Transcript Highlights:

• Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, certain employers have to provide employees, like our
• Would you be in favor of making this option available to employees generally or only to teachers?
• To the extent this can be used to help other employees, let's talk about that too.
• The municipality are all employees of SpaceX coming from other parts of the state and the country.
• The municipality are all employees of Space X coming from other parts of the state and the country.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with remarks highlighting UTRGV’s growth, degree production, research expansion, medical school, and role in serving the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The chamber also recognized the doctor of the day and adopted additional resolutions, including one for Denton County Days at the Capitol and another recognizing Texas HBCU Day. The Senate gave extensive recognition to outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp through Senate Resolution 368. Senators from both parties praised his long public career, leadership of the A&M System, support for regional universities, and bipartisan approach. The resolution was adopted after multiple members added their names. The chamber also heard from advocates with the Texas Streets Coalition, and received gubernatorial nominations for the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. On legislation, the Senate passed several major bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to address teacher vacancies, bilingual certification testing, paid leave options, classroom removals, and appeal rights, then passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment on parents’ right to direct a child’s education, advanced on a 22-9 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, aimed at preventing foreign influence and intellectual property theft at public institutions of higher education, passed unanimously. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the business entities bill, also passed after debate over corporate governance and shareholder protections. Senate Bill 857, authorizing law enforcement to tow certain vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed despite some concern about towing abuses during disasters. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536 on dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, but the transcript ends as that bill is being laid out.

Transcript Highlights:

• thing to do for employees.
• It allows staff time to for employees.
• </c> and its effort to balance employee and its effort to balance employee protections<00:10:23.120><
• </c><00:21:44.720><c> are</c> situations where employees are situations where employees are supporting
• It's important that we take care of the employees.

Bills: HF4110 , HF4101 , HF4144 , HF3546

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, medical assistance, data matching, eligibility, reporting, human services, assisted living, health regulations, inspection authority, vulnerable adults, local government, program integrity, high-risk providers, enrollment requirements, fraud prevention, compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> versus one that is done by um employees versus one that is done by um employees and<00:21:31.360
• </c> city employee or is it a temporary? city employee or is it a temporary?
• </c> in the relation to the employee in the relation to the employee retirement<00:55:35.119><c> system
• This many people..." job as a seasonal employee is one that job as a seasonal employee is one that they're
• Uh employee retirement system concerns.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just a simple county employee. I'm going to try my best.
• The impact of this would be felt by the Denton community, including our five employees.
• It's the right to control the employee.
• It's the right to control the employee.
• Just to understand the structure, the NPHO engages the employee, the physician as an employee under the

Bills: HB2242 , HB2446 , HB2799 , HB4502 , HB2920 , HB2790 , HB5620 , HB5060 , HB5076 , HB5080 , HB5081 , HB5128 , HB5130 , HB3847 , HB5116 , HB2969 , HB4546 , HB4202 , HB5624 , HB3964 , HB4803 , HB872 , HB4775 , HB4777 , HB4961 , HB5570 , HB2988 , HB4260 , HB1375 , HB5009 , HB5411 , HB5134 , HB4388 , HB3095 , HB1387

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:20.400><c> is</c> space to match the work employee is space to match the work employee is
• </c> increase in being able to hire employees increase in being able to hire employees that<00:09:10.120
• </c><00:58:23.319><c> or</c> comes to the number of our employees or comes to the number of our employees
• </c> are seeing more production per employee are seeing more production per employee and<00:58:36.400
• </c><01:17:24.960><c> but</c> certainly those 41,000 employees but certainly those 41,000 employees but

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, a public employee might share with the public information about the condition of roads
• The public employee can't control how that's done.
• the way attentive citizens vote, and public employees can't control that.
• The statute was designed to be broad electioneering by public employees.
• The statute was designed to be broad electioneering by public employees.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• petitions: a petition of Lisa Field for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Aden Daniels, an employee
• Petition of Lisa Field for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Aden Daniels, an employee of
• Third reading of the bill: an act establishing a sick leave bank for Paul Stavisky, an employee of the
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Paul Stavisky, an employee of the Department of Correction.
• Third reading of the bill: an act establishing a sick leave bank for Fenneda Janow Patel, an employee

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several committee reports and adopted a series of resolutions and procedural orders. It adopted resolutions honoring Yulanda Carrillo on her 102nd birthday and the Knights of Columbus Peabody Leo Council 508 on its 125th anniversary. The House also extended reporting deadlines for the Education Committee and the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee, and concurred with a Senate referral of a sick leave bank petition for Emily Kulik. Joint Rule 12 was suspended for additional petitions, including a sick leave bank for Aden Daniels and a petition to rescind prior calls for a federal constitutional convention. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported a number of local bills for House consideration, including measures on Norfolk reserved capacity billing, Dalton town manager residency requirements, Lancaster’s animal control commission, Cambridge parking enforcement notices, Fairhaven’s charter, Malden’s charter, Ipswich’s charter, and a sick leave bank for John C. Murphy. The House suspended Rule 7A, took the bills through second reading, and ordered them to a third reading. The House then considered and adopted the emergency preamble for House No. 4364, authorizing easements to the town of Bourne. It also passed to engrossment two Department of Correction sick leave bank bills: House No. 4426 for Paul Stavisky and House No. 4427 for Fenneda Janow Patel. Finally, the House adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m., and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of us with employees, when we hire someone, train someone, or supervise someone, have to exercise
• Because first off, you're not going to know of this individual employee until you go through discovery
• And obviously the corporation has much deeper pockets than the employee.
• Because first off, you're not going to know of this individual employee until you go through discovery
• . that it's going to play out, because first off, you're not going to know of this individual employee

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The Civil Law and Procedure Committee met on March 10, 2026, with a quorum present. At the outset, HB 292 and HB 437 were voluntarily deferred at the request of the authors. The committee then heard HB 112, which clarifies how the 75-mile distance for child relocation is measured. Representative Behan and witness Claire Jacobs argued the bill would reduce ambiguity and avoid costly custody litigation. The committee reported HB 112 favorably without objection. The committee next considered HB 190, which establishes a standard of reasonable care for certain software and computer programs, especially interactive digital products. Representative Schlegel and Louisiana State Law Institute witnesses explained the bill was developed after prior work on digital products liability and is intended to impose a negligence-style duty of reasonable care without resolving breach, causation, damages, or constitutional issues. Members asked about the meaning of “person,” vicarious liability, the scope of the duty, and how the bill relates to content moderation and Section 230. The bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 410, dealing with recording in direct in-person conversations, was voluntarily deferred by the chair after the author said an amendment would clarify that notice, not consent, would be required. HB 427, which revises the duty of care for online platforms that contract with minors and aligns definitions with existing Louisiana law on harmful material to minors, was then heard and reported favorably without objection. Finally, HB 78 increased the civil jurisdictional limit of the Bogalusa city court from $25,000 to $50,000; the author said local stakeholders supported the change, and the committee reported it favorably without objection. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said one employee borrowed $1,100 and now owes $22,000, with paychecks being garnished.
• He said he had to explain to the employee, who is probably 30 years old, what interest and principal
• He said the employee did not know the difference between interest and principal while taking a 300% plus
• He said he feels it is his responsibility to teach employees about investing, but it would be better
• He said many employees do not want to join the plan because they think it means less money now and do

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and approved House Bill 2863 by a 14-0 vote. It then took up House Bill 2967, adopted a committee amendment that removed a fixed one-third allocation and allowed funds to be allocated by the body as needed, rolled the amendment into a substitute, and passed the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2967 by a 15-0 vote. Members discussed how the bill related to another expungement-fund measure already passed by the House, and were told the two bills were intended to mirror each other and would not conflict. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2303 and the mirrored House Bill 2867, both aimed at expanding Missouri’s personal finance education requirements. Sponsor testimony said the bills would require a half-credit in personal finance for graduation beginning in 2027-28, broaden instruction to include budgeting, credit, investing, fraud prevention, taxes, contracts, and major purchases, and create a DESE work group with industry and educator input to update standards every seven years. Sponsors and supporters said the goal was to better prepare students for real-world financial decisions, reduce debt traps, and improve workforce readiness. Witnesses from the Missouri Bankers Association, mortgage bankers, consumer credit groups, financial advisors, and individual advocates testified in support, emphasizing the need for updated, practical financial literacy instruction and regular curriculum review as financial products change. Committee members asked about the bill’s interaction with existing personal finance requirements, whether it would apply to public, private, homeschool, and GED pathways, and how early course completion waivers would work. Members also suggested adding insurance and gambling/probability topics to the curriculum discussion. No opposition testimony was offered, and House Bill 2119 was postponed to a future hearing before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• What defines a full-time state employee in this bill? Would you restate the question?
• What would define a full-time state employee under this legislation? Thank you for the question.
• It goes into a full-time employee. It's a full-time Guard member for the purpose of this.
• I've never met an AGR employee that did not get paid at their rank.
• There was only one group of people that worked at the state warehouse that were truly state employees

Bills: SB2026 , SB1376 , SB1355 , SB2115 , SB1533

Committee: Senate Veterans and Military Affairs

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Summary: The Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and advanced several bills related to veterans records, National Guard benefits, burial honors, and veterans home operations. Senate Bill 2026 would allow grandchildren, with proof of lineage, to access a veteran’s DD-214 filed with a county clerk; it passed 9-0. Senate Bill 1376, amended to be named the CW5 Chris Rowe Act, would revise National Guard retirement and pay provisions, including a five-year Oklahoma Guard service minimum for retirement eligibility and language intended to ensure full-time Guard members are paid at their rank; despite concerns raised about the five-year threshold and out-of-state members, it passed 9-0. Senate Bill 1355 would create a program and funds to provide memorial headstones, markers, or medallions for eligible veterans and National Guard veterans; it also passed 9-0. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2115, a broad measure affecting Oklahoma veterans homes and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would allow more flexible hiring of part-time health care staff, create revolving funds for quicker purchasing of supplies, and exclude certain purchases from the state Purchasing Act. Members questioned the canceled warrant fund, the scope of the purchasing exemption, and how donations and federal funds would be handled. The author and ODVA representatives said the bill was still a work in progress and emphasized the need for flexibility and safeguards. The bill passed 9-0. Finally, Senate Bill 1533, described as cleanup language for the Dignity and Burial Act, would change eligibility to require a veteran to have been a resident of Oklahoma rather than dying in the state. It also passed 9-0. Near the end of the meeting, Chair Stanley noted plans for another committee meeting the following week and Senator Peterson mentioned an upcoming floor substitute related to the Strategic Military Planning Commission sunset issue.

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about
• It prohibits early learning providers, school district employees, health care facilities, adult family
• We have thousands of tons of produce being wasted in the field because we can't find the employees to
• We have thousands of tons of produce being wasted in the field because we can't find the employees to
• the definition of employer to exclude Indian tribes and protecting employee names and addresses through

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I started my legal career with the state of Idaho in 2000 as the first employee of the Idaho Office of
• And the general rule under Percy is that for five months or less, a retired employee can work for a Percy
• We work to support employers and employees, regulators, carriers, the federal government, legislators
• do classification inspections, where we will visit employers and make sure that they have their employees
• Classification inspections, where we will visit employers and make sure that they have their employees

Summary: The Senate Commerce committee approved the January 22, 2026 minutes and then heard three gubernatorial appointments. Erica Malman of Boise was introduced for the Idaho Personnel Commission; she described her background as a natural resources attorney and law firm managing partner, and senators asked about the challenges and rewards of commission service and her legal practice. Brett Thomas of Twin Falls was reappointed to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, and Dr. Karen Cabell of Post Falls was appointed to the same board; both briefly outlined their professional backgrounds and service, and the committee indicated it would likely vote on the appointments the following Tuesday. The committee then considered two DOPL rules dockets. Docket 24-3201-2101 for the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors moved licensing fees into rule, formalized a 60% fee reduction, and removed intern-related fees; it received no public comments and was approved. Docket 24-3950-2101 for the Public Works Contractors Board finalized temporary fee reductions of 16% to 20% and added “not to exceed” language to allow future reductions; it also drew no public comments and was approved effective sine die. Senate Bill 1221 was presented by Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association and supported by a water master from Water District 65. The bill would change Percy retirement language from “irrigation district” to “irrigation or drainage entity” so seasonal retirees can work up to eight months for certain water entities without triggering penalties, matching how the provision is already applied. The committee heard no opposition and voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The final presentation was an informational briefing from NCCI on Idaho workers’ compensation. Todd Johnson explained NCCI’s role as the state’s rating bureau, described declining claim frequency and generally favorable combined ratios, and noted recent rate decreases, including a 2.5% overall decrease effective January 1, 2026, plus reductions in assigned-risk surcharges. Senators asked about high-risk employers, NCCI’s rating process, and whether it handles claims decisions; Johnson said NCCI sets class-code rate recommendations and does not decide compensability or claims adjustment. The committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I started my legal career with the state of Idaho in 2000 as the first employee of the Idaho Office of
• And the general rule under PERSI is that for five months or less, a retired employee can work for a PERSI
• that are just a little bit longer than five months but yet still provide a limitation on the PERSI employee
• We work to support employers and employees, regulators, carriers, the federal government, legislators
• Classification inspections where we will visit employers and make sure that they have their employees

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that it's relating to the use of personal leave during school holidays by certain school district employees
• heard previously relating to participation in the Uniform Group Coverage Program for active school employees
• Per employee is the per-employee amount that should be given to non-TRS Active Care districts.
• Bill 3627 removes language considering a person employed by the State Board of Education to be an employee
• Bill 3627 removes language considering a person employed by the State Board of Education to be an employee

Bills: HB178 , HB1551 , HB1939 , HB2040 , HB2354 , HB2674 , HB3029 , HB3460 , HB3631 , HB3662 , HB5201 , HB5381 , HB178

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise, religious literature, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, New Testament, ninth grade

Transcript Highlights:

• We take from employees' paychecks and put...
• We take from employees' paychecks and put a percentage of that towards their retirement, but instead
• problem because literally they've stolen from... because literally they've stolen from you, the employee
• But for a public plan, like we have under RSA, it's not a crime to take the money from the employees
• Through this bill, it says clearly that it concerns aggravated employee retirement benefits if the person

Bills: SB210 , SB176 , SB167 , SB244 , SB218 , SB9 , SB153 , SB9

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, fatal crash, vehicular homicide, child support, survivor benefits, orphaned child, guardian death

Transcript Highlights:

• Morales of Maverick relating to the compensation paid to certain county and precinct officers and employees
• Education HB 1065 at Derazio relating to the classification of employees by a company license holder
• by CurRI relating to the cost of living adjustment applicable to certain benefits played by the employees
• relating to the prohibited provisions of a settlement agreement between a governmental agency and employee
• Employees or agents refer to the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, HB 1161 by Hinojosa relating to

Transcript Highlights:

• Morales of Maverick relating to the compensation paid to certain county and precinct officers and employees
• HB 1065 by DeRozio relating to the classification of employees by a company license holder under the
• Public employees to collectively bargain with governmental entities who refer to the Committee on State
• By the employees retirement system of Texas or for the committee on pensions investments and financial
• relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of assault committed against certain employees

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So when employees would separate employment, they weren't removed right away from the IT network.
• So the person was under a temporary contract that indicated that they were going to be paid as employees
• So we found some vendors and employees that had access to some systems where it wasn't clear that they
• So when employees would separate employment, they weren't really. when no longer necessary.
• So when employees would separate employment, they weren't removed right away from the IT network.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee heard the Auditor General’s operational audit of the City of Mexico Beach, which identified nine findings. The audit cited significant turnover in key management positions, late filing of required annual financial reports, weaknesses in competitive procurement and purchase approval controls, a duplicate payment on stormwater repairs that was later largely refunded, issues with the city accountant’s contract and IRS classification, IT access control problems, and the lack of fraud-reporting policies. Committee members asked about corrective action, and the Auditor General said a follow-up audit is required by statute within 18 months, with no enforcement authority beyond reporting progress back to the committee. Mayor Rich Wolf and city staff responded that the city had experienced major turnover and was rebuilding its finance and administrative team. He said the city had hired a city administrator, financial director, city clerk, and accounting firm, and was working to create policies, procedures, forms, and review processes to address the findings. Members discussed whether the turnover and hurricane-related workload contributed to the problems, and city officials said some of the larger purchases were storm-related and tied to FEMA or emergency work. The committee then received a staff update on enforcement for local governments that have not filed required financial reports. Staff said 400 entities had been notified, and as of the meeting two counties, 33 municipalities, and 48 special districts still owed reports or audits. The committee adopted a motion to proceed under section 11.42, Florida Statutes, including possible withholding of state funds for municipalities and enforcement actions for special districts, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if new information warranted it. Finally, the committee unanimously directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required 2024-2025 audit of the Department of the Lottery, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance issues and OPPAGA developing operational recommendations. Members also briefly discussed whether the committee had reviewed transportation surtaxes and expressed interest in improving the timeliness and transparency of the audit and enforcement process before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oy and the State Police for a lot of the training they provide to DMV employees on fraud.
• Oy and the State Police for a lot of the training they provide to DMV employees on fraud.
• But it starts with employee safety and security.
• </c> you need to Save a Life uh our employees you need to Save a Life uh our employees around<01:05:00.680
• and employee retention and recruitment as we try to rebuild and maintain our workforce.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met for an opening/orientation session in which members introduced themselves and explained their interest in the committee. Several members noted backgrounds in trucking, piloting, boating, motorcycles, road safety, or constituent concerns about transportation issues. The chair also noted several absent members and said the committee would first hear agency presentations before covering committee procedures. The Department of Safety gave the main presentation, outlining its seven divisions and how they relate to transportation policy and the Highway Fund. The assistant commissioner emphasized that Highway Fund revenue supports both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety, with collections coming largely from the road toll/gas tax, DMV fees, and the new electric vehicle surcharge. He also noted that 12% of Highway Fund revenues go to local road repair through the DOT Betterment Fund, and warned that the fund has had a structural deficit for several biennia, requiring General Fund transfers that may be uncertain this session. He said the department aims to provide data and fiscal context on legislation and fiscal notes. State Police then provided a detailed overview of its structure and operations, including the Operations Bureau, Investigative Services Bureau, and Justice Information Bureau. Testimony highlighted Troop G’s role in vehicle inspections, commercial motor vehicle enforcement, fraud investigations, and consumer complaint handling, as well as statewide staffing shortages. The division reported rising calls for service, motor vehicle stops, DWI arrests, and other arrests despite a vacancy rate of about 17%. It also described aviation, K-9, bomb squad, special events response, SWAT, narcotics, major crime, forensic laboratory, and other specialized units, with statistics on drug seizures, investigations, and lab workload. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• To allow an exempt employee to grieve a discharge would be problematic because many exempt employees
• </c> exempt exempt positions and employees exempt exempt positions and employees over<02:04:52.159><c
• </c> seen um attempts to exempt employees seen um attempts to exempt employees that<02:07:13.719><c>
• </c> easily understood so exempt employees easily understood so exempt employees can<02:10:14.119><c>
• have your employees easily opting in if have your employees easily opting in if you<02:15:30.880><c>

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all