Transcript Highlights:

• No matter how big or small the issue, when people come to court, it's the biggest issue in their lives
• Whether it's a speeding ticket or a murder case, whether it's a small claims case or a multimillion-dollar
• injury or contract..." "...a murder case, whether it's a small claims case or a multi-million-dollar
• And with that, I know you have a very busy schedule..." "...stronger.
• More and more businesses, airports, you see them more and more often.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm always concerned about making things so onerous that it harms our small business owners.
• </c> become onerous to these small become onerous to these small businesses. businesses. businesses.
• I think that still supports the small businesses in New Hampshire and doesn't push any, I'm concerned
• about maintaining the small businesses and not particularly because of where my district is, I don't
• </c><00:37:32.760><c> businesses</c><00:37:33.240><c> in</c> still supports the small businesses in still

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of that, first of all, it's an economic disaster for our small businesses, our communities, and
• Because of that, first of all, it's an economic disaster for our small businesses, our communities, and
• Gila County is small but strong.
• their businesses open again.
• We believe this is a common-sense bill that would reduce regulatory impact on small businesses while

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Doing well on a written document is a very small part of the job that we do.
• I’ll turn to staff for a quick small clarification. They do have a time limit.
• In addition to the applicable business and occupation tax rates, advanced computing businesses with worldwide
• We're hearing from businesses that are not by any definition in advanced computing business that are
• And we're going to see more businesses leave Washington State.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and heard four bills. HB 2286 would create an alternative route to social worker licensure by removing the exam requirement for advanced social workers and allowing enhanced supervision with supervisor attestation in place of the exam for independent clinical social workers. The sponsor and several social workers testified that the exam is a poor measure of clinical competence and can be a barrier to licensure, while opponents warned that removing the exam could affect public protection and Washington’s participation in the social work compact. Members asked follow-up questions about the compact, the exam format, and accreditation requirements, but no action was taken. HB 2363 would allow music therapy license applicants to practice under supervision for up to six months while waiting for exam verification. The sponsor described it as a technical fix to the new licensure system, and testimony from music therapists, educators, and a patient supported the bill as a way to avoid delays in hiring newly trained therapists while maintaining supervision and patient safety. The bill drew strong support in written testimony and no opposition in the hearing. HB 2324 would change tuition waiver rules for children of eligible veterans and National Guard members by giving eligible children eight years from the date of a parent’s disability determination to use the waiver when that determination occurs after the child turns 18. The sponsor said the bill is meant to align state law with federal dependency education benefits and prevent families from losing access because disability determinations can take years. The committee asked for clarification on how the new timing would work, and the hearing closed without a vote. HB 2098 would eliminate the cap on the advanced computing surcharge, expand Washington College Grant eligibility up to 100% of state median family income, and reduce resident undergraduate tuition by 10% for three years starting in 2027-28. Supporters, including students, labor, and advocacy groups, said the bill would improve affordability and access to higher education by asking large tech companies to pay more. Opponents from business and university groups argued the surcharge would be economically harmful, that the state already has substantial WEA funding, and that the bill would reduce tuition revenue without adequately backfilling institutional budgets. The committee heard extensive testimony and members raised questions about the surcharge cap, WEA spending, and the compacted funding structure, but no final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> small schools within a small district. small schools within a small district.
• , and then left the small business innovation research program.
• Uh and then left the small business<02:28:55.760><c> innovation</c><02:28:56.399><c> research</c><02:
• </c> business innovation research program. business innovation research program.
• </c> $54 million from the business council. $54 million from the business council.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to families, new options for small to families, new options for small businesses,<00:18:55.679><
• We help folks access solar at their homes, farms, and small businesses and work for policy that makes
• Thousands of Minnesotans, renters, small businesses, schools, and especially low- and moderate-income
• Thousands of Minnesotans, renters, small businesses, schools, and especially low- and moderate-income
• Thousands of Minnesotans, renters, small businesses, schools, and especially low- and moderate-income

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this bill does provide um a small increase to the operating budget for the Campaign Finance Board
• So that is another small uh match.
• </c> communities and schools and business communities and schools and business groups<00:07:32.319><c
• With that, there being no further business, Mr. Chair—yes, Senator. As a St.
• ,</c><00:21:11.039><c> this</c> there being no further business, this there being no further business

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I was wondering, I was looking at this from a business perspective.
• retention or business recruitment.
• I love the rural and small arts town grants in parts of the state that are very, very rural.
• So, we are small but mighty.
• This spending supports jobs, strengthens local businesses, and contributes to tax revenue.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• > District</c><01:10:20.320><c> of</c> and small businesses in the District of and small businesses in
• ><02:46:02.479><c> businesses</c><02:46:02.960><c> and</c> supporting small businesses and supporting
• </c> engineers, lawyers, teachers, small engineers, lawyers, teachers, small business<04:40:20.320><c
• </c><04:53:24.160><c> businesses</c><04:53:24.958><c> who</c> from families and small businesses who
• It's squeezing our small businesses, our hospitals, and our schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are different prices that will bring business in, and there are ancillary businesses that are brought
• We need to make sure that we afford every opportunity for those small businesses to survive to help our
• We need to make sure that we afford every opportunity for those small businesses to survive to help our
• We need to make sure that we afford every opportunity for those small businesses to survive to help our
• youth. that we afford every opportunity for those small businesses to survive to help our youngest.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 16, 2025, with one agenda item: PCB WMC-2502, the committee’s tax package. Chair Duggan presented the bill as a broad tax measure covering sales tax, tourist development taxes, ad valorem/VAB procedures, affordable housing property tax changes, tangible personal property, special assessments, fuel taxes, communication services taxes, corporate income tax updates, pari-mutuel/card room taxes, local incentives, and a redistribution of horse industry trust fund money. He also noted emergency rulemaking authority for the Department of Revenue and estimated a recurring state impact of $34.6 million in FY 2025-26. Members questioned several provisions, including the aviation fuel tax repeal, the delay of the natural gas fuel tax, the extension of the local communication services tax freeze, the charitable trust corporate income tax clarification, the reduction in card room taxes, and the affordable housing changes tied to the Live Local Act. Public testimony included support from airlines, UPS, child care management, and others, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association opposed the lifeguard/TDT change, the Florida Association of Counties and Florida League of Cities opposed the missing-middle exemption changes, and local government representatives raised concerns about revenue impacts and the loss of local opt-out authority. The committee also adopted Amendment 1 by Representative Rizzo, which limits certain special assessments on RV parks when based on square footage. During debate, members split on some provisions but generally supported the package, with comments focused on aviation competitiveness, preschool assessment relief, lifeguard funding, affordable housing, and the horse industry funding shift. Representative Duggan closed by emphasizing that the bill was only the beginning of the process and would continue through conference and floor consideration. The committee then voted 16-1 to report PCB WMC-2502 favorably, with Representative Alvarez voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to do business for your state and for your citizens.
• This would add another $55 million on the backs of the business community.
• </c> million on the backs of the business million on the backs of the business community.<00:24:24.080
• burden to the small employers and the individuals in Alabama.
• Um, it's just not an easy business and these it's just not an easy business and these types<00:36:08.880

Bills: HB424 , SB63 , SB269 , HB424 , SB63 , SB269

Committees: House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce , House Insurance

Keywords: HB424, Montgomery County, sheriff, county sheriff, salary increase, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, public official compensation, law enforcement pay, elected official salary, Montgomery County legislation, sheriff compensation, term-based salary, immigration, law enforcement, fingerprints, DNA collection, illegal aliens

Transcript Highlights:

• Where we'll have somebody in a small town be offered a job to move to that small town and they come and
• As the daughter of two small business owners, I saw that firsthand.
• That's not my business. But that is a big part of it.
• I mean, we exclusively work with independent mortgage brokers that are. small town businesses across
• business or a family, should care?

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: affordable housing, government investment, barriers, legislative solutions, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on addressing the significant issue of affordable housing in America. Members expressed concern over the persistent barriers faced in the housing sector, despite substantial government investment aimed at alleviating these issues. It was highlighted that government interference plays a critical role in complicating the housing landscape, and discussions revolved around potential legislative approaches to mitigate these challenges. Several witnesses provided testimony, contributing to a thorough exploration of the topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a small business owner myself who pays L&I premiums along with my employees, what I fear is that,
• businesses. from that later on, but that premiums will rise for our small businesses as a result.
• As a small business owner, and I think I could speak for at least some businesses around Washington.
• As a small business owner, and I think I could speak for at least some businesses around Washington state
• So for now, I think in support of our small business community and our trades and so many others who

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5828, which would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending private, not-for-profit four-year institutions. Staff explained the bill would set the awards at 90 percent of the regional and state college rate rather than 50 percent of the research rate, with an estimated fiscal impact of $3.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and $18.6 million over four years. Testimony was largely in support from private college presidents, students, and school counselors, who said the bill would help low-income and first-generation students and preserve access and enrollment choices; some public college student representatives said they did not oppose the bill but argued that cuts to public-school aid should be restored first. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which would prohibit DCYF from using benefits or funds of youth in extended foster care as reimbursement for their cost of care beginning in 2027, while requiring support for benefit management and payee arrangements and allowing protected accounts such as ABLE accounts. Staff estimated a net fiscal impact of $608,000 in fiscal year 2027 and $2.2 million per biennium thereafter. Testimony in support said the bill would end the practice of withholding SSI and other benefits from youth in care and better support disabled youth transitioning to adulthood. Members asked questions about fiduciary responsibility and representative payee arrangements. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It adopted Amendment Clark 350 to House Bill 2689, raising the required provider response rate for the child care market rate survey to 65 percent, and then reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 18-11, with two excused. It adopted Amendment H-3743.1 to Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on retrospective prior authorization denials and reported that bill out unanimously. It also adopted Amendment Pool 272 to Senate Bill 5420 and reported that bill out unanimously. For Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5496, the committee adopted several amendments clarifying scope and penalties but rejected amendments that would have delayed the bill or replaced it with a study; the bill was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard amendment briefings on other bills, including 5981, 6026, 6160, 6184, and 6211, but deferred action on some items heard that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1803 requires that all California businesses with five or more employees to include anti-hate speech
• Scott Reese, business agent, Local 393, San Jose, California, in support. Thank you.
• Whether you're a small or a large corporate entity as an employer.
• So certainly from the small business perspective, there's great concern.
• Seeing no further business, we are adjourned. Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• She's a small business owner and I am so proud of her. Please help me welcome her.
• She's a small<00:25:51.840><c> business</c><00:25:52.240><c> owner</c><00:25:53.039><c> and</c><00:25
• :53.279><c> I</c><00:25:53.440><c> am</c><00:25:53.600><c> so</c><00:25:53.840><c> proud</c> small business
• owner and I am so proud small business owner and I am so proud of<00:25:54.240><c> her.
• So, please welcome her business. So, please welcome her tonight. tonight. tonight.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we saw some areas with small earthquakes.
• I got a small grant, and I put seven seismometers out.
• And we saw some areas with small earthquakes.
• I got a small grant, and I put seven seismometers out.
• The GOSEP in all cases is really in the asking business.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• Honorable members, my name is Hayden Meek, and I own a small business.
• HB 5. 4 cannabis policy that respects science, supports small businesses, and protects the health and
• Let's give small businesses a chance and let the free market decide.
• The other thing, and I would like to just ask you guys a question: how many small businesses do y'all
• As a small business owner, I have a retail store.

Bills: HB5

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• That's their business, but we just wanted them to understand what the law was.
• </c> observing or concerned with is too small observing or concerned with is too small to<00:45:05.800
• What I think you can tell from this sheet is that a small number are state candidates.
• We want them noon the previous business day. Amendments, noon the previous business day.
• ><c> previous</c><01:42:06.480><c> business</c> amendments noon the previous business amendments noon

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair lays out his pending business, House Bill 1606.
• The Chair lays out his pending business, House Bill 2156.
• He started through the Union, and we're proud that this is our 50th year in business. ...business as
• There's a misconception that project labor agreements give a stronger advantage over small businesses
• I'm for small businesses, you know, and I'm for unions and non-unions; I'm for everybody. Yes, sir.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, publicly traded business-to-business corporation, and he made $10.07 million.
• This is an international business-to-business corporation who made less than the CEO of Xcel Energy.
• </c> traded business-to business corporation traded business-to business corporation and<00:26:42.960
• </c><00:26:54.240><c> And</c> And that business is a business that people can choose to go to or they
• can go to a different business-to-business corporation.

Summary: The committee heard House File 76, as amended by the adopted A1 amendment, and the chair moved the bill to be re-referred to the general register. The bill would limit the amount investor-owned utilities can charge ratepayers for executive compensation, capping recoverable pay for the top 10 executives at the governor’s salary. Representative Greenman argued the measure would protect customers from paying for lavish executive pay and said it would not affect what executives are paid, only what can be recovered from ratepayers. She cited recent Public Utilities Commission action and ongoing rate cases as evidence the issue is real and recurring. Supportive testimony came from a Minneapolis resident describing financial hardship and rising utility bills, a local worker who said customers have no choice of utility provider and should not fund monopoly executive pay, and advocates from the Energy and Policy Institute and Utility Reform Now, who said ratepayers should not subsidize excessive compensation and that the bill is a targeted reform. Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy opposed the bill’s premise by defending the current regulatory process. Their representatives said the PUC already reviews executive compensation in rate cases, generally allows only limited recovery, and has used that process for decades. Xcel also emphasized its affordability programs and said executives help secure savings and investments for customers. Members discussed whether the legislature should set a bright-line rule or leave the issue to the PUC. Representative Greenman said the bill is needed because the PUC process can take years and the legislature should establish a clear standard for all investor-owned utilities. Some members supported the bill as a response to an affordability crisis and the lack of consumer choice, while others said the legislature should focus on broader energy-cost issues and existing regulatory tools. The committee did not take a final vote on the bill in the portion of the meeting provided, but the amendment was adopted and the bill was moved for re-referral to the general register.