Committee rejects bill that would authorize withholding remittances to federal government

The committee voted 4-3 to recommend that House Bill 1411 be declared 'inexpedient to legislate' (ITL), effectively halting that bill at this stage.

Representative Griffin moved ITL and argued the bill is "wrong," saying that withholding remittances of payroll withholdings to the federal government would be a criminal offense and a felony. Representative McGuire and others said at the work session they did not see the bill as an effective policy tool and suggested studying the broader set of federal funding and mandates outside the legislative vehicle. Representative Rhone proposed an interim study of federal withholding and related fiscal impacts, citing local concerns such as lost property tax revenue related to an ICE facility proposal.

Clerk read the roll and the chair announced the bill would be ITL by a 4-3 vote. Committee discussion noted that the bill's text addresses withholding only under specified circumstances and that some members saw it as a starting point for broader conversation rather than an immediate policy change.

The committee closed the executive session on HB1411 after recording the 4-3 vote.