Transcript Highlights:

• and workforce development.
• and workforce development.
• We really think that New Mexico really needs to address affordability and economic development in its
• When you talk about utility infrastructure, it is such a critical need for economic development in this
• development and so many other areas in the country right now.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Developing that. Right.
• The third key service and key program is our business development team.
• With extra funding, thank you, we created a business development team.
• The third key service and key program is our business development team.
• So this dashboard was developed.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This principle drove the development of the plan.
• The Jobs First blueprint addresses the demand side of economic development, the K-16 collaboratives build
• It was developed so that both K-12 education...
• Development and the engagement of employers in the council.
• Development programs to create more jobs more quickly.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um because in in business development.
• <00:29:57.279> and<00:29:57.520> a<00:29:57.679> forward business development
• > between<00:29:59.679> business Strategy integration between business development and
• And so I'd like to see New Hampshire start pulling its weight from an economic development perspective
• <00:33:45.120> planning<00:33:45.440> for that came out, uh, economic planning for

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• road<00:18:26.080> safety economic development and for road safety economic development and
• <00:24:46.159> look it does for economic development. look it does for economic development
• So to kind of rehash on what Senator Ward said as well, there is economic development that would be stimulated
• So to kind of rehash on what Senator Ward said as well, there is economic development that would be stimulated
• <00:50:20.640> development well, uh there is economic development well, uh there is economic

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How much time, risk, and capital it takes to keep a business afloat, especially under uncertain economic
• Yet despite this economic strength, the state continues to rely heavily on private financial institutions
• a deliberative phased approach, establishing a state bank commission to guide implementation and develop
• We have an infrastructure bank, the I-Bank, which provides financing for infrastructure and economic
• development projects, but that does not operate as a full public bank.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How much time, risk, and capital it takes to keep a business afloat, especially under uncertain economic
• Yet despite this economic strength, the state continues to rely heavily on private financial institutions
• a deliberative phased approach, establishing a state bank commission to guide implementation and develop
• We have an infrastructure bank, the I-Bank, which provides financing for infrastructure and economic
• development projects, but that does not operate as a full public bank.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met and first approved the consent calendar, which included AB 2028, AB 2425, and committee bill AB 2795, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also noted that AB 2558 and AB 2746 had been pulled from the agenda. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including acceptance of written testimony and rules against disruptive conduct. The committee then heard AB 2116, which would require registration and basic conduct standards for certain small-business financing providers, including merchant cash advance companies, and prohibit confessions of judgment and power-of-attorney provisions before default. Supporters argued the bill would close an oversight gap and improve transparency for small businesses; a small business owner testified that a purported 13% loan turned out to have a 235% APR. Opponents said the bill mixed consumer and commercial regulation and could restrict access to capital, though they supported banning confessions of judgment. The bill passed on a roll call vote and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2243, by Assembly Member Haney, proposed creating a state bank commission to study whether California should establish a state bank or other public financing tools. Supporters said a public banking model could reduce borrowing costs, keep more public money in-state, and better finance housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities; opponents from banking groups raised concerns about taxpayer exposure, deposit guarantees, and the use of public funds and existing lending structures. The bill passed and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2350, which would set guardrails on rent-now-pay-later products for rental housing; supporters said these products can lead to high fees, debt, and eviction risk, while industry groups opposed the bill unless amended. AB 2350 passed as amended and was sent to Appropriations. At the end of the meeting, the committee completed roll calls for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, we recently did an audit of the Local Economic Development Act on a program level basis.
• Do you coordinate closely with the Economic Development Department and their newly formed Office of Entrepreneurship
• We heard a presentation from Economic Development, and they're asking for money for site prep to create
• We have 3,500 grazing lessees and oil and gas development.
• development, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• development, the unofficial engrossment.
• The bill before us is the budget for the Workforce Labor and Economic Development Committee, otherwise
• We want to make sure the Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Department of Labor
• It cheats the Workforce Development Fund.
• You do economic development if you're on the Transportation Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• But even then, if there is some very key or clear economic reason that they need to contract with those
• reason, and you can an issue based on economics that would cause them to consider that non-pecuniary
• These modifications include establishing that the development and testing of new procurement policies
• and procedures must not exceed one year, removing the acquisitions for the design, development, and
• And so it's removing the acquisitions for the design, development, and implementation of employee flex

Bills: HB3057, HB3279, HB4428, HB3420

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, employment restrictions, state officers, prohibited acts, government contracts, public service, public finance, pension, pension fund, retirement system, board of trustees, proxy voting, proxy proposal, shareholder vote, shareholder activism, fiduciary duty

Transcript Highlights:

• student dedicated to youth development student dedicated to youth development through<00:28:58.640
• Economic development usually says 7 to 1; the other places even say nine times a ...
• all across the state economic all across the state economic development<03:19:20.800> usually
• President, your favorite committee, Minerals and Economic Development, will meet Friday upon noon recess
• President, your favorite committee, Minerals and Economic Development, will meet Friday upon noon recess

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the motion is due pass; and SB 700 by Senator Grayson, the motion is due pass to the Committee on Economic
• Development, Growth, and Household Impact.
• SB 700, the motion is due pass to the Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact
• Do pass to the Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This ties back to the budget from last year when we appropriated $5 million to the Department of Economic
• Development to deal with a...
• This ties back to the budget from last year when we appropriated $5 million to the Department of Economic
• Development to deal with a...
• Development to deal with a...

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:02 HJR 31 Discussion 00:00:30 HJR 31 Vote 00:00:45 HJR 53 Discussion 00:01:25 HJR 53 Vote 00:02:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered two items tied to prior budget appropriations. The first was House Joint Resolution 31, described as relating to a $5 million appropriation to the Department of Economic Development from the previous year’s budget. Senator Boswell moved approval, Senator Maiden seconded, and the resolution passed on a roll call vote with all members voting aye. The second item was House Joint Resolution 53, which would release design funds for Kentucky State University’s Health Services Center project. Members discussed the amount, with one senator estimating it at about $5.3 million, though the resolution did not specify a dollar figure. Several members expressed concern that they had not met with Kentucky State University and did not have enough detail about the project or the underlying budget, and one member said he wanted to see more sustained improvement from the university before supporting the measure. After the roll call began, multiple members changed their votes from aye to no. The chair noted that the measure failed by a vote of three ayes to five noes. No other business was taken up, though the chair said another committee meeting might be held later that day and members should watch for an announcement from the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• it requires the commissioner to develop it requires the commissioner to develop to<00:23:45.520>
• 23:47.600> the to develop metrics to measure the to develop metrics to measure the effectiveness
• consequently economic crisis. consequently economic crisis.
• we know that so much brain development we know that so much brain development is<01:07:46.080>
• are not limited by standards developed are not limited by standards developed for<01:48:06.720><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It costs developers.
• So somebody experiences racist flyering at a housing development.
• Developers depend upon this to move projects forward.
• We've developed nearly 13,000 affordable homes in California.
• goals, community development goals.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, the observance offers an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing social, economic, and civil
• Generates over $2 in economic activity.
• All are invested in local food systems, generate over $2 in economic activity.
• The economic insecurity that's created.
• Depend on salmon for both culture and economic well-being.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and developing appropriate responses. and developing appropriate responses.
• , PRC's persistent use of economic, PRC's persistent use of economic, political,<03:27:10.800>
• suffer heavy losses and economic suffer heavy losses and economic hardship<03:54:30.560> from
• economic influence across the globe. economic influence across the globe.
• ,<04:20:39.359> and America's diplomacy, development, and America's diplomacy, development

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, May 5, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that are not economically Economically punitive to Oakland residents.
• The changing policy and economic landscape relating to electric vehicles.
• But the current CMS framework is no longer economically or technically feasible.
• For us at SACOG, the challenge is not just developing... complete.
• For us at Seacog, the challenge is not just developing For us at SACOG, the challenge is not just developing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I'm a developer, it'll be done before I'm starting to drive piles.
• This is Senate Bill 384 by Senator Harris, relative to innovation and economic development, to create
• I'm Josh Flagg, chief innovation officer at Louisiana Economic Development, and I run our Louisiana Innovation
• Josh Flagg, chief innovation officer at Louisiana Economic Development, and I run our Louisiana Innovation
• Copper theft has become a major public safety and economic issue across the state.

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and the chair noting it was the committee’s last meeting of the session. The committee first considered Senate Bill 254, which would prohibit certain excess debit card surcharges and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General. After adopting technical amendments and a committee amendment requiring written notice before a private right of action, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up Senate Bill 80 on broadband administration fees and GUMBO program closeout. Members questioned the proposed increase in administrative and contractor fees, the timing of project completion, and how withheld reimbursements would work for utility damage. After adopting several amendments, including cleanup language and a provision to restore the reimbursement process, the bill was reported favorably as amended, though the Louisiana Telecommunications Association voiced concerns about the withholding language and lack of a clearer fault-determination process. The committee next considered Senate Bill 469, updating the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. Technical amendments were adopted, along with amendments clarifying that the bill’s 30-day notice to utility owner-operators is separate from existing GUMBO notice requirements and creating a rapid dispute-resolution process involving the Office of Broadband, the utility operator, and the local governing authority. Testimony from broadband and municipal stakeholders emphasized the need for quicker responses to excavation damage and better enforcement, while some witnesses raised concerns about the late amendment and the need for clearer recourse and standards. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 468, dealing with fuel rewards programs and fuel discount limits, was also amended to allow such discounts while capping them at $1 below the advertised price; it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 131, concerning attorney’s fees and costs in professional licensing disciplinary proceedings, drew testimony from a cosmetology board representative and the Pelican Institute. Supporters argued the bill would curb incentives for boards to generate revenue through enforcement and give licensees a fairer opportunity to resolve cases; board testimony noted that some boards already have fee caps and that enforcement actions are relatively limited. After adopting an amendment clarifying when a licensee is the prevailing party, the bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 251 on critical infrastructure protection also received technical amendments and several substantive changes, including adding ports and airports to the definition of critical infrastructure, clarifying “significant access,” adding a knowledge requirement, and adjusting exemptions and enforcement timing; it was reported favorably as amended after testimony from State Armor representatives about foreign adversary threats. Finally, House Resolution 253 was introduced to create a task force to study how post-2005 building code additions and inspection requirements affect residential construction costs, with the sponsor explaining the goal was to gather industry input and return recommendations next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Provide an economic engine for the locals.
• development.
• We believe that robust economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand.
• So Lynn Helms retired from the Department of Mineral Resources, but he did... ...economic development
• We believe that robust economic development and environmental protection go hand in hand.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines. Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do. Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.