Tuesday Wrap: Picking up the pace

Legislative action is picking up speed as negotiations on the state budget continue behind closed doors.

A proposal to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would cap the state income tax rate at 5.5 percent is heading to the Senate floor Wednesday after clearing the Finance Committee on Tuesday. Opponents say it could tie the hands of future legislatures if a recession cuts income levels, but supporters said other states have similar tax caps in place without a problem.

Another Senate committee approved a bill to restrict access to kratom, an opioid-like plant, to minors while giving more study to whether strong regulations are needed.

Senators also discussed phasing out the certificate of need system, which requires health care providers seeking to expand or purchase major equipment to obtain state approval, but they didn't vote on the plan.