News and Information from Bond Buyer

Join our panel of top industry leaders as they discuss their expectations on regulatory developments, market performance, bond issuances, credit conditions, and potential challenges and opportunities for the year ahead.

The discussion will center around the current credit conditions and what challenges and expectations are for 2023.

Topics will include: market conditions and expectations, issuance projections, evolving investor base, credit conditions, growing focus on ESG factors and more.

Jonathan Ballan, Partner, Harris Beach PLLC; Elizabeth Fine, Counsel to the Governor, New York State Executive Chamber; RuthAnne Visnauskas, Commissioner and CEO, New York State Homes and Community Renewal

As statistics continuously show that a diverse workforce has better outcomes, the discussion will center on what has been done thus far and what else needs to be done to diversify the workforce in the muni sector.

Electronic trading and AI are expected to play a more prominent role in the muni market in the next five years and beyond. The municipal market is ripe for growth in these areas and our panelists will discuss how participants can integrate technology to help create a more efficient marketplace.

In light of the inflationary pressures and continuous shortage of skilled workers, how have governments and localities fared when it comes to updating, finishing, and starting new infrastructure projects?

As demand for and pushback against ESG grows in the municipal space, participants will discuss the risks and opportunities surrounding ESG for both investors and issuers.

Citi was barred from underwriting government bonds in Texas under a state law prohibiting contracts with companies that "discriminate" against the firearms industry.

Inflows returned as Lipper reported $775.006 million was added to municipal bond mutual funds in the week ended Wednesday after $361.649 million of outflows the week prior.

Michigan would funnel $200 million more into its rainy day fund and establish a new school budget stabilization fund under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's proposal.

Connecticut residents would get an income tax cut and increased spending in education and workforce training under Ned Lamont's spending package.

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. also voiced concern about the EPA closure of an oil refinery in St. Croix.

The issue is important to lawmakers in high-tax states, and is also important to municipal issuers in those places who have said the cap infringes on their fiancial sovereignty.

The proposed Rule G-46 seeks to clarify certain rules specific to solicitor municipal advisors, a very specific group of professionals.

"I think ESG is here to stay in our market. I think it's a natural fit with the types of infrastructure that our market finances," said MSRB CEO Mark Kim.

A California conduit will price private activity bonds to replace the intakes for a San Diego County water desalination plant.

Public school districts faced $1.38 billion in spending cuts next month due to a constitutional cap on expenditures.

New legislation on the high priority is on its way.

Although there is some volatility in the municipal market, the landscape is in good shape, according to Cooper Howard, fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab.