Transcript Highlights:

• uh want to help advance work workforce uh want to help advance work workforce and<00:08:32.840><
• . board. board.
• Board.
• 00:15:30.760> Board.
• Certification Board. Certification Board.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard and considered several gubernatorial nominations to advisory boards and councils. Early in the meeting, members heard testimony in support of Miriam Chang for the Health Planning Council Windward O‘ahu subarea, with supporters highlighting her long medical practice on the Windward side, work at Ko‘olau Health Center, and community involvement. Chang said she wanted to help improve health, especially in rural areas. The committee also heard support for Terrilyn Luke’s nomination to the Center for Nursing Advisory Board; the Center for Nursing director and nursing organizations backed her, and Luke said she would bring a front-line nursing perspective, focus on workforce conditions, retention, and collaboration, and help address tensions between the Center and nursing labor groups. The committee then heard support for Valerie Rose’s nomination to the Language Access Advisory Council; Rose briefly noted her prior work in the Chronic Disease Branch and Bilingual Health Aide Section. The committee also took up nominations in a later agenda segment. James Montgomery was heard for the State Rehabilitation Council and described his interest in serving based on a family experience with disability and his work in talent management, saying he wanted to help people with disabilities gain opportunities. Kevin Nakamura was heard for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and said his 30-plus years of wastewater experience would help ensure operators are properly trained and certified to protect resources and the environment. Pina Lemusu was heard for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; she said her long career with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and personal experience with disability would help her contribute to the council. Additional testimony in support came from the State DD Council and Voc Rehab representatives. The committee voted to recommend advise and consent on the nominations it considered, including Miriam Chang, Terrilyn Luke, Valerie Rose, James Montgomery, Kevin Nakamura, and Pina Lemusu. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though Senator Dela Cruz voted no on some of the later nominations. The meeting also briefly noted another nomination, Olivia Kim, which was recalled and advanced with an advise-and-consent recommendation before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• in terms of Workforce in terms of Workforce Development<00:05:26.000> i'<00:05:26.160>
• like to start with the Workforce like to start with the Workforce Development<00:40:20.920> scholarship
• strategically aligned with Workforce strategically aligned with Workforce needs<00:41:22.200>
• College each of them awarded a Workforce College each of them awarded a Workforce Development<00
• <00:59:21.200> and of 23 it was 5.5% across the board and of 23 it was 5.5% across the board

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now you're a former school board member. Yes sir. In Dallas. Right?
• Yeah, I mean, I'm a former school board member and the school.
• Workforce Commission, we're here today to talk specifically about the triagency workforce initiative.
• The Workforce Commission.
• Board, the Workforce Commission, and the TEA, including student, employment, and wage records.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would love to see college, you know, free across the board.
• While UC does have some workforce housing and continues to build workforce housing, it only has approximately
• Existing UC workforce housing has Existing UC workforce housing has not been focused on low-income employees
• I understand the notion of workforce housing.
• The framework and process is established by the advisory board.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met with a quorum and first approved a consent calendar containing AB 341, AB 1098, and AB 1316, sending those measures to the Human Services, Judiciary, and Appropriations Committees respectively. The committee then heard AB 977, which would require CSU to audit surplus land and work with California tribes to identify three regional burial sites for Native American remains that cannot yet be repatriated. Supporters, including tribal leaders and archaeology groups, said the bill is needed to honor ancestors and address the large number of remains still held by CSU; CSU said it is committed to repatriation but had no formal position. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. Members also heard AB 1093, creating a California-Mexico higher education exchange program, and AB 1035, expanding the California College Promise to cover tuition for students pursuing community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 1093 drew support for strengthening cross-border educational and economic ties, but some members raised concerns about border-region sewage problems and the bill’s budget implications; it was held for later consideration. AB 1035 received strong support from community college leaders and faculty who said it would help low-income and first-generation students complete workforce-focused bachelor’s degrees, but several members questioned whether it would stretch Prop. 98 funding and whether the state should prioritize broader affordability concerns. AB 1035 passed to Appropriations on a 3-2 vote. The committee next approved AB 922, which would let the University of California keep access to federal criminal-history information for hiring background checks, avoiding delays and added costs if statutory authority is required. UC said the bill is needed to maintain safety and hiring operations, and it passed to Public Safety on a 5-0 vote. AB 1346, protecting military dependents from losing in-state residency status because of family travel, also passed unanimously to Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 1212, allowing UC to use low-income housing tax credits to build affordable housing for faculty and staff on UC land, drew support from UC and labor groups but opposition from members concerned about preferential access to public resources; it was held for later action. Finally, the committee approved AB 500 and AB 684, both aimed at increasing transparency around UC admissions policy changes and UC BOARS decision-making, sending AB 500 to Education and AB 684 to Governmental Organization, each on 5-0 votes. The hearing then moved on to AB 1122 on dual enrollment, with the author and witnesses presenting the bill as a way to expand college access for high school students.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to give a huge thanks to our board: Board Chair Abby Osborne, Tyler Clancy, Jerry Stevenson, Senator
• First is workforce.
• Human capital, workforce, making sure that we continue to provide the right workforce, you know, not
• of Workforce Services.
• , commissions, or committees in the Department of Workforce Services. ...nine boards, commissions, or

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3800 requires the Texas Workforce Commission to form an advisory board with higher education
• , healthcare entities, and workforce boards to create a resource guide.
• of workforce boards across the state with a variety of projects that have had really great successes
• almost every board, um, Mayor York can tell you, but almost every board in the state is tracking and
• resources available will help make it easier for workforce boards to address the situation in their,

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:15.639> who already in the work fa Workforce who already in the work fa Workforce who
• I'd like to start with the Workforce Development scholarship writer.
• strategically aligned with Workforce strategically aligned with Workforce needs<00:52:56.920>
• I'd like to start with the Workforce Development scholarship writer.
• He said that in ’23 it was 5.5% across the board, and the next year it was 4.5% across the board, so

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The other is workforce development.
• The other is workforce development.
• But as far as workforce challenges... ...talk to us about the workforce idea of this.
• workforce challenges.
• We as a board, or our board, resolves that these are our rates.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to consider two bills and then held a lengthy discussion on Florida airport infrastructure. SB 246, presented by Senator Rodriguez on behalf of Senator Gruters, would authorize a UFC specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting the UFC Foundation’s charitable work. A UFC Foundation representative described community beneficiaries and said the plate would help raise funds for local charities. With no questions or debate, the committee voted SB 246 favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7012, a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles public-records exemption bill that would remove the October 1, 2026 repeal date for certain active investigatory records. Senator Avila moved to submit it as a committee bill, there was no objection, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The remainder of the meeting focused on the Comprehensive Airport Infrastructure Program. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue outlined Florida’s aviation system, the department’s airport funding programs, and the state’s role as a financial partner in safety, capacity, preservation, and economic development projects. He said Florida has 128 public-use airports, 21 commercial-service airports, and four large-hub airports, and noted that airport funding is largely supported by gas-tax-related revenues, with additional support from documentary stamp revenue and other fees. He also discussed the new airport infrastructure planning requirements created last session and said all required airports had submitted plans. Committee members asked about the loss of aviation fuel tax revenue, workforce development, project timelines, and how FDOT prioritizes funding, with Perdue emphasizing safety, preservation, capacity, economic return, and matching funds. A panel from Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa international airports then described major capital programs, passenger growth, and funding needs. The airports highlighted terminal expansions, parking, baggage systems, airfield rehabilitation, people movers, and other modernization projects, along with the importance of maintaining aging facilities while accommodating growth. They said FDOT and FAA grants are helpful but increasingly insufficient for runway and taxiway costs, and several panelists said passenger facility charges and other revenue tools are important to future self-sufficiency. Members also asked about workforce shortages, small-business participation, landing-fee negotiations, and non-aeronautical revenue. The panel said workforce challenges are most acute in trades and maintenance, small-business programs are active at each airport, and landing fees are negotiated with airlines to keep airports competitive while funding needed improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dick served on the board of directors from 1997 to 2018 and returned to the board in a newly created
• It's my great honor and privilege to welcome the executive board of directors for the Latin Lift Arts
• Arlington ISD board president Justin Choppa, are you graduated from Arlington ISD.
• Commission for the Committee of Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• Board in.

Transcript Highlights:

• , because we had no idea whether the DSB board was aware of it.
• They recommended the DSB... ...trying to get the DSB board to agree with that.
• So is the DSB board—who is the DSB board, or who is this division run by?
• Yeah, because it's part of Workforce, isn't it? Yes, it's part of Workforce Connections.
• The board is independent, and we have some disagreement about how independent that board is.

Summary: The committee first considered a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism request to swap three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager for Blanchard Springs State Park. Members were told the change would be funded by conservation tax special revenues, would not increase total positions, and had OPM’s support. The item was reviewed and approved without objection. Members then approved two special compensation plans: one from the Department of Commerce for lump-sum bonuses of up to $5,000 for employees involved in the unemployment insurance system migration to a cloud-based platform, and one from the Department of Veterans Affairs for $2,000 recruitment bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the Fayetteville and North Little Rock State Veterans Homes. The Department of Health also received approval to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board, with the agency noting the position was already authorized and would not increase total staffing. The committee spent substantial time on a Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and related workforce operations. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the layoffs were driven by over-obligated federal funds, lack of fiscal planning, and a need to realign operations; he said the RIF would be permanent and that 56 employees remained furloughed, with 17 positions slated for elimination. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the board and governor, and whether the cuts disproportionately affected African American employees; Commerce was asked to provide racial composition data for the workforce and the RIF. The committee also reviewed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Members asked about overtime levels at DHS, Corrections, and Transportation, and whether higher staffing levels and the new pay plan were reducing overtime. OPM said overtime was being monitored, that direct-care positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, and that the state had hired more than 1,200 employees at DHS since the new system went live. No further action was taken on the report items, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So first of all, the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board—what it is: the Nursing Home Workforce Standards
• > in workforce standards board was created in workforce standards board was created in law<00:02:
• board. it showed up workforce standards board. it showed up in<00:32:39.519> the<00:32:39.600>
• would the Workforce Standards Board and would the Workforce Standards Board and would simply<
• 17:26.239> mandates workforce standards board mandates workforce standards board mandates extend

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• all of that so we had the Workforce all of that so we had the Workforce Development<00:09:33.000
• I sat on the Workforce Committee in the House.
• who came in asking for Workforce who came in asking for Workforce Development<00:16:15.480> funds
• submitting information in the workforce submitting information in the workforce line<00:57:45.359
• monitoring team uh for Workforce monitoring team uh for Workforce Development<01:08:06.279> um

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Board.
• Board.
• Board.
• The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board does have an exemption or waiver process for those who are
• have<00:20:21.520> a<00:20:22.159> um Workforce Standards Board does have a um Workforce

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services Finance and Policy met to approve prior minutes and then take public testimony on the governor’s budget recommendations for human services. The chair explained the hearing format and noted that DHS declined to testify. Much of the testimony focused on proposed reductions or caps affecting disability waiver services, nursing homes, and elderly waiver programs, as well as related fee and tax changes in the budget. Representatives of ARM argued that the governor’s proposal would cap inflationary adjustments at 2%, limit rate exceptions, cap billable days, and restrict individualized home supports, which they said would worsen workforce shortages, reduce wages for direct support professionals, and destabilize disability services. They said the package would cut about $600 million over four years and could lead to group home closures, higher turnover, and families losing access to local homes and services. Committee members asked about real-world impacts and future rate adjustments, and ARM responded that providers have already planned around expected 2026 rates, so a cap would create immediate budget and staffing problems. Long-Term Care Imperative testified against nursing home-related cuts, saying the budget would cap future rate increases, limit health insurance costs in rate setting, phase out closure-related agreements and incentives, and fail to fully fund the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board. They estimated the nursing home provisions could amount to a $218 million cut over four years, or roughly $350 million when combined with other underfunding, and said every nursing home and bed in Minnesota would be affected. They also criticized the lack of an inflation factor in Elderly Waiver, a proposed 54% increase in assisted living fees, and possible changes to provider-assessed fine and penalty funds. Members asked about staffing and bed availability, and the testifiers said reduced funding would likely force more beds out of service. A later testifier, Dan Andre of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, raised concerns about the DHS budget’s proposed increase in the HMO surcharge and about carving pharmacy and non-emergency medical transportation benefits out of managed care. He argued the tax increase would raise premiums for fully insured and Medicare supplement enrollees and that managed care coordination helps members access care and medications. The hearing also included one unrelated, disruptive testimony about the Minnesota Sex Offender Program and other agencies, which the chair redirected back to the human services budget. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hicks handles our state University system, our Florida College System, District Workforce Board of Governors
• The workforce capitalization incentive grants.
• Workforce capitalization.
• It's for the child welfare workforce.
• I've seen that firsthand managing the workforce being in the workforce, right?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the workforce development fund. the workforce development fund.
• My name is Kate Dan with the Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards.
• Our local workforce boards and community partners were able to get those additional dollars to work right
• Our local workforce boards and youth.
• Our local workforce boards and community<01:01:45.040> partners<01:01:45.599> were<01:01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't have a successful, uh, workforce.
• HB 2545 creates a rural workforce training grant program and provide training, apprenticeships, and workforce
• The rural workforce training program will sustain and grow rural Texas by providing the workforce needed
• Board.
• It's example number 2, in the workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:42.399> CH interpreting Workforce CH interpreting Workforce CH shortages<00:10:44.440
• and we are seeing uh uh Workforce and we are seeing uh uh Workforce shortage<00:14:02.519> in
• ><00:42:40.720> and persons to serve on various boards and persons to serve on various boards
• <00:42:49.079> committees for internal County boards committees for internal County boards
• <00:42:51.720> of committee Board of committee Board of adjustment<00:42:53.400> what

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, in 2013, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board underwent the Sunset Review.
• And SB 757 fails to account for economic downturns and the cycles of workforce demand.
• And SB 57 fails to account for economic downturns and the cycles of workforce demand.
• Second, it refines the authority granted to governing boards, or regents.
• and governing boards have the authority to overturn any hiring decision.

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several higher education and public school bills. Senator Burwell presented SB 1242 to remove an outdated Coordinating Board approval requirement for Texas State Technical College land and facility acquisitions, and SJR 59 to create a constitutionally dedicated endowment for TSTC capital needs; both drew strong support from industry and workforce groups and were left pending. SB 757, by Senator Middleton, would create a debt-to-earnings accountability system for public college programs, with supporters saying it would protect students from low-value degrees and opponents warning it could unfairly penalize programs with long-term value, especially graduate, medical, and public service fields; it was also left pending. SB 1241, by Senator Millington, would expand acceptable college entrance exams beyond the SAT and ACT, including the Classic Learning Test, and was left pending after testimony from CLT, homeschool, and student groups in support. SB 1085, by Senator Blanco, would let Sul Ross State University offer lower-division courses at its satellite campuses in the Middle Rio Grande region; it too was left pending. The committee then took up a series of public school and higher education measures, voting several out favorably. SB 605, as substituted, limits commissioner approval of charter school expansion amendments for schools under conservatorship or a management team and was reported favorably 9-0. SB 1871 and SB 1873, both by Senator Perry, were revised to narrow teacher immunity, clarify removal and suspension procedures, require periodic review of in-school suspension placements, and align discipline rules; both substitutes were adopted and reported favorably. SB 1872, SB 1874, SB 762, SB 1962, SB 1750, SB 2252, SB 2253, SB 2365, SB 1924, and SB 37 were also considered, with most reported favorably on party-line or near-unanimous votes. SB 1750 would replace a flat charter school facilities funding cap with an attendance-based formula; SB 2252 and SB 2253 address kindergarten readiness, early literacy/numeracy, and educator preparation; SB 2365 concerns student phone use during instructional time; SB 1924 restores local citation authority for certain school offenses and adds reporting, notice, and completion requirements; and SB 37 would expand state oversight of higher education curriculum, governance, faculty senates, and compliance with state law. Other measures heard included SB 769, which would require a Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education; supporters emphasized the need for better data and accessibility, while witnesses suggested broader reporting on race, disability types, and K-12-to-college transitions. SB 2231 would designate a Free College Application Week in October and was left pending. SB 1878 would modernize the Josie School statute and provide formula funding and aid eligibility for Polytechnic College. SB 1409 would authorize universities to offer self-funded student health benefit plans, with Rice University and Texas 2036 supporting the measure as a way to lower costs and expand coverage. SB 2431 would require universities to give foreign language credit for study abroad programs, SB 2314 would require schools to inform students about opting in or out of record sharing for direct admissions through My Texas Future, and SB 2138 would extend the state’s anti-ESG contracting restrictions to public higher education endowments and governing boards; these later bills were introduced and left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board
• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• skill training pilot program for the Subcommittee on Workforce, HB 11488.
• development boards, refer to the subcommittee on Workforce, HB 1155 by HHL relating to a monetary assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas water development board
• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development.
• HB 1147 by Gomez relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce.
• Commission of a Workplace Soft Skill Training Pilot Program for the Subcommittee on Workforce.
• development boards, referred to the subcommittee on workforce, HB 1155 by Hull, relating to a monetary

Keywords: 1184, house, all