Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Doolin, representing the Small County Coalition and the Small Districts Coalition Consortium.
• the counties, the small counties since 1990.
• It was exciting that small changes, which are not small: health care, docs, hospitals, our regional consortiums
• Small changes, which are not small: health care, docs, hospitals, our regional consortiums, which are
• counties and small school boards.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first considered CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, presented by Senator Graal. The bill addressed three areas: child welfare workforce shortages, higher-acuity children in out-of-home care, and services/data for commercially sexually exploited children. It would create a CPI and case manager recruitment program aimed at former public safety and service workers, convene a workforce work group, establish a four-year treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits identified by DCF based on removal and placement data, and require more detailed, extractable child-level data on commercially sexually exploited children along with a bed capacity study and service gap analysis. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified record retention for redacted assessments, and another attached the appropriation. The committee then heard CS/SB 110 on rural communities from Senator Simon. The bill proposed a broad rural development package, including a state office of rural prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for counties with declining populations, increased housing support, major rural road funding, school consortium funding, and additional health care resources for rural facilities and training. A delete-all amendment was adopted that expanded and refined several provisions, including local sales tax trust fund distributions, county connectivity projects, agritourism marketing support, disaster-impacted rural infrastructure eligibility, insurance and provider eligibility changes, and increased funding for critical access hospitals and rural medical education reimbursement. Both bills drew broad support from local government, education, health care, housing, and rural advocacy representatives. Supporters said the rural bill was especially comprehensive and would help small counties, schools, roads, housing, and health care, while one witness cautioned that road expansion should be balanced with protection of agricultural and natural lands. Senator Bradley and Senator Simon emphasized local control and the importance of strengthening rural Florida without imposing mandates. CS/SB 7012 and CS/SB 110 were both reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 976 would establish a tax credit program to provide a non-refundable tax credit to small retailers
• Similar legislation has also been enacted in the state of New York in order to help small businesses
• Recognizing that the current budget status of AB 976 is narrowly tailored to give small businesses in
• Theft from small retailers harms more than business owners.
• New York is covering all their small businesses.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met and announced that, under its suspense-file rules, every bill on the agenda would be referred to suspense because each had a fiscal impact. The chair also reminded attendees to submit position letters in advance for inclusion in the bill analysis. A quorum was established and the committee then heard six bills, all of which drew support testimony and no opposition testimony in the room. AB 814 would exempt law enforcement pensions from state income tax to encourage retired peace officers to remain in California and support recruitment and retention. AB 918 would create a targeted income tax exemption for pay earned by local first responders deployed under mutual aid during declared emergencies, with supporters saying it would help sustain disaster response and reward extraordinary service. Both bills were backed by police and public safety organizations and were referred to suspense. AB 976 would create a nonrefundable tax credit for small retailers in disadvantaged communities to help pay for security equipment in response to retail theft and violence; members discussed whether the bill should be broader and how it related to Proposition 36 and crime policy. AB 984 would allow state tax deductions for contributions to CalABLE accounts, with testimony from CalABLE representatives and families describing the program as an essential savings tool for people with disabilities. AB 1282 would create a deduction for out-of-pocket medical expenses up to $5,000 through 2030, and AB 838 would raise California’s renter’s tax credit from $60/$120 to $2,000 for eligible filers. Each of these bills was also referred to the suspense file, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• become s a burden on a lot of small become s a burden on a lot of small cities<00:20:19.880>
• In some small cities, small towns, you know, there's so all of these things always have to be balanced
• In some small cities, small towns, you know, there's so all of these things always have to be balanced
• In some small cities, small towns, you know, there's so all of these things always have to be balanced
• Thanks, Representative Anderson. to happen I mean small towns usually get to happen I mean small towns

Bills: HF1917, HF1083, HF367

Keywords: data practices, public official, transparency, government accountability, employment data, domestic abuse, domestic violence, battered women, victim advocate, advocacy, confidentiality, privilege, evidence law, witness privilege, court-ordered disclosure, shelter, crisis intervention, sexual assault counselor, victim services, protective services

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a small town.
• It's a small<00:21:26.080> town.
• America's millions of small businesses. America's millions of small businesses.
• of small businesses. of small businesses.
• small businesses will be. small businesses will be.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our economy and our small businesses. our economy and our small businesses.
• Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act. Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act.
• AI small businesses by supporting<00:30:26.160> the<00:30:26.240> Small<00:30:26.720><
• c> AI<00:30:27.000> Innovators supporting the Small AI Innovators supporting the Small AI
• <04:25:45.360> All Small Cemetery Conveyance Act. All Small Cemetery Conveyance Act.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 16, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, a salvation for our small- and mid-sized farms.
• UC and CSU have very small budgets for locally grown food.
• We have a small farmer from Malota, California.
• There's a lot of small farmers like myself, and it really benefits small farms like myself, and also
• program for small farmers.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Small independent grocery store owners are hurt.
• Small independent grocery store owners are hurt.
• Local farmers are small. They get a premium. Local farmers are small. They get a premium.
• It looks large, but this is a small blow-up.
• It looks large, but this is a small blow-up.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That reflects the progress of the small business community.
• is a signal that our current system isn't working for small businesses.
• Without the opportunity to start small, Civil Coffee would not exist today.
• Our small businesses and residents are desperate to fill this.
• Time is critical, especially for small and mid-sized retailers.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the AG area, um, that we used to have a very resilient agriculture system where we had a lot of small
• We had a lot of small towns. We had diversified farms.
• Everything under one roof, and we have, uh, facilities producing more manure than small towns.
• We set up systems, you know, to fund and provide cost share and dollars to small farms, but whenever
• to small to small farms<00:01:59.600> but farms but farms but whenever<00:02:00.759> we

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard extended discussion on House File 8, a bill aimed at changing Minnesota’s permitting and environmental review process. Supporters said the bill is intended to help small and medium-sized businesses and projects that face long delays, and argued that the proposal does not lower environmental standards. They described the bill as modeled in part on provisions used in other states, including a staggered permitting process and an expedited option, and said the goal is to improve transparency, reporting, and real-time public access to permit information. Members raised concerns about whether the bill could also benefit large corporations and major industrial projects, including mining and other large facilities, rather than just smaller businesses. Several lawmakers questioned the use of county-based public input, the lack of tribal consultation, and how the bill would interact with treaty rights and communities outside the affected county. Others argued that the bill could create risks by speeding permits for bad actors or by allowing larger entities to pay for expedited treatment. Testimony also referenced examples from the Minnesota Chamber’s report, with a witness disputing the claim that permitting alone drove companies out of Minnesota and saying those cases involved more complex facts. The committee first considered a motion to lay the bill on the table, but that motion failed on a 5-7 roll call. The committee then voted on a motion to re-refer House File 8, as amended, to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee. That motion passed 7-5, and the bill was sent on to that committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• These CDFIs make loans and expand access to capital for small businesses that are primarily Black- and
• These represent bankers, bakers, barbers, mechanics, small manufacturers whose dreams create jobs and
• These represent bankers, bakers, barbers, mechanics, small manufacturers whose dreams create jobs and
• wealth and overlooked. small manufacturers whose dreams create jobs and build wealth and overlooked
• Good afternoon, on behalf of Small Business Majority, strong support.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met to hear several bills, beginning with a consent calendar that included AB 665 and AB 866, both adopted on a do pass basis and referred to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 801, which would create a California Community Reinvestment Act to require covered financial institutions, including state-chartered banks, credit unions, residential mortgage lenders, and money transmitters, to meet the financial needs of low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. The author and supporters argued the bill would close gaps left by the federal CRA, address redlining and discriminatory lending, and expand investment in housing, small business, and community development. Support came from community groups, CDFIs, labor, and housing advocates, while opposition from mortgage bankers and credit unions argued the bill would impose costly new reporting and regulatory burdens, especially on institutions they said already serve underserved borrowers well. Committee members discussed the scope of the bill, the experience of other states with state CRA laws, and possible carve-outs or tiered treatment for smaller credit unions. AB 801 was passed as amended and referred to Appropriations, with the roll left open and later completed; one member voted no and others were not voting or voted aye as the roll was finalized. The committee also heard AB 743, which would require licensing and surety bonds for commercial lawsuit financing and bring those transactions under DFPI oversight. The author said the bill was aimed at a largely unregulated, multi-billion-dollar industry and was intended to increase transparency and address concerns about foreign interests, fraud, and abusive litigation funding practices, while not affecting consumer legal funding. Supporters, including Unified Patents, the Civil Justice Association of California, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Trucking Association, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the bill was an important first step toward disclosure and regulation. There was no opposition testimony. AB 743 passed unanimously as amended and was referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open briefly for absent members before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important leadership that's vital for small businesses, such as a small business owner in Yorba
• Not all small businesses are lucky enough.
• We're a thousand groups that include small business groups, for-profit lenders to small businesses, and
• nonprofits that serve small businesses.
• Rachel Muller on behalf of Small Business Majority in support, thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to fet and to making Missouri's small to fet and to making Missouri's small business<00:38:12.079
• Res. 75. lose situation for small business owners lose situation for small business owners and<04:08:
• American manufacturers and small American manufacturers and small retailers<04:08:28.319> I
• will have on small will have on small businesses<04:35:01.680> drastically<04:35:02.561><
• businesses and consumers if on small businesses and consumers if small<04:38:29.240> businesses

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• companies are often incredibly small. companies are often incredibly small.
• It's very small. Thank you.
• you're just dealing with very small you're just dealing with very small companies.<00:49:12.680>
• There's a small tax cap. How companies. There's a small tax cap.
• > investment uh small busi- small business investment uh small busi- small business investment

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want my small business to stay small so I can keep doing my favorite part of my job, which is helping
• I want my small business to stay small so I can keep doing my favorite part of my job, which is helping
• I want my small business to stay small so I can keep doing my favorite part of my job, which is helping
• 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:

• from hospitals and clinics to small from hospitals and clinics to small businesses<00:01:59.759>
• <00:09:00.480> businesses protect families and small businesses protect families and small
• small part of the pie. small part of the pie.
• <01:43:12.400> that a small business and we're so small that a small business and we're so
• entrepreneurs and small business owners. entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and<00:01:31.640> there<00:01:31.759> are small small communities um and there are
• small small communities um and there are still<00:01:32.479> guard<00:01:32.720> rails
• <00:02:28.800> local Arrangement will help our small local Arrangement will help our small
• Thanks, Senator Housechild. sort I want I don't want these small sort I want I don't want these small
• does this affect any of those small does this affect any of those small little<00:49:12.359>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• outreach program and the small county rural assistance program.
• Not only will this bill benefit the small counties, it will also benefit the small cities as well, and
• Not only will this bill benefit the small counties, it will also benefit the small cities as well.
• Up next, we have Chris Doolin with the Small County Coalition and the Small School District Council.
• Up next, we have Chris Doolin with the Small County Coalition and the Small School District Council Consortium

Summary: The Commerce Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. First, CS/HB 515 on the Uniform Commercial Code was presented as a Florida Bar-backed update creating a new chapter to address digital assets and ledger technologies, including rules for perfection of security interests and lien priorities involving items such as Bitcoin. The bill drew support from the Florida Bar’s business law section and the Florida Bankers Association, had no amendments or opposition, and was reported favorably after a unanimous roll call. The committee then heard HB 1427 on rural communities, a broad package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a rural resource directory, a Renaissance grant program, a rural arterial road monetization program, housing and school support measures, and new health care grant programs for telehealth, staffing, training, and mobile units. Sponsors and many local officials, economic development groups, chambers, utilities, and other organizations testified in strong support, emphasizing infrastructure, workforce, housing, and health care needs in rural Florida. Members from both parties praised the bill’s focus on rural counties, and it was reported favorably. Finally, HB 299 on elevator accessibility requirements would allow an additional shorter interior support well in elevators while keeping the existing 42-inch support well requirement, with the goal of improving accessibility and flexibility for building owners. The National Elevator Industry supported the measure, there was no opposition or amendment, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when we look at Arizona, we are a small business state.
• So small, I don't know how small, but I don't think there's a legal way that I know to quantify it.
• Livingston, I know it's a very small percentage.
• So small, I don't know how small, but I don't think there's a legal way that I know. but I don't think
• Lewis, I know it's a very small percentage.

Bills: HB2011, HB2089, HB2090, HB2092, HB2477, HB2785

Keywords: individual income tax, subtraction, Arizona Revised Statutes, retirement benefits, adoption costs, charitable contributions, health insurance, premium payment, Arizona State Retirement System, contingent annuitant, long-term disability, benefits limitations, disability compensation, social security, retirement system, elected officials, ASRS, eligibility waiver, age 65, education savings

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it a small crop? And so there is variability every year.
• needed to help small businesses to export.
• Next, we have the Small Business Finance and Community Support Program.
• It's a small community of about 2,000 people.
• It was a really small part of your brief, but one of the slides focused on small business finance, community

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• > president banned Tik Tok but Tik Tok president banned Tik Tok but Tik Tok helps<00:30:17.000> small
• businesses with social media helps small businesses with social media um<00:30:19.039> such<00
• :30:28.039> to<00:30:28.200> help<00:30:28.519> contemporary<00:30:29.080> small
• innovation to help contemporary small innovation to help contemporary small businesses<00:30:30.080
• It establishes a program that provides technology enablement for small businesses relating to tourism

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism, Housing, and Economic Development and Technology began with House Bill 604, which would raise the transient accommodations tax by 1 percentage point starting January 1, 2026 and direct the revenue to the Hawaiian Homes General Loan Fund. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the bill as a source of consistent funding, while the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed it, warning that Hawaii already has very high tourism taxes and that further increases could hurt visitors, workers, and the broader economy. The committees later voted to pass HB 604 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date; the vote was adopted, with one member noted as having reservations in the housing committee vote and one no vote in that committee. The committees then heard House Bill 973, which would require transient accommodations brokers and others to display all resort fees, taxes, and government-imposed charges upfront in advertised prices and would establish penalties. The Office of Consumer Protection expressed concerns about the bill’s intent requirement and noted a forthcoming federal FTC rule on junk fees; the Hawaii Hotel Alliance strongly supported the measure as promoting transparency and uniformity, and a public witness also supported price transparency while questioning the size of the penalties. After questions about federal rescission of the FTC rule and enforcement authority, the committees voted to pass HB 973 with amendments as an HD1, including removal of the intent requirement and technical changes, and the recommendation was adopted unanimously. House Bill 594, relating to hotel service disruptions, would require hotel keepers to give notice of disruptions to guests and third-party vendors and allow damages. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to add a purpose section and savings clause to address First Amendment and contract clause issues, and Unite Here Local 5 supported the bill, saying guests are not always notified of disruptions and that the measure would improve transparency; the union agreed with the legal amendments. The committees voted to pass HB 594 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date, adopting the recommendation. The final measures were House Bill 448 and House Bill 449, both related to technology enablement and economic development for small businesses, including tourism-related businesses. HTDC strongly supported both bills but emphasized that technology should be targeted to the actual problem and coordinated with sister agencies rather than applied broadly; the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce also supported HB 448, and HB 449 received support from HTDC and HFIA. The committees adopted amendments to HB 448, including moving a $250,000 appropriation to the committee report, and to HB 449, including deleting duplicative language tied to HB 448 and moving a $500,000 appropriation to the committee report; both bills were passed as HD1s with deferred dates, and the hearing adjourned after the votes were adopted.