First, a huge thank you to everyone who attended Tuesday’s hearing, whether in person or virtually—more than 50 of us showed up! And an even bigger thank you to those who submitted opposition to the proposed STR tax online—more than 1,100 comments across the House and Senate bills. We have made our voices heard loud and clear!
Where Do Things Stand Now?
Short answer: PENDING!
We originally expected the Senate Ways & Means Committee to vote on the bill during Tuesday’s hearing, but that did not happen. Instead, the session was solely for committee members to ask questions and take public comment.
Today, Thursday, Feb. 27, the Ways & Means Committee is holding an Executive Session—a closed-door meeting. We’ve heard that amendments to the bill may be introduced, which could be a positive sign. Typically, if a bill were set to pass without issue, amendments wouldn’t be necessary.
We anticipate a vote today on whether the bill will move forward. However, because this bill involves statewide budget and revenue matters, it is not subject to the typical deadline for moving out of committee. That means even if it doesn’t pass today, we’re not clear yet.
A Strong Showing by Our Community
One encouraging takeaway from Tuesday was the level of respect shown by the committee chair. Everyone who signed up was given the chance to testify, with only courteous reminders to wrap up when time was exceeded. This was a stark contrast to past hearings where audio was cut off mid-sentence. This speaks volumes about our strong presence, well-prepared remarks, and overall professionalism. Kudos to all of you! 👏
A Special Thanks
The Airbnb team has been incredibly supportive throughout this process, providing constant updates, moral support, and resources.
Stay Tuned!
We’ll send another update as soon as we have more information. In the meantime, thank you again for your continued engagement and advocacy.
Sincerely,
Allison Moser
WHCA President