Transcript Highlights:

• And it's dramatically devastated our small and micro businesses.
• and micro businesses. and micro businesses.
• Mong Village small and micro businesses.
• Alex, who has been in the United States Alex, who has been in the United States for<00:53:28.760>
• Let me read to you from a United States judge.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that’s a micro project that can grow in all of these communities.
• And that’s a micro project that can grow in all of these communities.
• And that’s a micro project that can grow in all of these communities.
• And that’s a micro project that can grow in all of these communities.
• That’s a micro project that can grow in all of these communities.

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore full meeting, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 28, which would create a framework for the $5 million in agricultural economic development funding included in the 2024 budget. Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell testified that the bill is intended to support agriculture-focused economic development, especially processing and further processing projects, by giving the Department of Agriculture tools to identify opportunities, convene partners, and offer incentives. He emphasized the role of the new economic development division in the department and said the effort is meant to complement, not replace, the work of the state Economic Development Cabinet. Shell and several senators described the bill as a rural development tool aimed at helping smaller communities attract projects that fit their scale. He cited examples such as poultry processing, grain and elevator operations, milling, and specialty crop ventures, arguing that local processing can create jobs, strengthen markets for farmers, and keep more value in Kentucky. Senators discussed the need for return-on-investment metrics and clawback provisions for unsuccessful projects, and Shell said the framework includes those concepts. He also said the department is working on opportunities in sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels, and other markets that could bring more acres into production. Members also raised questions about small-farm innovation, raw milk, and direct-to-consumer opportunities. Shell said raw milk testing and related consumer protection issues are more closely tied to the University of Kentucky and the department’s consumer/environmental protection functions than to the bill’s economic development focus, but he said the department can help expand small-farm programs such as Kentucky Proud, Buy Local, KOAP, CAP, food-as-medicine efforts, LFPA, and farm-to-school initiatives. The discussion also turned to beef processing and feedlot development, with Shell saying Kentucky wants a beef processor but first needs to prove it can feed cattle at scale; he said changing conditions in western states could create an opening for Kentucky if it can build the necessary supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• combination licensing changes also preserve delivery, self-transport, and medical market access for micro
• and mess licences to purchase micro and mess licences to purchase cannabis<00:13:17.920> and<
• <00:13:47.680> market<00:13:48.079> access<00:13:48.480> for<00:13:48.800> micro
• <00:13:49.200> and<00:13:49.360> mezo medical market access for micro and mezo medical
• market access for micro and mezo licenses.<00:13:50.800> It's<00:13:51.040> critical<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR SPECIALIZED AUTISM MICRO CREDENTIAL FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL SO TEACHERS HAVE
• THE MICRO CREDENTIAL THAT IS GOING TO HELP THEM KNOW HOW TO DEAL AND HANDLE AND TEACH CHILDREN WITH
• THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WOULD DEVELOP A MICRO CREDENTIAL.
• WOULD DEVELOP A MICRO CREDENTIAL. IT WOULD BE ONLINE SO ANYONE CAN TAKE IT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > States<00:09:14.399> Constitution, in the United States Constitution, in the United States
• Our president of our United States.
• our president of our United States. our president of our United States.
• These little micro particles lay in and they fill in all those gaps.
• these little micro these little micro uh<00:31:16.159> particles uh particles uh particles

Bills: HB0120

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to medical school law school and a master's in public health programme all simultaneously in the United
• And so this is becoming Standard operating procedure of life in the United States.
• President, who pays for tax incentives in the United States?
• Who pays for the tax incentives that we offer throughout the United States?
• This is this decade's boondoggle of broadband all across the United States.

Bills: SB2102, SB1940, SB1625, SB1442, SB1623, SB1242, SB1949, SB1592, SB1913, SB592, SB992, SB1241, SB259, SB1928, SB1426, SB1531, SB1561, SB1122

Keywords: credit card fees, merchant discounts, payment card network, interchange fees, transparency in fees, Oklahoma law, payment card, rebate, merchant, tax compliance, health insurance, mandate, impact analysis, insurance department, public health, access to healthcare, SB1442, alcoholic beverage control, ABLE Commission, liquor license fees

Transcript Highlights:

• James again, one of the stipulations for being a member or participant is that they have to complete a micro-credential
• So, they will have that micro-credential kind of under their belt going in.
• The question that comes to me is that we have a finite number of higher education units and a similar
• And if we're gonna hit this and hit it quickly and as I had mentioned, I'm a micro-entrepreneur.
• My great grandmother, Nellie, was the nation's first woman governor in the United States, actually making

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've worked with borrowers of all sizes, from small micro businesses up to corporate clients.
• And it goes for small micro businesses up until the largest corporate clients.
• speaking with you about this, that Hawaiʻi ranks number 48 when it comes to doing business in the United
• speaking with you about this, that Hawaii's ranks number 48 when it comes to doing business in the United

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s nominations for advisory and regulatory boards. The first group included William Smith, Michelle Ige, and Kayana Neman for the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council; Leland Park and Cynthia Hobson for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and Nicole Kacal for the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation board. DBEDT and related witnesses testified in support of all nominees, and each nominee described experience in small business, finance, community engagement, or technology. Much of the discussion focused on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s economy through small business support, financial literacy, and better access to capital and grants. Committee members questioned nominees about priorities for Hawaiʻi Island and the state more broadly. Topics included agricultural infrastructure, value-added food production, shared processing facilities and commercial kitchens, workforce housing, and ways government and nonprofits can partner to help small businesses navigate permitting, licensing, and grant processes. Several nominees emphasized community impact, measurable outcomes, and practical regulatory reform. Nicole Kacal also discussed diversifying the economy beyond tourism, expanding technology and AI opportunities, and creating locally governed training and research pathways so workers can adapt to changing jobs. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to recommend advice and consent for all nominees. The nominations for GM 608, GM 609, GM 612, and GM 613 were adopted by voice vote, with Senators Kim and Fevella excused. The committee then voted separately on GM 794 for Nicole Kacal, and that recommendation was also adopted. The hearing concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• To loans for micro-cannabis organizations, and it didn't work out well because I think largely because
• know, you go, you put in an application, they'll tell you which fund is available to them, like the micro-cannabis
• We bought the OER housing, we bought micro-cannabis, we bought the charter schools.
• has over 20 years of experience in public policy. including working as a Legislative Director to United

Transcript Highlights:

• And today's chaplain is Reverend Amanda Ludman from Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville.
• To the flag of the United States to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with
• Business in Minnesota... micros micros when<01:25:25.440> two when two when two very<01:25:27.760
• the over 1,800 applicants for the micro the over 1,800 applicants for the micro business<01:52:04.639
• United States than they have in Europe. United States than they have in Europe.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Gina Garrett from First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.
• To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation, indivisible
• of<00:12:26.480> he<00:12:26.800> who<00:12:27.120> is To the flag of the United
• Um, and also the micro products.
• <00:49:23.440> business mezzo business uh or um micro business mezzo business uh or um micro

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It might surprise you that the largest port in the United States is not Los Angeles, it's not Houston
• They were last eradicated from the United States in 1966.
• Um, it has devastated our poultry population across the United States.
• Um, currently, the, the outbreak of high path avian influenza in the United States started in 22.
• They want to use more micro jets. They want to use more drip tape.

Transcript Highlights:

• To choose to focus on what unites us and intentionally appreciate differences and seek friendship.
• The other thing is marketing in like what we call micro farms.
• In those areas and help those first-generation micro farmers be able to market their product and make

Bills: SB1177, HB3705, SB1942, SB2026, SB1533, SB1327, SB2065, SB2155, SB2159

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, tax credit, parental choice, private school, income tax, dental insurance, health care, medical necessity, insurance claims, dentist rights, military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, veteran burial

Transcript Highlights:

• Any jail in the United States is to be full; you cannot give quality care.
• So we need to look at the environment and the family unit.
• So we're working with that whole unit, not just the youth.
• We also have five beds in our intake unit.
• Four of those living units have 12 beds each, and two of the living units have 15 beds each.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that for the whole United States? It is, yes.
• Is it going to be a portion equally across the United States, the states of the United States?
• Is that for the whole United States? It is, yes.
• Is it going to be a portion equally across the United States, the states of the United States?
• That $35.5 million, that's across the entire United States.

Summary: The committee approved the November 3 minutes and then received an extensive presentation from Arkansas education and workforce officials on how the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts are affecting career and technical education, concurrent enrollment, and postsecondary readiness. Officials said the state’s goal is for students to leave high school employed, enrolled, or enlisted, and reported increases in K-12 CTE enrollment from about 161,000 to 171,000 students and concurrent CTE enrollment from about 12,000 to 16,000. They also described the new success-ready pathways, merit and distinction designations, and how those measures tie into school accountability and graduation outcomes. The discussion then turned to scholarships and grants. Officials explained that ACCESS expanded concurrent credit support, increased funding per credit hour, and broadened eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge and Governor’s Scholar programs by adding diploma-of-merit and diploma-of-distinction pathways. They said the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship itself did not change, but the non-distinguished Governor’s Scholar award now includes diploma of distinction as an additional eligibility route. Members raised concerns about how these requirements apply to private school and homeschool students, and officials said the intent is to ensure those students can qualify if they meet the same standards, though some implementation details are still being worked out. Questions also focused on whether students who explore multiple pathways could be penalized in school letter grades; officials said the system allows multiple ways to earn credit, including AP, IB, concurrent credit, technical certificates, and apprenticeships. Officials also reviewed workforce scholarships and short-term training funding. They said the state is developing policy for the Workforce Challenge and related professional skills training to set an 80-hour minimum and tiered funding, and they discussed the new federal Workforce Pell rules, which they said are very narrow and will likely apply to only a small number of Arkansas programs unless providers repackage training into stackable, credit-bearing pathways. Members asked for lists of eliminated programs, apprenticeships, and data on scholarship recipients, and staff said they could provide those. The committee also heard from Cody Waites on a $35.8 million U.S. Department of Labor cooperative agreement for the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, which Arkansas will administer nationally. He said the grant will support advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, use a pay-for-performance model, and be distributed to sponsors after apprentices are employed for 90 days, with applications opening January 28 and the state expecting to keep administrative costs under 8-9%.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've now secured three acres to develop a micro hospital.
• I lived in Jamaica for five years and worked throughout the United States.
• So if we look at that, basically the United States has been flat for, call it, 30 years.
• Yes, um, so in the United States, primarily in Texas, in San Antonio.
• So, as we move forward, the micro...

Transcript Highlights:

• Small businesses and micro businesses also operate with very little capital.
• Small businesses and micro businesses also operate with very little capital.
• > businesses Small businesses and micro businesses Small businesses and micro businesses also<
• <00:44:57.400> Business and I represent the United Business and I represent the United Business
• Investment At United Business Women Investment At United Business Women Investment Group<00:46

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• local government would receive, my sense of the data regarding these purchases or these sales at a micro
• However, we just do want to note that during that period, the United States as a whole experienced quite
• People can spend their EBT dollars on very small cottage micro food producers who are also attending
• Jeff Neal here today, representing Protect Democracy United, a nationwide nonprofit promoting free and
• People can spend their EBT dollars on very small cottage micro food producers who are also attending

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard several May Revision proposals, primarily from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program under Proposition 12, a transition away from the state hemp program to USDA oversight by January 1, 2028, ongoing support for agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to the department’s indirect cost cap. The LAO generally supported the animal care, hemp transition, and statistics proposals, while also urging future review of the Prop 12 funding once litigation is resolved. The indirect-cost-cap language was described as technical and not increasing charges to programs, and it was held open with no objections from the LAO or Finance. The committee also discussed the new federal Workforce Pell program and related Cradle to Career funding and trailer bill language. Finance said the state is still reviewing federal rules and is focusing on basic implementation steps, with the trailer bill assigning eligibility determinations to the California Student Aid Commission, requiring data sharing through Cradle to Career, and prioritizing public institutions first. The LAO urged caution because the federal rules were just finalized and said the Legislature should better define the process and costs before appropriating the $1.3 million requested for Cradle to Career. Members raised policy concerns about limiting the program to certain institutions and about aligning the proposal with pending legislation and broader workforce policy. The Department of Technology presented a $1 million request for Poppy, the state’s digital assistant, to expand a secure GenAI platform for state employees. Members asked detailed questions about data security, model training, bias controls, and whether the system could eventually support local governments; CDT said the system uses state-controlled cloud infrastructure, does not use user data for training, and quarantines new models for review. CDT also sought provisional authority for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative to cover possible operating shortfalls while the network is still being built; the LAO remained concerned about broad spending authority, and several members questioned the revenue assumptions and oversight. FTB then proposed retaining a smaller set of CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, with the LAO saying the reduced staffing level was broadly reasonable but still worth legislative scrutiny. The committee also began hearing the administration’s revenue proposals, including a permanent limitation on business tax credits and a tax on electronically delivered prewritten software, with the LAO generally supporting the goal of raising ongoing revenue but recommending changes to the software proposal’s exemptions and business-use treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a collaboration across the United States with Catholic Charities USA and the United States Catholic
• And additional multifamily units inside Flower Mound.
• A 5-unit affordable housing project was blocked the same way.
• At the micro level, and that's really kind of...
• Leading that house like a cohesive family unit.

Bills: HB24, HB2015, HB2149, HB2559, HB2701, HB2797, HB3172, HB24

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the A9 includes provisions to clarify the definition of a micro-mobility device, a motorcycle, and
• <00:18:57.680> device,<00:18:58.520> a definition of a micro-mobility device, a definition
• of a micro-mobility device, a motorcycle, motorcycle, motorcycle, and<00:19:00.360> a<00:19:00.400
• <00:36:14.000> devices, other micro-mobility devices, other micro-mobility devices, which<
• Those employer contributions are, of course, the employer's local unit of government, but for the state

Keywords: 1187, senate, all