Transcript Highlights:

• Yesterday, we talked about the small business development centers and their role in this.
• Yesterday, we talked about the small business development centers and their role in this.
• They're all about business development.
• Why not just have one of the Commerce Department employees take care of this, develop a website, and
• Maybe there's the same person that's working on development efforts, wherever they may be, just looks

Committee: Senate Industry and Business

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Industry and Business Committee met to take up remaining business, focusing mainly on House Bill 1191, which would create an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce, and noting that House Bill 1584 on pharmacy benefit managers would be held until amendments were ready. Members discussed whether the entrepreneurship effort should be housed in Commerce, whether it would duplicate existing private and nonprofit resources, and whether the state should be creating a new government function at all. Supporters said Commerce is the right place, the bill contains no appropriation, and the office would mainly direct small businesses and startups to existing resources and report back on demand and staffing needs. Opponents warned it could grow into another government entity and argued private industry and existing programs are better suited to provide coaching and mentorship. Testimony and discussion referenced small business development centers, the Kauffman/Right to Start model, and other startup support programs already operating in the state or elsewhere. Members also cited a local entrepreneur’s experience as an example of the value of mentorship, networking, and guidance from private-sector groups, while others stressed that government should focus on pointing people to those resources rather than running the assistance itself. The committee emphasized that the bill would ask Commerce to identify how it could support entrepreneurship with existing staff and to report on its efforts. A motion for a do pass recommendation on House Bill 1191 was made and seconded. The committee voted 3-2 in favor, with Senators Klein, Kessel, and Chairman Barta voting aye and Senator Inget voting nay; Vice Chair Bame’s vote was not recorded in the final tally as read. Senator Kessel was designated as the carrier. The committee then noted it would reconvene later in the day after floor session, with the PBM bill expected to be taken up once amendments were available.

Transcript Highlights:

• MILLION IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED FACILITIES, 50 MILLION FOR DEVELOPMENT
• BILL 728. 4.2 MILITANT INCREASE FUNDING FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS. $1 MILLION TO DEVELOP
• ALARMINGLY NURSES FACE TWICE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING RESPIRATORY COMPLICATION THAN THAT OF THE GENERAL
• THIS BILL REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP
• WE WILL HAVE UNIVERSITIES BUT THEY WOULD DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOSPITALS WHERE THE BABIES ARE BORN

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's easy for children to abuse it and to suffer serious negative side effects especially on young developing
• damage, permanent... spinal cord injury and addiction, which is especially problematic in young developing
• It's so harmful for young developing brains that it's actually classified as an abused volatile chemical
• And now instead it's being given at higher percentages directly to developing brains.
• We have a lot of data regarding short-term and and lack of oxygen to developing brains. long-term damage

Bills: SB18 , SB19 , SB666 , SB688 , SB707 , SB888 , SB 18 , SB 19

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• easy for children to abuse it and to suffer serious negative side effects, especially on young developing
• brain damage, permanent spinal cord injury, and addiction, which is especially problematic in young developing
• It's so harmful for young developing brains that it's actually classified as an abused volatile chemical
• not allowed to be in the room, and now instead it's being given at higher percentages directly to developing
• And the concerns of asphyxiation and lack of oxygen to developing brains.

Bills: SB 18 , SB 19 , SB 666 , SB 688 , SB 707 , SB 888

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY ARE BOTH FULLY DEVELOPED AND CURRENTLY IN THE USER ACCEPTANCE TESTING PHASE CURRENTLY IN THE TESTING
• DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ARE STILL ONGOING FOR THOSE. THEY WILL BE WRAPPING UP AND THE SUMMER.
• HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH THEM IN DEVELOPING THE METHODOLOGY TO DEVELOP THAT UNIQUE IDENTIFIER
• WE ARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF SEVERAL MODULES.
• IN THE JUNE OR JULY TIMEFRAME AS WE PLAN TO WRAP UP ALL THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:21.880><c> as</c> specifically for economic development as specifically for economic development
• </c> Business Development Business Development Center<00:27:01.600><c> going</c><00:27:02.000><c> from
• </c><00:41:22.800><c> where</c> planning and Community Development where planning and Community Development
• </c> mbas um they do professional development mbas um they do professional development but<00:55:21.000
• </c> sense of how how people are developing sense of how how people are developing as<03:22:36.960><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns. Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have no, nothing has developed on the lawsuit on the...
• No, nothing has developed on the lawsuit on the closure bill of left one.
• It will take some time for there to be any substantial developments. Okay, very good. Thank you.
• a policy, maybe in statute, that would require our budget writers to, in their development of their
• I'm not in the room when these budgets are developed, so I'm not going to be sitting here with a lot

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um it's the Aviation Economic Development Fund. You can come forward, please.
• 19.680><c> the</c><00:20:19.960><c> Aviation</c><00:20:20.480><c> Economic</c><00:20:20.960><c> Development
• </c> It's the Aviation Economic Development It's the Aviation Economic Development You<00:20:22.120><
• Aviation Economic Development<00:20:25.640><c> Fund.
• I think that um I'll Development Fund.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April 27 minutes, and a report of informational items. Those informational items included University of Kentucky medical equipment purchases, UK’s planned use of restricted funds for a public-private partnership, school district debt notices, UK’s use of construction management at risk for five projects, Kentucky Communications Network Authority capital project reporting, and UK lease improvements. The main action item was University of Kentucky’s request for approval of a $600 million central plants and utility infrastructure P3 tied to the Chandler expansion and other campus facilities. UK said the project would modernize and expand utility capacity, improve redundancy and efficiency, and support 24/7 hospital operations. UK explained that the financing would combine private equity and nonprofit debt, with no UK or Commonwealth debt or upfront payment, and that future availability payments would come from UK Healthcare funds. Members asked about the financing stack, the source of the restricted funds, and whether existing units would be replaced or modernized. The committee then approved the P3 agreement by roll call vote. The committee also considered and approved a lease renewal for a 20,000-square-foot College of Medicine facility near the Bowling Green Medical Center. UK said the lease would cost $38 per square foot, or $912,000 annually, and supports its long-running partnership with Bowling Green Hospital and planned medical student growth in the region. Members spoke favorably about the local impact of the program, and the lease renewal passed by roll call vote. Finally, the Finance and Administrative Cabinet reported three items requiring no action, including a $2.103 million Transportation Cabinet Department of Aviation project for two medium box hangars at Capital City Airport. Cabinet staff said the project would be funded by federal aviation money and restricted aviation funds, and later explained that the restricted funds come from a jet fuel tax deposited into the Aviation Economic Development Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• It carries significant potential to drive community development and economic activity and presents a
• I represent nonprofit affordable housing developers from across the... ...support of AB 2146.
• I represent nonprofit affordable housing developers from across the nine counties that make up the San
• Third-party homelessness verification and housing history collection sits with my developer members and
• Verification and housing history collection sits with my developer members and not with the state.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• be a flexible source of funding to support a variety of transportation needs related to housing development
• be a flexible source of funding to support a variety of transportation needs related to housing development
• much-needed housing projects become a reality and ensure that communities that welcome housing development
• called the cost estimator tool that makes it easier than ever before for a municipal official to develop
• This is a To support new housing development and additional funds for the LAMP program.

Bills: H5279

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: municipal roads, bridges, transportation bond bill, infrastructure financing, capital spending, bond authorization, general obligation bonds, special obligation bonds, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act, road resurfacing, road repair, bridge repair, pavement, culverts, stormwater management, climate resilience, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian infrastructure, transit modernization, commuter rail

Transcript Highlights:

• What it also is used for, it's used for economic development in greenfields.
• When they don't get property tax from that new development, it hurts Being generated there.
• Many developments would not have happened without it.
• Pretty soon, we won't have an incremental tax base to use for development in this tool.
• We won't have an incremental tax base to use for development in this tool.

Summary: The Revenue and Taxation Committee met on March 2, 2006, and first introduced RS 33-260, a proposal by Representative Cannon to amend Idaho’s Community Infrastructure District Act. Cannon said the bill would extend CID authority from cities to counties, allow CIDs to fund fire protection and emergency medical services, and require CIDs to terminate after a set period rather than continue indefinitely. On motion, the committee agreed to introduce the RS with Section 5 left unchanged, and the motion carried without opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 734 from Representative Furman, which would change how wind and geothermal tax revenues are distributed among taxing districts when a school district lacks a supplemental levy. Furman said the bill was intended to prevent schools from being pressured to run levies just to qualify for revenue distribution and would use the larger of certain local levy rates instead. He said the Idaho School Board Association supported the bill and the Idaho Association of Counties was neutral. After brief questions and no public testimony, the committee voted to send HB 734 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 670, sponsored by Representative Monks, drew the most discussion. Monks said it was meant to clarify last year’s urban renewal law so fire districts could opt out of urban renewal areas when there were no outstanding bonds or contractual obligations, and he argued fire districts were losing revenue while still providing service to new development. Testimony from the Association of Idaho Cities, the Eagle Urban Renewal Agency, and the Redevelopment Association of Idaho opposed the bill, warning it would further erode urban renewal financing, create ambiguity, and interfere with ongoing litigation over the meaning of contractual obligations. After debate over legislative intent and the effect on urban renewal districts, the committee approved HB 670 and sent it to the House floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• would do is, by way of background, a community infrastructure district is a tool which allows a developer
• If you have a developer, they can utilize a CID as a tool to, in essence, fund infrastructure that is
• What it also is used for, it's used for economic development in greenfields.
• Many developments would not have happened without it.
• Pretty soon, we won't have an incremental tax base to use for development in this tool.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It identifies that the department may develop and recommend for approval by the board, through rulemaking
• That being said, there have been some late developments regarding the federal PFAS standards.
• , apply for, and execute improvement projects such as water development, vegetation management, fencing
• such as water development, vegetation management, fencing, predator control, and grazing systems.
• Oftentimes when infrastructure or development or homes are threatened, we have to hit that button and

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• chapter does not apply to insurers regulated under Title 48 RCW or any high-risk AI system that is developed
• Back to the Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee.
• We've worked very closely with the governor's office and the Washington State PTA in the development
• We have seen a huge decline and cut in the state's funding for economic development, and we will continue
• The state patrol, in consultation with OFM and the military department, is required to develop procedures

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on several technology and economic development bills. Staff briefed proposed substitutes and amendments for House Bill 2157 on high-risk AI, House Bill 2225 on AI companion chatbots, House Bill 2351 on emergency responder protections, and House Bill 2186 on federal fund acquisition for economic development. Members discussed the competing approaches in the two proposed substitutes for HB 2225, including enforcement, disclosures, minor protections, and crisis-response requirements. The committee then voted to adopt the proposed substitute for HB 2225 and report it out with a due pass recommendation, with a 7-3 vote and three excused. It also passed HB 2186 out of committee with a unanimous due pass recommendation after discussion about reducing fiscal impact. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2397, which would require timely reimbursement within 60 days for state agencies and local jurisdictions mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services mobilization plan. Fire officials and fire finance staff testified in support, describing reimbursement delays of six to ten months that strain local budgets and can discourage participation in wildfire deployments. Testifiers said the bill would improve cash flow and staffing stability, while also noting the need for technical clarification on when the 60-day clock starts and possible staffing needs at the State Patrol. No one testified in opposition. The final public hearing was on House Bill 2417, which would add victim-rights protections to the Washington Code of Military Justice, aligning state military justice procedures with the federal Uniform Code of Military Justice. The prime sponsor and military legal experts testified that the bill closes a gap so victims serving in the Washington National Guard receive the same notice, participation, and fairness protections regardless of whether they are in state or federal status. Veterans’ advocates also supported the bill, saying it would improve trust, reporting, and accountability. The bill was scheduled for future executive action, and the meeting adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was procured through an RFP process, and it is for the development of a mobile app for citizens to
• Of the development of the software, is that part of—can that be part of this discussion? Thank you.
• So this is a new contract, and the contract is strictly for developing the app to be able to access the
• I think the direction the federal government's going is still in development.
• It helps develop program initiatives or change program initiatives.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The review subcommittee met to consider a supplemental agenda, methods of finance, an alternative delivery project, discretionary grants, and a large slate of construction, out-of-state, and in-state contracts. The supplemental item was a $2.6 million out-of-state contract with Tyler Technologies for a mobile app that would let citizens access state services through a single sign-on, initially for DFA vehicle and licensing services, with possible expansion to other agencies. Members also reviewed five methods of finance, including University of Arkansas projects for roof and cooling tower replacements, a new $100 million academic classroom building at U of A Fayetteville, a police department renovation at UA Fort Smith, and a boiler/chiller replacement at Hope-Texarkana. Questions focused on project timing, why some items were being reviewed after work had begun, and the high estimated cost of the Fayetteville classroom building; DFA explained that projects under $250,000 are not reviewed and that the larger project was still in design and would later seek a guaranteed maximum price. The committee also reviewed two DHS discretionary grants: one for targeted youth advocacy in southwest Arkansas and another adding $582,000 for family-centered treatment training and implementation. In the services contract section, members discussed construction-related contracts, including an ASMSA electrical scope increase tied to three-phase power requirements and the U of A Fayetteville architect contract for the classroom building. Out-of-state contracts included major items such as ACT Education’s $17 million amendment to provide required pre-ACT testing for 9th and 10th graders, a $12.5 million DFA contract for rural health transformation grant management, DHS’s $16.5 million EBT services contract with updated chip-card and fraud-prevention features, and ADH’s special procurement for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The committee also reviewed U of A system consulting contracts for financial advisory and sponsorship strategy work, with university officials saying the outside expertise was needed for specialized planning and revenue-generation efforts. In-state contracts covered corrections reentry services, nursing board investigations, foster care and child welfare services, DHS office janitorial work, emergency management radio system expansion, veterans’ home nursing staffing, and UAMS grants consulting. A lengthy exchange centered on the Department of Corrections’ reentry housing contract, with members pressing officials about vacant beds and urging fuller use of the program, while corrections staff said placements depend on screening and eligibility. Another discussion addressed the balance between out-of-state and in-state contracting, with a member noting the large dollar volume going to out-of-state vendors and asking whether Arkansas vendors receive any preference; State Procurement said current law does not allow an in-state preference. The committee approved the supplemental agenda, the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, the discretionary grants, and the contract lists, and then received routine reports and an emergency action report before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• system in rural areas, RH TP focuses on promoting innovation, strategic partnerships, Infrastructure Development
• We can do training and workforce development.
• So I just and it's part of workforce development.
• So are you going to bring us bring us any proposals if you're doing workforce development to mandate
• So states have have leeway to develop that process. As was mentioned earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Program is an agricultural land preservation program, and it's designed to protect lands from being developed
• The program meets these goals by acquiring development rights through permanent rural land protection
• Part of that consistency in the ability for us to acquire those development rights through our easements
• We have an additional 29 partnerships in development, and our most successful partnerships to date have
• Does he call the developer that's been knocking and calling him, leaving voicemails?

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum and heard presentations focused on land conservation and agricultural preservation in Florida. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services briefed the committee on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, explaining that it protects active agricultural lands through permanent conservation easements while keeping land in private ownership and on the tax rolls. The presentation emphasized eligibility for greenbelted active agricultural operations, required best management practices, and the program’s role in protecting food supply, water resources, habitat, and military buffering. Officials said the program’s 2025 ranked list includes 428 projects, with about 75 projects expected to start this year, and noted strong partnership funding from federal, local, and conservation partners. Committee members asked about eligibility, annual re-ranking, local government involvement, and the number of projects likely to receive funding. Tracy Dean of Conservation Florida testified in support of continued and increased funding for land conservation, arguing that Florida is losing agricultural and natural lands and that conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions are complementary tools. She said land trusts work with willing landowners to protect ranches, wetlands, forests, and wildlife corridors, and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum so projects do not stall as land values rise. In discussion with senators, she said public access to conserved lands depends on the specific deal and the landowner’s goals, and that access is more commonly provided through lands acquired for parks, forests, and other public green space. The Department of Environmental Protection then updated the committee on the Florida Forever program. DEP said the program uses both conservation easements and fee-simple acquisitions, with about half of acquisitions done through easements, and that it provides benefits including water quality, habitat protection, recreation, and military readiness. Officials reported 60 projects on the 2025-26 work plan, most in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and said the state has invested more than $1.4 billion since 2019, acquiring over 374,000 acres. They highlighted recent acquisitions for Sandy Creek State Forest, Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, and a new state park in Walton County, as well as the program’s 200th conservation easement. The committee also discussed funding levels, payment in lieu of taxes impacts on small counties, and broader priorities such as citrus, roads, and support for agriculture; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, was developed because some stakeholders have raised some concerns that the private activity bonds
• And mixed income housing projects sustains community development and reduces barriers for housing developers
• developers.
• To streamline finance processes for developers and reduces administrative burdens. With that, Mr.
• So, um, when you set the establishment of a priority, what you try to do is get the developer.

Bills: HJR40

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're full steam ahead on our march program to we're developing a larger cut by the name of starship
• Like I mentioned, that we're building the majority of that vehicle and developing it in Starbase.
• I know we're very proud of our South Texas development, but I am you know, I think Florida is going to
• So we are space, Florida, State Spice Point finance and business development authority.
• We have basically to business area that we have a business development site.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And good cookies. develop a strong sense of self from develop a strong sense of self from healthy<00:
• </c><01:20:24.560><c> 811,211</c> workforce development 811,211 workforce development 811,211 Council
• </c><03:05:05.840><c> 2</c> one workforce development 2 one workforce development 2 1,655,541,14,095641,446
• Enterprise 8<03:06:23.840><c> Workforce</c><03:06:24.160><c> Development</c> 8 Workforce Development
• </c> shall be from the housing development shall be from the housing development grant<03:59:45.760><

Keywords: 981, all