Transcript Highlights:

• Now, PSR is just a skill; it's a skill-building training that these individuals are able to teach people
• And I think it is appropriate that we do add this other degree because it is just skills building.
• So I think it, you know, with the college degree can teach skills to children with behavior issues.
• We allowed folks with degrees in special education because you're teaching a skill.
• back to hyperbaric, if I'm looking at the amendment set, the prohibitions, number seven, performing labor

Summary: The committee first heard and favorably reported SB 255, which expands eligibility for psychosocial rehabilitation services by adding health sciences and therapeutic recreation degrees to the list of acceptable educational backgrounds. Supporters said the change would help address workforce shortages and improve access in rural areas. SB 314 was then reported favorably; it cleans up prior law so a limited scope certified social worker license can still be used for community psychiatric support and treatment services even if the application is filed after the CSW license has expired, rather than being barred by a timing restriction. The committee next took up several bills by Chairman McMath. SB 26, which repeals facility need review requirements for opioid treatment programs, was reported favorably after members and witnesses said Louisiana has too few OTPs and that removing the review would improve access, especially in rural areas. SB 29, requiring review and reporting of a child’s immunization records in certain unexpected death autopsies, was reported favorably despite questions about whether the bill should refer more broadly to medical records; supporters said the data could help evaluate vaccine-related concerns, while opponents raised concerns about singling out immunizations. SB 30, dealing with telehealth for obesity/weight management, was amended and reported favorably; the committee adopted technical amendments and a conceptual amendment replacing “metabolic condition” with “weight management services,” while witnesses debated patient safety, board authority, and whether the bill should limit agencies’ ability to restrict telehealth in the future. The committee also reported favorably SB 219, which creates an Office of Health and Nutrition within LDH. Supporters from the department, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Pennington Biomedical said the office would strengthen coordination on nutrition, physical activity, and brain health, and cited high Alzheimer’s costs and prevalence in Louisiana. SB 222, which streamlines Medicaid behavioral health administrative requirements and expands telehealth for psychosocial rehabilitation, was reported favorably with amendments after supporters described workforce and rural access barriers. SB 195, the “Danny’s Dose EMS Treatment Act,” was reported favorably; it would allow EMS personnel to administer a patient’s own prescribed time-critical medication in emergencies, and testimony from a parent and physician described life-threatening delays under current practice. The committee also adopted SCR 2, updating hospital architectural standards to the most recent Facility Guidelines Institute edition, and SCR 22, requesting a more detailed legislative auditor report on opioid settlement expenditures; members said they wanted clearer outcome data and planned to refine the language before floor debate. Finally, HB 1093 on naturopathic medicine was introduced and heavily amended, with the bill shifted under LSBME oversight and a large set of changes discussed, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• include dual enrollment and higher education access, vocational training, and CTE opportunities, life skills
• Project Rebound, we see that youth are obtaining AA and BA degrees, certifications that give them life skills
• However, labor shortages, high turnover of skilled workforce, building permit delays, and equipment shortages
• However, labor shortages, high turnover of skilled workforce, building permit delays, and equipment shortages

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know of two or three that don't have the state police and permit testing and skills test, but how
• test, but how many how and and skills test, but how many how many<00:32:14.880><c> of</c><00:32:15.039
• quite a bit, or, as Senator Douglas told me, it's asphalt, has gone up considerably since then, and labor
• 04.240><c> So</c><01:04:04.480><c> we're</c><01:04:04.559><c> we're</c><01:04:04.640><c> we're</c> labor
• So we're we're we're labor cost.

Keywords: 0:00:15 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:01:15 Maintenance Update 0:21:07 Approval of Minutes 0:21:32 Regional Offices 0:43:47 SHIFT Scoring 1:04:24 Local Assistance Road Program 1:16:41 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum and first received a maintenance update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials James Ballinger and John Moore. They described how repeated disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and ice storms, have strained routine road maintenance and forced crews to focus on emergency response, snow and ice removal, pothole patching, ditching, signal repairs, mowing, striping, sign work, and other day-to-day upkeep. They said snow and ice costs have averaged about $60 million to $61 million annually in recent years, disaster response has totaled hundreds of millions of dollars over five years, and the cabinet often must carry those costs until FEMA or FHWA reimbursement arrives. They also said maintenance work is increasingly contracted out because of staffing and resource limits, and that competitive pay is needed to retain employees and contractors for around-the-clock emergency work. Members then discussed traffic roundabouts and other intersection designs. Senator Hickden asked about their cost savings and safety benefits compared with traffic signals, and cabinet staff said they would provide life-cycle cost figures later. They emphasized that roundabouts and related designs reduce serious injuries and fatalities, with serious injuries down roughly 70% to 80% and fatalities over 90% in their experience. Chair Douglas and others asked about roundabout sizing for trucks and farm equipment, and staff explained that designers tailor the inscribed diameter to local traffic needs and context. The committee also briefly discussed red-light running and traffic-light cameras, with members stressing the safety risks of drivers ignoring signals. The committee adopted the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and voice vote. It then heard from Sarah Jackson and Matthew Cole on the Real ID and driver licensing transition. They said the cabinet has expanded from almost no regional offices to 35, grown driver licensing staff from 89 to 400, and now issues about 1.3 million credentials annually. They reported improvements in office capacity, queue management, staffing, and compensation, including added workstations, new or expanded offices in Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, and the use of contract staff. They said statewide average wait times have fallen to just under 30 minutes, and Kentucky’s Real ID adoption rate has risen to 42.9%. Members asked follow-up questions about driver testing and CDL scheduling. The presenters said all permit and CDL testing is coordinated through Kentucky State Police, with written tests available in most regional offices and CDL testing at a smaller number of KSP locations. Senator Douglas asked when the driver testing requirements were last updated, and the presenters said that was set by KSP. The discussion ended with additional questions about which regional offices lack KSP testing presence, but no further action was taken before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• workers perform some of the most difficult and essential work in our economy, often doing physical labor
• Many are immigrants who labor long hours to help feed our communities.
• As members of the labor movement, we know that a union job remains the surest and most stable path to
• Section 18 of this bill would lay a foundation of important life skills, supporting young people with
• We have a provision here that mandates that the Department of Labor is the one that's supposed to put

Bills: H5085, H5286

Keywords: poverty alleviation, family support, economic mobility, youth transition, financial education, matched savings, community programs, Department of Children and Families, DCF, child abuse investigation, child neglect, pediatrician, advanced practice registered nurse, medical misdiagnosis, rickets, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, vitamin D deficiency, bone fragility, child welfare

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing on miscellaneous bills, including H. 5286, which would require DCF to consult a medical professional when a parent presents evidence of a pre-existing diagnosis that could explain symptoms mistaken for abuse or neglect. Representative Brian Mario said the bill would give DCF another tool in difficult cases. Jennifer Fernandes testified about her family’s experience with her grandson being removed after doctors initially suspected a skull fracture that later proved unfounded, saying the bill could help prevent similar outcomes. Committee members expressed sympathy and indicated interest in further discussion. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H. 5085/S. 3095, the omnibus “An Act Significantly Alleviating Poverty.” Supporters described the bill as a comprehensive anti-poverty package built from the Poverty Commission’s work, combining higher cash assistance grants, matched savings, baby bonds, a guaranteed stipend for youth aging out of foster care, expanded tax credits, language access, clean slate record sealing, and worker protections. Senator Eldridge, Senator Miranda, Representative Decker, and many advocates argued that poverty is tied to housing instability, child welfare involvement, health harms, and racial and gender inequities, and that the bill would help families meet basic needs, build wealth, and reduce the benefits cliff. Witnesses from social service, legal aid, labor, immigrant advocacy, and public health groups strongly supported the bill’s provisions. Several focused on specific sections: child support pass-through and a broader good-cause exception for TAFDC recipients; extending the state EITC to ITIN filers; creating baby bonds and matched savings programs; automating criminal record sealing; improving language access at state agencies; and ending the subminimum wage for farm workers. Former foster youth and service providers said the guaranteed stipend would help young adults avoid homelessness and transition more safely into adulthood. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chairs repeatedly noted the limited time and encouraged written testimony and follow-up conversations.

Transcript Highlights:

• They'd be high-paying and high-skilled jobs. Okay.
• operation of the data center, those jobs may be high-paying, but they're not necessarily part of a labor
• it's fine if you don't have it, but do you have any statistics on sort of what the assumed cost of labor
• as far as hooking up to the power grid, if not my personal organization is likely one of the other labor
• First, you talked about the construction and the labor.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They'd be high-paying and high-skilled jobs. Okay.
• operation of the data center, those jobs may be high-paying, but they're not necessarily part of a labor
• it's fine if you don't have it, but do you have any statistics on sort of what the assumed cost of labor
• as far as hooking up to the power grid, if not my personal organization is likely one of the other labor
• First, you talked about the construction and the labor.

Summary: The Missouri House Committee on Utilities held an informational hearing on data centers, with the chair saying the goal was to hear different perspectives and better understand the issue before future legislation. No public testimony was taken, but three invited speakers presented: a labor representative, an Ameren Missouri executive, and a consumer advocate. The discussion focused on the economic benefits of data centers, including construction jobs, local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities, tax revenue for schools and local governments, and related spending by Missouri businesses. The labor witness described current Montgomery County projects, said hundreds of Missourians were already working there, and argued that closed-loop cooling and generator noise were manageable. Committee members also raised questions about water use, noise, cybersecurity, local hiring, and how much tax revenue a project could generate annually. Ameren’s Rob Dixon said Senate Bill 4 and the PSC’s large-load tariff provide key protections for ratepayers by requiring large customers to pay their own interconnection costs, sign long-term contracts, post collateral, and pay for most of their requested load even if they use less. He said those rules help prevent costs from shifting to other customers and that large loads can put downward pressure on rates by contributing to fixed system costs. Dixon also said Ameren is planning for significant new generation, including gas, nuclear, hydro, coal, and renewables, and that data centers are subject to the same load-shedding and emergency restoration rules as other customers. He noted that the protections apply to investor-owned utilities, not co-ops or municipal utilities. John Kaufman of the Consumers Council of Missouri argued the PSC protections are still too weak and warned that data centers could raise rates through construction work in progress, stranded generation costs, and other risks if projects are delayed, shrink, or fail. He urged stronger consumer protections, more upfront financial commitments from data centers, and greater transparency for ratepayers, while also suggesting community benefit agreements and cautioning against over-reliance on utility projections. Several members pushed back on his characterization of Senate Bill 4 and QIP/CWIP provisions, and the hearing ended with the chair thanking the witnesses and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• It sounds like a really good committee: Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs. And, Mr.
• Speaker, we have a whole lot more in common, the two of us, because we came from a Labor, Veterans, and
• This time around, I had the honor of serving with him on the Labor Committee, and I got to know him a
• He's the one who suggested I should serve on the Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.
• Many times, it's because it's difficult to attract highly skilled workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those that are marked on this slide as not in the labor force are folks who can't be in the labor force
• everything as our Department of State Health and Human Service office, as well as our Department of Labor
• You know, if you don't see that, you're not going to replicate how to eat, you know, and that's a skill
• that they needed and have it reimbursed by Medicaid because otherwise they were going to go into skilled
• Skilled settings.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was passed unanimously out of our committee. labor side of things um we decided to labor side of things
• labor labor committee.<00:04:11.920><c> It</c><00:04:12.239><c> seems</c><00:04:12.480><c> like</c><
• Solidarity in the labor movement is the act of standing The act of standing together.
• That is not what we do in the labor labor labor movement.<00:12:44.560><c> And</c><00:12:44.800><c> that's
• As we've said before, they have a very unique skill set.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This transition requires adequate staffing to help students develop the skills to advocate for themselves
• university series, where students can, if they need some academic recovery support, need to work on study skills
• Evergreen's inner workings and helped me navigate tasks within committees and enhance my problem-solving skills
• this is one of the biggest acknowledgments of students' effort and celebrating the fruits of their labor
• Serving as a trustee has helped bolster my confidence, my leadership skills, and widened my knowledge

Bills: SB6325, SGA9302, SGA9286, SGA9289, SGA9290, SGA9292, SGA9293, SGA9309, SGA9310, SGA9311, SGA9312

Keywords: higher education, student procedures, academic policies, enrollment processes, educational standards, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This transition requires adequate staffing to help students develop the skills to advocate for themselves
• students can, again, if maybe they need some academic recovery support, they need to work on study skills
• Evergreen's inner workings and helped me navigate tasks within committees and enhance my problem-solving skills
• this is one of the biggest acknowledgments of students' effort and celebrating the fruits of their labor
• Serving as a trustee has helped bolster my confidence, my leadership skills, and widened my knowledge

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee heard two work sessions focused on student access and retention, then held public hearings on gubernatorial appointments before taking executive action. Washington Student Achievement Council staff presented the Washington Completes FAFSA campaign, created by Executive Order 2508, describing its advisory board, outreach strategy, dashboard tracking, and progress toward goals of 46,000 FAFSA/WASFA completions and improved equity in completion rates. They also highlighted broader college access tools such as trainings, printed materials, completion events, Otterbot texting support, and the new “Changing the Narrative” report and College Toolkit, which emphasize multiple postsecondary pathways, relatable messengers, and short video content. The committee then heard from the Council of Presidents and Central Washington University and Evergreen State College on student support services. Presenters discussed retention data, FERPA-related limits on parent communication, and the impact of budget cuts on advising, tutoring, wellness, and other services. Evergreen described the Shelton Promise program, including recruitment, summer bridge, basic-needs supports, peer mentoring, texting outreach, and early retention results showing 52 of 53 students continuing. Central Washington outlined its learner access and support plan, including required advising, University 101, early academic alerts, peer mentoring embedded in coursework, the Students First Center, and a Paying for College Guide, while noting that budget reductions have limited some support offerings. In the public hearing, the committee considered Latasha Wortham’s appointment to the Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees and a panel of student appointees to various boards and councils, including Evergreen, Washington Student Achievement Council, the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, Edmonds College, and Western Washington University. Testimony emphasized first-generation and immigrant backgrounds, student advocacy, basic needs, and the importance of student voice in governance. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and gave Senate Bill 6325 a due pass recommendation to Ways and Means; the bill would shift certain higher education cost increases from tuition to state funds over time and direct a WSIPP study on essential student services. The committee also recommended confirmation for the listed gubernatorial appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that technical skills, whatever your technical skill is, are required.
• We should expect you to be good at your technical, whatever your technical skill is.
• As people planned for major travel events like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, we wanted
• full-service CDL-only site where they can actually go take the written test, do their actual drives, driving skills

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What is important about this way of learning is that it helps our students build critical thinking skills
• How do you recruit your students, and what skills specifically—math, science?
• What skills do they need to do well in this program?
• What skills do you need the most? Definitely, I would say science more so.
• So I think after Labor Day we are changing our opening hours.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of formula, baby formula, has risen by almost 11%
• With me today to testify in support are Alana Yorkshire with the Adult Skills Center, and Andrea Krum
• With me today to testify in support are Alana Yorkshire with the Adult Skills Center, and Andrea Krum
• I'm the deputy executive director of the Adult Skills Center.
• I'm the deputy executive director of the Adult Skills Center.

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee met with quorum established after beginning as a subcommittee. The committee heard AB 790, which would require jurisdictions receiving state homelessness funds to develop systems specifically supporting women and children, especially single mothers and survivors of domestic violence. Supporters said current homelessness programs overlook this population; the bill was amended and passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote. The committee also heard ACA 4, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which would dedicate a minimum share of the state general fund to affordable housing and homelessness programs. Supporters argued more stable funding is needed to address the housing crisis, while opponents questioned whether more spending would help; the measure passed 5-2 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Members then heard AB 349, which would index the infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation. The author and sponsor described the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in foster care and rising costs for diapers and formula; the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 779, which expands a domestic violence consultant pilot in child welfare offices statewide, also passed 6-0 after testimony that it would help keep families together safely and improve trauma-informed responses. AB 1335, which would remove a private CARF accreditation requirement for regional center employment programs and rely on state oversight instead, drew support from disability service providers but opposition from the chair over concerns about weakening quality checks; it failed on a 2-2 vote and reconsideration was denied. The committee also considered AB 1066, a bill to bar state-funded immigration legal services for people unlawfully present in the country who have certain serious felony convictions. Supporters framed it as a public-safety and fiscal-responsibility measure, while opponents said it would restrict due process and align California with mass-deportation policies. The bill failed on a 2-2 vote. Two bills, AB 277 and AB 318, were pulled by the author and not heard. After final roll calls on absent members, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s why I missed out a term in labor. I’ve always been on the labor committee.
• </c><00:12:21.120><c> I've</c> why I missed out a term in labor I've why I missed out a term in labor
• labor it'll autop typing House labor labor it'll autop populate<00:38:29.520><c> y</c><00:38:29.720>
• Department of Labor.
• Department of Labor.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• definitely ensures that by adopting the ACT, Minnesota will be assessing students on the precise skills
• <c> knowledge</c><00:31:23.600><c> students</c><00:31:24.000><c> need</c><00:31:24.279><c> to</c> skills
• and knowledge students need to skills and knowledge students need to become<00:31:24.799><c> ready</
• that are essential for and math skills that are essential for success<00:34:36.760><c> in</c><00:34:
• Day and then a charter year before Labor Day and then a charter school<01:32:28.199><c> transparency

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This was heard in Labor and Industry, so thank you.
• </c> a number of members in the labor a number of members in the labor committee<03:29:58.120><c> who
• </c> bipartisan proposal uh in the labor bipartisan proposal uh in the labor committee<03:51:06.000><
• </c> safe time including in the labor safe time including in the labor committee<03:51:18.479><c> over
• Chair, I think it should be referred back to Labor.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and re-skilling opportunities that we see in the workforce.
• or re-skill.
• TEKS are the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
• I had a that I was able to use to parlay that into other skills.
• The Texas economy isn't demanding a certain skill set anymore.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we're at 63% labor participation. I know you got this from the labor statistics.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics. Okay. Do you know where they're getting their percentages, or what?
• But we're looking at, in the fixed cost, essential administrative skills: how do I pay my staff?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so my many hours of unpaid labor is so that other families are able to get the services that their
• ASME Council 5 is a public and private sector labor union.
• </c><00:37:39.760><c> and</c> equipping themselves with skills and equipping themselves with skills and
• </c><01:35:41.400><c> nursing</c> facilities and 16 skilled nursing facilities and 16 skilled nursing
• </c> with potential needs for future skilled with potential needs for future skilled nursing<01:36:16.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all