Transcript Highlights:

• First order of business is roll call.
• businesses as well?
• We're not out to target businesses.
• I think it would be far better to leave the businesses in charge of their own business on this one.
• announcements house at the 15th order business good gentlemen Advance to the 15th order of business:

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and then held a memorial program honoring former Idaho legislators and public servants, including tributes to Frank Brunel, Jeannie Givens, Carl Shirtliff, Wendy Ungrich Kachetti, Ron Vieselmeyer, and Gail Wilde. Speakers highlighted their careers, community service, family lives, and contributions to Idaho, and the chamber observed the memorial with music and remarks about public service and legacy. After the memorial, the House received messages from the Senate and reported several committee actions. Committee reports moved a number of bills and resolutions to calendars or other committees, and the House introduced a large slate of new bills covering state budget/logo restrictions, elections, telecommunications, broadband, water, fish and game, trapping, self-defense and public assemblies on roads, child abuse interview recording, criminal procedure, parental rights, sex offender residency, sheriff reimbursement, masking during crimes, bribery and nepotism, artificial intelligence procurement, airbags, administrative subpoenas, attorney general duties, child protection, election interference, voting rights, divorce and custody attorney fees, unauthorized employment, rental application fees, commercial code changes, professional licensing, land use, building codes, land division, HOA dissolution, programmable money, school start dates, civics education, and health insurance cost-sharing. The House then took up third-reading votes on three bills. House Bill 576, concerning the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund and limiting coverage to Idaho residents or former Idaho residents at the time of purchase, passed 53-14. House Bill 577, which removes the requirement to replace license plates every 10 years so long as they remain legible and readable, passed 66-1. House Bill 632, expanding whistleblower protections and setting a timeline for legislative information requests, passed 68-0. House Bill 607, dealing with separate restroom, shower, and locker room access in government buildings and public accommodations, generated extended debate over privacy, safety, enforcement, and business costs, but no final vote was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first are small growing businesses that are dynamic, and the typical business in this category would
• Second of all, small businesses tend to provide goods and services to both those businesses in those
• They help to create business-to-business matchmaking with our businesses, so those offices and access
• and sell a business.
• Business climate? Okay.

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee met for its first session under the committee’s new name and heard a work session on Washington’s economic development policy from the Department of Commerce. Commerce described its Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, including small business finance, export assistance, business attraction, and sector development work, and emphasized the need for a statewide economic development strategic plan with regular review, stakeholder input, and attention to rural and regional needs. Members asked about foreign trade offices, federal funding uncertainty, tax competitiveness, workforce programs, and the role of the Keep Washington Working program. Commerce said the state’s trade and investment efforts are valuable but face funding challenges, and that Washington must compete on more than taxes, including its business ecosystem and workforce. The committee then heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5919, which would encourage fire districts and insurers to develop voluntary incentives for wildfire mitigation best practices related to agricultural activities. The sponsor described the bill as a way to reward farmers for practices such as defensible space, fire breaks, equipment storage, and avoiding high-risk work during red flag conditions. A fire chief testified in support, citing recent standing grain fires and the need for practical incentives in rural areas. The bill was described as having no appropriation and no requested fiscal note. Members also heard testimony on Washington in the Making 2040 from the Association of Washington Business and a business owner. Supporters said the 16-year economic vision plan was built from broad public engagement and focuses on workforce, business climate, infrastructure, housing, and community. They argued Washington needs more housing, a more competitive regulatory and tax environment, and reliable energy to support growth. Senators questioned how the plan would achieve its housing goals and what specific regulatory changes were needed; AWB said it would provide a regulatory study soon. The committee also received a wildfire mitigation work group update from the Office of Insurance Commissioner, which recommended stronger community mitigation, better data sharing, consumer transparency, and a possible grant program for home hardening, though it did not reach full consensus on a single property mitigation standard. Finally, the committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5871, which would prohibit assignment of benefits in property and casualty insurance and set new rules for motor vehicle glass repair claims, including ADAS-related disclosures and limits on steering and inducements. The sponsor and supporters, including the Office of Insurance Commissioner, Safelite, NAMIC, and the Northwest Insurance Council, said the bill would reduce auto glass fraud, improve transparency, and help stabilize premiums. Independent glass shop owners and the Independent Glass Association opposed the bill as written, arguing it would favor large vertically integrated companies, restrict small businesses, and fail to address insurer steering and conflicts of interest. Several witnesses requested technical amendments, and the committee took no final vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rate of business fixed investment. rate of business fixed investment.
• that hurts other businesses. If anymore? that hurts other businesses.
• </c><01:02:53.520><c> I</c> businesses who supported my business.
• I businesses who supported my business.
• And now business and grow this business.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• businesses.
• </c> business are businesses are being business are businesses are being challenged<01:15:33.120><c>
• A lot of the small businesses came to my office, even being that I run my own small business.
• We want small business interacting with small business, and that needs to keep going forward.
• And then with the businesses, I was forced into a small business because I got laid off in 2009.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There being no further business in the 8th order of business, the Senate will now advance to the 9th
• There being no further business in the 8th order of business, the Senate will now advance to the 9th
• There being no further business in the 11th order of business, the Senate will now advance to the 12th
• The Senate is in the 12th order of business. The Senate is in the 12th order of business. Mr.
• The Senate was in the 13th order of business. The Senate is in the 13th order of business.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just clarifies that a business location in the state is a business location.
• plain language... ...a business location means a business location—the plain language meaning of a business
• From business to business for future sales onto the retail customer.
• to the origin of the business.
• A business locate there, you know, what about the small businesses?

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2290, which would clarify transaction privilege tax sourcing rules for tangible personal property by specifying that servers are not used to determine where an order is received and by defining business location. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill simply codifies existing origin-based treatment for Arizona businesses and provides certainty, while the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and ATRA warned it would shift revenue, create compliance problems, and potentially subject businesses to multiple tax rates depending on distribution or pickup locations. The Department of Revenue said it was neutral, noted a 2023 draft ruling had reflected a legal analysis of the issue but was never finalized, and said the bill would address a real need for clarity. After extensive debate over examples involving feed stores, Target, pizza delivery, and online orders, the committee voted 5-3 with one absent to return HB 2290 with a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 2373, which would add a space on the individual income tax return for taxpayers to voluntarily contribute part of a refund to the Veterans Donations Fund or Veterans Service Organization Fund. The sponsor and a veterans policy advocate said the measure would give taxpayers a simple way to support veterans organizations, with examples from Colorado and local veterans projects. The bill passed unanimously, 8-0 with one absent, and was returned with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 2143, a technical PSPRS measure that would limit the 5% ownership cap to publicly traded corporations. PSPRS representatives said the change would align the statute with its intended purpose, reduce unnecessary workarounds and legal costs, and preserve broader investment flexibility while maintaining other risk controls. Members discussed how the cap compares with ASRS and other retirement systems, and the bill was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adjusts the definition of small business.
• Eligible local businesses must also accept consultation with the Florida Small Business Development Center
• Is there a minimum length of time that the business has to be in business in order to qualify for this
• Is there a minimum length of time that the business has to be in business in order to qualify for this
• to go out of business.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development considered a full agenda of transportation, economic development, housing, emergency services, and specialty license plate bills. Several measures were explained and advanced without opposition, including the Department of Transportation agency bill (CS/CS/SB 1662), a Purple Heart toll exemption bill (CS/SB 574), a Florida Highway Patrol specialty plate bill (CS/SB 824), a construction disruption assistance loan program for small businesses (CS/CS/SB 324), a manufactured housing assistance bill for local housing plans (CS/SB 1714), a foreign agents registration bill (CS/CS/SB 766), military academy specialty plates (CS/SB 1024), a Safe Coastal Wildlife specialty plate (CS/SB 1246), an emergency services warning-light bill (CS/SB 1644), the Florida Wildflower specialty plate (SB 1152), and a toll exemption bill for 100% disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients (CS/SB 532). The committee adopted amendments on several bills. On CS/CS/SB 1662, Senator Collins’ strike-all amendment made a range of DOT-related changes, including the Florida Transportation Academy, seaport and airport accountability provisions, and allowing cranes to move under special blanket permits at night. On CS/CS/SB 324, the committee adopted a delete-everything amendment and a further amendment removing liability language; the bill would create a revolving loan program for small businesses harmed by public works construction, with members raising concerns about eligibility, verification of losses, and public records issues for financial documents. On CS/SB 766, an amendment clarified definitions and aligned the bill with federal FARA standards, including a 20% beneficial ownership threshold. On CS/SB 532, an amendment added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Testimony and debate were generally supportive, with several outside witnesses appearing in favor of the bills, including Florida PBA, the Florida Manufactured Homeowners Federation, the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, the Center for Security Policy, and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. Members highlighted constituent impacts and policy concerns on a few measures, especially the construction disruption loan bill and the disabled veteran toll exemption, where some senators suggested narrowing the scope or adding protections. All bills considered were reported favorably, and senators later requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on selected tabs before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> these businesses. these businesses.
• want to do away with the illegal businesses, and that would help your business flourish.
• </c> best for um their type of business. best for um their type of business.
• businesses.
• </c> viability of the business at risk. viability of the business at risk.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Got to keep him busy. Mom's working today at Beth Israel, so got to try to keep these guys busy.
• I also object to it being called small business because, for the business owners, it's the largest thing
• Without putting banks out of business, without putting retailers out of business, there's always a happy
• lines, including our card business.
• lines, including our card business.

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard testimony from credit union, retail, banking, and payments industry representatives. Much of the discussion focused on proposals to exclude sales tax and tips from interchange fees, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and related litigation, and whether similar state action in Massachusetts would help small businesses or instead create a patchwork that burdens state-chartered institutions. Witnesses from defense and community credit unions argued interchange helps fund fraud prevention, cybersecurity, member services, and low-fee products, while retail and NRF representatives said merchants are paying significant swipe fees and that state laws like Illinois’s are aimed at reducing costs that are not being passed on to consumers. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides security, fraud protection, rewards, and access to credit, and that many of the costs merchants complain about are actually bundled processor or acquirer fees rather than interchange itself. Others countered that small businesses are struggling with rising overall costs and that Massachusetts should consider reforms such as allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as meaningful relief for merchants and opponents saying it is temporary and incomplete. No formal votes were taken on legislation. The commission accepted oral testimony, noted that written testimony would be accepted through July 31, and concluded the meeting by unanimously voting to adjourn. The chair and members said they would continue gathering testimony and work toward recommendations, with the chair stressing the need to find a fair middle ground that supports both small businesses and the broader payments ecosystem.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tips are not business revenue either.
• For instance, checks are still being used business-to-business for payments such as rent, payroll, even
• You know, as we've heard, small businesses actually pay approximately twice what large businesses pay
• have, as a business-to-business option, however, everyday consumer cards, the way they're programmed
• So you are partners with small businesses, and as small businesses are asking you for a little bit of

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing chaired by Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Jamie Murphy. The commission reviewed its charge to gather input on payment trends, cashless transactions, credit card fees, mobile payments, buy now/pay later, and related issues affecting small businesses. Representative Sean Garballey testified in support of maintaining the current card system, emphasizing tourism’s importance to Massachusetts and arguing that universal card acceptance and interchange stability are especially important with major upcoming events and visitors. A large portion of the hearing focused on independent restaurants and small businesses arguing that credit card processing fees are burdensome and unfair when applied to sales tax and gratuities that are not business revenue. Testifiers including Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others described razor-thin margins and said restaurants pay fees on money passed through to the state or employees. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses first, and making fees proportional. In response, credit union and banking representatives, including Alex Vereen, Brad Popolado, Deb Peters, and Keely McEwen, argued that interchange funds fraud protection, card infrastructure, and consumer protections, and warned that state-specific changes could create compliance burdens, higher costs, or reduced access to services. Several witnesses addressed legal and policy questions. Dan Swanson and David Montero said states have authority to regulate aspects of the payment system, but Montero warned that state-specific rules could create uncertainty and conflict with federal banking law. Julian Morris and other industry witnesses argued that card payments benefit consumers and merchants by reducing cash-handling costs and increasing spending, while critics of reform said changes could shift costs into bank fees or reduced rewards. Commission members questioned whether sales tax could be separated from card transactions, whether surcharging should be considered, and whether vendor compensation or other state-level relief might be more workable. The chairs said they were exploring a narrower, targeted approach rather than a broad overhaul, and announced plans for one additional public hearing to allow further testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's our um businesses.
• </c> businesses can move. businesses can move.
• The actual business. worth $10 million. The actual business.
• I am a small business owner. I own a small business in Rochester.
• I am a small business owner. I own a small business in Rochester.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• First order of business is roll call.
• businesses as well?
• We're not out to target businesses.
• I think it would be far better to leave the businesses in charge of their own business on this one.
• announcements house at the 15th order business good gentlemen Advance to the 15th order of business,

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The small business doesn't have to do that. I was a small business owner.
• </c> the small business. the small business. Yes,<00:18:14.360><c> ma'am.
• Uh business owners small business owner.
• doesn't</c> business.
• The small business doesn't business.

Bills: SB59 , SB221 , SB59 , SB221

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: military families, immunization, education, public health, school enrollment, Mobile County, judge of probate, compensation, salary, expense allowance, higher education, funding, annual report, state funds, federal funds, budget oversight, sales tax, credit card fees, tax exemption, merchants

Transcript Highlights:

• otherwise, when those businesses close, and we have had a number of businesses close throughout the metro
• ><c> and</c> CDFI supports small businesses and CDFI supports small businesses and housing. housing.
• Business owners were shifting growing their business to instead ensuring that their employees had food
• </c> and said it was impacting the businesses and said it was impacting the businesses in<00:19:05.520
• ,</c> specific numbers from those businesses, specific numbers from those businesses, but<00:20:21.680

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Cedric Frazier opened the meeting by describing the ongoing harms from Operation Metro Surge, saying the state was still dealing with family separation, school disruption, workforce damage, and economic instability. He framed the issue as a statewide crisis and called on Republican colleagues to acknowledge the harm and work with DFL members on accountability and relief. He said the current budget work was urgent but could not fully backfill the damage, and later noted that the issue had been a top priority since the surge began. Testimony from school and business leaders focused on concrete impacts. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said her district, which serves a large Black, Hispanic, and East and West African student population, was targeted during the surge and saw major enrollment losses, including students moving out of state or country or being held in Texas facilities. She said the district lost over $1 million in revenue and that the loss could equal about 40 teachers or an entire elementary school. Columbia Heights School Board Chair Mary Granlund said her district, with a limited tax base, was also heavily affected and warned that business closures and unfunded mandates would shift costs to homeowners and force cuts to classes, teachers, and programs. Lee Ann Rasiejka of Women Venture and the CDFI coalition said small businesses across Minnesota were facing compounded disruption from federal law enforcement activity, tariffs, rising costs, and fear, with more than $213 million in lost revenue reported across Twin Cities corridors and many businesses cutting hours, delaying hiring, or pausing growth. In response to questions, Frazier and other speakers said the proposed aid would be statewide rather than focused only on the Twin Cities, and that the bill currently had no set dollar amount but they hoped for around $100 million. They said CDFIs and local community groups would help distribute resources. Frazier said some Republican members had acknowledged harm in their own communities and suggested compromise was possible, though he criticized leadership for dismissing some testimony as hearsay. He also said ongoing law enforcement investigations into alleged crimes by federal agents would not be necessary to establish the harm, pointing instead to direct testimony from affected residents and school officials. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• with sponsoring business organizations and mount a trade show to showcase their work to local business
• I hope that my story inspires you to continue to invest in women. businesses, women-owned businesses,
• Islander-owned businesses in our region.
• So now for all All small business firms of study was produced for all small businesses in the Seneca
• and Black businesses was about 44%.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we've incorporated language to redefine related business entity and unified business enterprises
• And with that, business tax relief for small business, and... $5,500.
• And with that, business tax relief for small business and for folks needing an inventory tax credit is
• The regular order of business...
• I don't understand this business anymore.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, recognized a Karnes County Day delegation and the Texas Association of Museums, received a governor’s message on Texas Diabetes Council appointments, and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber then took up several resolutions, including SR 388 honoring the Texas Association of Museums, and adopted SRs 380, 382, and 387 by voice vote. Senator King was excused due to a family death, and the journal reading was dispensed with. The Senate then moved through a series of bills, most of them on expedited suspension of the regular order and three-day rule. Measures passed included SB 868 on Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program funding for high-wildfire-risk areas; SB 264 exempting certain family motor-vehicle transfers from tax; SB 2112 on oyster mariculture penalties; SB 1484 on catfish labeling and marketing; SB 660 on bollards near hospital emergency rooms; SB 1809 creating offenses for gift card fraud; SB 32 and SJR 81 providing business personal property tax relief and a related constitutional amendment; SB 1267 modernizing boat titling and adding disclosure for hidden hull damage; SB 1470 allowing DPS data sharing for voter list maintenance; SB 2406 and SB 2407 implementing Sunset recommendations for the Sabine River Authority and Lower Neches Valley River Authority; SB 609 on school district compliance with legally required policies; SB 921 on ex parte Medicaid eligibility renewals; SB 2320 increasing DWI penalties; SB 1822 requiring disclosure and oversight of AI-based utilization review algorithms; SB 693 on notaries public and deed theft prevention; and SB 664 setting statewide qualifications and oversight for magistrates and related judicial officers. One of the most contested items was SB 779 on common law public nuisance claims, which drew extended debate over whether the bill would limit lawsuits against lawful, regulated activities and whether it would preserve private nuisance and other existing remedies. Despite objections, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment by a 17-12 vote, holding it there. Another debated measure was SB 1008 on state and local authority over the food service industry; after a perfecting amendment, it was passed to engrossment and then to final passage. Several bills were adopted or passed with near-unanimous support, while others, including SB 1267, SB 1470, SB 1822, and SB 2320, saw some opposition but still cleared the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate is ready for business.
• It could apply to any business.
• But because this is to promote business and to help businesses instead of impeding them, I will vote
• And again, it's a small business.
• Without objection, the Senate will advance to the 15th order of business, miscellaneous business.

Summary: The Senate convened with all 35 members present, approved the previous day’s journal, received committee reports, and heard several introductions and page swearing-in ceremonies. Messages from the Governor and House were read, and multiple bills were advanced through first and second reading, including measures on education civics instruction, irrigation districts, state symbols, county jail prisoner costs, foreign laws, police dogs, hospital districts, driver training, agriculture license plates, and forest products commission procedures. On third reading, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1254, which amends the Chiropractic Practice Act to clarify that certain certified chiropractors may prescribe limited products such as vitamins, minerals, fluids, and epinephrine for administration in their offices. The Senate also passed House Bill 533, removing the vehicle registration sticker requirement; supporters cited cost savings and modern plate-check technology, while opponents raised law-enforcement concerns. Senate Bill 1258 also passed after debate over a new distillery license for qualifying agricultural producers, with supporters framing it as a rural business and agritourism measure and critics warning about liquor-law carve-outs. The Senate further passed House Bill 502, which moves Idaho Forest Products Commission rules and related provisions into statute, and House Bill 555, a rewrite of solid waste facility law shifting more regulatory authority to the Department of Environmental Quality and updating landfill oversight. Votes on these bills were largely bipartisan, with HB 502 passing unanimously and the others passing by comfortable margins. The chamber then moved to miscellaneous business, announced a deadline for amendments, and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tips are not business revenue either.
• For instance, checks are still being used business-to-business for payments, such as rent, payroll, even
• You know, as we've heard, small businesses actually pay approximately twice what large businesses pay
• have as a business-to-business, it's an option.
• So you have partners with small businesses, and if small businesses are asking you for a little bit of

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> businesses to our state. businesses to our state.
• to the business enterprise and business profit taxes.
• </c> their business. their business.
• enterprise</c> business profits and business enterprise business profits and business enterprise taxes
• paid no business registered businesses paid no business taxes<05:00:43.360><c> whatsoever.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For nonservice businesses, the small business B&O credit is increased from $55 per month in the tax reporting
• For service businesses, the small business B&O credit is increased from $160 per month to $375 per month
• This could be very damaging to 20% of all small businesses; emerging businesses are minority-owned.
• As an S-corp, our business income goes through the tax return of the owner of the business.
• I own a small business, and my business income shows up on my personal taxes.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 904, all