Severance tax bill clears committee

With little fanfare, the House Revenue & Tax Committee passed HB1004, the severance tax legislation. Rep. Beverly Pyle (R-Cedarville) asked a couple of questions regarding the bill's constitutionality, including the Amendment 19 emergency requirement discussed a few posts below. It passed with two or three audible "no" votes. Elsewhere, House Judiciary passed the repeal of the 2007 changes to the minimum age to marry law unanimously, and House Education passed HB1003. The House will convene to vote on these measures at 10:00 a.m.