State & Local
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July 09, 2025
Pacific Life Calls $11M Florida Income Tax Unconstitutional
Pacific Life Insurance Co. asked a Florida court to void a $10.7 million income tax assessment on its sale of interest in an aircraft financing and leasing group, saying the state's tax agency incorrectly classified the gain as business income.
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July 09, 2025
Colorado Activists Pitch Fee-Limiting Ballot Measures
Colorado would modify its Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to require voter approval of certain fee increases that fund similar purposes under a group of proposed ballot initiatives submitted to the state Legislative Council.
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July 09, 2025
Nashville Owners Must Face The Music As Tax Burden Surges
Property owners in Nashville are facing greater tax burdens in light of a recent jump in property valuations. Burr & Forman partner John F. Rogers Jr., a veteran real estate attorney in the city, spoke recently with Law360 Real Estate Authority about the market's evolution and how he is advising clients on approaching these latest financial developments.
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July 09, 2025
Fund Servicer Contests Fla. Income Allocation In $10M Case
A company that services mutual funds asked a Florida state court to negate a $10 million income tax assessment, arguing that the state applied the wrong sourcing rules and taxed receipts that shouldn't be sourced to the state.
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July 09, 2025
State And Local Tax Policy To Watch In 2nd Half Of 2025
From state decisions on conforming to the federal budget reconciliation bill to North Carolina lawmakers trying to end an impasse over income tax cuts, state legislators are primed to consider several outstanding tax issues in the coming months. Here, Law360 examines state and local tax policy to watch in the second half of 2025.
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July 09, 2025
Calif. Court Says Utility Property Can Be Taxed At Higher Rate
AT&T unit Pacific Bell and other telecommunication companies can be taxed at a different property tax rate because the state statute and legal precedent allows utilities to be taxed at different rates, a California appellate court ruled.
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July 09, 2025
5 Years Ago, The McGirt Ruling Reshaped Tribal Jurisdiction
It was widely held for decades that Oklahoma had domain over criminal matters on tribal lands, but five years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court turned that regime on its head, finding 19th century federal treaties with the Creek Nation that formed its reservation are valid — and, in turn, reestablishing 45% of the Sooner State as Indian Country.
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July 09, 2025
Pa. Senate Bill Seeks Severance Tax On Natural Gas In 2026
Pennsylvania would establish a severance tax on producers of natural gas starting in 2026 under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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July 09, 2025
NH Annual Receipts Down $26M From Budget Estimates
New Hampshire's total receipts for the year ending in June were $26 million weaker than expected, according to the state Department of Administrative Services.
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July 09, 2025
Conn. OKs Credit For Challenges To Remote Worker Taxes
Connecticut is establishing a personal income tax credit for residents working remotely in the state who successfully challenge taxes imposed by other states under legislation signed by the governor.
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July 09, 2025
Baker McKenzie Rehires Int'l Tax Pro As Principal Economist
Baker McKenzie's former director of economics, who spent more than 15 years as an IRS assistant director in a division that focuses on cross-border tax issues, has rejoined the firm after working with EY.
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July 08, 2025
Kansas Extends STAR Bonds To Continue Chiefs, Royals Talks
Kansas lawmakers have approved a one-year extension of the state's Sales Tax and Revenue bonds while the Missouri-based Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals continue talks with officials about migrating to Kansas.
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July 08, 2025
Former Homeowners Land Cert. In Ill. Property Tax Sale Suit
An Illinois federal court has certified a class of Cook County residents who were stripped of excess equity when their residential properties were sold to recoup property taxes, overriding county objections that homeowners should have to litigate cases individually.
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July 08, 2025
State & Local Tax Cases To Watch In The 2nd Half Of 2025
From Amazon's oral arguments before South Carolina's highest court to Charter Communications' appeal of a New York ruling that it did not qualify for a technology tax break, there will be plenty of state and local tax cases to watch in the second half of 2025. Law360 looks at some of the top state and local tax cases to keep an eye on in the next six months.
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July 08, 2025
Kansas Tax Collection Through June Up $132M From Estimate
Kansas' total receipts from July through June beat government estimates by $132 million, according to the state Division of the Budget.
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July 08, 2025
Florida Net Revenue Through May Beat Estimates By $360M
Florida's net general revenue for July through May outpaced forecasts by $360 million, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.
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July 08, 2025
California Expands Eligibility For Boosted Film, TV Tax Credits
California expanded eligibility for its increased film and television production tax credits under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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July 08, 2025
Ala. Tax Revenue Through June Jumps $368M From Last Year
Alabama's total revenue from October through June outpaced last year's collection during the same time frame by $368 million, according to a report by the state Department of Revenue.
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July 07, 2025
Calif. Ex-Doctor Was Resident, Owes $6.6M, Tax Judge Says
A former California doctor with aspirations to be a professional gambler remained domiciled in the state and owes $6.6 million in tax and penalties, the state's Office of Tax Appeals said in an opinion released Monday.
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July 07, 2025
Calif. OTA Denies Shareholders' Bids To Increase Losses
Two shareholders in auto body shop businesses failed to provide evidence to substantiate losses they claimed on their California tax returns, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in an opinion released Monday that affirmed a state Franchise Tax Board assessment.
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July 07, 2025
Calif. OTA Says COVID Delay Doesn't Extend Refund Deadline
The postponement of a tax due date does not affect when the clock for refund claims starts running, the California Office of Tax Appeals said in a pending precedential opinion released Monday that involved a pandemic-related extension.
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July 07, 2025
Calif. Boat Dealer Doesn't Owe Tax On Manufacturer's Rebate
A California boat dealer does not owe sales tax on one of the promotional allowances it was given by a boat manufacturer despite running a deal on the manufacturer's brand of boats after receiving the allowance, the state Office of Tax Appeals said in a ruling released Monday.
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July 07, 2025
Calif. Tax Appeals Office Has Jurisdiction On Refund Cases
The California Office of Tax Appeals, not the Franchise Tax Board, has jurisdiction over a refund claim filed by a couple who had already paid $755,000 in taxes, penalties and interest, according to a precedential OTA opinion released Monday.
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July 07, 2025
RI Justices Reject Verizon's $21M Refund Over Depreciation
A Rhode Island trial court correctly found that the state applied the correct depreciation approach to property owned by Verizon, the state Supreme Court ruled, affirming the denial of the company's $21 million refund request.
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July 07, 2025
Mass. Enacts $61B Budget With No Tax Hikes
Massachusetts will operate with a nearly $61 billion budget in fiscal year 2026 under legislation signed by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey that doesn't entail any tax increases.
Expert Analysis
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5 Tips To Succeed In A Master Of Laws Program And Beyond
As lawyers and recent law school graduates begin their Master of Laws coursework across the country, they should keep a few pointers in mind to get the most out of their programs and kick-start successful careers in their practice areas, says Kelley Miller at Reed Smith.
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Portland's Gross Receipts Tax Oversteps City's Authority
Recent measures by Portland, Oregon, that expand the voter-approved scope of the Clean Energy Surcharge on certain retail sales eviscerate the common meaning of the word "retail" and exceed the city's chartered authority to levy tax, say Nikki Dobay at Greenberg Traurig and Jeff Newgard at Peak Policy.
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How Law Firms Can Avoid 'Collaboration Drag'
Law firm decision making can be stifled by “collaboration drag” — characterized by too many pointless meetings, too much peer feedback and too little dissent — but a few strategies can help stakeholders improve decision-making processes and build consensus, says Steve Groom at Miles Mediation.
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Assessing The Practicality Of Harris' Affordable Housing Plan
Vice President Kamala Harris' proposed "Build the American Dream" plan to tackle housing affordability issues takes solid recommendations into account and may fare better than California's unsuccessful attempt at a similar program, but the scope of the problem is beyond what a three-point plan can solve, says Brooke Miller at Sheppard Mullin.
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Litigation Funding Disclosure Key To Open, Impartial Process
Blanket investor and funding agreement disclosures should be required in all civil cases where the investor has a financial interest in the outcome in order to address issues ranging from potential conflicts of interest to national security concerns, says Bob Goodlatte, former U.S. House Representative for Virginia.
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What NFL Draft Picks Have In Common With Lateral Law Hires
Nearly half of law firm lateral hires leave within a few years — a failure rate that is strikingly similar to the performance of NFL quarterbacks drafted in the first round — in part because evaluators focus too heavily on quantifiable metrics and not enough on a prospect's character traits, says Howard Rosenberg at Baretz+Brunelle.
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Replacing The Stigma Of Menopause With Law Firm Support
A large proportion of the workforce is forced to pull the brakes on their career aspirations because of the taboo surrounding menopause and a lack of consistent support, but law firms can initiate the cultural shift needed by formulating thoughtful workplace policies, says Barbara Hamilton-Bruce at Simmons & Simmons.
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Planning Law Firm Content Calendars: What, When, Where
During the slower month of August, law firms should begin working on their 2025 content calendars, planning out a content creation and distribution framework that aligns with the firm’s objectives and maintains audience engagement throughout the year, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
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Specific Attacks On A Vague Tax Law: SALT In Review
From legal assaults on California's vague new sales-factor law to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's record on tax policy, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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Law Firms Should Move From Reactive To Proactive Marketing
Most law firm marketing and business development teams operate in silos, leading to an ad hoc, reactive approach, but shifting to a culture of proactive planning — beginning with comprehensive campaigns — can help firms effectively execute their broader business strategy, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.
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The Big Issues A BigLaw Associates' Union Could Address
A BigLaw associates’ union could address a number of issues that have the potential to meaningfully improve working conditions, diversity and attorney well-being — from restructured billable hour requirements to origination credit allocation, return-to-office mandates and more, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.
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It's Time For A BigLaw Associates' Union
As BigLaw faces a steady stream of criticism about its employment policies and practices, an associates union could effect real change — and it could start with law students organizing around opposition to recent recruiting trends, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.
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How Justices Upended The Administrative Procedure Act
In its recent Loper Bright, Corner Post and Jarkesy decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court fundamentally changed the Administrative Procedure Act in ways that undermine Congress and the executive branch, shift power to the judiciary, curtail public and business input, and create great uncertainty, say Alene Taber and Beth Hummer at Hanson Bridgett.