Video & Transcript : 'tourism activities' :
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the Arctic and Greenland's geostrategic importance to U.S. interests. Feb 12th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Tourism is another significant area for growth.
- So it has taken some significant steps to be more active in the Arctic.
- As we look at the increased Russian submarine and activity there in recent years.
- set of challenges in the GIUK gap related to Russian activity, undersea activity, that is a real problem
- And they are increasing their economic and military activities in the region.
Keywords:
Greenland, acquisition, national security, Arctic, geopolitical, China, Russia, icebreakers, trade routes
Summary:
The meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation focused on the potential acquisition of Greenland by the United States. This issue, first raised by President Trump in 2019, has gained renewed significance amidst shifting global dynamics and the strategic importance of Greenland in relation to transatlantic trade routes and national security. The members discussed the geopolitical implications of Greenland's position, especially given the increasing influence of China and Russia in the Arctic region. Notably, the urgency to address military presence and icebreaker capabilities in the Arctic was a major point of contention, with a call for a new fleet to counter foreign dominance in the area.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 9th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Currently as the Committee Secretary for the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee, Tabitha
- Who has served as the Committee Secretary for the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee.
- , thank you so very much for serving when I was the chair of the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
- Arts, Entertainment, and Sports and Tourism Committee.
- Even in retirement, he remained active in the community and veterans events.
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, completed the roll, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions recognizing visitors, students, and a long-serving committee secretary, Tabitha Volga-Sang, who was honored for 32 years of service. Members also took up a procedural motion by Assembly Member DeMaio to immediately consider ACA 14, the Taxpayer Protection Act, without reference to file; that motion failed on a 14-44 vote.
The main policy debate centered on SB 106 by Senator Laird, a budget appropriation to provide $90 million in one-time funding for Planned Parenthood and related women’s health and family planning services after federal cuts. Assembly Member Tangipa offered amendments arguing the money should be directed more broadly to women’s health and hospitals, but the Assembly voted 41-13 to lay the amendments on the table. Supporters, including Gabriel, Sharp-Collins, Gibson, Krell, Bonta, and others, said the bill was needed to preserve access to cancer screenings, contraception, STI testing, and reproductive care, especially in rural and underserved communities, and to offset the effects of federal defunding. Opponents, including Johnson, DeMaio, Patterson, and Tangipa, criticized the bill as lacking transparency, favoring a politically connected organization, and diverting attention from hospital funding and other health needs.
After extended floor debate, SB 106 passed the Assembly 55-10 and was transmitted immediately to the Senate. The chamber then took up H.R. 84, a resolution condemning racism after President Trump circulated racist imagery depicting former President Obama and Michelle Obama. Members from the Black, LGBTQ, Latino, AAPI, Jewish, Native American, and other caucuses spoke in support, saying the post normalized dehumanization and had real-world consequences; Assembly Member Tangipa also stated the post was wrong and apologized on the record. The transcript ends during continued debate on H.R. 84, before a final vote is shown.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Feb 9th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Currently, as the Committee Secretary for the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee, Tabitha
- Who has served as the Committee Secretary for the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee.
- , thank you so very much for serving when I was the chair of the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
- Arts, Entertainment, and Sports and Tourism Committee.
- Even in retirement, he remained active in the community and veterans events.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- She is active in volunteering and advocacy roles to help improve access to high-quality mental health
- She is active in volunteering and advocacy roles to help improve access to high-quality mental health
- And I'm just so happy and proud to see him standing and being able to participate and be active.
- This will allow our vital tourism industry to stay competitive with 24 other states that have tourism
- Bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar. First reading of bills.
Summary:
The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jasleen Chatwal. Members also introduced a number of guests and visiting groups, including Irish dignitaries for St. Patrick’s Day recognition, labor organizations such as AFSCME and CWA, the Arizona Farm Bureau, the Arizona chapter of the American College of Surgeons for Stop the Bleed training, and advocates for rare skeletal conditions. A proclamation recognizing St. Patrick’s Day was read, and the House later heard a proclamation honoring AFSCME Arizona.
On the floor, the House took up several procedural motions, including requests to have the Senate return HB 4027 and HB 2444 for reconsideration, and received multiple Senate bills on first and second reading. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole and approved HB 2750 with a friendly floor amendment, sending it forward as amended. The House also sent HB 2999 to an additional Committee of the Whole, adopted a floor amendment, and advanced it as amended for engrossing.
During third reading, HB 2197, relating to water access and camping near water sources, failed on reconsideration after members debated whether it imposed unnecessary criminal penalties and enforcement concerns. HB 2429, relating to vacation and short-term rentals, passed after supporters said it restored local control to cities and towns. HB 2950, creating special districts for tourism improvement areas, passed after amendments made participation voluntary and added notice requirements. HB 4001, relating to nicotine products, also passed after debate over youth vaping, enforcement authority, and whether the bill struck the right balance between regulation and parental responsibility. The House then made committee announcements and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- She is active in volunteering and advocacy roles to help improve access to high-quality mental health
- She is active in volunteering and advocacy roles to help improve access to high-quality mental health
- This will allow our vital tourism industry to stay competitive with 24 other states that have tourism
- And whereas AFSCME Arizona represents approximately 5,000 hardworking active members across the state
- Bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar. First reading of bills.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- ,</c><00:07:14.880><c> and</c> prior activities, and prior activities, and um<00:07:16.080><c> qualifications
- </c><00:12:05.920><c> I</c> tourism and everybody else. Thank you. I tourism and everybody else.
- That's tourism. That's correct.
- And to me, these are the leaders of the future for us in tourism and also in economy.
- That's tourism. That's correct.
Committee:
Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts
Summary:
The committee heard several gubernatorial nominations for confirmation, beginning with GM 788 for Karen Knudsen to the Hawaii Sister State and International Partnerships Commission. DBEDT strongly supported her nomination, describing her decades of Asia-Pacific and East-West Center experience. Senators asked about the new commission structure, confirming that the old committee was abolished and replaced by a five-voting-member commission with two governor appointees before the Senate, other ex officio and legislative appointees, and one OHA vacancy still pending. Knudsen said the commission would help review new sister-state and international partnership proposals, while existing relationships would remain in place. Members also discussed the commission’s lack of a separate budget and its use of DBEDT international relations funding. The committee then moved to GM 789 for Wesley Fong to the same commission; DBEDT supported him based on his military, legal, and international trade background. A concern was raised that he also served on the State Ethics Commission, and Fong stated he had resigned from that post effective the 20th of the month to avoid a conflict. Senators questioned his reasons for leaving ethics, and he explained that his term was ending and he wanted to continue public service in a role aligned with his background in international agreements, education, and Indo-Pacific relations. No votes were taken in the portion provided.
The committee next considered GM 769 for Patrick Branco to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The foundation and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both testified in strong support. Branco appeared by Zoom and said he was currently on temporary military orders on the East Coast, but had prior experience in public diplomacy as cultural attaché in Caracas and had worked on Fulbright and cultural exchange efforts. The committee then took up GM 770 for Makanani Salā to the same board. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported her nomination, and Noe Wong-Wilson testified in person, citing Salā’s work at Windward Community College and her role in organizing the Best Fest festival, saying she would bring Hawaiian cultural perspective to the foundation. Salā said her county experience included arts, culture, and sister-city work, and that she would emphasize public-private partnerships and helping other agencies use the foundation’s expertise. Members briefly discussed FESTPAC and its rotating international location.
Finally, the committee heard GM 767 for Miles Miyatso to the Land Use Commission. The Land Use Commission and the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters both supported the nomination, and Avalon Development Company was listed but did not appear on Zoom. The discussion in the provided transcript ended during this item, with no vote or final action shown for the nominations covered.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 16th, 2026
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- in September, the five remaining recommendations, so we've completed those, and all those are now active
- public now can go to our website and pull up this map, and it will show them where we have... ...active
- This is a tourism and an economic issue, and I appreciate the work you're doing and the coordination
- You know, our state, so beautiful, natural state tourism and those things have become our number one
- You know, our state, so beautiful, natural state tourism and those things have become our number one
Summary:
The committee received a report from Director Wiley of the Arkansas Department of Transportation on a series of routine and quarterly items, including the closeout of the department’s efficiency review. Wiley said all five remaining recommendations from that review had been implemented, highlighted a new public maintenance dashboard on the agency website, and reported four surplus properties sold since the last meeting. He also noted that ARDOT had obligated $3.14 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to date and reviewed the annual expenditure report tied to 2019 revenue changes, which funded $98.7 million in maintenance projects last year.
Members asked about the balance between maintenance and new construction, with Wiley saying about 75% of construction dollars go to maintaining the existing system and that ARDOT’s overall spending is overwhelmingly focused on upkeep because of the size of the state highway network. He also discussed major projects and corridor priorities, including Interstate 57 and Highway 5 work in Lonoke County, Interstate 49 public meetings, passing-lane improvements on Highway 412/62 in north central Arkansas, Highway 82 widening in south Arkansas, and long-range plans to widen Interstate 40, possibly including a toll study. On the Toad Suck Bridge flood mitigation project, he said the design had been revised to reduce public impacts and would not require a long-term bridge closure.
The committee also discussed safety and enforcement tools in work zones. Wiley said new work-zone cameras and cell phone detection tools were being used on projects such as I-30, I-57, and I-49, mainly to improve safety rather than issue citations. In addition, he said ARDOT spends about $8 million annually on litter control and is expanding anti-litter efforts, including a spring cleanup day involving more than 2,500 operations employees and some office staff. He also announced agency initiatives on human trafficking awareness training for field and office staff and the Street Smart education program for middle school students, with plans to expand it to high school content next year. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the director’s presentation and member questions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Capital Investment Cmte hears St. Paul bonding requests for sports facility upgrades 3/20/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This complex is a center of social and economic activity for our city and for our state together.
- for our city and for economic activity for our city and for our<00:21:19.120><c> state</c><00:21:19.840
- and vitality through our jobs tourism and vitality through our community<00:21:37.720><c> and</c><00
- </c><00:32:22.960><c> and</c><00:32:23.120><c> economic</c> for entertainment tourism and economic for
- entertainment tourism and economic growth<00:32:24.200><c> a</c><00:32:24.360><c> key</c><00:32:24.519
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution Jun 21st, 2026 at 03:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- the town of Arlington and the city of Medford, and I am the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism
- The particular aspects here for grade 3 that I love is an activity taking perspective of the American
- In tourism, I know the commission is excited to hear more updates.
- So, three of the potential commission activities...
- So, three of the potential commission activities I want us to have a conversation about and certainly
Summary:
The Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution met without a quorum, so no votes were taken and any items requiring action were deferred to a future meeting. Representative Sean Garballey welcomed new commission member Mona Roy and thanked outgoing members Susie Berry and Abigail Chandler, noting that the governor’s office would be contacted about open appointments to help restore quorum. The commission then heard a presentation from the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition, which outlined civics and history education programs tied to Mass 250 and America 250, including Civic Learning Week, teacher professional development, student civic projects, online courses, and curriculum resources from partners such as iCivics, Harvard’s Democratic Knowledge Project, GBH, Facing History and Ourselves, EDC, Revolutionary Spaces, and others.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism reported on the state’s 250th anniversary campaign, including a November event at the Old South Meeting House with the governor, lieutenant governor, and Boston Symphony Orchestra, strong media coverage, over $6 million in sponsorships, new TV spots tied to Ken Burns’ American Revolution documentary, and a new Massachusetts First webpage and merchandise. Revolutionary 250 gave an update on upcoming Henry Knox Trail commemorations, including events beginning in January at the state line and continuing in Great Barrington, Springfield, Worcester, Framingham, Cambridge, Roxbury, and Dorchester Heights, with related planning for the St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day parade and other Revolutionary-era observances.
The commission also discussed possible future initiatives for member working groups: contributing to an America 250 time capsule, organizing community-level “America’s potluck dinner” events on July 5, and coordinating readings of the Declaration of Independence on July 8. Members asked clarifying questions about how the potluck and time capsule efforts would work, and staff said an email would be sent after the meeting to gather interest and form small planning groups. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, a second, and unanimous approval.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- When we consider all export activity combined, the number of jobs that is created goes to 582,000—over
- He is an active member, participating in delegation visits to Mexico City, to the state of Jalisco, to
- And you'll see some of our other very active members that are coming to join us today.
- But they suffer from a lack of tourism because of the effects of free trade, fascism.
- Tourism lost $500,000 annually. And so what I want is solutions.
Summary:
The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review.
Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund.
Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Back to what I was saying: who cuts the Office of Tourism entirely?
- Why will we eliminate tourism funding?
- I got my start, my career in tourism, in the state of Massachusetts.
- Tourism funding.
- One is eliminating the funding to the Office of Tourism.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and several guest recognitions, including a student honored for a national Mandarin speech contest, a Ms. Black Arizona candidate, and a Madison Elementary School reusable-tray pilot program. The body also recognized interns and approved the prior journal. The chamber then moved through Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted committee reports recommending passage of a series of budget-related bills.
The main legislative business centered on the 2026-27 budget package and related omnibus measures, including appropriations, budget implementation, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, K-12 education, state property, revenue/taxation, and transportation bills. Most of these measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, with repeated debate focused on the tax omnibus and the overall budget’s policy choices. Supporters argued the package provided affordability, tax relief, conformity with federal tax changes, reduced government spending, and reforms to entitlement and other programs; opponents argued it favored corporations and wealthy taxpayers, cut health care, food assistance, housing, tourism, wildfire response, and education, and would forfeit federal matching funds.
Several members specifically criticized the failure to close the data center tax exemption and to raise sports betting taxes, while supporters defended those provisions as pro-business and pro-growth. There was also discussion of fund sweeps, including university research funds, housing trust funds, and other agency balances, with opponents saying the sweeps targeted encumbered or already-committed money. After debate, the Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and advanced the bills, and later took up House bills introduced and placed on third reading, with members explaining their votes on HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act, largely along party lines.
At the end of the session, the Senate processed messages from the House requesting the return of SB 1160 and SB 1786 for reconsideration, and the Senate requested the House return HB 2415 for reconsideration. The chamber also introduced and placed several House budget bills on third reading, including HB 4138 through HB 4153, continuing the budget process.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/6/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- the land at the same time promoting tourism and economic development.
- the land at the same time promoting tourism and economic development.
- the land at the same time promoting tourism and economic development.
- </c><00:34:31.399><c> so</c> participating in this activity so participating in this activity so hopefully
- </c> trails that enhances Regional tourism trails that enhances Regional tourism and<00:45:21.720><c>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- certain distance of certain locations of children commonly gathered for participating in Halloween activities
- Wildlife Commission of the Parks and Wildlife Department for the Committee on Culture and Recreation and Tourism
- parkland passports and their immediate family members for the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism
- financially support the American Library Association refer to the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism
- Ending in 2035, refer to the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism HCR 105 by TOFE, designating
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- later distance of certain locations with children commonly gathered for participating in Halloween activities
- Commission of the Parks and Wildlife Department and for the Committee on Culture and Recreation and Tourism
- For the committee on culture, recreation and tourism, HB 2542 by Kitzman relating to the establishment
- finance support the American Library Association, refer to the Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism
- Ending in 2035, refer to the Committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism HCR 105 by Toth, designating
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 538, a bill to be entitled an act relating to extracurricular activities.
- in intrscholastic or interscholastic extracurricular activities at the public school.
- sponsors of extracurricular activities as administrative personnel and negotiate salary compensation
- This will hurt tourism. It will hurt economic development.
- This will hurt tourism. It will hurt economic development.
Summary:
The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, visiting groups, and special honorees in the galleries. The chamber then took up committee and executive appointment business, adopting a report confirming 42 gubernatorial appointments by a vote of 36-0.
The Senate next considered a long special-order calendar of bills, most of them passing with little or no opposition. Measures included public-records sunset reviews and trade secret/cybersecurity exemptions; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; commercial driving school oversight; human trafficking training for nurses; a new injunction for protection against serious violence and its related public-records exemption; nature-based coastal resiliency and mangrove protection; a chiropractic trust-funds cap repeal; specialty license plates; a waiver of late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation; the Florida Farm Bill with multiple agriculture, biosolids, and enforcement provisions; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leases; disability presumption clarifications for first responders; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and the Blue Envelope program; campus safety reporting procedures for public postsecondary institutions; and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary critical-need practice certificates, and domestic animals.
The floor debate featured the most discussion on the farm bill, the HCSM/nonprofit religious organizations bill, the autism law-enforcement bill, and the school athletics bill. The HCSM bill drew extended debate over whether licensed insurance agents should be allowed to market faith-based health care sharing ministries, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free speech, and religious liberty, and opponents warning about unregulated products and commissions; it passed 32-5. The athletics bill, prompted by the Teddy Bridgewater/Miami Northwestern situation, would let coaches provide good-faith support to student-athletes while requiring reporting and FHSAA oversight; it passed 38-0. Most other measures passed overwhelmingly, including the autism bill 38-0, the campus safety bill 37-0, the public school patriotic displays bill 36-2, and the farm bill 38-0 after amendments addressing Everglades lands and biosolids timing were adopted.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Mar 18th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- is an update on oil activity, and The last part of this page is an update on the oil activity, and this
- These are the numbers behind the activities I talked about just a moment ago.
- Not everybody has the same dates for the same activities.
- Because the major emphasis of Medora is a tourism location.
- It's more of the active parts of it are more actively managed than passive, but that's kind of an example
Summary:
The Budget Section met with a quorum, approved the December 10, 2025 minutes, and received a general fund and revenue update from the Office of Management and Budget. OMB reported the state was about $2 million ahead of forecast biennium-to-date, with an estimated ending general fund balance of about $397.5 million. Joe Morset also reviewed balances in major funds, oil tax revenues, interest income, federal grant reporting, fiscal irregularities, the voluntary separation incentive program, vacancy savings, and the FTE pool. Members asked about the higher-than-forecast interest income, the effective oil tax rate and stripper-well production, the impact of temporary pay adjustments and vacancy savings, and whether the voluntary separation program could reduce institutional knowledge or shift duties to remaining staff.
The committee then approved four Emergency Commission requests: $5.26 million for DPI to support an AI-enabled tutoring platform, $105,000 from the general fund contingency for Corrections GPS monitoring, about $1.963 million for HHS SPACES eligibility system upgrades tied to Medicaid work requirements, and about $1.2 million for SNAP eligibility IT improvements. Legislative Council reported remaining interim spending authority after those approvals, and NDIT gave an update on digital accessibility compliance efforts, saying the state has made substantial progress on websites and PDFs but that applications will take longer to remediate. NDIT also reported on the Infinite Campus student information system rollout, noting data migration remains the biggest challenge and that a supplemental vendor is being brought in to help get districts ready for summer go-live. Greg Hoffman then gave a brief update on NDIT’s operational fund, saying cash remains negative in PeopleSoft but accounts receivable keeps the fund functioning within federal limits.
The Supreme Court reported on its new and vacant FTE funding pool, saying it has filled 7 of 10 new positions and has realized some vacancy savings, and Legislative Council provided a similar report for the legislative branch along with a reminder that budget action reports are available online. The Department of Transportation presented its Flexible Transportation Fund, explaining the fund’s allocation formulas and ranking process, and sought Budget Section approval for two projects over the $10 million threshold: a Medora city streets and sidewalk project and a Cass County bridge replacement. Members questioned whether funding Medora streets could set a precedent for city street reconstruction and whether the bridge application process fully reflects statewide needs. DOT said the projects were scored competitively and that the bridge list does not capture all deficiencies statewide.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 17 (1-30-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And to economic development, tourism, and labor: Senate Bill 45.
- ,</c> And to economic development, tourism, And to economic development, tourism, and<00:20:17.200><c
- So I'd encourage anybody out there, a veteran, active duty military, National Guard, retired military
- </c><00:23:43.440><c> duty</c><00:23:43.840><c> military,</c> there, a veteran, active duty military,
- there, a veteran, active duty military, um,<00:23:45.600><c> National</c><00:23:46.000><c> Guard,</c
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Public libraries are active community spaces, and they get a lot of traffic.
- Public libraries are active community spaces, and they get a lot of traffic.
- , allowing for safe travels from County Highway 96 to Lake Valentine Road and filling a gap in an active
- pedestrian network and it in an active pedestrian network and it would<00:10:45.040><c> also</c><00:
- , including skiing, mountain activities, including skiing, mountain biking,<00:45:13.359><c> golfing,
Bills:
HF1972 , HF229 , HF1090 , HF1084 , HF1307 , HF1274 , HF1609 , HF2110 , HF211 , HF216 , HF222 , HF224 , HF225 , HF203 , HF206 , HF207 , HF208 , HF227 , HF246 , HF427 , HF466 , HF502 , HF680 , HF971
Committee:
House Capital Investment
Keywords:
community center, Breckenridge, capital investment, state bonds, economic development, HF229, North Branch Area Hockey Association, Stacy Ice Arena, Chisago County, general fund appropriation, grant, ice arena, hockey rink, youth sports, recreational facility, community arena, nonprofit, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, local infrastructure
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:12:18.639><c> Development</c><00:12:19.680><c> shall</c> and Tourism Development shall and Tourism
- </c><00:17:35.280><c> to</c> working with travel and tourism to working with travel and tourism to determine
- </c> >> I lived in California when I was active >> I lived in California when I was active
- </c> activities. So, I'll go on with mine. activities. So, I'll go on with mine.
- </c> uh um Rob Johnson who is pretty active uh um Rob Johnson who is pretty active here<03:14:49.760>
Committee:
House Transportation
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (02/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:33:15.360><c> and</c><00:33:16.000><c> U</c><00:33:16.279><c> page</c> tourism and U page tourism
- </c> um you know our travel and tourism um you know our travel and tourism department<00:38:41.040><c
- February 18th, 2025, so about six weeks of activity.
- </c> and we looked at existing activity and we looked at existing activity through<05:04:44.638><c> February
- </c> 2025 so about six weeks of activity 2025 so about six weeks of activity about<05:04:50.400><c> another
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.