Transcript Highlights:

• another one um I can overall um salary another one um I can start<01:35:13.520><c> saying</c><01:35:
• The amount of our grant, $200,000, doesn't even cover the salary of the executive director, and this
• executive the salary of the executive director<01:44:29.080><c> and</c><01:44:29.239><c> this</c><01
• </c><01:44:52.719><c> on</c> four to five people on their salary on four to five people on their salary
• of the top not even covering the salary of the top executive<01:47:13.800><c> of</c><01:47:13.960><c

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't have the ability to go and negotiate their own salary, their own benefits, their own working
• Many other bills continue to go up while our salaries can't keep up with inflation.
• With the assistance of the teacher salary increased allocation, Gaston has increased a salary by over
• We will continue to fight for salary increases for all of our teachers, as well as the best learning
• But the teacher salary allocation is only a part of any contract.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has gotten so complex that the civil service position just can't keep up with the salaries, and we
• up with the salaries and we do<00:45:10.079><c> know</c><00:45:10.280><c> that</c><00:45:10.440><c>
• You could have a way of increasing the salary if you have more responsibilities to the position, and
• You could have a way of increasing the salary if you have more responsibilities to the position, and
• You could have a way of increasing the salary if you have more responsibilities to the position, and

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Labor and Technology, Transportation, and Culture and the Arts heard testimony on Senate Bill 396 and Senate Bill 47, then later the Labor and Technology committee took up Senate Bill 136 and Senate Bill 1523. SB 396 drew support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and others, with a question raised about implementation costs; the director said costs would depend on the scope of the benefit package and the transportation mode involved. The committees recommended passing SB 396 with technical amendments and added appropriation language with a blank amount, and the motion was adopted by recorded votes in both committees. SB 47, which would designate the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, received support from the Office of Collective Bargaining and several individuals, including Charlene Chun, who spoke about family traditions and cultural recognition. Members asked about the cost and whether the day would be a paid day off for state employees; the response was that observance would be subject to collective bargaining. The committees moved SB 47 forward with amendments, noting the collective bargaining and cost issues, and adopted the recommendation by vote. In the Labor and Technology committee, SB 136 on the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund drew strong support from iron workers and related supporters, who argued the bill was about safety, training, and keeping dismantling work within the ironworkers’ trade. Several other unions, including operating engineers, carpenters, laborers, and plumbers and fitters, opposed the bill as too broad and potentially infringing on their jurisdiction. The measure was not decided in the portion provided, but members discussed possible amendments and jurisdictional concerns. SB 1523, which would expand private-sector collective bargaining rights under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and others under NLRB jurisdiction, received broad labor support, including from IATSE, AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Unite Here Local 5, and many individual testifiers. Supporters framed it as protecting workers’ rights and strengthening labor protections, while the Hawaii Labor Relations Board warned it could significantly increase workload and require more staffing, space, and operating resources; the board estimated the bill could expand its caseload substantially and suggested an appropriation would likely be needed. The committee then moved on to the next measure, SB 1440, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Combine this with drastic increases. to veterinary salaries, and we find ourselves at a disadvantage.
• TVMDL has had to increase starting salary offers by an average of 34 percent.
• This is causing salary inequities with our existing staff that must be addressed.
• The state increases to agency employee salaries in fiscal year 24-25 have greatly help to recruit and
• The 5,000 projects are everything from reimbursing local governments for their employees salaries or

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So your salary on your second income is not going to be...
• So your salary on your second income is not going to be entry level at any point.
• So your salary on your second income is not going to be entry level at any point.
• So your salary on your second income is not going to be entry level at any point.
• Because I'm going to tell you, with my wife, her teaching salary, which isn't great, I was a sales representative

Summary: The House Revenue and Finance Committee met to consider House Substitute 1 for House Bill 386, which would create a temporary Delaware income tax deduction for qualified tip income from tax years 2027 through 2029. The sponsor described it as relief for service workers in restaurants, salons, and similar tipped occupations, with a deduction of up to $15,000, income-based phaseouts, a refundable credit for lower-income workers, and a sunset for later review. Committee members raised questions about the resident/non-resident language, the fiscal note, and whether the Department of Finance could implement the change; Finance said the department could administer it and expected only modest administrative costs, while the Comptroller’s office said the bill would reduce general revenue. After a brief recess to review updated language, the committee took public comment, but no one testified. A motion to release the bill failed to receive enough votes, and the chair said she would walk it to seek additional signatures. The committee then considered Senate Bill 219, which would phase in an increase in the military pension income exemption from $12,500 to $25,000 by tax year 2029. The sponsor argued the measure would help attract and retain military retirees, citing economic return estimates, workforce benefits, and support from all 21 Senate co-sponsors. Some members supported the bill as a way to reward service and bring in long-term residents, while others questioned whether the exemption should be income-based rather than available to all military retirees, including those with substantial second careers. The Department of Finance said it could operationalize the bill and that the non-resident language was unnecessary because the subtraction is already picked up in the non-resident code section. Public testimony from veterans’ organizations strongly supported the bill, emphasizing that the exemption can influence retirement decisions and help veterans and their families stay in Delaware. A motion to release the bill also failed to get enough votes, and the chair said she would walk it for signatures before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am all curious, though, as when you look at the school district earned autonomy, it lists salary apportionment
• District earned autonomy lists salary apportionment. Can you explain?
• Does that just mean groups of salaries, or—I mean, you’re not going to go in and be adjusting individual
• salaries at this point, I wouldn’t assume?
• And then it goes on to say discretionary funding, categorical funding, salary apportionment, is trying

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their first year on the job, $218,000 is spent on their car, equipment, training, and first year salary
• what page, but that would be about a $14 million recurring increase if we stayed at that number for salaries
• The big three, OSB, OBN, and DPS, gather raise, and our agents are well below the salary of what they
• it's another increase of about $80,000, which gives us a total of $680,000 to appropriate for the salaries
• As I said, your packet has the salary surveys with some graphs and we surveyed.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go to the one-time funding items, temporary salaries.
• The one-time funding for temporary salaries.
• Let's go to the one-time funding items, temporary salaries.
• The one-time funding for temporary salaries. All right. Let's go to the second page, committee.
• The one-time funding for temporary salaries, again, we've agreed with that.

Bills: SB2003

Committee: House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that salaries or just cost for what is included in the 1.1? Mr.
• Representative Vigasa and I were wondering that restore the trooper costs, was that salaries or just
• Okay, so they could use this to hire, they could use it for salaries, they could use it for summertime
• know, you've studied these budgets for years, and in my experience here, we had three categories: salaries
• And so I don't know what his salary is.

Committee: House Appropriations - Government Operations Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2023 for the Racing Commission. Members confirmed the bill’s existing items, including the internships program and copier replacement, and then adopted an amendment based on the worksheet that moved those items to one-time funding. The committee then passed SB 2023 as amended, with the only noted differences from the Senate version being the one-time treatment of the $20,000 internship item and the copier replacement. Next, the committee considered House Bill 2011 for the Highway Patrol. Representative Pyle explained a series of verbal amendments that shifted several one-time and ongoing expenses from the general fund to the electronic permit fee fund, including body armor, preliminary breath test devices, handgun replacement, emergency vehicle operations course resurfacing, and related items, while also removing the shooting range ventilation project because it could be completed with existing funds. The committee also added a section allowing carryover authority for federal grant dollars tied to the in-car router system. After adopting the amendments, the committee passed HB 2011 as amended. The committee then discussed Senate Bill 2014 for the Industrial Commission, focusing on a proposed amendment by Representative Fisher that would direct additional percentages of North Dakota Mill net income to wheat breeding programs at NDSU’s main experiment station and branch research centers. Members asked about current funding, the size of the proposed transfers, and how the money would be used, with Fisher arguing the funds would support breeding, disease resistance, and related research. Several members said they wanted more information on existing funding and program costs before advancing the idea, so the committee held the amendment for further review and took no final action on the bill during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> greater</c> would also bring our budget into greater would also bring our budget into greater parity
• 17.000><c> those</c><01:10:17.199><c> of</c><01:10:17.320><c> the</c><01:10:17.440><c> Minnesota</c> parity
• with those of the Minnesota parity with those of the Minnesota Council<01:10:18.199><c> on</c><01:10

Bills: HF1867 , HF1240

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• salary to cover costs of backfilling the position or paying overtime while they are on leave.
• We paid employees' paychecks for 6 weeks at 60% of their salary.
• We paid employees' paychecks for 6 weeks at 60% of their salary.
• We paid employees' paychecks for 6 weeks at 60% of their salary.
• We paid employees' paychecks for 6 weeks at 60% of their salary.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What is increasing outside of salary benefits and cost of living?
• Can I— What is increasing outside of salary benefits and cost of living? Can I add? Sure.
• State salaries that's going up, they don't include anything for the county positions because they're
• There's been about a 30% increase in staffing costs just for salaries and benefits, which is greatly
• Due to increases in salary and benefits for the position managing the program.

Summary: The hearing began with an overview of the California Health and Human Services Agency, which described its 2026-27 budget, major departments, and strategic priorities, including behavioral health, housing and human services integration, children and youth, and aging/disability services. The agency also explained a technical CalHHS/CalHires budget adjustment tied to HR1 compliance and eligibility system work. No LAO concerns were raised on that item. The committee then heard from the Office of Youth and Community Restoration on its budget, its SB 823 realignment report, and related issues. OYCR said county-based realignment has generally succeeded but outcomes and readiness vary widely, and it recommended more climate surveys, youth advisory councils, stronger behavioral management, better programming, improved transition planning, and integrated longitudinal data systems. Members pressed OYCR on “net widening,” county-by-county trends, and the gap between the detailed recommendations discussed in hearing and the more general recommendations in the public report. OYCR also described problems with federal Title II grant timing and a pending $14 million administrative funding adjustment, and discussed implementation of the juvenile justice realignment block grant formula. The Ombudsperson division separately requested two new positions due to rising complaints, site visits, and records-access disputes with counties; LAO noted the proposal would create ongoing General Fund costs. Several other departments presented budget change proposals. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities requested $730,000 General Fund ongoing to cover an interagency administrative support gap with DSS; LAO had no concerns. EMSA presented its department overview, said its AB 716 ambulance-rate report has been delayed after resources were reduced, and requested funding for disaster-response vehicle replacement, IT security assessment work, and additional HR/legal staff; members questioned delays, compliance, and the ongoing General Fund impact. The Department of Community Services and Development sought reappropriation of LIWIP funds and explained a new Proposition 4 process for continuing the farmworker housing component. The Department of Rehabilitation requested authority for $60 million in additional federal funds and 54 positions to meet growing vocational rehabilitation demand, with no General Fund impact. The Department of Child Support Services presented its budget and a supplemental report on full pass-through of child support collections. Members questioned why local agency funding was being restored despite declining caseloads, and staff explained that staffing costs have risen faster than caseload declines and that additional funding is needed to maintain service levels. The supplemental report estimated full pass-through would cost about $150 million General Fund annually, or about $80 million for a state-and-county portion, with $3 million to $5 million in automation costs. Finally, the Department of Public Health gave a broad overview of its $5.1 billion budget and its State of Public Health report, highlighting improved mortality and life expectancy, declining overdose deaths and STI rates, persistent racial and regional disparities, and increasing public health emergency demands. CDPH also warned that federal funding threats and policy changes are creating major uncertainty for state and local public health systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the director to pay a salary and to run this position, yes. You're recognized for a follow-up.
• That'd be his salary, his expenses, So that'd be $100,000.
• That'd be his salary, his expenses to travel, because they're going to go to other counties. Right.
• Basically, what he's telling us is this money is for the salary.

Summary: The Public Safety committee met and first considered HB 2993, as amended by a PCS, which would create 11 Council of Government-based positions to help rural law enforcement pursue grants and equipment funding. Members questioned the estimated $1.1 million annual cost, whether the program would mainly benefit rural areas rather than metro counties, and how the money would be administered through Oklahoma Homeland Security. The bill author explained that each COG would receive one funded position and that the money would stay within each COG. The committee voted 7-2 to report the bill favorably. The committee then heard HB 3850, which would require inmates to obtain a high school equivalency diploma as a condition of parole and would place the diploma in the inmate’s release file to improve employability and reduce recidivism. Questions focused on whether the requirement applied to all inmates, how it would affect release eligibility, and whether existing DOC programs already provide similar training. The author said the bill would build on current law and could help reduce waiting lists for equivalency programs. The committee voted 8-1 to pass the bill. Next, HB 3595, with a PCS, would create a revolving fund in the Department of Public Safety to award counties grants for traffic-control public safety equipment, especially for events where vehicles could be used to harm crowds. Members discussed the bill’s dependence on future appropriations and its status as a vehicle for the idea while budget issues are resolved. The committee voted 7-2 to report it out. The committee also unanimously passed HB 3763, requiring two hours of domestic violence training as part of continuing education for law enforcement, and HB 3760, a tax credit for donations to qualified law enforcement foundations, with the author noting a planned amendment to include COGs and certain other nonprofits. The chair announced one more meeting the following week and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding our FEFP, while it's still very important to the House to maintain our $100 million teacher salary
• Regarding our FEFP, while it's still very important to the House to maintain our $100 million teacher salary
• To the House to maintain our $100 million teacher salary increase, as we do in this offer.

Summary: The House Pre-K through 12 Education Budget Conference convened and organized by naming Rep. Persons-Mulicka as chair and Sen. Burgess as vice chair, with both selections approved without objection. Members also agreed, without objection, that ties are not allowed in committee meetings. Opening remarks from both chairs emphasized working together to resolve outstanding budget issues for the 2026-27 Pre-K-12 education budget. The House then presented its first budget offer. The chair highlighted several points: additional non-recurring child care and development funding to help prevent any child from being disenrolled from the school readiness program in fiscal year 2026-27; agreement to the Senate’s position on $200,000 for patriotic portraits in classrooms; continued support for a $100 million teacher salary increase focused on veteran teachers; and an adjustment to the base student allocation increase to match the Senate’s $50 increase. The offer also included project funding, FEFP summary changes, and proviso/back-of-the-bill items aligned with the House budget offer. No public testimony was offered and no questions were raised on the House offer. The chair reminded attendees that the conference was operating on a one-hour meeting notice. The meeting then adjourned on a motion to rise, without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• S. 3947 by Senator Gopal extends certain pay parity requirements for telemedicine and telehealth.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strong pressure for state-chartered institutions to evaluate federal conversion simply to preserve parity

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses heard testimony from credit union, retail, banking, and payments industry representatives. Much of the discussion focused on proposals to exclude sales tax and tips from interchange fees, the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and related litigation, and whether similar state action in Massachusetts would help small businesses or instead create a patchwork that burdens state-chartered institutions. Witnesses from defense and community credit unions argued interchange helps fund fraud prevention, cybersecurity, member services, and low-fee products, while retail and NRF representatives said merchants are paying significant swipe fees and that state laws like Illinois’s are aimed at reducing costs that are not being passed on to consumers. Several witnesses emphasized that the current payment system provides security, fraud protection, rewards, and access to credit, and that many of the costs merchants complain about are actually bundled processor or acquirer fees rather than interchange itself. Others countered that small businesses are struggling with rising overall costs and that Massachusetts should consider reforms such as allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs. There was also discussion of the recent Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement, with industry witnesses describing it as meaningful relief for merchants and opponents saying it is temporary and incomplete. No formal votes were taken on legislation. The commission accepted oral testimony, noted that written testimony would be accepted through July 31, and concluded the meeting by unanimously voting to adjourn. The chair and members said they would continue gathering testimony and work toward recommendations, with the chair stressing the need to find a fair middle ground that supports both small businesses and the broader payments ecosystem.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just didn't put the same parity into revenge pornography that we put into child pornography.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee heard and advanced several House bills dealing with criminal law, victims’ rights, and court fees. HB 2131 would remove the financial-gain requirement from weapons and explosives trafficking and make trafficking three or more weapons or explosives in one offense ineligible for probation, pardon, commutation, or early release until the sentence is served; it passed 6-1. HB 2132 lowered the fentanyl trafficking threshold from 200 grams to 100 grams and adjusted related sentencing language; supporters said it would help law enforcement and prosecutors, while opponents argued it would sweep in heavy users and lacked data on current enforcement; it passed 4-3. HB 2223 requires sex offenders seeking a name change to notify prosecutors and victims, and to register under the new name if granted; it passed 6-1. The committee also passed HB 2411, which creates the crime of coerced abortion for secretly or forcibly administering an abortion-inducing drug with intent to cause an abortion, as a class 2 felony. Supporters described cases of covert or forced abortion drug use and said existing laws do not clearly cover situations where the drug is given but no death occurs; opponents argued current assault, manslaughter, homicide, and food-contamination statutes already address the conduct and that the bill is unnecessary. HB 2043, which adds unborn children to the felony-murder statute, also passed 4-3 after testimony from prosecutors and advocates on both sides; supporters called it a cleanup measure, while opponents warned it advances fetal personhood and could have broader reproductive-health consequences. HB 2046, requiring victims to be notified of pre-hearings in probation review proceedings for certain sex offenders, passed unanimously after emotional testimony from a victim’s family and county prosecutors. The committee then approved HB 2666, which increases penalties for sexual extortion involving 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds when the offender is an adult and knew or should have known the victim’s age. Finally, HB 2265, which eliminates court-imposed fees and assessments on criminal defendants for public defense, jury trials, and appeals, passed 7-0 despite county opposition over lost revenue and shifting costs to taxpayers. The last bill, HB 2133, would require commercial websites hosting sexual material to verify the age and consent of depicted persons, retain records, and treat synthetic depictions like AI-generated images similarly to existing revenge-porn laws; it drew support from adult-industry representatives on some implementation issues but also significant constitutional and privacy concerns, and the committee adopted an amendment before passing the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just didn't put the same parity into revenge pornography that we put into child pornography.

Bills: HB2043 , HB2046 , HB2126 , HB2131 , HB2132 , HB2133 , HB2223 , HB2265 , HB2411 , HB2666

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, education, funding, school districts, state aid, education reform, venue, employee conflict, superior court, legal proceedings, workplace disputes, weapons, explosives, trafficking, firearm regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Many state agencies already have this authority, and this bill just creates parity and helps ease the

Bills: SB6084 , SB6137 , SCR8406 , SB5892 , SB5863

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Many state agencies already have this authority, and this bill just creates parity and helps ease the

Summary: The committee heard staff briefings and testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 6137 would expand Washington sports wagering by allowing wagers placed over the internet to be accepted at any tribal gaming facility, not just the same tribe’s facility, and would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington institutions while continuing to prohibit bets on individual Washington athletes’ performance. Washington State University opposed the bill over concerns about harassment, point shaving, and broader gambling harms, while the University of Washington supported the individual prop-bet ban but urged caution. An Emerald Queen Casinos representative supported the bill, saying it would move existing illegal wagering into a regulated system with safeguards. The committee also heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035, which would require regular consultation with tribes on voting access and authorize a secure electronic ballot return portal for military, overseas, Native American, and disability voters. The Secretary of State’s office supported the bill’s tribal outreach and said it was more comfortable with the revised portal language, but several election-security witnesses opposed the portal sections, arguing internet ballot return is too risky and lacks adequate standards. King County Elections supported the portal as a more secure option than current email and fax methods, and said it would improve access while preserving paper trails and security checks. Substitute Senate Bill 6034 would codify the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs as a cabinet-level agency. The office and a tribal health liaison testified in support, saying codification would stabilize government-to-government relations with tribes and ensure continuity beyond executive preference. Substitute Senate Bill 6081 would restrict public disclosure of sex designation information in certain licensing and vital records; supporters said it would protect transgender people from doxing, harassment, and violence, while opponents argued it would make official records less accurate. Staff also briefed Senate Bill 5863 on Lakeland Village records, Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406 reestablishing the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health, and Senate Bill 5892 on voter data protections. The committee adopted amendments to SB 5863 and SB 5892, rejected some other amendments, and reported SB 5863, SCR 8406, and SB 5892 out of committee with due pass recommendations.