Transcript Highlights:

• So I know you're busy, so I'm going to be brief.
• And others who are trying to get into the business or trying to grow their business will not be allowed
• And others who are trying to get into the business or trying to grow their business will not be allowed
• new businesses, to get into this world.
• No subcontractors, but that business owner, yes, that business owner does not have the knowledge or wherewithal

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees to receive subcutaneous microchip implants, with enforcement through L&I complaints, civil penalties, and private lawsuits; the sponsor said it was a preventive labor standard and noted there was no opposition. HB 2144 would require employers to give written notice before using electronic monitoring for employee performance evaluations, and testimony split between labor supporters, who said workers should know how they are monitored, and business, local government, trucking, retail, construction, and law enforcement representatives, who raised concerns about broad definitions, safety uses, and litigation exposure. HB 2190 would expand collective bargaining rights for language access providers so missed or canceled appointments could be bargained as compensation; interpreters and union representatives supported it, saying they lose income when clients no-show, while the sponsor said the bill would clarify bargaining rights without changing employment status. The committee also heard HB 2345, a technical change to the state paid family and medical leave premium split in response to IRS guidance. Staff explained the proposed substitute would shift the employer contribution from the medical share to the family share so benefits would not be treated as taxable wages, while keeping the overall premium burden roughly the same; supporters called it a common-sense fix, and some business and school district witnesses said they wanted to avoid additional taxes and preserve program stability. The most extensive debate was over HB 2191, which would make property owners and direct contractors liable for unpaid wages and benefits in construction projects, with exceptions for government and small residential properties. Workers, unions, the Attorney General’s office, and some contractors supported the bill as a way to combat wage theft and level the playing field, while industry groups and subcontractors argued it would impose broad liability on responsible contractors, raise costs, hurt small businesses and minority-owned firms, and should be narrowed with safe harbors or right-to-cure provisions. No votes were taken; the committee held hearings on the bills and adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a perfect proxy for business activity.
• It's unfair, right, to smaller businesses, to just domestic businesses, to less aggressive multinational
• The eliminating the Water's Edge wouldn't necessarily hurt, deter businesses from doing business in California
• Look at the mix of your businesses. Where are they doing business?
• If you're a wholly California business or a wholly domestic business, you don't really have any foreign

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill covers rooftop solar for consumers, small business, and small ag.
• standard. ...to the current liability standard.
• What we disagree with them on is the liability aspect.
• Liability tied to the plan approval or denial.
• Would your liability provisions in here... Thank you, Chair.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 55, which would expand New Mexico’s solar market development income tax credit from 10% to 30% after the federal solar credit expired, raise the per-credit cap from $6,000 to $15,000, and keep the existing overall $30 million cap with a sunset in 2032. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would help stabilize the residential solar sector, protect jobs, and support consumers, small businesses, small agriculture, and tribal communities. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, though some members raised questions about fiscal capacity and the bill’s impact. The committee passed SB 55 on a 7-4 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 267, the Wildfire Mitigation and Liability Act, on a committee substitute. The bill would require utilities to file and maintain wildfire mitigation plans, obtain PRC approval, and receive a rebuttable presumption in civil actions if they substantially comply; it also includes access provisions for mitigation work on private and public property, cost recovery, damage limits, and a one-year statute of limitations. Utilities and co-op representatives supported the bill as a way to reduce wildfire risk and address rising insurance costs, while insurers, OSI, and wildfire-victim advocates opposed it, arguing it overly limits liability, shifts losses to homeowners and insurers, and does not fully compensate victims. Several committee members expressed concern about the liability standards, deemed approval, access to property, and the short limitations period, but the bill ultimately passed on an 8-3 vote after the chair corrected the motion and revote. Next, House Bill 320, the Industrial Carbon Reduction Act, was presented. It would create production incentives and capital grants for industrial materials made at least 40% cleaner than the industry average, with clawbacks for underperformance and competitive review by EDD and Environment. Supporters from the gas company and chambers of commerce said it uses performance-based incentives to encourage cleaner manufacturing, attract investment, and create jobs. One member raised an anti-donation clause concern, but the sponsor said the bill’s performance requirements and clawbacks address that issue. The committee passed HB 320 on a 10-1 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 104, a follow-up to last year’s wildlife agency reform bill. It would replace vetoed language by creating a process for a governor’s removal of a wildlife commissioner that includes notice, a hearing, and direct review by the New Mexico Supreme Court, while keeping the governor’s removal authority for cause. Ranching, angling, outfitter, and conservation groups supported the bill as a bipartisan fix that adds accountability and avoids political retaliation. Members asked about the removal process and direct Supreme Court review, and some who had initially been skeptical said the testimony changed their view. The bill was moving forward with support at the end of the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Business Corporation Act.
• House File 747 is a nonpartisan bill drafted by the business law practitioners and the Minnesota Business
• Liability, and you talked about property tax liability.
• Who has property tax liability?
• I can claim a child tax credit which buys down my liability. My tax liability brings it to zero.

Transcript Highlights:

• assets is available for every $1 of accrued liability.
• Lower benefits means lower liability.
• Lower benefits means lower liability.
• I believe we have no further business because we have no further business. dealing with some budgetary
• I believe we have no further business because we have no further business.

Committee: Joint Pension Funding Council

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on June 23, 2026, for a work session that began with an overview of the Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and a 2025 accounting valuation of that plan. Staff explained that the SRP is a closed defined benefit supplement for higher education employees hired before the 2011 closure, with employer contributions currently pre-funding benefits in institution-specific trusts while institutions still pay benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The State Actuary’s office reported that the plan’s accounting position has improved, with combined market assets of about $245 million against $377 million in accrued liability, and that strong market performance since 2022 has increased the asset-to-liability ratio. The office emphasized that this was an educational accounting valuation, not a funding valuation for rate-setting. The council then received the 2025 actuarial valuation report for the state retirement systems. Actuaries reviewed the recent demographic experience study, noting updated assumptions for mortality, retirement, termination, and salary growth, and said the net impact on most plans was small. They reported that most plans’ funded ratios improved, with all plans at least 94% funded and several at or above 100%, and that contribution rates for the 2027–2029 biennium are generally lower than current rates. They also noted that future rates could be affected by market volatility as deferred gains are recognized over the next few years. During public comment, a representative of the Association of Washington Cities urged the council to consider rate reductions to help local governments facing budget pressures. In executive session, the council first approved a motion directing the Office of the State Actuary to perform an actuarial evaluation and analysis of each institution’s Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan, including institution-specific contribution rates, asset sufficiency, and funding policy options, due by July 1, 2028. The council then adopted the 2027–2029 pension contribution rates based on the 2025 actuarial valuation report. Both motions passed 5-0, with one member excused. The meeting concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a backdoor attempt to make it easier to put businesses out of business. businesses out of business
• Our small businesses, including our gun stores, will suffer greatly from this.
• The bill does not impose strict liability, but it puts online sales into the area of products liability
• , whereas New Mexico businesses who are selling the same product here are liable.
• just like any other product—products liability.

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a perfect proxy for business activity.
• It's unfair, right, to smaller businesses, to just domestic businesses, to less aggressive multinational
• The eliminating the Water's Edge wouldn't necessarily hurt, deter businesses from doing business in California
• Look at the mix of your businesses. Where are they doing business?
• If you're a wholly California business or a wholly domestic business, you don't really have any foreign

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. The LAO and Franchise Tax Board explained the basic mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and how water’s-edge generally excludes most foreign subsidiaries while worldwide reporting includes the full unitary group. FTB officials said water’s-edge filers are a small share of corporate filers but account for a large share of tax liability, and they described filing trends, industry mix, and the administrative steps needed to administer either system. Members and witnesses debated the policy trade-offs. Supporters of moving away from water’s-edge argued that it enables profit shifting, especially for large multinational and IP-heavy firms, and that eliminating it could raise significant revenue and improve fairness for smaller domestic businesses. They cited estimates of billions in potential revenue and said California already has the audit and reporting infrastructure to handle worldwide reporting, though some transition time would be needed. Opponents argued that worldwide reporting would tax foreign activity unrelated to California, create double taxation, increase compliance burdens and litigation, and could be difficult for foreign-based multinationals to document. They also warned that some of the revenue estimates are highly uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the risk of companies leaving California, the effect on intellectual property shifting, and whether federal or Supreme Court action could block a change. Witnesses generally said major firms would be unlikely to leave because California taxes sales rather than physical presence, but some costs could be passed on to consumers. The panel also discussed alternatives such as conforming to federal international tax rules like NCTI/GILTI and adding anti-abuse rules. No vote or bill action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a quorum and are ready for business.
• And so they're exempt from liability, the owner of the building, where does that liability rest in the
• That's premises liability. It's not much more complicated than that. It's not strict liability.
• I know we're all really busy.
• I know we're all really busy.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard several print hearings and gubernatorial appointments, with most early legislation advancing without opposition. RS 33743, the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act, would require school applicants to disclose past investigations or disciplinary actions and require prior employers to respond; RS 33744 would move certain federally qualified and rural health center scope-of-practice rate changes into code; RS 33721 would extend certain state endowment land commercial leases from 49 to 99 years; and RS 33660 would expand disclosure requirements for paid signature gatherers and paid candidate advocates. All four RS measures were sent to print. The committee also heard from and later resumed testimony on several gubernatorial reappointments, including Jerry Doppie to the Endowment Fund Investment Board, Skip Smeiser to the Lottery Commission, and Nicaela Black Abrams to the Racing Commission; those votes were deferred to a later meeting. House Bill 674, which would remove the Public Utilities Commission’s role in reviewing certain telecommunications service discontinuances and rely on the FCC process instead, drew significant testimony. The sponsor and telecom representatives said it would eliminate a duplicative state process and speed broadband and infrastructure investment while preserving FCC protections. Opponents, including former telecom workers and a trial lawyers representative, warned it could leave rural copper-line customers and emergency users without adequate service or local oversight. After questions about the federal language and whether the bill might invert the current review process, the committee voted to hold HB 674 subject to the call of the chair. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1391, a technical fix preserving lawful entry authority for publicly employed land surveyors, and Senate Bill 1389, which would provide liability protection for churches, grange halls, and other property owners who voluntarily serve as polling places. HB 860, revising the medical parental rights law and related emergency treatment and hotline provisions, received supportive testimony from the Idaho Medical Association, a teen advocate, and the 988 crisis hotline director, and was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. HB 549, which would remove property-owner signatures from petitions to dissolve hospital taxing districts, drew divided testimony: supporters said the current process is unworkable in places like McCall, while the Idaho Hospital Association urged a higher threshold and warned of inconsistency with other district laws. The committee voted to send HB 549 to the 14th order for possible amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair lays out House Bill 4688 as pending business.
• OK, let's go on to new business members.
• , limited liability companies, partnerships, and other types of business entities.
• Business Law Section drafting Committee since 1995.
• , liability.

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• To the extent that these businesses don't have business profits tax liability to offset with this credit
• </c><03:22:54.239><c> liability</c><03:22:54.800><c> to</c><03:22:55.040><c> offset</c> business profits
• tax liability to offset business profits tax liability to offset with<03:22:55.680><c> this</c><03:22
• Um, so if I have a business that gets to that threshold, I have a BPT liability or a BET liability.
• </c> BPT liability or a bet liability. BPT liability or a bet liability.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a very capital-intensive business.
• It's a very capital-intensive business.
• It's a very capital-intensive business.
• </c><00:34:01.639><c> so</c> in a very Capital intensive business so in a very Capital intensive business
• cutting off liability from yourself be cutting off liability from yourself too<00:40:58.800><c> and</

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on HB 982 HD1, a wildfire-related measure aimed at creating a wildfire recovery fund and a financing structure to address future catastrophic wildfire liability. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, and the Public Utilities Commission submitted comments and were available for questions. Supporters included IBW Local 1260, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Clearway Energy Group, Hawaiian Electric, Par Hawaii, and others, while Charter Communications and the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed or raised concerns. Life of the Land supported the bill but urged changes to the definition of a catastrophic wildfire and noted concerns about prudency review language. IBW Local 1260 asked to restore language from the original draft, and Charter warned the bill could impair existing contract and indemnity rights unless amended. A major focus of the hearing was Hawaiian Electric’s position on the HD1 version. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the original bill but objected to the HD1 requirement for an additional $500 million shareholder contribution, arguing it was not feasible and could delay or prevent the fund from operating. The company said the bill would help protect customers and improve credit ratings by creating a dedicated revenue stream and a bankruptcy-remote financing structure, which it said would lower borrowing costs over time. Members questioned how the $1 billion securitization amount was chosen, whether credit rating agencies had indicated it was sufficient, and how the bill would work in bankruptcy; Hawaiian Electric said the amount was a balance among interests, not based on a specific agency directive, and that it would follow up on bankruptcy questions. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns about liability caps, the new claims process, and unclear language on damages above the fund’s limits. The Hawaii Association for Justice argued the bill limits victims’ remedies and gives too much authority to the new entity without clear guardrails. Committee members also pressed Hawaiian Electric on comparisons to California, the feasibility of the shareholder contribution, and whether alternative capital-raising or divestiture options had been considered. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; testimony and questioning continued with follow-up information requested from Hawaiian Electric and others.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:17.200><c> when</c> limitation on aggregate liability when limitation on aggregate liability
• that is deemed as aggregate liability that is deemed as aggregate liability<00:37:48.200><c> which</
• </c><00:46:41.800><c> but</c> because it lessens their liability but because it lessens their liability
• section 269 DJ on several liability uh section 269 DJ on several liability uh adopting<01:15:40.239><
• </c> have a situation where business have a situation where business advertises<01:26:58.920><c> both

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• own liability.
• for the group or total liability of all.
• In other words, whatever liability is established would be a liability of all those three entities, not
• That if we're expanding the liability.
• For small business owners all around New Mexico, and those small business owners are your neighbors,

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, tax liability deferral.
• And lastly, tax liability deferral.
• And lastly, tax liability deferral.
• And lastly, tax liability deferral.
• </c> tax liability deferral. tax liability deferral.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's no liability assumed by the rideshare company?
• Do the passengers, are the passengers aware of this liability issue?
• Do you know how they're set up liability-wise?
• We are, you know, in the business of covering risks.
• And there may be less restrictive options to business.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a quorum, ready for business.
• This is going to affect all the businesses.
• And so they're exempt from liability, the owner of the building, where does that liability rest in the
• That's premises liability. It's not much more complicated than that. It's not strict liability.
• I know we're all really busy.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> businesses had to pony up the money. businesses had to pony up the money.
• . businesses. businesses.
• </c> business expansion. business expansion.
• </c> into their businesses and communities. into their businesses and communities.
• </c> Minnesota small businesses. Thank you. Minnesota small businesses. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's no liability assumed by the rideshare company?
• There's no liability assumed by the rideshare company?
• Do you know how they're set up liability-wise?
• We are, you know, in the business of covering risks.
• And there may be less restrictive options to business.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The committee first took up HB 774, which would extend required hearing-aid coverage for certain individuals up to age 26. Representative Boyer said the bill helps young adults maintain access to hearing aids during school and early work years. The Louisiana Academy of Audiology supported the measure, and the committee adopted technical amendments and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 702, which would require transportation network companies to provide uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Representative Landry and supporters argued that current law and court rulings have left injured drivers and passengers without meaningful coverage in some cases, especially for riders who do not own cars and therefore lack personal UM coverage. Insurance agents and legal witnesses said they cannot currently find a product to cover the driver in certain ride-share phases, while Uber representatives opposed the bill, warning it would raise fares and noting that drivers already have optional occupational accident coverage and that passengers’ own UM coverage would generally apply. After debate over costs, coverage gaps, and whether the issue should instead be studied further, the committee voted to voluntarily defer the bill. The committee next considered HB 477, as substituted, which would require coverage for prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and associated services. Representative Ebert and witnesses described the bill as a modernization of existing coverage rules so people with limb loss can obtain more than one medically necessary device, including activity-specific prosthetics. Testimony from amputees and a physical therapist emphasized the impact on mobility, work, sports, and quality of life. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably by substitute. The committee also reported HB 76, which updates oral anti-cancer medication parity rules, by adopting amendments that clarify applicability and exempt certain limited-benefit and ERISA self-funded plans. HB 903, which increases the commissioner of insurance’s fine authority, was amended to set higher aggregate caps and then reported favorably. Finally, HB 291, which would prohibit health plans from penalizing hospitals when a member of the care team is out of network, drew support from the sponsor and the Louisiana Hospital Association as a preventative measure against insurer pressure tactics; Louisiana Blue opposed it, citing cost concerns and questioning the need for the bill. The transcript ends during that bill’s hearing, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• First order of business is roll call.
• liability.
• businesses as well?
• So the business is exposed to liability because of my actions and also the dueling liability created
• Is it possible that businesses may, in their fear of liability and risk, simply lock their bathroom doors

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why don't I just say, you know, AFLAC go out of business?
• For the businesses, they got immunity from being sued.
• Their liability is the question.
• The liability falls for the one that they're actually doing something with.
• A little bit more of a comment on your first part on the liability limits.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 959, house, all