Baker, Negotiators Eye Path To Energy Bill Deal

Lawmakers took the first steps Thursday on the road to a compromise offshore wind and climate bill as House and Senate leaders publicly detailed some of the issues they expect to spend part of the next three months hashing out. And as negotiations begin, the stakes are high for the real estate industry.

Senate Tees Up Short-Term Rental, Student Loan Bills

The effort to tax and regulate short-term housing rentals appears to be gathering steam. A week after the House voted 118-30 to pass a bill regulating and taxing rentals through sites like Airbnb, the Senate Ways and Means Committee has opened voting on the bill, usually a precursor to a bill’s consideration by the full Senate.

Senate Passes $40.4B Budget

The Senate added just over $50 million in spending over three days of debate to its fiscal 2018 budget bill, unanimously passing the $40.39 billion budget Thursday night in the final session within the historic Senate chamber before it is to be renovated.