing Legislature to Practice What it Preaches
March 31—NFIB Testifies in Favor of Tougher Petty Theft Penalties
March 24 Report—Hearings on a New State Income Tax Take Center Stage
March 17 Report—NFIB Victory: Deceptive Income Tax Proposal Put Aside
March 10 Report—NFIB, State Still Far Apart on Defining Independent Contractors
March 3 Report—NFIB to Fight Alaska bid to Spike UI Wages
February 24 Report—Gas Tax Increase, State Income Tax Bills Still Alive
February 17 Report—NFIB to Testify Against Assault on Independent Contractors
February 10 Report—NFIB Looking at Four Fixes to Omnibus Crime Bill
February 3 Report—Flaw in SB 91: What Penalty for Petty Theft?
January 27 Report—Independent Contractors Once Again in Crosshairs of Alaska Legislature
January 20 Report—Costly Bills Make Return Engagement in Juneau
January 5 News Release—Poll: Alaska Should Not Be in The Retirement Business
