Transcript Highlights:

• ALSO WITH A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
• WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
• AS FAR AS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GOES, WE ARE STANDING UP SOMETHING WE ARE CALLING THE FAU WORKFORCE INNOVATION
• ADDRESSING DOMESTIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
• WE PROMOTE STEADY GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND CROSSOVER OF THE MARITIME WORKFORCE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another $100 million for workforce development capitalization incentive grant fund for our public schools
• Again, that emphasis on workforce development.
• incentives for district workforce education programs.
• We're the workforce in... ...really for agriculture technology.
• I also represent the Orlando area. Just a comment, really.

Summary: The committee first took up a confirmation for UCF trustee reappointment candidate Mr. Christie, who described his long service on the board, his UCF business-school background, and his focus on strengthening UCF’s financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology programs. Members praised his service and asked about UCF’s future direction, including its role in Florida’s space and engineering sectors. He was allowed to leave early for a meeting with the governor. The committee then heard the Higher Education Appropriations budget presentation for fiscal year 2025-26. The chair outlined a proposed $11.5 billion higher education budget emphasizing workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education, the GATE program, nursing education through the Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS agriculture technology, tutoring, autism and neurodevelopment services, student financial aid, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and the chair said a conforming bill would address details. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical corrections and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for university boards, especially the University of West Florida, where several nominees were questioned about Title IX compliance, free speech, workforce readiness, military/veteran ties, and prior statements about privatization and higher education. Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moyah, Ashley Ross, and Adam Kessel each described their backgrounds and goals for UWF; Kessel faced extensive questioning about his past writings on privatization, the GI Bill, and speech suppression, and said he would not recommend privatizing Florida universities and supported veterans’ education benefits. Public testimony on UWF was largely opposed, with speakers arguing the nominees lacked local ties and warning the slate would harm the university and community. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment nominee Judge Belvin Perry, who emphasized student success, workforce quality, and FAMU’s continued rise, and from UCF nominee Mark Philburn and FSU nominee Peter Jones, both of whom highlighted their professional experience and commitment to student success and prudent stewardship. The meeting extended its time to 6:30 p.m. to continue hearing nominees and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• for Workforce an economic development<00:03:42.760> program<00:03:43.319> that<00:03:43.640
• “Beyond workforce development, HAP is a CDFI, a community development financial institution, that fuels
• they're working Friday is our Workforce they're working Friday is our Workforce Development<00:19
• workforce labor and economic development workforce labor and economic development finance<00:26:
• smaller Workforce we've smaller areas smaller Workforce we've got<01:06:56.119> to<01:06:56.279

Bills: HF110, HF111, HF263, HF105

Keywords: HF110, Adrian Independent School District, Independent School District No. 511, school construction, sales tax exemption, use tax refund, refundable exemption, construction materials, capital improvements, school roofing, playground remodel, retaining walls, plumbing, bathroom remodel, locker room remodel, window replacements, local tax relief, general fund appropriation, Minnesota chapter 297A, retroactive tax refund

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes 10 minutes for the teacher to do, and we see the breakdown of this data in each area of development
• of development.
• development, and Mya Lovas is from the Maddox Foundation, so we have philanthropy, we have workforce
• Secretary: So, each of the other bars is just looking at that area of development, and then they're saying
• But that's the kind of professional development we actually just finished developing with NMSU - trauma

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce development: focusing on strengthening recruitment and retention of health care workers in
• On the sustainable access, no, I'm sorry, on the workforce development, strengthen and recruit and retain
• And even within those counties, there can be rural areas or professional shortage areas.
• And even within those urban counties, there can be rural areas or professional shortage areas.
• Hopefully focusing on their statutory mission, which is workforce development.

Bills: SB193, SB132, SB35, SB145

Keywords: SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects, SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• Up in your area, you get a significant amount of rainfall.
• But in my area, which is the Central Valley, we depend on snowmelt.
• Salton Sea restoration and skilled and trained workforce standards.
• Importantly, these critical projects present an opportunity for the state to ensure workforce development
• Importantly, these critical projects present an opportunity for the state to ensure workforce development

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and just how difficult it is to develop in the rural areas.
• I use workforce housing.
• And I think those are the three areas where this bill would encourage development.
• We have, And a sleeping area.
• And I think those are the three areas where this bill would encourage development.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um they the workforce development side.
• :04:32.880> I development, which is the area I development, which is the area I oversee,<00:04
• <00:20:33.840> development um on what workforce development um on what workforce development
• and workforce development boards, um, and workforce development boards, um, and through<00:36
• > then the workforce development side and then the workforce development side and then uh<01:03

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We do work with the economic development organizations and the communities in each of those areas.
• The Council of State Governments, workforce development boards, regional planning commissions, and multi-county
• <02:07:25.280> The<02:07:25.440> Worth workforce development.
• The Worth workforce development.
• Uh goes through research, workforce Uh goes through research, workforce development,<02:07:36.719

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So part of our Innovate Hawaiʻi program in HTDC is about workforce development, and we've been partnering
• So part of our Innovate Hawaiʻi program in HTDC is about workforce development, and we've been partnering
• So part of our Innovate Hawaiʻi program in HTDC is about workforce development, and we've been partnering
• So part of our Innovate Hawaiʻi program in HTDC is about workforce development, and we've been partnering
• So part of our Innovate Hawaiʻi program in HTDC is about workforce development, and we've been partnering

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a housing development act, which has among its program purview, the housing development finance for
• One is a commercial development fund for spec developments—that's the Opportunity Enterprise Revolving
• The MFA has one that's 120% for that same area median income; then workforce Housing will start at the
• development housing.
• In Skis Development in Albuquerque, it is a workforce housing project.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> uh<00:15:40.160> we Workforce Development tax credit uh we Workforce Development tax credit
• <00:39:41.240> Development dedicated to that Workforce Development dedicated to that Workforce
• > by Workforce Development uh dispersed by Workforce Development uh dispersed by the<00:43:24.480
• <01:19:56.320> Development little bit about Workforce Development little bit about Workforce
• c> our<01:32:18.920> Workforce<01:32:19.360> Development Development our Workforce

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill deals with three distinct areas: child welfare workforce issues, increased acuity of the children
• development.
• Thriving rural areas boost our urban neighbors.
• It touches on so many areas from health care, education, transportation.
• It touches on so many areas from health care, education, transportation.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first considered CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, presented by Senator Graal. The bill addressed three areas: child welfare workforce shortages, higher-acuity children in out-of-home care, and services/data for commercially sexually exploited children. It would create a CPI and case manager recruitment program aimed at former public safety and service workers, convene a workforce work group, establish a four-year treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits identified by DCF based on removal and placement data, and require more detailed, extractable child-level data on commercially sexually exploited children along with a bed capacity study and service gap analysis. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified record retention for redacted assessments, and another attached the appropriation. The committee then heard CS/SB 110 on rural communities from Senator Simon. The bill proposed a broad rural development package, including a state office of rural prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for counties with declining populations, increased housing support, major rural road funding, school consortium funding, and additional health care resources for rural facilities and training. A delete-all amendment was adopted that expanded and refined several provisions, including local sales tax trust fund distributions, county connectivity projects, agritourism marketing support, disaster-impacted rural infrastructure eligibility, insurance and provider eligibility changes, and increased funding for critical access hospitals and rural medical education reimbursement. Both bills drew broad support from local government, education, health care, housing, and rural advocacy representatives. Supporters said the rural bill was especially comprehensive and would help small counties, schools, roads, housing, and health care, while one witness cautioned that road expansion should be balanced with protection of agricultural and natural lands. Senator Bradley and Senator Simon emphasized local control and the importance of strengthening rural Florida without imposing mandates. CS/SB 7012 and CS/SB 110 were both reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this program distributes funding across our state to workforce area boards, which then provide employment
• Our local workforce development boards and community organizations were able to get those additional
• Last year, there was a proposal to completely zero out federal youth workforce development funds.
• workforce development boards and workforce development boards and community<00:03:29.440> organizations
• <00:04:07.599> development federal youth workforce development federal youth workforce development

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, workforce... Thank you.
• Education that gets us into more workforce housing, I mean, workforce development and not simply going
• pipeline development.
• There's some major plans in the area for development and will dramatically increase the tax base.
• There's some major plans in the area for development and will dramatically increase the tax base.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 55, the governor’s FY25 supplemental budget proposal to spend about $1.3 billion in surplus Fair Share revenue. House and Senate chairs framed the bill as a one-time opportunity to invest fairly in education and transportation, while also noting the need to protect the state’s long-term fiscal balance. Administration officials said the proposal should be considered alongside the FY26 budget and related bills, since the governor’s broader Fair Share plan aims for roughly an even split between education and transportation over time. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler outlined the administration’s priorities. Transportation funding would go mainly to the MBTA and related reserves, including money for the Federal Transit Administration reserve, MBTA stabilization reserve, low-income fares, winter resilience, RTA workforce support, MassDOT workforce and project delivery, and micro-transit grants. Education funding would support universal preschool expansion, early education and care capacity, early literacy tutoring, adult basic education and ESOL, early college and career technical education, MyCAP expansion, and special education circuit breaker funding. The administration emphasized that many of these investments are one-time or multi-year measures designed to address current needs without creating unsustainable recurring costs. Committee members raised concerns about regional equity, especially the large share of transportation money going to the MBTA versus regional transit authorities and rural areas. Several members asked for more detail on how the proposal would benefit Western Massachusetts and other non-MBTA regions, and whether micro-transit and Chapter 90-related investments would be sufficient. Education questions focused on special education reimbursement shortfalls, federal funding cuts to school districts, and how CTE and vocational investments would align students with workforce needs. The administration said it would provide additional data on MBTA versus RTA investment and explained that the special education circuit breaker and transportation reimbursement changes were intended to improve predictability and relief for districts. After the administration panel, Jessica Tang of AFT Massachusetts testified in support of using Fair Share funds to protect public education amid federal uncertainty and cuts. She argued that schools are facing a fiscal cliff, that vulnerable students would be hit hardest by funding losses, and that the Fair Share revenue should be used to preserve services and support students’ needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a great public-private partnership in that new development area in Capo Alet.
• It was a great public-private partnership in that new development area in Capo Alet.
• It was a great public-private partnership in that new development area in Capo Alet.
• It was a great public-private partnership in that new development area in Capo Alet.
• It was a great public-private partnership in that new development area in Capo Alet.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• how we can have additional workforce how we can have additional workforce development<00:24:48.559
• We have been a hub of research and development. We have an educated workforce.
• It cheats the workforce development fund.
• Those of you on other committees, you do workforce development.
• > in workforce development if you're in workforce development if you're in education<02:15:47.360

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Because transfer taxes reduce housing development, they can also reduce the development of affordable
• of educator workforce housing.
• of educator workforce housing.
• So we are concerned that it doesn't account for areas that are necessary for planning and student development
• So we are concerned that it doesn't account for areas that are necessary for planning and student development

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee heard a long agenda of housing, water, and local finance bills, with the chair repeatedly reminding attendees about hearing rules and noting that several measures were being heard without a quorum at first. Early items included AB 407, which would broaden eligibility for state-run loan and financing programs to help small businesses fund environmental, seismic, and ADA upgrades, and AB 93, which would require data centers to estimate and report water use and follow state best practices. AB 93 drew support from water advocates and local government groups, while the Data Center Coalition opposed it, arguing the bill could be overly restrictive, difficult to retrofit, and raise trade secret or security concerns. The committee also heard AB 650 on housing element review, AB 1044 on creating a new Tulare County groundwater sustainability agency, and AB 523 on allowing proxy voting for single-representative member agencies on the Metropolitan Water District board; all drew broad support from local agencies and related stakeholders and no recorded opposition in the room. Several housing bills were presented as part of a broader fast-track housing package. AB 507 would streamline adaptive reuse of office buildings into housing, especially in downtowns with high vacancy; supporters said it would revive urban cores and help meet housing and climate goals, while the League of California Cities and a few cities opposed it unless amended, citing concerns about one-size-fits-all by-right approval and fee limitations. AB 1294 would create a universal housing application and limit early application requirements; it drew strong support from housing and business groups, with the American Planning Association and League of California Cities seeking more flexibility and input. AB 610 would require local governments to disclose housing constraints in their housing elements and limit new constraints after certification for three years unless disclosed; supporters said it would improve transparency and certainty, while opponents warned it could chill legitimate local policy choices and inclusionary housing requirements. Both AB 610 and AB 698, which would require analysis of the housing and property tax impacts of proposed transfer taxes, were moved out of committee on 7-0 votes after discussion and amendments. The committee also heard AB 1112, which would repeal an outdated Riverside County property tax provision affecting Rancho Mirage; the city argued it was the only qualifying no-low property tax city not receiving the standard minimum and sought equal treatment. After quorum was established, the bill was passed 6-0 with amendments and sent to Appropriations. AB 1021, heard later, would make it easier for school districts and other local education agencies to build employee housing, with the author citing teacher recruitment and retention problems and support from education stakeholders. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance housing production, local fiscal tools, and infrastructure needs, and several authors accepted committee amendments and committed to continued negotiations with opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• , management, and economic development, management, and economic development, ensuring<00:09:31.279
• <00:10:52.160> such gain hands-on experience in areas such gain hands-on experience in areas
• <00:24:15.600> stakeholders to benefit all workforce stakeholders to benefit all workforce
• nationally in workforce participation. nationally in workforce participation.
• participation and workforce engagement. participation and workforce engagement.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met without a quorum, so no minutes were approved. The committee then heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University President Timothy Kabone, who highlighted WKU’s recent gains in graduation rate, retention, degree production, graduate enrollment, research activity, and financial stability. He said WKU’s FY 2026 budget is structurally balanced without one-time reserves, and he tied the university’s growth to its strategic plan and to Senate Bill 77, which created a pathway for WKU’s first PhD program. WKU’s initial PhD offering is planned in data sciences for fall 2027, and Kabone said the university continues to pursue R2 research status. Kabone also outlined WKU’s budget requests, including a 4.5% base appropriation increase for each year of the biennium, a $30 million increase in the performance funding pool, a $30 million trust fund for tuition waiver reimbursement, and $2 million per year for the Gatton Academy. He also requested continued funding for the Kentucky Mesonet, 8.9% of proposed asset preservation funding, and support for a $280 million new Potter College facility. He emphasized inflationary pressures, rising fixed costs, and the burden of mandated tuition waivers, and said the university supports performance funding but wants the model adjusted to better reward student success rather than enrollment growth. Members asked about WKU’s student housing situation and the transition away from the former student life foundation model. Kabone said the foundation structure had run its course, that the university had lacked adequate oversight under the old arrangement, and that WKU is moving to a public-private partnership with Gilbane and the College Housing Foundation. He said the new model would not increase the university’s debt load and would replace older residence halls with a roughly 1,000-bed complex, eliminate community-style bathrooms over time, and expand living-learning communities. Representatives McCool and Tipton praised WKU’s graduation and retention results and asked questions about the housing project and its timeline. The committee then heard from CareerVXR and KCTCS about a proposed career exploration pilot. Company representatives said the platform uses web-based and virtual reality experiences to show students real jobs and workplaces, with the goal of addressing an “awareness gap” in workforce participation. They proposed a $1.8 million, two-year pilot to reach 50,000 to 60,000 students in three regions, including Hazard Community and Technical College, Southeast Community and Technical College, and western Kentucky. Members asked about cost, funding source, and locations, and were told the request would come through the KCTCS budget. The meeting ended with notice that the next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, February 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we are serious about student success, transfer degree completion, and workforce development, we must
• I served 12 years on the California Workforce Development Board, so workforce development and economic
• , and child development.
• You know, in workforce development, I want to see...
• You know, workforce development, I want to see greater coordination with our workforce development boards

Keywords: 987, senate, all