Transcript Highlights:

• a business, to be open.
• I'm not sure what the business practice is. I want to say— Take place.
• This is HCR 96, and I need y'all to think small. I'm from a small parish.
• So you got to think small. New Orleans, think small. Shreveport, think small.
• New Orleans, think small. Shreveport, think small. Roundabouts.

Bills: HCR96 , SB431

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 431 by Senator Foil. The bill, as amended in the House, would apply only to non-consensual private-property tows and require towing companies to have someone available on weekends to release vehicles within 90 minutes of a call if they want to charge storage fees for Saturday and Sunday. Senator Foil said the measure was intended to help vehicle owners retrieve cars and belongings sooner, while not forcing companies to stay open; Lieutenant John Nelson of Louisiana State Police explained that payment would still occur at the yard and that the bill did not change the fee structure. Amy Seals of Riverside Towing opposed the bill, citing safety concerns, burdens on office staff, and fairness issues because it would not cover police-initiated tows; she suggested limiting weekend release hours to daytime. Despite her concerns, the committee moved SB 431 favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Concurrent Resolution 96 by Representative Adams, which urges the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles, to provide educational materials on proper roundabout use. Adams said the resolution was meant to help drivers in smaller parishes and elsewhere who struggle with roundabouts. Several members supported the idea, noting confusion about roundabout navigation in their areas, and one member asked whether driver education already covers the topic. The resolution was moved favorably without objection. Before adjourning, the chair recognized a new DOTD staff member and a visitor from the Florida Women’s Republican group. Representative Spells then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are, in fact, adding about 45,000 homes and businesses a year to the almost 2 million homes and businesses
• I am not here to put small, independent oil and gas companies out of business.
• Leathers, I see that there is a small typo in "Association."
• The chair lays out his pending business: House Bill 49. by Darby.
• This act is pending business: House Bill 3158 by Darby.

Bills: HB2766 , HB2891 , HB3334 , HB3791 , HB3911 , HB4021 , HB4041 , HB4042 , HB4384 , HB4426

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> hats, especially in the small districts. hats, especially in the small districts.
• </c> business tasks? business tasks?
• </c> small schools. small schools.
• </c> business office than there used to be. business office than there used to be.
• </c> kind of a number for business kind of a number for business administrators?

Summary: The committee first approved corrected minutes from October 6 after members noted and fixed several transcription and spelling errors, including a clarification that a comment about SAU numbers came from former Senator Jim Rubin. The vote to approve the corrected minutes was moved, seconded, and adopted with one abstention. The main presentation came from Chuck Bates of the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), who described the organization, its certification program, and the role of school business administrators. He explained that ASBO members handle accounting and financial management, facilities, food service, HR, information systems, transportation, and risk management. He also outlined the certification program, which includes 21 courses, most online, plus four in-person workshops unique to New Hampshire, and noted that many members are not certified because the state licensure requirement was removed. Bates then addressed the committee’s interest in SAU consolidation and county-wide restructuring. He said business administrators often manage multiple budgets, attend school board meetings, and serve as a visible point of contact for the community. He argued that consolidation would create operational and financial challenges, including staff and facility relocation, differing accounting systems, lack of a standardized chart of accounts, and uncertain return on investment. He said the biggest obstacle would be local control, especially in small towns that do not want outside decisions affecting school closures, class sizes, or student transportation. Committee members questioned him about the distinction between administrative and academic control, the size of district offices in larger cities, and what might reduce administrative costs; Bates responded that many administrative costs stem from legislation and that consolidation would be difficult to implement without local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, many of which conform the act to recent changes to the Model Business
• Corporation Act produced by the Corporate Laws Committee of the American Bar Association's Business
• It would prevent a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device on a
• It would prevent a locality from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device on a
• “We are finished with all the business. Is there a motion that the committee adjourn?

Committee: House Labor and Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a small list of things that this bill does not do for the record.
• practice desired outcome for the business itself.
• We have over 200 small landlords primarily in New Castle County.
• It's becoming increasingly difficult just to stay in business.
• burden on small landlords just trying to stay in business.

Committee: Senate Housing & Land Use

Summary: The Senate Land Use Committee met in hybrid format but did not have a quorum, so it did not approve minutes or take formal votes. The committee first heard House Bill 457, which would raise the appraisal threshold for certain DELDOT real property dispositions from $10,000 to $25,000 to match federal highway standards and reduce the time and cost of selling small surplus properties. There was little discussion and no public comment on that bill, and the chair indicated it would be circulated. The committee then took up House Bill 451, which would codify a disparate impact framework under Delaware’s Fair Housing Act. The bill was described as clarifying that housing policies or practices can violate the law even without discriminatory intent if they have an unjustified discriminatory effect on a protected class, using a burden-shifting test similar to federal law. The sponsor and DHSA said the measure was intended to preserve fair housing protections amid uncertainty at the federal level, and an additional amendment was discussed that would delay implementation for 180 days and require DHSR, with DSA and stakeholders, to conduct outreach, education, and training. Public testimony was divided. Supporters, including Housing Alliance Delaware, YWCA Delaware, and the Delaware Human and Civil Rights Commission, said the bill would protect against discriminatory outcomes, align state law with longstanding fair housing principles, and preserve recourse if federal enforcement changes. Opponents and housing-provider groups, including the Delaware Association of Realtors, Greater Wilmington Housing Providers, and the Delaware Apartment Association, argued the bill could create liability for neutral policies, rely on statistical outcomes landlords cannot easily measure, and increase litigation and costs; several asked for more time, a right-to-cure process, or further amendments. The committee adjourned without taking a formal vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through CRP, local boards have engaged over 9,600 businesses, invested $5.6 million directly in small
• Supporting local suppliers strengthens the small business community that HB 2523 is designed to protect
• Continued funding ensures that other small businesses can remain competitive, environmentally conscious
• Supporting local supplier strengthens the same business, small business community that HB2523 is designed
• Continue funding ensures that other small businesses can remain competitive, environmentally conscious

Bills: HB2157 , HB2351 , HB2365 , HB2357 , HB2446 , HB2523 , HB2606

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• Over 70% of Ramsey County are small businesses.
• This legislation allows for greater flexibility to support the needs of our small business community.
• Over 70% of Ramsey County are small businesses.
• Over 70% of Ramsey County are small businesses.
• Over 70% of Ramsey County are small businesses.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Six people, 151,000 homes damaged, 500,000 small businesses in disaster-declared counties, 5,000 miles
• It's real, it's just small.
• They've issued stop work orders to small businesses and organizations removing fuels from public lands
• It's a small town of fewer than 5,000 residents.
• What about on the business side?

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: homeowners insurance, natural disasters, insurance costs, climate change, disaster preparedness, federal policies, bipartisan solutions

Summary: The meeting reviewed critical issues surrounding the rising costs and accessibility of homeowners insurance across the United States, particularly in light of increasing natural disasters linked to climate change. Members engaged in extensive discussions regarding the implications for families and the economy, citing significant increases in premiums and decreasing availability of policies in high-risk areas. Supervisor Peysko highlighted the direct impact of federal policies on local communities, emphasizing the growing burden on homeowners as they face skyrocketing insurance costs amidst a backdrop of environmental challenges and regulatory constraints. The committee expressed a unified call to action for bipartisan solutions, focusing on improving building codes and enhancing disaster preparedness measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> civil action against private businesses civil action against private businesses creates<00:09:07.600
• uh with the you know a started small uh with the you know a small<00:17:59.840><c> amount</c><00:18:
• Chair. ...to the small communities.
• businesses.
• businesses.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move we go to that order of business: announcements of miscellaneous business.
• That feels like a lot for a small area.
• drivers in small towns.
• None in my really small communities. Mr.
• Speaker, I move we go to that order of business: announcements and miscellaneous business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> very small staff. very small staff.
• Independent venues are small businesses, employers, Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the Chair, Vice
• Independent venues<00:51:55.840><c> are</c><00:51:55.920><c> small</c><00:51:56.240><c> businesses,</
• c><00:51:57.040><c> employers,</c> Venues are small businesses, employers, and cultural anchors in communities
• </c> politics, business, it's all there. politics, business, it's all there.

Bills: SB2603 , SB3007 , SB3019 , SB3022 , SB2795 , SB2256 , SB3250 , SB2147

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2603 SD1, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state symphony orchestra, require annual reports to the legislature, and appropriate funds. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from the orchestra, the Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, business and arts groups, and many individuals. Supporters emphasized the orchestra’s cultural value, its role in inspiring youth and supporting arts education, and its broader community impact. No opposition or questions were raised, and the chair offered praise for the level of public engagement around the measure. The committee then took up SB 3007 SD2, relating to culture and the arts, which would create an Office of Community Culture and Innovation within the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, require annual reporting, appropriate funds, and establish a Community and Cultural Partnerships Program. The Attorney General’s office warned that section four, which separately funds preservation and relocation of artwork from Aloha Stadium, may be non-germane and should be moved to a separate bill; it also suggested the office would be more properly placed under DAGS rather than SFCA. SFCA Director Karen Ewald testified with concerns about added costs, staffing burdens, and the need for earlier communication, while also saying the agency could support the work if properly coordinated. Opposition testimony argued the bill was duplicative or unnecessary, while supporters, including Governor Abercrombie and Dean Sakamoto, said it would help communities, especially Chinatown, and could support planning and cultural revitalization. The chair noted roughly eight opposition testimonies and five in support, and questioned witnesses about coordination and the cost of relocating the Aloha Stadium artwork, which Ewald estimated could cost at least $1.2 million. The AG’s office said removing section four would substantially reduce legal risk. Finally, the committee heard SB 3019 SD2, a consumer protection measure that would cap ticket resale prices at no more than $3 above the original price for events in Hawaii and authorize DCCA to adopt enforcement rules and fines. The Office of Consumer Protection opposed the bill, arguing it would strain limited enforcement resources, push sales to less regulated channels, and likely eliminate the protections offered by established secondary platforms. Chamber of Progress also opposed the bill, saying price caps would encourage black-market sales, scams, and fraud, and that resale markets serve legitimate consumer needs. In support, the National Independent Venue Association backed the measure, though the remainder of its testimony was not fully captured in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• A majority of our members are small to mid-size businesses.
• Professionally, I own and operate a small business that does commercial flight data analytics.
• </c> small women and minorityowned businesses small women and minorityowned businesses to<01:16:59.199
• </c><01:27:53.920><c> need</c> understand that small businesses need understand that small businesses
• We're a privately owned small business at Flying Cloud Airport, Eden Prairie.

Bills: HF3889 , HF2567 , HF3878

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> homes rental is a small homes rental is a small city<01:07:07.680><c> of</c><01:07:07.920><c> just
• </c><01:08:12.839><c> town</c> very necessary thing for a small town very necessary thing for a small
• The Rena school district is a dynamic small school.
• The Rena school district is a dynamic small school.
• commercial businesses, and industrial users.

Bills: HF343 , HF446 , HF448 , HF674 , HF811 , HF832 , HF1661 , HF1528 , HF1536 , HF1541 , HF1670 , HF1438 , HF1714 , HF1748 , HF1835 , HF1904 , HF1929 , HF1942

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• But for small farmers, the crisis is not a lack of consideration. It's a lack of practical help.
• Small farms don't fail because agencies didn't write enough reports.
• Between time, labor, fuel, and fees, small farmers simply cannot compete.
• This is really important in keeping our small farms in business.
• Most of the small streams in our watersheds look a lot like the pictures you're seeing.

Bills: SB6104 , SB6241 , SJM8015 , SB6318

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I think what you're talking about is small size, right?
• small counties, more space to operate?
• It's not just about privacy, it's about business survival.
• It is a highly competitive business.
• It is a highly competitive business.

Bills: HB2235 , HJR4210 , HB2520 , HB2491 , HB2499 , HB2408 , HB2435

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Greater Minnesota Partnership, and Minnesota Association of Small
• I'm the executive director of the Minnesota Association for Small Cities.
• </c> you s s I am not reading Business you s s I am not reading Business Insider<00:19:46.559><c> in<
• , due to conversation with small cities throughout the state.
• </c> our agenda with no further business our agenda with no further business before<01:04:12.160><c>

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why we're going to require a business plan.
• That's why we're going to require a business plan, and the business plan is going to come back to the
• One of those is business interest limitation.
• We haven't allowed businesses to write off in the first year, but we've always allowed businesses to
• or refuse to renew a business tax receipt if an individual business or entity is doing business with

Summary: The Appropriations Committee considered a large agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and a trust for Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, and CS/CS/SB 1266, which creates a cybersecurity experiential learning and clearance-readiness program through the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida. The committee also approved SB 532 on clerks of court funding, allowing clerks to retain all excess Article V revenue rather than returning half to the state and clarifying foreclosure sale procedures. In addition, the committee passed CS/CS/SB 1602 and CS/CS/SB 1604 to create and fund a pilot housing program for veterans through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and CS/SB 1110 to expand Medicaid and private insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including testimony from affected families and advocates. The committee also adopted an amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/SB 1012 on inmate services, removing the bill’s medical-services compensation provisions while retaining changes to the inmate welfare trust fund and related facility uses. It also adopted a delete-all amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/CS/SB 1614, which was narrowed to remove a provision allowing local governments to use excess fees to construct new buildings. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 17, a Medicaid oversight and transparency bill. The sponsor said the measure would create a joint legislative Medicaid oversight committee, authorize the Legislature to retain its own actuary, modernize Medicaid statutes, strengthen managed-care performance standards, and increase accountability for pharmacy benefit managers and related entities. After amendment, the committee adopted changes removing several PBM-related provisions while retaining the broader oversight framework. Testimony from supporters emphasized transparency, fraud prevention, and cost control, while a PBM trade association asked to continue working on affiliate-manufacturer, network, and payment issues. The bill was reported favorably. The most extensive discussion centered on CS/SB 1758, which proposes major changes to Medicaid and SNAP. The sponsor described five reforms: stronger fraud and overpayment recovery authority, a Medicaid work requirement for certain able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral-health services through Medicaid waivers, pharmacy-program changes to obtain rebates and reduce institutional costs, and SNAP/EBT reforms including photo IDs and work requirements. The committee adopted two amendments: one adding a transitional “glide path” for people who gain employment but risk losing Medicaid, and another exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fraud, improve accountability, and encourage work, while opponents warned it would increase administrative burdens, push eligible people off coverage, and conflict with federal law or guidance. The bill remained under debate with extensive public testimony from advocates, providers, and affected families, and the transcript ends before final disposition on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was our small business line called Core, which we've spun off last year.
• Similar to the Family Forest Carbon Program or Forest Carbon Works, it's just a small business, small
• </c><00:15:01.000><c> Core,</c><00:15:01.520><c> which</c> small business line called Core, which small
• </c><00:15:09.440><c> small</c><00:15:09.760><c> business</c><00:15:10.200><c> small</c> um just a a
• small small business small um just a a small small business small landowner<00:15:10.920><c> opportunity

Summary: The meeting began with introductions, approval of the March 6 minutes as amended to add an attendee list, and a brief overview of the day’s agenda. The committee heard two presentations from carbon project developers, with the first from Dylan Jenkins of Finite Carbon. He described Finite Carbon’s work in improved forest management projects, its role in developing carbon methodologies and protocols, and its experience with projects in New England, Appalachia, Alaska, and Canada. He also outlined the difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, the role of registries and intermediaries, and the types of buyers in the market, including large corporate buyers and long-term off-take partners. A major focus of the presentation was how forest carbon projects are structured and how credits are monetized. Jenkins distinguished between removals and reductions, explaining that removals come from new forest growth while reductions are tied more closely to baseline assumptions and standing stock. He said improved forest management projects can generate both types of credits, and that removals generally command higher prices because they are easier for buyers to understand and verify. He also emphasized that carbon project commercialization can occur before, during, or after credit issuance, and that landowners may be paid through a variety of structures, including leases, advance fees, per-unit payments, or off-take agreements. Jenkins then addressed the committee’s tax-related questions, saying House Bill 123 appeared intended to treat carbon credit sales similarly to timber sales for local tax purposes. He argued that carbon credits are a forest product and that taxing them can be reasonable in principle, but he stressed that lawmakers should distinguish between commoditization and commercialization when deciding what event to tax. He noted that credits may be created but never sold, and that in some programs landowners retain timber and carbon rights while in others the developer has deeper control over those rights. In response to questions, he said the industry uses protocols, verification, and third-party oversight to address baseline and quality concerns, but acknowledged that baseline setting remains a major point of debate in the market.

Transcript Highlights:

• After we made the recommendation on this measure, we had some conversations with members of the small
• business community reach out to the governor for an emergency order.
• </c><00:09:44.960><c> business</c> uh members of the small business uh members of the small business
• </c><00:10:09.640><c> business</c><00:10:09.920><c> community</c><00:10:10.360><c> reach</c> the uh small
• business community reach the uh small business community reach out<00:10:10.680><c> to</c><00:10:10.760

Bills: SB2386 , SB2804 , SB2852

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committees met in decision-making sessions on several bills and generally advanced them without opposition. Early actions included SB 2386, which clarifies job-posting pay disclosure requirements and lowers the small-employer exemption threshold, and SB 2804, both recommended to pass unamended. SB 2852, addressing accessibility of information and communications technology for people with disabilities in public accommodations, was also recommended to pass unamended. SB 2975 on marine life conservation districts was advanced unamended despite a noted defective effective date. The CPN committee then acted on SB 3019, a consumer protection bill, recommending passage with amendments to require refunds of certain fees upon cancellation and to defect the effective date to July 1, 2050. SB 3231 on agricultural districts, SB 2378 on housing, and SB 3062 on liquor were all recommended to pass with amendments and a defective effective date set to July 1, 2050. SB 3255, concerning cash payments and rounding guidance, was reconsidered after discussion with small business stakeholders and was also advanced with amendments. In the later regular CPN agenda, SB 2607 on landscape architect licensure drew support from the board and professional groups and was recommended to pass with board-requested amendments and a July 1, 2050 effective date. SB 2623 SD1 on pharmacy technician registration was recommended to pass with clarifying amendments from the Board of Pharmacy. SB 2396, which would create a registry for agents managing property for absentee owners and require on-island contact information for certain condo owners, received mixed testimony: supporters emphasized accountability and enforcement, while opponents from community associations raised implementation concerns and asked for further work. The committee ultimately recommended SB 2396 with amendments from the Hawaii Council of Community Associations and a July 1, 2050 effective date.

Transcript Highlights:

• DOCTOR SMALL? >> Dr. Small: THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR INTO THE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
• I'M CHRISTOPHER SMALL AND I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF TALLAHASSEE BASED.
• THIS IS NOT JUST RECRUITMENTS OF STUDENTS BUT HOW DO WE RECRUIT BUSINESSES TO MAKE THEIR WAY ONTO OUR
• THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR SMALL.
• IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? >> Sen.