Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I would also, I'm curious if maybe you can expand from your perspective on the Department of Labor
• c><00:50:52.079> of perspective on on the Department of perspective on on the Department of Labor
• :50:53.280> what<00:50:53.520> you<00:50:53.680> want<00:50:53.760> to Labor
• and Industry and what you want to Labor and Industry and what you want to see<00:50:54.240> from<
• . um just wanting to kind of put laborers. um just wanting to kind of put together<01:04:35.680> a

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then reviewed the structure and statutory requirements for its final report. Staff explained that the report must go to the commissioners of commerce, housing finance, and economic development, as well as relevant legislative leaders, and must include a summary of task force activities, adopted findings and recommendations, tort reform recommendations to reduce insurance costs, any draft legislation, and other necessary information. A draft report, likely excluding recommendations and draft legislation, is expected to be circulated before the first January meeting. Most of the meeting focused on the Fair Plan and whether it could be expanded to help homeowners associations, affordable housing, and common interest communities that are struggling to obtain coverage. Supporters said these groups are facing availability problems and often end up in the surplus lines market, which lacks the consumer protections of the admitted market. They argued the Fair Plan could serve as a third-market option with stronger protections and better access, especially for properties that are having difficulty getting quotes. Several members and witnesses raised concerns that the Fair Plan was never intended to be a broad affordability solution and warned against using it to artificially lower prices below risk-based levels. They said doing so could shift losses onto other policyholders through assessments and potentially weaken the broader insurance market. The Fair Plan administrator explained that any expansion would require substantial research, staffing, actuarial and underwriting expertise, reinsurance planning, IT changes, and likely assessments or other capitalization decisions, and that the plan would need to focus on a limited subset of properties rather than the entire market. No votes were taken on policy recommendations, and the discussion ended with agreement that more information and scoping work are needed before any formal recommendation is made.

Transcript Highlights:

• But labor force is an ongoing issue.
• But labor force is an ongoing issue.
• But labor force is an ongoing issue.
• But labor force is an ongoing issue.
• But labor force is an ongoing issue.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, this bill maintains high labor standards, including prevailing wage, and also incorporates
• Our members include developers, architects, attorneys, and labor partners who help build housing across
• Assemblywoman Wix Select Committee that factory-built housing has the potential to reduce hard costs, labor
• Equipment and labor are on job sites... ...states.
• Equipment and labor are on job sites longer, and loans are taken out for a longer term and so on.

Summary: The committee heard a long housing agenda with several bills presented before quorum was established. AB 1725, as amended, would require disclosure of nearby oil wells and methane monitoring issues in a specific district; the author and community witnesses described serious health and safety risks in Vista Hermosa Heights, while the California Apartment Association, California Building Industry Association, and California Chamber of Commerce opposed, arguing the bill targeted the wrong industry and that the state should instead fix abandoned wells directly. AB 2110, a local finance tool to create tax increment districts for workforce housing for education, health care, manufacturing, and public safety workers, drew no witnesses in support or opposition and was presented as a way to help workers live closer to jobs. AB 1732 would expand CEQA streamlining for public university and college housing projects; UC and several housing and labor groups supported it, while housing advocates raised concerns about amendments affecting existing 100% affordable housing exemptions. AB 1771, amended into a study bill, would direct HCD to report on the long-standing resident manager requirement for apartment buildings with 16 or more units; the rental housing industry supported studying the issue, while the chair emphasized the need to consider tenant protections and the impact on current resident managers before changing the law. The committee also heard AB 2185, which would direct state affordable housing programs to update guidelines to better support factory-built housing; it drew broad support from housing, labor, technology, and local government groups, with no opposition. AB 2748 would delay new EV-readiness requirements for 100% affordable housing developments, keeping the prior 40% standard through 2035; supporters said the higher standard would add significant costs and threaten project feasibility, while clean air and transportation advocates argued the code changes are modest, important for equity, and should not be rolled back. Members split along those lines, with some emphasizing housing production and others urging more public subsidy for EV infrastructure rather than delaying the code. SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the November ballot, received extensive support from housing organizations, local governments, labor, and business groups, but Habitat for Humanity and the Los Angeles mayor’s office asked for specific allocations for CalHome and interim housing; the bill was ultimately moved to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, with members noting ongoing negotiations over funding priorities. Finally, AB 1740 would create an urban multimodal community designation for Santa Monica, allowing local approval of certain low-impact coastal-zone activities—such as some housing, bike and bus lanes, outdoor dining, and building changes—without Coastal Commission review. The author and Santa Monica officials said the bill would reduce delays and uncertainty for infill housing and local economic recovery while preserving protections for sensitive coastal resources; supporters included housing, business, and city groups. The Coastal Commission and environmental organizations opposed, saying the bill would carve out broad exemptions, weaken public access and appeal rights, and bypass the local coastal program process that Santa Monica has not completed. Committee members debated the Commission’s role, with some criticizing it for opposing legislation and others arguing the bill was a common-sense way to modernize coastal permitting. A motion and second were made on AB 1740, and the bill was left pending with the committee’s action to be taken when appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's post-COVID expenses is you've got, you know, buses are a lot more expensive than they were, labor
• that's post-COVID expenses is you've got, you know, buses are a lot more expensive than they were, labor
• that's post-COVID expenses is you've got, you know, buses are a lot more expensive than they were, labor
• We also collect for executive agencies in state government, like the Labor Cabinet. >> Any executive
• like the labor cabinet like uh<00:47:57.200> who<00:47:57.359> else uh who else uh who

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 History of SEEK 00:02:15 Summary of On-Behalf Payments 00:12:40 Discussion on Collection of University Debt Department of Revenue 00:32:40 Northern Kentucky University 00:57:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the September 17 meeting, and heard a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education staff on SEEK school funding and KDE on-behalf payments. KDE explained recent SEEK changes, including the guaranteed base per-pupil amount, attendance-based calculations, second-month and January growth, the 2022 change funding kindergarten at 100% instead of 50%, and the existing add-ons for at-risk students, exceptional children, limited English learners, home/hospital instruction, and transportation. Staff also reviewed tier one funding, noting the 2024 increase from 15% to 17.5% and explaining that eligibility depends on local tax effort and property wealth. They also described Senate Bill 6 from the 2025 session as a reporting proposal to include on-behalf costs in education spending totals. KDE staff then outlined on-behalf payments made for districts, including roughly $458 million for Teachers Retirement System contributions, $942 million for health insurance, about $12 million for technology costs, and additional SFCC debt service outside KDE’s appropriation, for a total of about $1.5 billion. Members asked how a future Senate Bill 6 would affect local contributions and whether folding on-behalf payments into SEEK would shift costs among districts. KDE and Senator Gibbons clarified that the bill was intended only as a reporting mechanism and would not change local contribution or district payments; it would simply present a broader total of state education investment. The discussion also noted that Kentucky’s reported SEEK amount alone does not capture all state education spending. Members raised questions about home and hospital instruction data, saying local concerns suggest growth in some communities even if statewide numbers appear stable. KDE said the statewide figure has been relatively consistent but offered to provide district-level trend data. Co-Chair Petrie also asked about the accuracy of SEEK projections and on-behalf calculations, referencing prior concerns from the Office of Education Accountability. KDE responded that it works with the state budget director’s office in a consensus forecasting process and has been reviewing demographic and property-assessment data, including exceptional child counts, to improve forecast accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of these really serious cases might involve labor trafficking or some other violent crimes as well
• Do you wait for, um, you know, someone like DLI, the Department of Labor and Industry, or DED, which
• Do you wait for, um, you know, someone like DLI, the Department of Labor and Industry, or DED, which
• Do you wait for, um, you know, someone like DLI, the Department of Labor and Industry, or DED, which
• and Industry or DED, which I Labor and Industry or DED, which I believe<01:02:12.480> also<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It also comes with thousands and tens of thousands of construction jobs that are men and women labor
• <00:05:00.120> help labor help labor help build<00:05:02.120> nuclear<00:05:02.560>
• You've heard from labor groups and are represented understanding that jobs in the nuclear energy sector
• You've heard from labor groups and are represented, understanding that jobs in the nuclear energy sector
• You've heard from labor groups and are represented, understanding that jobs in the nuclear energy sector

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• driving force and factor of increased costs of the plan, impacting materials, construction. design, and labor
• As I understand, there's certain requirements. the labor code that we have to, uh, in statute, that,
• So one of the things we at state agencies is required to do is comply with Texas labor code.
• But we do that per. that labor code.
• Granted, in reality, that would take time with respect to labor constraints, supply constraints.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Calling the 110 calendar of the joint session of Health, Human Services, and Labor and Technology.
• Although we normally come and testify on construction and labor issues, this issue is very important
• <00:30:13.240> issues testify on construction and labor issues testify on construction and
• For SB 1043, sorry, Chair, for Labor and Technology, same recommendation.
• Oh, sorry, Labor and Technology same recommendations. Any questions or concerns? Seeing none.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health, Human Services, and Labor and Technology committee heard testimony on SB 447, a Department of Health pilot program related to recruitment, and SB 1043, a tax measure. On SB 447, the Department of Health said the pilot had streamlined hiring by delaying minimum-qualification review until later in the process, while the Department of Human Resources Development objected that parts of the bill could conflict with civil service rules, due process rights, and equal pay requirements. Several labor and employee groups testified, with some supporting the pilot as a way to address vacancies and others warning about merit-system concerns. The committee later voted to pass SB 447 as is. On SB 1043, testimony was mixed but largely focused on the bill’s tax changes, especially the proposed increase to the general excise tax and exemptions or credits for lower-income households. Supporters, including labor groups and housing/worker advocates, argued the bill would reduce burdens on working families, help with food insecurity, and keep residents in Hawaiʻi. Opponents, including the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi and some community witnesses, said the general excise tax is regressive and would raise costs across the state. The committee voted to advance SB 1043 with substantial amendments, deleting most of the bill except section two and setting a far-future effective date, while noting the fiscal impact had not been provided. The committee also deferred SB 633 and later deferred SB 1633 for further decision-making, scheduling continued consideration for February 12, 2025, in Room 225. The hearing included standard instructions on one-minute testimony, written testimony, and Zoom procedures, and the committee adjourned after taking the above actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• particular at the Department of Labor particular at the Department of Labor and<01:33:00.159>
• Organized retail and chain and labor.
• <01:42:38.560> and enforcement, prosecutors, labor and enforcement, prosecutors, labor and
• We have a strong coalition of business, labor, and groups all along the supply chain.
• We have a strong coalition of business, labor, and groups all along the supply chain.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So after the state's share, we're responsible for half of the total labor cost increases.
• So after the state's share, we're responsible for half of the total labor cost increases.
• We're just trying to keep what does labor costs expect to move to 2, 2.5 percent.
• Obviously, labor costs are incredibly a driver of all of this.
• But I'm sorry, that's what I was asking, but your labor costs are still... A driver of all of this.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We heard from a number of folks who are supportive of this bill, including labor organizations who have
• We heard from a number of folks who are supportive of this bill, including labor organizations who have
• We heard from a number of folks who are supportive of this bill, including labor organizations who have
• All those in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> All those opposed, no. labor organizations who uh have
• workers labor organizations who uh have workers who<02:41:04.960> are<02:41:05.120> in

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, a couple of places in here when we're looking at and gathering information, the Department of Labor
• And I would propose, I think the folks at the Department of Labor have a lot to bring to the table, but
• is cited as uh the Department of Labor is cited as uh necessary<01:27:16.719> to<01:27:16.960
• have a lot to bring Department of Labor have a lot to bring to<01:27:23.199> the<01:27:23.360
• is cited as necessary to be included there, and suggested that the labor market relations bureau might

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of projected job growth in this forecast reflects the changing demographics of the U.S. potential labor
• demographics of the US potential labor force<00:12:28.079> caused<00:12:28.399> by<00:
• and commerce departments, including data on employment and labor, GDP and national income accounts,
• <00:14:38.720> market<00:14:39.040> conditions, inflation and labor market conditions
• , inflation and labor market conditions, making<00:14:40.240> it<00:14:40.480> more<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:07.560> and there's um directors of Labor and there's um directors of Labor and Delivery
• pain medication and, you know, dosages and timing and stuff of powerful opioid medications during labor
• 00:48:32.440> manage<00:48:32.960> pain<00:48:33.359> during<00:48:33.720> labor
• <00:48:34.440> for<00:48:34.800> a to manage pain during labor for a to manage pain
• during labor for a patient<00:48:35.280> who<00:48:35.480> has<00:48:35.640> an

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 28 for a Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting, approved the draft minutes from February 21, and then received updates from DHHS on the sudden termination of about $80 million in federal COVID-era funding. Commissioner Lori Weaver and Trisha Tilly said the funding had been expected to continue through September 2026, but an email ending it immediately created a 15-month budget gap. They explained that most of the money supported public health work, especially epidemiology, laboratory capacity, data systems, community health workers, outbreak response, and some behavioral health supports. DHHS said it had notified contractors, was reassessing which activities could continue, and had managed to avoid layoffs for its 20 affected staff by shifting funding sources, though some contract lab staff had to leave and some work would stop or be put on hold. Senators and representatives asked about impacts on labs, staffing, and the state budget lapse, and DHHS said the water lab and testing supplies would be affected and that the department was trying to backfill where possible with other federal funds. The committee then heard a maternal mortality report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Alison Power and Caroline Naami explained that the MMRC reviews maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and make recommendations, and that it had completed one CDC grant and received another five years of funding. For 2023, the state recorded five pregnancy-associated deaths, including three from overdose, two from cardiovascular causes, and one homicide; the share of deaths related to substance use fell from 62.5% in 2022 to 40% in 2023. Over the 2019–2023 period, half of pregnancy-related deaths were due to overdose, most occurred postpartum, and many involved Medicaid recipients, transportation or financial barriers, and deaths at home. The committee said mental health and substance use remained the main drivers of maternal mortality, but that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths in the five-year aggregate were considered preventable. Presenters highlighted recommendations and ongoing interventions, including expanding Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum, strengthening behavioral health access, partnering with the Department of Corrections on care for pregnant and postpartum women, and continuing clinical education through the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network. Members asked why the maternal mortality rate had declined in recent years; staff said the 2021 spike was tied to the pandemic and that recent declines likely reflected both that spike and the impact of interventions, though the small number of cases makes trends hard to interpret. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the most challenging rural service lines is labor and delivery.
• But when it comes to labor and delivery, half of the moms or babies delivered or more may be covered
• One of the most challenging rural service lines is labor and delivery.
• But when it comes to labor and delivery, half of the moms or babies delivered or more may be covered
• But when it comes to labor and delivery, half of the moms or babies delivered or more may be covered

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• course, there are many factors that contribute to the cost of a new home: land, building materials, labor
• and<00:15:47.040> Industry<00:15:47.920> uh<00:15:48.000> we Department of Labor
• and Industry uh we Department of Labor and Industry uh we have<00:15:48.240> a<00:15:48.440><
• When you look at wage stagnation, availability of workforce, and the cost of labor and materials, those
• and materials um those things are Labor and materials um those things are hard<01:30:27.639> to

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard testimony from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on housing supply, affordability, and land-use policy. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state is chronically undersupplied by roughly 100,000 units, that the median new single-family home price has risen above $530,000, and that only about 27% of Twin Cities households can now afford a new home. He argued that regulatory and local approval processes, especially planned unit developments and aesthetic mandates, add significant cost and reduce the number of homes built, and he urged the committee to remove exclusionary barriers and modernize residential development approvals. Members questioned Foster about zoning, aesthetic requirements, and homeowners associations. He said most new housing in growing metro communities is negotiated through PUDs, which he described as increasing costs and limiting supply, and gave examples such as stone exterior requirements adding thousands of dollars to a home. He also said HOAs can be useful in some cases but are often imposed when not needed. Several legislators responded positively to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work, including transitional housing and veteran housing projects. Elizabeth Wefel of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said cities outside the metro also face a housing shortage, but their challenges differ: market failure, inadequate sewer and water infrastructure, and gaps in starter, workforce, and senior housing. She said many Greater Minnesota cities are already updating zoning, reducing lot sizes, allowing more density and ADUs, and investing local money, land, and partnerships to spur development. She asked the legislature to speed up rollout of housing funds, support infrastructure and workforce programs, and adjust housing tax credit and TIF rules, while warning against one-size-fits-all preemption of local zoning authority. Members discussed the need for tailored solutions and the differences between metro and Greater Minnesota housing markets.

Transcript Highlights:

• your low- and moderate-income, your median average salaries, all those things are in any Bureau of Labor
• your low- and moderate-income, your median average salaries, all those things are in any Bureau of Labor
• your low- and moderate-income, your median average salaries, all those things are in any Bureau of Labor
• your low- and moderate-income, your median average salaries, all those things are in any Bureau of Labor
• your low- and moderate-income, your median average salaries, all those things are in any Bureau of Labor

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Danielle is representing the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
• I'm the Deputy Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
• Department of Labor um she's asked<01:05:05.720> for<01:05:05.920> less<01:05:06.079><
• <01:05:32.279> statutes which fall underneath the labor statutes which fall underneath the
• Again, I'm Representative Kraton from the Labor Committee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• think that's one point is that, you know, we continue to see restriction or downward pressure on the labor
• I mean, I think, you know, even in the best of circumstances, we had a tough labor market.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the November 2025 minutes. Commissioner Charlie Carr then introduced Leslie Darcy, chief of LTSS at MassHealth, who provided an update on the PCA working group and on federal and state budget pressures affecting MassHealth and long-term services and supports. Darcy said the PCA working group had completed its work and submitted recommendations, including reinstating the 66-hour overtime cap, strengthening program integrity, and ending paid paperwork time for EVV users; she said those changes were implemented on 11/26 and were expected to save $7.4 million. She also described additional consensus recommendations to lower the overtime cap from 66 to 60 hours, create a seven-hour weekly meal-prep support limit, and continue exploring benchmarks, though the group could not reach consensus on a benchmark standard. Darcy warned that a federal bill enacted about six months earlier would significantly affect MassHealth, with an estimated $3.5 billion loss to the Commonwealth by 2028. She outlined upcoming changes including revised immigrant eligibility rules in October 2026, work requirements for certain non-disabled adults beginning in January 2027, six-month redeterminations for some adults, and shorter retroactive coverage periods. In response to questions, she said people with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries would be exempt from the work and six-month redetermination requirements. She also explained that reduced federal ACA subsidies were being offset in Massachusetts by state spending, including $250 million in additional state support to keep premiums lower for middle-income families. Members raised concerns about community hospitals, the health safety net, and the impact of federal funding changes on provider rates and uncompensated care. Darcy said restrictions on provider taxes would limit MassHealth’s ability to use those revenues to support rates, and she noted a current $300 million shortfall in the health safety net. She said FY27 would likely include a rate freeze, targeted reductions, one-time budget measures, and further work groups to examine programs such as adult foster care, which she said had grown 40% in two years. Carr emphasized that the situation was serious but potentially fluid, and the meeting ended with no further business; the subcommittee agreed to adjourn before the next meeting and noted an upcoming February presentation from the Department of Public Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• state, with roots tracing back to the early 1900s when it existed as a camp shaped by resilience, labor
• And whereas the stories of the barrio reflect lived experiences of agricultural labor, including the

Keywords: 1182, all