Video & Transcript Research : 'small modular reactors'
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 12, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Allen, I believe, with the small brewers. I don't know.
- So we are very, very small compared to what they do.
- But it's hard for the small, really small ones. That.
- But it's hard for the small, really small ones to—A, you're spending all your time making it.
- Okay, a small retailer can't do that.
Summary:
The committee met to hear an overview of Florida’s alcoholic beverage regulatory structure and a panel discussion on the state’s three-tier system. Emily Oglesby of DBPR explained the department’s licensing and enforcement roles, described common license types, and outlined the three tiers—manufacturers, distributors, and retailers—along with tied-house restrictions and several statutory exceptions for certified Florida farm wineries, breweries with tap rooms, brew pubs, and craft distilleries. Members asked about licensing fees, the number and classification of distributors and craft producers, and how the exceptions fit within the broader system.
Panelists from craft breweries, craft distilleries, wholesalers, and retailers then discussed how the system affects market access, pricing, and product selection. Craft producers argued that Florida’s rules make it difficult for small brands to reach retailers because they must rely on distributors that often prioritize larger, higher-volume products; they said limited self-distribution or other reforms could help small businesses grow without eliminating wholesalers. Wholesalers and retailers defended the three-tier model as a public-safety and anti-monopoly framework, emphasizing investment in warehousing, sales, compliance, and product vetting, while noting that they already carry some craft products and make selections based on demand, quality, and shelf space.
Members also explored related issues such as direct-to-consumer sales, the role of excise-tax audits and inspections, and the emerging market for hemp-derived THC beverages and other alternative drinks. DBPR and industry witnesses said alcohol and hemp products are regulated differently, and several speakers urged the Legislature to consider clearer rules for these products. The meeting ended with no bill vote or formal action; the chair thanked the panel and adjourned after Representative Yeager moved to rise, with no objection.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- AND FOR SOME SMALL PROGRAMS THEY NEED SERVICE IN THEIR REGION BUT THEY WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH FTE TO
- THIS PRIMARILY AFFECTS THE SMALL RURAL DISTRICTS. SO WE BASICALLY JUST SUMMED ALL THESE THINGS UP.
- AND THE ONE THING I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT IS DIFFERENT IS THE SMALL COLLEGE FACTOR.
- THEY ARE SMALL AND THEN THERE IS REALLY SMALL AND THEN THERE IS REALLY REALLY REALLY SMALL.
- THE SMALL SIZE IS TAKEN CARE OF IN THE INDEX TO MAKE SURE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SMALLER COLLEGES.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- We are a small state. We do not have armies of regulators.
- <00:08:40.880>
businesses, <00:08:41.440>and <00:08:41.599>stifle harm small - businesses, and stifle harm small businesses, and stifle innovation. innovation. innovation.
- <00:08:50.120>
businesses <00:08:50.680>they advantages over small businesses they - The local hardware store, the small nonprofit, and the community organization running a mailing list
Summary:
The House first took up House Bill 955, relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system. The chamber suspended rules to consider the Senate proposal of amendment immediately, and the House Education Committee reported that while it appreciated the Senate’s work, differences remained on issues including the timing of class size minimums, possible tuition or fees under the foundation formula, school construction details, and merger committee groupings. The committee voted 11-0-0 to refuse concurrence and request a committee of conference.
After a brief correction on the committee straw poll, the House voted to refuse concurrence in the Senate amendment and appointed Representatives Conlin, Kornheiser, and Quimby as the House conferees. The House then suspended rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith.
The House next took up Senate Bill 71, the consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee recommended amendment, and the floor report described the bill as creating a comprehensive Vermont data privacy law effective January 1, 2028. The report outlined consumer rights to know, access, correct, delete, and port personal data, and to opt out of targeted advertising and sale of data; duties for controllers and processors; limits on sensitive data use; special protections for minors and health-related geofencing; Attorney General enforcement; and an 18-month cure period. The committee heard extensive testimony from a broad range of advocates, industry representatives, privacy experts, and other stakeholders, and it reported the bill out favorably with amendment on a vote of 11-0-0 before the House recessed for dinner.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill is a small step.
- You can find them anywhere from a small bodega to online accessibility.
- As has been said, small businesses are impacted by this as well.
- So it's again about this double charging I think of these small groups.
- your volleyball team or any of these small activities.
Keywords:
health care transparency, ownership disclosure, control reporting, health care consolidation, private equity, management services organization, MSO, provider organization, health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, hospital system, affiliate reporting, financial disclosure, public reporting, market concentration, horizontal consolidation, vertical consolidation, health care ownership, corporate practice, health care regulation
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I know it's small, but it's an intersection of science and policy to develop management actions.
- scallops, to protect these small animals until they reach the optimal harvest size.
- They're too small. And so overall weight is down, but the number of animals is up.
- O'Keefe was talking about, where there's lots of small scallops.
- Piff said, they're small. And so the question is, how do we preserve those?
Summary:
The joint hearing focused on the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, with particular attention to Massachusetts ports, federal scallop management, the proposed reopening of the Northern Edge on Georges Bank, and permit stacking/consolidation. The chair opened by noting the hearing would take written and oral testimony, that time was limited, and that the discussion was intended to inform legislative engagement with federal regulators rather than decide the issue directly. Dan McCarron of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Dr. Kate O’Keefe of the New England Fishery Management Council outlined the federal management structure under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the role of annual catch limits and rotational closures, and the economic importance of scallops to New Bedford, Gloucester, and other Massachusetts ports. O’Keefe said the council’s current scallop framework is based on annual management, research surveys, and public input, and that recent environmental changes and uncertainty are affecting catch advice and biomass.
Dr. O’Keefe and later Dr. Kevin Stokesbury of UMass Dartmouth described the fishery’s recent condition: abundance has increased in some areas, but biomass has fallen because many scallops are still too small to harvest, and changing ocean conditions and natural mortality are affecting the stock. They said the Northern Edge action was considered as a joint scallop/habitat framework but was discontinued in 2024 because the council could not reconcile competing objectives involving scallop yield, habitat protection, and impacts on other species such as cod, lobster, and herring. Stokesbury emphasized the long-running collaborative survey work with industry, said the fishery remains highly productive, and argued that the science supports careful rotational management and that the Northern Edge could be highly productive for scallops, though he acknowledged habitat tradeoffs. Committee members pressed both witnesses on why the issue had remained unresolved for so long and whether the council could revisit it through a future framework.
Representatives of the Sustainable Scalloping Fund, including attorney Drew Kavage, John Lees, Sam Blasley, and Tony Alvernes, urged support for reopening the Northern Edge and for permit stacking, which would allow more than one scallop permit on a vessel while keeping ownership caps in place. They argued the fishery is a major economic driver, that industry-funded research has supported sustainable management, and that stacking would help family-owned operators reduce costs, improve safety, and avoid financial distress. They also stressed the need to protect working waterfront infrastructure in New Bedford and other ports. The chair said he was not opposed to stacking in principle but wanted to avoid a slippery slope toward excessive consolidation or private equity control; he noted that any stacking change would require an amendment to the fishery management plan or federal action. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded with an invitation for continued engagement and future updates on the council process.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- small, 11% at this point in time. small, 11% at this point in time. Thank<00:22:44.560>
you. - awards and therefore should be changed to federal small business innovation research or small business
- awards and therefore should be changed to federal small business innovation research or small business
- This meeting is adjourned. should be changed to federal small should be changed to federal small business
- business innovation research or small business innovation research or small business<00:35:32.320
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several measures related to Hawaii’s film tax credits, timeshare registration, and a Hawaii Technology Development Corporation matching program. For HB 1939, witnesses from the Governor’s office, DBEDT, the Department of Taxation, the Attorney General’s office, film industry groups, neighborhood boards, and others discussed changes to film tax incentives, including local hire requirements, indigenous content, and possible bonus credits. Supporters said the bill would diversify the economy and strengthen local jobs, while DBEDT and others raised operational, fiscal, and legal concerns about administering the multiple bonus options, defining indigenous content, and tracking compliance. The committee noted strong support in testimony and moved the bill forward with a Senate draft, including an amended effective date and a change to apply the bill to costs incurred rather than taxable years.
HB 1941, also relating to taxation and film incentives, drew mixed testimony focused on the interaction between physical production and post-production credits. DBEDT, the Honolulu Film Office, and the Hawaii Film Alliance said the bill’s structure could discourage productions, especially because many productions complete post-production elsewhere and because the measure would be difficult to administer and verify. They urged keeping physical production and post-production separate or addressing post-production through workforce development instead. After hearing the testimony, the chair deferred HB 1941 for further work rather than advancing it.
The committee also heard HB 1946 on timeshare registration, which had support from industry representatives and DCCA. The bill was advanced with a Senate draft incorporating DCCA’s requested language providing that renewal applications are deemed approved after 30 days unless a deficiency letter is issued. Finally, HB 2545 on HTDC’s matching program for federal SBIR/STTR awards was advanced with a technical amendment clarifying that the federal awards are separate and should be referenced in the alternative. All three of those measures were adopted unanimously by the members present.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:36 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Small difference, small gap of 79,000. And then in 2025.
- I like to think we're a small agency that punches above our weight One disadvantage of being a small
- As small as ours.
- And we had this small fire, it wasn't a small fire, Getting in Grant County this summer, that we were
- It is small. We are barely hiring.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 Apr 24th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It prioritizes farmers, both large and small.
- And although the ag budget is a pretty small piece of the overall state budget, this bill is going to
- But I did grow up with some of my close family friends being small farmers, and I could not help but
- I mean, you want lots of small farmers. Small farms.
- And so, as many speakers have said earlier today, This is a relatively small budget and a relatively
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session: 2025 First Special Session 6/9/25 - Part 3
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And what I on small businesses, specifically those on small businesses, specifically those who<00:37:
- <00:49:08.240>
ways, some things to help in small ways, some things to help in small ways, - how hard you work for your small how hard you work for your small business.<01:08:53.040>
You - local governments, and small businesses. local governments, and small businesses.
- I mean of the the um the small I mean of the the um the small explanations<03:20:10.640>
of
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-04-30 - 11:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- that it covers is there is a small that it covers is there is a small percentage<00:16:02.240>
- And a third of a small or rural village.
- But those are small towns. And so, I'm now going to go into my Finance Committee hat.
- those are small towns. those are small towns.
- We had a small police department, and we helped out Richmond, and we had our own Williston chief.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Celebrations of life and weddings in small towns.
- I'm a small business owner, CPA firm.
- selfishly about myself I'm as a small selfishly about myself I'm as a small business<00:15:43.800
- So, it's a small revenue estimate, Mr.
- It's a small revenue estimate, Mr.
Summary:
The committee first approved the prior day’s minutes, then heard Senate File 255, which would exempt American Legion and VFW buildings from property tax. The bill’s author and the American Legion Department of Minnesota testified that many posts are struggling financially, that the tax burden can threaten building ownership, and that the posts provide important community services such as charitable gambling support, youth sports, food insecurity assistance, suicide prevention training, and meeting space for veterans and local residents. Several members voiced support, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
The committee then took up Senate File 30, a proposal to allow Minnesota estate tax portability for married couples, so a deceased spouse’s unused $3 million exclusion could transfer to the surviving spouse, similar to federal law. The author said Minnesota is an outlier compared with other estate-tax states and that the bill would simplify planning and reduce tax burdens, especially for family farms and other illiquid assets. A CPA and a Minnesota Farm Bureau representative testified that the order of death should not determine tax liability and that portability would help keep family farms intact. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Next, the committee adopted an A1 amendment to Senate File 211 and heard the bill, which would create a Minnesota subtraction for Foreign Service pension income, treating it more like military pension income. The author said the change would cover a small number of retirees and would have a minimal fiscal impact, while the testifier described Foreign Service work and said the benefit would recognize their service. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion.
Finally, the committee heard Senate File 132, which would revise property tax language related to electric power systems by replacing references to attachments and impertinences with broader system-based language. The author said the bill would clarify tax treatment for power co-ops, restore the original intent of the law, and provide stability for Greater Minnesota, with an estimated property tax shift of a little over $700,000. Testimony was beginning when the transcript ended, and no vote on the bill was recorded in the excerpt.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Education
Transcript Highlights:
- This means that we have to rely on a small tax base to fund our school.
- Our rural PK through 6th school, Rochester Memorial, is the heart of our small community.
- The warden of Chair Lewis, we both represent small communities with small governments and declining enrollment
- Small towns are struggling to make up the difference, and it makes me feel so sad.
- This is a significant amount of money in our small school, 9% of our elementary budget.
Summary:
The hearing focused primarily on H. 517/S. 314, a bill to provide a sustainable future for rural schools, and H. 697, a bill to require full funding of regional school transportation. Witnesses from rural districts, school committees, superintendents, students, and local officials described chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, high fixed costs, special education and transportation burdens, and the loss of programs, staff, and extracurriculars. Several speakers argued that rural aid should be funded at $60 million annually and made non-discretionary, while others emphasized that transportation reimbursement for regional districts has repeatedly fallen short of the state’s promise and is driving budget crises and overrides. A number of students testified in support of rural aid, describing cuts to classes, counselors, and activities, and the impact on their schools and communities. Committee members also discussed whether transportation policy should be revisited to address underlying cost drivers, including bus bidding practices and whether regional districts should have more flexibility in transportation requirements.
The committee also heard H. 515, concerning Hancock Elementary School and a school choice-related exemption from a state requirement that has created a large financial burden for the district. Hancock’s superintendent and Rep. John Barrett explained that a decades-old regulation, recently enforced by DESE, would require Hancock to pay tuition for choice-in students through high school graduation even though the district only serves pre-K through grade 6 and sends its own students elsewhere for middle and high school. They said the rule creates a significant per-student shortfall and has forced Hancock to opt out of school choice. Committee members asked for clarification about how the arrangement works and how the costs fall on Hancock.
Additional testimony supported related transportation bills for non-regional districts, especially Plymouth/Carver and North Middlesex, describing high and rising bus costs, special education and McKinney-Vento transportation expenses, and the strain on local budgets. Speakers repeatedly said that state reimbursement has not matched actual costs and that communities are being forced to choose between transportation and classroom services. No votes or final actions were taken in the hearing; the committee simply received testimony and closed the hearing on the bills discussed.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 May 1st, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I talked to a small business owner not long ago who sells, an independent small business owner who owns
- You are shifting money away from small businesses who are getting killed by these big businesses.
- Again, these cases are very small.
- Small provisions, but they're going to have a big impact.
- I'm going to go back home to some of our small towns.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm curious as to how small manufacturers will be defined as these types of projects.
- It was supposed to be job creation, working with small and large businesses to attract?
- And then on the grant program, in particular, the grants are really focused at small manufacturers.
- It's really aimed at those small manufacturers to provide that very targeted support to them.
- Again, the bill really is focused on the small manufacturing. ...small as far as the size of the companies
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up a long agenda of House and Senate bills, many of them conforming or “orphan” measures that were amended with delete-all or strike-all amendments to place them in conference posture. Among those reported favorably were HB 5015 on the State Group Insurance Program, HB 5009 creating the Florida Accountability Office, HB 5013 on state-funded property reinsurance, HB 5201 on state financial accounting, HB 5203 on the Capitol Center, and HB 5501 on documentary stamp tax distributions. The committee also approved SB 1292 on public records exemptions for certain email addresses, SB 1290 on highway safety and motor vehicle agency changes, SB 26 on an uncontested claims settlement, SB 176 and SJR 174 on homestead property assessment for flood-mitigation improvements, and SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School procedures.
Several substantive bills drew discussion. SB 924, covering fertility preservation services for cancer patients under the state health plan, received supportive comments from members and was reported favorably. SB 1160 expanded health insurance premium coverage for law enforcement officers and their families when catastrophic injury or death occurs in the line of duty or during official training, and it also passed. HB 1662, the Department of Transportation package, established or revised programs involving the Florida Transportation Academy, transportation research, rural transit, airport and seaport accountability, advanced air mobility, landscaping, and HOV lane changes; it was amended after testimony from the Florida Airports Council about landing-fee language and questions from members about AAM and HOV lane implementation, then reported favorably.
The committee also heard and approved SB 600, which codifies a statewide manufacturing office and creates a Florida manufacturing promotional campaign and grant framework, and SB 602, the fee bill tied to that campaign. That pair prompted the most extensive debate, with members asking about grant structure, eligibility, oversight, and whether the program could become a “slush fund”; the sponsor and Florida Makes said the program is aimed at small manufacturers, would be subject to rulemaking, and is intended to support training and modernization. SB 602 passed on a mostly party-line vote with Senator Pizzo voting no. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned without further business.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Privacy and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- There have been several tragic high-profile cases that have shown us small examples—numerically small
- I'm Don Marty with Aludo LLC, a California small business.
- And they're really small businesses: a small restaurant that started up, a firefighter that started selling
- So restricting it to 30 days doesn't just impact those few small large agencies, or small number of..
- It doesn't just impact those few small large agencies, or small number of large agencies.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- and<00:03:29.519>
rural From our small towns and rural From our small towns and rural communities - they have a chair and they have a small they have a chair and they have a small business<00:54:51.359
- <00:55:13.920>
business last session told these small business last session told these small - This small and often hosts 4 events.
- <02:26:01.760>
business nurses, engineers, and small business nurses, engineers, and small
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine big fixes for big tech. Apr 1st, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- among small business in particular.
- That make sense for small businesses and large businesses.
- Small business. Businesses and consumers also suffer under big tech's power.
- For example, a search engine that favors small publishers or one that protects your privacy.
- Kindt, how do small businesses benefit from having multiple choices?
Keywords:
antitrust, competition policy, digital advertising, monopoly, America Act, big tech, consumer rights
Summary:
The meeting, titled 'Big Fixes, Big Tech', marked the first hearing of the Senate antitrust competition policy and consumer rights subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Chairman Lee opened the session focusing on the urgent need for effective solutions regarding anti-competitive behavior among major tech firms like Google and Facebook, highlighting several ongoing court cases regarding monopolistic practices in the digital advertising and search markets. Key discussions included the limitations imposed on small businesses and innovation due to the dominance of these tech giants, with many testimonies advocating for stronger legislative measures, including the America Act. The act aims to disrupt the monopolistic capabilities of these firms and restore competitive integrity in the marketplace, which has suffered under their oppressive market control.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Caucus of the Whole - H.955 report - 2026-04-14 - 11:11AM
Vermont House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- small statistical unit. small statistical unit.
- in a school, but in a very small in a school, but in a very small district<00:21:08.160>
it's - <00:35:37.160>
schools to the reemergence of the small schools to the reemergence of the small - rulemaking, and that is about the small rulemaking, and that is about the small schools<00:36:14.359
- So the small schools set that into law.
Summary:
The caucus of the whole received an update from Representative Kornheiser on House Bill 955, focusing on the Ways and Means amendment and how it aligns with Act 73 and the House Education Committee’s broader education transformation work. She said the amendment was assembled from separate pieces developed earlier in the session and covers three main areas: planned property tax updates, steps needed for the future education finance system and foundation formula, and policy changes to support collaborative education service agencies and district mergers. She emphasized that the bill is aimed at the future state of the system, with many provisions tied to later effective dates and pending reports.
Kornheiser described the property tax provisions as further defining the new non-homestead/second-home classification so the Tax Department can continue form development and data collection before rates are set, and she said the bill also advances regional assessment districts and a more regular reappraisal cycle. On education finance, she said the amendment adds school construction and school debt provisions, reserve guidance, pre-K funding study language, special education funding protections, and transportation-related follow-up work so those pieces can fit the foundation formula. She also framed the bill as reducing cost drivers in the system, citing health care savings, reference-based pricing, mental health coordination, special education scale, deferred maintenance, and larger-scale school organization.
During questions, members asked about merger support funding, transportation timelines, private equity ownership of school transportation, tuition restrictions for approved independent and public schools, and the timing and finality of the second-home tax definitions. Staff explained that merger support would be reimbursed through AOE for committee expenses and would not count against excess spending thresholds, that transportation and other grant categories will be addressed in future reports and decisions, and that the transportation study does not explicitly name private equity but could encompass staffing and cost issues. They also confirmed that the tuition-related provisions apply to approved independent, in-state public, and out-of-state public schools receiving tuition, but only when the foundation formula takes effect. No votes were taken during the caucus; the update was informational, with the bill noted as having been referred to Appropriations and expected to come up for action later in the week.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Omnibus tax finance and policy bill, HF9, passed in Minnesota House 6/9/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:13:55.200>
Um, bill this year is relatively small. - Um, bill this year is relatively small.
- A, we couldn't prioritize small businesses.
- And B, even though the small businesses.
- it's small businesses and veterans and it's very<00:26:27.840>
disappointing.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Floor Session 5/1/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- 53.360>
owner sell an independent small business owner sell an independent small business owner - state and closed all the small state and closed all the small businesses<01:37:27.040>
and the emergency orders so that small the emergency orders so that small businesses<01:38:22.320>- And I just did a quick very small.
- home in some of our small towns.