Tax Foundation Compares State-by-State Legislative Responses to COVID-19

Thursday, California Globe reported on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive orders issued during the coronavirus crisis including:

• Newsom ordered Californians to shelter in place, effectively locking down 40 million residents.
• Newsom announced the deployment of California National Guard members to provide short-term food security to isolated and vulnerable Californians.
• Newsom ordered a vote-by-mail procedures to be used in three upcoming special elections.
• Newsom ordered the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary to temporarily halt the intake and/or transfer of inmates and youth into the state’s 35 prisons and four youth correctional facilities.
• Newsom cut a deal with financial institutions for Californians with the COVID-19 to receive: 90-Day Grace Period for Mortgage Payments; Moratorium on Initiating Foreclosure Sales or Evictions; No Negative Credit Impacts Resulting from Relielf; and relief from fees and charges.
• Gov. Newsom signed an executive order to allow local jurisdictions to temporarily stop evictions, as well as having utilities continue operating for the duration of the pandemic.
• Newsom order a waiver, pending federal approval, of this year’s statewide testing for California’s more than 6 million students in K-12 schools.
• Newsom ordered local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slows foreclosures, and protects against utility shutoffs for Californians affected by COVID-19.
• Newsom ordered California public school districts retain state funding even while closed. The order directs school districts to use those state dollars to fund distance learning and high quality educational opportunities, provide school meals and, as practicable, arrange for the supervision for students during school hours.(More on this later)
• Newsom ordered the cancellation of all public “gatherings” and events or convening that brings together people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space.
• Newsom issued a state of emergency March 4, 2020.
• On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the lockdown in California, including social distancing measures, will continue on through at least April but also possibly through mid-June.

The Tax Foundation put together a state-by-state roundup of major state legislative responses to the COVID-19 outbreak, between March 19 and March 26. The comparison is really interesting:

Income tax filing and payment deadline postponements: AL, CA, CT, IN, IA, NM, OR, SC, UT

Income tax payment deadline postponements: MD, OK, VA

Sales tax remittance extensions (details vary): AL, IL, LA, MN

Delaware: No-interest loans for hospitality industry; expanded UI benefits

More states with extended income tax filing and payment deadlines: IA, MD, NE, NY, ND, WI, DC

Idaho: Extended deadline for property tax relief applications

Iowa: Extended deadlines for a wide range of taxes

Income tax filing extensions: AZ, CO, DE, GA, HI, ID, IA, MN, MO, MT, PA, RI, VT

Connecticut: Extensions for income-related business taxes as well

New Hampshire: Expanded UI benefits eligibility

Oregon: Announced Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) payments remain due April 30

Ohio has passed legislation to expand unemployment compensation eligibility and move income tax filing deadline to July 15

Income tax filing extensions: AK, OK, VA

New revenue forecasts: CA, IL

Income tax filing extensions: IL, ME

Arkansas: Convened a special session March 26 to create a COVID-19 rainy day fund

Florida: Governor waiting to act on budget until impact of COVID-19 better understood

Georgia: All legislators encouraged to self-quarantine after possible exposure

Kentucky: Plans to delay final budget passage until April 1

Nebraska: Waiving penalties for late alcoholic beverage excise tax payments

Ohio: Legislature meeting semi-regularly after initial House session suspension

Vermont: Legislature has reconvened after a brief suspension

Read all of the states’ legislative responses at the Tax Foundation HERE. They are listed by date, as well as listed by state in more detail.