Transcript Highlights:

• It's a top-five expense for all small businesses, after occupancy costs and payroll.
• It's a top-five expense for all small businesses, after occupancy costs and payroll.
• Ordering online is more expensive, and the card is not present.
• It's my third largest expense on my P&L. Ms. Moore, good morning.
• They don't have any sleepless nights worrying about making payroll.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its second hearing to study the future of credit card payments and sales transactions and their impacts on small businesses. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurants, and payment-industry representatives on interchange fees, processing fees, fraud, chargebacks, rewards programs, and the ability of businesses to pass fees on to customers. Several witnesses argued that swipe fees have risen sharply, are especially burdensome for restaurants and other small businesses, and are charged on taxes and tips that are merely pass-through amounts. They urged state action to prohibit fees on tax and tip portions, improve transparency, and allow surcharging or convenience fees, while opponents warned that state regulation could reduce fraud protections, increase compliance costs, and threaten consumer rewards programs. Business owners and trade groups described thin margins, rising costs, and the difficulty of understanding merchant statements or negotiating with processors. Restaurant witnesses said card-not-present and online transactions create the greatest fraud and chargeback risk, with money often removed immediately from merchants’ accounts and disputes rarely resolved in their favor. Retail witnesses gave examples of rising effective rates, higher fees on rewards cards, and the burden of processing fees on low-value transactions. A representative from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and others said restaurants are effectively paying fees on meals tax and gratuities, which they argued should not be subject to interchange charges. On the other side, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said interchange revenue helps credit unions fund fraud prevention, rapid card replacement, and member protections, and warned that state limits on interchange could weaken those safeguards and lead to higher consumer costs or reduced services. Airlines for America testified that airline credit card rewards are popular, support travel and jobs in Massachusetts, and could be harmed by interchange reform. The National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that interchange fees are set by card networks rather than competitive markets, that banks remain highly profitable even with rewards, and that states can act after recent court decisions. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questions from commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> paying 15% of payroll forever into this. paying 15% of payroll forever into this.
• </c> the payroll. the payroll.
• </c> assessing payroll goes down. assessing payroll goes down.
• </c> payroll assessment. payroll assessment.
• Gross payroll is the issue. We have about a $7 billion gross payroll.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 7 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:43.360><c> reporting</c> uh around Baseline payroll reporting uh around Baseline payroll reporting
• It's the amount of money you need by each quarter and the amount of money that you need for payroll and
• the amount of money that you need for other current expenses.
• the amount of money that you need for other current expenses.
• the amount of money that you need for other current expenses.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><04:07:19.880><c> of</c><04:07:20.359><c> today's</c> pay the expenses of today's pay the expenses
• </c><04:30:58.760><c> um</c><04:30:59.000><c> a</c> more expensive um a more expensive um a level<04:
• </c> coming in that you can predict payroll coming in that you can predict payroll there<04:32:15.319
• </c> 85% of the money coming in from payroll 85% of the money coming in from payroll contributions<04
• </c> participate only at his or her expense participate only at his or her expense we<05:04:04.798><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 622, but after the sponsor said further research raised concerns, he asked that the bill be tabled. The committee then moved in executive session and voted unanimously to find the bill inexpedient to legislate, sending it to consent. The committee also retained House Bill 349, the ophthalmologic laser bill, after members said more time was needed for the professions involved to work out training standards and provide additional information; that motion also passed unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 244, a municipal building/fire code recodification measure. Members said the bill needed more review and careful scrutiny because of its length and possible unintended effects, and they voted unanimously to retain it as well. House Bill 534 was then heard; the sponsor said the bill did not do what was intended because of a misunderstanding about current processing, and the committee voted inexpedient to legislate and placed it on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 233, with an amendment to remove a requirement affecting the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Supporters argued the bill would reduce an unnecessary burden and improve transparency, while opponents said the committee should not single out one private 501(c)(3) organization. The amendment was adopted 8-5, and the bill as amended then passed 7-6; a minority report was requested. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 536, a proposed 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment for certain state retirees. The sponsor and supporters argued retirees had not received adequate COLAs and that the bill would help offset inflation, while the retirement system testified that the proposal would add significant costs, including an estimated $1.5 million for the state, $6.6 million for political subdivisions, and about $100.7 million in present-value unfunded liability, with the impact reflected in future employer contribution rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is an expensive component to be able to swallow.
• Total for... the total tax increase is what for the payroll? $63 per employee per year.
• So by next year we'll be above a billion dollars in payroll taxes for trying to retire.
• And it's supported by a small federal payroll tax that employers pay along.
• It is a very long and expensive process.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, deep concern about the cuts to the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund.
• So the fund reimburses a portion of their payroll costs.
• Here again today to ask you to please reject this cut to the Equitable Payroll Fund.
• I want to reiterate that the Equitable Payroll Fund is already well underway.
• California State Payroll System Project is the name of the project. Why is it taking seven years?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> these are areas um current expense these are areas um current expense equipment<03:24:26.120><c>
• It's an ongoing expense. They update it as they go. Yes, it's a budgeted expense.
• </c> expense that's the budgeted expense expense that's the budgeted expense however<04:39:01.520><c>
• Yeah, so it's the expense, right? Right, yeah, so it's the expense right there.
• There was an expense. This is not right. That's the expense, right?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from Charlotte Harding of the Conservation Land Stewardship Program, who explained that the office protects the state’s interests in conservation lands by monitoring conservation easements and related stewardship obligations. She described the program’s funding sources: a land conservation endowment held at the State Treasury and administered by the Council on Resources and Development, plus transfers from Fish and Game for easements not covered by the endowment. Members discussed how the endowment is funded when new easements are created, the program’s staffing, the loss of a state vehicle, and the need to increase in-state travel so staff can use personal vehicles for field monitoring. Harding said the office has two full-time positions and a seasonal employee, that the work is mostly monitoring rather than hands-on land management, and that enforcement issues are referred to the grantee agencies or, if needed, to the Council on Resources and Development. She also noted that the office works directly with landowners to resolve smaller issues and that stewardship has become a greater focus in the conservation community because ongoing oversight requires funding. Members asked about examples of properties under the program, including LCIP lands such as Musquash Headwaters, Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, and Nash Stream, and the committee did not take a motion before moving on. The committee then heard from Paul Breen and Susie Anzelone of the Pease Development Authority regarding the Division of Ports and Harbors operating budget. They explained that the authority provides finance, legal, environmental, and engineering support to the division, which operates New Hampshire’s only deep-water berth at Market Street, as well as facilities in Hampton, Rye, the Portsmouth Fish Pier, and navigational waters in the Piscataqua and Great Bay. They described the authority’s history after the closure of Pease Air Force Base, the transfer of roughly 2,400 acres, and the creation of a self-sustaining enterprise fund tied to airport and port operations. They emphasized that the division does not draw on the general fund because revenues from wharfage, dockage, parking, registration, and mooring fees cover operating costs, with any surplus retained for capital improvements and replacement. Members questioned several budget lines, including a sharp increase in overtime and workers’ compensation. Breen said overtime is driven largely by security needs at the deep-water port and fluctuates with vessel traffic, such as salt shipments, while workers’ comp is a DAS-set cost and not something the division controls. He said the budget is conservative and that if revenues fall short, capital projects would be the first items scaled back. The discussion also covered fee-setting, with Breen saying rates are reviewed against the local market and infrastructure constraints, and that some smaller facility fees had recently been increased after being stagnant for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• The equipment that we need, um, the, uh, tracing tools is very expensive.
• And that's very expensive for smaller agencies to be able to afford.
• Responsive HR departments and payroll systems.
• Uh, 4 times a day from our partnership with these payroll providers.
• This frees workers from employers' arbitrary payroll cycles. EWA is not alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• 20:16.960><c> and</c> Emergency maintenance is expensive and Emergency maintenance is expensive and adds
• We are every 2 weeks payroll is met.
• The current and reducing expenses.
• </c><00:53:04.440><c> to</c> infrastructure is very expensive to infrastructure is very expensive to
• </c> can cash flow and make their um payroll can cash flow and make their um payroll and<01:07:48.760

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In a financially healthy child care business, payroll, including wages, payroll taxes, and benefits,
• For a center serving around 130 students, such as Ray's, that would mean annual payroll falling within
• the expansion of expenditures made from the interest earnings to not include some administrative expenses
• For a center serving around 130 students such as raise, that would mean annual payroll falling within
• the expansion of expenditures made from the interest earnings to not include some administrative expenses

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 5109 would raise the mortgage lending fraud prosecution surcharge on recorded deeds of trust from $1 to $5 and remove the 2027 sunset on the surcharge and account. Committee staff said the change would generate additional revenue for county auditors and the Department of Financial Institutions to contract with prosecutors; King County and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified in strong support, saying the current funding has eroded and the bill would better sustain mortgage fraud prosecutions. A question was raised about whether other budget funding could serve a similar purpose, but supporters said the dedicated surcharge/account structure was the best fit. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5500, which would require DCYF’s biennial child care report to include a current cost-of-quality study in addition to the market rate survey. Testifiers from Child Care Aware of Washington, child care providers, and the early education design team supported the bill, saying the market rate survey alone does not capture the true cost of providing quality care. Staff said the bill would have a small fiscal impact for DCYF. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 5834 and Senate Bill 5835, both Department of Retirement Systems request bills: one would broaden use of pension fund interest earnings for fund-protection expenses beyond the 2025-27 biennium, and the other would raise the threshold for lump-sum payment of small monthly benefits from $50 to $250. Neither bill drew public testimony, and staff said the fiscal impacts were minimal. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which would create the Pre-K Promise Account for ECAP funding and allow gifts, grants, and donations to be used solely to expand the program. Supporters including rural health coalitions, the Balmer Group, and Snohomish County said the account would help expand access to early learning, especially in child care deserts; DCYF estimated staffing costs to administer the account. Substitute Senate Bill 6007 would direct WSIPP to study DCYF’s child welfare screening tools and their effects on outcomes, with a reported cost of about $234,000; there was no public testimony. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019 would clarify home care agency rate-setting and require that no more than 20% of Medicaid home care rates go to administrative costs, with DSHS saying there would be no fiscal impact. Labor and caregiver witnesses supported it as a parity and accountability measure. Finally, Senate Bill 6065 would allow school districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds more flexibly, including temporary loans or permanent transfers with approval; a rural education representative supported the bill, and staff said OSPI would incur only modest administrative costs. The committee took no final action and adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you look at services that process payroll, processing a payroll check is the easiest part of HR
• </c> been given to contract these payroll been given to contract these payroll services?
• ,</c> services that process payroll, services that process payroll, um<01:37:16.159><c> processing</c
• /c><01:37:17.679><c> the</c> um processing a payroll check is the um processing a payroll check is the
• </c> how you get to those payroll numbers. how you get to those payroll numbers.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:05 Approval of Minutes 00:01:48 Welcome New Members 00:02:03 Information Items 00:02:35 Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:03:33 A. Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:04:00 B. Kentucky Department of Education 00:17:03 C. Education and Labor Cabinet 00:29:33 D. Energy and Environment Cabinet 00:42:38 E. Finance and Administration Cabinet 0:53:30 F. Justice and Public Safety Cabinet 01:13:28 G. Personnel Cabinet 01:31:04 H. School Facilities Construction Commission 01:41:39, 958, all

Summary: The meeting was the first of the year for the Capital Planning Advisory Board. Members were called, a quorum was confirmed, new co-chairs and members were welcomed, and the board approved the prior year’s meeting minutes. The chair also reviewed the capital planning timeline, packet organization, and the list of agencies that submitted plans but would not testify. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented first, outlining priorities centered on public safety, protecting existing infrastructure, preventive maintenance, and improving service delivery. Its major requests included a $21 million maintenance pool for 14 campuses and 175 buildings, phase 2 construction funding for a new public health laboratory, an 18-bed psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents with severe mental health needs, and several projects at Western State Hospital, Western State Nursing Facility, Hazlewood, and Oakwood. Members asked about the youth facility’s relationship to a separate DJJ project, vacant buildings, the high per-bed cost of the children’s hospital, and how the cabinet determined the need for the youth facility. CHFS said the youth project would be a separate facility serving high-acuity youth, the cost reflected the specialized nature of the unit and an 18-bed cap, and the broader youth plan also includes prevention, in-home services, and coordination across agencies. The Kentucky Department of Education then described projects for its three state-operated facilities: the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the FFA leadership training center. It requested additional funding for the FFA classroom and activity building after bids came in higher than expected, plus funding for a new education finance application system to support SEEK budgeting. Other priorities included a maintenance pool, FFA pool renovation, electrical upgrades, campus education enhancements, lighting improvements, safety and security work, door and window replacements, and HVAC maintenance. Members asked about student outcomes, the size of the FFA pool, and construction cost assumptions; the department said it tracks students through the schools and short-course programs, the pool size figure may have been a typo, and current construction estimates are being adjusted upward because of inflation and supply-chain pressures. The Education and Labor Cabinet began its presentation with 12 priority projects, including a state labor exchange system to connect job seekers and employers, renovation of the McDow Vocational Rehabilitation Center, and a new adult education and family literacy management information system. The cabinet said the labor exchange would help match workers with employers at no cost, while the McDow renovation was needed because the 30-year-old facility has safety and code concerns. The adult education system was described as outdated and lacking adequate case-management and tracking capabilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> doesn't touch any of the other payroll doesn't touch any of the other payroll deductions,<01:10:
• </c><01:13:10.560><c> It's</c> payroll deduction. It's convenient. It's payroll deduction.
• <c> compensate</c> Payroll systems exist to compensate Payroll systems exist to compensate employees.
• </c> employ firefighters to engage in payroll employ firefighters to engage in payroll deduction<01:37
• </c> not required to facilitate payroll not required to facilitate payroll reductions<01:45:43.840><c

Bills: SF0035, SF0090, SF0072

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it is an expensive<01:09:32.799><c> extremely</c><01:09:33.679><c> uh</c><01:09:33.839><c> expensive
• </c> expensive extremely uh expensive expensive extremely uh expensive operation<01:09:34.799><c> to<
• </c><01:35:58.719><c> and</c> funds are used for capital expenses and funds are used for capital expenses
• <01:52:36.719><c> of</c><01:52:37.280><c> 14</c> expenses of 14 expenses of 14 million,<01:52:39.199>
• </c><01:52:51.840><c> That's</c> your actual expenses. Correct. That's your actual expenses.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> example modernization of our payroll example modernization of our payroll system<00:24:50.640><c
• </c><00:57:36.200><c> system</c> telling us that the payroll system telling us that the payroll system
• </c> because we have an Antiquated payroll because we have an Antiquated payroll system<01:07:51.079>
• </c> of time that it takes to process payroll of time that it takes to process payroll um<01:08:12.920
• </c> overpayments we just process payroll overpayments we just process payroll that's<02:04:27.280><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Government Operations committees received a biennium budget preview from Keith Regan, Comptroller and Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), who introduced department leadership and described DAGS’ broad responsibilities across accounting, public works, procurement, elections, archives, risk management, and other attached agencies. He emphasized that DAGS supports nearly every state department and cited ongoing workforce challenges, while noting progress in reducing the department-wide vacancy rate from 21% in 2023 to 17.7% in 2024. He also highlighted recruitment efforts, including new salary schedules for engineers and architects, job fairs, internships, and outreach to retiring federal employees. A major focus was modernization of the state’s aging financial systems, especially the 55-year-old FAMIS platform and the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project. DAGS said it expects to release the RFP for the FAMIS replacement by the end of January and is seeking a second tranche of CIP funding, including $35 million, plus position augmentation and creation of a Business Transformation Office to manage EFS and future modernization work. The department also described major capital projects such as the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, Wahiawā Civic Center, Kauaʻi Civic Center, and Ahuimanu Community Correctional Center, and reported that Public Works is managing 455 projects statewide valued at more than $2.5 billion. Other budget requests discussed included funding for cemetery operations, with DAGS asking for two positions and $1 million in operating funds to support maintenance of eight cemeteries; a $200 million ceiling increase tied to anticipated insurance proceeds for West Maui fire-related recovery and rebuilding; and several staffing and operating items for district offices and facilities. These included full-year funding for positions in West Hawaiʻi and East Hawaiʻi, support for a small business coordinator at the State Procurement Office, funding for cloud hosting and PeopleSoft licensing, six positions and staff augmentation for the EFS project, electricity costs, and security-related funding. DAGS also noted that two requested reductions totaled $7.9 million, including transferring the security contract to the Department of Law Enforcement and reducing nonrecurring expenses; members discussed whether some security funding should remain with or be moved to DLE, and DAGS said it would not object to that transfer. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The exclusion applies to the extent that losses, expenses, or damages compensated by the settlement payment
• , and sales within the state as a share of its property, payroll, and sales in either the U.S. or the
• taxation of these firms will be more equitable and not disadvantage firms that invest property and payroll
• Losers from the proposal, multi-state companies with relatively more property and payroll in the state
• On the other hand, companies with less payroll and property in California relative to their sales would

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:39.880><c> uh</c> through a mandated um payroll uh through a mandated um payroll uh reduction
• Imagine the impact of this scenario playing out in the paid leave context, where the payroll tax rates
• tax rates are higher the taxable payroll tax rates are higher the taxable wage<00:08:09.560><c> rate
• Our health insurance now is the second-largest cost we have behind our payroll.
• </c><01:02:22.160><c> aren't</c> this as just an big expense aren't this as just an big expense aren't

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an expense to the state.
• This is an expense to the state.
• This is an expense to the state.
• This is an expense to the state.
• </c> are capable of receiving payroll are capable of receiving payroll deductions<02:04:35.679><c> as

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state fiscal officer will transfer the funds into the capital expense fund as unobligated amounts
• And the actuaries assume a 2.65% payroll growth annually.
• And the actuaries assume a 2.65% payroll growth annually.
• So if if I uh payroll growth annually.
• </c><00:25:38.480><c> increases</c> 2.65% annually in payroll increases 2.65% annually in payroll increases

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 2 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Making essential professional services more expensive will hurt small businesses and everyday Minnesotans
• ,</c><00:26:15.760><c> and</c><00:26:15.919><c> income</c><00:26:16.240><c> tax</c> preparation, payroll
• , and income tax preparation, payroll, and income tax preparation.<00:26:18.799><c> It</c><00:26:19.039
• services are almost exclusively payroll services are almost exclusively provided<00:26:40.240><c> to
• um in trying to as very expensive um in trying to determine<00:35:12.079><c> this</c><00:35:12.320><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Other companies do this already within their own payroll.
• payroll cycles.
• Just kind of like a more expensive ATM fee.
• Also, we run a payroll business, so we run payroll similar to, like, ADP.
• So we, as mentioned, have a payroll company that we work with employers and have payroll.

Bills: HB2118, HB2181, HB2308, HB2309, HB2402, HB2476, HB2682, HB2698, HB2875, HB2877, HB2903, HB2910

Keywords: mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, HB2181, death certificate, death certificates, vital records, funeral establishment, funeral home, human remains, medical certification of death, death registration, state registrar, local registrar, county medical examiner, alternate medical examiner