Video & Transcript Research : 'small business'

Page 4 of 500
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • No matter what the business arrangement is...
  • Utility Council or OPEC to represent the voices of residential and small business ratepayers.
  • OPIC is a small but mighty agency.
  • They represent residential consumers and small business consumers.
  • Texans could expect fewer interruptions. to business activity due to fewer power outages.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • These regulations are putting unnecessary. pressure on small business owners, making it more difficult
  • The status quo is crushing small businesses.
  • This bill is a win for small businesses, innovation, and communities across Texas.
  • area, and I'm here today to voice my strong support for House Bill 2844, because as a small business
  • And in Salvadorian slang, I'm here asking you to be a Cheddo, a friend to small businesses today.
NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • Thousands of small businesses, and it's been our privilege to be part of this program.
  • As we know, small business is the backbone of our economy.
  • I'm also one of the many small business owners that this would affect.
  • all of us small businesses up to 600, if not thousands, in Nevada.
  • All of us small businesses, up to 600, if not thousands, in Nevada.
NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • be helping out small businesses.
  • have a very high percentage of businesses that are small businesses.
  • So it's not every small business in the state.
  • It's small businesses during their first year ever getting a state business license. Business.
  • are small businesses.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Wed Feb 18, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:13:35.760><c> and</c> support for our local businesses and support for our local businesses and
  • ,</c> Industries, Department of Business, Industries, Department of Business, Economic<00:15:20.880><
  • </c> disclaimer could be in the business disclaimer could be in the business registration<00:20:44.400
  • </c><00:30:39.679><c> um</c> being paid out are relatively small um being paid out are relatively small
  • U but what is the of your business.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 2410 relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Testifiers from HTDC and the Hawaii Food Industry Association stood on written testimony, and members discussed the funding request, which was described as $1 million each for three programs, for a total of $3 million. The measure appeared to have broad support, with no opposition noted. The committee then took up HB 2235 HD1 on the military and community relations office, where Lori Moore of MACC asked for additional funding to support local businesses and education-to-career initiatives statewide. Members asked about the amount, and the request was identified as $1.3 million total. HB 904 on space operations followed, with three supporters and one opponent, though no substantive testimony was captured beyond the vote counts. HB 2201 on state enterprise zones drew testimony from Georgia Skinner of DBEDT’s Creative Industries division, who said the measure would build on a well-run enterprise zone program and help make Hawaii’s film industry more competitive. Tom Yamashita of the Tax Foundation also provided comments. The committee then considered HB 2349 relating to DCCA and DBEDT coordination; DCCA explained it already provides links and information to DBEDT programs, while DBEDT argued that direct data sharing would allow more proactive outreach. Members raised privacy and cost concerns, and DBEDT said it would consider opt-in collection and acknowledged system changes and possible funding needs. The committee also heard two tax credit bills. HB 1972 HD1, on a caregiver tax credit, received strong support from AARP, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, who described caregivers as an “invisible workforce” and argued the credit would help families keep loved ones at home and reduce financial strain. The Tax Foundation suggested a grant or subsidy program might be more efficient than a tax credit and raised concerns about debarment provisions. HB 20007 HD1, on the household and dependent care services tax credit, also drew strong support from public health and family advocacy groups, who said Hawaii families face some of the nation’s highest child care costs and that the bill would better reflect current expenses; the Tax Foundation again raised technical concerns about complexity and debarment. Members asked about fiscal impacts, and testimony indicated the current credit costs about $6 million, with the bill expected to increase that amount. The committee then moved on to HB 2385 HD1 on housing, where the Deputy Attorney General began presenting written comments on whether the bill limits county authority.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Rules Jan 27th, 2026

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • Next, we're going to take Next, we're going to take up tab 20, SB 7016, on OGSR, administration of small
  • business loan programs held by Economic Development Agency by Commerce and Tourism.
  • business loan program.
  • These are small, independent living spaces, such as a garage apartment or backyard cottage.
  • Is there any other business before the committee? Senator Burgess moves we adjourn.
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.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Feb 23rd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Fifth order of business, committee reports.
  • Sixth order of business. Second reading. Sixth order of business. Second reading of bills.
  • This is a small amendment that I worked with the proponent. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
  • So that's being shifted over to homeowners, to farmers, to small businesses throughout.
  • It would have been a small portion.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Feb 23rd, 2026

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Fifth order of business, committee reports.
  • Sixth order of business. Second reading. Sixth order of business. Second reading of bills.
  • So that's being shifted over to homeowners, to farmers, to small businesses throughout.
  • It would have been a small portion.
  • To bring other businesses into our community.
Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the previous day’s minutes, and heard a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber also moved several bills through routine orders, including placing House Bill 273 on health carrier surpluses and House Bill 2681 on cannabis license fees on the second reading calendar, and welcoming guests and honored families to the gallery. The main floor action centered on three bills. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2325, establishing a tourism self-support program, was amended with a technical clarification and passed 84-5. Supporters said the industry should fund a statewide tourism marketing effort to attract visitors year-round and compete with other states. Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960, on renewable energy, was amended to address local tax treatment of wind, solar, and battery storage projects and passed 74-15; proponents said it would replace a shifting property-tax burden with a more stable excise tax so host communities receive lasting benefits. House Bill 2521, concerning firearms background checks, drew the most debate. Amendments to raise the fee cap and to set the fee at zero were both rejected, with opponents arguing the bill would burden constitutional rights and supporters saying the fee should cover the State Patrol’s costs. The bill then passed 53-36. House Bill 2675, the annual accounts bill, passed unanimously 89-0 after brief support from both parties. The House then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part II) Mar 31st, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • As a small business owner who has endured the hardships of the premiums for increasing auto insurance
  • These costs are few but burdensome for small businesses like mine to afford.
  • Overhead as a small business owner doesn't wait. Those bills for me are due every month.
  • I represent businesses, small and large, and defend them in support. of this bill.
  • Secondly, we run a small business; our clinic employs about 125 people.
Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss several critical pieces of legislation including SB30 and SB38. Senator Betancourt introduced a committee substitute for SB38 which underwent a smooth adoption process, moving it favorably toward the Senate. The meeting featured a mix of invited testimonies where both proponents and opponents took the floor. One notable highlight included a testimony from Melissa Casey, who criticized the current legal state as prone to fraud and detrimental to both insurers and the public at large, contending that it inflated insurance costs across the board. The discussions delved deeply into the implications of the bills on judicial processes and potential insurance ramifications, with spirited debates surrounding issues of non-economic damages and jury rights. The atmosphere remained engaged as committee members heard varied perspectives on the bills, showcasing a robust democratic process. The meeting underscored the importance of public testimony in shaping legislation, ensuring that multiple voices were considered as the committee pressed on towards making decisions that affect the legal landscape of Texas.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> and</c><00:14:20.959><c> not</c> my small business and countless and not my small business and countless
  • c> ones</c> Minnesota small businesses are the ones Minnesota small businesses are the ones who<00:14
  • </c> Minnesota small businesses pay this tax. Minnesota small businesses pay this tax.
  • a</c><00:17:43.919><c> cost</c> family's small business, I know a cost family's small business, I know
  • </c><00:37:28.240><c> businesses</c> alternative ways of of small businesses alternative ways of of small
Bills: HF4598, HF4884, HF3732
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 2/27/25

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> we need someone to help bu businesses we need someone to help bu businesses navigate<00:12:17.680
  • </c><00:14:10.440><c> and</c> process plays a role businesses and process plays a role businesses and
  • </c><00:18:08.320><c> businesses</c> trade associations and small businesses trade associations and small
  • </c><00:18:20.240><c> go</c> of programs that help businesses go of programs that help businesses go
  • </c> different from the Minnesota business different from the Minnesota business first<00:30:34.120><
Bills: HF8, HF1416
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

GVO DEFER, GVO Public Hearings 02-05-2026

Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> procurement</c> program, the small business procurement program, the small business procurement
  • Mahalo. helped to support small businesses in helped to support small businesses in our<00:18:48.960>
  • about them to the small business community and assist small businesses in being able to implement them
  • ><c> program</c><00:19:49.440><c> in</c> pro the small business program in pro the small business program
  • </c><00:19:56.799><c> business</c> word about them to the small business word about them to the small
Summary: The committee met for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week and took up a series of government operations, procurement, public records, public meetings, and related bills. Several measures were deferred one week to February 12, 2026, including bills on state construction projects, government accountability, gubernatorial appointments, the legislature, public procurement, and a bill on Hawaiian lei sales, largely so the committee could compare similar measures, address concerns, or integrate related reports. The committee also deferred SB 2449 on public meetings for the year, citing concerns that the proposed business-day definition was overly prescriptive and unnecessary. The committee passed several bills with amendments. These included measures clarifying UIPA applicability to records created or maintained by agencies, with amendments changing “government function” to “agency function” and committee report language noting Attorney General concerns and exempting ERS for now; SB 2811 on state building projects with technical amendments and a delayed effective date; SB 2809 on budget-related reports; SB 2336 on trees, with a Senate draft and removal of “political subdivision”; SB 2308 on small purchase vendor compliance, setting the threshold at $5,000 and adding a delayed effective date; SB 2601 on procurement, reorganizing misdemeanor language and leaving funding/FTE issues to Ways and Means; SB 2219 on a capital visitor center working group; and SB 2849 on public meetings, with technical amendments and a delayed effective date. Bills on neighborhood board concerns and public notice were also adopted, with SB 2929 drawing testimony both for and against. Testimony was generally supportive on procurement and small business measures, especially SB 2928 establishing permanent small business procurement coordinator positions, which drew strong support from the State Procurement Office, DBEDT, the Chamber of Commerce, DOT, the Ethics Commission, and others. On public notice, the County of Maui supported allowing website posting, while another witness raised concerns about accessibility, centralized notice locations, and impacts on kūpuna and people with disabilities. On search and rescue, the committee heard support for creating a statewide coordination structure, along with discussion of where such an office should reside; the Attorney General raised constitutional and placement concerns, while witnesses suggested law enforcement, DLNR, or DoD as possible homes. The committee also heard support for a bill protecting home addresses of covered public servants and candidates, though the Public First Law Center urged broader coverage and a better fit with existing law.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

GVO Public Hearing 02-03-2026

Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> firms and Hawaii firms are usually small firms and Hawaii firms are usually small so<00:32:22.399
  • </c> board as part of its official business board as part of its official business and<00:34:53.440><
  • </c> board's office during regular business board's office during regular business hours<00:43:23.680
  • business, like a house of...
  • </c> small business um like like a house of. small business um like like a house of.
Summary: The committee heard several government operations measures, beginning with SB 2064 on state construction projects, which would create an office of the state architect within DAGS to oversee design review and approvals for state construction. DAGS said it stood on its written testimony, DECAB supported the bill, DOT supported it, and HGA opposed it. No audience testimony or member questions were taken, and the chair moved on. The committee then took up SB 2312 on government contracts, which would make records held by private contractors performing government functions subject to UIPA. The State Procurement Office, Attorney General, OIP, ERS, DHS, and HGA offered comments or opposition, while the League of Women Voters, Public First Law Center, All Hawaii News, Grassroots, and several individuals supported the bill. Public First Law Center argued the bill closes a loophole and does not expand or reduce existing exemptions, while OIP and others raised concerns about privacy, confidential information, and the need for clearer procedures. Members discussed possible clarifying amendments, including changing “government function” to “agency,” and the bill was left for further consideration. Other measures discussed included SB 2662 on government accountability, which would require justification and caps for external consultants; ERS and DOT opposed it, while the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii and Airlines Committee of Hawaii argued consultants are often more efficient and necessary for major projects. The committee also heard SB 2744 on due process, for which no testimony was received; SB 2809 on budget-related reports, with comments from B&F and the Tax Foundation; SB 2862 on gubernatorial appointments, opposed by the Governor’s Office and the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission and supported by one individual; a bill on continuous legislative sessions, with comments from B&F, LRB, and Hope for Hawaii; SB 2336 on tree management standards, supported by an individual and the Outdoor Circle; and SB 2075 on public procurement local preferences, which drew broad support with comments from SPO and the Attorney General and discussion of simplifying the preference structure. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly moved measures along after testimony and questions.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Health and Welfare Mar 24th, 2026

Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:
  • Just wanted to make a small joke about that. Hey, thank you for being here.
  • I know it costs you money to come down here and try to make your side of the business a little better
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • That's not how we do business. The other thing I would offer is the cost of doing business.
  • That's still business.
  • It's a business. Thank you.
  • to my business.
  • , including a primary care clinic, a wellness business, and a long-term care business.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • businesses across our great state.
  • Adopting daylight saving time on a permanent basis can benefit Texans, travel insurers, and businesses
  • Businesses benefit from increased purchasing activity when there's more daylight available.
  • The agencies will in no way be inhibited from ensuring proper standards of care for any given business
  • This will help small counties find enough jurors to prosecute crime in their communities.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) May 1st, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • businesses across our great state.
  • Adopting daylight savings time on a permanent basis can benefit Texans and travel and tourism businesses
  • Businesses benefit from increased purchasing activity when there's an extra hour or two of sunlight.
  • revenues that are reinvested in our local economies and the state's economy, travel and tourism businesses
  • This will help small counties find enough jurors to prosecute crime in their communities.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Commerce and Small Business Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Commerce and Small Business

Transcript Highlights:
  • What it does, it protects small business owners with significant financial stake from having to choose
  • It encourages transparency in business contracts, being that expected work days must be disclosed upfront
  • It encourages transparency in business contracts, being that expected work days must be disclosed upfront
  • First question that usually comes up: does this bill force franchisors to close business on Sundays or
  • and they've not been open and business and they've not been open and they<00:11:34.399><c> want</c><