Video & Transcript : 'tourism program' :
Page 54 of 500
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, these programs directed payments.
- A company called 4C this program.
- ,</c> renewed support for this program, renewed support for this program, however,<01:00:14.480><c> we
- </c><01:00:24.000><c> just</c> are investing heavily in programs just are investing heavily in programs
- :05:27.680><c> has</c> Angel Investment Credit Program has Angel Investment Credit Program has played
Committee:
Senate Taxes
Keywords:
Oakdale, tax increment financing, local government, funding, urban development, tax increment, St. Paul, redevelopment, housing authority, housing trust fund, low-income housing, property taxation, Minnesota statutes, vacant property, housing, commercial to residential conversion, Minneapolis, urban redevelopment, public parks, tax capacity
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/1/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> reference so for enhancing program reference so for enhancing program Integrity<00:03:13.400><c>
- and programs that licensed programs and programs that operate<00:10:40.680><c> within</c><00:10:40.959
- </c> program so what happens when the program program so what happens when the program is<00:15:00.320
- that are food support programs."
- of</c><01:16:26.199><c> a</c><01:16:26.320><c> couple</c> program program there's sort of a couple program
Keywords:
child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, early education, scholarships, funding, children, families, Minnesota education, child care licensing, family child care, child care center, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, correction order, conditional license, fix-it ticket, documented technical assistance, license suspension
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/27/25
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Committee:
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Keywords:
mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So I'll kind of run through those. this program is if the data is public or this program is if the data
- </c> great start compensation program great start compensation program restates<00:23:05.679><c> existing
- Um, but programs that serve children.
- There are chemical dependency programs and things that go through SSIS and through other programs.
- I get the dual generational programs.
Keywords:
HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And I types of programs in the past.
- Next in our agenda is an update on our lead service lines replacement program.
- Next in our agenda is an update on our lead service lines replacement program.
- We administer this program very closely.
- We are currently so far on that program.
Bills:
HF2148 , HF2693 , HF2542 , HF1141 , HF1770 , HF1489 , HF1709 , HF244 , HF1266 , HF807 , HF2619 , HF1340
Committee:
Senate Capital Investment
Keywords:
affordable housing, local control, revolving loan fund, community partnerships, Minnesota housing policy, housing, locally controlled housing, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, housing infrastructure bonds, state bonds, bonding bill, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, homelessness, veterans housing, senior housing, manufactured home parks, community land trust, single-family housing, multifamily housing
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships Mar 24th, 2025
S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships
Transcript Highlights:
- ask that our abusers be subjected to taking anger management classes and a batterer's intervention program
- Is he going to be ordered to attend a batterer's intervention program and an anger management class?
- There's a program established under the IC MacGyver program that lends money to providers, the Justice
- Department, so that this five-year program gives child insurance and child benefit, not only to the
Bills:
HB809 , HB 1193 , HB1916 , HB2558 , HB1973 , HB2350 , HB2399 , HB2340 , HB 116 , HB330 , HB2496 , HB116
Keywords:
digitized signature, waiver of citation, marriage dissolution, electronic notarization, family law, HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative
TX
Committee:
House Human Services
Keywords:
commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Care Waiver Program as an individual with IDD. Leroy Paz. July 30th 2018.
- Notes say a champion services program director further stated Leroy must keep the designated beneficiaries
- Some examples could be natural supplements for ADHD or depression. program, diet adjustments, equine
- maybe not in the best interests of their children. assistance that the monitored return assistance program
- Texas CASA is the statewide membership organization for the local 74 CASA programs across the state.
Committee:
House Human Services
Keywords:
commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Our Veteran Stable Housing Initiative and other programs under the agency's veterans program division
- in</c> Housing Initiative and other programs in Housing Initiative and other programs in the<00:01:24.040
- under the agency's and other programs under the agency's veterans<00:03:23.239><c> program</c><00:03
- program staff obvious that veterans program staff supporting<00:03:27.280><c> atrisk</c><00:03:27.799
- </c> of Maxis access to Veterans programs of Maxis access to Veterans programs will<00:04:58.120><c>
Committee:
House Human Services Finance and Policy
Keywords:
veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, human services
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
ECD Public Hearing - Fri Mar 20, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST
Economic Development & Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- The challenges between one entity managing a grant program and one entity managing a grant program and
- So, we see the grant program for the commission as a grant program for the larger productions, maybe
- And then, the the grant program.
- </c><00:34:07.840><c> Most</c> program from the tax credit. Most program from the tax credit.
- </c> greater vision for tourism in Hawaii. greater vision for tourism in Hawaii.
Bills:
SB2580 , SB2578 , SB2259 , SB3084 , SB2816 , SB2928 , SB2075 , SB3322 , SB2377 , SB2436 , SB2835 , SB3248
Committee:
House Economic Development & Technology
Summary:
The committee opened by reviewing hearing procedures and then took up SB 2580, which concerns Hawaii’s film production tax credit and related incentives. Testimony was strongly supportive overall, with witnesses saying the measure would help attract productions, extend the sunset date, include streaming platforms, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness. Several supporters asked for cleanup language on grant administration, tax credit management, local-hire uplifts, and limits on third-party audit requirements for smaller productions. The state film office said the bill was generally strong but suggested clarifying language and noted that DBEDT and DOTAX already provide oversight of the current credit. No vote was taken in the transcript, but the bill drew broad support with a few comments and one opposition noted later in the hearing.
The committee then heard SB 2578 SD1, a measure to create a film commission and related grant structure. Testifiers said the proposal would formalize industry input, improve accountability, and help the state compete globally, but they also raised concerns about how a new grant program would interact with the existing tax credit system. The film office said the grant program and tax credit should be separated operationally, that the advisory structure should include industry voices and possibly union representation, and that county film commissioner language may need technical adjustment. A testifier also suggested a Hawaii film museum and related tourism opportunities. The measure was described as having 42 supporters, one opposition, and five comments, with no final action shown.
The committee next considered SB 2259, a dementia training measure. Supporters, including the bill’s drafter and the Alzheimer’s Association, described personal caregiving experiences and said free dementia training could help workers and families. Suggested amendments focused on clarifying the relationship between EOA and DBED and allowing retraining every two years because of workforce turnover. DBED said the bill is worthwhile but is not really an economic development initiative, and it should align with existing dementia programs and be easy for businesses to use, preferably online. The committee then moved to SB 3084 SD1, which HTDC said would expand its R&D matching program beyond SBIR to other federal research grants because of uncertainty at the federal level; the transcript ends as testimony begins, with no vote or final action recorded.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Commerce and Tourism Committee.
- The state offers a number of loan programs. We even have a public-private venture capital program.
- I personally spend a lot of time at the program at UCF.
- And that program has been around since about 1988.
- Without objection, seeing be a tourism-based economy.
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Tourism
Summary:
The Commerce and Tourism Committee met to hear an overview of its jurisdiction and then focused primarily on Florida manufacturing. Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly described manufacturing as central to a more resilient, diversified economy, citing the 2023 Florida Manufacturing Report and noting strong growth in manufacturing businesses, jobs, exports, and workforce programs. He emphasized that most Florida manufacturers are small businesses, that the sector is increasingly STEM- and technology-driven, and that the state’s main challenge is workforce aging and the need to retain trained talent. Members also discussed how to better expose students and parents to manufacturing careers, improve startup access to capital, and strengthen regional manufacturing corridors and transportation links.
Kevin Carr of FloridaMakes said Florida is on track to become a top-five manufacturing state, but warned that productivity, technology adoption, and workforce shortages remain key issues. He said a proposed manufacturing bill would create a chief manufacturing officer and help address workforce, technology, and market-visibility challenges. Bain Beecher of PGT Innovations described the company’s growth and community role, but highlighted obstacles such as affordable housing, insurance costs, permitting delays, supply-chain disruptions, and limited awareness of manufacturing careers among students and parents. Andrew Kosowski of Veterans Metal focused on small- and medium-sized manufacturers, citing labor shortages, the cost of adopting new technology, regulatory burdens, and cybersecurity compliance as major pressures, and urged support for the draft manufacturing bill.
Brian Giuliani of the Port of Tampa Bay outlined the port’s cargo mix, infrastructure investments, and role in moving fuel, construction materials, and manufactured goods, saying the port’s expansion and transloading plans could better connect Florida manufacturers to suppliers and markets. Committee members repeatedly stressed the need to promote manufacturing careers earlier in school, improve public perception of the industry, and reduce barriers to investment. No formal vote was taken during the discussion, but the panelists broadly supported the draft manufacturing legislation and the committee’s focus on manufacturing policy.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-EDT DEFER, AEN DEFER Public Hearings 02-12-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- It requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a rebate program
- The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism requests the same. Any discussion?
- </c><00:01:58.399><c> uh</c><00:01:58.520><c> same</c> Economic Development and Tourism uh same Economic
- Development and Tourism uh same requests<00:01:59.920><c> any</c><00:02:00.159><c> discussion</c><00
- </c><00:03:37.120><c> to</c> establish a dedicated hemp program to establish a dedicated hemp program
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Environment
Summary:
The committee met on February 12 in Room 224 and via videoconference to consider several measures. First, it heard Senate Bill 547 on water conservation, which would create an income tax credit for gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators, along with a rebate program and building code standards. The chair recommended passing the bill with amendments from DOA and the Department of Health and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050; the recommendation was adopted unanimously by the members present.
The committee then considered Senate Bill 1633, a Green Building tax credit measure tied to the use of Hawaii-grown hemp in primary structures, and also addressing hemp and cannabinoid product regulation, including age limits, packaging requirements, THC limits, and a separate hemp program within the Department of Health. The chair recommended passing the bill with DOA amendments and a further amendment allowing hemp processors to sell certain edible or beverage cannabinoid products with limited THC content, plus a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050. The motion passed with five votes in favor.
Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 391 on recycling, which would expand the Electronic Device Recycling and Recovery Act to cover certain lithium-ion batteries and require manufacturers to ensure their safe collection and recycling. The chair instead recommended amending the bill into a working group under the Hawaii State Energy Office to study battery end-of-life management, costs, safety, environmental impacts, in-state versus out-of-state recycling options, and related feasibility questions, with a report due before the 2026 regular session and dissolution on June 30, 2026. That amended approach was adopted unanimously, and the hearing concluded.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Economic growth from tourism? No. Growth of gambling tourism, not local prosperity.
- Programs that could gambling addicts.
- :09:20.000><c> of</c><00:09:20.160><c> tax</c> programs will require millions of tax programs will require
- Economic growth from tourism. this bill? Economic growth from tourism.
- Growth of gambling, tourism, not No.
Committee:
Senate Hawaiian Affairs
Summary:
The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs briefly met and adjourned after noting that GM 574, a nomination on its agenda, had been withdrawn, leaving the committee with no business to consider.
A separate joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Economic Development and Hawaiian Affairs then took up HCR 192, a resolution to convene a tourism and gaming working group. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Nation of Hawaii, and CARES, said the measure would allow Hawaiians to have a seat at the table, learn from Native nations with gaming experience, and make informed decisions about whether and how gaming should be approached. Some supporters emphasized that the working group was about research and self-determination, not immediate legalization, and suggested the state should focus on broader economic development options as well.
Opponents, including the Honolulu prosecuting attorney and several community members and faith leaders, warned that gambling would increase addiction, crime, family breakdown, debt, and exploitation of low-income and vulnerable residents. They argued that online sports betting and other forms of gaming would be especially harmful, with some citing examples from other states and concerns about problem gambling, domestic violence, and illegal activity. Committee members questioned witnesses about the purpose of the working group and whether it could provide enough data to make an informed decision, while supporters and opponents alike acknowledged the need for Hawaiians to be involved in any future discussion. No vote or final action on HCR 192 was taken in the portion provided.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- While initially exploring the license plate program, NHSA identified the existing plate decal program
- down to a two-year program.
- ><c> that</c> shoveled down to a two-year program that shoveled down to a two-year program that money
- We've got an opportunity to bring in tourism, build tourism, and all that comes with it.
- </c><01:41:41.280><c> build</c> opportunity to bring in tourism build opportunity to bring in tourism
Committee:
Senate Transportation
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Item D5 is grants from the Department of Arkansas Heritage and Tourism, Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
- This is for Family First Services and Prevention Act programs.
- This is for actuarial services for the Medicaid program.
- This is for the independent assessment and support program.
- This is for comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs.
Committee:
All ALC-REVIEW
Summary:
The committee met to review a supplemental agenda, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, and a member disclosure. The Office of State Procurement presented rule changes tied to 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, with updates to sole-source definitions, unrealistic bids, protest requirements, debarment procedures, and recodification references; the committee voted to accept the supplemental agenda and approve the rules. Members also approved eight methods of finance covering university repairs, equipment replacement, property purchase, and capital projects, along with a large slate of discretionary grants for courts, health, DHS, historic preservation, and tobacco prevention programs.
The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys, Department of Health costs from an ice-storm-related water leak, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, Veterans Affairs HVAC and medical-service payments, and a UA Little Rock painting contract. The Department of Public Safety ratification drew extended questioning about why the expired Motorola contract had not been renewed sooner and why the issue took months to reach the committee; agency officials said the project was bond-funded, had not been tracked in ASIS, and involved ongoing negotiations and system updates. Despite concerns, the committee approved the ratifications.
Members also reviewed a long list of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including numerous university, DHS, health, corrections, and state agency agreements. Several contracts were discussed in more detail, including an SAU custodial contract question about sales tax and transparency reporting, and Department of Corrections aerial application contracts for Tucker and Cummins farms, which officials said served separate facilities in different parts of the state. The committee approved the contract lists, reviewed reports, and accepted a disclosure from Representative Andrew Collins regarding his investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services before adjourning.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 30 (2-19-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Enforcement Foundation Program Fund. Enforcement Foundation Program Fund.
- The purpose of foundation program fund.
- She helped develop an ocular disease residency program.
- House opportunity program in Kentucky.
- </c> to recreation and tourism development. to recreation and tourism development.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Item D5 are grants from the Department of Arkansas Heritage and Tourism, Parks, Heritage, and Tourism
- This is for Family First Services and Prevention Act programs.
- This is for actuarial services for the Medicaid program.
- This is for the independent assessment and support program.
- This is for comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs.
Committee:
All ALC-REVIEW
Summary:
The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures.
The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Fifty Six - Wednesday, April 22
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So would you agree that this helps with tourism? Correct.
- a lot of tourism in your area, the lakes, the streams, and, of course, the rest of the tourism industry
- in your area. ...the rest of the tourism industry in your area.
- You have more people doing recreation, tourism, dining, retail sales.
- a lot of tourism in your area, the lakes, the streams, and, of course, the rest of the tourism industry
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal, and a long series of special guest introductions. Guests included the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions, FCCLA and FBLA students from several districts, legislative interns and family members, Missouri Rural Water Association members for Water Advocacy Day, Kansas City University medical students, and legislative assistants, who were formally recognized for their work supporting the chamber.
The chamber then took up committee reports and moved several measures. House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049, a broad public-safety vehicle containing multiple provisions, drew debate over its contents, including concerns about anti-trans language and a challenge that it was overly broad, but it passed 117-10 with 17 present. Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral field soil analysis/perk testing, passed 108-34 with one present. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State business filing measure for series LLCs, passed 142-0.
The main floor debate centered on House Bill 1758, a daylight-saving-time trigger bill. Supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, preserve tourism and outdoor recreation, and reduce health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents argued Missouri should instead adopt permanent standard time, citing research on circadian rhythm, health effects, school bus safety, and the state’s prior 1974 experience with permanent daylight saving time. The discussion was extensive and bipartisan in tone, but the transcript ends before any final vote on HB 1758 is recorded.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This is from one of our programs at Kyua for a jazz program this past summer, and there were 200 people
- This is from one of our programs at Kyua for a jazz program this past summer, and there were 200 people
- </c> arts grants program. arts grants program.
- Um, and we of the statewide GIS program.
- We Economic Development, and Tourism.
Committee:
House Culture & Arts
Summary:
The committee on Culture and the Arts heard several measures related to arts funding, administration, and access. Testimony was largely supportive across the agenda. For HB 2218 and HB 1815, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported the bills, and members discussed transition timing and administrative support, including the need for an additional year in one measure and a temporary administrative position to help with the transfer. HB 1764, the music accessibility pilot program, drew broad support from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Hawaii Public Library System, Hawaii Youth Symphony, and others, with testimony emphasizing library-based music programming, community access, and economic benefits. HB 2117, which would create an arts data mapping task force, also received extensive support, though witnesses suggested narrowing the initial scope, adding representatives from independent and charter schools and neighbor island arts programs, and ensuring adequate funding and a realistic timeline for the work.
The committee also heard HB 2436 on arts integration in public schools, HB 2438 on the Hawaii Cultural Trust, and HB 2532 on the Hawaiian flag. HB 2436 and HB 2438 received support from SFCA, while the Cultural Trust bill prompted a lengthy explanation from the chair about how the proposed tax credit would work and amendments to clarify that donations to the trust and to qualifying cultural nonprofits must be made in tandem, with eligible organizations listed and updated annually by SFCA and OHA. HB 2532 drew testimony from Dr. Adam Jansen in support of protecting the Hawaiian flag as a historical and cultural symbol; he said the flag should continue to be used for solidarity, protest, inclusion, and identity.
At the decision-making portion, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered. HB 2118, HB 764, HB 1815, and HB 2117 were passed with amendments, including date deferrals and technical changes; HB 764 also had its appropriation blanked out. HB 2436 was passed with amendments, and HB 2438 was advanced with substantial clarifying amendments to the cultural trust structure. The chair indicated that HB 2117 would include an interim report due in 2027 focused on music and dance, with a final report due in 2029 on arts education more broadly.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- pricing could include those loyalty programs and make them unavailable.
- The first bill is 6061 regarding the tourism self-assessment supported assessment program.
- It authorizes local tourism promotion areas to contribute to the tourism assessment account established
- to the state tourism board.
- I think bringing more dollars into the program—this program is a self-assessment, and bringing in tax
Summary:
The Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee heard several public hearings on consumer protection and business regulation bills. Senate Bill 6175, the WAVE Act on ticket sales, would create licensing and enforcement rules for ticket resellers, require all-in pricing and refunds, cap resale prices and fees at 110% of the original ticket price, and prohibit speculative ticketing and deceptive practices, with exemptions for some events such as agricultural fairs and sports. The sponsor and many arts, venue, labor, and consumer advocates said the bill would curb bots, fake websites, and predatory markups that harm fans and nonprofit venues; opponents from resale platforms and industry groups argued it would restrict legitimate resale, reduce consumer choice, and push transactions into less regulated channels. Public testimony was extensive and sharply divided, but no committee vote was taken on the bill during the hearing.
The committee also heard Senate Bill 6230, which would require cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest five-cent increment in light of the federal decision to stop minting pennies. Retail and grocery groups generally supported the bill but asked for amendments to protect against audit and consumer-protection liability, preserve acceptance of exact change, and avoid conflicts with local ordinances and SNAP rules. The bill sponsor said the measure is meant to give businesses a clear framework for cash rounding, and staff noted the Department of Revenue would issue a revised fiscal note with minimal costs.
Senate Bill 6312, concerning surveillance-based pricing in grocery establishments, would require posted prices, prohibit individualized surveillance pricing and surge pricing, and place a moratorium on electronic shelf labels in larger stores until 2030. Labor and privacy advocates supported the bill as a way to stop AI-driven price discrimination and protect workers and consumers, while retail and grocery associations and an ESL manufacturer warned the definitions were too broad and could unintentionally affect loyalty programs, discounts, and operational efficiency. After testimony, the committee suspended the five-day notice rule for the bill. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6149 on the definition of a rural county and Senate Bill 6248 on travel insurance, with testimony on the latter split between industry support for adopting a model act and state agency concerns about adjuster licensing and preserving Washington consumer and anti-discrimination protections.
In executive session, the committee considered Senate Bill 6061 on the tourism self-assessment program and Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. The committee rejected an amendment to SB 6061 that would have allowed voluntary local tourism contributions, then advanced the bill with a due pass recommendation. It also advanced SB 6137 with a due pass recommendation. The meeting concluded after those votes.