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 new agency. Senator Klein, the bill sponsor, described the proposal as a policy directive the Commerce Department can implement with existing staff and noted there is no appropriation attached. Senator Kessel told colleagues the Department of Commerce is the natural “center of gravity” for business assistance and said the bill’s required report should show whether additional staff or funding are needed.

Opponents cautioned that creating a named office can lead to organizational growth and ongoing costs. Senator Angott framed the choice as between “grow[ing] our government to support growing business or grow[ing] business,” saying she favors measures that strengthen private-sector supports rather than expanding government operations. Several senators argued the department should initially be asked to centralize and publicize existing services — including Small Business Development Centers, private accelerators such as Generator, and other coaching programs — before any new appropriations are considered.

Committee members discussed examples offered at prior testimony, including entrepreneurs who benefited from private-sector mentorship and competitive accelerator programs. Several senators emphasized that many of those programs operate on a competitive basis and are not available to every entrepreneur, and that the bill’s primary value may be in directing applicants to those programs rather than running them.

Votes at a glance: The committee motion, “do pass on House Bill 1191,” was moved by Senator Kessel and seconded by Senator Klein. The recorded committee vote was: Senator Klein — Aye; Senator Kessel — Aye; Chairman Barta — Aye; Vice Chair Bame — Nay; Senator Ingot — Nay. The committee issued a 3-2 do-pass recommendation.

The committee did not act on House Bill 1584 (pharmacy benefits manager legislation) during this meeting; members said they were awaiting amendments and expected further work later in the day.

The committee named Senator Castle as the floor carrier for House Bill 1191 when it advances.

Ending: With the committee recommendation recorded, the bill will be scheduled for floor consideration next; committee members said the required Commerce report, due under the bill’s reporting language, should indicate whether additional staff or funding will be needed in a future biennium.