Transcript Highlights:

• access to and use of all the workforce access to and use of all the workforce tools<00:03:35.879
• Placemaking, workforce are the enablers of economic development, leveraging federal grants for local
• what their Workforce areas are like<00:14:36.040> actually<00:14:36.360> articulated<00
• More to be done, and we have very high standards, and our goal is that all 120 counties in the grant
• and we're going to our goal is standards and we're going to our goal is that<00:19:36.520> all

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:34 Economic Development Cabinet 27:51 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum, so the minutes from the last two meetings were not approved. Secretary Noel of the Cabinet for Economic Development then gave a broad overview of the cabinet’s work and an update on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPD), with Deputy Secretary Katie Smith and General Counsel Matt also present. He said the cabinet’s strategy is to focus on high-wage job creation, especially in automotive transformation, business and financial professional services, tourism, logistics, agri-tech, aerospace, and other high-tech sectors, while also supporting small and medium-sized businesses and existing employers. Noel highlighted several program results and examples, including average incentivized wages approaching $27 per hour, 877 jobs and $346 million in investment through hub operations, $90 million through Commonwealth Ventures, help for hundreds of companies through the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance, work with 220 companies through the Kentucky Science and Technology Council, nearly 3,000 students in Advanced Kentucky, and more than 1,100 participants in Kentucky Valor. He also cited 35,000 workers trained through Bluegrass State Skills, 177 businesses helped by the small business tax credit, and 77 entertainment incentive transactions totaling about $200 million and 7,400 jobs. On the grant side, he said the cabinet had approved 155 projects under a federal grant program, committing $99 million, with outreach aimed at smaller communities and all 120 counties. The main focus of the second half was KPD. Noel described it as a program that requires more than basic due diligence, emphasizing community readiness, local vision, title and mineral-rights review, sewer validation, and consultant review. He said 109 projects had been awarded in the earlier rounds, and in 2024 there were 45 requests for information seeking $81 million against $35 million in available funding, showing strong demand. He also said the cabinet has worked with local economic developers through five regions aligned with area development districts, and that the secretary, deputy secretary, or commissioner of business development must attend the regional meetings, with 100% attendance reported for the key three last year. In response to questions, he said Jefferson County’s lack of KPD projects so far likely reflects where local land and development strategies are in the process rather than a lack of interest, and he said the cabinet has not heard that Kentucky’s occupational safety and health rules are clearly helping or hurting competitiveness, though he offered to look into it further.

Transcript Highlights:

• chemical dependency treatment workforce. chemical dependency treatment workforce.
• <00:30:38.080> my not stifling that workforce pipeline. my not stifling that workforce pipeline
• workforce um workforce shortage. workforce um workforce shortage.
• Um that it will have in the workforce.
• <00:38:01.599> So workforce I think is really key. So workforce I think is really key.

Bills: SF1750, HF4250, HF3938, HF3904, HF3642

Keywords: common interest community, CIC, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, planned community, cooperative, unit owner, association board, declarant, declarant control, special declarant rights, assessment lien, foreclosure, late fees, fines, attorney fees, resale disclosure, annual report, maintenance plan

Transcript Highlights:

• Standards that we have to go by to be a branded dealer for these manufacturers.
• We are struggling to find workforce to meet needs in this critical industry.
• These programs educate and test repair technicians and certify those that meet the highest standards.
• These programs educate and test repair technicians and certify those that meet the highest standards.
• The bill provides a clear standard of who is a controlling interest by focusing on the people that can

Summary: The committee considered a long agenda of bills, with most measures reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, amendments, and roll calls. Early bills included SB 658 on lien waivers/releases, SB 736 on Brownfields redevelopment, SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, and SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage. Each was amended or discussed as needed and then approved by the committee. The committee also advanced SB 768 on foreign control interests in health care licensing, SB 772 on school diabetes management and access to glucagon, SB 1400 on removal of altered sexual depictions posted without consent, SB 1696 on prearranged transportation services, and SB 1374 on school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct. Several bills drew notable public testimony and debate. SB 1132 prompted strong support from the sponsor and agriculture interests, but opposition from equipment dealers, technology groups, and wireless industry representatives who argued the market already provides repair options and that the bill could harm dealer networks and security. SB 1730, the Live Local/affordable housing bill, received extensive discussion about parking reductions, height and density preemption, attorney’s fees, local government authority, and impacts on Monroe County and other areas; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorably despite concerns from some members and advocates about parking, due process, and local control. SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments also generated significant debate, with opponents warning it could displace long-term guests and vulnerable families, while the sponsor said it clarifies transient occupancy and removes ambiguity in the removal process; the bill passed after the committee rejected a related amendment. Other measures advanced with less controversy. SB 576 updated service-of-process rules, and SB 1164 authorized email delivery of landlord-tenant notices if the parties agree in writing, though tenant advocates urged clearer safeguards and the sponsor said he was not yet committed to the House version. SB 940 prohibited the resale of restaurant reservations without consent and was supported by restaurant interests. SB 1690, allowing infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, drew emotional support from several witnesses who said it would provide anonymous, life-saving alternatives for mothers in crisis; the committee continued discussion into the latter part of the meeting. Throughout, the committee adopted several amendments, heard both support and opposition from industry, advocacy, and local-government witnesses, and reported the discussed bills favorably by recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 21 says OMB, Safety and Homeland, and DTI are to develop and maintain standards for card access
• Section 40 allows DSHA to administer funds of the Delaware Workforce Housing Program and is authorized
• Section 119 says DelDOT is authorized to engage in a community workforce agreement for no more than two
• Section 134 requires all school districts receiving state capital funds to use standard bid and contract
• Section 138 allows local school districts to request a waiver of the standard minor cap threshold to

Summary: The committee met for a fiscal year 2027 capital budget writing session with all 12 members present. It first reviewed and approved the DNREC Resource Conservation and Development drainage project list, which would add projects across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties and bring the total eligible projects to 1,561. Members offered personal remarks thanking retiring conservation district staff, especially Kevin Donnelly, for years of work on drainage and water issues. The committee then reviewed DelDOT Rule 12 changes, including annual date updates and a reduction in the inflation markup applied to older estimates, and approved the rule as amended. The committee next adopted DelDOT Appendix A and the FY27 paving and rehabilitation list, including the subdivision street management fund and various road resurfacing projects. DelDOT explained that paving projects are for state-of-good-repair work and that major changes from corridor studies would be handled separately. The committee also approved DelDOT epilogue changes, including updates to authorization amounts, a $25 million increase for toll infrastructure work, changes to subdivision street paving language, and an increase in the subdivision street paving management fund to $30 million. Several sections were placed on hold for later updates. The committee then moved through boilerplate epilogue sections in the bond bill, approving a wide range of provisions affecting conservation districts, housing, economic development, corrections, DNREC, public safety, transportation, agriculture, fire prevention, education, and other agencies. Many sections were adopted in groups, while some were held for later revisions or deleted as no longer needed. The session included updates to school capital rules, transportation restrictions and reporting requirements, DNREC conservation and land-use provisions, and funding and administrative authorities across multiple agencies. The committee broke for lunch after approving the education-related sections through 147, with additional sections still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:40.240> housing barrier to building Workforce housing barrier to building Workforce
• , and ensure household and workforce stability.
• households and Workforce households and Workforce stability<00:26:17.159> please<00:26:17.480
• You see the language be affordable to the local workforce.
• You see the language be affordable to the local workforce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can shape a skilled workforce, one that strengthens Hawaii and helps our island thrive.
• We can shape a skilled workforce, one that strengthens Hawaii and helps our island thrive.
• We can shape a skilled workforce, one that strengthens Hawaii and helps our island thrive.
• We can shape a skilled workforce, one that strengthens Hawaii and helps our island thrive.
• are well below the recommended standard are well below the recommended standard of<00:46:47.319>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are no standards for the audits that are set forth. There are no consequences for violation.
• There are no current state standards on this.
• The story is the same, unfortunately, that we're dealing with our direct care workforce crisis.
• I think we are on our own incentivized to provide it to our direct care workforce. We have to.
• You guys set our rate, so we can't raise them when the workforce rates go up.

Bills: SB1072, SB1111, SB1114, SB1116, SB1122, SB1179, SB1250, SB1308, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1487, SB1547, SB1549, SB1551, SB1552

Keywords: reimbursement rates, intellectual disabilities, community services, economic security, funding appropriations, automated license plate readers, law enforcement, privacy, data access, public records, behavioral health, patient brokering, appropriation, state funds, Maricopa County, claims review, medical necessity, American Indian health program, healthcare regulations, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of that, the amount of workforce, the limited amount of workforce that they have, and the hyperfocus
• that we've given them... ...a limited amount of workforce that they have and the hyperfocus that we've
• And they do have a shortage of workforce and so forth.
• They said only seven counties in New Mexico meet the workforce benchmark and urged the bill to pass,
• You took out or deleted for a standard nine and one half-month contract. Why was that taken out?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or is it that we need to take standard?
• <00:30:53.840> for rails and some reporting standards for rails and some reporting standards
• rails and standards for reporting this. rails and standards for reporting this.
• and some of them have some standards and some of them have some standards that<00:32:17.200>
• And what what does that workforce?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the October 22, 2025 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel on accidental ingestion of illegal drug products by children. Panel members said pediatric ingestions have become the most common case type they review, with the highest-risk children ages one to four, and that fatal cases have increased in recent years. They reported that the substances most often involved are fentanyl, cannabinoids including THC products, methamphetamine, and increasingly xylazine; they also noted a decline in buprenorphine-related ingestions, which they viewed as a positive trend. The panel used several case examples to highlight recurring problems in investigations and medical response, including delayed DCBS involvement, failure to administer Narcan, inadequate drug testing, lack of child abuse team involvement, and limited or absent law enforcement investigation. They said law enforcement issues are especially common in pediatric ingestion cases and are concentrated in Jefferson County and the Bluegrass/KIPA regions. One example involved a one-year-old who died from fentanyl and Benadryl intoxication; another involved a two-year-old who died after ingesting multiple substances; and a third involved a four-year-old with near-fatal THC gummy ingestion where delayed treatment worsened the child’s condition. They also described a 10-month-old THC ingestion case that resulted in a criminal abuse conviction, which they presented as an example without missed investigative opportunities. Committee members discussed possible policy responses, including creating a more specific criminal child abuse offense or clarifying existing abuse and neglect definitions to cover unsafe access to illegal drugs, while preserving room for true accidents and prescribed medications. Members also raised the need for statewide standardization in reporting, investigation, and medical response, and suggested the panel should be able to call in agencies such as law enforcement, DCBS, judges, and hospitals for closed-session review of selected cases. The panel chair said they were already pursuing meetings with LMPD and would provide Jefferson County-specific breakdowns, and members expressed interest in additional data and agency follow-up before considering legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And standardized tests in one category, health services or school nurses in the second category, and
• The first two here are both transfers from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or
• The first two here are both transfers from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or
• The first two here are both transfers from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, or
• educator Workforce educator Workforce Center<00:43:31.160> moving<00:43:31.440> on

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce workforce um um um study<01:02:28.120> that<01:02:28.880> was<01:02:29.080><
• <01:13:44.280> participate our primary care workforce participate our primary care workforce
• countries have the same standards countries have the same standards as<01:42:15.240> the<
• workforce shortage. Thank you. workforce shortage. Thank you. Thank<02:19:21.840> you.
• , strong prior authorization standards, strong prior authorization standards, the<03:00:54.480>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• then just sharing the limited Workforce then just sharing the limited Workforce resources<00:18:
• > resources we've also our Workforce resources we've also our Workforce shrink<00:18:30.240> and
• And then looking at our workforce and how do we continue to build out that workforce so that they are
• family and then looking at our Workforce family and then looking at our Workforce and<00:26:35.000
• <00:54:05.240> to our foster care licensing standards to our foster care licensing standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce, material prices and workforce. shortages, and then inflation in equipment.
• There are safety standards, there are nutritional standards that provide food, things like that.
• That's your workforce.
• This is a workforce issue.
• We know that childcare is a workforce. needs, a workforce need, and we've seen over the past year and

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE STANDARDS.
• NOT ONLY DO WE NEED THE WORKFORCE AS A WHOLE WE NEED IT INSIDE DOT.
• DEVELOPING A STRONG WORKFORCE IS, HAS BECOME ONE OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL TENETS.
• WORKFORCE, DEMOGRAPHICS SO WE CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WITH THOSE RESOURCES.
• TALKED ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WE'VE BEEN SPENDING ENERGY ON.

Transcript Highlights:

• It won't thrive and cannot thrive without a strong child care workforce.
• and are providing services according to the standards.
• Plans for the future workforce cultivating future leaders. leaders.
• We'll never see a workforce initiative like this again in the future.
• Lastly, and most importantly, a well-trained workforce. workforce leads to better individual-level outcomes

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It leads to an overburdened workforce.
• We see overburdened workforces causing more quality issues with an increased risk of harm.
• So there are a huge swath of the health care workforce that is not going to be indemnified in any way
• So would that, with the standard raised on evidence alone, So would that, with the standard raised on
• But that's what I, you know, internalize as the difference between those two injury standards.

Bills: HB99, HB49, HB164, SB30, SB43, SB50, SB136

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• several years, I actually encourage other cities and governmental entities to look to that as the standard
• the cybersecurity workforce. actually it has and deals with cyber security training.
• We need to make sure the workforce is there.
• We have educational institutions beyond just UTSA that are prepared to develop a workforce. of what's
• Many legacy systems also lack modern... interoperability standards, so you can't really connect them,

Bills: HB150, HB869, HB876, HB 1043, HB1494, HB1522, HB150

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• The increased standard, or the change in the standards, is a recruiting mechanism for a lot of agencies
• There are other standards as well.
• The WSBA standards and the Washington State Supreme Court standards have a different rollout and a different
• But the bar standards, if you looked at the revised bar standards, you will see a huge emphasis on support
• You move to the new standard.

Summary: The committee received agency updates on several behavioral health and justice programs. The Health Care Authority reported that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has expanded from two counties to eight, with a ninth expected in December, and described AOT as a court-ordered, least-restrictive treatment model that depends on close coordination among courts, treatment providers, and local officials. The agency also reviewed Joel’s Law, which lets family members, guardians, conservators, or tribes petition for an initial involuntary detention when they disagree with a designated crisis responder’s decision. Judges Ferreira and Larson said petition use has increased significantly statewide and in Snohomish County, but many cases do not proceed beyond the initial detention stage; they also noted family frustration, disjointed processes, and bed shortages as ongoing issues. Committee members asked about expansion criteria, the law’s effectiveness, and how the system fits together with other mental health interventions. The Attorney General’s Office presented on the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline created by SB 5427. The hotline began a pilot in King, Clark, and Spokane counties on July 1, 2025, with a statewide launch planned for 2027. Officials said the advisory committee helped shape the referral process, intake questions, outreach materials, and public branding. In the first five months, the hotline received 301 reports, with roughly 45% from King County and about 38% from outside the pilot counties; 42% requested follow-up, and only about a quarter of those wanted law enforcement referral. Testimony emphasized that the hotline is non-emergency, anonymous if desired, and focused on referrals rather than investigation. Members asked about why callers do not seek law enforcement involvement, how the hotline compares with Oregon’s launch, and what kinds of incidents are being reported. The Office of Independent Investigations reported progress on its work investigating police deadly force fatalities. Director Roger Rogoff said the agency has grown to 66 employees, including 31 investigators, and has completed six fatality investigations, with two public final reports posted. He said the office now operates in Region 1 and plans to expand statewide as staffing allows, with a future east-side expansion dependent on additional investigators. He also said the office has 29 requests to review prior cases, but those reviews are time-intensive and limited to cases with new evidence. Committee members asked about staffing needs, local cooperation, and whether the office conducts parallel investigations; Rogoff said OII performs the criminal investigation, while agencies may still do administrative reviews. The committee then heard a lengthy panel on public defense caseload standards and funding. The Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defender Association, county representatives, and city representatives all discussed the new caseload standards and the implementation timeline. Speakers said the standards reflect modern public defense realities but warned that funding, attorney recruitment and retention, office space, and data collection remain major barriers. Survey results from county offices showed wide variation in readiness, with many counties uncertain about timelines and most citing lack of funding as the biggest obstacle; attorney attrition was also described as high. County and city representatives argued that the new standards will require far more attorneys and support staff, and that local governments cannot absorb the cost without substantial state funding. They urged the Legislature to increase state support, improve workforce pipelines, and address structural issues in the public defense system.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE REQUIREMENT FOR STANDARD 504 CDC LOANS.
• It's a clear fix that brings these loans in line with the 504 standardization programs.
• It's a clear fix that brings these loans in line with the 504 standardization programs.
• It's a clear fix that brings these loans in line with the 504 standardization programs.
• We have Seen a federal workforce, which was the doorway to the middle class for many Black Americans.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• partnership to support Workforce partnership to support Workforce Development<00:32:41.639> and
• Beyond workforce development, HAMP fuels entrepreneurship.
• I'm sorry, how much from the Workforce Development Fund in 2023?
• <01:09:15.080> to applied to a very high standard to applied to a very high standard to maintain
• is a longing stable Workforce is a longing stable Workforce Development<01:42:40.719> nonprofit

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SF 818, a request for funding for the Block Builders Foundation, which provides financial literacy and job-readiness training for youth. Senator Fate and testifiers described a 12-week program covering budgeting, savings, banking, credit, debt, career exploration, job preparation, entrepreneurship, and mentorship. They said the program served youth ages 13 to 19, had expanded to multiple cohorts, and had produced graduation ceremonies and job placements. Testifiers also said the organization had transportation challenges and limited space, and that additional funding would help with staffing, participant support, and transportation partnerships. Committee members asked extensive questions about the program’s outcomes, funding sources, and finances. Block Builders said it had 40 graduates in the most recent cohort, with 30 placed in jobs, and that participants who complete the program receive a $500 stipend. The organization said it had been operating since 2023 in North and South Minneapolis, had received $50,000 from the state previously, and raised additional community support. Members also asked about IRS filing status, audits, and how outcomes were measured; the organization said outcomes were tracked through graduation and certificates, and that it had not yet filed a 990 because it had not reached the threshold. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion, with committee members noting the current language makes the appropriation available only through June 30, 2026 unless amended. The committee then began hearing SF 927. An A1 technical amendment was adopted without objection. Senator Pappas introduced the bill, which would appropriate $1.5 million to the Mung American Partnership for workforce development and business lending. The transcript cuts off before further testimony or committee action on SF 927.