Posted on Fri, Jun. 03, 2005


PASS/FAIL



What did and did not get done in the 2005 legislative session that ended Thursday:

Passed

• Legal system changes: Caps awards in medical malpractice cases, limits business liability

• Income taxes: Small business rate drops to 5 percent from 7 percent

• Seat belts: Failure to buckle up gets $25 fine; awaiting governor’s signature

• Minibottles: Opens the state to free-pour liquor; awaiting governor’s signature

• State retirement: Bolsters ailing system; makes TERI less attractive; awaiting governor’s signature

• Domestic violence: Sets tougher penalties; awaiting governor’s signature

Failed

• Tuition tax credits: The so-called Put Parents in Charge bill, was tabled in the House

• Charter schools: Efforts to create statewide charter school district fell just short.

• Income tax relief: Personal income tax rates will not drop.

• Restructuring: Constitutional officers keep their posts, state bureaucracy is unchanged.

• Day care rules: Effort to lower class sizes failed.





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