Transcript Highlights:

• of the Small Business program of the Small Business Administration and for other purposes. >> Pursuant
• SBA's small business contracting programs help connect eligible small businesses with federal Eligible
• small businesses with federal contracting opportunities and programs, such as the women-owned small
• business program, the HUBZone program, and the service-disabled veterans-owned small business program
• running small firms, city small business services, and regulatory compliance.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:48.279><c> farmers</c> tangible example of how small farmers tangible example of how small
• I support those programs.
• and to city budgets.
• and to city budgets.
• workable program for the small<01:30:21.040><c> businesses</c><01:30:21.520><c> across</c><01:30:21.800

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Madam City Attorney.
• They remit it to the city.
• I will say, representing all small cities, they don't have attorneys, right?
• cities like ours.
• City Council, the L.A.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• small businesses.
• Yes, we do have programs.
• County Small Business Commission and Office of Small Business, and hundreds of programs and services,
• Business Commission and Office of Small Business and hundreds of programs and services capital and place-making
• programs and apprenticeships.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly labor committees held a hearing on the Los Angeles wildfires and their impact on workers, employers, and recovery efforts. Chairs and members emphasized that rebuilding should prioritize worker safety, equity, local hiring, and strong labor standards rather than simply moving quickly or relying on the lowest bidder. They also stressed the need to learn from past disasters and to create a more coordinated state response for future emergencies. Worker advocates described how domestic workers, day laborers, firefighters, and other frontline workers were affected by the fires. Testimony focused on workers being trapped in evacuation zones, lacking timely information in Spanish, losing jobs and income, and facing exposure to toxic debris without adequate PPE. Speakers called for expanded outreach and education, stronger Cal/OSHA enforcement, broader occupational safety coverage for domestic workers and day laborers, recall and transfer rights, childcare and transportation support, and a centralized disaster relief system that can quickly deliver cash aid and equipment regardless of immigration status. Firefighter Derek Irwin said California firefighters face serious carcinogenic exposure and urged continued funding for the firefighter cancer prevention and research program, along with a long-term state health monitoring and research effort similar to the World Trade Center Health Program. Building trades and labor representatives argued that cleanup and rebuilding should be done through community workforce agreements, prevailing wage, apprenticeship requirements, and local hire provisions, and said the state already has trained workers available. They also said federal debris-removal work through the Army Corps has limited the state’s ability to impose some standards, but that state and local funding or subsidies should trigger labor requirements. Employer and business representatives described major losses to property, inventory, revenue, and jobs, especially in Altadena and nearby areas. The Altadena Chamber said it is coordinating recovery resources, while a construction business owner said small local firms are being shut out of disaster contracts and proposed a more accessible procurement process for local and minority businesses. LAEDC presented preliminary estimates of billions in property damage and business disruption, tens of thousands of potential job losses, and a recovery timeline of five to ten years, warning that low-income communities will be disproportionately affected and that workforce retraining and upskilling will be needed alongside the broader economic recovery.

Transcript Highlights:

• For small businesses opening up temporarily in multiple cities in a single year, this is an extreme cost
• I have two cities, the City of Azusa and the City of Glendora, who are next to each other.
• So cities, the city's... city to city to review a plan like this. Same amount of time.
• The bill focuses on a small number of the state's largest cities with populations over 400,000 and major
• The bill focuses on a small number of the state's largest cities with populations over 400,000 and major

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My dad was a small business owner We grew up on that small business income, but it was definitely hard
• in our small businesses and local economies.
• In August 2012, I enrolled in WEVE's Self-Employment Training Program, a 14-year program. week course
• Participated in the accelerator for local goods program by DoorDash a Program designed to support small
• We had a young man who came into our program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We ended up funding 100 small nonprofits through that program.
• We ended up funding 100 small nonprofits through that program.
• We were one of the first pro-housing-designated cities, and is it the intersection of the HAP program
• So we have a city of Needles; you know, we have small cities, we have big cities, we have counties, and
• We're saying when we're a partner in a program that we'd be asking the city to defer their fees.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And now that program is being spread across many, many cities across the state. I'm proud.
• And now that program is being spread across many, many cities across the state. I'm proud.
• I went to some Head Start program in my city, and that's what they were concerned about.
• Even a small drop in enrollment can have an enormous impact on the health of the program.
• And they're eligible for the MBLC's Small Libraries in Networks program, which provides libraries that

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 budget for education and local aid. Opening remarks from Senator Pavel Payano, Representative Pat Duffy, and local leaders emphasized the importance of education funding for Lawrence and other Gateway Cities, with Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero highlighting the city’s high-need student population, Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, early college and career pathways, and the need for sustained support to close achievement gaps. The Education Secretariat testified in support of the budget, with Acting Secretary Amy Kershaw outlining investments in early literacy, universal pre-K, student mental health, school meals, high school redesign, higher education affordability, and early childhood systems. Commissioner Noi Ortega described higher education proposals including expanded free community college, continued free tuition at public four-year institutions, student success funding, early college and dual enrollment investments, and the Bright Act and Drive Act. Commissioner Pedro Martinez detailed K-12 proposals such as full Student Opportunity Act funding, increased Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, literacy initiatives, and a new Accelerating Achievement Initiative aimed at schools with the greatest needs. Commissioner Kershaw also described early education proposals including funding for C3, child care financial assistance, CPPI, workforce supports, and administrative funding restoration. Committee members questioned the administration about the pending local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to address health care and other cost drivers in school funding. Officials said the local contribution report is expected by the end of June and that a draft will be shared for public comment after data analysis is complete. Members also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities between districts and urged a broader review of the formula. In response, the commissioners said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but further work is needed, and they pointed to the new achievement initiative, literacy efforts, and early college expansion as ways to improve outcomes. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• a statewide paint recycling program.
• Programs like those supported by Woods Hole Sea Grant recommend that cities and towns hold coordinated
• Programs like those supported by Woods Hole Sea Grant recommended that cities and towns hold coordinated
• This program would provide cost-effective recycling and would help local cities and towns, as well as
• small step urgently.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a heavily attended hybrid hearing focused primarily on plastics reduction bills, along with a few local and related waste-management measures. Chair Rauch and Chair Barber outlined strict testimony rules because of the large number of speakers. Before the plastics docket, the committee heard support for a local Sharon sewer-extension bill for a Sunrise Senior Living project, and the bill’s proponents said the project would help address senior housing needs and would still require MWRA and local approvals. The chairs also noted a separate local matter involving Sharon and the MWRA. A major portion of the hearing centered on the Plastics Reduction Act and related bills addressing single-use plastics, including plastic bags, polystyrene, black plastic, plastic beverage bottles, non-flushable wipes, skip-the-stuff provisions, and truth-in-labeling. Sponsors and supporters said the bills would reduce litter, microplastics, greenhouse gas emissions, and municipal waste costs, while creating statewide consistency and supporting environmental justice communities. Several speakers cited local bans already adopted by many Massachusetts cities and towns, and many urged the committee to advance comprehensive statewide action. The committee also heard testimony on a boat wrap recycling bill, a mattress recycling bill, and a bill to prohibit hotels from providing small plastic toiletries. Municipal officials and waste professionals supported extended producer responsibility for paint and labeling for non-flushable wipes, saying these measures would shift costs away from cities and towns and reduce strain on wastewater systems. The Massachusetts Municipal Association, Mayor Ruth Ann Fuller of Newton, and a Franklin County waste official all backed paint EPR and wipes labeling. Fire Chief Brian Nardelli testified for the Fire Chiefs Association in support of lithium-ion battery legislation, citing fire safety and disposal concerns. Other speakers, including environmental groups, local activists, and business representatives, supported bag and polystyrene bans, though the Retailers Association of Massachusetts urged any bag policy to be truly statewide and said any bag fee should be retained by retailers. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do it every year on some of these small programs to make sure they're paying claims accurately.
• Our dental programs, our vision programs, we go out to bid.
• program.
• the SNAP Program.
• We also have a program that we call the lock-in program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• second-largest city, Gapan in the south, and our friendship city partnership with the Yerevan-Kentron
• second largest city, Gapan in the south, and our friendship city partnership with the Ervanskentron
• And I should mention that Glendale also had signed a sister city relationship document with the city
• We put a very small check in this company.
• Not only for the City of Glendale, but as the City of Glendale, as you've seen, as a bridge to a tiny

Summary: The inaugural meeting of the Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange focused on strengthening California’s relationship with Armenia through trade, investment, education, culture, and diplomacy. Chair Harabedian and Assemblymember Caloza opened by emphasizing the Armenian-American community’s long history in California and the committee’s goal of expanding business opportunities, job creation, educational exchanges, and cultural preservation. The Ambassador of Armenia, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Consul General all described the relationship as a strategic partnership rooted in shared values, the Armenian diaspora, and growing cooperation in technology, energy, agriculture, and innovation. Testimony highlighted existing state-to-state ties, including the 2019 California-Armenia framework agreement, the California trade and services desk in Yerevan, and academic links such as the American University of Armenia and Armenian studies programs at California universities. Go-Biz reported that two-way trade with Armenia has grown significantly since 2019, with California exports rising sharply and activity supported by export promotion, investment outreach, and the trade desk. Witnesses also pointed to Armenia’s emerging tech sector and California-based companies with operations there, including Synopsys, AMD, Nvidia, ServiceTitan, and others, as examples of the partnership’s economic potential. Local leaders and business representatives from Glendale described the city as a gateway for California-Armenia ties, citing the Armenian American Museum, sister-city relationships, and the role of community institutions in diplomacy and commerce. ServiceTitan co-founder Vahe Kuzoyan and investor Armina Galstian of SmartGate VC/Hero House Glendale described how California capital, talent, and Armenian engineering networks are producing startups, jobs, and cross-border innovation in AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and related fields. Several speakers urged the state to continue funding innovation hubs, expand trade and educational programs, and address discrimination against Armenian-owned businesses in procurement and supplier diversity programs. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing. Members asked questions about future priorities, including how California can better support trade, technology collaboration, and outreach to Armenian communities, and witnesses generally called for continued state investment, stronger institutional partnerships, and sustained official engagement with Armenia.

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't think this program was entitled the small farmer down payment assistance program.
• c><00:26:31.440><c> the</c><00:26:31.679><c> small</c> this program was entitled the small this program
• </c> this program. this program.
• And uh when I created this program, um I intended it to uh really help like the small uh and emerging
• And uh when I created this program, um I intended it to uh really help like the small uh and emerging

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the city of Des Moines, and a year and a half with the city of Seattle.
• the city of Des Moines, and a year and a half with the city of Seattle.
• and as a result, In my research and in the cities I've worked for, many cities lack these tools.
• It doesn't match small projects.
• Cities have a right to define the programming of their public rights-of-way, but when what they are asking

Summary: The committee held a work session on form-based codes, child care facility siting, and street standards/frontage improvements. On form-based codes, Commerce’s Dave Anderson explained that these codes emphasize building form, orientation, and the public realm more than traditional use and density tables, and that they are typically applied in specific districts rather than citywide or statewide. Lacey’s Vanessa Dolby described the city’s Woodland District code, developed through community charrettes, fiscal and market analysis, and subdistrict-specific standards to create a walkable downtown. She said the approach has helped produce a more desirable built environment and more flexibility in permitted uses, but also noted it can be less user-friendly for applicants and still requires some use restrictions; both presenters said a hybrid approach is often best. The committee then heard from DCYF and multiple providers about barriers to opening child care facilities. DCYF officials said Washington has more than 6,500 licensed providers and that a new pre-licensing support team is helping applicants navigate licensing, but local zoning, building, fire, parking, utility, and occupancy requirements still create delays and confusion. Testifiers described long permitting timelines, inconsistent local interpretations, costly upgrades, and utility hookup delays; one Yakima provider said county requirements, a floodplain-related elevation certificate, and a private well issue stopped her in-home child care proposal, while others described traffic impact fees, parking mandates, and zoning barriers that made projects infeasible. Enterprise Community Partners highlighted examples of successful local reforms, including fee waivers, expedited permitting, and zoning changes in several cities, and DCYF said it is working toward a 2026 action plan and a resource guide for providers. In the final section, planners and developers discussed how street standards and frontage improvement requirements can undermine infill and middle housing. Poulsbo’s planning manager said current standards were designed for greenfield subdivisions and often force costly curb, gutter, sidewalk, stormwater, and utility upgrades on small infill sites, sometimes adding tens of thousands of dollars and causing projects to be abandoned. A Seattle-based developer made similar points about small middle-housing projects being burdened by frontage work, curb ramps, buried standards, and EV-ready parking requirements that can trigger expensive undergrounding. Committee members asked about possible state-level changes, including whether child care should be treated as an essential public facility and whether parking requirements had already been reduced; one senator noted that minimum parking requirements for child care facilities were eliminated in prior legislation, with implementation phased in over the next few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• The USDA Rural Development funding for small cities and municipalities seeking grants must be listed
• ><c> with</c> small cities municipalities seek with small cities municipalities seek with grants<00:46
• There's actually a small program, rarely used, that we pass funding through to DOT.
• There's actually a small program, rarely used, that we pass funding through to DOT.
• <c> uh</c> actually a small program rarely used uh actually a small program rarely used uh that<01:14

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to hear today from small business owners and city leaders about the real impacts of the pandemic
• So not just a night city, a 24-hour city.
• Cities as rising costs are going, the cities that are going to continue to diversify and keep people,
• It continues to implement programs and initiatives and work with the city's Small Business First initiative
• That's necessary in order to ensure that our cities, our nightlife in our cities thrive, even from our

Summary: The Select Committee on Downtown Recovery held a hearing titled “Revitalizing California’s Downtowns Through the Nightlife Economy,” focused on how nightlife, arts, entertainment, and late-night transportation can support downtown recovery after the pandemic. Chair Matt Haney framed nightlife as a major economic and cultural sector and said the committee hopes to produce policy, budget, and legislative proposals, building on last year’s downtown recovery bills. The hearing included three panels: nightlife policy experts and a venue owner; representatives from entertainment, tourism, and rideshare; and remote witnesses from London, Philadelphia, and New York discussing how other cities manage 24-hour economies. Witnesses on the first panel emphasized that nightlife is an ecosystem that includes workers, venues, transportation, and public safety. Michael Fishman described the growth of night managers and argued that zoning, licensing, and land costs can either support or choke off creative venues; he also said extending hours can reduce congestion and unsafe spillover if done in a regulated way. Ben Van Houten highlighted San Francisco’s entertainment zones, hospitality zone liquor licenses, Type 90 music venue licenses, and other local reforms, while urging more state coordination and possible tax and licensing changes. Darcy Drolinger of Oasis said independent venues are operating on thin margins, have faced repeated near-closures, and need tools such as extended alcohol service hours to remain viable and preserve community and LGBTQ+ cultural spaces. The second panel focused on tourism, major events, and transportation. Another Planet Entertainment’s Mary Condi said festivals and venues like Outside Lands, the Castro Theatre, and the Fox and Greek theaters draw large numbers of visitors, support hotels and restaurants, and require close coordination with city agencies; she also raised concerns about unexpected possessory interest tax bills and the burden of secondary ticketing and cannabis taxes. Amelia Zamani of Cal Travel said travel and tourism remain a major economic engine and argued that nightlife is central to attracting international visitors, conventions, and major events, especially if California wants to compete with cities that allow later alcohol service. Lyft’s Nicholas Johnson said late-night rides serve workers as well as patrons, reduce DUI risk, and are essential for safe access to downtowns and event venues. In the final panel, officials from London and Philadelphia described their nighttime governance models. London witnesses said the city created a 24-hour city strategy, a night czar, and a nightlife commission, and found that nightlife supports economic activity, workforce retention, and safer, more diverse districts when paired with flexible licensing and better transit. Philadelphia’s Rahim Manning said his city treats the nighttime economy as a major industry, with a $26.2 billion annual impact, and stressed that it includes manufacturing, logistics, health care, transportation, food service, arts, and sports—not just bars and clubs. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with committee members asking questions about extended hours, transportation, family-friendly programming, cannabis activation, ticketing, and how California can better support a safe and competitive nighttime economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• A farm to institution pilot program.
• This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in Berkshire County and other gateway cities to test
• , and senior nutrition programs.
• This was a significant loss for the city of Everett, a city that does not have a supermarket.
• For more than 30 years, Boston’s grassroots program has made vacant and underutilized city-owned lots

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries held a public hearing on 19 legislative proposals, with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker and seven minutes per panel. The hearing opened with testimony on bills promoting urban agriculture and vacant-lot conversion, including H.121/S.61, which Green Roots staff and community members supported as a way to turn vacant lots in environmental justice communities into urban farms and gardens that improve food access, health, community cohesion, and climate resilience. Rep. James Arena-DeRosa also spoke in support of H.109/S.56, the PFAS bill, describing it as a measure to protect soil and farms from contamination and to create relief for affected farmers. A major portion of the hearing focused on H.109/S.56, which would ban land application of sewage sludge/biosolids, provide liability protection and relief funds for farmers, and address PFAS contamination in soil, water, crops, and animals. Testimony came from environmental groups, farm organizations, and individual farmers, including the Mass Food System Collaborative, Conservation Law Foundation, Clean Water Action, CEMAP, NOFA, Sierra Club, and several farmers who described contamination in Maine and Massachusetts and urged the committee to act. Witnesses emphasized that PFAS poses serious health risks, that farmers should not bear responsibility for legacy contamination, and that the bill should be paired with funding for testing, remediation, and assistance. Committee members asked questions about farm liability, the scope of the bill, contamination in different ownership situations, and the costs and timelines of remediation, with Senator Comerford and others clarifying that the bill is intended to protect farms and farmers rather than non-agricultural landholders. The committee also heard strong support for H.416, a farm-to-institution pilot program, from Rep. Lee Davis, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and Berkshire Bounty. They said the pilot would connect Massachusetts farms to schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, and other institutions, creating new markets, strengthening local supply chains, and supporting food-is-medicine efforts. Members discussed whether the model could be statewide and referenced existing programs such as Island Grown Initiative and local hospital and insurance partnerships. Another agricultural bill, H.1058, was supported by Rep. Mark Sylvia and the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association as a way to allow unused cranberry water rights to be transferred within the same watershed for municipal mitigation while helping growers retire or consolidate bogs. The hearing also included testimony on the broader farm omnibus bill H.112/S.55 and related measures, with the Massachusetts Farm Bureau and others praising the committee’s work on agricultural resilience, food security, agritourism, workforce development, and farmland access, while suggesting additional transportation-related fixes for farmers. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and counties, giving small cities a seat at the table in the regional planning process.
• and counties, giving small cities a seat at the table in the regional planning process. for the Cities
• and counties, giving small cities a seat at the table in the regional planning process.
• Let me just say that all I have is small cities, with the exception.
• All I have is small cities, with the exception of the City of Fresno, which is now the only time I've

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a former mayor of a small city, I am thinking about the issues that I had to deal with at that moment
• But when you are a small city, a lot of times you do not have the resources that larger cities do have
• As a former mayor of a small city, I am thinking about the issues that I had to deal with at that moment
• But when you are a small city, a lot of times you do not have the resources that larger cities do have
• So, how are you partnering with those small cities to make sure that they are also kind of gaining resources

Bills: HB339

Keywords: Civil Air Patrol, CAP, emergency leave, job protection, employment discrimination, leave of absence, volunteer service, emergency response, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, state employee leave, military leave, public employees, local government employers, reinstatement rights, seniority protection, unpaid leave, Meeting Start 00:00:03 Roll Call 00:00:14 Discussion of Local Law Enforcement Issues 00:03:08 Discussion of Civil Air Patrol Employment Protections 00:50:46 Adjournment 01:06:07, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tool for small cities.
• He said this was a really important tool for small cities and small towns.
• ><c> mayors</c><01:13:57.159><c> of</c> for small cities as well as mayors of for small cities as well
• small cities like Hopkins buildings so small cities like Hopkins are<01:14:31.719><c> fully</c><01:14
• Thank you, and we mentioned small cities. I thought to me Hopkins is small.

Bills: HF1277, HF812, HF457, HF633

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, income tax, tax brackets, tax adjustments, Minnesota, tax policy, underutilized buildings, adaptive reuse, building conversion, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, vacant property, vacancy reduction, refundable tax credit, income tax credit, grant in lieu of credit

Transcript Highlights:

• And many good-faced cities.
• Isha Ayur, on behalf of the City of Beaumont, the City of Carlsbad, the City of Corona, the City of El
• Beaumont, the City of Carlsbad, the City of Corona, the City of El Cerrito, the City of Foster City,
• the City of Glendale, the City of Merced, the City of Rancho Cucamonga, the City of Redwood City, the
• Eisha Ayer, on behalf of the cities of Glendale, San Mateo, and Redwood City, in strong support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all