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Re-establishment of Business Tax Advisory Committee (BTAC) / Potential Reforms / City Business Tax Structure

Council File 26-0744

Under review — the city is moving forward on reviving its Business Tax Advisory Committee and studying reforms to how LA taxes businesses, but it still needs final City Council approval after clearing committee hurdles.

Introduced
2026-05-19
Last changed
2026-09-15
CFMS file status
File open See note on file status
Expires
2028-09-15
Committee
Budget and Finance Committee
Mover
JOHN S. LEE
Second
TIM MCOSKER

This is the City Clerk's status for the council file itself, not the outcome of the measure. A file often stays open after the Council has already adopted an item. The summary above reflects the latest recorded action.

Brief

Introduced by Councilmember John S. Lee on May 19, 2026, this motion seeks to re-establish the Business Tax Advisory Committee (BTAC) and examine potential reforms to the city's business tax framework. The motion was approved as amended by the Budget and Finance Committee on September 15, 2026, after initial approval by the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee in August. The file remains pending before both committees and is scheduled for further action.

Full summary

On May 19, 2026, Councilmember John S. Lee introduced a motion to re-establish the Business Tax Advisory Committee and explore potential reforms to Los Angeles's business tax structure. The motion was seconded by Councilmembers Tim McOsker, Traci Park, and Katy Yaroslavsky, indicating broad initial support. The substantive focus centers on reconvening the BTAC—an advisory body that examines the city's business tax policies and administration—and directing a review of how the city's business tax system operates and where structural improvements might be made. The motion was referred simultaneously to both the Budget and Finance Committee and the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on May 19. The Rules committee approved the item on August 4, 2026, and transmitted it to Budget and Finance. The Budget and Finance Committee then took up the matter, initially scheduling it for September 1, before continuing it to September 15. On September 15, the Budget and Finance Committee approved the motion as amended, indicating that revisions were made during deliberation—though the specific amendments are not detailed in the activity log. As of the most recent update, the file remains pending in both the Budget and Finance Committee and the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. With an expiration date of September 15, 2028, the motion has substantial runway for final Council adoption or further committee action. The approval in Budget and Finance suggests forward momentum, but the file has not yet reached the full City Council floor for a final vote.

Activity (8)

  • 2026-09-15 Budget and Finance Committee approved as amended .
  • 2026-09-11 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 15, 2026.
  • 2026-09-01 Budget and Finance Committee continued item to September 15, 2026 .
  • 2026-08-28 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 1, 2026.
  • 2026-08-04 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2026-08-04 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee transmitted Council File to Budget and Finance Committee.
  • 2026-07-31 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 4, 2026.
  • 2026-05-19 Motion referred to Budget and Finance Committee; Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Documents (6)

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