Texas House Bill HB464

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 12/22/08
• Out of House Committee: 5/4/09
• Voted on by House: 5/17/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/25/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/26/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/31/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the preparation by the Legislative Budget Board of a dynamic fiscal impact statement for certain bills and joint resolutions affecting taxes and fees.

Notes

The overall reception of this bill likely depends on the broader fiscal context within Texas. Supporters might advocate for it as a progressive step towards transparency in budgeting and fiscal accountability, while those cautious of more government regulation may raise concerns about the feasibility and implications of implementing such a requirement.

Impact

This bill is significant as it seeks to refine the process by which fiscal impacts of legislative decisions are assessed, moving beyond traditional static scoring methods. By incorporating dynamic scoring principles, the bill aims to account for how changes in taxes or fees can affect economic behaviors, such as work, investment, and spending. The intent is to provide legislators with better tools for forecasting revenue changes and making informed decisions that could ultimately guide fiscal policy effectively.

Summary

House Bill 464 introduces a requirement for the Legislative Budget Board to prepare a dynamic fiscal impact statement for any bills or joint resolutions that propose changes to tax rates or fees, especially those with a projected fiscal impact of $100 million or more over a five-year period. This initiative aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the long-term effects that tax and fee changes may have on state revenues and economic activity. A dynamic fiscal impact statement will analyze not only tax receipts but also the economic factors that may influence the broader fiscal landscape.

Contention

One potential point of contention surrounding HB 464 is the complexity and accuracy of dynamic scoring itself. Critics may argue that predicting responses to tax changes is inherently uncertain and that reliance on this model could lead to misguided assumptions about future revenue. Furthermore, there may be concerns regarding the legislative process, specifically about the timing and inclusion of these dynamic fiscal impact statements in decision-making. Some stakeholders might worry that thorough fiscal analysis could slow the legislative process down or serve as a barrier against necessary tax reforms.