Bills: HB4421, HB4426, HB4432, HB4329, HB3551, HB3763, HB1411, HB2730, HB3465, HB3649, HB3650, HB3674, HB3941, HB3970, HB3979, HB3980, HB3981, SB1074

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Bills: HB4421, HB4426, HB4432, HB4329, HB3551, HB3763, HB1411, HB2730, HB3465, HB3649, HB3650, HB3674, HB3941, HB3970, HB3979, HB3980, HB3981, SB1074

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Summary: The committee heard a bill presented by the Speaker, who said the measure was prompted by a constituent request and was intended to protect children in Oklahoma from fentanyl-related harm. He noted he would file a floor amendment to rename it “Leo’s Law” in memory of a person lost to fentanyl. The chair also announced a work draft, PCS-1, which the Speaker agreed to adopt. Members asked about how the bill would work in practice. One question raised whether the bill could require a home to be inspected and cleaned of fentanyl residue before a child is returned; the Speaker said he liked the idea and was open to working it into a floor amendment with DHS. Another member asked whether the bill simply mirrored current child endangerment law or strengthened it, and the Speaker said it was intended to strengthen existing law in response to fentanyl’s severity. A follow-up question about age and circumstances prompted the Speaker to say the bill was meant to give judges, DHS, and district attorneys tools to protect children in a wide range of situations. After questions ended, the committee moved to a due pass motion. The bill passed the committee 31-0, and the chair reported it out with a due pass recommendation. The committee then stood at recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• pay the advertised cash sale price offered at the time of the sale with their own money or with a loan
• pay, provided that the buyer fails to complete the sale transaction or does not timely finance the loan
• A retail seller of motor vehicles would be required to accept unlimited amounts of cash and any loan
• At the time, I worked for a company that sold a hybrid loan with a lower payment option through credit
• Our bank can loan it to you, and we can get you a real good interest rate." "Really?"

Bills: HB12, HB149, HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696

Keywords: election law, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, law enforcement, jurisdiction, voter fraud, local prosecuting attorney, public safety, communication, governor approval, interoperability, political subdivision, radio systems, artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission and stuff have debated whether this is a loan or not a loan.
• Well, they meet all the characteristics of a loan for the most part.
• In fact, do you treat it as a loan or an equity position?
• We understood that they did have an MCA loan in place.
• Hard-working folks who often cannot get access to traditional loans.

Bills: HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696, HB12, HB149

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, automobile sales, finance, retail seller, motor vehicle purchase, motor vehicle sales, pricing restrictions, third-party financing, education, funding, student assessment, accountability, standards, motor vehicle, financing

Transcript Highlights:

• c> Account</c><00:02:32.960><c> and</c> Loan Program Revolving Loan Account and Loan Program Revolving
• The owner accessed the Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program and has successfully paid that loan off.
• Another successfully paid that loan off.
• client as he's accessed a prepared loan client as he's accessed loans<00:04:37.640><c> for</c><00:04
• </c> Program and Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program and Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program<00:05:21.600

Bills: HF3878, HF4131, HF3796, HF4097

Keywords: airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, consumer rights, automated decision systems, Minnesota Statutes, suitable seating, employee seating, workplace seating, occupational safety, workplace safety, labor standards, employer requirements, chair, stool

Transcript Highlights:

• modification that would allow her loan modification that would allow her to<00:57:57.600><c> remain<
• ,</c> improvements, or provision of loans, improvements, or provision of loans, grants,<01:17:05.160>
• I also had an employer, Marvin Windows, who came to the table with basically a zero deferred loan of
• I also had an employer, Marvin Windows, who came to the table with basically a zero deferred loan of
• I also had an employer, Marvin Windows, who came to the table with basically a zero deferred loan of

Bills: HF3279, HF1879, HF1417, HF2462

Keywords: housing, sales tax, homeownership, rent assistance, community stability, education, counseling, financial assistance, housing development, culturally appropriate services, HF1417, manufactured home parks, manufactured housing, mobile home parks, housing development fund, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, infrastructure grants, infrastructure loans, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• This deduction includes a portion of the fees charged to borrowers, including points in loan origination
• threshold in order to be required to pay B&O tax on the interest income received on investments or loans
• threshold in order to be required to pay B&O tax on the interest income received on investments or loans
• secured by first mortgages or trustees on non-transient residential properties. ...investments or loans
• It's a local bank that loans millions of dollars to first-time homebuyers.

Bills: HB1960, HB2194, HB2089

Keywords: HB1960, renewable energy, clean energy, solar, wind, battery storage, energy storage, excise tax, property tax exemption, local investment, county revenue sharing, local taxing districts, school districts, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, model ordinance, siting, permitting, tribal consultation, tribal capacity grants

Summary: House Finance held hearings on three bills. HB 2194 would allow a county and a city within that county to both impose the cultural access sales and use tax at the same time, with the county providing a credit for the city tax. The sponsor said the bill would fix an unfair limitation and expand support for arts, science, and cultural programs. Olympia and Thurston County representatives testified in support, citing grants to local cultural organizations, free programming, and school access. A committee member asked about whether concurrent taxes could affect county bond repayment, and the testifier said he would follow up. No vote was taken. HB 2089 would remove the current requirement that a financial institution be located in 10 or more states in order to lose a B&O tax deduction on interest from certain mortgage-related loans, with the resulting revenue directed to the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account. Staff estimated the bill would raise significant revenue and affect about 450 taxpayers. The sponsor said the bill restores wildfire funding cut in the prior session by narrowing a tax preference that he said had primarily benefited large institutions rather than community banks. The Department of Natural Resources and public employees representing wildfire workers supported the bill as a way to restore wildfire preparedness funding. The Washington Bankers Association and community bankers opposed the bill as drafted, saying it would harm community banks and that they were working on revised language; they also said credit unions are not subject to B&O tax. No vote was taken. The committee then heard a proposed third substitute for HB 1960, a complex bill that would exempt certain renewable energy facility personal property and battery storage systems from property tax and replace that tax with a state and local excise tax based on generating or storage capacity. The bill would also create a local investment distribution account, make tribal capacity grants permanent, and set conditions for counties to receive grant funds tied to siting and consultation requirements. The sponsor said the goal is to levelize taxes over the life of wind, solar, and storage projects so local communities are not left with a shifting tax burden, and described the measure as a compromise. County officials, assessors, treasurers, the Department of Revenue, and conservation groups generally supported the approach but asked for clearer definitions, payment timing, and rate adjustments. Utilities and some renewable energy developers were in respectful opposition or signed in as con, saying the rates may be too high, the bill may not be workable for centrally assessed utilities, and some provisions need further refinement. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• in order to be required to pay the B&O tax on interest income received on interest investments or loans
• Representative Scott, H-3148.1.1, and it makes the following change: amounts received as interest on loans
• Representative Scott, H-3148.1.1, and it makes the following change: amounts received as interest on loans
• requires that high-volume mortgage lenders pay the B&O tax on interest income received on investments or loans

Bills: HB2713, HB2730, HB2297, HB2487, HB2382, HB2089, HB2431, HB2451, HB2590, HB2325, HB2278, HB2224, HB2322

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• going to take Next, we're going to take up tab 20, SB 7016, on OGSR, administration of small business loan
• economic development agency for the purpose of administering a state or federally funded small business loan

Bills: S0062, S0156, S0168, S0288, S0290, S0292, S0296, S0298, S0364, S0386, S0624, S7004, S7006, S7008, S7012, S7014, S7016

Keywords: candidate qualification, political party, voter registration, election law, Florida Statutes, rural electric cooperatives, energy production, Florida law, energy tariffs, regulation, agriculture, landscape equipment, gasoline-powered, ecologically significant parcels, local government regulations, public records, appellate courts, information exemption, safety, personal identifying information

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and considered a long agenda of bills, many of which were reported favorably. Early action included CS for SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would create an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation qualification requirements, and CS for SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and add mandatory life imprisonment for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer. SB 156 drew strong support from the City of Daytona Beach and law enforcement groups, while the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers opposed parts of the bill, arguing it removed useful limits on force and imposed overly rigid sentencing. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills, including measures extending exemptions for social media platform investigations, small business loan program records, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigatory records, emergency shelter recipient information, Department of Military Affairs records, conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information, Public Service Commission records and meetings, and Florida Gaming Control Commission records and meetings. The committee also advanced CS for SB 624, allowing batterers’ intervention programs to offer optional faith-based activities, with supporters saying faith-based counseling can help reduce domestic violence and no participant would be required to take part. Other approved measures included HB 167 on former phosphate mining lands, which limits certain liability claims if notice and survey requirements are met; CS for SB 48 on housing, which requires local governments to allow accessory dwelling units and was amended to remove hearing and variance requirements and clarify local ordinance obligations; SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, described as a negotiated glitch bill preserving co-op authority over generation and power purchases; and CS for SB 364 on public accountancy, which creates additional CPA licensure pathways and mobility provisions. The committee also approved SB 292 creating a public records exemption for appellate court clerks and their families, despite some opposition votes. Later, the committee passed CS for SB 296 and CS for SB 298, which expand protections for victims of domestic violence and dating violence by creating a feasibility study for a secure web-based 911 alert platform and extending address confidentiality and public records protections to dating violence, stalking, and aggravated stalking victims. SB 386 on farm equipment, described as a “lemon law” for tractors and similar equipment, also passed. Additional open-government bills were approved for emergency shelter recipients, military affairs records, conviction integrity unit materials, PSC records, and gaming commission records. SB 168 on public nuisances was reported favorably as well. One bill, CS for CS for SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, was temporarily postponed after extensive stakeholder testimony; the chair allowed public comment but no vote was taken, and the sponsor indicated ongoing discussions and possible changes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded several individual votes for the record, and the committee adjourned.

Bills: HB5691, SB427, SB2623, SB2858

Keywords: municipal management district, bonds, assessments, property taxes, economic development, eminent domain, special district, SB 427, local government, political subdivision, state loan, state grant, financial reporting, annual financial statement, annual report, county report, municipal finance, water district, municipality, county auditor

Transcript Highlights:

• would authorize the Commission on Higher Education to award ...Commission on Higher Education to award loan
• No, no, they can apply for loan assistance. ...they can apply for loan assistance, you know, but they
• now, we don't need to do this anymore. ...not we can continue to fund this to reward these student loans

Bills: HB315, HB152, HB205, SB184, SB209, HB309, SB280, SB267

Keywords: sales tax, local exemption, Consumer Price Index, tax holiday, clothing tax exemption, school supplies, sales tax exemption, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, menstrual hygiene products, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications

Transcript Highlights:

• subdivision 47.20, subdivision 4a that governs the maximum interest rate charged for conventional loans
• I think we'll have a substantive change on how folks are buying loan products, but it's just allowing
• usury law, and that you realize that's a maximum that can be charged for any kind of consumer-based loan
• , like an auto loan, unsecured loan, or credit cards and different things.
• When it's entity to consumer, the consumer is at a disadvantage, and so that's where the loans that are

Bills: HF2601, HF2607, HF2027, HF2608

Keywords: financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate

Bills: SB147, SB414, HB220, HB750, HB799, HB827, HB952, HB953

Keywords: roof standards, construction code, residential property, fortified roofs, insurance, medical debt, interest rate, healthcare services, consumer protection, debt collection, Louisiana Medical Debt Protection Act, child exploitation, online reporting, platforms, cyber crime, PROTECT Act, automatic renewal, cancellation policy, subscription service, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• or funding to be banks and get loans or funding to be able<00:45:09.280><c> to</c><00:45:09.359><c>
• Oftentimes our farmers are trying to access Farm Service Agency direct loan services, and it's really
• </c> to access farm service agencies um to access farm service agencies um direct<00:55:58.079><c> loan
• </c><01:01:21.599><c> um</c><01:01:21.680><c> and</c> piecing together those FSA loans um and piecing
• together those FSA loans um and largely<01:01:22.400><c> looking</c><01:01:22.640><c> for</c><01:01:

Bills: HF3579, HF3549, HF3548, HF4388, HF3566

Keywords: eggs, donation, quality assurance, food assistance, charitable programs, agriculture, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, rotational grazing, grazing management, livestock, pasture management, soil health, erosion control

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is a public records exemption for cybersecurity event and also for loan originators.
• This bill is a public records exemption for a cybersecurity event and also for loan originators.

Bills: S0198, S0570, S0772, S0808, S1038, S1040, S1286, S1440, S1504, S1668

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, payment scams, task force, fraud prevention, property insurance, roofing requirements, inspector, insurance policies, homeowners insurance, roof age, residential structures, insurance renewal, investment

Summary: The Committee on Banking and Insurance met with a quorum present and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1286 by Senator Wright. That bill expands the law enforcement recruitment bonus program to include firefighters, creates a DFS grant review panel for fire-related grants, and establishes an institute for PTSD and first-responder behavioral health. Testimony from fire chiefs and others supported the measure, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee then considered several insurance and financial regulation bills. CS/SB 198 by Senator Rousan, as amended, regulates virtual currency kiosks with transaction limits, notice and receipt requirements, and OFR enforcement authority; witnesses described it as a needed anti-fraud measure, especially for seniors, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 772 by Senator Burgess, as amended, allows limited licenses for portable electronics and eyewear insurance, and CS/SB 1504 by Senator Claudio, as amended, creates a pathway for high school students to qualify for insurance customer representative licensure; both were reported favorably. The committee also approved two cryptocurrency reserve bills by Senator Gruters: CS/SB 1038 creates the Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve framework, and CS/SB 1040 creates the related trust fund; both received technical amendments and favorable reports. CS/SB 1440 by Senator Martin, as amended, creates public records exemptions and cybersecurity reporting provisions for financial institutions and related entities, and it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1668 by Senator Burton, which updates the NICA program’s funding and benefit structure, and CS/SB 570 by Senator Polsky, which creates a task force on payment scams, were both heard with supportive testimony and reported favorably. Senators later recorded additional affirmative votes on selected bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:04.239><c> and</c><00:04:04.959><c> the</c><00:04:05.079><c> third</c> conventional loans
• , like an auto loan or unsecured loan or credit cards and different things.
• like an auto kind of consumer-based loan like an auto loan<00:10:42.959><c> or</c><00:10:43.160><c>
• unsecured</c><00:10:43.720><c> loan</c><00:10:44.040><c> or</c><00:10:44.600><c> or</c><00:10:44.920>
• <c> credit</c> loan or unsecured loan or or credit loan or unsecured loan or or credit cards<00:10:45.639

Bills: HF2601, HF2607, HF2027, HF2608

Keywords: financial institutions, insurance regulation, insurance holding company, group capital calculation, liquidity stress test, NAIC, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, insurer solvency, affiliate transactions, groupwide supervision, internationally active insurance group, lead state commissioner, policyholder protection, hazardous financial condition, deposit or bond, contract for deed, conventional loan, cooperative apartment loan, mortgage interest rate cap, average prime offer rate

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a bill relating to taxes, 2023 penalty forgiveness to the city of Alpha.
• And again, this is a forgiveness bill so they can get their LGA payment. Chair Gomez.
• And again, this is a a forgiveness<00:09:29.800><c> uh</c><00:09:29.840><c> so</c><00:09:30.000><c> they
• 30.080><c> can</c><00:09:30.200><c> get</c><00:09:30.360><c> their</c><00:09:30.520><c> LGA</c> forgiveness
• uh so they can get their LGA forgiveness uh so they can get their LGA payment.<00:09:31.600><c> Uh</

Bills: HF1016, HF2800, HF156, HF3051, HF526, HF2658, HF2062, HF2801

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike other interfund loans allowed under state rule, these interest-free loans may be used to balance
• If the district has taken an interfund loan from its transportation vehicle fund, the petition may include
• So the language expands generally the interfund loans that they can be taken from the capital or the
• One is the interfund loans. Those are the interest-free. They are for the period. Inter-fund loans.
• For the loans.

Bills: SB6078, SB6089, SB5859, SB5861, SB6065, SB5956, SB5901

Keywords: SB 6078, child care, childcare, daycare, licensed child care provider, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, prelicensing, licensing support, resource guide, child care center, family home child care, family home provider, outdoor nature-based child care, school-age child care, early learning, provider application, local permit notice, city permit, county permit

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several education-related bills. SB 6078 would expand pre-licensing supports for prospective child care providers by directing DCYF and the State Patrol to offer consultations and resource guidance, with testimony from the sponsor, DCYF, and a community nonprofit emphasizing that the bill would reduce fragmented licensing barriers and help open more child care sites. SB 6089 would create a public-private structure to coordinate Washington’s P-20W education and workforce system and develop a public-facing data dashboard; supporters from education, nonprofit, and student groups said it would improve alignment, transparency, and equity, while WEA and OSPI raised concerns about private influence, duplication, and the use of a non-state entity for the dashboard. SB 5859 would expand competency-based assessment options within graduation pathways, with supporters saying it would give students more flexible ways to demonstrate learning, and the State Board of Education and school principals cautioning that the board’s ongoing Future Ready review should finish before new pathway changes are made. SB 5861 would require more school board directors to be elected from director districts in larger districts; supporters argued it would improve community representation, while some districts and WSSDA warned about costs, loss of local control, and implementation burdens. SB 6065 would allow districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds for temporary loans or permanent transfers with OSPI approval, and rural district advocates said it could help distressed districts stabilize without new state spending. The committee then moved into executive session and acted on two bills. It adopted the proposed substitute for SB 5956, which limits the use of automated decision systems, surveillance technology, biometric data, and facial recognition in student discipline and school safety decisions, and sent the bill to Rules with a do-pass recommendation. It also adopted the proposed substitute for SB 5901, which changes how state funding is calculated for school construction projects on military bases, and sent that bill to Ways and Means with a do-pass recommendation. Both measures passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• to accept the loans.
• principal, which is essentially a waiver of a portion of the loan to the applicant if they meet certain
• We were actually prepared to close on about a $16 million loan with Gila County for 100 percent forgivable
• loan so they can get an acceptable septic system to eliminate the risk of contamination.
• loan so they can get an acceptable septic system to eliminate the risk of contamination.

Bills: HB2029, HB2096, HB2116

Keywords: water conservation, grants, infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainability, cesspool remediation, cesspool replacement, forgivable principal, forgivable loan, wifa, water infrastructure finance authority, clean water revolving fund, drinking water revolving fund, wastewater infrastructure, on-site wastewater system, septic system, groundwater protection, public health, nonpoint source pollution, county water projects

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to make loans or grants from the Water Project Fund for
• the Public Project Revolving Fund, and it includes $6,250,000 to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
• the Public Project Revolving Fund, and it includes $6,250,000 to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan

Bills: HB63, HB64, HB184, HB200, HB47, HB48, HB2, HB9

Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans