Transcript Highlights:

• the chair recognized the Gent business the chair recognized the Gent business the chair recognized the
• management she Arts degree in business management she Arts degree in business management she earned
• her masters of Business earned her masters of Business earned her masters of Business Administration
• received the Jesse Lewis small business received the Jesse Lewis small business advocate of the Year
• we need to show we mean business we need to show we mean business we need to show we mean business and

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• their families, their health, their homes, and lives that they may be unburdened to do the people's business
• failsafe that your bill contains that the electronic transmittal of that notice would be within business
• I understand the balancing acts of having landlords and business people be protected but also making
• Not the small business owners in Ocala who rallied behind the tax relief amendments.
• We would not have free VPK, which saved working parents thousands of dollars in childcare and businesses

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of important business in the district on motion of mr.
• Rosenthal, please excuse representative Lopez of bear because of important business of the district on
• Garen moves to defer the reading and referral of bills until the end of today's business.
• Small businesses, vibrant communities, and deep connections to the community.
• definition. of a historically underutilized business for purposes of state contracting.

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• stupid move for a business to make.
• I've talked with business owners.
• I mean, Amazon closures, Walmart closures, Piggly Wiggly in the South, Kroger as well.
• It allows the community to respond to the closure, to work on the issues of the closure.
• closure.

Bills: SB5379, SB6106, SB6147, SB6180, SB5927, SB6287

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the presumption that heart problems in covered firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of firefighters who died of heart disease testified in support, saying the current law creates delays and burdens for grieving families; counties, cities, and self-insurers opposed the bill, citing the large fiscal impact, lack of scientific support for removing the qualifiers, and concerns about expanding presumptions without further review. An L&I researcher explained the existing time limits and said the advisory committee’s prior review did not support the change, though he noted some states have broader presumptions. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement employees. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid below comparable agencies, making arbitration important for retention and fairness. The bill was heard and left for later action. Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery establishment closures in food deserts, would require six months’ notice before closure, good-faith meetings to explore alternatives, and enforcement authority for the Attorney General and others. Supporters, including Tacoma officials, grocery workers, and community advocates, said the Fred Meyer closure in South Tacoma showed the need for more notice and community planning; grocers and industry groups opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome, arguing closures are driven by broader business and safety issues. The hearing closed without a vote. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt Indian tribes from the state WARN-style layoff notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted to ESD confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification that protects personal data; the committee noted no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 5927 would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3 percent starting in 2026. The sponsor and business/self-insurer witnesses said the cap would help address volatility and long-term unfunded liabilities; labor and injured-worker advocates opposed it, saying it would erode wage replacement for injured workers and survivors. L&I explained that it had been studying possible COLA reforms, including a 3 percent cap and a rolling-average approach, but withdrew its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would ban harmful additives and synthetic alkaloids, require labeling, set a 21+ age limit, and allow local governments to adopt stricter rules. The sponsor and poison center testimony supported regulation of concentrated 7-OH products, while industry and advocacy witnesses supported age limits and labeling but raised concerns about private lawsuits, local patchwork regulation, and the need for a state licensing framework. The committee adjourned after completing testimony on the day’s bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it big business?
• to. business partnerships.
• business owners like Michael Dell or they're small business owners.
• Well, who, what business? Most of my work is business litigation. No business litigation.
• to the business.

Bills: HB134, HB135, HB 1109, HB 1243, HB1392, HB1399, HJR99, HB134, HB135

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, local tax, municipal tax, county tax, tax sourcing, place of business, principal business location, small business, retailer, marketplace seller, economic development agreement, Chapter 321, Chapter 323, Tax Code, Texas Comptroller, local sales and use tax, tax jurisdiction, order consummation, ship-to location

Transcript Highlights:

• And the county could drive by your business, never look inside.
• of our small business owners desperately need.
• And right now by raising the exemption for business, personal.
• Oh, for small businesses, to say?
• And this bill helps... those small businesses, ensure that they can continue to operate those small businesses

Bills: HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392, HB195, HB 13, HB143, HB135, HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• We filed Senate Bill 1607, which passed Business and Commerce unanimously and passed the Senate.
• three times the amount of any fine or penalty imposed by the money transmission license holder. business
• This serves as a disincentive for money transmission businesses from imposing these fines.
• I remind you that last session is when we really passed a fairly significant money service businesses
• Is there any further business for the committee to address? If not, the chair moves to adjourn.

Bills: SB512, SB1024

Keywords: SB 512, Texas Finance Code, money transmission, money services business, money transmitter, money transmission licensee, terms of service, consumer protection, civil penalty, attorney general enforcement, account closure, refund of balance, financial services regulation, payments industry, fintech, prepaid accounts, remittance, licensee compliance, local government debt, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of pending business, House Bill 2468.
• As a matter of pending business, House Bill 4386.
• Chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, House Bill 149.
• If we exempt Chapter 1304 businesses and other unlicensed sales of service businesses this session, more
• businesses and industries will push for exemption next session.

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Summary: The committee took up several pending business items and reported a series of House bills out of committee, including HB 2467, HB 2468, HB 2518, HB 4310, HB 4386, HB 4490, HB 5323, and HB 149. Most of these were advanced on committee substitute motions and sent to the local and uncontested calendar or reported favorably to the full Senate. HB 2467 drew one nay vote, while the others were approved without opposition. HB 4310 and HB 4386 were described as committee-substitute versions with changes narrowing disclosure requirements and preserving attorney-client privilege in certain circumstances. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 149, an AI governance bill. The substitute was explained as addressing biometric identifier capture and storage, exempting certain AI uses for security and fraud prevention, clarifying definitions, restricting AI systems that simulate explicit child sexual content, adjusting Attorney General investigative authority, refining sandbox program waivers, reducing Texas AI Council powers and membership, and adding DIR coordination provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 1500, the DIR sunset bill. The author said the bill would continue DIR for 12 years, restructure its board, update advisory committees, require regular cybersecurity assessments and penetration testing for state agencies, improve IT procurement training, and transfer the e-grants program to the Comptroller. A Texas 2036 witness supported the bill as a way to strengthen governance, procurement, and cybersecurity. Members asked detailed questions about the bill’s structure and then left HB 1500 pending. The committee also heard a lengthy presentation on HB 150, which would create the Texas Cyber Command as a component of the University of Texas System, administratively attached to UTSA and located in San Antonio. The author argued the command would centralize cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and digital forensics, and would be able to support state and local entities, with optional services for local governments. Members raised concerns about university mission drift, governance, security, chain of command, procurement authority, gifts and donations, and civil liberties implications of proactive cyber monitoring. Witnesses from UTSA/NSCC and SecurityScorecard testified in support, emphasizing the security of the downtown San Antonio facility, the existing cyber ecosystem there, and the need for a dedicated cyber capability. The bill remained under discussion with no final committee action announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair lays out as a matter of pending business, HB2467.
• Next on the matter of opinion, Business House Bill 2468.
• The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, House Bill 149.
• Cybersecurity is a business.
• If we exempt Chapter 1304 businesses and other unlicensed sales of service businesses this session, more

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833, HB146, HB150

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• This resulted in business closures, staffing shortages, revenue drops, and thousands of dollars in expired
• ><c> closures,</c> This resulted in business closures, This resulted in business closures, staffing<00
• . businesses. businesses.
• . businesses. businesses.
• owners that are facing closure of their businesses.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we need someone to help bu businesses we need someone to help bu businesses navigate<00:12:17.680
• </c><00:14:10.440><c> and</c> process plays a role businesses and process plays a role businesses and
• </c> trade associations and small businesses trade associations and small businesses to<00:18:09.080>
• </c><00:18:20.240><c> go</c> of programs that help businesses go of programs that help businesses go
• </c> different from the Minnesota business different from the Minnesota business first<00:30:34.120><

Bills: HF8, HF1416

Keywords: wetlands, environmental review, permitting efficiency, Pollution Control Agency, construction permits, environmental impact statements, local government, business regulation, environmental assessments, HF1416, relocation grants, economic development, business relocation, site selection, business incentives, grant extension, appropriation extension, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, request for proposals

Transcript Highlights:

• The first order of business is to approve last meeting's minutes.
• make reforms and increase the effectiveness and the scope of how our police are conducting their business
• Additionally, we have a small but busy training section providing training for Minnesota law enforcement
• The innovation we're seeing in different business models of fraud, whether it's targeting our public
• programs or our small businesses and consumers, is significant.

Bills: HF2432

Keywords: HF2432, judiciary finance bill, public safety finance bill, corrections policy, crime victims, victim services, Minnesota victims of crime account, court fees, marriage license fee, financial crimes, fraud investigations, insurance fraud, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Commerce Fraud Bureau, wage theft, automobile theft prevention, nonprofit security grants, 911 funding, POST Board

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the first order of business is to approve last meeting's minutes.
• Uh, the first order of business is to approve last meeting's minutes.
• owners of that um and and the business owners of that um and and every<00:32:47.320><c> probation</c
• Then we have a small but busy training section providing training for Minnesota law enforcement.
• </c> targeting our um small businesses targeting our um small businesses consumers<01:14:21.480><c> whatever

Bills: HF2432

Keywords: HF2432, judiciary finance bill, public safety finance bill, corrections policy, crime victims, victim services, Minnesota victims of crime account, court fees, marriage license fee, financial crimes, fraud investigations, insurance fraud, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Commerce Fraud Bureau, wage theft, automobile theft prevention, nonprofit security grants, 911 funding, POST Board

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6147 relates to grocery establishment closures.
• So I know that you're busy. So I'm going to be brief here.
• I've had my own business for a long time.
• I've had my own business for a long time.
• It is a business model. Wage theft is not accidental. It is a business model.

Bills: SB6053, SB6134, SB6147, SB6106, SB6045, SB6135, SB6128, SB6282, SB6068, SB6303, SB6290

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6282, which would require building and construction apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training beginning in 2027. The sponsor and labor supporters said construction workers face elevated suicide and substance use risks and that the bill would help reduce stigma, improve peer support, and connect workers to resources. Testifiers from electrical workers, bricklayers, and building trades strongly supported the measure, describing it as an important first step and noting planned amendments to extend similar information through continuing education for journey-level workers. No vote was taken on this bill in the portion provided. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6135, which would require interest arbitration panels for most uniform personnel in cities, counties, and other local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. County and city associations supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and said it would align local arbitration with existing state law. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, arguing it would weaken collective bargaining rights and let employers use financial hardship to delay or reduce fair contracts. The public hearing closed with a reported tally of 5 in favor and 22 opposed, and the bill was not advanced in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 6053 on domestic workers and then voted the bill do pass to Rules. It also passed Senate Bill 6134, which requires notice to striking workers about possible unemployment overpayment if they later receive retroactive wages. Senate Bill 6147 on grocery store closures in food deserts was sent to Ways and Means after members discussed the definition of “food desert” and concerns about the six-month notice requirement; the sponsor said the bill was still being refined. Senate Bill 6106, excluding Indian tribes from the Stable Act employer definition and protecting employee contact information from disclosure, also passed to Rules. For Senate Bill 6045 on agricultural employees and PERC jurisdiction, the committee adopted a Schoesler amendment requiring multilingual signage, then passed the amended bill to Ways and Means. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 6128 about using an L&I-approved third-party app to record independent medical exams, with supporters citing security and consistency and opponents saying it would burden injured workers and was unnecessary; and on Senate Bill 6068, which would expand contractor liability for unpaid construction wages, with workers and labor groups supporting stronger enforcement and contractors opposing broader liability. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, where testimony was split between sustainability and industry supporters and public health opponents concerned about child poisonings and packaging changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Micro Business Disaster Loan Program to offer loan cost abating. loans while businesses wait
• and micro businesses.
• Pending business.
• SB 1866 as pending business.
• My business has been devastated.

Bills: SB1361, SB2105, SB2690, SB2713, SCR38, SB2637, SB2881

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Wendy Gaty with the Agra Business Development Corp., and we stand on our written comments with support
• is the amendment that the general category of the group of permitted uses is called agricultural business
• or are called agricultural agricultural agricultural agricultural agricultural<00:18:00.880><c> business
• </c> agricultural business. agricultural business.
• </c><00:54:36.079><c> economic</c> department of business economic department of business economic development

Bills: SB2359, SB2169, SB2170, SB2263, SB2360, SB3084

Keywords: time share, registration, renewal, consumer protection, real estate, SB2170, North Kohala, Kynnersly East Site, Agribusiness Development Corporation, ADC, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, agricultural development, land acquisition, fee simple, Hawaii Island, Big Island, rural development, food security, sustainable agriculture

Summary: The joint House Committee on Tourism and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems heard House Bill 2585 on agricultural tourism. The bill would create statewide uniform standards for agritourism in counties that adopt such ordinances, require registration with county planning departments, and require agritourism to remain secondary and accessory to farming. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity supported the measure but recommended amendments to make the language more consistent and to ensure agritourism remains tied to agricultural activity; the Hawaii Farm Bureau also supported the bill with the same general guardrails, while the White Tourism Authority offered comments. A member raised concerns about a trailer/roadside-stand provision, and the department ultimately said it did not support that specific language. The chairs then recommended passage with amendments, including a definition of principal farm operations, clarification that agritourism must not interfere with on-farm operations, revised termination rules after 60 consecutive days without active production with notice and cure procedures, restoration of the department’s proposed change to the trailer language, and technical corrections. HB 2585 passed both committees unanimously with excused members noted. The committees then heard House Bill 2602 on sustainable tourism infrastructure, which would establish a matching grant program in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for capital projects that improve sustainability and climate resilience in the visitor industry. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii testified in support. The chair recommended passage with a committee report note estimating a roughly $5 million cost and a date correction, and both committees adopted the recommendation unanimously. House Bill 1948 on single-use plastics was also heard. It would prohibit lodging establishments from providing certain personal care products in small plastic containers and impose civil penalties. The Department of Land and Natural Resources stood on its testimony, and the Department of Health supported the waste-reduction goal but suggested the language belonged in a different chapter. The chair recommended an HD1 that would omit lotions from the definition of personal care products, adopt the Department of Health’s proposed clarification about reusable containers, and correct the date; the measure passed both committees unanimously. Finally, House Bill 1960 on human trafficking was heard. The bill would require the Attorney General to develop human trafficking awareness training for transit accommodation workers, require employers to provide training, keep records, post signage, adopt prevention policies, and report suspected trafficking, with penalties and rulemaking by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The Department of Labor Relations supported the intent but said the Department of Law Enforcement should be the lead agency, and the Hawaii Hotel Alliance strongly supported the bill while asking for amendments to recognize existing industry programs and apply the requirements equitably. The chair recommended an HD1 incorporating a July 1, 2027 deadline for training materials and employer training, adopting the hotel industry and DLE-related amendments, and making technical corrections; HB 1960 passed both committees unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• So about 44% between 2018 and 2023, whereas other businesses, non-Latino businesses, have decreased about
• per year per business.
• match them with businesses in Mexico that want to do business here in Arizona.
• So the small business priorities are a little bit different than, say, big business.
• We talk to business leaders. We talk to small business leaders. We're talking to them continuously.

Bills: HB2754

Keywords: Arizona Commerce Authority, business development, economic growth, small business support, job creation, Board of Directors, e-verify, grant administration, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one, SB301 by Hobie, is related to electronic filing of business property taxes allowed by
• Any other business or concerns?

Bills: SB301, SB329

Keywords: Lee County, Alabama, business personal property tax, business property tax, personal property tax return, electronic filing, e-filing, tax administration, revenue commissioner, county tax, business tax return, tax preparer, third-party preparer, property tax returns, online tax filing, local legislation, land redemption, taxation, administrative fee, 1136

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, although we originally had one item of pending business, we don't really have enough members
• We show Sarah Horne registered on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
• We represent. and over 20,000 small businesses in Texas across all different industries.
• This bill empowers businesses to prevent breaches and is a win-win for businesses and consumers alike
• This bill will help protect our businesses and citizens from devastating cyber attacks.

Bills: SB1540, SB2610, SB2373

Keywords: election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, public safety, cybersecurity, data breach, breach of system security, exemplary damages, punitive damages, liability shield, safe harbor, small business, mid-sized business, Texas Business & Commerce Code, sensitive personal information, personal identifying information, identity theft, fraud prevention, NIST

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to order.
• With that, let's jump right into the business before us today.
• to help businesses survive that recession.
• all small businesses, not just a select few.
• What I do know is that a significant percent of businesses in Nevada are small businesses, and they have

Bills: SB298, SB300, SB371

Keywords: employee relocation, headquarters, Small Business Administration, Washington metropolitan area, telework, cost reduction, rural markets, geographic diversity, disaster loans, accountability, reporting, loan forgiveness, federal funding, SBA reforms, small business, disaster assistance, transparency, report publication, government accountability