Transcript Highlights:

• And in this middle-contained part, what I'm worried about is the small developments being able to pop
• But the three most important things our research has found for affordability are small lot, small lot
• , small lot.
• The city of Houston has had a long-standing commitment to small-lot starter home reform.
• We estimate from 2005 to 2018, over 28,000 small-lot single-family homes were built after they made small-lot

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee took up a broad agenda of local government, land use, housing, and public notice bills. It reported favorably SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, SB 1612 requiring local governments to accept electronic payments, SB 1180 creating a recall process for community development district board members and adding related CDD provisions on synthetic turf and compact urban mixed-use districts, SB 936 on temporary door locking devices, CS/SB 380 expanding options for publishing legal notices, SB 962 clarifying that the Live Local zoning preemption does not unintentionally capture farms and farm operations, SB 1444 on state preemption involving religious gatherings, private clubs, and certain permitting issues, SB 218 narrowing hurricane-related land-use protections to affected counties, SB 1020 regulating chickee huts, and SB 1434 creating a redevelopment framework for environmentally impacted parcels in certain urban counties. Several of these bills were amended before passage, including SB 1180, SB 380, and SB 948. Testimony was mixed on the more controversial measures. Supporters of SB 984 said the bill clarifies benefits for firefighters diagnosed with occupational cancer. On SB 380, the Florida Press Association and Common Cause opposed shifting legal notices away from newspapers and warned that publication would become more fragmented and harder to find, while the sponsor argued the bill would save money and reflect digital practices. SB 1444 drew support from Florida Family Voice on religious freedom grounds, but the Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties warned that the bill was broad, undefined in places, and could create unintended consequences for local zoning, parking, and permitting. SB 1434 on redevelopment of environmentally impacted land drew support from housing advocates but opposition from counties and cities, which said it would bypass local development review and could allow overdevelopment. The committee also heard substantial testimony on SB 948, which would create a statewide framework for starter-home and lot-split regulations in residential areas. Supporters, including housing advocates, a Gainesville city commissioner, and an urban economist, said local regulations have constrained housing supply and that the bill would help produce more starter homes. Opponents, including the Florida Association of Counties, 1,000 Friends of Florida, and the Florida League of Cities, argued it would function as a statewide zoning code, reduce local planning authority, and create infrastructure and litigation concerns. The bill was amended and then laid over for further consideration after extensive debate and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a Washington small business owner. I'm here to speak in support of Senate Bill 6116.
• Those kinds of solutions help the state collect revenue without wiping out small business.
• We have one small friendly amendment.
• My fiance and I are first-time small business owners offering a licensed premium cigar shop in Spokane
• I'm here to testify other on SB 6129 and share concerns about its unintended impact on small compliant

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on several tax and retirement bills, beginning with Senate Bill 6073, which would move eligible Department of Natural Resources wildland and aviation firefighters from PERS into LEOFF 2 prospectively. Committee staff described the higher retirement age and benefit differences between the systems and noted a small implementation cost and a modest actuarial rate increase. DNR, the Washington Public Employees Association, and a committee member all raised support or questions, with DNR acknowledging additional review with the LEOFF board was still needed. The hearing then turned to Senate Bill 6113, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, including clarifications tied to last session’s ESSB 5814 service-tax changes, a six-month transition period for reclassified businesses, and a section affecting advertising-related exclusions. DOR said the bill was revenue neutral and intended to codify guidance and improve certainty, while school districts, arts groups, broadcasters, newspapers, and business groups testified both in support of the technical fixes and in opposition to provisions they said would continue or worsen unintended consequences from last year’s tax law. Senators also questioned how some definitions would apply, especially to school and higher-education-related services. Senate Bill 6116 would restore the vapor-products tax structure by moving nicotine-containing vapor products back under the per-milliliter vapor tax instead of the 95% other tobacco products tax, and would restore distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account and Foundational Public Health Services account. Public health agencies, cancer research representatives, and some retailers supported the bill as a fix to funding disruptions, while tobacco-control groups opposed lowering the tax and argued it would weaken public health policy. The committee also heard that the current law creates a double-tax issue on pre-existing inventory because products held when the definition changed became subject to a new tax classification. Finally, Senate Bill 6129 proposed a broader nicotine-tax overhaul, including a 90% tax on nicotine products, a 10% tax on flavored nicotine products, higher cigarette taxes, and new revenue distributions and tribal compact provisions. Supporters, including public health organizations, pediatricians, and civil rights advocates, said higher taxes would reduce youth use and restore funding for cancer research and public health; opponents, including retailers, tobacco and vapor businesses, broadcasters, and some harm-reduction advocates, argued the bill was regressive, would fuel illicit markets, and would harm small businesses and adult consumers using lower-risk products. The committee then began a briefing on Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform bill that would expand senior and disability property tax relief, adjust state property tax rates, and change property tax billing statements, but the hearing on that bill was not completed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't matter if you work in a small business in the metro or as a farm worker in greater Minnesota
• It doesn't matter if you work in a small business in the metro or as a farm worker in greater Minnesota
• business in the metro or as a in a small business in the metro or as a farm<00:02:36.400><c> worker<
• part of the though it's only a small part of the state's<00:10:21.120><c> budget.
• What's not small though state's budget.

Summary: Lawmakers and advocates from the POCI Caucus held a news conference focused on protecting recent DFL-enacted policies in a newly divided Legislature. They highlighted accomplishments from the last biennium, including earned sick and safe time, ethnic studies, unemployment insurance changes, environmental protections, and MinnesotaCare coverage for undocumented immigrants, and argued these measures should not be rolled back in budget negotiations. Speakers said Republicans were pushing cuts or carveouts that would disproportionately harm Black, brown, immigrant, women, and low-income communities, and they urged the House and Governor Walz to reject those changes. A major theme was opposition to proposed carveouts to earned sick and safe time. Amanda Otero of TakeAction Minnesota said the proposed changes would remove benefits from more than 100,000 workers based on employer size, and lawmakers said sick leave should be universal. Another major topic was MinnesotaCare for undocumented immigrants. Representative María Isa Pérez Vega, Council Member Jason Chavez, and others argued the program is affordable, reduces uncompensated emergency care, and improves public health by expanding preventive care. Chavez and Emilia Gonzalez Avalos shared personal stories about family members who benefited from health coverage and said cutting access would worsen disparities and hurt families and communities. The event also included remarks on ethnic studies and historical memory. Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura connected the Ethnic Studies for All Act to her family’s experience with Japanese American incarceration during World War II, and Sally Sudo described her family’s removal and imprisonment under Executive Order 9066. Speakers framed these stories as warnings against scapegoating and exclusion. In the question-and-answer portion, lawmakers said they were still in negotiations but emphasized that certain protections were non-negotiable and that any compromises should be distributed equitably rather than targeting specific groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have about 4,000 members across the state, ranging from the very small to the very large, and the
• On behalf of thousands of small restaurant owners across the Commonwealth, I am pleased to offer testimony
• For small restaurants, every cent matters.
• Small restaurant operators regularly report difficulty managing adequate coin inventory, which can create
• In an industry where profit margins are often 3 to 5 percent, small efficiencies can make a meaningful

Bills: H5036 , H5138

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Keywords: tariff transparency, consumer disclosure, price transparency, vehicle pricing, Monroney label, auto dealer, car manufacturer, retail pricing, shelf tag, receipt disclosure, online storefront, import duties, trade taxes, Chapter 93A, Attorney General enforcement, consumer protection, federal preemption, customs, supply chain costs, tariff surcharge

Transcript Highlights:

• It acknowledges Kentucky's interest in developing new nuclear advantages, such as small modular reactors
• spent nuclear waste, re-enrich it up to 100 to 50% of what it originally was to produce fuel for these small
• spent nuclear waste, re-enrich it up to 100 to 50% of what it originally was to produce fuel for these small
• spent nuclear waste, re-enrich it up to 100 to 50% of what it originally was to produce fuel for these small
• Fuel for these small modular reactors, all the while reducing the nuclear waste we have, so it is a recycle

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard ACR 22, sponsored by Representatives Randy Bridges and Steven Rudy. The resolution declares nuclear generation to be a clean, dispatchable baseload energy source for Kentucky. The sponsors argued that Kentucky and the broader energy market are facing growing demand and reliability challenges, and said the resolution recognizes prior legislative steps on nuclear power, including lifting the nuclear moratorium, creating a nuclear study working group, and establishing the Kentucky Nuclear Development Authority. The sponsors also emphasized nuclear power as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy and highlighted small modular reactors and spent fuel processing as important future technologies. They referenced Paducah’s former uranium enrichment site and potential laser enrichment work as part of a recycling approach that could reduce waste and support new fuel production. No outside testimony was presented in the excerpt. Members expressed support for the resolution, with several noting its importance for economic development, reliable power, and keeping coal relevant through new energy partnerships. The committee voted favorably on the measure, with all members present voting aye, and the chair stated that the resolution would pass with favorable expression. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• you're working on a greenfield project, which is a company opening up a new facility, it can be a small
• you're working on a greenfield project, which is a company opening up a new facility, it can be a small
• you're working on a greenfield project, which is a company opening up a new facility, it can be a small
• And technically, there's no cap on it, but we do try to look at companies, and it can be a small company
• </c> have, uh, corporate need, uh, small have, uh, corporate need, uh, small group<00:52:27.760><c> need

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Energy and Environment, and Tourism met for its fourth meeting and approved the February 10 minutes. The committee then heard a presentation from the Cabinet for Economic Development, led by Secretary Jeff Noel, with staff from the cabinet and Kentucky Innovation. The presentation focused on the cabinet’s strategy, including workforce, entrepreneurship, innovation, infrastructure, and placemaking, and emphasized a goal of supporting higher-wage jobs while tailoring programs to urban, non-urban, and rural “heritage communities.” The cabinet reviewed several funding tools and programs, including economic development bond funds, EDF funds, KBI, the Kentucky Innovation Pool, KSTC-related startup and commercialization programs, veteran workforce programs, and Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training funds. Officials said many projects take years to close and that funds are often committed before they are actually disbursed because reimbursements occur after project completion. They also said Kentucky is less competitive than before because of changes in tax policy and that EDF funds are increasingly important to remain competitive with other states. Members asked about whether previously allocated money remained available, whether some funds could be clawed back, and the status of the Blue Oval project. The cabinet said it is oversubscribed, with some committed dollars likely to go unused and be reoffered to other projects. On Blue Oval, officials said progress had been made and described negotiations tied to repayment and job creation requirements. They also discussed the Ford/SK loan structure, saying the companies may assume the full $250 million obligation and that repayments would be required if job targets are not met. The presentation closed with discussion of workforce coordination and the need to connect economic development projects with training and support systems, including possible ripple effects for rural suppliers and related businesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• The question of the small rural districts, especially when trying to bridge that gap between access,
• Chair. on behalf of the Small School Districts Association, in support of the bill.
• Today, out of approximately 1,000 school districts, 70 of them have necessary small schools.
• Our children need things that are for them for their small bodies and their small minds and most of the
• Barrett Senator, on behalf of the Small School Districts Association, in support. Mr.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So in a precinct chair race, it's a small, small little race here that we're talking about, and it is
• If you're real small, you could start it earlier.
• But currently small counties can combine up to 5,000 voters into a precinct.
• , but it's not just the small precincts.
• So that's kind of—I mean, it's not just the small county, small precincts that actually—you can identify

Bills: HB569 , HB766 , HB1638 , HB2316 , HB2773 , HB2785 , HB3113 , HB3709 , HB3775 , HB4275

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3709, which would change the partial manual audit process so early voting could be audited by voting location rather than by randomly selected precincts. The author and several supporters said the current precinct-based process is antiquated, labor-intensive, and especially difficult in countywide voting systems and large counties. Opponents and some neutral witnesses raised concerns about whether the change would still allow an apples-to-apples audit against official precinct results, whether random selection procedures should be more clearly defined, and how ballot secrecy and mail ballots would be handled. The Secretary of State’s office said counties already use random selection methods and that the bill would largely standardize early voting audits with election-day procedures, while also noting ballot privacy issues can arise in public records requests. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then took up House Bill 766, as substituted, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both, while making that contact information confidential. Supporters said the change would help parties and local officials contact applicants more efficiently. Opponents argued it could expose personal contact information to public records requests and harassment, and some suggested the information should instead be handled through party rules. The bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. House Bill 3775 followed and would set clearer timelines for when early voting ballot boards may begin opening carrier envelopes, with different start times based on county size. Supporters said the bill would address counties opening ballots too early and improve ballot security, while opponents warned it could delay defect notices and cure opportunities for mail voters and create problems in large counties that process high volumes of ballots. Testimony also focused on whether the bill referred to carrier envelopes or secrecy envelopes and on how counties like Harris County currently image and secure ballot materials. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4275, which would require countywide polling systems to have polling places in each election precinct, intended to address uneven distribution of polling locations across county commissioner precincts. Supporters said the bill would make polling place distribution fairer and more consistent, especially in Harris County, while opponents said it would undermine countywide voting, increase costs, require more equipment and staff, and reduce local flexibility. Several witnesses also raised concerns about ballot secrecy and the practical burden on large and rural counties. The bill remained under discussion as testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Michigan, NFIB represents small business owners and small and independent businesses across all 50
• states, Washington, D.C., and we have about 12,000 small businesses.
• And again, there are a lot of examples that I could also use for small business, but I wanted to use
• It makes it difficult, especially for small business owners, because I love the example that Senator
• I think it just becomes very difficult, especially for small business owners who are wearing multiple

Committee: Senate Labor

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor met with a quorum, adopted the June 4 minutes, and then took up Senate Bill 948, the Workplace Employees Boundaries Act (WEB Act), after adopting an S-1 substitute by a 4-1 vote. Senator Geis presented the bill as a Michigan “right to disconnect” measure that would generally bar employers from requiring employees to access or respond to work communications outside usual work hours, allow employees to set availability hours, prohibit retaliation, direct LEO to write rules, and provide complaint and enforcement procedures with exceptions for emergencies and existing collective bargaining agreements. In questioning, Senator Albert raised concerns about how the bill would apply in small businesses and practical situations like staffing calls, school notifications, and emergency-like circumstances; Geis said the bill was meant to protect non-work time while preserving emergency carve-outs and informational messages. NFIB’s Amanda Fisher opposed the bill, arguing it was too broad, difficult to define across industries and schedules, potentially duplicative of existing wage-and-hour law, and likely to create confusion and reduce flexibility, especially for small employers. The committee then shifted to testimony on health care workforce and labor disputes. Nurses from Teamsters Local 332 described a 291-day strike at Henry Ford/Genesis over safe staffing, return-to-work terms, and alleged union-busting, saying the hospital’s staffing levels and use of replacement workers threatened patient safety and could displace experienced specialty nurses. Michigan Nurses Association president Aaron McCormick and Marquette RN union president Christina Hanson said Michigan’s problem is not a shortage of licensed nurses but of nurses willing to stay in overworked, hostile workplaces; they cited retaliation, slow grievance/arbitration processes, hospital consolidation, rural OB closures, and unsafe staffing ratios as drivers of burnout and departures. They urged stronger protections and faster dispute resolution, especially given the limited effectiveness of the NLRB and delays in labor processes. Additional testimony came from UAW Local 4911’s Kim Wheeler, who said UMH Sparrow was outsourcing two low-paid support groups—patient transport/housekeeping and food and nutrition—despite their importance to hospital operations and despite a recently ratified contract, and asked for transparency and limits on corporate outsourcing. Don Hill of SEIU Health Care Michigan described chronic understaffing in nursing homes, mandatory overtime, burnout, retaliation fears, and the need for enforceable patient-to-staff ratios and stronger wage support; he also noted that home care workers are negotiating first contracts after restored bargaining rights. The committee took no vote on SB 948 beyond adopting the substitute, heard extensive testimony, and adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that the state uh has enacted for small that the state uh has enacted for small towns<00:05:05.440
• :36:08.000><c> innovation</c> is the small business innovation is the small business innovation research
• I guess I do have a small question.
• 39:56.320><c> Center</c> Small Business Development Center Small Business Development Center Network,
• </c><03:12:39.279><c> business</c> phase which would be the small business phase which would be the small

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> about so let's talk about that Small about so let's talk about that Small Business<00:26:59.320>
• </c> technical assistance to uh new and small technical assistance to uh new and small businesses<00:
• </c> um are there uh currently small um are there uh currently small businesses<00:31:51.120><c> like
• </c> in business not necessarily small in business not necessarily small businesses<00:55:10.000><c>
• </c> that it seems an awful lot of small that it seems an awful lot of small business<00:58:49.480><c

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• These small pockets of time make a huge difference.
• These small pockets of time the week.
• Well, I know that's a small All right.
• </c> Senate File 3963 would offer other small Senate File 3963 would offer other small Minnesota<01:22
• </c> and this bill helps ensure that small and this bill helps ensure that small districts<01:27:19.840

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• She said the bill helps very small farmers cultivating and earning income on less than 11 contiguous
• farmers uh to uh which would allow small farmers uh to qualify<01:02:34.680><c> for</c><01:02:34.839
• </c> does is that it helps our very small does is that it helps our very small farmers<01:02:42.880><
• Fortunately, it's possible to have an intensive operation on a very small parcel of land like mine.
• </c><01:08:09.799><c> business</c> threshold I think as a small business threshold I think as a small

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:07.160><c> one</c> operating Levy as well it's a small one operating Levy as well it's a small
• </c><00:10:56.360><c> school</c> it's $130,000 for our small school it's $130,000 for our small school
• We're trying to keep that number healthy in a small school like Hill City.
• </c> small school like Hill City One Small small school like Hill City One Small Change<00:15:56.199>
• </c><00:16:09.959><c> school</c> one Deer River schools uh small school one Deer River schools uh small

Bills: HF957 , HF877

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000 and can take 4 to 6 months to complete, making the disposition of small
• I have a small list of things that this bill does not do for the record.
• We have over 200 small landlords primarily in New Castle County.
• support this bill, but the primary concern we have with this is that it seems to put the burden on small
• burden on small landlords just trying to stay in business.

Committee: Senate Housing & Land Use

Summary: The Senate Land Use Committee met in hybrid format but did not have a quorum, so it did not approve minutes or take formal votes. The committee first heard House Bill 457, which would raise the appraisal threshold for certain DELDOT real property dispositions from $10,000 to $25,000 to match federal highway standards and reduce the time and cost of selling small surplus properties. There was little discussion and no public comment on that bill, and the chair indicated it would be circulated. The committee then took up House Bill 451, which would codify a disparate impact framework under Delaware’s Fair Housing Act. The bill was described as clarifying that housing policies or practices can violate the law even without discriminatory intent if they have an unjustified discriminatory effect on a protected class, using a burden-shifting test similar to federal law. The sponsor and DHSA said the measure was intended to preserve fair housing protections amid uncertainty at the federal level, and an additional amendment was discussed that would delay implementation for 180 days and require DHSR, with DSA and stakeholders, to conduct outreach, education, and training. Public testimony was divided. Supporters, including Housing Alliance Delaware, YWCA Delaware, and the Delaware Human and Civil Rights Commission, said the bill would protect against discriminatory outcomes, align state law with longstanding fair housing principles, and preserve recourse if federal enforcement changes. Opponents and housing-provider groups, including the Delaware Association of Realtors, Greater Wilmington Housing Providers, and the Delaware Apartment Association, argued the bill could create liability for neutral policies, rely on statistical outcomes landlords cannot easily measure, and increase litigation and costs; several asked for more time, a right-to-cure process, or further amendments. The committee adjourned without taking a formal vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in exchange, those campaigns for small-dollar donations from Cambridge residents could get a $10
• In New England, Connecticut has a democracy fund where small-dollar donations, candidate donations, are
• New York City small-dollar donations from New York City residents are matched 8 to 1.
• With local elections still held in April, in fact, a very small percentage of Canton voters participate
• . ...still held in April, in fact, a very small percentage of Canton voters participate, 17% to 24%.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws

Summary: The House and Senate Election Laws committees held a hearing focused on campaign finance and several local election-related bills. Office of Campaign and Political Finance Director William Campbell testified in support of H. 848 and S. 515, saying the campaign finance law needs modernization and highlighting proposals for stronger Super PAC disclosure, more timely reporting, improved security for campaign participants, and other reforms. He said the bills would help update a 50-year-old system to reflect legal, economic, and cultural changes. A major portion of the hearing concerned H. 868/S. 507, which would require earlier and more frequent reporting by ballot question committees. Witnesses from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and others argued that ballot campaigns now involve tens of millions of dollars, much of it raised during periods with no real-time disclosure, and that moving these committees into the depository system would improve transparency without burdening grassroots signature-gathering. The committee also heard support for H. 811 and H. 812, which would allow municipalities to create citizen-funded election programs and require identifying information on political text messages, as well as S. 525/H. 875, which would bar political spending by foreign-influenced corporations. The committee also heard testimony on S. 2605, a Canton home rule petition to move town elections from April to November. Canton residents, a select board member, and a poll worker said the change would increase turnout, better align local elections with the November voting cycle, and give newly elected officials more time to prepare for town meeting. Senator Rausch also testified in support of S. 530, requiring presidential primary candidates to disclose recent tax returns. The hearing ended with no votes taken and the committee adjourning, with a note that the next hearing was tentatively scheduled for January 13.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a small. It's a small. It's a small. What was I'm not? I'm not. It's a good.
• California for new business is often invested elsewhere rather than supporting our communities and small
• public good by financing affordable housing, building decarbonization, home-hardening, and lending to small
• Small businesses, as you all know, employ almost half of California's workforce.
• California Public Banking Alliance and more than 110 organizations representing communities, workers, and small

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact heard several bills focused on trade, affordability, and public finance. AB 2745 (Fong) would update California’s international trade and investment strategy, add a public advisory process, and allow regional trade hubs; supporters from the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce and California Forward said it would help California compete globally and attract investment, while no opposition testified. AB 2366 (Avila Farías) would require state agencies to analyze cost-of-living impacts when adopting regulations and direct the LAO to develop guidance; supporters from the New California Coalition and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association argued it would improve transparency and help address affordability, while members noted concerns about implementation and unintended consequences. The committee also heard AB 2243 (Haney), which creates a commission to study whether California should establish a state public bank and how it might be structured. Supporters from the California Public Banking Alliance, climate groups, and other organizations said a public bank could reduce borrowing costs and finance housing, climate, and small business needs; the California Bankers Association and credit unions opposed the bill, arguing it could compete with private banks, duplicate prior studies, and raise unresolved regulatory and cost issues. Several committee members said they would support the study concept but wanted the bill amended so any final decision would return to the Legislature, and the author agreed to clarify that point and remove language related to extending local public bank licensing timelines. The committee also took up consent items AB 2048 (Calderon), AB 2583 (Hoover), and ACR 129 (Haney), which were approved without opposition. After quorum was established, the committee voted AB 2366 out on a 7-0 basis to Judiciary, AB 2745 out on a 7-0 basis to Appropriations, and AB 2243 out on a 7-0 basis to Finance, with the consent calendar also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, you know, there's an evolution of small towns, and Bland did not fare very well.
• And bringing in more attention would be good for those companies, those small companies.
• And those companies are really important in Bland being such a small... small companies, and those companies
• are really important in Bland being such a small town.
• But I would like to go back to small towns not getting recognized.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, he is actually the head of our water and maintenance department in our little small town of Pots
• working, doing things, whether it be on water or just anything and everything that keeps a little small
• </c><00:03:29.840><c> Um</c><00:03:31.040><c> known</c><00:03:31.280><c> as</c> small town of Pots Camp
• Um known as small town of Pots Camp.
• </c><00:03:47.200><c> Um</c> a little small town going. Um a little small town going.

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the small regulatory law where there can charge a fee for a non-recording of insurance in lieu
• This is the small<00:03:51.680><c> regulatory</c><00:03:52.159><c> law</c><00:03:52.799><c> uh</c><00
• :03:52.959><c> where</c><00:03:53.200><c> there</c><00:03:53.440><c> can</c> small regulatory law uh
• where there can small regulatory law uh where there can charge<00:03:54.000><c> a</c><00:03:54.319><c
• lender and there's a from a small lender and there's a process<00:04:10.879><c> of</c><00:04:11.200>

Committee: Joint Finance