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Committee hears bill to waive business license fees for veterans; attorneys flag discharge language
Summary
Representative Salinas proposed House Bill 1108 to waive business license fees for veterans starting businesses. The committee discussed whether the bill should limit the waiver to honorably discharged veterans and voted to roll the measure so sponsors can file clarifying amendments.
House Bill 1108, introduced by Representative Salinas, would waive business license fees for veterans starting businesses. Salinas said the intent is to encourage veterans’ entrepreneurship and workforce participation.
During the hearing the committee raised a technical question about whether the bill as written would include veterans who are not honorably discharged. Levin Middleton of the office of Legal Services advised that the statute’s use of the term “veteran” could encompass individuals without an honorable discharge and that the committee would need clarifying language if it intended to limit eligibility to honorably discharged veterans.
Members discussed options. Leader Camper urged the committee to advance the bill and allow the sponsor to work on language before full committee; others argued that a timely, written amendment was required under committee rules. The sponsor said she was open to adding language specifying honorably discharged status. Ultimately, the committee voted to roll House Bill 1108 to the second calendar so the sponsor can file amendments and return with clarified eligibility language.
The committee did not take a final up-or-down vote; members said they generally supported the bill’s policy goal but wanted clear statutory language regarding veteran discharge status and any caps or limits on the waiver.
