Transcript Highlights:

• It aligns the system into three tiers: the micro business, meso business, and macro business.
• can become a big where a small business can become a big business. business. business.
• </c><00:21:17.640><c> um</c> business will move to a meso business um business will move to a meso business
• </c> and eventually to a macro business. and eventually to a macro business.
• </c> to start one of the businesses. to start one of the businesses.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> food, and agriculture small businesses. food, and agriculture small businesses.
• </c> small business owners or entrepreneurs. small business owners or entrepreneurs.
• </c> communities and small business owners. communities and small business owners.
• ... if a child care business is... business is tied to, uh what the banking business is tied to, uh what
• </c><01:05:30.960><c> is</c> businesses if a child care business is businesses if a child care business

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• You're running into a lot of what a lot of California business... ...to do.
• plan, the 2026 business plan.
• Also, the business plan assumes most of that segment is single track.
• You’re going to have to pay for the relocation of our businesses.
• It's been a variety of different business plans and project development...

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• It prioritizes small and emerging Missouri businesses and only businesses that are Missouri-based and
• It prioritizes small and emerging Missouri businesses and only businesses that are Missouri-based and
• Well, it does say in here that if a business loses its designation as a qualified Missouri business,
• or the property or the operational business.
• Another is existing businesses can benefit from a withholding's benefit. existing businesses can benefit

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session and unanimously voted do pass on House Bill 1707, House Bill 2927, and House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2057. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 1664, which would extend the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims from age 26 to age 41. Representative Brian Sites presented the bill as a needed step for survivors, and multiple witnesses and organizations testified in support, including survivors and advocacy, tort reform, chamber, and insurance groups. No opposition was heard, and the hearing concluded without a vote. The committee also heard House Bill 1845, a startup and angel investor tax credit proposal sponsored by Representative Gallick. The bill would create incentives for Missouri-based startups under $5 million in revenue, with higher credits for rural investment, annual caps, oversight by the Missouri Technology Corporation, and a sunset in 2033. Members questioned what taxes the credit would apply to, how it would work if Missouri changes its income tax structure, and what safeguards would prevent businesses from leaving after receiving credits. Business and economic development groups testified in support, saying the bill would help fill an early-stage capital gap and keep investment in Missouri. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3231, a broad economic development and “Missouri Innovation Zone” proposal sponsored by Representative Brad Christ. The bill would let cities opt in to create innovation zones with local permitting and governance changes, tax incentives, office-to-residential conversion tools, and reinvestment of net new revenues into public safety, infrastructure, and a rural development fund. Members and witnesses discussed local control, prevailing wage, revenue diversion, and implementation concerns, especially from the City of St. Louis and labor groups, while chambers, developers, municipal groups, and historic revitalization advocates generally supported the concept. The hearing ended with no opposition testimony and no committee vote on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unanimous consent, we are out of business. Hearing no objection, we are in that order of business.
• Senators, we're on that order of business. Announcements to miscellaneous.
• That order of business: Introduction of legislation. The reader to read.
• Order of business: seeing no objection, we are in that order of business. Committee reports.
• Seeing no objection, we're in that order of business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about how much money is being taken out of our paychecks and how much this will cost businesses
• Businesses have to get behind this. You've got to hang the posters up.
• If you listen to the calls, you will hear the concerns of business owners clearly.
• It has to be recognizing small businesses are different.
• </c><00:08:41.279><c> are</c> recognizing small businesses are recognizing small businesses are different

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> our businesses. our businesses.
• </c> businesses. 25 new businesses were businesses. 25 new businesses were started<00:26:55.440><c> in
• </c> businesses. That's a lot of businesses. businesses.
• </c> Recreation Business. Recreation Business.
• </c> businesses and growing. businesses and growing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business would business.
• Next order of business... Next order of business is adoption of resolution number three, I believe.
• Next order of business.
• Next order of business. at 13. Next order of business.
• </c> under this order of business? under this order of business?

Transcript Highlights:

• We will not be going into the 10th order of business.
• That the Senate advance to the ninth order of business.
• The Senate is at the Fourth Order of Business.
• The Senate will advance to the 15th order of business, miscellaneous business. Thank you, Mr.
• The Senate will advance to the 15th order of business, miscellaneous business, Senate's at the 15th order

Transcript Highlights:

• Eligible local businesses must also accept consultation from the Florida Small Business Development Center
• We talked to business, unable in groups.
• We talk to small businesses, large businesses and ultimately people who decide to move to Florida and
• It could be a small business.
• Its business insurance businesses pay currently $7 per employee per month as an insurance premium.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate is organized and ready to do business.
• Being no further business in the Fifth Order of Business, the Senate will now advance to the Sixth Order
• of Business, reports of standing committees.
• There being no further business in the 12th Order of Business, the Senate will now advance to the 13th
• The Senate will now advance to the 15th order of business, miscellaneous business. Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have $25 million for business expansion capital.
• We're competing globally for business, talent, and capital.
• They help fill storefronts, bring people back to local business districts, support small businesses,
• is it's hard to get into business and it's hard to do business in the Commonwealth.
• And so that's all the business that we have today.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we begin our business, a few housekeeping items.
• Small businesses might not have that. Larger businesses, they better.
• Continuing to certify businesses, get more folks on the books for us—292 active certified businesses
• And then secondly, what kind of businesses are people?
• In terms of the breakdown of disability-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses

Summary: The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met in June, approved the March meeting minutes, and heard a chair’s report on recent “Meet the Moment” community conversations, including a successful Lowell event and plans for a July 14 event in Northampton. The chair also announced the Commission’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration on October 7 at the State House, which will include a MassAbility partnership panel on artificial intelligence and disability, and noted ongoing efforts to livestream future events when possible. A major presentation came from the Supplier Diversity Office on the Empowering Abilities in Contracting and Employment (EAC) program. The coordinator described the program’s history from a 2016 law and 2018 pilot to its statewide launch on July 1, 2025, and said it now applies to all new statewide goods and services contracts. The program’s goals are to increase certification and contracting opportunities for disability-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, improve workforce development and disability employment among vendors, and build a resource network for employers. Reported figures included about 292 active certified businesses, roughly 40 vendors currently on EAC contracts, a projected increase to about 80 by July and more than 130 by November, and a long-term goal of 3% disability representation in vendor workforces. Commissioners praised the program and asked about comparisons with other states, geographic reach, and the mix of disability-owned versus veteran-owned businesses. The Commission also received updates from its advisory council and subcommittees. The advisory council has been sharing expertise across employment, housing, transportation, health equity, technology, and AI, and two members will help plan the October employment event. The employment subcommittee discussed transition-to-employment barriers, the disability employment tax credit, veteran services, and a State Exchange policy brief that members want reformatted into a more usable data table. The workforce supports subcommittee reported on a May 28 webinar about apprenticeships as a strategy to address workforce shortages in disability services, with more than 45 participants and examples of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship models. The long-term services and supports/health equity subcommittee heard from the Department of Public Health’s CCATR resource center and from the Autism Self-Advocacy Network about COVID-era health care barriers and ongoing advocacy. The executive director also reported on meetings with MassHealth-related groups, caregiver organizations, agency leaders, MassAbility, and AI stakeholders, and the meeting ended with announcements and unanimous adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Businesses are not the... The other part of the equation, which are the business tax cuts.
• Businesses are not the enemy.
• Many of these businesses are pass-throughs.
• These businesses create the jobs.
• You have to form something that businesses want to move to or expand. Businesses want to know.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the prior journal, and made temporary committee appointments. It then resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider SB 1106, a tax conformity bill tied to federal tax changes. Senators debated the measure at length, with supporters arguing it would provide tax relief, certainty for taxpayers and businesses, and conformity with federal filing rules, while opponents said it would reduce state revenue, favor wealthier taxpayers and corporations, and should be handled in budget negotiations or a special session. The bill advanced from Committee of the Whole and, on third reading, passed the Senate 17-12 with one not voting, then was transmitted to the House and later to the governor. During the floor debate, senators focused on the bill’s effects on child care deductions, senior deductions, overtime and tip income, business expensing, and a provision related to federal school voucher tax credits. Democrats argued the bill would worsen budget pressures, undermine funding for education, roads, public safety, and human services, and do little for families on child care waitlists or seniors still working. Republicans countered that the bill would keep more money in taxpayers’ pockets, support working families and small businesses, and align Arizona’s tax code with federal changes to avoid confusion for filers. After the tax vote, Senator Bolick read a proclamation honoring Arizona and U.S. law enforcement, citing fallen officers, officer assaults, and the need for training, equipment, mental health support, and tougher penalties for attacks on officers. The Senate then received and referred a large number of new bills to committees, announced upcoming committee meetings, and adjourned until Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 3909.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 3909.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 521.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out House Bill 640.
• Chair lays out as a matter of pending business. House Bill 51-15.

Bills: HB223

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills, with most measures left pending after testimony and later taken up in a batch of votes. Early in the meeting, HB 5624 on liability protections for motocross/off-road vehicle tracks, HB 223 on requiring competitive procurement for municipal lobbying contracts, HB 3709 on post-election audit procedures, and HB 5081 on protecting personal information of judicial officers and court staff were all discussed and left pending after testimony. Witnesses on HB 223 supported greater transparency in municipal lobbying contracts. HB 3709 drew sharp opposition from an election integrity advocate who argued the bill would reduce precinct-level granularity and make it harder to detect ballot errors, while a Secretary of State resource witness said the bill would simplify and standardize the audit process by location. HB 5081 received strong support from court administration and a district judge who described prior threats and an attack tied to publicly available personal information. The committee also heard HB 3546 on allowing school districts to move elections to November, HB 493 on barring certain felony offenders from serving as poll watchers, HB 5115 on increasing penalties for election fraud and related conduct, HB 4081 on trade secret filing procedures, HB 3909 on limiting restrictions on wireless devices at polling places, HB 2702 on limiting gubernatorial closure authority for certain veterans organizations during pandemics, HB 119 on foreign adversary lobbying, and HB 5138 on the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes. Several of these bills were explained with committee substitutes and then left pending before final action. Testimony on HB 493 and HB 5115 came from an election integrity advocate who supported both bills, saying the poll watcher restriction was appropriately narrowed and that the election fraud bill would help address invalid votes and refusal to count valid votes. Later, the committee took up pending business and voted out a large number of bills, generally along party lines or with broad support. HB 186 on minors’ social media use, HB 229, HB 2885, HB 3909 as substituted, HB 4285, HB 1661, HB 2820, HB 3181, HB 4157, HB 223, HB 521, HB 640, HB 1234, HB 2253, HB 2294, HB 3053, HB 3697 as substituted, HB 4281, HB 4463, HB 4995, HB 5081 as substituted, HB 5624 as substituted, HB 119 as substituted, HB 3225, HB 5138 as substituted, HB 5115, HB 481 as substituted, HB 3546, HB 493, and HB 4145 were reported favorably to the full Senate, with several also placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted committee substitutes for multiple bills, including HB 3909, HB 5081, HB 5624, HB 119, HB 5138, and HB 481. At the end, the chair noted another committee meeting would likely be needed before deadlines, possibly on a weekend, and recessed the committee subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:49.280><c> in</c> investing in small businesses in investing in small businesses in low-income
• </c><00:05:25.919><c> The</c> Business from 50 employees to 100.
• </c> that could really help these businesses that could really help these businesses in<00:06:23.160>
• So, I'd ask you'd hear business meeting.
• </c> successfully our business. successfully our business.

Summary: The committee took up House File 2360, as amended by H.F. 2360A1, which would create a state-level New Markets Tax Credit-style program modeled on the federal program. Chair Swedzinski explained that the bill is intended to drive investment across Minnesota, including a requirement that at least 50% of the $200 million allocation be directed to greater Minnesota, and noted that the program would run for 12 months with state oversight to help guide investments. Testimony in support came from Alex Stuponic of Advantage Capital and Jason Wabama of Advanced Machine Guarding Solutions in Hibbing. Stuponic described the federal New Markets program as a tool for directing capital to low-income and underserved communities, cited Minnesota projects that have already benefited from federal funding, and argued that state programs in other states have successfully attracted more investment. Wabama said the credit could help rural businesses like his expand, noting that his Hibbing company has grown from one employee in 2021 to 22 employees and hopes to reach 50 employees while eventually becoming an ESOP. Chair Gomez raised concerns about the bill’s changes, especially the set-aside of half the funds for one region and the five-year carryforward, saying the proposal seemed arbitrary and more permissive and that there was likely not room in the budget for the $100 million cost this year. In response, Swedzinski said the fiscal note pushes costs into future years, with the first costs beginning in 2028-2029, and emphasized that the structure would allow the investment benefits to occur upfront. The amendment was adopted, and the bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 2026 Business Recovery Loan Program. 2026 Business Recovery Loan Program.
• Over 70% of our businesses are small businesses that deserve the attention that this bill produces.
• Over 70% of our businesses are small businesses that deserve the attention that this bill produces.
• </c> businesses in the future as well. businesses in the future as well.
• <c> Group</c> Business Women Investment Group Business Women Investment Group Foundation.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• If a business is allowed to a business?
• We have<02:50:08.160><c> businesses</c><02:50:08.720><c> entirely</c> have businesses entirely have businesses
• <c> in</c> businesses, create business growth in businesses, create business growth in Colorado.
• </c> businesses and taxes have or businesses businesses and taxes have or businesses have<04:29:09.760
• </c> the business of collecting that tax. the business of collecting that tax.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also help with business card design and help them print out business cards and card stock for free
• small business owners.
• They also help with business card design and help them print out business cards and card stock for free
• allowing them to business card design and help them print out business cards and card stock for free
• small business owners.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will consider some pending business.
• In fact, the business, I put a rider.
• Senate Bill 3, because it is an industry-killing ban that would devastate small businesses... businesses
• This business not only has a positive impact on our customers but also our employees, business vendors
• Why would y'all want more business, more? business?

Bills: SB3 , SB810 , SB965 , SB1073 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB 3

Committee: Senate State Affairs