Transcript Highlights:

• This week on Senate Spotlight, protecting workers or supporting small businesses.
• So, Senator, you believe in small government. You know, what does that term mean to you?
• Uh, small government means just what it says.
• And so it's a small portion.
• And so it's a small portion.

Transcript Highlights:

• easier for some small grain purchasers within<00:23:48.760><c> our</c><00:23:49.000><c> state</c><00
• It makes one small technical change in writing.
• In committee, we had somebody, a constituent from my district, who came up, a very small grain buyer,
• </c> balance but helping those small balance but helping those small elevators<00:29:39.640><c> and</
• I think particularly those small elevators, small farmers, this will be a bonus.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if it was for all farmers that are small, midsize, that would be... >> Aloha.
• But if it was for all farmers that are small, midsize, that would be... Party of Hawaii.
• </c> small farmers. small farmers.
• as a small farmer or small<01:25:37.600><c> rancher</c><01:25:38.000><c> as</c><01:25:38.159><c> well
• </c> small rancher as well. small rancher as well.

Bills: SB874 , SB2097 , SB2098 , SB2126 , SB2154 , SB2153 , SB2160 , SB2123 , SB2110

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committee heard several agriculture-related bills. SB 874 on veterinary medicine would require veterinarians, upon a client’s request, to provide a written prescription for an animal patient in an existing veterinary client-patient relationship, allow Hawaii-licensed pharmacies to dispense those prescriptions, and authorize the Veterinary Medicine Board to set penalties. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with supporters citing lower costs and consumer choice; the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association said veterinarians already should be doing this and supported the bill if amended. One testifier in opposition argued the bill needed a conspicuous notice requirement so pet owners know they can request prescriptions. Committee members and the Department of Agriculture said they were not aware of widespread problems, and discussion focused on whether the measure was already consistent with current practice and whether amendments would address remaining concerns. The committee also heard SB 2097, which would create a climate-resilient food systems grant program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and appropriate funds. The department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and others supported the bill, saying it could help farmers and ranchers invest in resilience, infrastructure, and technology. Several testifiers asked for clearer definitions, especially for terms like “food hubs” and “resilience hubs,” and suggested adding technical assistance and clearer eligibility criteria. The department explained the program was intended for shovel-ready projects in the middle of the supply chain, with a focus on farmers in a certain revenue range, and said it was modeled on a USDA program. SB 2098 would establish a clean plant program to produce and distribute disease-free plant material to growers, nurseries, and other producers. Testimony was supportive, emphasizing biosecurity, nursery industry needs, and preventing invasive species and crop disease. The department described the program as using tested clean stock, tissue culture facilities, and data collection to support future planting decisions, and estimated a two-year ramp-up. Members questioned whether the program duplicated existing work at CTR/other partners and whether data collection should be centralized, but the department said the effort would build on existing varieties and partnerships rather than overlap them. Finally, SB 2126 would create a conventional farming grant program for small and midsize conventional farmers. Supporters from the department, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council said conventional agriculture deserves support and that the bill would help increase food production. Opposition and comments focused on the bill’s exclusion of organic farmers; one farmer said the measure was unfair unless amended to include organic producers, while a Farmers Union witness said the bill was too vague about the grant’s purpose and should be clearer about its goals. In response to questions, the department said the exclusion of organic farming was not intentional and that the bill was meant to support all agriculture, though no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in a small way, perhaps, we have secured a better future for all the children of the world.
• And in a small way, perhaps, we have secured a better future for all the children of the world.
• It's a small program. It probably has 250, 300 businesses in it.
• I would offer you one small caveat, because I've seen this in other Games, not in Los Angeles.
• A couple small things that you should know about history. The LAOC had a no-donations policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in a small way, perhaps, we have secured a better future for all the children of the world.
• The Business Connect program is a small program that the NFL did, that LABC is still carrying on.
• It's a small program. It probably has 250, 300 businesses in it.
• I would offer you one small caveat, because I've seen this in other games, not in Los Angeles.
• A couple small things that you should know about history. The LAOC had a no-donations policy.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games held its first hearing at the LA84 Foundation to examine the legacy of the 1984 Los Angeles Games and lessons for 2028. Chair Tina McKinnor and Senator Ben Allen opened by emphasizing the region’s opportunity to build on the 1984 Games’ success, while LA84 Foundation leaders described the foundation’s role in preserving that legacy through youth sports, play equity, and community investment. A youth panelist from Heart of Los Angeles testified that LA84-supported programs helped him stay engaged in sports, build confidence and communication skills, and hope for more community participation and opportunity from the 2028 Games. Former LA Olympic organizing committee officials Richard Perlman and Bob Graziano gave a detailed history of how the 1984 Games were privately financed, used existing venues, relied heavily on volunteers, and generated a large surplus. They said the organizing committee maximized revenue through television rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales, while keeping costs low through disciplined budgeting and community-based procurement. Members asked about equitable economic benefits, volunteer recruitment, ticket access, security, traffic, and funding. Witnesses said the 1984 model involved extensive community outreach, low-cost tickets, and local purchasing, and they urged a structured, deliberate approach to small-business participation and transparency in 2028 planning. Later witnesses focused on the long-term legacy of the 1984 Games. Zev Yaroslavsky argued that the Games succeeded because voters rejected taxpayer underwriting, forcing a private model that protected the city from financial risk, and he said the Games left major cultural and civic legacies, including the LA Opera and broader arts growth. LA84 and Play Equity Fund leaders said the surplus was intentionally used to create lasting impact, including support for millions of youth, research, and policy work. Renato Paiva described how LA84 support helped expand Access Youth Academy and elevate squash as an Olympic sport, and Derek Fisher spoke about the importance of free youth sports and the need to preserve access and opportunity as Los Angeles prepares for 2028.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:38.480><c> to</c> that our smaller farmers or small to that our smaller farmers or small to
• </c> policies and requests to move our small policies and requests to move our small businesses<00:26
• a lot of cost because Hawaii is a small a lot of business<00:30:36.640><c> small</c><00:30:36.960><c
• We have 98% business small businesses.
• </c> of our businesses are small businesses. of our businesses are small businesses.

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions focused on economic development, tourism, technology, and related policy issues. Testimony generally came from state agencies and industry groups, with DBED, HTDC, and others mostly supporting measures that would create working groups, promote advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, encourage a Michelin Guide for Hawaii restaurants, support Taiwan’s international participation, and explore import substitution. One measure on a tourism and gaming working group drew strong opposition from the prosecutor’s office, which argued it would signal support for gambling and could worsen social harms, while other witnesses supported it as a way to gather data before any policy decisions. The committee also heard support for relocating the Pearl City Post Office to improve traffic and safety, and for a resolution to focus HTDC on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. Several items were amended before action. The committee agreed to amend the tourism and gaming working group resolution to narrow and clarify its purpose, and to amend the Taiwan resolution to add the president of the Republic of China as a recipient. The import-substitution resolution was also amended to add a definition, include language about avoiding new import dependencies such as LNG, and direct state and utility purchasing power toward substituting imports. A resolution on HCR 211/HR 203 was rewritten to address lowering fire insurance rates and mitigating fire risk in Puna lava zones, but decision-making on that item was deferred to a later hearing so the new language could be posted publicly. The committee voted to adopt several measures, including HCR 57/HCR 152, HCR 156/HR 151, HCR 19/HR 115, and HCR 33/HR 32, with some passed as amended and others passed as is. HCR 192 was adopted with amendments despite reservations from some members, and HCR 209/HR 2011 was adopted with amendments. The committee also recessed for decision-making during the hearing and later adjourned after completing action on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this bill is a small but important step toward fixing it.
• We also have what we hope is a friendly small amendment on line 16 of the bill.
• Small customers are not equipped to manage wholesale market risk.
• Small customers are not equipped reason.
• </c><01:17:13.640><c> commercial</c> residential and small commercial residential and small commercial

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> violence, uh, making that small violence, uh, making that small investment,<00:29:09.600><c> whatever
• The funding in this bill would facilitate continued support for our local small businesses who either
• businesses who either our local small businesses who either currently<00:42:48.160><c> support</c><00
• ><c> in</c> local small local small businesses in local small local small businesses in obtaining<00:
• </c><00:43:18.720><c> businesses,</c> sector for our local small businesses, sector for our local small

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 3040, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Supporters, including Moms Demand Action and a crime-victim advocate, argued the office would improve data collection, research, and coordination to help reduce gun violence. Opponents, including several gun-rights advocates, said the proposal was duplicative, lacked oversight, and would exclude the firearms community. The chair noted 41 testimonies in support and 77 in opposition, but no vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided. The committee then moved through a series of decision-making items and adopted the chair’s recommendations on several measures. SB 17 on wildfire mitigation passed with amendments from multiple agencies and a report date shifted to the 2028 session. SB 2730 on criminal justice reform passed with a defective effective date amendment, SB 2749 on sentencing passed with a defective effective date, SB 2688 on compassionate release passed with amendments narrowing eligibility and adding notification and funding language, and SB 2798 on law enforcement passed with a defective effective date to make the agricultural enforcement pilot program permanent. SB 2645, a short-form bill, was amended to insert substantive provisions and recommitted to the committee. SB 2383, which would have provided a $15,000 retention bonus for sworn law enforcement officers, was reconsidered and held in committee because it was identified as a duplicate. The committee also passed SB 2575, relating to firearms, with amendments adopting a proposed SD1 that would establish minimum mandatory prison terms for certain class A firearm felonies and add clarifying language. SB 2720, which would create a Hawaii firearm injury restitution fund funded by firearm manufacturer licenses, also passed with amendments clarifying the fund’s scope and eligible injuries. Later, the committee began hearing SB 3107 on parole eligibility. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii Paroling Authority supported language allowing the parole board to waive certain program requirements, while the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission opposed the bill, warning it could keep people incarcerated longer if program access remains limited. The Department of Corrections said it is working on classification changes and a pilot project to move inmates through the system faster.

Transcript Highlights:

• Affordable projects make up a very small percentage of overall housing builds.
• Affordable projects make up a very small percentage of overall housing builds.
• The other thing is we're concerned that this may actually encourage the small water companies, which
• Many of them are small family-owned businesses that have not come in for a number of years, on average
• The other thing is we're concerned that this may actually encourage the small water companies, which

Bills: HB2113 , HB2237 , HB2824 , HB2926 , HB2939 , HB2950

Committees: House Rural Economic Development , House House Rural Economic Development Committee of Reference

Keywords: utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, appropriation, Apache Junction, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, infrastructure, C-PACE, capital expenditure, special assessment, property improvement, local government financing, energy efficiency, water conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• bodega and small businesses in the State of New York.
• The Bodega and Small Business Association put out their own memo in support of this bill because our
• small businesses understand that big food companies should not be providing unknown chemicals in food
• BODEGA AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
• THE BODEGA AND SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION PUT OUT THEIR OWN MEMO IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL BECAUSE OUR

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, who offered remarks about gratitude, diversity, and support for Kosovo’s independence. The Journal was approved, and the chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Resolution 1516 commemorating the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence and Resolution 1317 honoring the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya for winning the NYSPHSAA Class C state championship. Both resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors were authorized to seek additional co-sponsors. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures on environmental conservation, education, public health, civil service, penal law, public service, labor, and a retroactive real property tax exemption for the Silver Lake Foundation. Most bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from a small group of senators. Senator Fahy explained her vote on a bill renaming an OASAS scholarship in honor of Father Peter Young, emphasizing his work on addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. Two items drew extended debate. On Calendar 141, Senator Walczyk appealed the chair’s ruling that an amendment to a public service bill was nongermane; the Senate voted 21 to overrule the chair, so the ruling stood, and the bill then passed 52-6. On Calendar 213, Senators Kavanagh and Borrello debated a food-safety bill concerning disclosure of certain food ingredients and chemicals; supporters said it would improve transparency and protect children’s health, while opponents argued federal action was already underway and a national standard would be preferable. After the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar, it passed 56-2. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that he has talked about wanting to see more money going to small business tax credit and more
• I mean, it seems like a lot of this is framed around tax relief for people and small businesses, but
• Make Washington's economic climate more competitive for businesses big and small.
• The bill proposes reducing B&O taxes on small businesses and on big businesses.
• Even a small tax break on, like, REIT for affordable housing got pulled back. Same thing.

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders announced and defended a new “Millionaire’s Tax” bill, saying it is intended to raise revenue from the highest earners while reducing reliance on sales tax and B&O tax and funding education, health care, community safety, and other state needs. They said the proposal is a starting point and will likely change as they continue talks with the governor, business groups, local governments, and other stakeholders. They also said the bill is not subject to cutoff because it affects state revenue, and that the Senate hearing is scheduled first in Ways and Means, with the House expected to follow after the Senate version moves over. The leaders described the bill as narrowly targeted at roughly 30,000 individual payers, with the first $1 million of income taxed at zero and the rate matching the state capital gains tax above that level. They argued the measure is not a broad income tax and rejected claims that it creates a marriage penalty, saying the structure mirrors the capital gains tax and uses Washington’s capital gains definitions. They also said the bill includes credits and deductions to address pass-through businesses, including dollar-for-dollar credits for B&O and public utilities taxes and an election allowing some businesses to pay the tax at the entity level. A major part of the discussion focused on how the bill would use revenue. Leaders said about 5% would go to counties for public defense costs tied to a new Supreme Court mandate, while the rest would support tax relief and new spending. They said the package would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, increase the small business credit, end the B&O surcharge a year early, and exempt some hygiene and grooming products from sales tax, with the tax-relief share estimated in the 20% range. They also said the necessity clause is needed because of structural budget problems and federal policy changes, and they expressed confidence that voters and lawmakers have become more open to taxing high earners, citing the capital gains tax vote and broader public concern about inequality and federal cuts.

Transcript Highlights:

• last year, with a full-trained crack team of cyber professionals, what would it look like for our small
• </c><00:04:04.599><c> rural</c><00:04:05.040><c> counties</c><00:04:05.439><c> our</c> for our SM small
• rural counties our for our SM small rural counties our cities<00:04:06.000><c> and</c><00:04:06.159>
• As this committee knows, we are a small-city state, but those small cities still manage critical infrastructure
• As this committee knows, we are a small-city state, but those small cities still manage critical infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about putting a small business out of business, not because... ...putting a small business
• This is a small amendment that's agreed to by all stakeholders.
• And especially in our small taxing districts, Mr.
• And especially in our small taxing districts, Mr.
• Really reasonably small.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2340 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , HB1796 , HB2091 , HB2249 , HB2254 , HB2353 , HB2431 , HB2441 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB2124 , HB1069 , HB2104 , HB2624 , SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , HB1796 , HB2091 , HB2249 , HB2353 , HB2431 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB2124 , HB2104 , HB2624 , HB2510 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2436 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Transcript Highlights:

• We want these dollars going to our small businesses that are surrounding all throughout the downtown
• And they won that because of their impact with small business.
• They work with our small business members, our local small businesses.
• And they won that because of their impact with small business.
• They work with our small business members, our local small businesses.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• The only very small change is in bolded language on your bill.
• It's just a small bit of housekeeping, really.
• It only makes a small administrative adjustment to how credits are applied.
• I think this was particularly impactful for small businesses because they really don't know what their
• The church is the main connector in that small town.

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:

• special session, I want to thank you for making such a case for the value of telehealth for these small
• And again, we take small bites out of it. The Water Trust Board has been phenomenal.
• We could have a small system application.
• The legislature to change small process changes.
• If you're a small system, just getting that document done can be the challenge.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• San Antonio, where I'm from, is probably like every other district; it is a city of small businesses.
• Over 90% of the people who work in San Antonio work for a small business.
• For small businesses, time is money, and every day that a business waits on a permit is a day of lost
• And this is to benefit, as the vice chair would say, the little dogs, the small dogs.
• They're just such a small fix for convenience stores that we could make a difference.

Bills: SB650 , HB3667 , SB28 , HB3201 , SB1184 , HB1800 , SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Transcript Highlights:

• Small blue pieces of pills were still visible on his lips, but he was gone.
• > pieces</c><00:10:36.920><c> of</c> dead small pieces small blue pieces of dead small pieces small blue
• So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.
• So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.
• So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.

Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the industry would like to see at least small steps taken.
• I know you mentioned that in a state like ours, where it's a relatively small population and a small
• number, a pretty small footprint for the amount of megawatts that are generated.
• I'm so excited that Wyoming is just a small part of this.
• House Bill 74, Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Permitting.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But it started with small businesses.
• We love small, limited government.
• We’re a bunch of small convenience stores. We’re a rural area.
• , like your actual small businesses.
• One that actually benefits small businesses.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal by roll call vote, 115-6. Members then used points of personal privilege to honor Redd Foxx for Black History Month and to remember former Mayor Frank Klipsch, followed by the introduction of a first-grade special guest page for the day. The chamber also received first readings of three bills on mental health efforts in public schools, public labor organizations, and state contracts with certain telecommunications companies, along with committee reports recommending passage of several bills. The House then debated and passed several measures. A large vehicle-inspection bill, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1838, 1692, 1695, 1983, 2036, 2662, and 2743, drew extended debate over whether inspections improve safety or impose unnecessary costs; it passed 104-43. House Bill 1917, a Jefferson County water district bill aimed at removing a local obstacle to a long-planned development, passed 148-2. House Bill 261, as amended, was approved 109-21 to require Missouri schools and universities to adopt nondiscriminatory policies protecting Jewish students from antisemitic harassment, using the IHRA definition as a guide while stating it would not limit First Amendment rights. Members also passed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2384, 92-61, which would limit local energy-code mandates and reduce housing construction costs, despite objections that it would preempt local control and roll back newer codes. The chamber then moved into perfection and took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2989, a major gaming-regulation bill intended to legalize and regulate video lottery terminals and crack down on illegal machines. Multiple amendments were adopted, including a $250-per-terminal fee dedicated to developmental disability services, local opt-out and operating-hour provisions, a shorter grace period for existing machines, property-tax language, a 21-and-over restricted area requirement, a larger warning label, and a historical funding provision for the steamboat Arabia. Debate continued on the bill and its amendments, with supporters emphasizing regulation, local control, and new revenue, and opponents warning about gambling expansion, enforcement problems, and social harms.