Senate Industry and Business committee issues do-pass on bill to create Office of Entrepreneurship

The Senate Industry and Business Committee on an item dated not specified issued a do-pass recommendation on House Bill 1191, a proposal to create an Office of Entrepreneurship under the Department of Commerce, voting 3-2 to advance the bill to the full Senate.

The bill would direct state officials to coordinate and guide entrepreneurs to existing programs and resources. Committee members repeatedly noted the proposal contains no appropriation or fiscal note and includes reporting requirements for the department; the committee also discussed whether the work belongs inside the Department of Commerce or should be a separate office.

Supporters said the bill is intended primarily to help entrepreneurs find existing resources, rather than to immediately create a staffed…