Finance, investment and tax-related legislation

George Callas most recently was senior tax counsel to House Speaker Paul Ryan and was a chief architect of the tax reform legislation enacted in December.

The proposed rules would clarify that an institutional investor could take part in a public-private partnership for a bond-financed project without making the bonds taxable.

The proposed legislation formally allows certain but not all taxpayers to have access to their IRS audit case file prior to dispute resolution hearings, ending the requirement to file a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

It's important and constructive to talk about these kinds of alternatives to advance refundings, market participants said.

The new tax law that terminated advance refundings of bonds after Dec. 31, 2017, does not specify that only "tax exempt" refundings are prohibited.

A toll-charge proposal could disarm congressional opponents and create some hope for legislative success.

Congress' deficit-raising actions have made it more likely that munis would be targeted for cuts to raise revenues in infrastructure or other future bond-related legislation.

South Dakota, which has no state income tax and relies on sales and use taxes for much of its revenue, will make its oral arguments to the high court on April 17.

The proposed ballot initiative would make Proposition 13 property tax breaks portable.

As the political gears churn, issuers and borrowers should huddle with legal counsel and financial advisors to consider the possibility of worst-case scenarios in which some or all of the proposed tax reform legislation is enacted.

Smaller hospitals and colleges and affordable-housing developers will be more challenged in distributing their bonds under proposed tax reforms.

After infrastructure and health care legislation failed to materialize, the municipal industry turns its attention to the potential benefits – and risks – of tax reforms now before Congress.

Treasury has targeted the proposed political subdivision rules as burdensome.

A state senator is seeking authority to issue $450M in general obligation bonds to pay for voting machines.

As we await details on the president’s infrastructure program, the best approach is to study up on the alternatives -- and be patient.

The Financial CHOICE Act, which the House passed Thursday, would have some direct effects on munis.

A consumer protection bill for PACE loans in California passed the state Senate.

The House is scheduled to vote on a slightly modified version of the controversial CHOICE Act during the week of June 5.

The Kansas House on Tuesday approved legislation extending the Sales Tax Revenue bond financing program for five years in what Rep. J.R. Claeys described as an "overwhelming yes" voice vote.

The House passed a bill on Monday that aims to protect Puerto Ricans from unsuitable investments.