HB 325-BUSINESS LICENSE FEES                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:03:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 325, "An  Act relating to business  license fees;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:03:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 325.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:03:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JASMIN SMITH,  Business Owner,  Umoja Coworking  Space, testified                                                               
in  support of  HB  325.   She  stated  her  support for  waiving                                                               
[business  license  fees] for  people  on  public assistance  and                                                               
urged the  committee to  consider ways  to alleviate  barriers to                                                               
first time business owners.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT  expressed  admiration for  the  work  Ms.                                                               
Smith does in her community.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:07:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER closed public testimony on HB 325.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:07:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report  HB 325 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:07:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK objected for  purposes of discussion.  She                                                               
acknowledged that the cost of  business licenses increased during                                                               
the pandemic  and opined that  the bill would present  a valuable                                                               
option for many  individuals.  She reiterated  her strong support                                                               
for HB 325 and removed her objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:08:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that there  being no further objection, HB                                                               
325 was adopted.