Transcript Highlights:

• Project Fund as well as the Colonias Infrastructure Project Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
• Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. And so they all have their little separate purposes.
• Scott, just so I can clarify really what the duties of the board are: to authorize the MFA to make loans
• In these cases, they're mostly going to be loans, so they're taking out loans that they do have to repay
• $334 million that you currently have in inventory, that is a consequence of loan repayments.

Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• Oversight Committee, an act relating to finance, authorizing the New Mexico Finance Authority to make loans
• making appropriations from the Public Project Revolving Fund to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
• of physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses practicing in New Mexico through loan
• repayment and loan-for-service programs, requiring services in underserved areas of the state, creating
• tax credit to include additional eligible health care practitioners, enacting the Medical Residency Loan

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, these local government entities receive loans and grants from the state in the millions
• So what it does, it requires them to be in compliance before they can receive a loan or a grant from
• So what the substitute does, it allows the state agency that's making the loan or the grant to the water

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government considered a series of pending bills and committee substitutes, with most measures advancing on largely party-line or unanimous votes. Senator Hinojosa explained Senate Bill 427, which would require local governments to be current on annual financial reporting before receiving state loans or grants, with exceptions for disaster declarations and added procedures for water districts. The committee adopted the substitute and reported it to the Senate, then placed it on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also advanced SB 65, SB 241, SB 304, SB 402, SB 413, SB 499, SB 621, SB 850, SB 854, SB 974, SB 15, SB 1023, SB 1024, and SB 1025, with several of those also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Several bills were briefly explained before votes. SB 304 concerned municipal court jurisdiction over health and safety and nuisance matters. SB 850’s substitute created a uniform 60-day timeline for property tax refund issuance. SB 854’s substitute made multiple changes to local land-use authority, including removing group homes in support of housing, allowing regulation of short-term rentals, preserving HOA and deed restrictions, protecting historic districts, lowering the required residential share in mixed-use projects from 65% to 50%, and limiting new setback, height, and parking restrictions on existing building conversions. SB 413 and SB 850 were reported with committee substitutes in lieu of the filed bills. Most votes were favorable, often unanimous, though SB 241 and SB 621 each had one dissenting vote, SB 1106 was reported with one member present and not voting, and SB 1024 initially had one present-not-voting before Senator West later changed to aye. SB 1106 was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do not pass, while the other measures generally received do-pass recommendations. The committee concluded by recessing subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Families cash out their 401ks, take out second mortgages on their homes, max out credit cards, take out loans
• and and um money or taking out loans and and um some<00:26:08.559> of<00:26:08.640> the
• employee scholarship and loan forgiveness program, which both award loan forgiveness to participants
• This next item involves rural clinical ... loan forgiveness to participants loan forgiveness to participants
• forgiveness<01:10:11.360> funds award all loan forgiveness funds award all loan forgiveness

Bills: HF4609, HF4401

Keywords: infertility, fertility treatment, fertility preservation, IVF, assisted reproductive technology, ART, oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, egg freezing, sperm freezing, reproductive health, maternity coverage, health insurance mandate, health plan benefits, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, family planning, oncology fertility preservation, chemotherapy

Transcript Highlights:

• um loans? No, this is something else. um loans? No, this is something else.
• Yeah, it's a revolving loan program, excuse me.
• The number three has to do with loans.
• This supports the state loan repayment program.
• <01:31:05.679> Uh the state loan repayment program. Uh the state loan repayment program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• personal loan guarantee program. personal loan guarantee program.
• And so, what this program is designed to do is to give those employees a zero-interest loan on their
• Almost like a payday loan, but a good one because it's zero interest.
• Uh, it's a federal employee personal loan guarantee program.
• This is a guaranteed loan program, so it's guaranteed back by our federal government.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Repayment Fund; concluding the provision of loans made pursuant to the Allied Health Student Loan for
• Repayment Fund, concluding the provision of loans made pursuant to the Allied Health Student Loan for
• We're going to have a 15-year loan. It's going to be for $1.5 billion.
• What's the finite number that we're going to pay throughout this loan, this bonding loan that we're..
• . ...that we're going to pay throughout this loan, this bonding loan that we're going to go after.

Bills: HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21, HM25, HB9, SB2, SB19

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not have as much, their money-making as big a loan.
• 24.280> a have as much their money making as big a have as much their money making as big a loan
• :25.760> little<00:29:26.000> less<00:29:26.400> and<00:29:26.640> and loan
• The risk is a little less and and loan.
• So, and what we do, we help protect loans that you guys invest in these properties from diminishing the

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:11 Discussion HB 527 00:02:29 Vote HB 527 00:08:02 Discussion HB 627 00:09:09 Vote HB 627 00:24:29 Discussion HB 355 00:25:59 Vote HB 355 00:34:28 Discussion HB 568 00:35:18 Vote HB 568 01:12:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 527, a cleanup bill related to insurance matters and the Strengthen Kentucky Homes program. The committee substitute removed language that would have repealed the workers’ compensation deductible range, added a one-time grant/reimbursement provision for contractor fortified-roofing certifications, and added an emergency clause. The Department of Insurance said the bill also updates licensing language, addresses issues with unlicensed pharmacy benefit managers, and supports contractor training tied to the roof grant program. The commissioner noted the program is set to go live March 1 and asked members to inform constituents about possible roof grants of up to $10,000. House Bill 527 received a favorable report after the committee adopted the substitute and title amendment by voice vote and then approved the bill on a roll call vote. The committee then heard House Bill 627, a PIP reform bill. The sponsor and State Farm’s legislative agent said the substitute clarified language so the Attorney General can prosecute insurance fraud and reflected negotiations with hospitals, the Kentucky Hospital Association, the Kentucky Justice Association, chiropractors, and physical therapists. The bill would apply the workers’ comp fee schedule to most PIP claims, require bills within 180 days, prohibit balance billing and credit impairment, raise funeral benefits to $5,000 and weekly wage benefits to $500, require an annual fraud report, and give the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction over insurance fraud cases. A physician testifying in opposition argued the bill would cut reimbursement for non-hospital providers, shift costs to hospitals and other payers, reduce access to care, and create an uneven playing field that favors hospitals. Committee members asked about the lack of a PIP fee schedule and the effect of the workers’ comp schedule relative to Medicare and commercial insurance. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and then passed House Bill 627 with favorable expression on a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also considered House Bill 355 on real estate appraisers. The sponsor said the bill would restore an independent board, allow evaluations under federal guidelines, and move Kentucky from a voluntary to a mandatory appraisal state. Testimony from insurance and appraisal representatives said the bill would require licensure for real property damage appraisers, exempt insurance agents and claims adjusters licensed under the insurance code, and create clearer standards and oversight. Members asked about the cost of an executive director and whether the board could sustain itself through fees; the sponsor said the board had historically been self-sustaining. The committee adopted the substitute and then gave House Bill 355 a favorable report by roll call vote. Finally, the committee began House Bill 568, which would prohibit new public adjuster licenses while allowing current licensees to renew. The sponsor said the bill responds to ongoing complaints and investigations in the industry and noted that most licensed public adjusters in Kentucky are not residents of the state. The transcript cuts off as the bill’s presentation was beginning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't really know any of the data about what percentage of loans they're getting or what percentage
• We don't really know any of the data about what percentage of loans they're getting or what percentage
• Chairman and the committee could help us small farmers support the bill to give a grant for the loan
• Chairman and the committee could help us small farmers support the bill to give a grant for the loan
• Farmers are telling me of the need for direct payments, not loans.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture opened its first hearing by outlining procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony options, and the plan to hear 27 bills in docket order. The committee then took testimony on H.11/S.53, a resolve promoting equity in agriculture, with advocates from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, Southeastern Mass Agricultural Partnership, and urban farming organizations describing racial and economic disparities in farming, lack of data on BIPOC farmers, barriers to land and capital, and the need for a commission to collect information and recommend policy changes. Committee members asked questions about the importance of data collection and future policy development, and the bill was repeatedly urged to be reported favorably out of committee. Testimony also supported H.118, which would create a special commission to examine the strengths and sustainability of the Commonwealth’s emergency food network. The Amherst Survival Center described serving 1.6 million meals last year and explained that food pantries are now functioning as essential parts of the state’s food system while relying heavily on donations, volunteers, and unstable funding. Members discussed the need for a more holistic look at food security infrastructure. The committee then heard H.119/S.60 on climate change impacts on farms and fisheries, with regional planners and farm advocates describing flood damage, rising costs, canceled federal climate-smart funding, and the need for direct state support for adaptation, resilience, and infrastructure improvements. The committee also heard testimony on H.125/H.142/S.65, a healthy soils bill, from landscape professionals who said construction sites often leave poor or stripped soil and that the bill would require better post-construction soil standards to support healthier landscapes and reduce long-term maintenance and environmental problems. Finally, the committee took extensive testimony on H.127, which would prohibit aquaculture of octopus for human consumption. Supporters, including legislators, scientists, veterinarians, students, and animal welfare advocates, argued octopus are highly intelligent and sentient, cannot be farmed humanely, and that octopus aquaculture would create environmental harms such as waste runoff, pressure on wild fish stocks, and ecosystem disruption. No votes were taken during the hearing; the bills were heard and testimony was received.

Transcript Highlights:

• have gotten tighter, which means that's good for investors. ...terms and conditions of private credit loans
• The green slice, the 17%, is $139 million, and that is the B&D Legacy Infrastructure Loan Fund.
• And I think your point is well made that, you know, on the infrastructure revolving loan fund, maybe
• we should have “public” in front of that because that’s the Public Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund
• You could say, if you need $25 million worth of loan capital, we could put that in.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and receive updates on the Legacy Fund transparency website and fund performance. Staff reported the website procurement was in contract negotiations, with a planned go-live around November 1, and that the site would provide downloadable, more transparent information on fund holdings, allocations, history, and legislative appropriations while protecting confidential data. The investment office then reviewed performance through January 2026, describing strong returns relative to benchmarks, noting real estate and fixed income as weaker areas, and explaining that the fund’s diversification and internal management had helped offset market volatility, including recent geopolitical impacts. Members also discussed the in-state investment program, especially the Bank of North Dakota’s CD-match allocation. Several members questioned whether the program had been static for years and whether the uncommitted balance should remain parked there if it was not being used. The committee voted to pause further transfers into the program until the Bank provides a report and the committee can consider possible statutory changes; the motion also requested a cost-benefit analysis from RVK, and it passed by roll call vote. In the afternoon, RVK presented its review of the investment policy statement as it relates to the in-state investment program. The consultant said it found no major policy impediments, and that implementers and stakeholders generally felt the program was proceeding as intended. RVK emphasized best practices such as third-party due diligence, competitive risk-adjusted returns, diversification, pacing, and exit strategies, while cautioning that required lower-return investments or spending commitments can create pressure on the fund’s long-term real value. The consultant also raised ancillary concerns about state-level concentration risk, the need to distinguish between public and commercial infrastructure, and the lack of a central repository for all state funding commitments to the same projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is we are establishing a revolving loan fund for our childcare providers because we know that capital
• And so you talked about revolving loans for capital or for projects and just, you know, helping with
• But is there any grants, loans, or types of assistance for these providers to at least help them get
• This goes to our capacity building work to try to get loans in the hands of providers and to try to get
• This is where our supply building efforts around our revolving loan fund for providers to have capital

Transcript Highlights:

• within the PCA that was going to the general fund for pollution prevention, and there's some revolving loans
• previous appropriations going to the environmental fund where they're better able to work with revolving loans
• within the PCA that was going to the general fund for pollution prevention, and there's some revolving loans
• It is language that ensures that when loans from two PCA revolving loan programs are paid back, the money
• is deposited back into those revolving loan programs.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The conference committee on the Environment budget for Senate File 2077 met to introduce members and staff, then walked through the Senate and House budget spreadsheets side by side. Nonpartisan staff explained that the Senate budget was built around a smaller general fund increase and more use of environmental and dedicated funds, while the House met its target through several reductions, including cuts to DNR, PCA, and Board of Water and Soil Resources appropriations. The committee reviewed major agency items for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Zoo, and other accounts, including operating adjustments, permit-related funding, and transfers between funds. Several major differences were highlighted. For the PCA, the Senate included operating adjustments, permitting efficiency funding, composting grants, outreach funding, and a closed landfill investment fund approach that repeals an expiring statutory appropriation, while the House instead extends that appropriation for four more years. For the DNR, the Senate included operating adjustments, groundwater and AIS fee increases, aquatic invasive species funding, trail grants, outdoor schools for all, abandoned watercraft enforcement, and a sustainable foraging task force; the House had fewer of these fee and policy items and used reductions to meet its target. The committee also noted Senate-only policy provisions on outreach to diverse communities, field citations and mercury certification for skin-lightening products, disabled veteran license fee changes, and a moratorium on foraging rulemaking until July 1, 2027. Agency testimony followed. The MPCA commissioner praised both chambers for recognizing core agency work and urged adoption of operating adjustments, the closed landfill fund access, and the air appropriation increase. The DNR assistant commissioner supported operating adjustments, groundwater and AIS fee increases, and the veteran license proposal, but raised concerns about the Senate’s foraging task force language, saying it overweights consumptive users and could limit the agency’s ability to manage foraging without clear data. He also noted support for the land transfer funding and said the agency would continue working with the committee on unresolved issues. No votes were taken in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:58.639> you program to say we're going to loan you program to say we're going to loan
• They have to pay 100% on the extractive mineral. though on the loan side that though on the loan side
• > there's loans, there's investments, there's loans, there's investments, there's there's<00:38
• Providing<01:11:28.239> loans.<01:11:28.719> Providing Providing loans.
• Providing Providing loans.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just in May, we had to do an emergency hospital loan for $25 million to be able to keep hospitals open
• And yet you heard my colleague, the vice chair of budget, talk about just said our health loan was $35
• One was on the verge of closure before we instituted the financially distressed loan program.
• One was on the verge of closure before we instituted the financially distressed loan program, which they're
• We gave them a $5.5 million loan to survive, and now we're going to shackle them with $40 million in

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 14, an act relating to the rural hospital operations and facilities revolving loan fund, making
• House Bill 14, an act relating to the rural hospital operations and facilities revolving loan fund, making
• operations and facilities<00:28:54.399> resolving<00:28:55.279> revolving<00:28:55.840> loan
• facilities resolving revolving loan facilities resolving revolving loan fund,<00:28:56.399> making

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 04:28 Election and Swearing In of Constitutional Officers 04:35 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 06:51 HR 1 08:08 HR 2 08:40 HR 3 17:11 Impeachment Petitions reported 18:33 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 20:27 Stand at Ease 20:54 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 28:30 Adjournment 33:05, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky House convened for the opening of the 2026 regular session, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a declared quorum of 100 members present. The House then excused absent members and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications to be filed. It also elected House staff constitutional officers by acclamation, including the chief clerk, deputy clerk, sergeant at arms, chief doorkeeper, enrolling clerk, cloakroom keeper, and janitor, followed by the oath of office. Members introduced and adopted House Resolutions 1, 2, and 3. House Resolution 1 established the 2026 House membership. House Resolution 2 adopted the House rules for the session, with changes reflecting the new temporary building, removal of COVID-related provisions, elimination of remote and alternative voting, shortening motions/petitions/communications time from 30 to 15 minutes, deleting guest introductions and gallery references, requiring only one signed jacketed bill copy, clarifying billbook co-sponsorship procedures, deleting consent orders and pairing rules, and updating chamber-access and lobbying restrictions. Some members objected that the changes reduced transparency and public access, and one member asked that the 15-minute limit be kept at 30 minutes, but the resolution was adopted. House Resolution 3 invited pastors of Frankfurt churches to open sessions with prayer; one member asked that it be broadened to include people of all faiths and beyond Franklin County, but it was also adopted. The House then reported interim communications, including citizen impeachment petitions filed against Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine and Ballard County Jailer Eric Cppus. Members were reminded of a mandatory ethics meeting the next day. The clerk reported the first batch of filed bills and resolutions, including House Bill 11 on independent school districts and House Bills 12 through 34 on topics such as legislative privacy, income tax, rural hospital funding, Medicaid and Medicaid expansion, school employee payments, firearms, reproductive health and privacy, employment schedules, cancer treatment coverage, workers’ compensation for first responders, savings accounts, education opportunity accounts, leave from employment, criminal procedure, home purchases, FNF devices, data privacy, and death benefits, along with House Resolutions 4 through 6. The House then adjourned until 2 p.m. on January 7, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• CalVet has a home loan program.
• The CalVet Home Loan Program helps veterans purchase market-rate homes and is over 100 years old.
• aspect of this program is that, unlike a conventional mortgage lender, CalVet does not sell any of its loans
• We hold them for the entire life of the loan.
• All our loans are underwritten and subsequently serviced in-house by people, not algorithms.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislature had an emergency session and gave us a loan program.
• This legislature had an emergency session and gave us a loan program that is helping farmers get back
• We were able to deploy the loan program immediately following Hurricane Milton, and we're going to have
• so we're very pleased at, you know, working with the legislature on what y'all have done for this loan
• It will be very important to replenish that loan program. It is currently out of resources.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process. Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales. Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Allen, EV Battery Management, do pass with author's amendments to, among other things, strike GGRF loan
• SB784 Durazo home improvement loans, two-year bill. 809 Durazo construction trucking amnesty program
• call SB 535 Richardson obesity treatment two-year bill SB 631 Richardson charter school revolving loans

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a product that protects personal property used to secure a loan in the event of theft, accidents
• Kentucky's licensed consumer loan companies have been offering this particular product for more than
• <00:45:11.200> in<00:45:11.320> the property used to secure a loan in the property
• used to secure a loan in the event<00:45:11.720> of<00:45:11.840> theft,<00:45:12.320><
• this loan companies have been offering this particular<00:45:20.400> product<00:45:21.400>

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that the state does have an existing program, the CBED program, community-based economic development loan
• So if the statute was going to be amended to create this loan loss program, it could be instead of a
• based economic development loan program. based economic development loan program.
• amended<00:07:00.479> to<00:07:00.639> create<00:07:00.880> this<00:07:01.120> loan
• <00:07:01.360> loss amended to create this loan loss amended to create this loan loss program

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of economic development, tourism, and tax measures. SB 2411 drew broad support from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the University of Hawaiʻi, the Chamber of Commerce, and Retail Merchants, with one technical amendment suggested to change a partnership term from six to seven years. Members asked about implementation and annual costs, and the department said it would follow up with cost information. HB 2583 HD1, relating to economic development and a loan loss program, also received support, but DBED noted the state already has the CBED loan program and suggested the proposal could be placed under that existing framework rather than creating a new program. HB 1612, based on business revitalization task force recommendations, was supported by DBED and several business and advocacy groups, including the Small Business Regulatory Review Board and Grassroot Institute. Testimony emphasized improving Hawaii’s business climate and using a ranking/reporting tool to measure progress, while one senator questioned whether the bill would simply fund another study instead of direct improvements. HB 1613, relating to HTDC, was supported by HTDC, the Chamber of Commerce, and startup and industry representatives who said a permanent marketing/branding specialist would help attract tech talent, founders, and investors; a member asked why the position was not in the budget, and HTDC said federal NIST funding uncertainty affected the request. HB 1614, also on economic development, was supported by HTDC and business groups, and members discussed whether the state was missing federal funds due to lack of matching dollars; HTDC said it was difficult to know, but matching funds could help leverage more federal grants. The committee then took up HB 2590 on taxation for creative industries. The Motion Picture Association and Hawaii Film Alliance strongly supported the bill, saying it would correct GET treatment for payroll service companies, restore motion picture and TV production as manufacturing, and repeal a 2022 provision affecting qualified expenses; the Department of Taxation said it would provide revenue-impact information later. Finally, HB 1950 HD1 on the transient accommodations tax drew strong support from DBED, HTA, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, hotel and resort groups, and others, who argued for a dedicated tourism marketing fund and said the state needs more stable, long-term marketing investment. The Tax Foundation opposed the special fund approach, arguing it would reduce legislative flexibility. Members pressed witnesses on the appropriate percentage for the fund, with HTA suggesting 10% to 12% of TAT collections, and the discussion focused on how marketing spending relates to visitor spending, tax revenue, and long-term tourism competitiveness.