Transcript Highlights:

• </c> store or convenience store or uh a small store or convenience store or uh a small pub<00:08:13.199
• </c> burdens on small developers. burdens on small developers.
• </c><00:20:03.200><c> condominium</c> construction of small condominium construction of small condominium
• </c> market in small or medium condominiums. market in small or medium condominiums.
• It's really small and and I think line.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• They want to make sure small farmers.
• </c><00:29:34.320><c> custom</c> prime act would allow small custom prime act would allow small custom
• </c> access to locally raised meat on small access to locally raised meat on small farms.<00:50:12.079
• And we need something done for the small farmer.
• </c> And we need something done for the small And we need something done for the small farmer. farmer

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee held a work session and then executive session on HB 396, which would allow processing of beef cows, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by USDA. Representative Comtois presented a revised amendment after prior drafting issues were corrected. The changes narrowed the bill to cuts of meat rather than meat food products, clarified labeling for amenable and non-amenable species, removed an exemption from federal law, struck a seasonal date range at Representative Bixby’s request, and reinstated a previously removed section. Supporters said the amendment now had clearer language and better safeguards, while some members still expressed reservations about the underlying policy. Testimony from DHHS food safety officials emphasized that the department does not inspect custom-exempt facilities and would have little oversight unless there were a complaint or foodborne outbreak. They noted concerns about removing the September 1 to April 30 date range, explaining it had been included in the original bill because of temperature and storage concerns for large animals, and they also said the amendment appeared to focus documentation requirements on bison, elk, and red deer. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the proposal would create food safety risks, whether farmers should instead be educated and helped to aggregate processing capacity, and whether the bill would expose farmers, retailers, and restaurants to federal enforcement risk. Rob Johnson of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau said the organization had recently voted down a policy opposing state regulations that would allow uninspected meat sales at retail, and he said he needed to consult further with Farm Bureau leadership before taking a position on HB 396. He suggested the bill should use the broader term “dairy and beef cattle” rather than “beef cows” for consistency. Supporters argued the bill would help small farmers, expand local food access, and reflect an intrastate policy choice despite conflict with federal law. The committee then moved into executive session and voted to approve amendment 2025-3090H, with members stating they would likely have different views on the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a small animal veterinarian.
• I mean, I got a small number of questions.
• It was just terrible timing, and our small businesses paid the price.
• They are small packages. If this legislation advanced, I've shopped for them recently.
• They are small packages.

Bills: S3082 , S3090 , H5425 , H5130 , H5114

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on late-filed bills, with testimony heard both in person and remotely. The committee reviewed several measures, including H. 355 and S. 3082 on veterinary telemedicine/telehealth, H. 5445 on additional liquor licenses for East Hampton, and S. 3090/H. 5114 on consumer-connected devices and software support disclosure. The chair outlined hearing logistics, including three-minute testimony limits and written testimony submission, and noted that Lawrence High School students were present to observe. On the veterinary bills, supporters of H. 355 argued that allowing veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship remotely would improve access to care for pets whose owners face transportation, mobility, or anxiety-related barriers, and could help veterinarians continue practicing through telemedicine. Opponents of S. 3082, including the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and several veterinarians, said the initial in-person exam is essential to detect conditions that cannot be seen on video, avoid misdiagnosis, and preserve the standard of care; they emphasized that teletriage and follow-up telemedicine are already used after an in-person relationship is established. Committee members pressed both sides on the distinction between teletriage and establishing the relationship, the timing of annual exams, and whether limited exceptions for sedatives or other pre-visit needs might be workable. Senator Lovely testified in support, citing a recent Lyme case where follow-up telemedicine would have been useful. On H. 5445, Representative Gomez and East Hampton Mayor Salem Derby urged approval of the bill to authorize eight additional liquor licenses, saying the city has reached its current cap, needs economic development, and wants to support downtown revitalization and new restaurant growth. Members asked about public safety and the number of licenses sought; the mayor said local public safety officials support the request and that the licenses would be for restaurants, not bars. On S. 3090 and H. 5114, consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts supported requiring manufacturers of connected devices to disclose software support timelines, arguing it would improve consumer transparency, cybersecurity, and reduce e-waste. Industry groups opposed the bills, saying fixed disclosure requirements could be impractical, create confusion, burden small businesses, conflict with federal efforts, and be difficult to apply to appliances, lighting, and other products with long lifecycles. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the bills during the hearing; at the end, staff announced a forthcoming poll for House members, and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think it's a small potential.
• He said small towns in the county are fairly small, and if counties can exercise efficiency by saying
• He said small public works projects are ideal opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses to
• You mentioned small business pavers.
• that many small business pavers that could handle these small projects that don't reach, you know, a

Summary: The House Local Government Committee held public hearings on four bills. HB 2174 would allow counties, cities, towns, or the Department of Transportation to designate accident risk zones on roads with repeated crashes, hold a public hearing, conduct engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, and use half of traffic fine revenue for safety improvements. The sponsor and local officials from Pasco and Colotis described serious crashes and fatalities on U.S. 12 and U.S. 395 and said the bill could provide a temporary safety tool while long-term fixes are pursued. Testifiers generally supported the concept but raised concerns about liability, implementation, youth penalties, and possible targeted enforcement, especially for motorcyclists; several suggested amendments and the committee discussed possible alignment with safe system practices. HB 2267 would direct the Department of Commerce to create a model urban forest management ordinance, update it every 10 years, provide guidance on tree retention and mitigation, and create a grant program for local governments that adopt or substantially adopt the model. Supporters from Washington Conservation Action, The Nature Conservancy, FutureWise, and the Puget Sound Partnership said trees are important for stormwater, heat reduction, air quality, public health, and climate resilience, and argued the bill could help balance housing growth with canopy protection. Opposition from the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Master Builders Association focused on the grant condition tied to adoption of the model ordinance, concerns that the bill would effectively mandate local policy, and worries that prioritizing tree retention could constrain housing production and increase legal risk. HB 2183 would require counties planning under the Growth Management Act to adopt extreme heat response plans by July 1, 2027, covering immediate response, long-term mitigation, protection of high-risk populations, tribal coordination, and public education. The sponsor and physicians from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility cited the 2021 heat dome as a deadly disaster that overwhelmed emergency services and killed many people in their homes, arguing counties need coordinated planning for future heat events. Local public health officials supported the goal but asked for amendments to reduce duplication with existing emergency and mitigation plans and to clarify leadership roles; L&I requested that the bill reference existing worker-protection rules for outdoor workers. HB 1529 would let counties perform city roadway striping and paving work without counting it against city public works limits or bidding thresholds, if the county can do the work more cheaply or no bids are received. Supporters from Pasco and the Association of Counties said it would help cities use existing county equipment and crews more efficiently, while contractors and labor groups opposed it, warning about reduced competition, quality and oversight concerns, and the loss of prevailing-wage and small-business opportunities. No votes were taken on any of the bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we had a small reduction in our federal funding.
• And so we have a small reduction there.
• We helped 1,900 Florida small and emerging businesses... We had a record-breaking year.
• rural county and just more small businesses in general that maybe weren't getting that opportunity.
• There is a small portion of cash that is there. This is more about authority.

Bills: S0048

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard the Governor’s proposed FY 2026-27 budget for the TED silo and presentations from Commerce, Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Military Affairs, the State Guard, State, Transportation, and Emergency Management. The Governor’s office outlined a $117.4 billion overall budget, including $18.3 billion for TED agencies, with major allocations for FDOT, Commerce, emergency management, tourism, military affairs, and state operations. Agency heads emphasized priorities such as housing and disaster recovery, workforce and rural infrastructure, law enforcement recruitment, defense support, tourism marketing, aerospace and spaceport investment, election audits, historic preservation, road and bridge maintenance, aviation safety, and emergency preparedness systems. Members asked several questions about the use and effectiveness of funding. Visit Florida officials said the public-private match is essential and that they exceeded the required match last year. Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles discussed trooper pay, vehicle replacement, aviation support, and transparency tools such as vehicle camera systems, with senators praising the department’s recruitment efforts. Military Affairs and the State Guard described readiness, recruiting, facility construction, and support for domestic missions, including hurricane response and perimeter security at the Everglades detention site; questions focused on deployment tempo, staffing, and costs. The Department of State explained funding for automated election audits, a conservation lab, and historic preservation, and said its arts grant changes were intended to standardize scoring rather than cut programs. Transportation highlighted a $15.4 billion total budget, major work program funding, safety initiatives, seaport and aviation investments, and the elimination of Florida Rail Enterprise funding due to reduced documentary stamp revenues. The committee also heard and passed CS/SB 48 by Senator Gates, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units on a voluntary basis, while preserving local authority over setbacks, construction, and permitting. An amendment removed reusable tenant screening reports and clarified that conforming ADUs are allowed by right without separate hearings. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and several industry and business groups supported the bill, citing the need for long-term rental housing for workers. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably by roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the small businesses that built it. the small businesses that built it.
• </c><00:13:35.519><c> locallyowned</c> opportunity for small locallyowned opportunity for small locallyowned
• </c><00:13:53.519><c> businesses</c> are not pitted against small businesses are not pitted against small
• Paying $10,000 for a wholesale license is an unreasonable amount for a small business.
• </c> Please don't forget about small businesses and the huge demographic of Minnesotans who just want

Transcript Highlights:

• of the AGG area, um, that we used to have a very resilient agriculture system where we had a lot of small
• farms, we had a lot of small towns, we had diversified farms.
• Everything under one roof, and we have facilities producing more manure than small towns.
• </c> concern that if this is truly for small concern that if this is truly for small and and and middle-sized
• </c> the the folks in the medium to small the the folks in the medium to small level<00:17:36.960><c>

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So this amendment corrects those small omissions.
• ><c> poultry</c><01:07:35.800><c> flock</c> Regarding a small backyard poultry flock Regarding a small
• </c> [clears throat] birds is a small [clears throat] birds is a small backyard<01:13:46.200><c> poultry
• > backyard</c><01:13:57.080><c> poultry</c> district allow small backyard poultry district allow small
• It strips away all the small changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're a signal that our current system isn't working for small businesses.
• I instead started small.
• They're a signal that our current system isn't working for small businesses.
• I instead started small.
• But I often think about how easy Sacramento small business community.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1887, which would speed prior authorization for FDA-approved rare disease treatments prescribed by specialists and, if a plan does not act within 30 days, deem the request approved. The author and supporters, including patients and clinicians, said delays can cause irreversible harm, hospitalizations, and death, especially for children and people with progressive rare diseases. Health plans and insurers opposed the bill’s automatic-approval provision and said the measure lacked safeguards for incomplete requests and shared responsibility for timely information. The chair encouraged continued work with opponents, and the author said the bill was narrowed from an earlier version that would have waived prior authorization entirely. The committee also heard AB 1979 on artificial intelligence in health care, AB 2161 on Medi-Cal work requirements, AB 539 on extending approved prior authorizations, AB 2311 on physician employment at public hospital districts, AB 1148 on banning phthalates and bisphenols in food packaging, AB 1825 on mental health offender reentry coordination, and AB 2282 on a temporary emergency stabilization unit in Patterson. AB 1979 would preserve licensed clinicians’ professional judgment, bar AI from directing unlicensed clinical functions, and protect medical records used by consumer chatbots; after amendments, several hospital, medical, and industry groups moved from opposition to neutral. AB 2161 would limit the harm of federal Medi-Cal work-reporting rules by using existing data, improving notices, and protecting due process; it drew broad support from patient, provider, and advocacy groups. AB 539 would keep prior authorization approvals valid for up to one year or the course of treatment, with supporters citing continuity of care and opponents warning about utilization, fraud, and cost concerns. AB 2311, as amended, would let certain high-payer-mix or distressed public health care districts directly employ physicians; CMA withdrew opposition after the bill was narrowed, while some hospital interests still objected to the carve-out. AB 1148 would prohibit two chemicals commonly used in food packaging, with supporters citing cancer and endocrine-disruption risks and opponents arguing DTSC should handle the issue through its existing regulatory process. AB 1825 would improve transition planning and Medi-Cal enrollment for offenders with mental health disorders leaving state hospitals, and AB 2282 would authorize a temporary rural emergency stabilization care unit in Patterson until a permanent hospital is built. Several bills were held for later action because the committee lacked a quorum, and the chair repeatedly noted that motions would be taken once enough members returned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And also there is the account two small water projects within this section.
• </c> funding that goes into that small water. funding that goes into that small water.
• account two small water projects within this<00:10:46.399><c> section.
• So, we're going to take small timber sales, get them out quickly.
• </c><00:50:55.599><c> timber</c> So, we're going to take small timber So, we're going to take small timber

Bills: HB0078 , HB0087 , SF0070 , SF0068 , SF0017 , SF0043

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• This means that we have to rely on a small tax base to fund our school.
• Our rural PK through 6th school, Rochester Memorial, is the heart of our small community.
• The warden of Chair Lewis, we both represent small communities with small governments and declining enrollment
• Small towns are struggling to make up the difference, and it makes me feel so sad.
• This is a significant amount of money in our small school, 9% of our elementary budget.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The hearing focused primarily on H. 517/S. 314, a bill to provide a sustainable future for rural schools, and H. 697, a bill to require full funding of regional school transportation. Witnesses from rural districts, school committees, superintendents, students, and local officials described chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, high fixed costs, special education and transportation burdens, and the loss of programs, staff, and extracurriculars. Several speakers argued that rural aid should be funded at $60 million annually and made non-discretionary, while others emphasized that transportation reimbursement for regional districts has repeatedly fallen short of the state’s promise and is driving budget crises and overrides. A number of students testified in support of rural aid, describing cuts to classes, counselors, and activities, and the impact on their schools and communities. Committee members also discussed whether transportation policy should be revisited to address underlying cost drivers, including bus bidding practices and whether regional districts should have more flexibility in transportation requirements. The committee also heard H. 515, concerning Hancock Elementary School and a school choice-related exemption from a state requirement that has created a large financial burden for the district. Hancock’s superintendent and Rep. John Barrett explained that a decades-old regulation, recently enforced by DESE, would require Hancock to pay tuition for choice-in students through high school graduation even though the district only serves pre-K through grade 6 and sends its own students elsewhere for middle and high school. They said the rule creates a significant per-student shortfall and has forced Hancock to opt out of school choice. Committee members asked for clarification about how the arrangement works and how the costs fall on Hancock. Additional testimony supported related transportation bills for non-regional districts, especially Plymouth/Carver and North Middlesex, describing high and rising bus costs, special education and McKinney-Vento transportation expenses, and the strain on local budgets. Speakers repeatedly said that state reimbursement has not matched actual costs and that communities are being forced to choose between transportation and classroom services. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing; the committee simply received testimony and closed the hearing on the bills discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I talked to a small business owner not long ago who sells, an independent small business owner who owns
• You are shifting money away from small businesses who are getting killed by these big businesses.
• Again, these cases are very small.
• Small provisions, but they're going to have a big impact.
• I'm going to go back home to some of our small towns.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill actually deletes a small piece of the overall bill because it's already in the judiciary bill
• It dealt with public data and an exemption for public officials in smaller cities and small counties.
• This bill uh actually deletes<00:03:20.720><c> a</c><00:03:20.959><c> small</c><00:03:21.200><c> piece
• of the overall deletes a small piece of the overall bill<00:03:22.640><c> because</c><00:03:22.959><
• </c> officials in in smaller cities and small officials in in smaller cities and small counties.<00:03

Transcript Highlights:

• And I married a Lexington High School graduate whose family has a small cottage in the National Seashore
• Alternative student transportation is when transportation is provided by a school district in a small
• Alternative student transportation is when transportation is provided by a school district in a small
• Rather than relying on costly oversized transportation for, in some cases, one student or a small group
• The anti-drag can detect obstructions such as a small backpack, strap, or a dog leash.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing with opening remarks from Senate Chair John Cronin and House Chair Dan Cahill, followed by member introductions and instructions on testimony time limits. The committee heard testimony on several bills, including S. 2743 addressing staged suicides, S. 2861 creating a special commission on school bus safety, and S. 3021 updating Massachusetts student transportation rules. On S. 2743, advocates and family members described cases in which domestic violence deaths were allegedly misclassified as accidents or suicides, arguing the bill would improve training and require more careful investigation when there is a known history of abuse. Testimony emphasized the need for law enforcement, district attorneys, and medical examiners to recognize signs of coercive control and staged scenes. Committee members asked about current investigative practices and noted that sudden deaths are already reviewed by medical examiners and prosecutors, but that better training and awareness may still be needed. On S. 2861, Amanda Taylor testified emotionally about her daughter Summer Steel, who died after being trapped in a school bus door, and urged adoption of anti-pinch sensor technology on future buses. Representative Sabadosa and a company representative said the technology already exists, is used in other transportation sectors, and could prevent similar tragedies; they noted estimated retrofit and prospective costs and pointed to Maine’s similar action. On S. 3021, Ever Driven and Chamber of Progress supported modernizing vehicle requirements for alternative student transportation, arguing that current rules are designed for full-size buses and make it harder for districts to serve homeless students, foster youth, and students with disabilities. The hearing ended after testimony concluded, and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of our small producers, as we all heard, utilize the federal program.
• Local small producers aren't able to access the funds.
• Agriculture has a lot of relatively small direct appropriations. Appropriations.
• You know, we have small grants, $36,000 for the livestock breeders.
• And that's all it is, so just a very small amendment.

Bills: HF2784 , HF2785 , HF2778 , HF2281 , HF2576 , HF2280 , HF2579

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s a big industry, but relatively small when it comes to the number of people in it, and it has to
• They're not offering the same service that has been required in law that these other small businesses
• Small local systems are left dealing with the cost and a disruption.
• “And as y’all know what happens, small towns, small communities, when something like that happens, who
• Or small towns that may have $500, maybe even be a village at this point in time.

Bills: SCR53 , HB259 , HB267 , HB478 , HB548 , HB555 , HB617 , HB670 , HB672 , HB797 , HB848 , HB917 , HB921 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1166 , HB1195 , HB1230

Committee: Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: payable-on-death accounts, transfer-on-death accounts, estate planning, beneficiary designations, Louisiana law, task force, inheritance, nonprobate transfers, excavation, demolition, infrastructure repair, BEAD Program, utility damage, construction coordination, contact point, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board

Transcript Highlights:

• They're just small changes. We could get this bill passed. We could get it into law.
• The governor is also proposing $10 million in partially forgivable loans to small businesses impacted
• And yet the governor is selecting a very small group of people that he wants to help out in downtown
• small folks, whether it's communities like this.
• small folks, whether it's communities like this.

Summary: Senate Republicans discussed the governor’s supplemental budget and criticized proposed cuts to nursing homes, disability services, and counties, arguing the changes would hurt vulnerable Minnesotans and that the tax package would amount to roughly an $868 million increase. They said they were open to some family-focused tax provisions, such as an expanded child care or dependent credit, but opposed broader tax increases and several previously rejected ideas, including sales tax changes and a social media tax. A major topic was fraud prevention and the Office of Legislative Auditor report on kickbacks. Republicans said the report reinforced their push for a statewide independent Office of Inspector General with a law enforcement division and a broader fraud definition, and they argued the office would have handled the cases more effectively. They also said they support the concept of an OIG bill but want only modest amendments, while criticizing House Democrats for resisting the law enforcement division and for raising constitutional objections they called a drafting issue. The lawmakers also reacted skeptically to the governor’s proposed AI-related job development fund and $10 million in forgivable loans for businesses affected by Operation Metro Search, saying the aid would mainly benefit downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul rather than the broader state. They closed with broader comments that the session felt relatively normal and less intense than past years, noted ongoing work on a bonding bill, and joked about campaign politics, possible candidates, and even the idea of a Senate dog.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of small business, if there was a will, there was a way.
• had had to come in with $4 million and $5 million to start a small business.
• So in terms of small business, if there's a will, there's a way.
• $4 and $5 million to start a small business.
• So I'd say there's going to be opportunities for small businesses.

Committee: House Higher Education and Workforce Development

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2896, sponsored by Rep. Brown, which would change how boards of governors for state universities are selected. Brown said the bill, developed with input from the governor’s office, would simplify appointment rules by removing service-area and congressional-district requirements and instead limiting board membership so no more than half of the voting members come from the county where the institution is located, with a St. Louis exception. Members asked about Missouri residency requirements, the effect on Missouri State University and Southeast Missouri State University, and whether university presidents would recommend candidates to the governor. Brown said he would follow up on questions and was open to discussing possible adjustments, especially regarding geographic representation. One witness spoke in favor, arguing that boards should reflect a cross-section of the state. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on HB 2896 was closed. The committee then took up House Bill 1659, the Missouri Defense and Energy Independence Act, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeyer. The bill would create a grant program to help Missouri manufacturers convert facilities to produce strategic materials tied to national defense and energy resilience. Steinmeyer described it as a private-capital-first program requiring at least $500,000 in private investment, with grants capped at $1 million per project per year, subject to appropriation, annual reporting, and repayment provisions if projects fail. He said the bill is intended to attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains while keeping taxpayer risk limited. Members raised concerns about environmental and public safety risks, the bill’s placement in the higher education committee, whether it should instead be funded federally, and whether the program would mainly benefit large companies rather than small businesses. Questions also focused on the bill’s workforce-development component, the lack of detail on training and public-health protections, and the budget impact of creating a dedicated fund that would retain money and interest rather than sweep it to general revenue. Steinmeyer said the bill is meant to support existing Missouri companies or companies establishing headquarters in Missouri, and that universities had been involved in discussions about workforce needs. A representative from the API Innovation Center testified in favor, saying the bill could help develop key starting materials for pharmaceuticals and support reshoring. One witness testified in opposition, arguing the state should not subsidize private industry and warning about fiscal strain and environmental oversight. No vote was taken, and the hearing concluded without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• small business credit um from the American Rescue Plan.
• So, we decided to utilize the State Small Business Credit Initiative through the U.S.
• The state's Small Business Credit Initiative through the U.S. Treasury.
• Um, and this is a small project. Uh, we would be able to knock it out in the following summer.
• Um, but again, this is a small project and I But again, this is a small project, and I think for some

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• It's small town. So, like, Dunkin is pretty good and stuff, and they keep working and stuff.
• And it was small when COVID started. I don't know if you want to talk about Best Step.
• It’s pretty small.
• So according to my employment services director, small businesses are actually much more open.
• But if it’s a small business owner, they can make that decision.

Summary: The meeting was a 14(c) Task Force hearing focused on employment experiences of Oklahomans with disabilities and the state’s use of subminimum wage. Numerous self-advocates and workers testified about their jobs, accommodations, pay, transportation barriers, and the importance of community integration. Several speakers described positive experiences in competitive or community jobs, while others recounted being underused, fired without explanation, or paid by piece rate or minimum wage in sheltered or enclave settings. Many emphasized that fair pay, independence, ABLE accounts, and supportive employers matter to them, and several said they want future careers, promotions, or even to own businesses and help others with disabilities find work. Task force members discussed recurring themes from the testimony: transportation as a major barrier, the importance of community and self-advocacy, employer misconceptions and stigma, the need for better transition services from school to work, and the difficulty families face navigating benefits and employment systems. Members also raised concerns about people being fired without explanation and about the need for meaningful options for those not ready for competitive employment. Suggestions included more employer education, reverse job fairs, job coaching, benefits planning, better coordination between DDS and DRS, and stronger transition supports in schools and through programs like Project SEARCH. Staff then presented research on how other states have phased out or eliminated 14(c) certificates. Examples included Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, with common approaches such as phase-out timelines, technical assistance, provider transition plans, and support for competitive integrated employment. The presenters noted that Oklahoma still has 40 entities using 14(c), most of them DDS providers, but many providers are already moving away from it. Members discussed potential unintended consequences, the need for a clear timeline, the possibility of blending or braiding services, and whether Oklahoma should create a more one-stop, employer-friendly system. No votes were taken, and the group agreed to continue gathering information and return in June to begin shaping priorities and possible policy directions.