Transcript Highlights:

• For many small restaurants, this adds up quickly.
• Last year we have three restaurants in a small fish pan.
• Small business owners deserve the same fair treatment.
• Small independent restaurants are not.
• Secure Choice programs are also good for small businesses.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:21:04.800> Small<01:21:05.120> businesses for small businesses.
• Small businesses for small businesses.
• would be used for every small business. would be used for every small business.
• <01:36:01.840> go<01:36:02.080> of small go of small go of not<01:36:03.840> small
• of small business. of small business.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened after a brief recess for Appropriations, approved the journal from February 9, 2026, and then moved to third readings. House Bill 1038, concerning county commissioner redistricting, drew opposition from Representative DeGraaf, who argued the bill was an unnecessary state intrusion and criticized its emphasis on diversity and representation. Despite that, the bill passed third reading 40-25. House Bill 1020, dealing with field drug tests in drug possession cases, passed unanimously 65-0. House Bill 1040, concerning the sterilization rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, prompted extensive debate. Supporters, including Representatives Bradley, Bottoms, Brooks, DeGraaf, and Garcia, said the bill strengthens consent protections, prevents forced sterilization, and addresses Colorado’s history of discriminatory sterilization laws. Several speakers also raised concerns about broader consistency in protecting minors and vulnerable people, and Representative Luck noted a related organ-transplant conforming amendment that he hoped the Senate would refine. The bill passed 65-0. The final bill discussed was House Bill 1003, modifying the small business recovery and resiliency loan program. Representative DeGraaf opposed it, arguing it would extend government-backed loans and debt under vague hardship criteria, increase inflation, and amount to taxpayer-funded plunder. During that exchange, the chair cautioned him about name-calling after he referred to colleagues as “emo reps.” The transcript ends during continued debate on the bill, before any vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• You described the small group market.
• It is, as you might imagine, a small but relatively small, you know, compared to the larger individual
• We're a small team in Austin.
• In the employer space, small group space, only 38% of small businesses are offering coverage today.
• to educate small businesses about ICRA.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me turn to culverts and small bridges for a minute.
• We really support, number one, changing the small bridge program to a small bridge and culvert program
• , We really support, number one, changing the small bridge program to a small bridge and culvert program
• Hatfield is a very small town, so I'm very happy to bring you a small-town perspective on all of this
• That's significant for a small town.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season. The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets. Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• businesses. small businesses.
• that this will kill small businesses.
• Small businesses in smaller towns like Hatch, Socorro, and Taos are small mom-and-pop businesses.
• in the small towns go out of business.
• And any small...

Transcript Highlights:

• To catch the small guys.
• So if that's the case, then you should not be charging these small landowners or the small residential
• So if that's the case, then you should not be charging these small landowners or the small residential
• So if that's the case, then you should not be charging these small landowners or the small residential
• To hurt the small guy.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Senate Committee on Education, Hawaiian Affairs, and Housing heard House Bill 1088 HD1, which would exempt housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) from school impact fees. The Department of Education said it was open to working with DHHL and the Legislature, including possibly eliminating the construction-cost portion of the fee for DHHL and other government affordable housing projects, but it wanted to retain the land-dedication requirement for future school sites where growth would exceed existing school capacity. The School Facilities Authority supported the bill, and DHHL strongly supported it, noting that its testimony referenced an earlier emergency proclamation but that the exemption remains in the current proclamation. DHHL also said it had no objection to a proposed amendment from the Wahiawa Hawaiian Homestead Association. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii testified in opposition to the broader school impact fee program, arguing that the fund has accumulated about $29 million that has not been spent and citing concerns raised in State Auditor Report 19-13, including administrative and constitutional issues. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the fee system is being applied fairly, especially to smaller projects and homeowners, and whether the districts and calculations used to assess fees have been updated. Members questioned the DOE and SFA about the distinction between land and construction costs, the use of fees in areas like Kīhei, Kalihi, Ala Moana, and Ewa, and whether the department had revisited district calculations as recommended in the audit. DOE said it had collected about $500,000 in construction money and $2.8 million in land contributions for Kalihi-related areas, and said it would follow up on questions about land conveyances and district updates. After discussion, the chair called for a vote. The Education committee recommended passing HB 1088 HD1 as is, with Senator San Buenaventura voting with reservation and Senators Ihara and Kole voting aye. The recommendation was adopted. The Housing committee then also deferred the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• business, and most of those disadvantaged businesses would be classified as a small business.
• under the small business definition.
• I don't like it when government puts their finger on the scale for one small business over another small
• that is vital to our rural and small towns and community.
• Small business in because that is vital to our rural and small towns and communities.

Summary: The Transportation Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up two bills. First, Rep. Owens presented HB 1165, which would allow FDOT to issue a special blinking permit for mobile cranes and accessory support vehicles to travel on and off interstate highways at all hours, subject to local curfews and FDOT conditions such as size limits, mapping, signage, and warning lights. Supporters argued the change would improve flexibility for infrastructure and emergency work and could be safer at night because of lighter traffic and required visibility measures. After one proponent testified, the bill passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. The committee then heard CS for HB 1397, presented by Rep. Abbott, a broader transportation-related bill addressing the aggregate supply chain grant program, small business partnerships, airport and seaport transparency, maintenance priorities, the Florida Transportation Academy, and the Florida Transportation Research Institute. An amendment was adopted to clarify authority for transportation and parking authorities and to protect septic-to-sewer conversion projects from local rules when permits are issued by FDOT and FDEP. During debate, several members raised concerns that proposed repeals could reduce outreach and opportunities for small, disadvantaged, and rural businesses in DOT procurement, and the sponsor said he was willing to work on restoring or clarifying notification language. Despite those concerns, the committee reported the bill favorably, with some members voting no and others indicating support pending further changes before the next stop or floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just small things that we can ask to really understand. with actually opening and closing it, just small
• The Small Works roster set-aside program: we believe that Small Works should be for small business.
• So those Small Works contracts are set aside for small business.
• Or we can set a rising small business... On our projects. Or we can set a rising small business.
• what is a small, and we know by looking at small veteran-owned and women businesses that they are also

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're really, in small towns, being pretty much the only thing there.
• So they're really in small towns being pretty much the only thing there.
• The grants are small. They've been about $5,000 so far to help them.
• And it's a one-stop, basically, for these small communities.
• Our regulatory structure is actively discouraging small business growth.

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:

• I think both of you kind of address small businesses.
• My dad was a small business owner We grew up on that small business income, but it was definitely hard
• in our small businesses and local economies.
• Our bookkeeping, I love our owners of our small businesses.
• EDC, Small Businesses Development Center, Business Advisor.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what kind of challenges do the small businesses and entrepreneurs face here?
• And so, I think that's a challenge for our small business, especially for the really small businesses
• the small businesses and entrepreneurs<00:01:43.400> face<00:01:43.680> here?
• to make an impact on our small to make an impact on our small businesses,<00:02:46.360> especially
• So, is there anything we can do at the state level to small business technical assistance, and small

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Especially small businesses.
• As was mentioned, small businesses have had a couple of rough years.
• Every small business. Lowering, lowering your tax burden.
• They and other small business owners like us would benefit greatly from this adjustment.
• As I said, I am one of those small business owners.

Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB 22

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• all the small communities in Minnesota. all the small communities in Minnesota.
• support for small communities. um future support for small communities.
• <00:21:36.320> um<00:21:36.480> small after the account the small um small after the
• So, at the end of the day, if this is actually for small cities, we shouldn't be robbing small cities
• small cities, small cities and even small cities, small cities and cities<00:24:19.520> up<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• tools that help your small businesses. tools that help your small businesses.
• Small businesses start as small businesses.
• around and slaps the face of small around and slaps the face of small business<00:46:00.240>
• harder and harder for your small harder and harder for your small business<00:46:07.599> to
• a good savings for some of our small a good savings for some of our small businesses. businesses

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• $10 million package to assist small $10 million package to assist small businesses<00:15:35.920>
• family who've had a business, a small family who've had a business, a small business<00:42:48.560
• got those dollars directly to the small got those dollars directly to the small businesses<00:45
• <00:47:31.119> We're small businesses after this. We're small businesses after this.
• <01:21:37.280> business rental support and small business rental support and small business

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Another support for small employers under the paid leave law are small employer assistance grants.
• Uh, I'm a small business owner.
• Uh, I'm a small business owner.
• communities, in their small businesses. communities, in their small businesses.
• for small employers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:48.279> farmers tangible example of how small farmers tangible example of how small
• stable force that is required for small stable force that is required for small businesses<00:24
• <00:25:26.520> farm and a fifth generation Farm small farm and a fifth generation Farm small
• lack of understanding of what a small lack of understanding of what a small farm<00:25:41.000>
• need to have the backs of our small need to have the backs of our small businesses<01:30:30.679>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the Chamber's 6,300 members, the vast majority of them are small and medium-sized businesses.
• And this is a critical issue for small and medium-sized law firms across the state.
• And this is a critical issue for small and medium-sized law firms across the state.
• Minnesota small businesses. Thank you. Minnesota small businesses. Thank you.
• However, if not adopted, many small However, if not adopted, many small business<00:38:47.800>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So even small moves quite useful.
• Um, and in some part out of recognition of how important small business and how important small local
• , to start big picture, you know, small, to start big picture, you know, small, it's<01:08:06.559
• small important small business local small business<01:08:38.560> is,<01:08:39.040> the
• welcoming to all, small, medium, large. welcoming to all, small, medium, large.

Bills: HF4862, HF4598

Keywords: apprenticeship, education, teacher training, grant program, labor and industry, workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician

Transcript Highlights:

• And let's be realistic, small farms can't afford mistakes.
• That's accountability that the small farms live by.
• Industry groups don't want small farms to compete even at the community level.
• scale, small, small scale producer from doing this except the time and the effort.
• The small producers at all. That's not what this is about.