State & Local
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June 16, 2025
Texas Authorizes Increased Tax Exemption For Biz Property
Texas authorized a fiftyfold increase to the state's tax exemption for business personal property starting in 2026 pending the outcome of a public vote under a bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
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June 16, 2025
Massachusetts Directive Clarifies Cable Box Sales Tax Break
Massachusetts tax applies to the sales or rentals of cable boxes that do more than receive transmitted programming or implement parental control functions, the state Department of Revenue clarified.
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June 13, 2025
Ex-Ill. Speaker Madigan Gets 7½ Years For Bribery
An Illinois federal judge on Friday sentenced former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to seven and a half years in prison and fined him $2.5 million for his conviction on bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud charges, saying his determination that Madigan perjured himself on the stand at trial impacted the stiff penalty.
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June 13, 2025
La. To Require New Sales Tax Breaks To Apply State And Local
Louisiana will require new sales and use tax exemptions to apply to both state and local sales tax under a bill signed by the governor.
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June 13, 2025
NY Tax Doesn't Apply To Co.'s Concrete Services
New York sales and use tax doesn't apply to a concrete pumping truck company's pumping services because the pumping qualifies as capital improvements, which is exempt from tax, the state tax department said.Â
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June 13, 2025
La. Lawmakers OK Inventory Tax Exemption Ballot Measure
Louisiana voters would decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow parishes to exempt business inventory from property taxation under legislation passed by lawmakers.
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June 13, 2025
NY Says Biz's Marketplace Facilitator Collects Tax On Sales
An out-of-state business that stores goods in New York doesn't need to register for sales tax if the marketplace facilitator it uses already collects the tax and it doesn't make other sales in the state, the state tax department said.
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June 13, 2025
NY Contractor Told To Collect Sales Tax On Charges
New York's sales and use tax should be collected by a contractor on labor charges when its customers fail to provide a tax-exemption certificate for capital improvements, the state tax department ruled.Â
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June 13, 2025
NY Co.'s Hotel Cleaning Services Don't Trigger Sales Tax
A New York-based company's receipts for hotel cleaning services aren't subject to New York state and local sales and use taxes because the customer's own employees performed the cleaning services, the state tax department said in an advisory opinion.
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June 13, 2025
Tax Credit Sales Would Be Difficult To Insure Under House Bill
House Republicans' sweeping budget bill proposes to promptly scale back the clean energy tax incentives established by the 2022 climate law, a move that would make it difficult for tax insurers to back project development deals that want to sell their tax credits for cash.
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June 13, 2025
Conn. Net Revenue Through May Up $1.16B From Last Year
Connecticut net revenues from July through May outpaced collections made during the same period last fiscal year by $1.16 billion, according to the state Department of Revenue.
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June 13, 2025
La. Severance Tax Cut Sent To Governor For Approval
Louisiana would nearly halve its severance tax rate to 6.5% on oil produced from new wells under a bill sent to the governor.Â
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June 13, 2025
Taxation With Representation: Debevoise, Latham, Paul Weiss
In this week's Taxation With Representation, Brown & Brown Inc. buys Accession Risk Management Group Inc., Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. acquires Dana Inc.'s off-highway unit, Qualcomm Inc. buys Alphawave IP, and Warner Bros. Discovery announced it will split into two publicly traded companies.
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June 13, 2025
Minnesota Revenue Tops Forecast By $23M In May
Minnesota's general fund revenue collection in May outpaced forecasts by $23 million, according to a report by the state Office of Management and Budget.
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June 13, 2025
Fed. Tax Bill Primed To Reignite Conformity Talks In States
The federal budget reconciliation bill's tax proposals, including extensions of certain elements of President Donald Trump's signature 2017 tax plan, are primed to rekindle debates among state lawmakers over how states should conform to the federal code.
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June 12, 2025
GOP Tax Bill Penalizes Professionals, CPA Group Says
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by House Republicans penalizes accountants and other professionals and would unfairly eliminate a state and local tax deduction for certain pass-through entities, a national group of certified public accountants said Thursday.
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June 12, 2025
Md. Court OKs Second Tax Notice, Drops Home Value
A second residential property assessment notice by the city of Baltimore boosting a valuation by more than $300,000 over its initial assessment is valid, but the assessment was too high, the Maryland Tax Court said in an order released Thursday.
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June 12, 2025
NY Says No Sales Tax Due On Vacation Property Rent
New York doesn't subject a person's income from their vacation property to sales tax, the state tax department said in an advisory opinion.
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June 12, 2025
NH High Court Upholds Towns Keeping Excess Tax Revenue
The right of New Hampshire communities to retain excess statewide education property taxes for other purposes doesn't violate the state constitution's uniformity clause, the state Supreme Court ruled, partially reversing a trial court.
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June 12, 2025
Legal Noncitizens OK For Domicile Tax Break, SC Judge Says
A legally present couple from India showed intent to remain domiciled in their South Carolina home and therefore qualify for the property tax treatment granted for owner-occupied residences, an administrative judge ruled.
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June 12, 2025
Philly Lowers Business Income Tax Rates In Approved Budget
Philadelphia will lower the city's business income and receipts tax rate, eventually phasing out the gross receipts portion of the tax and lowering the net income portion under a budget approved by the City Council, the mayor announced Thursday.
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June 12, 2025
Ohio Senate Passes Budget Plan With Flat Tax
Ohio would levy a flat tax on income, doing away with its progressive tax regime, and increase the homestead deduction as part of a $60 billion budget plan passed by the state Senate.
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June 12, 2025
La. Lawmakers OK Inventory Tax Credit Changes For S Corps
Louisiana only would allow inventory tax credits for S corporations to be taken against personal income tax liabilities of shareholders in the pass-through entities under a bill approved by the state Legislature.
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June 12, 2025
NY Dept. Says Tax Applies To Auction Service's Commission
New York sales tax applies to a buyer's premium, otherwise known as a commission, on the sale of property at auction because the commission is part of the sales price, the state Department of Taxation said.
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June 12, 2025
Wis. Children's Hospital Denied Exemption For Hospital Tower
The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin isn't eligible for a property tax exemption for a tower built in its medical complex, as it was unused during the tax year, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled.
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
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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.