Transcript Highlights:

• There being 6 ayes and 2 nays, the motion prevails.
• There being 8 ayes and 0 nays, the motion prevails.
• There being 5 ayes and 3 nays, the motion prevails.
• The Chair hears none and the motion prevails. Members, that concludes today's agenda.
• There being 5 ayes and 3 nays, the motion prevails. Members, that concludes. Mr.

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• There being seven ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being seven ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being seven ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• Eight ayes, zero nays, the motion prevails. The Chair lays out House Bill 2018 as pending business.
• There being eight ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails. Thank you, members.

Bills: HB1397, HB1886, HB3088, HB4187, HB4229, HB4230, HB5032, HCR6, HCR34, HCR50, HCR55, HCR58, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR74, HCR75, HCR80, HCR86, HCR93, HCR100, HCR107, HCR116, HCR117, HCR6

Keywords: Texas Constitution, Declaration of Independence, victory or death letter, display, historic preservation, lifeguard requirements, public beaches, municipalities, county regulations, exemptions, Parks and Wildlife, procurement, goods and services, revenue generation, Texas legislature, historical preservation, Texas Historical Commission, fees, nonprofit organizations, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. Members, if you will be so kind as to stand.
• The motion to adopt the committee reports prevails.
• The motion prevailed.
• The motion prevails. The motion prevails. Members, I am now going to Senator Housley.
• </c> those opposed say no the motion prevails those opposed say no the motion prevails and<01:11:34.199

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you look at, um, what DEED represents as pay, that is, uh, important for livable wage jobs: $23
• And if you look at, um, what DEED represents as pay, that is, uh, important for livable wage jobs: $23
• And if you look at, um, what DEED represents as pay, that is, uh, important for livable wage jobs: $23
• And if you look at, um, what DEED represents as pay, that is, uh, important for livable wage jobs: $23
• </c> candidate to attract these high wage candidate to attract these high wage jobs<00:15:45.839><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Apologies and south of at FSU, the first category in the largest category, our wages and benefits which
• And these will be wages that are paid to sour import ploy ease part-time or temporary employees.
• That's 605 million in wage increases for the poor system represents an increase of 38%.
• I'm curious just around specific cost drivers across the board related to either wages or benefits or
• But we know the median wages actually $50,000.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing no objection, The motions prevail.
• The motion prevails. Representative Niska [member_13400], I move that the House do now adjourn.
• The motion prevails, and the House stands adjourned. adjourned until 11 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one is wage growth. We got some feedback here as well. We have some numbers to work with.
• Being wage growth for that occupation year on year or not. 2% is there for now, but we're going to work
• on getting that correct percentage number tied up with some other parameters, so it's not just wage
• And we'll also show some other things in the columns like the year-on-year growth and the wages.
• And next slide. the year-on-year growth and the wages.

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The meeting opened with routine business: confirmation of Open Meetings Act compliance, roll call, approval of the prior minutes, and no public comment. The main presentation was a detailed update on OK WIRE and a new workforce-gap validation model. Staff described moving from a simple job-posting approach to a four-factor method using wage growth, time-to-fill, occupation growth relative to the state average, and the ratio of postings to existing jobs. Examples were given for registered nurses, industrial occupations, software developers, and accountants to show how the model would identify validated workforce shortages or areas needing only monitoring. The team said the new dashboard would be added to the existing OK WIRE system, include links to training programs, and be completed by the end of August without additional cost under the current vendor contract. An agency report followed, covering the work of 929 Strategies on a 30-60-90 day plan, office relocation, contract terminations, grant administration, and budget cleanup. Staff said they had moved out of Film Row, were temporarily in Denver Davidson, and would move into permanent space in the Jim Thorpe building in October. They also discussed the rapid response grant, ARPA grant spending, and a planned data tool to support layoffs response and rural health workforce planning, including work with the Healthcare Workforce Training Commission and health partners. The board then voted to enter executive session under the cited Oklahoma statutes to discuss employee evaluations, possible salary increases, and confidential legal/operational matters. After returning, the board thanked staff for their budget work, decided not to hold the July 9 meeting, and adjourned, planning to resume discussion at the August meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those who are renting, they are finding that the rent goes up every year while their wages remain
• For those who are renting, they are finding that the rent goes up every year while their wages remain
• Non-wage income being a great euphemism for money that rich people make.
• You know who doesn't make a lot of non-wage income?
• </c> doesn't make a lot of non-wage income? doesn't make a lot of non-wage income?

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House DFL leaders held a press event outlining an affordability agenda focused on housing, child care, health care, groceries, energy, and taxes. Speakers argued that Minnesota families are being squeezed by rising costs and income inequality, and said the caucus would pursue policies aimed at lowering everyday expenses and shifting more costs onto corporations and wealthy residents. Representative Bierman said health care costs are pushing people to skip care and called for system reforms, including moving toward a more universal model and reducing the role of insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. Representative Kotiza-Wazhushk said the caucus is pushing for universal or low-cost child care, expanded pre-K and community-based care, and a bill to stop grocery surveillance price gouging. Representative Acomb and other energy leaders said the House DFL wants to lower utility bills through more energy assistance, weatherization, renewable energy support, limits on utility cost recovery for lobbying and executive pay, and stronger PUC authority to prevent shutoffs and limit rate increases. Representative Agbaje described housing as unaffordable for many renters and homeowners, cited a shortage of housing units, and said the caucus supports restricting private equity and corporate purchases of single-family homes. Leader Stevenson framed the agenda as a response to a budget picture that he said reflects gains for corporations and wealthy Minnesotans, and he criticized federal tax policy and Medicaid cuts. In response to questions about cost, he said several proposals would not require state spending, while others could be funded by looking at new revenue and at those who benefited most from recent tax changes. The event also included a detailed explanation of the grocery surveillance pricing proposal, which would restrict the use of personal data and AI to set individualized prices and limit rapid electronic shelf price changes. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is basically eligible for high-skill sectors or occupations, high-wage sectors or occupations, or
• And then when we go on to page three and you get into the meat of the bill, who established a high-wage
• It seems kind of low if you're wanting to shoot for high-wage jobs.
• So can you clarify on the piece where it talks about the high wage industry sector, high wage industry
• anything in this bill, or that you see coming, that impacts, I guess we’ll say, high-skill, lower-wage

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2510, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeier, which would create a coordinated state framework for critical minerals involving the Departments of Natural Resources, Economic Development, and Higher Education and Workforce Development. The sponsor said Missouri is well positioned because it contains 36 of 60 minerals deemed critical to national security and manufacturing, and argued the bill would help Missouri pursue federal funding, build a workforce pipeline, and support advanced manufacturing with a five-year sunset. Committee members questioned the need for a new state structure and fund, the cost to Missouri, the role of universities, and whether the task force was too narrowly written around the University of Missouri system and mistakenly included DESE instead of higher education. A Missouri Chamber witness supported the bill for its economic and national security benefits, while an environmental witness urged adding an environmental professional to the task force and a mining permitting framework, citing health and water concerns and suggesting a separate mining-regulation bill as an amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 2585, sponsored by Rep. Castile, which updates Missouri workforce development statutes to align with federal law and implement the new Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor said the bill would allow short-term, high-value training programs in fields like welding, public safety academies, health technology, and trucking to qualify for Pell support, while preserving oversight and tying eligibility to outcomes such as completion, job placement, and earnings. Members asked about the number and makeup of the workforce board, whether the bill’s staffing references still pointed to the wrong department, how the 150% poverty-level threshold and reporting metrics would work, and whether the board could move quickly enough to meet federal timelines. A Missouri Community College Association witness said all 12 community colleges have programs likely to qualify and explained the federal eligibility standards, including a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and three-year rolling data review; a FGA Action witness and the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as a way to expand access to skills training and draw down federal funds. After the bill hearings, the committee received an informational presentation from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. The presenter described the compact’s regional cost-saving work, including reciprocity for distance education, technology contracts, grants, and efforts on dual credit and FAFSA support. She also shared Missouri-specific data on educational attainment, enrollment trends, student migration, and net price, noting that Missouri lags slightly behind the U.S. in attainment, has projected declines in high school graduates, retains most in-state students, and has higher net prices for low-income students than the Midwest average. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 124, an act relating to a living wage. Representative Brown.
• House Bill 124, an act relating to a living wage. Representative Brown.
• House Bill 210, an act related to wage transparency. Representative Karnney.
• </c><00:43:06.800><c> Representative</c> to certified living wage.
• </c> related to wage transparency. related to wage transparency.

Keywords: Video Starts 00:00 Convene 01:02 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 07:51 Stand at Ease 11:46 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 26:33 Adjournment 46:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wage disparities persist. But our laws are only as strong as their enforcement.
• Wage disparities persist.
• Wage disparities persist. But our laws are only as strong as their enforcement.
• Wage disparities persist.
• It is a critical step toward ending persistent wage disparities and delivering real pay Yeah.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there is a combination of jobs, wages there is a combination of jobs, wages and<00:09:20.160><c>
• </c> to meet minimum job and wage to meet minimum job and wage requirements.<00:10:03.680><c> And</c>
• wage, but actual escalating wages.
• wage, but actual escalating wages.
• Wages for all employees.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:04 Economic Development Projects Funding 00:01:25 Blue Oval SK 00:05:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to hear a recap of the 2021 special session legislation, Senate Bill 5, and then receive testimony from the Secretary of Economic Development on the Blue Oval SK project and related economic development issues. Staff explained that Senate Bill 5 appropriated five amounts from the budget reserve trust fund for a project tied to a minimum $2 billion investment: $350 million for forgivable loans through the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, $10,639,600 to pay off a Hardin County loan tied to 47 tracts of property, $20 million for Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training grants, $5 million for KCTCS training grants, and $25 million for a KCTCS on-site training center. Staff also noted there were no job-related requirements in the bill itself. The secretary said the Blue Oval SK incentive was structured as a $250 million forgivable loan rather than the state’s usual pay-as-you-go incentives, with clawback provisions tied to jobs, wages, investment, and changes in ownership or operations. He said the project had already exceeded the $2 billion investment threshold, that corporate guarantees were required from SK On and Ford, and that the agreement’s compliance period begins in December 2026 with payments starting in March 2027 and running through 2038. He said the state’s goal after the joint venture dissolution was to protect taxpayers, support affected workers, and preserve future job creation, while also ensuring the money would be repaid if performance targets are not met. Members asked about the workforce impact, the training programs, and whether the jobs targets would be revised. The secretary said the project had about 1,850 workers at the site, with both production and salaried employees affected, and described state-led job fairs, a job portal, and other rapid-response efforts to help displaced workers find new jobs or training. He said Ford had agreed to continue discussions, invest an additional $2 billion in the site for energy storage solutions, and pursue roughly 2,100 new jobs, while the state sought to keep the company accountable for the full repayment obligation if jobs are not created. One senator raised broader concerns about mega-projects displacing small businesses and creating infrastructure burdens in surrounding communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• members, Senate Bill 1039 adds loss of earnings to the list of recoverable expenses for attorneys who prevail
• in an attorney disciplinary matter and allows the prevailing attorney to file a claim against the State
• members, Senate Bill 1039 adds loss of earnings to the list of recoverable expenses for attorneys who prevail
• in an attorney disciplinary matter and allows the prevailing attorney to file a claim against the State

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of third-read consent bills across multiple committees, with staff giving brief descriptions and members asking only occasional clarifying questions. Topics included claims against the state, CPA certification, creditor assignments, insurance adjuster licensing, school equivalency instruction, extending a credit enhancement board, firearm safety instruction in schools, student eligibility for school activities, Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction, release-time courses, voter registration roll access, campaign filing addresses, federal land designations, public records review standards, workers’ compensation burial benefits, first responder death benefits, veterans’ flags in HOA communities, restrictions on sexually explicit material for minors, agency guidance posting, standardized state hiring, mental health court procedures, autopsy supervision, tribal child welfare MOUs, controlled substance scheduling, EMT privacy, guardian notification in court-ordered treatment, dense breast tissue notice repeal, referral agency background checks and insurance, attorney disciplinary recoveries, fentanyl penalties, campus firearms rules, suppressors, defamation standards, mandatory reporting of child abuse, attorney licensing authority, municipal penalties tied to emergency calls, forcible detainer procedures, utility-worker assault enhancements, water basin reporting, small modular nuclear reactor siting, groundwater recovery assumptions, ICE notification after arrests, a military-police-to-peace-officer pathway, and scholarship tax credits. Most bills were simply presented as consent items, with no major debate or votes recorded in the transcript. A few measures drew brief discussion. On SB 1040, members clarified that the voter-registration portal would redact personal identifying information such as voter registration numbers, ID numbers, and Social Security numbers. SB 1193 prompted comments that emergency medical technician data being open source was surprising and that the issue might be expanded to paramedics. SB 1243 was described as a guardian-rights bill to streamline notice in court-ordered treatment. SB 1318 was characterized as a cleanup measure aligning dense-breast-tissue notice requirements with federal law. SB 1477, dealing with referral agencies for assisted living and home care, was noted as having passed committee unanimously. The most substantive exchanges came on SB 1148 and SB 1418. For SB 1148, members discussed shifting attorney licensing responsibility more directly to the Arizona Supreme Court rather than the State Bar, with staff explaining that the court already oversees licensing but currently delegates some functions to the Bar. On SB 1418, which limits county regulation of small modular nuclear reactors in certain circumstances, a member objected that it would reduce local control and said they would likely oppose it on the floor. H.C.M. 2009 was also presented, asking Congress to amend the Antiquities Act, compensate states for subsurface minerals, and streamline mining permits; the sponsor tied it to Arizona’s mining history and land-swap interests. The caucus ended after SB 1142, with no recorded votes or formal actions beyond the bills being discussed as third-read consent items.

Transcript Highlights:

• There being eight votes in favor and six votes against, the motion prevails, and the calendar is adopted
• :08:10.879><c> against</c><00:08:11.319><c> the</c><00:08:11.440><c> motion</c><00:08:11.840><c> prevails
• </c> six votes against the motion prevails six votes against the motion prevails and<00:08:12.400><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• train or upskill an eligible employee who obtains an upskill credential and receives a qualifying wage
• The bill defines qualifying wage increase as a new wage paid to an eligible employee after receiving
• an upskill credential that is at least 25% greater than the employee's average gross weekly wage for
• the six calendar months preceding training and above the weekly wage in West Virginia as determined by
• the division is satisfied that the employee has obtained the upskill credential and the employee's wage

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up several House bills with strike-and-insert amendments. House Bill 5510 was amended to incorporate provisions from Senate Bills 1065 and 928, modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and adding rules for low-proof spirit alcohol products, including a $1.25 per gallon tax; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 5453 on school funding. After discussion of a proposed block-grant system and supplemental aid for special education, the committee adopted an amendment replacing much of the bill with weighted funding for level two and level three special education students, exempting those funds from block grant rules and limiting their use to direct instruction. The committee also adopted a clarification to extend the special education funding to charter school students and reported the amended bill to the Senate. House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year technology licensing contracts for local fiscal bodies and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers, was amended to clarify contract language, delay implementation dates, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate; it was then reported. The committee next amended and reported House Bill 4006, which creates aerospace development and workforce grant programs, changing the funding mechanism to use Department of Commerce reporting and personal income tax proceeds rather than direct employee withholdings. It also took up House Bill 4009, combining voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors with microcredentialing and an expanded apprenticeship tax credit, adopted the Finance Committee amendment, and reported it. Finally, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program was amended to raise the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000 while keeping the $10,000 per-employee limit, and the committee reported the bill. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• and you have to tell them to wait two weeks, you're going to lose that employee, especially at the wage
• and you have to tell them to wait two weeks, you're going to lose that employee, especially at the wage
• So you alluded to the wage, and the wage is low for our health care or our child care providers.
• To the wage, and the wage is low for our health care providers, which is one reason why it's so hard
• To the wage, and the wage is low for our health care providers, which is one reason why it's so hard

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met and first took up HB 47, Child Care and Early Learning Providers, sponsored by Rep. McFarland. The bill was presented as an effort to reduce child care costs and regulatory burdens by exempting preschools from special tax assessments, moving teacher training and testing online and making it free, allowing abbreviated inspections for top providers, extending license-exempt status to employer-provided child care, and addressing an insurance issue affecting family child care homes. Members asked about DCF transparency, accreditation, background screening timelines, accountability for exempt facilities, and whether violations would still be searchable; McFarland said accreditation would still be required, DCF reporting and abuse hotlines would remain available, and the bill would not eliminate existing transparency for licensed providers. An amendment was adopted to add clarifying language and exempt certain DOD and Coast Guard child care facilities operated by DOD personnel. Several witnesses and members spoke in support, emphasizing workforce needs, affordability, and safety. HB 47 was reported favorably by a vote of 18-0. The committee then heard HB 259, which designates August 21 as Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day. Rep. Gerwig said the bill is intended to raise awareness of fentanyl’s dangers and overdose risks. Members spoke in strong support, citing fentanyl’s impact on families, youth, and first responders, and the need for education because fentanyl is often unknowingly ingested or mixed into other drugs. Gerwig also described a personal example involving a child exposed to fentanyl in a vacation rental. HB 259 was reported favorably by a vote of 17-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Statewide, wages and benefits make up 75 to 80% of a school district's budget.
• Statewide, wages and benefits make up 75 to 80% of a school district's budget.
• Statewide, wages and benefits make up 75 to 80% of a school district's budget.
• Um what's the definition wage and stuff.
• </c> regions that will be used and the wage regions that will be used and the wage is<00:36:05.599><c

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• And then most of these jobs are in low-wage industries. Or in jobs that pay low wages.
• restaurants, you know, in the education system, in healthcare, but are often in the kind of lowest wage
• Jobs that pay competitive living wages, have stability, and have the opportunity for growth even within
• We do it by investing in training programs so residents can compete for in-demand, higher-wage jobs.
• Upscaling existing employees so that they can gain certifications and be promoted and earn higher wages

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we pay disability or when we pay wage loss payments, that is based upon your insured wages from
• That average weekly wage then forms your wage loss Benefit, which is paid out as long as you were unable
• Whichever is higher, using those to compute your lost wages within the system, the average weekly wage
• They would have a base rate of $30,000 wage, which we would use to calculate average weekly wages, which
• Wages and benefits, and this is by service type, if you will, but notice that wages and benefits appear

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from the prior meeting were approved. The first major presentation came from Montana Public Employees Retirement System executive director William Hollahan, who gave an overview of Montana’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act plan. He explained that the plan covers volunteer firefighters in unincorporated areas, is funded by 5% of state fire insurance premium taxes, and currently serves 228 departments with about 2,936 active members and 1,242 retirees. He described eligibility rules, annual training and reporting requirements, benefit levels for partial and full pensions, disability, death, medical, and funeral benefits, and said the plan is actuarially sound with roughly $60 million in assets and a funded ratio slightly above 100%. Committee members asked about prior-service credit, whether EMS personnel are included, the effect on recruitment and retention, and whether expanding coverage would require a funding analysis; Hollahan said prior service is not credited, EMS is not currently included, and any expansion would need financial review. Tim Walleen of Workforce Safety and Insurance then presented a draft North Dakota workers’ compensation solution for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. He explained that volunteer responders are already covered by workers’ comp for medical and wage-loss benefits, but the proposal would set a minimum annual wage of $30,000 for calculating wage-loss benefits for qualifying volunteers, with the benefit paid at two-thirds of that amount. Representative Porter suggested tying the volunteer definition to existing code rather than a fixed dollar amount, and Walleen agreed. Questions focused on whether search and rescue or other volunteer emergency services could be included, whether departments would face new paperwork, and whether volunteer organizations can already elect coverage; Walleen said there would be no additional paperwork and that volunteer coverage is already available. The committee also heard from volunteer fire service representatives and the state fire marshal. An Oakes-area firefighter, Mr. Olson, testified that small departments are struggling with retention, communication, and administrative burdens, especially around separate bookkeeping and funding rules for donated or fundraising money, and he said departments need clearer guidance from the state. State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark introduced himself and outlined a broader effort to improve education, support, and coordination for fire departments, including a planned 10% audit of certificates of existence beginning in 2027, more outreach through his office, and better assistance with training, reporting, and grant access. He said his office is authorized under current law to provide these services, but the role has been vague and underused. Finally, Arnagard Rural Fire District Chief Rick Schreiber testified in favor of new recruitment and retention ideas, including retirement-style benefits, health insurance, tax incentives, scholarships, grants, and more remote or regional training. He said volunteer departments are losing members, that local tax and donation funds are already stretched, and that any new retirement or incentive program should be sustainable and likely involve a mix of state and local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you Senator Wesland prevails.
• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails. Other I. Opposed. Motion prevails. Other amendments.
• </c> Motion does not prevail.
• So, the motion does prevail.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all