Transcript Highlights:

• Just to share with you, it's 53% complete, with an average of 830 construction workers out there daily
• So, a lot of workers out there, our Elmore County partners are tickled about that because they actually
• see some economic benefit as well from having all those workers come to their county.
• Those workers come to their county.
• Workers, there's classrooms, and there's space for them to actually get outside.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Communication Workers of America District Council 9. Welcome, and you will have two minutes.
• Ignacio Hernandez, on behalf of the Communication Workers of America, District 9.
• The other thing, these are workers that CWA Person who can do that.
• The other thing, these are workers that CWA represents.
• Agnoster Hernandez, registering support for the United Video Game Workers, CWA, in support.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , like highly specialized workers.
• , like highly specialized workers.
• , like highly specialized workers.
• , like highly specialized workers.
• , like highly specialized workers.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division II work session considered several amendments to HB 2. The first two items were rejected: a proposal to add a new “Lakes” license plate with proceeds to the cyanobacteria fund failed 7-8, and Amendment 1040, which would have imposed a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds to raise general fund revenue, failed 4-5. Representative Maguire explained the fee would apply only to new revenue going forward and would not change existing fund balances; he also described exemptions for federal funds, bequests, and other special cases. Representative Murray questioned the consistency of the approach and who currently pays administrative costs, while Maguire said the charges are often handled case-by-case by agencies or the treasurer. The committee then revisited revenue distribution changes in HB 2. Members first reconsidered and reversed prior acceptance of sections affecting the Education Trust Fund, then adopted Amendment 1381H, which changes the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, along with related sections, to shift more money to the General Fund. Supporters argued the change was needed to address revenue shortfalls and to align with historical distributions; opponents said it reduced support for education. The reconsideration motion passed 7-3, and the amendment itself passed 5-3. The committee also adopted Amendment 1413H, incorporating the language of HB 741 on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools. Supporters said it was House policy and had sufficient policy and fiscal impact to belong in HB 2; opponents noted the underlying bill had been controversial and passed the House by a relatively close margin. Finally, the committee considered a USNH budget reduction proposal that would cut the University System of New Hampshire by $25 million per year net. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that K-12 obligations had to take priority, while opponents argued the cut would harm workforce development, the state economy, and student retention. The transcript cuts off during extended debate, and no final vote on the USNH item is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director with the National Association of Social Workers Kentucky chapter.
• National Association of Social Workers National Association of Social Workers Kentucky<00:22:57.200
• Thank you. social worker working with dying people social worker working with dying people kiddos<00:
• and as a licensed clinical social worker, absolutely they can see any client and every client.
• clinical social workers as a a licensed clinical social workers absolutely<00:36:16.960> they

Keywords: Consideration of HB 9 00:02:20 Consideration of HB 495 00:08:53 Consideration of HB 520 00:46:51 Consideration of HB 622 00:54:39 Consideration of HB 635 00:59:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 9, which would create oversight for Medicaid-related policy through a board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. Sponsor Rep. Adam Bowling said the measure was intended to bring legislative, executive, and stakeholder voices together to vet issues and make better-informed Medicaid policy. Members generally supported the concept, though some questioned the proposed board’s party breakdown and whether the language should be updated now rather than later. After discussion, the committee voted 19-0 to pass HB 9 favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 495, which Rep. Hail said would protect mental health care professionals, institutions, and ordained ministers from discrimination when providing what the bill calls protected counseling services. He described the bill as a parental-choice measure that would allow counseling aligned with family values and said it also creates a civil cause of action for harmed parties. Opponents argued the bill would shield conversion therapy, with Dr. Eric Russ, Brandon Long, Dr. Brandon Creech, Brenda Rosen, Chris Hartman, and Dr. Bobby Glass testifying that conversion therapy is discredited, harmful, and associated with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide risk. They said professional medical and counseling organizations oppose such practices and urged rejection of the bill. During questions, Rep. Layman pressed the sponsor on whether the bill would protect therapies even if a child was not in distress and on whether the committee should be endorsing a practice discredited by professional organizations. Rep. Hail responded that he viewed the issue as a parental choice and said he believed the bill protects providers offering those services. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 495, with no final vote shown on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now is the time to invest in eligibility workers so we can keep people connected to Medi-Cal.
• Now is the time to invest in eligibility workers so we can keep people connected to Medi-Cal.
• , the same workers that drove the uninsured rate down to 6% during the ACA.
• Counties are very clear that we need real workers.
• We need to invest in real workers.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee first heard May Revision items for child support, child care, and related human services. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the LAO said raised no concerns. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a shift in how federal and Proposition 64 funding reductions would be absorbed, a 2.01% COLA, disaster-related child care infrastructure grants, an increase in in-contract administrative support costs for alternative payment agencies, reversion of prospective-pay implementation funding after a federal rule change, a one-time allocation to cover the first quarter of Cost of Care Plus payments in the next fiscal year, reappropriation for existing infrastructure grant closeout work, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The department also outlined trailer bill language on a single rate structure, site safety and emergency procedures, CalWORKs child care data sharing, and child care oversight. The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more justification for shifting reductions from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment Program, noting that CAP reductions affect more slots and that General Child Care has had significant unspent funds. It supported removing prospective-pay funding, but recommended rejecting the administrative cost shift to a percentage-based rate because it could create future General Fund pressure. It also suggested the Legislature review alignment between the disaster grants and the child care infrastructure program. Senators and members pressed the administration on why the budget would reduce child care slots and COLA percentages while the state still has waitlists and unspent funds, and questioned the need for early funding of Cost of Care Plus payments and the move from a flat administrative amount to a percentage. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, county offices, and infrastructure partners, urged full COLA funding, preservation of child care slots, support for prospective pay, and continued investment in child care access and facilities. After a short recess, the committee moved to Part B on health and heard the Department of State Hospitals. DSH presented a May Revision budget of $3.2 billion and described proposals for a central utility plant replacement at Metropolitan State Hospital, an electronic health record implementation, reduced county bed billing authority due to phased-in LPS bed capacity, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscriptions, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal shifting some costs to Behavioral Health Services Act funds, including support for an additional psychiatric training cohort at Napa. The department also outlined IST-related savings and a trailer bill to remove the sunset on the independent placement panel program.

Transcript Highlights:

• At companies, that's because what companies do is let go of workers.
• And we don't seem as employers of health care workers to be able to change that.
• It's coming exactly from worker paychecks.
• And ...worker wages, it's basically kept pace with inflation over the last two decades.
• The public workers and employees for state workers, municipalities in California, recognized this.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , workers without college degrees, non-citizens, immigrants, and women.
• Let's imagine a worker—a low-wage worker who's concerned that they haven't been paid what they're owed
• A worker files a claim.
• Hi, I'm Bonnie McKeegan, licensed clinical social worker from Grass Valley.
• My mother used medical aid in dying with a Social worker from Grass Valley.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• California workers were facing Depression-era levels of unemployment, and we were seeing in real time
• And, you know, this is ultimately about our workers. It's not about red carpets.
• It's about the small businesses and workers who are... It's not about red carpets.
• It's about the small businesses and workers who rely on the good-paying, family-sustaining jobs that
• To stand with our workers and our film industry, we just wanted to really express how concerned we are

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the community social worker for the City of East Hampton.
• That's a thousand of an estimated 50,000 workers who are not able to get a union.
• U.S. labor law was never written with home care workers in mind.
• My name is Dionysia, and I am a home care worker for Latter Care.
• Workers like me do this work because we care. Thank you.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several aging-related bills, with most speakers focusing on housing stability, home-based services, and care transitions. Representative Badger and a commissioner testified in support of H4039, which would create a universal breakfast and lunch program at senior centers funded through a new Senior Breakfast and Lunch Fund, arguing it would reduce food insecurity and social isolation among older adults. Representative Lipper-Garabedian and multiple providers then supported H780/S495, the hospital-to-home partnership program, describing how embedded aging-services liaisons help older patients transition safely from hospitals to home, reduce readmissions, and avoid nursing facility placement; witnesses from Mystic Valley Elder Services and Mass Aging Access cited pilot results, including hundreds of patients served and examples of substantial cost savings and successful discharge planning. The committee also took testimony on S478, which would require continuing care retirement communities to disclose entrance-fee refund policies more clearly at enrollment. Senator Lovely and LeadingAge Massachusetts said the bill would improve transparency for residents and families, while a consumer witness said her family experienced delays and confusion in getting a refund after her mother left a CCRC. Members noted the issue is also being examined by a special commission on CCRCs. A large portion of the hearing focused on S475, a statewide bridge subsidy program for older adults facing housing instability. Advocates from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Western Massachusetts, Somerville, Northampton, East Hampton, Old Colony Elder Services, and Somerville’s Office of Housing Stability described rising senior homelessness, long waitlists for subsidized housing, and cases where short-term rental assistance kept older adults housed while they waited for permanent housing. Somerville witnesses said the pilot program helped nine households remain housed and that some participants have since moved into permanent housing. Members asked about wait times, program design, and how to prioritize applicants; witnesses emphasized flexibility, emergency risk, and the need for a statewide expansion. The hearing also included testimony on S465, an ALS bill that would expand home care access regardless of age and bar the use of quality-adjusted life-year metrics in coverage decisions, with the sponsor and ALS Association arguing the measure would reduce discriminatory treatment and better center patient care. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we believe that the reason we started ECHO was to upskill frontline workers.
• As you know, healthcare workers face a growing crisis of overwork and isolation.
• We have many Community Health Workers (CHWs) and certified peer support workers involved in opioid best
• We have an ECHO ongoing to upskill CHWs and peer support workers in opioid use disorder.
• We also have a community health worker and peer support worker opioid ECHO program, which is weekly.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a state worker with Housing and Community Development.
• I'm here in support because our state workers deserve fair representation just like all workers across
• Nurses, health care workers, janitors, social workers, security officers, in-home caregivers. school
• and university employees, court workers, airport workers, city, county, state employees, all of whom
• Julie Nielsen, on behalf of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, representing healthcare workers

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've already heard this, that it might discourage election workers.
• Workers are dedicated public servants who aim to follow the law precisely.
• Okay, so I'm an election worker.
• Would this apply to poll workers, ballot board members, or other temporary workers when this issue may
• Every week this committee hears... to workers and voters.

Bills: HB569, HB766, HB1638, HB2316, HB2773, HB2785, HB3113, HB3709, HB3775, HB4275

Keywords: early voting, ballot correction, voting rights, election integrity, mail-in voting, voter notification, HB 766, precinct chair, precinct chair candidate, ballot application, Texas Election Code, Section 172.021, election administration, candidate filing, party precinct chair, county party, political party office, email address, telephone number, confidential candidate information

Transcript Highlights:

• Farmers uh who employ just a few workers Farmers uh who employ just a few workers up<00:11:48.279>
• He asked that the bills be moved separately, at least, and that the committee work on the worker safety
• uh and then working on the on the worker uh and then working on the on the worker safety<00:26:01.360
• so um I hope you uh the workers so um I hope you uh reconsider<00:26:24.399> your reconsider
• of workers is not accurate<00:30:03.399> if<00:30:03.480> you<00:30:03.600> were

Bills: HF1704, HF1722

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation to protect election workers legislation to protect election workers from<01:20:25.000
• <01:20:31.679> and we hear democratic election workers and we hear democratic election workers
• it<01:20:35.880> that nonpartisan election workers say it that nonpartisan election workers
• <01:37:00.199> were activities and election workers were activities and election workers were
• election officials and election workers election officials and election workers Minnesota<01:37:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• there's a worker impact fee required. there's a worker impact fee required.
• With the hard workers, what would happen?
• With the hard workers, With the hard workers, what<01:27:01.320> would<01:27:01.520> happen
• We support Senate file 4618's worker We support Senate file 4618's worker impact<01:53:01.040>
• and other Minnesota workers. and other Minnesota workers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:01.600> under my your bill would exclude workers under my your bill would exclude workers
• Unemployment is nearly three times higher for Black workers than for white workers.
• Unemployment is nearly three times higher for Black workers than for white workers.
• three times higher for black workers three times higher for black workers than<01:14:39.840>
• > are than the white workers they are than the white workers they are unrepresented<01:14:43.360

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Errors can be caused by our state eligibility workers.
• So we have a lot of newer, less experienced workers.
• But we can also read cases for new workers or workers that are struggling or an error-prone case.
• Workers or workers that are struggling or an error-prone case, we can read those and correct errors up
• So it's the combination of worker errors and client errors.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if it doesn't happen, what would be the impact on the number of social workers that are able to go
• And to put that in a worker perspective, we need to hire 400 new workers.
• This puts 450 workers' jobs at risk, and in total, we're 717 short of what's needed.
• Without additional investment, thousands of vulnerable children, workers, asylum seekers, and long-term
• . ...of $89 million in General Fund that would leave counties short of at least 717 eligibility workers

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major topic was child care and early education, where the Department of Social Services and Department of Finance outlined proposed changes to absorb federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue reductions, shift some funding between child care programs, end funding for prospective pay implementation now that the federal requirement has been rescinded, adjust the alternative payment administration structure, and fund child care infrastructure grants and a Low-Income Investment Fund contract closeout. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the budget makes progress on the structural deficit but recommended maintaining the administration’s solution level, making reserve deposits, and avoiding new ongoing commitments; it also raised concerns about shifting reductions to the California Alternative Payment Program and about the proposed administrative-rate change. Committee members strongly criticized the proposed loss of child care slots and said they would oppose eliminating those slots, while also expressing support for child care as essential infrastructure. The committee then reviewed California State Preschool Program proposals. Finance and CDE described reductions to the preschool COLA from 2.41% to 2.01%, removal of prospective pay funding, and increases for the QRIS block grant, audit support, and rate reform implementation. Trailer bill language would codify age-based rate categories, inclusion-rate documentation, family fee collection rules, portability, and excused absences. CDE supported the QRIS increase and some attendance and family-fee changes, but warned that aligning three- and four-year-old rates could reduce support for three-year-olds and that the budget does not fully cover enrollment growth. Members also questioned whether the preschool and child care slot reductions should be reallocated rather than terminated, and the administration said the reductions were intended to reflect current utilization and avoid harm to currently enrolled families. The hearing then moved to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS said the May Revision includes a one-time CalFood augmentation, funding to cover federal SNAP administrative cost-share pressures, and additional staffing and technical assistance to implement HR 1 changes, including the able-bodied adults without dependents time limit and new non-citizen eligibility rules. The department estimated HR 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people, with roughly 806,000 adults potentially subject to the time limit and about 34,000 non-citizens expected to lose eligibility once fully implemented. Members pressed for stronger harm mitigation, including a $98 million backfill to protect families from losing food benefits, and raised concerns about county workload and the “chilling effect” on immigrant participation. The final portion of the transcript began the IHSS presentation, noting a revised budget of $33.7 billion total funds and $12.8 billion General Fund, with proposed reductions tied to Medi-Cal asset-limit changes and other federal conformity items.

Transcript Highlights:

• My core values have always been grounded in a fundamental belief I learned as a social worker: to be
• striving to do compassionate workers striving to do their<00:10:39.399> best<00:10:39.680>
• After verifying with my superiors, I agreed to assist since a worker and patient needed support during
• For 35 years, I've known Ryan to be a social worker.
• Ryan Yamane because of his extensive experience as a legislator, social worker, and administrator.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several gubernatorial nominations and appointments, beginning with Sunshine Cho and Barbara Tom for the Language Access Advisory Council. Both nominees said they stood on their written testimony and expressed interest in continuing to serve, and multiple organizations testified in strong support. No opposition or questions were raised on either nomination, and the committee moved on after hearing the testimony. The bulk of the meeting focused on GM 642, the nomination of Ryan Yamane to be Director of the Department of Human Services. Yamane gave an extensive opening statement describing his social work background, long public service career, and philosophy of compassionate, balanced leadership. He emphasized DHS’s role in helping people from keiki to kūpuna with dignity and support, and shared personal stories from disaster response and family-service work to illustrate his approach. Support testimony came from a wide range of state officials, agency directors, community organizations, health systems, advocacy groups, and former colleagues, who praised his leadership, problem-solving, communication skills, and empathy. One witness, Moani Kiala Katherine Tu Alun, testified in opposition, raising concerns about retaliation and safety issues affecting foster youth and alleging harmful treatment within Child Welfare Services. Another witness, Angela Melody Young, supported the nomination and said Yamane could help overcome barriers for vulnerable communities and improve DHS programs such as financial assistance, SNAP, and disability services. The committee also heard from DHS staff and related officials about the uncertainty surrounding possible federal funding and staffing cuts; Yamane said the department is gathering information, coordinating with Budget and Finance and federal partners, and preparing to prioritize services and adjust if federal changes affect programs. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• reflects the fact that companies are in complete control of the information and data that consumers or workers
• There's a black box that consumers or workers would need in that consumers or workers would need in order
• Consumers and workers should proposal.
• Consumers and workers should be<00:21:30.720> treated<00:21:31.039> fairly<00:21:31.360
• , the workers are the ones<00:36:37.599> who<00:36:37.760> will<00:36:37.920> pay

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3794, as amended by the A4 amendment, was heard in committee. Representative Greenman described the bill as a ban on surveillance-based pricing and wage discrimination, with a disclosure requirement for companies using automated data to set individualized prices or wages. The A4 amendment was adopted; Greenman said it updated language based on attorney general and stakeholder feedback and added a burden-shifting provision that would let consumers or workers establish a presumption, which companies could then rebut with data. Greenman and supporters argued the bill would stop companies from using personal data and AI tools to charge different prices to different people, while still allowing ordinary market-based discounts and clearly offered group discounts such as those for veterans, students, or teachers. Supportive testimony came from the Minnesota Farmers Union, a neighborhood bookstore owner, Consumer Reports, and a small business owner. They said surveillance pricing undermines fairness, transparency, and competition, and cited examples such as different online prices based on location, browser history, or loyalty-program data. Testifiers also warned that AI-driven pricing and discounting can be opaque and discriminatory, and that small businesses cannot compete with large firms that control more data. Consumer Reports said consumers should not have to use workarounds like VPNs to compare prices and noted that some discounts based on personal data may also need sunlight and guardrails. Opposition came from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Progress. They argued the bill’s definitions are too broad and could sweep in ordinary business analytics, loyalty programs, targeted promotions, inventory tools, and even spreadsheets, creating compliance risk and discouraging innovation and investment. They also warned the bill could burden small businesses and interfere with workplace management and compensation decisions. During member discussion, several legislators voiced support for the bill as a transparency and fairness measure, while one member noted that the most egregious examples appear to be in e-commerce and said the committee was laying the bill over for further consideration.