Tax Policies on Data Centers
by FOCUS, a Leonine Business
States across the country are taking very different approaches to data center tax policies, with some offering lucrative incentives to attract investment while others move to scale back or eliminate tax breaks altogether. In states like Arizona, Arkansas, California and Illinois, lawmakers are introducing sales and use tax exemptions or expansions for data center equipment, aiming to position their states as hubs for tech infrastructure.
Chaos Erupts on Floor of Mississippi Senate After Lieutenant Governor Suddenly Collapses
The Western Journal
Mississippi Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann collapsed while presiding over the Mississippi Senate on Wednesday morning. The legislative body was preparing to consider its final appropriations measure of the day when Hosemann, 77, “slumped over his podium,” according to Mississippi Today. Hosemann explained on Wednesday afternoon that he was “dehydrated” at the podium but is “feeling fine now,” according to WLBT in Jackson.
Colorado’s semiautomatic gun ban bill moves forward in state Senate
CBS Colorado
Colorado lawmakers in the state Senate advanced a bill to ban the sale and manufacture of some semiautomatic weapons. Debate on the bill extended past midnight into Friday morning. The bill would ban the sale of semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns unless people complete a training course through Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming are in regular session. The District of Columbia Council and U.S. Congress are also in session.
The following states are expected to convene for the 2025 legislative session on the dates provided: Florida (March 4) and Louisiana (April 14).
Virginia is scheduled to adjourn its 2025 legislative session on February 22.
Florida adjourned its special session on February 13 after passing immigration legislation. According to NPR, the legislature passed bills that create a state board of immigration enforcement, require local governments to cooperate with federal immigration officers and increase penalties for immigrants who illegally enter the state or commit crimes. Republican Gov. Ron Desantis signed the legislation into law immediately upon its passage.
District of Columbia Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has 10 days from presentment, weekends excepted, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has 14 days from presentment to act on legislation or it is pocket vetoed. New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has 45 days from presentment to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has 10 days from presentment, excluding Sundays, to act on legislation or it becomes law without signature.
Interim Committees/Prefiles
Louisiana is currently holding interim committee hearings.
Florida is currently posting prefiles and interim studies.
Special Elections
Delaware held special elections for Senate districts 1 and 5 on February 15. According to The News Journal, Democrat Dan Cruce defeated Republican Steven Washington with about 77 percent of the vote for the seat in Senate District 1. In Senate District 5, Democrat Ray Seigfried beat Republican Brent Burdge with around 65 percent of the vote.
The following seats are scheduled to be filled by special election on February 25: Connecticut House District 40 and Senate District 21 and Maine House District 24.
Schedule a demo of our legislative and regulatory tracking database and to find out more about our 50-state government affairs services.