Video & Transcript : 'merchants' :
Page 7 of 32
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:42:49.119><c> retail</c> yamaki president for the retail yamaki president for the retail merchants
- On top of that, that is just going to be really pressing for our restaurant and retail merchants.
- On top of that, that is just going to be really pressing for our restaurant and retail merchants.
- On top of that, that is just going to be really pressing for our restaurant and retail merchants.
- Next we have Tina Yamaki, President for the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, in opposition, on Zoom.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, February 10, 2026
Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- 24:58.240><c> very</c> that are left standing were not very that are left standing were not very merchant
- 59.600><c> was</c><00:24:59.679><c> all</c><00:24:59.919><c> pretty</c><00:25:00.080><c> much</c> merchant
- So that was all pretty much merchant.
- c><00:25:07.360><c> that</c> these critical areas because that these critical areas because that merchant
- will timber timber is not there merchant will timber timber is not there because<00:25:10.080><c> the
Keywords:
wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water development, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Housing Jun 18th, 2026
Joint Committee on Housing
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't know if you ever read The Merchant of Venice.
- was designed to get around some of the harsh results of law and i don't know if you ever read the merchant
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Housing held a hybrid hearing on two bills: H. 5447, a home rule petition concerning the Town of West Tisbury’s affordable housing trust fund, and H. 5317/H. 5314, relating to condominium conversion or partition of co-owned two-unit buildings. Chair Richard Haggerty and Senate co-chair Julian Cyr opened the hearing and explained the format, including three-minute testimony limits and a July 31 deadline for written testimony.
Peter Harrington testified in support of updating the partition law so courts could use condominium conversion when dividing co-owned property. He said the current law is rooted in medieval-era rules and can hinder preservation of middle-class housing, especially where a two-family home might otherwise be sold and redeveloped. He argued the change would give judges a modern tool to preserve existing housing stock and noted the issue arises in some partition cases, though not every day.
Laura Silber testified for West Tisbury in support of H. 5447, saying the town wants its affordable housing trust fund expanded to serve households up to 180% of area median income and to support seasonal-community workforce needs, including public sector essential workers. She said the town and Martha’s Vineyard Commission also support broader seasonal-community housing tools and a future local option transfer fee. Senator Cyr questioned whether the home rule petition was necessary given the Seasonal Communities law, and Silber responded that the petition was a short-term measure while technical fixes and a pooled year-round housing trust are developed. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with adjournment after testimony concluded.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/10/2026 - House Democratic Caucus Calendar #10
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 1058, firearm transactions merchant code prohibition, establishes the Second Amendment Financial Privacy
- I just want to note for the record that in the veto letter last year, Governor Hobbs said merchant category
Summary:
The caucus reviewed a long calendar of bills spanning health care, education, tax, elections, firearms, and public safety. HB 283, as amended, would require diabetes-related supplies and monitoring equipment to be covered for people with diabetes. SB 1126 would require schools to provide records and information to Department of Child Safety caseworkers and allow school employees to speak with DCS investigators; it was on consent, though some members said they wanted to study it further. SB 1210 would require certain out-of-state private postsecondary institutions to register with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education to protect students, especially those taking online courses. SCR 1006, which would create causes of action related to restroom, changing facility, and pronoun policies in schools, drew strong opposition and was requested to be pulled from consent.
Several tax and property bills were discussed. HB 2308 would prohibit dental insurers from owning dental practices, and members noted the committee and Senate had not supported it. SB 1294 would clarify county assessors’ authority to prorate destroyed property for property tax purposes; members said they were still researching whether the bill was necessary. SB 1430, the Tax Corrections Act of 2026, would make technical tax changes and remove redundant language, but members said they wanted Department of Revenue-requested corrections restored. SB 1049 would cap spousal maintenance at four years and change the factors used in setting support; it was pulled from consent. SB 1053 would reduce concealed weapons permit fees for Arizona residents, and members raised concerns about state fee impacts and asked to pull it.
The caucus also considered several election and public safety measures. SB 1006 would allow campaign committees to aggregate donations under $200 instead of $100, but members questioned the higher threshold and pulled it. SB 1029 would address committee termination after a candidate’s death. SB 1038 would make cast vote records public, and SB 1057 would add fraud countermeasures for paper ballots; both were noted as vetoed in the prior year. SB 1237 would require the Secretary of State to consult county recorders and legislative election leaders before issuing the elections procedures manual. Other measures included SB 1058, which would restrict government recordkeeping on firearms and merchant category codes and was pulled after members cited a prior veto, SB 1093 on riot, conspiracy, and racketeering definitions, SB 1160 limiting drone operations near ticketed entertainment events with public safety arguments offered in support, and SB 1211 expanding lifetime injunction eligibility for aggravated harassment involving domestic violence. The caucus ended by moving into closed session.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 3, 2026 - 08:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Cities impose a business tax on merchants measured by grocery receipts.
- The American Victory is the World War II merchant vessel that is one of three operational steam powered
- Gonzalez Pittman: World War II merchant vessels remaining in the United States.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 29, 2026 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- The SS American Victory is a World War II era merchant vessel and is one of three operational steam powered
- World War II merchant vessels remaining in the United States.
- serve as a first responder training center and living tribute to those who serve the United States Merchant
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- 00.080><c> okay</c><00:21:00.679><c> thank</c> Next, we have Tina Yamaki, President of the Retail Merchants
- I'm Tina Yamaki with the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and we are supportive of the concept of this, but
- I just wanted to ask, with regards to the testimony provided by Retail Merchants of Hawaii regarding
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Mar 31st, 2026
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- Next, I'd like to welcome up Kara Holmquist, followed by Suzanne Stillinger, and then Tracy Merchant.
- All right, moving on to Tracy Merchant, followed by Pamela Rivas and then Alexander Cook.
- Hello, my name is Tracy Merchant and I work at as an M...
- Hello, my name is Tracy Merchant, and I work as an M-TRIPLE-C professional staff in the Emissions Office
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Jan 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, can I phone a friend and bring our policy director, Sean Merchant, up in case there's questions
- And Sean Merchant has had conversations with the Military Department on this.
- Sean Merchant, the policy director for Secretary of State. Yes, we are supportive of this concept.
Summary:
The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on January 23, 2026, first taking executive action on several bills. The committee held SB 6035 and SB 5842 for another week, then worked through SB 5973 on initiative and referendum signature gathering rules. Members debated 12 amendments to a proposed substitute and the underlying bill, but none were adopted. The substitute would prohibit pay-per-signature and require 1,000 pre-filing signatures for initiatives; opponents argued it would burden the initiative process, while supporters said it would curb fraud and improve accountability. The committee then advanced SB 5892, SB 6081, SB 5877, SB 5968, and SB 6034, each on a due pass recommendation, with SB 6081 referred to the Transportation Committee and the others sent to Rules or Ways and Means as noted in the motions.
During public hearing, the committee heard SB 5888, which would remove Senate confirmation for members of the Washington State Women's Commission. Senator Wellman said the change would align the commission with similar bodies and correct an inconsistency, and commission staff testified in support, saying the appointment process is already thorough and that the governor would retain appointment authority. The committee also heard SB 6123, expanding a public-records exemption for voluntarily supplied demographic information to local government employees; a Pierce County HR director supported the bill, saying it would help build trust while preserving aggregate reporting. The hearing on SB 5853, sponsored by Senator Wilson, drew strong support and no opposition; it would create a statewide emergency notification system for public officials to alert them to targeted threats, with the Secretary of State and Military Department involved in administration. Secretary of State staff said they supported the concept but wanted to work with the sponsor on implementation details, and the sponsor said he was willing to amend the bill to address those concerns.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- and what we found is that the inventory tax on medicine and perishable goods increased the cost on merchants
- It makes the tax system simpler because the compliance cost will be lower for these merchants.
- Because the compliance cost will be lower for these merchants, it always also lowers the enforcement
Bills:
SB1331, SB1375, SB1443, SB1578, SB2251, SB2519, SB2553, SB2655, SB2764, SB2907, SB3030, SB3033, SB3035, SB3036, SB3037, SB3043, SB3047, SB3050, SB3051, SB3056, SB3057, SB3063, HB9, HB467, HB331, HB1244, HB1399, HB2559, HB2730, HB3307, HJR1, HJR99, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SJR78, HB1327, HB2723
Keywords:
civil service, firefighters, police officers, municipalities, local government, repeal, voter petition, health care, provider participation, continuation programs, population-based regulation, health care provider participation, Medicaid, hospital funding, voluntary compliance, mandatory payments, public health, healthcare program, county participation, nonpublic hospitals
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Local Government heard several bills, most of them left pending after brief public testimony. House Bill 331, by Rep. Patterson and sponsored by Sen. Hinojosa, would create a presumption that firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who suffer a heart attack or stroke within eight hours after a strenuous shift were injured in the line of duty for workers’ compensation purposes; testimony from a firefighters’ association supported the bill, and it was left pending. Senate Bill 2655, by Sen. Flores, would authorize Burnet County to establish a local provider participation fund to help support local hospital services; a hospital administrator testified in support, and the committee substitute was left pending. Senate Bill 1443, by Sen. Hughes, would extend the Northeast Healthcare Provider Participation District in three counties, and House Bill 3307, by Rep. Noble, would allow property tax arbitrators to complete required continuing education online; both were left pending without opposition. Senate Bill 3048, by Sen. Birdwell, would create the Bluebonnet Hills Municipal Management District in Midlothian and was also left pending.
The committee then took up House Bill 9 and HJR 1, sponsored by Sen. Bettencourt, which would raise the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000 and place the constitutional amendment on the November 4, 2025 ballot. Business groups, realtors, and taxpayers’ advocates testified in strong support, saying the change would provide meaningful relief to small businesses and help balance earlier homeowner tax relief. The City of Fort Worth testified in opposition, warning of a revenue shift to homeowners and budget impacts, but the committee adopted the committee substitutes and reported both measures to the full Senate on 6-0 votes.
The committee also heard House Bill 1399 and HJR 99, by Sen. Nichols, to exempt animal feed from property tax when it is already sales-tax exempt; no one testified against them, and both were left pending. Senate Bill 2553, by Sen. West, would let owners of historic archaeological sites protest land and structure appraisals separately, and it was left pending after supportive testimony. Senate Bill 2907 and SJR 78, also by Sen. West, would exempt certain perishable inventory, including food and some prescription drugs, from property tax if approved by voters; pharmacists, business groups, a researcher, and a coalition of retailers and food/medicine advocates supported the bill, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 1331, by Sen. Hancock and explained by Sen. Middleton, would lower the population threshold for certain municipal civil-service-related petition restrictions from 950,000 to 70,000; law enforcement representatives and a San Marcos police association supported it, and it was left pending. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, next up, Dave Erman testifying for Retail Merchants Seavoy in support.
- next up, Dave Erman testifying for Uh, next up, Dave Erman testifying for Retail<00:01:51.119><c> Merchants
- </c><00:01:53.119><c> We</c> Retail Merchants Seavoy in support.
- We Retail Merchants Seavoy in support.
- Dave Erdman, Retail Merchants of Hawaii in support.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on a series of economic development, tourism, and tax measures. SB 2411 drew broad support from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the University of Hawaiʻi, the Chamber of Commerce, and Retail Merchants, with one technical amendment suggested to change a partnership term from six to seven years. Members asked about implementation and annual costs, and the department said it would follow up with cost information. HB 2583 HD1, relating to economic development and a loan loss program, also received support, but DBED noted the state already has the CBED loan program and suggested the proposal could be placed under that existing framework rather than creating a new program.
HB 1612, based on business revitalization task force recommendations, was supported by DBED and several business and advocacy groups, including the Small Business Regulatory Review Board and Grassroot Institute. Testimony emphasized improving Hawaii’s business climate and using a ranking/reporting tool to measure progress, while one senator questioned whether the bill would simply fund another study instead of direct improvements. HB 1613, relating to HTDC, was supported by HTDC, the Chamber of Commerce, and startup and industry representatives who said a permanent marketing/branding specialist would help attract tech talent, founders, and investors; a member asked why the position was not in the budget, and HTDC said federal NIST funding uncertainty affected the request. HB 1614, also on economic development, was supported by HTDC and business groups, and members discussed whether the state was missing federal funds due to lack of matching dollars; HTDC said it was difficult to know, but matching funds could help leverage more federal grants.
The committee then took up HB 2590 on taxation for creative industries. The Motion Picture Association and Hawaii Film Alliance strongly supported the bill, saying it would correct GET treatment for payroll service companies, restore motion picture and TV production as manufacturing, and repeal a 2022 provision affecting qualified expenses; the Department of Taxation said it would provide revenue-impact information later. Finally, HB 1950 HD1 on the transient accommodations tax drew strong support from DBED, HTA, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, hotel and resort groups, and others, who argued for a dedicated tourism marketing fund and said the state needs more stable, long-term marketing investment. The Tax Foundation opposed the special fund approach, arguing it would reduce legislative flexibility. Members pressed witnesses on the appropriate percentage for the fund, with HTA suggesting 10% to 12% of TAT collections, and the discussion focused on how marketing spending relates to visitor spending, tax revenue, and long-term tourism competitiveness.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (01/27/2026)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:35:24.079><c> power</c> cost is, not so much the merchant power cost is, not so much the merchant
- And so there is still time for private merchant generation to come on board.
- </c><00:40:37.440><c> generation</c> private for private merchant generation private for private merchant
- And so you don't want to discourage merchant generation, encourage utility generation inadvertently,
- </c> >> Uh so that's what the merchant >> Uh so that's what the merchant generation<01:21
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Feb 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Civil Rights & Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll then have an on-deck panel of Sean Merchant, Melissa Johnson, and Amina Thiori.
- Representative Farivar, Madam Chair, we'll hear from Li Chi Liang, and then we'll go to our panel of Sean Merchant
- Members of the committee, Sean Merchant, Policy Director for the Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Feb 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll then have an on-deck panel of Sean Merchant, Melissa Johnson, and Amina Thiori.
- Representative Farivar, Madam Chair, we'll hear from Li Chi Liang, and then we'll go to our panel of Sean Merchant
- Members of the committee, Sean Merchant, Policy Director for the Secretary of State, question Steve Hobbs
Summary:
The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. On SB 5906, the SAFE Act, staff and Sen. Hansen described protections limiting immigration enforcement access to non-public areas in schools, early learning settings, higher education, health care facilities, adult family homes, and ballot-processing areas, and restricting collection of immigration-status information. Supporters said the bill would clarify and strengthen existing Keep Washington Working policies, while some witnesses requested amendments to better define health care facilities, clarify adult family home and election-related provisions, and keep Section 6 on ballot security. Some members questioned the factual basis for reported ICE activity near schools and daycares and the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants.
The committee also heard SB 5886 on personality rights and forged digital likenesses. Staff explained that the bill would add digitally created or modified likenesses to the Personality Rights Act, raise civil penalties, and allow recovery of actual and non-economic damages in forged-digital-likeness cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to address AI deepfakes and identity misuse while preserving satire and fair use; student and advocacy witnesses supported the measure as a way to protect students and victims of digital impersonation. The committee then heard SB 5169, which expands child hearsay and closed-circuit testimony rules to older children and additional offenses. Prosecutors and forensic interviewers supported the bill as necessary in trafficking and child abuse cases, while defense advocates opposed it as an overbroad expansion that could raise confrontation-clause issues and create legal challenges.
Additional hearings included SB 5865, which would move garnishment form updates from statute to the Washington Pattern Forms Committee; judges supported it as a way to fix a wage-withholding calculation error and allow future updates without legislation. SB 5912 would reinstate the Indigent Defense Task Force to study statewide public defense delivery and recommend sustainable reforms; counties, the Office of Public Defense, and defense groups supported it. SB 6009 would make permanent the current process for direct review of administrative decisions by the Court of Appeals and retain land-use transfer provisions; a Court of Appeals judge supported the bill. SB 6087 would extend limited liability for donations of children’s items to religious organizations and add strollers and car seats, with support from Zero Waste Washington. The committee did not take final votes on these bills during the hearing.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- McNeel and George Rei opened a new store at 81 Merchants Row in Rutland City, specializing in the sale
- a new store McNeel and George Rei opened a new store at<00:10:59.519><c> 81</c><00:10:59.920><c> Merchants
- c> Row</c><00:11:00.560><c> in</c><00:11:00.720><c> Rutland</c><00:11:01.279><c> City,</c> at 81 Merchants
- Row in Rutland City, at 81 Merchants Row in Rutland City, specializing<00:11:02.480><c> in</c><00:11
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (1-14-26)
Natural Resources & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- industrial solar and, um, as you have industrial solar, you'll have large batteries associated with those merchant
- batteries assoc associated<00:14:29.199><c> with</c><00:14:29.440><c> those</c><00:14:29.839><c> merchant
- </c> associated with those merchant associated with those merchant facilities facilities facilities uh
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Next up, we have Retail Merchants in support. Yes, Dave Erdman, Retail Merchants of I.
- Next up, we have Retail Merchants in support. Yes, Dave Erdman, Retail Merchants of I.
- Next up, we have Retail Merchants in support. Yes, Dave Erdman, Retail Merchants of I.
- Next up, we have Retail Merchants in support. Yes, Dave Erdman, Retail Merchants of I.
- Next up, we have Retail Merchants in support. Yes, Dave Erdman, Retail Merchants of I.
Bills:
SB2613, SB2543, SB2398, SB2046, SB2800, SB2818, SB2973, SB2367, SB2907, SB3067, SB3053, SB2944, SB2074, SB2596
Keywords:
public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR, Kauai, Maui, Honolulu, Kaimuki Middle School, Wilcox Elementary School, school property
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on SB 2613, SD1, HD1, relating to public school land transfer. The Attorney General’s office and the Department of Education supported the bill’s technical cleanup of Act 307, but strongly opposed a new provision that would convey school parcels containing public and school library facilities to the Hawaii State Public Library System. They argued the added transfer language conflicted with Act 307’s purpose of consolidating school land for more efficient school operations, and said existing law already allows co-located library use through rights of entry, licenses, or other agreements. The library system supported the bill and said it was trying to resolve longstanding operational conflicts on shared school-campus libraries, especially where public access, construction, and campus safety issues arise.
Members questioned whether the Board of Education should simply mediate the dispute, whether the bill was the right solution, and whether a formal memorandum of agreement might be a better approach than a land transfer. The library system described years of difficulty coordinating with DOE on projects and said it needed a clearer process to complete work and spend CIP funds. Discussion also touched on a Kauai parcel in the bill, identified as a tennis court, and whether resurfacing could be completed before any transfer. The Attorney General indicated that if the goal is to preserve library uses while keeping title with the state, DLNR or another documented arrangement may be more appropriate than transferring fee title to the library system.
The committee then heard SB 2543 SD2 HD1, relating to state construction projects. DAGS supported the measure, and the Hawaii Ironworkers Stabilization Fund and Hawaii Building Construction Trade Council strongly supported it, saying the bill would help spot-check high-cost projects and reduce waste from overruns and delays. One testifier opposed the bill, arguing the proposed construction manager role was too limited and that DAGS needed more training, decentralized authority, and better internal decision-making rather than a new layer of oversight. Supporters said the bill was intended as a pilot program to address repeated cost overruns and improve accountability on state construction projects.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Tue Jan 28, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- And Retail Merchants of Hawaii not present. [Music] Hawaii not present.
- </c><02:21:48.439><c> of</c> Hawaii in opposition retail merchants of Hawaii in opposition retail merchants
- And the retail merchants are also stating that it's going to raise prices.
- And the retail merchants are also stating that it's going to raise prices.
- And the retail merchants are also stating that it's going to raise prices.
Summary:
The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on several energy and environmental bills. On HB 470, relating to noise and leaf blowers, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent to reduce noise pollution but raised concerns about using decibel limits alone and suggested using dBA measurements; testimony also noted the bill would regulate future sales rather than current use, and there were three additional testimonies, two in support and one in opposition. No questions were raised before the committee moved on.
The committee then heard HB 742 on transit-oriented development, which would require HCDA to prepare a programmatic EIS for Ewa, Kapalama, and West Oahu improvements. UH supported the bill, HHFDC said it was already preparing a master plan and programmatic EIS for the Ewa area, and HCDA explained that the projects are already underway or completed, including infrastructure work funded by prior appropriations. Supporters said the bill would streamline environmental review and potentially reduce costs for future housing, while HCDA emphasized the work is already in progress.
On HB 340, concerning a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process and related cost recovery, DCCA provided comments, the Attorney General suggested changing a deadline to a specific date, and the PUC said it wanted to study the matter further while still meeting the 180-day reporting requirement. Solar and clean energy groups strongly supported the bill as a way to speed interconnection and advance grid-interactive technologies, while Hawaiian Electric supported the goal of more DERs but opposed the process, saying its interconnection performance has improved and that collaboration would be preferable to legislation. Members asked about newer technologies, UL 1741, and ratepayer impacts, and the Consumer Advocate said removing the cost-recovery section would alleviate its concerns.
The committee also heard HB 243, requiring PV- and EV-ready new residential construction, which the Hawaii State Energy Office described as a cost-saving no-brainer because installing these features during construction is much cheaper than retrofitting later. The hearing then shifted to HB 350, expanding the water-heater systems that can satisfy building-permit requirements to include heat pump water heaters alongside solar hot water systems. The Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray supported the concept but asked for amendments to align efficiency standards and noted the bill’s removal of a 15-year lifespan limit for solar thermal systems, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association raised questions about how heat pump performance should be measured and whether PV-plus-heat-pump combinations should qualify. Committee members asked about impacts on smaller homes and ADUs, and the discussion remained focused on technical standards and possible amendments; no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (02/07/2025)
State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- So the Jones Act is shorthand for the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, and it provides a lesson, in my view
- The Jones Act is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. It’s 105 years old.
- A Jones Act U.S. merchant mariner holding a U.S.
- </c><01:33:30.840><c> Marine</c> Coast Guard administer Merchant Marine Coast Guard administer Merchant
- Merchant Marine, and ensure the stability, security, and economic benefits.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- The supply of pennies is starting to dry up a little bit, and this provides some guidance for merchants
- But we did not want merchants rounding on each line item.
- So over the course of time, a merchant, I mean, there's been kind of estimates that sometimes you round
Summary:
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard several RS drafts and bills, beginning with introductions that were sent to print: RS 33617 on abbreviated newspaper legal notices, RS 33591 on off-highway vehicle and snowmobile fund allocations and advisory committee changes, RS 33628 on candidate filing, and RS 33644 to codify the Idaho Child Care Program and add program integrity and oversight provisions. Senate Bill 1349 was announced as not being considered at the sponsor’s request.
The committee then advanced multiple bills with due-pass recommendations, including SB 1348, which revises the prior arrangement for the Cordillera Skeet and Trap Club project and allows Idaho Fish and Game to use Pittman-Robertson funds for an alternate shooting range location near Farragut State Park; SB 1350, which provides cash-rounding guidance for cash transactions now that pennies are no longer being minted; and SB 1351, which would bar reappointment of a gubernatorial nominee rejected by the Senate for one year and require vacancies to be filled within 90 days or before the next session. SB 1359, a cryptocurrency kiosk fraud-prevention bill aimed at protecting seniors and other vulnerable Idahoans from scams and money laundering, was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment after testimony from the sponsor, AARP, law enforcement, and others.
The committee also heard and passed Senate Joint Memorial 114, calling on Congress to address college athletics issues such as NIL, revenue sharing, conference realignment, and the financial instability facing Idaho universities and smaller athletic programs. Testimony came from Boise State leadership, Lewis-Clark State, and the State Board of Education, all emphasizing the economic and institutional importance of college sports and the need for federal standards. Finally, House Bill 603, which amends Idaho law to restrict overnight camping on state-owned Capitol Mall property while allowing certain canopies and rule-based exceptions, drew strong testimony both for and against; supporters framed it as a time, place, and manner regulation for safety and access, while opponents warned it would trigger more litigation. The committee approved HB 603 on a do-pass vote, with Senator Ruchti recorded as voting no.