Video & Transcript Research : 'business competitiveness'

Page 22 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • registration fees in their first year of business.
  • The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, HCR 118.
  • The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, HCR 127.
  • The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, HCR 141.
  • Is there any other business that comes before the committee?
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Apr 23, 2026 @ 10:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • establish kupuna-friendly building permit requirements for parking, accessibility, and private businesses
  • We are on SCR 90. accessibility, and private businesses accessibility, and private businesses operating
  • establish kupuna-friendly building permit requirements for parking and accessibility in private businesses
  • establish kupuna-friendly building permit requirements for parking and accessibility in private businesses
  • establish kupuna-friendly building permit requirements for parking and accessibility in private businesses
Summary: The committee heard several resolutions related to water, coastal management, and permitting. Early measures included SCR 8 on faster county action for certain home-modification permits for older adults and people with disabilities, SCR 40 on banning disposable body boards, SCR 83 on creating a lithium-ion battery disposal facility, SCR 179 on enforcing Maui fire-code provisions for brush clearance and emergency access, and SCR 90 on kupuna-friendly permit requirements. No testifiers were present for those measures, and the chair moved through them without taking votes in the portion provided. The most extensive discussion was on SCR 94, endorsing Waikiki as a world surfing reserve, and SCR 159, urging shared guiding principles for restoring and maintaining Waikiki’s beaches and shoreline. University of Hawaii testimony said the surfing-reserve designation would bring recognition, could help attract grants, and would require a stewardship committee and management plan, but would not itself block beach nourishment or shoreline restoration. Members asked about possible effects on dredging, beach nourishment, and shoreline structures; the witness said impacts on surfing were not expected to be immediate or significant. For SCR 159, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the resolution but requested clarifying amendments to broaden references to law, stakeholder collaboration, and coastal science expertise. The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association also supported the measure, emphasizing coordinated maintenance, public access, and the economic importance of Waikiki beaches, while noting that existing legal agreements and court decisions should be reflected in the resolution. The discussion also covered whether the state and private owners share repair and maintenance obligations for Waikiki seawalls; testimony said existing agreements remain relevant but must yield to current law. The committee also heard SCR 165 designating March as Water Month, with support from the Board of Water Supply and others, and SCR 177 requesting DAGS to convene a cooperative working group on state projects needing county permits. Mary Alice Evans said the latter would help expedite permitting, especially for housing and other state projects, and would complement efforts to standardize county permitting processes. No final votes or dispositions were announced in the excerpt provided.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Revenue and Taxation Apr 13th, 2026 at 02:00 pm

Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:
  • He has 14 years in the financial business and financial industry.
  • Startup businesses, it is a poster child of what success looks like with tax policy.
  • It incentivizes business. It incentivizes trade in the state of Oklahoma.
  • Meaning you're kind of in the business if you're going to buy a $300,000 combine.
  • Businesses are boarded up.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Revenue and Taxation Apr 13th, 2026

Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Since we did this, we have seen equipment dealers move to Oklahoma and startup businesses.
  • That prompts more business in these small towns in southeast Oklahoma.
  • They buy whatever they need while they're in town, incentivizing business.
  • Meaning you're kind of in the business if you're going to buy a $300,000 combine.
  • Businesses are boarded up.
Summary: The Revenue and Taxation Committee met and first laid over House Bill 15.9 to the next meeting. The committee then unanimously advanced an executive nomination, James Burleson to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, after brief testimony from Sen. Pugh and Burleson’s comments about his private-sector, nonprofit, and community experience and desire to serve the state. Members then considered several tax-related bills. House Bill 3986, expanding eligibility for the 24-month gross production tax exemption for wells completed using recycled water, passed 10-1 after questions about whether the change was retroactive. House Bill 3548, which would exempt small child-run businesses from certain taxes and permits up to a $1,000 gross-revenue threshold, passed 11-0 after questions focused on enforcement and adult involvement. House Bill 3661, removing the sunset on the forestry equipment sales tax exemption, passed 8-3 despite concerns about the lack of hard data supporting the incentive’s continuation. The committee also passed House Bill 4346, creating reciprocity for agricultural sales tax exemptions for neighboring states, after discussion about verification methods, fraud prevention, and whether the Oklahoma Tax Commission could track out-of-state buyers; the bill passed 8-3. House Bill 3075, the “Oklahoma Common Sense Act” dealing with a post-penny environment and giving agencies and political subdivisions more time to update point-of-sale systems, was amended to set an effective date of November 1, 2026, and then passed 11-0. Finally, House Bill 4273, clarifying that certain R1 university aerospace research employees qualify for an aerospace tax credit, passed 6-5 after debate over whether the credit could create a broader domino effect for other professors and fields. The chair announced the committee would likely meet again the following Monday for its last meeting of the year, and then adjourned.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/13/26

Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • ,</c> organizations, county business, organizations, county business, uh Sorry,<01:20:37.240><c> I</c
  • my structure in the business world didn't remain the same.
  • </c> my structure and the business world my structure and the business world didn't<01:27:55.920><c>
  • </c><01:48:22.000><c> I</c> business, oh oh yeah, that's right.
  • I business, oh oh yeah, that's right.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - House Transportation & Infrastructure

Transportation & Infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:
  • Every day my business depends on access.
  • It's going to put a lot of our businesses out of business because they're going to take part of our roads
  • You have to listen to the business owners that feel that their businesses are going to be impacted negatively
  • I'm sure she did, and was ready to do the business.
  • Providing a state ID is very serious business.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

County and Municipal Government Feb 18th, 2026

County and Municipal Government

Summary: The committee considered a series of county, municipal, housing, and public-safety bills. House Bill 3748 would allow county governments to partner with four-year institutions and was reported out after a brief explanation and no questions. House Bill 4203, with a PCS adopted, would let the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission explore guidelines for small-unit multifamily housing of eight units or fewer and four stories or fewer; it passed 5-1. House Bill 3919, also with a PCS, would let county commissioners reduce county fair boards from nine members to five to help achieve quorum; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3091, with a PCS changing the residency requirement from 80% to 70%, would require county elected officials to maintain a principal residence in the county and occupy it at least 70% of the time. Members discussed whether the bill should use “may” or “shall” and how it would apply in hardship or medical situations; the author said he was open to further language changes. The bill passed 6-0. House Bill 3314, creating a county-option retail sale public safety impact fee on marijuana, also passed 6-0. House Bill 3435, requiring a single-subject rule for municipal bonds so voters can consider bond issues separately, passed 6-0. House Bill 3913, which would allow municipalities to authorize single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories if they meet modern fire-safety standards, failed on a 2-4 vote after no questions or debate. House Bill 4132 would provide liability protection for local governments that follow recognized cybersecurity frameworks and passed 6-0. House Bill 4303, a collaborative measure extending the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 days to 30 days, also passed 6-0. The committee adjourned after completing the posted agenda.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • compensation, wage and hour, temporary disability insurance, family leave, tax classification of business
  • unemployment insurance by establishing conditions under which delivery drivers are deemed employees of the business
  • compensation, wage and hour, temporary disability insurance, family leave, tax classification of business
  • unemployment insurance by establishing conditions under which delivery drivers are deemed employees of the business
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 7th, 2026 at 06:52 pm

Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Don't know how business is done in New Mexico.
  • It didn't shut down business. It spurred innovation.
  • I am a third-generation small business owner of a drilling and well-servicing business in the San Juan
  • Businesses cannot be competitive and absorb the costs.
  • That means every business spends less money on health care, means that every business has fewer sick
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 4th, 2026 at 06:25 pm

Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I mean, imagine a business in your district. This business likely relies on digital advertising.
  • I'm a small business.
  • Because businesses may go out of business.
  • Cody doesn't know how many contacts are in my business, my personal business that I have, or Senator
  • Scott's business.
Bills: SB20, SB53, SB86, SB96, SB129
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Feb 4th, 2026

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a small business owner in Massachusetts. My name is Frank Zona.
  • I'm a small business owner in Massachusetts. I operate Zona Salons and Zona Brothers Barbers.
  • You just needed to do business. So I am approaching this both as a licensee myself.
  • , Cooling, and Electric, which has been in business for 33 years.
  • We service homeowners and businesses across the Commonwealth.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/28/2026 - Senate Government

Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • So if a print newspaper has this archive and they go out of business, then the archive is gone.
  • Now, how many cities and towns have gone out of business to your knowledge in Arizona in the last 20
  • The government pays vendors all the time for business supplies, for lots of things.
  • done with Looking for, you know, the opportunity to get their business done with modesty and decency
  • With no further business before the Senate Committee on Government, we are adjourned. my vote you may
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Health Care & Wellness Jan 14th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Health Care & Wellness

Transcript Highlights:
  • I've had my own veterinary businesses, and I've also commissioned in the U.S.
  • I've had my own veterinary businesses, and I've also commissioned in the U.S.
  • I've had my own veterinary businesses, and I've also commissioned in the U.S.
  • So we don't need to worry about negative impacts to any Washington State business or resident.
  • And that also translates over to businesses such as myself, where we're able to employ more people to
Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several health-related bills. HB 1904 would prohibit cat declawing except for therapeutic purposes, with staff describing fines, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; the prime sponsor and animal welfare and veterinary witnesses argued declawing is cruel and causes pain and behavior problems, while the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association supported the ban but asked to remove the added reporting and disciplinary provisions. HB 2211 would direct implementation standards for medically tailored meals under Medicaid-related nutrition supports; the sponsor said it clarifies an existing program and prioritizes Washington-based nonprofits, and supporters from Meals on Wheels, food coalitions, distributors, farms, and nonprofits said local sourcing improves health outcomes, keeps dollars in-state, and builds capacity, while questions were raised about whether the local provider requirement could limit current vendors. HB 2329 would allow licensed midwives to delegate certain tasks to medical assistants and supervise medical assistants, with the sponsor and birth center/midwife witnesses saying it would fix an omission and reduce staffing barriers, especially in rural areas; they also indicated the lactation consultant provision would likely be removed. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 2247, which would expand and clarify veterinary telehealth and the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Supporters, including animal shelter leaders, nonprofit outreach providers, veterinarians, and an attorney, said telehealth would improve access in rural and underserved areas, help triage cases, reduce shelter intake, and allow care when transportation, cost, or mobility barriers prevent in-person visits; opponents or cautionary testimony from the veterinary association said they were working on amendments to preserve guardrails and clarify when access-to-care exceptions are documented. HB 2339 would modernize nursing licensure language for ARNPs, clarify titles for the four ARNP roles, adjust rules for CRNAs’ controlled substance administration, remove transcript submission requirements, and let the Board of Nursing issue interim permits directly; nursing witnesses and the Board supported the bill as technical cleanup, while hospitals and physicians raised concerns about title language and the deletion of a reference to the medical profession. Finally, HB 2106 would restrict health carriers from making significant mid-contract changes to provider agreements without notice and acceptance, requiring 90 days’ notice and voiding noncompliant changes; the sponsor and provider groups said carriers are unilaterally changing payment and service terms mid-contract, while UW Medicine described repeated insurer policy changes that can reduce reimbursement and disrupt patient care.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs May 5th, 2025

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • This would rename the portion of Business US Highway 83 South in Hidalgo County. between its western
  • As a matter of pending business, Mr.
  • Members, Senate Bill 1931 relates to the designation of a portion of Business U.S.
  • Members, that concludes today's agenda, and we do have one more item of business to discuss.
  • Or any other further business? If not, once again, happy Mother's Day to all mothers out there.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) Apr 28th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • essential for business development in the community.
  • So I'm very busy.
  • My business is pretty much over.
  • I essentially walked away from our business.
  • And there's no other business for the committee.
Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several bills, mostly on alcohol regulation, ethics procedures, the Alamo, and free speech in professional associations. SB 2633 would let the City of Garland hold local option elections on alcohol sales within designated zones and use zoning/land-use rules for alcohol-selling businesses; Senator Johnson and Garland officials said it would reduce the burden of the petition process and support economic development. SB 2637 would require social media platforms to disclose when posts are made by bot accounts and allow Attorney General enforcement; supporters framed it as consumer protection against misleading automated content, while members raised questions about how platforms would identify bots and how enforcement would work. SB 2334 would allow airlines with passenger transportation permits to store sealed alcoholic beverages within five miles of an airport in the same county, which the sponsor and an American Airlines witness said would improve logistics without changing permits, taxes, or alcohol sourcing. The committee also heard SB 2781 and SB 2782, both related to Texas Ethics Commission procedures. SB 2781 would cap civil penalties tied to certain campaign contribution violations by former legislators who later lobby, and SB 2782 would require TEC to adopt discovery control plans and align discovery rules more closely with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to limit costly, open-ended discovery. Both bills were left pending after no public testimony. SB 3059 would transfer oversight of the Alamo from the General Land Office to a new Alamo Commission beginning in 2027; Senator Campbell said it would provide long-term stewardship and transparency, while Senator Birdwell questioned the need for a change and the commission’s structure, and GLO witnesses said they were not aware of any problem prompting the shift. HB 1130, a House companion to a previously passed Senate bill, would provide liability protections for cavern entities that post warning signs, and it was also left pending. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 2713, which would bar professional or trade associations from denying membership or access based on protected characteristics or lawful speech and assembly. Senator Middleton and invited witnesses described disciplinary actions by realtor associations against members for social media posts, sermons, or political speech, arguing that the National Association of Realtors’ ethics rules were being used to punish private expression and threaten livelihoods through loss of MLS access. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the bill should be narrowed to avoid affecting religious organizations, how association discipline works, and whether the measure should address existing penalties or only future conduct. The bill was left pending after extensive invited testimony and committee discussion.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part II) Apr 28th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, Senate Bill 2713.
  • If there's no objection, we'll take up some pending business.
  • As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out Senate Bill 2487, regarding facilities providing
  • No facility created under the model may be placed inside a municipality's central business district.
  • The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, Senate Bill 2819, regarding political activities
Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 23rd, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • It seems, I mean, and I'm a business owner, so.
  • The chair lays out HB 175 as pending business.
  • The chair lays out HB 576 as pending business.
  • The chair lays out HB 2294 as pending business.
  • It's an exciting program for small businesses.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 23rd, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • But at the same time, about 90% of restaurants are small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
  • For 30 years, I've been involved in the ticket business.
  • Collectively, this encourages robust competition among ticket sellers.
  • It is a bad bill for consumers, a bad bill for the arts, and a bad bill for small businesses.
  • Today, Ticketmaster and Live Nation can shut out competition with closed practices.