Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee
Key Moments
José Solache — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
José Solache — Thanked for the opportunity; the speaker addressed him as Assembly Member Solache.
José Solache — Thanked again for the opportunity to speak.
José Solache — Commended Mr. Galloway for sharing his story and said questions would follow.
José Solache — Thanked the witness for sharing and moved the committee toward questions.
José Solache — The speaker addresses the Chair while urging continued work on disaster support for small businesses.
José Solache — Identified as Chair Solache and co-author of Assembly Bill 265.
José Solache — José Solache thanked Dr. Chala for his passion and commitment to plastics-related innovation, then followed up with a related discussion about a possible bill affecting the ad community and the impact of durable bags. The exchange continued with a question about where legislators could help make the innovation process smoother.
José Solache — The speaker repeatedly addresses José Solache in his role as chair/assembly member, first referencing what can be done independent of resources, then thanking him and the members, and later greeting the chair again as public comment begins. The mentions collectively reflect a continuous exchange of direct address to Solache rather than distinct topic shifts.
AB685 — The Chair notes that AB 685, the small business resiliency and innovation bill, passed out of the Assembly last night and is now moving forward.
AB685 — The speaker thanks the committee for the legislation and says it can serve as a template, especially for addressing disaster-related small business needs.
Kristen Johnson — Kristen Johnson is introduced as the Regional Director of the Northern California SBDC and then begins her testimony by thanking the committee for convening the hearing and emphasizing the statewide impact of the California Small Business Development Center Network.
Pat Nye — Pat Nye is introduced as the Regional Director of the Los Angeles SBDC and identified as a panel witness.
Pat Nye — Pat Nye opens testimony by thanking the Assembly members and introducing the SBDC network as California's leading small business disaster resource, setting up discussion of disaster-related examples and the network's role.
Ernesto Delgado — Ernesto Delgado is introduced as the founder of Tequila Museo Mayoal and a panel witness.
Joey Galloway — Joey Galloway is introduced as the owner and entrepreneur of Mariposa Junction and identified as a panel witness.
Joey Galloway — Joey Galloway is introduced as the next witness, then identifies himself as a Pasadena resident who was raised in Altadena until age 14 and begins discussing his family's commercial property.
Jessica Caloza — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
Jessica Caloza — Named as a co-author associated with Assembly Bill 265.
Jessica Caloza — Assemblywoman Colosa is referenced as part of a prior effort to push a bill; likely Assemblymember Caloza, though the transcript is unclear.
Darshana Patel — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
Darshana Patel — Acknowledged as having joined the committee and described as the new incoming education chair.
Darshana Patel — Darshana Patel thanked the presenters and praised the SBDC, noting her prior visit to Dr. Chala’s facility. She then asked how typical the success stories are, what common roadblocks and barriers entrepreneurs face, and where legislators can help make the innovation and business-support process smoother. Her comments emphasized that innovators often lack business and legal expertise, that moving through funding stages can affect autonomy, and that an independent advocate or navigator could help reduce regulatory and practical barriers.
Darshana Patel — The chair or speaker asks Dr. Patel if she has any questions; she responds that she does not have further questions.
Cottie Petrie-Norris — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
Michelle Rodriguez — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
Michelle Rodriguez — The Chair thanks Michelle for sharing her testimony; likely referring to Assembly Member Michelle Rodriguez.
Esmeralda Soria — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
Esmeralda Soria — She begins asking questions about immigration enforcement and its impact on immigrant-owned businesses.
Esmeralda Soria — She asks about immigration enforcement, immigrant-owned businesses, and whether access to services and funding has dropped since the Trump administration took over.
Esmeralda Soria — She emphasizes the importance of ensuring immigrant communities and rural communities can access services and capital without immigration-enforcement concerns.
Esmeralda Soria — She follows up on crisis response and compares it to flooding and storm impacts in her district.
Esmeralda Soria — She asks about disaster-response work, FEMA ineligibility for immigrant-owned businesses, and support for long-standing entrepreneurs.
Esmeralda Soria — She asks whether existing programs can help businesses affected by wildfires and floods when FEMA is unavailable.
Esmeralda Soria — She says lawful immigrants are also feeling the effects of reduced funding availability.
Esmeralda Soria — Thanked for her questions; the speaker also referenced her district concerns and current issues affecting communities.
Esmeralda Soria — Referenced as allowing time for one question.
Esmeralda Soria — Referenced as having asked questions about a disaster funding mechanism.
Esmeralda Soria — Referenced as having raised similar concerns earlier.
Greg Wallis — The committee packets include performance metrics specific to each member's district.
Greg Wallis — Mr. Daniel is thanked by the Chair; the transcript likely intended 'Mr. Daniel' rather than a member name here. No direct member ID confirmed in this section.
AB2019 — Mentioned as a state mandate the speaker says small business procurement efforts are helping the state meet.
Justine Gonzalez — Justine Gonzalez from Wells Fargo Philanthropies’ Community Impact Department was introduced as a key contact who helped connect the speaker to additional support, including Don Lowell. She then met multiple times with the speaker’s family and the affected business owners to help identify practical recovery solutions.
Don Lowell — From the Pasadena Small Business Development Center; met with the family and business owners to help with recovery.
Don Lowell — Described as a key contact who provided reassurance and support to the speaker and tenants.
Mr. Galloway — Was thanked and commended for sharing his story about the fire aftermath.
Mr. Galloway — Senator Soria references Mr. Galloway as an example of someone affected by the Los Angeles crisis response.
Mr. Ernestal — Was thanked by the speaker; likely the next witness or restaurant owner being addressed, but the name is uncertain.
Scott Grodolsky — One of the people who helped the speaker access resources and guidance; surname is uncertain in the transcript.
Steve Roth — One of the people who helped the speaker access resources and guidance.