Utah

With the third quarter officially under way, municipal bond experts say the tax-exempt market is poised for better performance and stronger market technicals ahead in the second half.

Easing drought conditions are not stopping states from restricting water use and investing in future supplies.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott plans a special session on school choice as more states pass vouchers and Arizona's universal program sees costs explode.

The up to $600 million of airport revenue bonds, which are slated to price in July, will continue funding for the reconstruction of the terminal and concourses.

Gov. Laura Kelly allowed the bill's enactment without her signature, citing its "potential unforeseen consequences."

The Southern California Public Power Authority plans to price $700 million in revenue bonds for improvements to a 488-mile power transmission system.

The measure, which passed with slim vote margins in the Republican-controlled legislature, could drive banks out of the state's market, according to the governor.

The House and Senate differ in their approaches to lowering property taxes by billions of dollars as the state anticipates a record budget surplus.

Big national banks would be banned from state and local government contracts in Oklahoma if their policies "discriminate" against the firearm industry.

The Uinta Basin railway is asking the DOT to authorize up to $2 billion of PABs for the project, which would move oil to market from northeast Utah.

The measure prohibits government contracts with companies deemed to be "boycotting" the fossil fuel, firearm, timber, mining, and agriculture industries.

Legislation barring government contracts with companies that engage in a growing list of "boycotts" in their business dealings has popped up in several states.

The popularity of Arizona's universal school choice program, which pays for private schools, brought higher-than-projected costs and future budget impact.

As revenue collections climb, governors are laying out plans to reduce property, sales, and income taxes.

With federal funding accounting for the largest portion of its revenue, Utah is mulling safeguards in the event of a future decrease.

Rising property values will help keep the $3.56 billion of new bonds manageable, particularly if issuance is spread over multiple years, rating analysts said.

Utah's first debt affordability study said while pay-as-you-go funding for capital projects is preferred, an economic downturn could lead to more debt issuance.

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems is advancing the nation's first small modular reactor, a $6 billion project supporters say is the future of nuclear energy.

The Utah Inland Port Authority, which sold $150 million of bonds in December, asked the audit team to provide direction on potential risks.

With Texas reporting a double-digit revenue increase in fiscal 2022 and projecting a record budget surplus, Gov. Greg Abbott wants a large property tax cut.