The New York State Assembly passed two bills Wednesday in efforts to obtain access to President Donald Trump’s state tax returns.
The main bill, which would require New York lawmakers to release state tax returns to certain Congressional committees passed both chambers of the New York legislature on Wednesday. The complimentary bill focuses on the prosecution procedures for those unwilling to comply with tax information requests.
Both bills had been originally introduced to the New York Senate earlier this month and only now require the signature of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The recent moves by the New York Assembly addresses the Democratic Party’s continual struggle to review Trump’s tax information. While the party has been unsuccessful in obtaining any of President Trump’s federal tax filings, his state tax returns could be revealed.
Known also as the TRUST Act, the first bill will require New York’s tax commission to release any state tax return requested to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. New York lawmakers will allow this release of information for any “specified and legitimate legislative purpose.”
An amendment to the bill additionally passed, whereby the New York Tax Department is directed to give Congress state tax returns of elected officials. By doing so, Congress can directly request a New York tax return in the future.
The Assembly also passed complimentary bill, A06653 a day earlier. The bill enables state prosecutors to pursue charges against those presidential associates pardoned at the federal level.
Cuomo is expected to sign both bills into law.