Sen. Karl Rhoads

Maddy summarySB 1053 establishes a refundable child tax credit for families with children, directly affecting taxpayers filing returns for taxable years starting after December 31, 2025. The credit reduces tax liability and can provide a cash payment even if no tax is owed. It applies to families meeting specific criteria (not detailed in the abstract) and is structured as a refundable benefit. The bill is currently in committee referral after its first reading, with no further legislative actions yet.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide health insurance through Medicaid's Children's Health Insurance Program to income-qualified children and pregnant persons regardless of their immigration status.

Requires all newly constructed single-family residences and apartment buildings located within specified geographic areas to be built to withstand certain categories of hurricanes and to contain residential safe rooms with attached bathrooms. Effective 1/1/2026.

Amends the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to address carbon emissions. Incrementally increases the tax rate over time. Establishes a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on lower-income taxpayers. Establishes and appropriates moneys into the carbon emissions tax and dividend special fund. Reenacts the agricultural development and food security special fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Requires all places of public accommodation and public entity constructions constructed after 7/31/2026, to provide universal changing accommodations that are equally accessible regardless of gender.

Prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government for immigration purposes except for in limited, specific circumstances.

Imposes a state carbon emissions tax of $6.25 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on all aviation fuel. Directs the aviation fuel tax into the airport revenue fund. Implements a tax credit to mitigate the effects of this tax on lower income taxpayers. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/24.

Maddy summarySB 459 requires the Governor to obtain Senate approval before appointing the Deputy Director of Highways within the Department of Transportation. This procedural change directly affects the appointment process for this specific state transportation leadership role, making Senate consent mandatory. The bill does not alter the position's duties or policy responsibilities but changes how the appointee is confirmed. As a procedural measure, it focuses solely on the appointment mechanism, not on policy outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 397 removes an existing exemption that allowed state governments, local municipalities, and federal agencies to ignore the state's Child Labor Law. This means state and local government jobs, including those with school districts or public agencies, would now be subject to the same child labor restrictions as private employers. The bill directly affects young workers in government-related positions by requiring compliance with minimum age, hour, and safety rules already applied to private sector jobs. It does not change the law for private businesses but extends its coverage to public sector employment. The bill is currently in committee review after its initial introduction.

Maddy summarySB 346 lowers the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving under the influence from 0.08% to 0.05%. This change directly affects drivers operating vehicles in the state, making it illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.05% or higher. The key mechanism is amending the existing DUI statute to reduce the threshold at which a driver can be charged. This policy change aligns the state’s standard with stricter national guidelines for impaired driving.