Transcript Highlights:

• In any way, even covering cases of health care, I know we calculate out people's wages and they're going
• And then you're like, okay, this person may... ...calculate out people's wages and they're going to work
• Thank you. calculate out people's wages and they're going to work till 55 or whatever the age is.
• And so I'm wondering if you can speak—you know, the numbers still show that there is a significant wage
• You know, the numbers still show that there is a significant wage gap for state employment.

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee first handled several routine items, approving two governor appointments not required to appear: Armin Meyer to the Division of Consumer Financial Protection and Uca Danka to the California State Lottery Commission. The committee also approved referral of bills to committees, a Rules waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guest access on the Senate floor on April 6, and floor acknowledgments, with each action passing 5-0. The committee then heard from Arania Ortega, appointed to the Public Employment Relations Board. Members asked about her background at CalHR and the Department of Finance, her approach to board decision-making, recusal rules, the status of AB 288, PERB’s caseload and backlog, ride-share enforcement, and the legislative employees’ unionization process. Ortega said PERB currently has no backlog, is preparing for possible new workloads, and has recusal procedures that would automatically exclude her from certain state employee and child care cases for one year. Public testimony supported her appointment, and the committee voted 5-0 to move her nomination to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Monica Erickson, nominated to lead the Department of Human Resources. Questions focused on state labor negotiations, CalPERS, recruitment and retention, telework, discipline and HR training, DEIA efforts, hiring pipelines, degree requirements, veteran hiring, return-to-office implementation, and the gender pay gap. Erickson said CalHR has reduced the vacancy rate from 20% to 17%, is expanding recruitment tools and class consolidations, is working on a skills-matching tool and career counseling, and has helped reduce the gender pay gap from 21.1% in 2013 to 12.2%. Public witnesses spoke in support, and the committee approved her nomination 5-0 to advance to the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• number 10, your right to acquire all the skills needed to maintain quality employment, not minimum wage
• You can have high wages.
• And high required education, high skill, high wages, or low skill, low wages. You don't get both.
• You don't get low wages with a high skilled job.
• Are we working towards ensuring everybody has an opportunity for high skill, high wage jobs that they're

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails. Okay, so to your bill as amended. Representative M, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Motion prevails, and the bill is on its way. Thank you.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 1354, which was moved with a DE1 amendment. The amendment was adopted without opposition. The bill, as explained by the author and BCA Superintendent Drew Evans, would narrow the BCA’s website-posting requirement for officer-involved death investigations so that the agency must post the video of the incident showing the events leading up to, during, and shortly after the incident, rather than all body-camera footage. Other materials would still be available through normal data requests, and the change was described as intended to reduce the burden of redacting and posting large amounts of extraneous video while preserving transparency. Evans said the BCA supports public access and transparency but is struggling to meet the current 30-day posting deadline because of the volume of video and the time required to redact private information. He noted that the BCA has nine full-time staff working on data practices requests and that the Senate amendment clarifies what must be posted while preserving Chapter 13 and the Minnesota Data Practices Act. A public testifier, Rich Newmeister, thanked the bill authors and said the amendment helps ensure data remains available to the public and supports transparency following George Floyd’s death. Members offered supportive comments, including appreciation for the BCA’s cooperation and willingness to work on the issue. No opposition was recorded. The committee then approved the motion to re-refer House File 1354, as amended, to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was on the prevailing side.
• The motion does prevail.
• The motion does prevail. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.
• The motion does<01:40:11.320><c> prevail.
• </c> does prevail. Thank you, ma'am. does prevail. Thank you, ma'am. Thank<01:40:13.800><c> you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The<00:20:31.240><c> motion</c><00:20:31.640><c> prevails</c><00:20:32.240><c> and</c><00:20:32.360><
• is The motion prevails and the amendment is adopted.
• And the motion prevails, and 3978 is recommended to be placed on the General Register.
• And<00:37:49.040><c> the</c><00:37:49.120><c> motion</c><00:37:49.680><c> prevails,</c><00:37:50.359>
• Motion prevails, and the amendment is adopted.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House File 3939, a bill to support a Helping Paws service-dog litter named in honor of Gilbert and the Hortman family. Testimony from Helping Paws and service-dog graduate Angie Foley described the organization’s work, the significance of the “Guided by Gilbert” litter, and how the funding would help train dogs that provide independence and support to people with disabilities, veterans, and others. Members from both parties spoke warmly about Speaker Hortman’s connection to the organization and Gilbert, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then considered House File 3769, the Department of Corrections’ technical omnibus bill, with an A1 amendment adopted to clarify tuberculosis testing language. The bill updates TB screening procedures in correctional facilities, including how refusals are handled, and adds Quantiferon Gold Plus testing as an option alongside existing methods. Members discussed whether the bill would create costs for counties and jails, with some noting added testing and segregation costs and others arguing the changes would improve accuracy and reduce time in restrictive housing. The bill, as amended, was recommended to the general register. House File 3978 was next, a technical cleanup bill for a provider wellness program created last year. The bill expands eligibility and confidentiality protections from physicians to all health care providers, while supporters said the program is meant to address burnout and mental health strain in the workforce and does not require new money. Some members questioned whether the change was redundant or would broaden the program without additional funding, but the Minnesota Medical Association testified that the program is separate from insurance and was intended to serve all providers. The bill was recommended to the general register. Finally, the committee began House File 3476, which Rep. Liebling described as a cleanup bill related to Minnesota’s Medicaid managed care system and public program oversight. She argued that the state spends billions through managed care organizations and that the system has never been proven better than direct payment, setting up a broader discussion of the bill’s purpose and the state’s oversight of public health care spending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the minutes are approved. Well, welcome.
• The motion prevails, and the bill is on its way.
• The motion prevails, and the bill is on its way.
• The motion prevails, and the bill is on its way.
• The motion prevails, and the bill is on its way.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage, to establish minimum state wage, annual increase, civil
• House Bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage, to establish minimum state wage, annual increase, civil
• House bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage to establish minimum St.
• House bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage to establish minimum state wage, annual increase, civil
• House Bill by Representative Phelps, minimum wage, to establish state minimum wage and provide for an

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received and accepted multiple resignation notices from members representing Districts 37, 39, 60, 69, 97, and 100, and then recognized the election and qualification of the members-elect who filled those vacancies: Doyle Boudreau, Reese Broussard, Chasity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray. Each member-elect was sworn in, and the House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session. The chamber then handled a large number of procedural actions related to prefiled legislation. By motion and without objection, the House suspended rules to refer prefile bills to committee and introduced a broad slate of House bills and resolutions. Topics included the state budget and appropriations, retirement system changes, carbon capture and sequestration, criminal justice and bail, public safety, education, health care, local government matters, transportation, and several memorial or commemorative resolutions. Several resolutions and bills were noted as lying over, and some prefiled bills were withdrawn from the files. The House also received a Senate message that SCR 1 had been adopted, and the resolution was taken up without objection. The chamber then recessed for a joint session with the Senate to hear the governor’s address and a presentation honoring Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In his remarks, Governor Jeff Landry highlighted his administration’s priorities, including education, tax reform, workforce development, health and nutrition, insurance reform, transportation infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and criminal justice reform, while urging support for his agenda and several related bills and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage, to establish minimum state wage, annual increase, civil
• House Bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage, to establish minimum state wage, annual increase, civil
• House Bill by Representative Boyd, minimum wage, to establish minimum state wage, annual increase, civil
• House Bill by Representative Phelps, minimum wage, to establish a state minimum wage and provide for
• House Bill by Representative Phelps, minimum wage, to establish a state minimum wage and provide for

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid currently underfunds RN and other worker wages by up to $13 an hour for our sectors.
• The funding that we receive directly supports caregiver wages, benefits, and staffing stability.
• Funding that would have supported wages, benefits, and kept essential staff available.
• Those funds enable us to increase staff wages and benefits.
• able to proceed with plan wage increases.

Summary: The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard an overview from OFM Director Katie Chapman See on Governor Ferguson’s 2026 supplemental budget proposal. She said the budget was built in response to higher caseloads and inflation, a roughly $390 million revenue forecast drop, new federal costs tied to H.R. 1, and a relatively small ending fund balance. The proposal would increase near general fund spending by about $1.1 billion and solve an estimated $2.3 billion two-year gap through about $800 million in reductions, revenue shifts and tax preference changes, use of other funds, and about $1 billion from the budget stabilization account. She also noted the budget is balanced over two years but not fully over four years under the state’s outlook rules. Chapman See highlighted reductions in Working Connections Child Care, including a soft cap on enrollment and holding subsidy rates at the 75th percentile, delays to long-term care and developmental disability-related changes, and across-the-board reductions to higher education and administrative spending. She also described investments in wildfire suppression and preparedness, affordability programs like utility rebates and home energy assistance, housing-related planning and permitting support, One Washington IT replacement, behavioral health workforce programs, and continued support for some K-12 initiatives such as ninth grade success and homeless student stability. In response to questions, she said some proposed cuts were based on the governor’s subjective judgment about what was critically necessary, that current child care enrollees would not be cut off immediately, and that the budget would maintain services for about 500 highest-acuity Medicaid clients who lost eligibility under federal changes. Public testimony was largely critical of the proposed cuts in K-12, early learning, and higher education. School officials, educators, nurses, and advocacy groups opposed reductions to Transition to Kindergarten, Local Effort Assistance, Running Start, MSOC, school leadership and support grants, and higher education funding, arguing the cuts would worsen existing funding gaps and harm student outcomes. Several witnesses supported restoring or maintaining funding for ninth grade success, Treehouse’s foster youth graduation program, homeless student stability, and Science on Wheels. In early learning, child care providers and advocates opposed the Working Connections cap and subsidy-rate reduction, warning it would reduce access and destabilize providers. In higher education, campus leaders and labor representatives opposed across-the-board cuts and fund shifts, while some institutions and advocates supported targeted investments such as behavioral health workforce programs and DigiPen aid restoration. In human services, Planned Parenthood advocates praised restored abortion access funding and Medicaid reimbursements. The committee took no votes or final action in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is high wage and may require high skill.
• We know that a high school diploma is a gatekeeper to student wages long term.
• In the rules for universal early childhood, the beginning wage is set at $21 an hour.
• So think about the wage compaction on that.
• It could be employer-offered training, which is essential for most pathways to a living wage job.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, if I give you an honest answer, it's a living wage. We need a living wage.
• And, you know, if I give you an honest answer, it's a living wage. We need a living wage.
• And, you know, if I give you an honest answer, it's a living wage. We need a living wage.
• And, you know, if I give you an honest answer, it's a living wage. We need a living wage.
• These are some of our lower paid workers, and there's competition for workers, and we need a living wage

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work. Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states. Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesotans are facing hard decisions because the costs are rising, but their wages are flat.
• are rising, decisions because the costs are rising, but<00:02:50.760><c> their</c><00:02:50.920><c> wages
• </c> but their wages are flat. but their wages are flat.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Management and Budget’s February forecast reported that the state’s projected deficit has turned into a surplus, with an estimated $3.7 billion balance for fiscal years 2026-27 and a projected $377 million positive balance for FY28-29. Officials said the improved outlook is driven by a slightly stronger national economy and higher forecast revenues, but they cautioned that the state remains in a strong yet not secure position. A major concern discussed was federal funding uncertainty. CMS has indicated it may withhold $515 million per quarter in Medicaid Assistance reimbursement, and separately notified the state it would defer $260 million in Medicaid reimbursements pending further information. Those potential losses are not included in the forecast, but lawmakers were told federal funds account for about one-third of state agency spending and that budget flexibility may be needed if cuts occur. Speakers also noted that Minnesota still faces a structural budget imbalance despite progress made last session. Current biennium spending is projected to be $68 million lower than earlier estimates, but planning estimates are up $152 million since the last forecast. Several lawmakers emphasized affordability concerns for residents, citing rising delinquency rates, increasing unemployment, flat wages, and the need to focus on tax conformity, vehicle tab fees, and property taxes. Members from both parties said they want to continue working together on budget solutions and spending restraint.

Transcript Highlights:

• heat of Kern County, Delano, Tulare, too often without reliable water, rest, or basic facilities; wages
• were excluded from the basic protections: no overtime, limited rights, little ability to challenge wage
• And also let collective bargaining do what it's meant to do, which is to really talk about the wages
• Nonprofits are the largest employer by wage, or the third, excuse me, the third largest employer by wage
• Nonprofits are the largest employer by wage, or the third, excuse me, the third largest employer by wage

Summary: The committee began with an informational hearing on the second amendment to the Yurok Tribe’s 2006 tribal-state gaming compact. Governor’s office staff and Yurok Tribal Chairman Joseph James explained that the amendment is a narrow, technical one that extends the compact’s expiration to December 31 of this year to preserve the status quo while the parties negotiate a long-term replacement. Members asked about the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ role, and staff explained that because the change is only a deadline extension and not a substantive compact change, it does not require BIA approval. No vote was taken on the informational item. The committee then heard AB 2156, which would designate March 31 as Farm Workers’ Day in California. The authors and supporters said the bill is intended to honor the farm worker movement and shift the holiday away from any one individual in light of recent allegations, while recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of farm workers. Several members spoke in support, including personal reflections on family histories in farm labor and on the need to center victims and farm workers’ dignity. The bill was moved to the floor, with the roll held open for absent members. Next, the committee heard SB 1044, which would raise the small business procurement cap from $250,000 to $350,000 and index it to inflation. The author and supporters from the Hispanic and Asian Pacific chambers of commerce argued the current cap is outdated and limits opportunities for small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises. Some support was qualified, with one coalition noting concerns about access to capital for microbusinesses but still leaning in favor. The bill passed to Appropriations, with the roll held open. The committee also heard SB 1114, which would restrict state agencies from sharing LGBTQ-related data with federal agencies except where legally required. The author and Equality California said the bill is meant to protect sensitive data from misuse and preserve trust in voluntary state data collection. Support came from Planned Parenthood affiliates and Health Access California, with no opposition. The bill passed to the Privacy Committee, with the roll held open. Finally, the committee heard SB 1248 on automated decision systems in state government, SB 1273 on short-form video advertising for winery instructional events, and SB 917 on allowing more small wineries to sell at farmers’ markets. SB 1248 drew the most debate: the author said it would create baseline guardrails for automated systems, require human review for adverse decisions, and help state agencies use automation responsibly, while labor groups opposed it as authorizing use before meaningful stakeholder engagement and collective bargaining input. Several members supported moving it forward but stressed the need for labor participation in future negotiations; it passed to the Privacy Committee with the roll held open. SB 1273 and SB 917 were both presented as modest measures to help the wine industry adapt to current marketing and sales conditions, and both passed to Appropriations with roll calls held open. The hearing then moved on to SB 1240, which would create an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to help nonprofits navigate state procurement and grant processes; the author described nonprofits’ economic importance and the need for a liaison, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• were excluded from the basic protections: no overtime, limited rights, little ability to challenge wage
• And also let collective bargaining do what it's meant to do, which is to really talk about the wages
• and the benefits and the safety and working conditions... ...which is to really talk about the wages
• Nonprofits are the largest employer by wage, or the third, excuse me, the third largest employer by wage
• Nonprofits are the largest employer by wage, or the third, excuse me, the third largest employer by wage

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , minimum wages, wage theft, and so on.
• They face interest, wage garnishment, or lifelong financial damage. This isn't hypothetical.
• I was threatened with lawsuits, wage garnishments, and court action.
• And that's particularly because our state still allows wages to be garnished for medical bills.
• You've heard about wage theft and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

Bills: SB6011

Keywords: court security, bailiffs, threat assessment, judicial safety, law enforcement, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We implemented the new tax bracket structure, which resulted in lower withholding on employee wages.
• We're seeing a lot of pressure on wage withholding.
• The fewer employees that are receiving wages, the less withholding we receive.
• is up; the wage base is growing.
• Can have to do with wages and the types of jobs available.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am pleased to present AB 1234, which will encourage employers to participate in the state's wage claim
• Wage theft is a significant problem in California. Workers lose an average of $2 billion annually.
• But our wage claim process is broken, and while the laws require that claims be resolved within 135 days
• , the reality is that it's actually taking over two years if workers are lucky. to recover the wages
• On past wage claim judgments that would preclude an employer from getting the fee waiver.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and we will be meeting 1 hour past midnight. Won't be an hour.
• The motion prevails, and we will be meeting 1 hour past midnight. Won't be an hour.
• The motion prevails, and we will be meeting 1 hour past midnight. Won't be an hour.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 4 ayes and 1 nay, the motion does not prevail. No, I don't wanna ask him.
• There being 3 ays and 2 nays, the motion does not prevail. Let's go. let's get the rest of these.
• Hearing none, the motion prevails and committee stands in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• these problems by providing a plaintiff with attorney's fees, whenever the plaintiff substantially prevailed
• a plaintiff... typically in a summary judgment posture, won enough claims to have substantially prevailed
• Congress should clarify the standard for substantially prevailing to mean whenever an agency is judicially