Transcript Highlights:

• Sarita Nyer, Workforce Solutions Secretary.
• I didn't come from Lea County not to be an ag person.
• So we worked, the county in Sandoval County worked very hard on that. It was a joint effort.
• The county, Sandoval County, worked very hard on that. It was a joint effort.
• We worked with Sandoval County economic development.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll be laser focused on seeing how we can make this work for Bexar County.
• Productions that take place in a rural county receive 2.5% for post-production.
• On the next slide, I just show these are the TMIP projects by county, highlighting some of the counties
• We train our workforce.
• I believe Fort Worth and Tarrant County are on the forefront of that.

Bills: HB4568, HB5458, HB4543, HB2703, HB3728, HCR113, HCR126

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• product Innovation and Workforce product Innovation and Workforce training<00:23:14.039> thank
• Workforce Development program and this Workforce Development program and this funding<03:42:44.000>
• rate with the rest entering Workforce rate with the rest entering Workforce training<04:17:40.439
• cop products provide Workforce cop products provide Workforce scholarships<05:33:24.680> for<
• <05:33:43.040> Workforce<05:33:43.680> we culinary Workforce Workforce we culinary

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair recognizes the Honorable Daniel Alders of Smith County to lead us in the pledges of allegiance
• Panola County Day HR 5. 7 by Oliverson, Tomball High School, HR 548 by Hernandez.
• To the designation of a portion of State Highway 64 in Smith County as the Fire Marshal Jimmy W.
• for the Subcommittee on County and Regional.
• to impose a hotel occupancy tax, the applicability and rates of that tax in certain counties and the

Transcript Highlights:

• And it happens to be the same data element that we need to do better workforce development planning,
• Justin Garrett, at the California State Association of Counties, represented in all 58 counties.
• And so this bill puts an important tool in the toolbox of counties in the state.
• California Edge Coalition advocates for education and workforce investments as well as systems change
• outcomes, measurement, and stronger alignment across educational workforce systems.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were awarded a pre-apprenticeship workforce program out of Workforce Solutions, so very honored to
• And then the workforce has opportunities.
• Workforce Solutions.
• Workforce is. Mr.
• But there's a lot of places like Lincoln County and Moda County that could install probably a lot of

Transcript Highlights:

• And while the compact aims to expand the workforce, it may not immediately address underlying workforce
• workforce.
• And while the compact aims to expand the workforce, it may not immediately address underlying workforce
• Thirdly, the impact on local workforce development, Thirdly, the impact on local workforce development
• workforces as well, because the turnover rate is crazy.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, health care, and workforce bills. Measures discussed included AB 957, which would prohibit tobacco sales in licensed pharmacies; AB 447, which would allow patients to take home certain unopened medications started in emergency rooms; AB 427, joining the Social Work Licensure Compact; AB 667, allowing interpreters for certain licensing exams; AB 742, prioritizing descendants of slaves in licensing review; AB 873, changing infection-control training timing for dental assistants; AB 360, requiring a report on menopause education for physicians; and AB 1175, modernizing CPA licensure requirements and mobility. Testimony generally emphasized public health, access to care, workforce shortages, language access, and economic opportunity, while opposition or concerns focused on implementation, worker protections, compact authority, and constitutional issues in AB 742. Several bills drew broad support from sponsors, professional associations, and advocacy groups. AB 957 was backed by cancer and pharmacy advocates and pharmacists who said pharmacies should not sell tobacco; AB 447 was supported by emergency medicine and hospital representatives as a way to reduce waste and help patients leave with needed medication; AB 427 drew support from social work and mental health groups but concerns from AFSCME about standards and displacement; AB 667 was supported by immigrant-rights and community groups, with questions about whether translated exams would be preferable to interpreters; AB 360 received extensive support from women’s health advocates and medical groups, and opposition from CMA and ACOG was removed after amendments; and AB 1175 was supported by the Board of Accountancy and CPA groups as a way to expand the pipeline and improve mobility. The committee took votes after quorum was established. AB 360, AB 427, AB 447, AB 667, AB 873, AB 1175, and AB 742 were all approved and sent to their next committees, with AB 742 going to Judiciary and AB 1175 to Appropriations. AB 957 was initially held on call, then later passed after additional votes were recorded. The consent calendar bills AB 375, AB 1107, and AB 1496 were also approved. Most measures passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with some members not voting on certain items during the roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forty percent of that workforce is undocumented.
• We are, as Inclusive Action, we do a lot of... ...local advocacy at the LA County level.
• We now have over 1,700 volunteers in LA County alone, and we need more.
• County alone, the system is comprised of 58.5% Latinos.
• In LA County alone, the system is comprised of 58.5% Latinos.

Summary: The Select Committee on Latina Inequities met at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar, hosted by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and joined by Assemblymember Mia Bonta. Rodriguez opened by framing the committee’s work around the economic status of Latinas and the effects of federal policies on the economy and social safety net, while the college president welcomed the committee and described campus services for undocumented and housing-insecure students. Rodriguez also emphasized the local impact of immigration enforcement in the San Fernando Valley and said the hearing would focus on Latinas’ economic conditions, immigration enforcement impacts on the workforce and safety, and H.R. 1’s effects on the safety net. The first panel featured HOPE’s Maria Morales and Dr. Elsa Macias, who presented findings from HOPE’s National Economic Status of Latinas report. They said Latinas are a major and growing part of California’s population and workforce, but face persistent inequities, including a large wage gap, higher unemployment, high uninsured rates, student debt, and affordability pressures around child care, housing, and education. They also discussed entrepreneurship, noting both the growth of Latina-owned businesses and barriers such as limited access to capital, technical assistance, and retirement and health coverage. In response to committee questions, they said higher education can still offer a strong return on investment, but only if students can complete degrees without being overwhelmed by debt and care costs; they also pointed to policy solutions such as SB 642, mentorship, financial literacy, CalSavers access, and support for community development financial institutions. The second panel focused on immigration enforcement and Latina safety in the workforce. Luis Nolasco of the ACLU described arrests tied to apparent ethnicity and Spanish-speaking, the chilling effect on families, and the loss of wages, school attendance, and mobility. Dr. Amada Armenta said immigration enforcement harms California’s economy, public health, and mixed-status families, and noted that undocumented workers are concentrated in agriculture, construction, and child care. SEIU’s Jen Baca Beltran said raids and school-based enforcement traumatize children and families and highlighted the need for Know Your Rights trainings. Megan Ortiz of IDEPSCA described repeated Border Patrol raids on day labor centers, injuries to staff, and the need to protect worker centers, domestic workers, and street vendors. Inclusive Action’s Shannon Camacho said raids have forced many informal workers to stop working, prompted emergency cash assistance and rent relief efforts, and strengthened advocacy for vendor protections and CDFI support. CHIRLA’s Jeanette Zanipatine said the rapid response network has expanded, documented widespread arrests and detention conditions, and is providing direct support and legal referrals; committee members asked about detention, maternal health, and what the state can do, and panelists urged stronger oversight, more legal representation, and protections for pregnant and detained people.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eric Lurie speaking on behalf of the California State Association of Counties, representing all 58 counties
• We see members in Los Angeles County as well as San Joaquin County.
• I am based directly in SLO County and Paso Robles.
• County?
• We do workforce development and reentry work.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard presentations on the Department of Industrial Relations’ labor-related budget items, with the main focus on proposed trailer bill language to reform the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and a related budget change proposal for staffing. DIR said SIBTF has grown far beyond its original purpose, citing the 2020 Todd decision, expanded eligibility based on chronic or asymptomatic conditions, and a backlog that has grown to more than 30,000 pending cases. The administration argued the reforms would restore guardrails, reduce liabilities and employer assessments, and speed processing for severely injured workers; the LAO said the proposal was largely consistent with its prior recommendations. Members raised concerns about using trailer bill language for major policy changes, the retroactive application to open cases, and the impact on workers already in the queue, while supporters from employer groups and public agencies backed the proposal as necessary to control costs and restore sustainability. Public comment was split, with injured-worker advocates opposing the retroactive changes and business/public employer representatives supporting the reforms. The committee then heard the SIBTF workload request, which would phase in 177 positions over five years at a cost of $36.5 million, including staff for the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Office of the Director Legal Unit, and administrative support. DIR said the additional staffing is intended to address very high caseloads and reduce processing times, but emphasized that the request assumes the reform package is adopted; LAO agreed the staffing increase made sense if paired with reforms. Members asked about vacancy rates, current staffing, and whether the workload request would become the new normal, and DIR said it would monitor caseload trends and adjust future requests as needed. Finally, the committee received an update on the California Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP), which DIR described as a partnership with community-based organizations to educate workers and help employers comply with labor laws. DIR reported that CWOP has reached 1.75 million workers and employers and made 8 million touchpoints since 2020, with the current round awarding $50.7 million to 87 partners for a two-year period through June 2027. Members and public commenters highlighted the program’s role in reaching immigrant, farmworker, janitorial, nail salon, and other vulnerable communities, and several speakers urged continued funding at $30 million per year for five years. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You will notice... ...and the counties, and you can see how many responses we received from each county
• We would like to note that two of those counties, Sioux County and Slope County, do not have licensed
• Many of you already know that 36 out of 53 counties are frontier counties.
• counties have no physicians.
• It's a problem in Cass County. It's a problem in Cass County.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, even though my county is one of the counties outside of the seven-county metro that this would affect
• <00:11:22.560> are<00:11:22.959> doing County and Ramsey County are are doing County
• When I have talked to my counties, they are having problems with workforce.
• It's outdated, and that is costing the counties a lot of money in retention and a workforce.
• But there are... a workforce. Um, so I would strongly a workforce.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of the AY's workforce. of the AY's workforce.
• workforce. It was my understanding, Mr. workforce.
• twothirds of the federal workforce. twothirds of the federal workforce.
• I Workforce, America's Workforce Act.
• We support the federal workforce. We want to make the federal workforce harder.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To really invest in that workforce pipeline early on.
• , two or three counties that qualify.
• , two or three counties that qualify.
• That probably—would that be counties? It's on 120.
• That probably, would that be counties? It's on 120.

Bills: SB193, SB132, SB35, SB145

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

Transcript Highlights:

• > and<00:05:27.479> this the county staff County budgets and this the county staff County
• Kylie and Stevens and you toured Hennepin County, you did a county, and you came out there.
• Kylie and Stevens and you toured Hennepin County, you did a county, and you came out there.
• P., which is, I mean, the difference between Wright County, Hennepin County, and Ramsey County is completely
• <02:28:25.680> Ramsey County henen County and and Ramsey County henen County and and Ramsey

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, workforce is those $6 million that you see is for all the programs, not just workforce.
• into the workforce right at that moment. into the workforce right at that moment.
• served 80 of our state's 87 counties. served 80 of our state's 87 counties.
• then forays into workforce development. then forays into workforce development.
• workforce partnering with for the workforce coaching?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ...and training for the workforce we need.
• , "Let's see where we're going to grow our workforce."
• The workforce in building a factory, along with our non-union workforce operating inside of a factory
• to join New Braunfels in Guadalupe County to have a TSTC campus there.
• But I'm in Missouri County now. I'm helping take care of my mom.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also the president of the Military Officers Association of Alameda County.
• Kasha Hunt here with Nassman, on behalf of the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors, in support.
• Stacey Heaton, Rural County Representatives of California, in support.
• District 1, I cover 11 counties, and we are plagued with fires every year.
• Workforce challenges require workforce solutions.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its second regular hearing of the 2025-26 session and announced that, under reinstated suspense-file rules, every bill on the agenda would be referred to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee first heard AB 53, which would create a state income tax exemption of up to $20,000 for military retirees and certain survivor benefits. Supporters, including veterans’ groups, military retirees, and local officials, argued California is the only state taxing military retirement pay in full and that the exemption would help retain veterans and their families. Committee members voiced strong support, but the bill was sent to suspense. The committee then heard several wildfire-related tax relief bills. AB 429 would exempt certain wildfire settlement payments from gross income for victims of fires from 2020 through 2026; the author and a Greenville fire victim described the burden of taxing settlement funds, and rural county and forestry groups supported the measure. AB 97 proposed similar relief for Bobcat Fire settlement payments, and AB 389 would create a personal income tax credit for home-hardening expenses in high fire-risk areas, with Cal Fire and realtor representatives supporting the bill as a way to reduce future losses. Each of these measures drew no formal opposition in the hearing and was referred to suspense. AB 386 would create a tax credit for employers that help full-time employees repay student loans, up to $3,000 per employee per year. Supporters said it would help recruit and retain workers and reduce student debt burdens, while the California Tax Reform Association opposed the bill because it lacked allocation criteria and would reduce General Fund and education revenues. Committee members expressed interest but asked for clearer eligibility standards, and the bill was sent to suspense. AB 490 would allow a deduction for interest paid on qualified personal vehicle loans; the author framed it as relief for families dependent on cars, but opposition again came from the tax reform group, which argued the deduction would mainly benefit higher-income taxpayers. The bill also went to suspense. The committee also heard AB 547, which would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for IVF and other fertility-treatment expenses. The author and a witness who described a long and costly IVF journey said the credit would help families afford treatment and support parenthood; members responded sympathetically and asked why the proposal was structured as a tax credit rather than a health coverage mandate. Finally, AB 330 would extend the prepaid mobile telephony services collection act through 2031, preserving an 80-cent surcharge that supports 911 and local government revenues; local government representatives and cities supported the extension, and it too was referred to suspense. The hearing ended with the committee adjourning after all measures were held for suspense-file consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• County.
• We would like to note that two of those counties, Sioux County and Slope County, do not have licensed
• We will would like to note that two of those counties, Sioux County and Slope County, do not have licensed
• Many of you already know that 36 out of 53 counties are frontier counties.
• It's a problem in Cass County. It's a problem in Cass County.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on North Dakota’s Interagency Council on Homelessness and Continuum of Care funding. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported that homelessness remains driven by tight housing markets, low incomes, rising rents, and barriers to rental assistance, public benefits, and disability determinations. She said the state’s one-time North Dakota Homeless Grant is serving all regions but reaches far fewer households than the former Rent Help program, and that aging homelessness, shelter staffing shortages, and limited affordable units are growing concerns. Members discussed the need for more housing supply, better coordination with Health and Human Services, landlord engagement, reentry housing, and possible continued one-time funding for the $10 million Homeless Grant and $25 million Housing Incentive Fund. Henderson also warned that federal Continuum of Care funding is uncertain, with HUD expected to issue a new notice June 1 and possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing and other models. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described the school’s services for infants, children, and adults, including screenings, mobility training, assistive technology, and outreach across the state. He said the agency works closely with Vocational Rehabilitation and is also involved in improving website and document accessibility, especially for PDF materials. Public testimony highlighted barriers such as inaccessible CAPTCHA systems, online forms, driver’s license requirements on job applications, and limited transportation in rural areas. A deaf resident urged broader use of video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training so people know how to use them effectively. Finally, Kay Larson presented the final report on the child care provider licensing study. The report recommended streamlining North Dakota’s child care licensing structure into three provider types plus a preschool designation, while preserving health and safety standards and maintaining eligibility for child care assistance. The committee discussed simplifying training and qualification rules, revising ratio and group-size requirements, and adjusting age bands for infants and toddlers. The report also noted that some changes would require statutory amendments and later administrative rule changes, with a transition period likely extending through 2029. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, but the committee accepted the updates and scheduled follow-up presentations for a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• $10,000 max per county grant. $10,000 max per county grant.
• counties.
• counties.
• counties.
• one does the west; it goes to the county courts, or the county judge signs off on this grant.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) 00:00:53 Approval of Minutes 00:23:37, 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Board of EMS presented an additional budget request focused on grant funding for local EMS agencies, not agency operations. Officials said the board has 13 full-time staff after losing employees in the 2022 transition back to state government, and that the request would be a 100% pass-through to providers. They initially described two requests totaling $12.91 million: $10.8 million for the EMS block grant and $2.1 million for workforce education tied to House Bill 484, but later said they would withdraw the $2.1 million request because rural health transformation funding appears likely to cover those education needs. Most of the testimony explained why the EMS block grant should be increased. The board said the grant began in 1980 at about $1.2 million and has remained largely unchanged while EMS costs have risen sharply. They cited higher prices for ambulances, stretchers, and cardiac monitors, along with increased labor and reimbursement pressures. Board members emphasized that modern EMS now provides much more advanced care in the field, especially in rural areas, and argued that equipment such as 12-lead cardiac monitors can significantly improve patient outcomes. They said the current grant provides about $10,000 per county, while the request would raise funding to about $100,000 per county and increase the per-capita amount from roughly 26 cents to $2.60. Members also discussed whether the block grant statute should be reformed to target need more directly. Board officials said they had considered making the grant more competitive, but decided against it for now because many counties rely on the annual funding and shifting money away from some areas would create hardship. In response to questions, they said Kentucky has about 160 class one EMS agencies providing 911 response across 120 counties, and that grant awards in recent years reached 91 counties, then 108, then 110 counties. They also highlighted the cost and safety benefits of power loading systems for stretchers, saying they can reduce back injuries and help retain EMS workers, but are often unaffordable for smaller departments. No votes were taken on the budget request during the hearing. After the testimony and questions, the committee approved the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and second, with no opposition, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, we must address the workforce issue directly.
• The answer is to preserve flexibility while strengthening the workforce.
• The answer is to preserve flexibility while strengthening the workforce.
• I strongly urge this committee... ...from entering the peer support workforce.
• Vanessa Flores on behalf of Alameda County in support. Thank you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health met in Room 2100 and first established a quorum, then approved a six-bill consent calendar on a 6-0 vote, placing it on call. The committee then heard AB 2233, which would ensure that once applied behavior analysis services for autistic patients are authorized, families can use those approved hours across the authorization period rather than losing them to weekly utilization caps or scheduling barriers. The author and supporters, including behavior analysts and family advocates, said the bill would not expand benefits but would improve access to already authorized care; health plan and insurance representatives initially raised fraud and utilization-management concerns but said they would remove opposition after amendments preserving those safeguards. AB 2233 passed 7-0 and was placed on call. The committee next heard AB 96, which would remove the high school diploma or equivalent requirement for certification as a Medi-Cal peer support specialist. Supporters from county behavioral health, peer services, and local governments argued that lived experience, training, and certification standards—not a diploma—should determine eligibility, and that the change would help address workforce shortages and expand culturally competent peer support. One opposition witness from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals testified against the bill, but the measure advanced on a 7-0 vote to Appropriations and was placed on call. The final major item was AB 1876, the Fair Care for All Act, which would codify federal non-discrimination protections in state law for health care coverage and services. Supporters said it would protect transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex patients from discriminatory coverage practices and preserve access to medically necessary care; opponents argued it would force coverage of gender-affirming interventions and reduce insurer safeguards. After debate over whether the bill expanded coverage, the author said it simply mirrored existing federal non-discrimination law. AB 1876 passed 7-1 and was re-referred to Judiciary, then placed on call. The committee later opened the roll to record absent members and concluded the meeting after all items were disposed of.