Transcript Highlights:

• I think about a lot as a state employee, that's our pensions.
• On those state investments, those state equity investments.
• And that covers education, covers the state, covers all employees.
• Which covers what we already addressed municipal, county and state employees and more than 47,000 retirees
• of poverty that the state is in, the constant state of poverty.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> been</c> maintenance employees have been maintenance employees have been recognized<00:03:50.640
• </c><00:09:27.519><c> And</c> earmarks that come to the state. And earmarks that come to the state.
• </c><00:21:30.240><c> Highway</c> Association of State Highway Association of State Highway Transportation
• Is that on the uh employee health.
• um reimbursements that we give employees um reimbursements that we give employees for<00:29:08.559><c

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum at first, then later approved the minutes once quorum was established. The committee heard presentations from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Jeremy Slinker, and Sean McCarnieran on maintenance, vehicle regulation, general administration, highways, and related capital projects. Hancock emphasized that maintenance is the cabinet’s most visible public service, especially for snow and ice removal and routine roadway upkeep, and said rising costs have outpaced funding. He cited a 61% increase in highway construction costs since 2020 and said maintenance spending was $488 million in FY 2024 and $511 million in FY 2025, while the FY 2026 baseline request was $483.3 million. The cabinet’s additional maintenance request would add $23.6 million in FY 2027 and $38.6 million in FY 2028, with expected impacts on litter pickup, mowing, vegetation management, and pothole repair if not funded. The cabinet also outlined five maintenance-related capital projects: additional funding for Ballard County maintenance/salt storage, Hopkins County maintenance/salt storage, Whitley County maintenance/salt structure, and the District 2 office and materials lab, plus reauthorization of the Breckinridge County maintenance and salt facility. Hancock also asked for budget language allowing the cabinet to use unexpected restricted and federal funds more quickly, similar to existing authority for federal earmarks. McCarnieran described the governor’s inclusion of funding for the ASHTOWare system, employee health exams, priority IT projects, and a District 7 office renovation request, noting that some items were not funded because they ranked low among competing projects. He also said the governor’s budget included a $7.5 million annual maintenance pool for the cabinet’s 1,200 facilities and requested additional restricted fund authority for Trimark and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Slinker focused on the Department of Vehicle Regulation, saying recent investments in staffing and equipment had reduced wait times and improved customer service in driver licensing offices. He requested $535,600 to keep temporary contract workers in place for the rest of the year, warning that without it regional office operations would have to be reduced. He said the surge in demand was driven by new 15-year-old licensing requirements, vision testing, and Real ID implementation, but believed the volume was beginning to level out. He also outlined FY 2027 and FY 2028 plans totaling $20.38 million and $19.85 million, including six new regional offices and a shift away from temporary workers toward state positions. Additional requests included $106,000 for debt service on the new driver’s license modernization system and operating costs of $5 million in FY 2027 and $2.5 million in FY 2028 to support the transition from the old system. Members asked about the cabinet’s funding sources, and officials said the road fund is the primary source, supported by motor fuels tax, usage tax, driver-related receipts, and some restricted funds; they stressed that the requests were not for additional general fund dollars. Questions also covered employee health exam reimbursements, the annual Trimark/Cumberland Gap contract, and the District 7 renovation request. No votes were taken on the budget items during the meeting, beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it creates a process for the State Bar to investigate complaints against an... ...for the State Bar
• It's under attack from out-of-state actors.
• in their employees, but who are also owners.
• So, for example, if an employee...
• These are state projects.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• One, those categories of employees.
• </c> um to leave Minnesota's ban on employee um to leave Minnesota's ban on employee non-compete<00:08
• 00:09:09.920><c> employees</c><00:09:10.640><c> ongoing</c> clear the employees ongoing clear the employees
• </c><00:12:59.680><c> Thank</c> employees without restriction. Thank employees without restriction.
• </c> state of Minnesota is depending on us. state of Minnesota is depending on us.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to begin by thanking you for your support of TMB and all state employees last session with the
• Thank you for the state board.
• We tend to have a very high percentage of our employees who are lower than the average for other state
• Bush State Office Building.
• employees.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The DOR expects the state portion of the bill to be minimal but indeterminate, since the state receives
• The DOR expects the state portion of the bill to be minimal but indeterminate, since the state receives
• Washington businesses paid over $10,000 in state and local taxes per employee in 2024, even before that
• I serve as the president of the Washington Federation of State Employees, representing more than 55,000
• At the same time, other states are actively recruiting Washington employers and employees with aggressive

Bills: HB2334 , HB2140 , HB2326 , HB2100

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Would this apply to all medical fields in the state of Idaho?
• It will require that state and local governments and all private employers with over 150 employees who
• So that means that business both in Idaho and out of state would be... State contract.
• If you're saying, hey, I'm not going to capture the guy that's got two or three employees or 20 employees
• You're saying, hey, I'm not going to capture the guy that's got two or three employees or 20 employees

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• I am president of the State Employees Association of New Hampshire, representing approximately 15,000
• employees in the state, county, municipal, and private sectors.
• The state enacted an agency fee, and I had one of my employees come in tears about the fact that money
• As a simple example in New Hampshire, he said that in 2009 the State Employees Association refused to
• </c><01:43:23.040><c> of</c> Hampshire was in 2009 the state of Hampshire was in 2009 the state of employees

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• employee in going into the state employees group.
• employee in going into the state employees group.
• employee in going into the state employees group.
• employee in going into the state employees group.
• </c><00:18:44.320><c> employees</c> when the state employees when the state employees insurance<00:18

Bills: SF0059 , SF0053

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so House Bill 47, School Employee Insurance Programs. Mr.
• the legislature provided to all public employees last year. year.
• A reminder that doesn't mean that's all employees.
• Accordingly, the state followed suit for other state workers at this level.
• . employees not even being made aware that that was coming.

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• municipals</c> it only state employees is it municipals it only state employees is it municipals it<01
• which</c><01:48:51.719><c> is</c> state employees that will which is state employees that will which
• ><c> employees</c> of the coverage for the state employees of the coverage for the state employees is
• > the</c><01:54:35.880><c> that</c> state employee benefit that the that state employee benefit that
• ><c> we</c> that the state employee premium that we that the state employee premium that we pay<02:06

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns. Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a friend; they have employees throughout the state. And they were contacted.
• We're paying 80 percent of state employees.
• The state is paying 80 percent of health insurance coverage for employees.
• And I'd also like to say, as a former state employee, that any state employee serves the entire state
• And it just happens to be that what is the percentage of state employees in the capital city?

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Under such a policy, the head of a state agency may enter into an agreement with an employee authorizing
• This agreement may be revoked by the state agency at any time without notice to the employee.
• This is not a new issue for state agencies or state employees.
• My name is Blade Berkman, and I'm speaking as a private citizen and state employee, not on behalf of
• These states will begin issuing multi-state licenses in 2026.

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up a long list of pending House bills, most of them on motions by Senator King or Senator Campbell. The committee adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported numerous bills, including HB 252, HB 700, HB 1500, HB 1545, HB 1562, HB 1732, HB 267, HB 2213, HB 2221, HB 2520, HB 2818, HB 3016, HB 3214, HB 3250, HB 3512, HB 3623, HB 3689, HB 3833, HB 4063, HB 4395, HB 4690, HB 4751, HB 5331, HB 3824, HB 4464, HB 4468, and HB 5247. Most of these were sent to the local and uncontested calendar, while some, including sunset and other significant measures, were reported to the full Senate. HB 146 was the only bill reported out on a divided vote, passing 6 ayes to 4 nays. Several bills received brief explanation of committee substitute changes. HB 3016, dealing with rental car collision damage waivers and stolen vehicles, was amended to change a cooperation standard from “fully cooperate” to simply “cooperate.” HB 3689, a major ESF/TWA financing bill, was described as making technical changes to align terminology with the Comptroller’s authority and to avoid creating state debt or new liability. HB 5247, a capital cost recovery bill for transmission in the Permian Basin, was revised to clarify how the new mechanism fits with existing Utilities Code provisions and to add a 2035 expiration date. HB 3824, the battery fire safety bill, also received technical changes to align terminology with industry usage. The committee heard public testimony on several pending measures. HB 3069, which would direct the PUC to develop supplemental multi-decade planning criteria for transmission certificates in ERCOT, drew support from industry, environmental, and manufacturing witnesses who said it would help address congestion costs while balancing consumer protections; the bill was left pending. HB 5196, requiring state agencies to adopt and post telework policies and use written telework agreements, received both support and concern: supporters said it would preserve productivity and retention, while a senator raised concerns about notice and family logistics; it was left pending after testimony. HB 3112, allowing closed deliberations on cybersecurity policy details, was laid out and left pending after brief discussion. HCR 102, supporting federal nuclear tax credits, drew testimony from nuclear industry and energy advocates, who argued the credits are essential for existing plants, new nuclear development, grid reliability, and U.S. competitiveness; the resolution was left pending, with discussion about whether the language should focus more exclusively on nuclear. HB 705, creating a cosmetology licensure compact, was supported by industry, employers, and compact experts as a mobility tool that preserves state authority; HB 3516, expanding a public information exemption for Railroad Commission administrative law judges and technical examiners, and HB 3388, authorizing group property and casualty coverage for personal lines, were also heard and left pending. At the end of the meeting, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• employee.
• Would you state your names for the record? Yes. K. Barnhill, State Personnel Director.
• employees.
• What we're trying to do now is have performance-based pay, so all state employees would be evaluated
• He’s been with the state employee for 14 years. He knows occupational therapy.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The meeting began with a prayer, approval of the prior minutes, and a February 2026 revenue report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year, and said the updated forecast showed a larger expected surplus than before. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fees, and possible effects of inflation and international conflict; Silva generally attributed the changes to timing issues, prior tax cuts, refund activity, and price fluctuations, and said he could not speculate on future impacts. The committee then heard and adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish State Police, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and APER filings. Most reports were approved without objection. One budget classification transfer for the Commissioner of State Lands was reviewed and failed. The review report also led to discussion of several contracts, including DHS staffing contracts and a Department of Education security contract, with some items held or separated for individual votes. A major portion of the meeting focused on DHS and state staffing contracts for the Human Development Centers, Arkansas State Hospital, and related facilities. DHS officials said the contracts were on track against seven-year projections, but members expressed concern about heavy reliance on contract labor, vacancy rates, and the need to move workers onto state payrolls. Officials said they were preparing a recruitment and retention plan and described staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. Members also questioned contract projections and federal-state funding matches, and several urged faster action to reduce contract labor costs. The committee also discussed a Department of Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and Employment and Training. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the cuts were driven by funding shortfalls, over-obligation of funds, and federal issues, and that 27 positions would be permanently eliminated while furloughed employees would be recalled. Members raised concerns about service impacts, board appointments, and the division’s fiscal management. The meeting ended after the personnel report was adopted and APER was filed as reviewed, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of Corrections and Vermont State of Corrections and Vermont State Hospital<00:10:05.040><c> employees
• It’s unlikely that an employee would have started employment on January 1st, as that date is a state
• It defaults municipal employees participating in the state retirement system to Group F.
• It’s unlikely that an employee would have started employment on January 1st, as that date is a state
• It defaults municipal employees participating in the state retirement system to Group F.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much. employees from the original fiscal note employees from the original fiscal note
• Please state Welcome to the committee.
• </c><00:24:46.960><c> of</c> defender office or for the state of defender office or for the state of
• And certainly, you know, employee compensation, for example, we feel that employees deserve to stay even
• we we feel that employees you example we we feel that employees you know<00:32:13.519><c> deserve</c

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm State Representative Carole Fiola. I'm State Representative Carole Fiola.
• I think our competition is more in our own country, state by state.
• We’ve also made it available to state employees.
• Across the United States, more than 14,000 employees help bring that commitment to life every day, including
• The state to kind of advertise the state in a much better position than it is now.

Bills: H5386

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Keywords: economic development, innovation, investment, housing, small business, global trade, infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• The state rail safety program, along with the F employees they complement, play a vital role in ensuring
• The state rail safety program, along with the F employees they complement, play a vital role in ensuring
• So, um, it's a big state.
• So, um, it's a big state.
• So, um, it's a big state.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, that involves the expenditure of state money. That involves the expenditure of state money.
• We are able to state our points.
• Any school district employee is able to negotiate their own employee contract.
• This state, it states, it says: 'This state shall not do anything of the following: Number one, grant
• of state.”

Committee: Joint Legislative Council

Summary: The committee met to review and adopt Legislative Council ballot measure analyses, with members repeatedly reminded that the hearing was limited to the accuracy, clarity, and impartiality of the summaries and not the merits of the underlying proposals. Steve Premack explained the statutory role of the analyses in the publicity pamphlet, and staff presented draft language for several measures. The committee considered and voted on multiple amendments, often debating whether proposed wording was clearer or instead crossed into advocacy or added unnecessary legal detail. For SCR 1004, members debated amendments to more closely mirror the measure’s text and to add language about electric vehicles and mileage, but several proposed changes were rejected. The analysis was ultimately adopted by an 8-6 roll call. HCR 2021 was then adopted without amendment by the same 8-6 margin. For HCR 2055, members debated whether the summary should say the Department of Homeland Security must “do everything” or “use all lawful means available,” and whether to add language about cartels acting “individually or collectively”; both amendments were rejected and the analysis was adopted 8-6. The committee next took up SCR 1004 on photo enforcement systems, where members proposed amendments to clarify that the measure would apply to red light cameras, to add “thereafter” regarding recurring voter approval, and to specify that approval would occur at the general election; those amendments failed, and the analysis was adopted 8-6. On SCR 1032, dealing with instructional expenses and classroom site fund reductions, members debated adding a definition of the Classroom Site Fund and spelling out the waiver process in more detail; both amendments failed, and the analysis was adopted 8-6. Finally, on HCR 2001 regarding citizenship identification and early voting, members rejected amendments that would have added background on current law, clarified that mail voting would be affected, added severability and revenue-source language, and struck the measure’s short title; the discussion was lengthy and at times contentious, but the transcript ends before a final roll-call vote on that measure is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill's adding an employee to the state? Correct.
• This is a Louisiana State Police Department bill. This is a Louisiana State Police Department bill.
• Other states have also done this.
• Other states have also done this.
• Thank you, Secretary of State. I want to close on your— Thank you, Secretary of State.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first deferred Senate Bill 49, which would remove the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the list of offices subject to closed party primary elections, after the sponsor said additional amendments were being prepared. It then took up House Bill 1247, which creates a statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator within the Department of Justice to improve access, evidence collection, and coordination for sexual assault survivors. Members adopted a committee amendment package that clarified the coordinating structure, geographic response considerations, reimbursement language, and related public records issues, and the bill was reported favorably as amended with support from health care and law enforcement-related groups. House Bill 1245, also dealing with public records, was amended to protect certain personal identifying information in criminal history records of criminal justice agency employees who serve as witnesses in criminal proceedings. The discussion focused on limiting release of Social Security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth while preserving disclosure required for court proceedings and impeachment-related purposes. The committee adopted a further amendment narrowing the protection to those PII items in records held by the clerk of court, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1011, allowing jurors to donate per diem compensation to CASA, and House Bill 1186, which standardizes construction code and inspector licensing records while protecting inspectors’ personal information, were also reported favorably. Senate Bill 425, which implements the constitutional mandate for removal by suit of certain elected officials for felony conviction, malfeasance, or gross misconduct, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it creates a civil process to address serious misconduct when criminal prosecution is unavailable or incomplete, while opponents warned it could be abused for political targeting, duplicate existing remedies, and rely on vague standards. After amendments clarifying the process and standards, the committee voted 10-5 to report the bill favorably as amended. The committee also adopted amendments and reported favorably House Bill 1057, extending absentee-by-mail eligibility for overseas service members from one year to two years, and began discussion of House Bill 709, which would create a rulemaking notification system, a 10-year sunset for certain rules, and an Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the governor’s office.