Senators propose tougher taxpayer privacy penalties. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation to increase penalties for unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information. The bill would raise the criminal penalty for unauthorized disclosure of tax returns from a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to five years in prison to a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to seven years in prison. It also would create a new felony offense for IRS contractors that willfully fail to enforce required taxpayer-data safeguards, with penalties of up to $500,000 or 25 percent of the value of relevant IRS contracts, whichever is greater. The bill also would increase minimum civil damages for unauthorized disclosure from $1,000 to $5,000 per act.
World Cup tax waivers draw scrutiny. Missouri, Georgia, and Florida agreed to waive at least $57.8 million in taxes on 2026 World Cup ticket sales, part of the broader public cost of hosting tournament matches. FIFA has required tax exemptions on official ticket sales as a condition for host-city consideration, and Missouri’s revenue department has said its exemption applies to state and local sales taxes on tickets sold through FIFA, FIFA Marketplace, or official hospitality packages. Supporters argue the waivers help secure a global event expected to bring visitors and economic activity. But the forgone revenue adds to concerns that state and local governments are shouldering more of the fiscal burden while FIFA controls ticketing, hospitality, and other major revenue streams.
Florida property tax ballot language faces lawsuit. A voter advocacy group and two registered voters filed a lawsuit challenging the ballot language for Florida’s proposed property tax amendment, arguing that it is biased and misleading. The complaint says lawmakers used campaign-style phrases and overstated the measure’s effects by suggesting it would guarantee funding for core services, fully eliminate non-school homestead taxes, and immediately exempt the first $250,000 of a home’s value. Lawmakers approved the measure June 2, including a homestead exemption increase to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with a framework for a fuller exemption over time. The amendment is scheduled for the November ballot and would need support from at least 60 percent of voters to become law.
Louisiana colleges gain new taxing district option. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed S.B. 374, now Act 499, allowing colleges and universities to create college economic development districts with local government approval. The districts may levy taxes and special assessments, issue debt, and use tax increment financing to support public improvement projects tied to colleges and surrounding communities. Any tax or assessment would require notice, a public hearing, and voter approval if qualified electors live in the district; if there are no qualified electors, local government approval is required instead. The law exempts qualifying industrial entities in the districts from the sales, use, and property taxes imposed by those districts.
Washington laws include abortion-services assessment. More than 200 new Washington laws took effect Thursday, including a new assessment on health insurers that sell plans on the state health benefit exchange to fund abortion services. The assessment is 82 cents per month per enrollee in the first year and 16.5 cents in later years, with the first payment due next March. At least 85 percent of the revenue will fund Department of Health grants to organizations that provide abortion services, and insurers generally may not pass the cost on to enrollees through higher premiums or other charges. The tax is expected to raise about $10 million in the first year and about $2 million annually after that.
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