Video & Transcript : 'prevailing wages' :
Page 12 of 399
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Specifically, the bill requires a skilled and trained workforce and prevailing wage for workers at advanced
- wages to manage some of the most volatile public situations in the state.
- It reviews wages and working conditions.
- California offers a relevant natural experiment on the wage question.
- The bill directs the commission to promulgate a new wage by June 30, 2028.
Summary:
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard several bills focused on labor standards, worker safety, and public transparency. SB 954 by Senator Blakespear would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by adding worker protections such as prevailing wage, a skilled and trained workforce, high-road employment standards, and environmental guardrails. Supporters from labor, environmental justice, and conservation groups said the bill restores promised safeguards after SB 131, while business groups argued the added requirements would undermine the exemption and discourage investment. The committee voted 5-0 to do pass and re-refer SB 954 to Appropriations, leaving the roll open for absent members.
The committee then considered SB 966 by Senator Gonzalez, which would codify refinery worker participation and safety protections adopted in 2017 after the 2012 Chevron Richmond fire. Supporters, including United Steelworkers and a former refinery worker, said the bill would preserve workers’ ability to report hazards, select representatives, and stop unsafe work, preventing future disasters. The Western States Petroleum Association opposed the bill, arguing it could be preempted by federal labor law and would add regulatory uncertainty. The committee passed SB 966 3-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations, with the roll left open.
Next, SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas sought to modernize private security guard training, expand de-escalation instruction, strengthen accountability, and create a clearer professional pathway for the industry. The author and many security workers testified that guards are often first responders in volatile situations and need more practical training and better standards; opponents from industry and business groups warned the bill would raise costs, worsen staffing shortages, and create implementation problems, especially around third-party training and a new wage order. The committee voted 4-1 to do pass and re-refer SB 1203 to Public Safety, with one no vote and the roll left open.
The committee also heard SB 1284 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, a transparency bill requiring DHCS to publish the names of large employers with workers enrolled in Medi-Cal and the estimated taxpayer cost. Supporters said the measure would show how low wages and unaffordable coverage shift health costs to the public, while opponents argued Medi-Cal enrollment depends on many factors and that naming employers would be misleading and amount to public shaming. After discussion, the committee voted 4-2 to do pass and re-refer SB 1284 to Appropriations, leaving the roll open. The transcript then began discussion of SB 1054 by Senator Cabaldon, which would improve workforce data collection and sharing to better evaluate job-training pathways, but the excerpt cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 02/06/25
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- Davis-Bacon is similar to prevailing wage requirements that, initially when it was passed in the 1920s
- But, um, so my inquiry is... ...prevailing wage requirements that, initially when it was passed in the
- go on that when you do prevailing wage legislation and just blow it up.
- but</c><00:46:28.520><c> I</c> support prevailing wage in general but I support prevailing wage in general
- </c><00:46:37.640><c> and</c> prevailing wage you know legislation and prevailing wage you know legislation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - Part 2 - 03/27/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The motion prevails.
- The motion prevails.
- The motion prevails. Senate File no. The motion prevails.
- They would simply not get a wage increase. They wouldn't get a wage decrease.
- They would simply not get a wage increase. They wouldn't get a wage decrease.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 Apr 30th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- the Debt Fairness Act, which included provisions that modernized and improved Minnesota's bank and wage
- types of content changes were needed: updating exemptions, updating definitions, and incorporating wage
- Hearing no objections, the motions prevail. Announcements.
- The motion prevails. Representative Niska, I move that the House do now adjourn.
- The motion prevails, and the House stands adjourned until 11 a.m. Thursday, May 1st, 2025.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session: 2025 First Special Session - part 1 Jun 9th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The motion prevails.
- The motion does not prevail, and the amendment is not adopted.
- So please, cut our wage.
- We've been making minimum wage forever and not today's minimum wage—a minimum wage from the '70s.
- Please cut my wages. This is a hard truth.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Jan 30th, 2026 at 03:13 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- wage be paid for the construction.
- government buildings—to think about what we're doing there with those public policies regarding prevailing
- wage.
- And I appreciate Senator Scott's comments because we talked about this prevailing wage, because this
- is fake money, and we're spending more money because of prevailing wage than a more competitive environment
Keywords:
SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation, senior health coverage, elderly, retiree, Medicare beneficiaries, preexisting conditions, underwriting restrictions, premium discrimination, New Mexico insurance law, superintendent of insurance, health care coverage, policy portability, healthcare
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 30th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Labor & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- contractor or subcontractor to perform covered finishing work is a laborer for the purposes of prevailing
- wage and an employee for the purposes of workers' compensation.
- some employers to avoid payroll taxes and prevailing wage obligations.
- wage and workers' compensation law.
- wage and apprenticeship utilization standards that underpin quality and safety on public projects. .
Keywords:
SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement, infractions, administrative penalties, license suspension, certificate suspension, endorsement suspension, registration suspension, Department of Labor and Industries, advisory board of plumbers, penalty schedule, repeat violations, workplace standards, construction trades, professional licensing, Washington state, factory built housing
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- contractor or subcontractor to perform covered finishing work is a laborer for the purposes of prevailing
- wage and an employee for the purposes of workers' compensation.
- some employers to avoid payroll taxes and prevailing wage obligations.
- wage and workers' compensation law.
- wage and apprenticeship utilization standards that underpin quality and safety on public projects.
Summary:
The Labor and Commerce Committee held public hearings and later executive action on several bills. Senate Bill 6158, by request of L&I, would update factory-built housing and commercial structure rules to incorporate International Code Council standards and allow qualified third-party inspectors approved by L&I; the sponsor said it would make modular housing inspections more efficient and cost-effective, and L&I supported it with a requested technical amendment and no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 6197 would separate plumbing discipline standards for residential and nonresidential work, allowing suspension after five infractions in five years for nonresidential violations while keeping the current three-in-36-month standard for residential work; supporters from mechanical contractors, union plumbers, and a plumbing advisory board member said it would curb unlicensed work and unsafe practices, while opponents from contractor groups and some plumbing businesses argued it was too punitive, did not adequately distinguish commercial service from construction, and should be refined. L&I said it needed time to implement and asked for a later effective date.
During executive session, the committee adopted a proposed substitute and advanced Senate Bill 5437, which voids noncompetition covenants, with a delayed effective date and other conforming changes; some Republicans opposed it as too broad. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 6117, which would extend PERC jurisdiction and state collective-bargaining protections if federal labor law no longer applies, after rejecting an amendment that would have narrowed coverage further. Senate Bill 5852, dealing with immigrant worker protections during federal I-9 inspections, advanced after the committee rejected an amendment to remove the private right of action. Senate Bill 5847, on workers’ compensation medical care and treatment access, advanced with an amendment removing penalty provisions and another adding claims manager positions; the bill was sent to Ways and Means. Senate Bills 6067 and 6136 also advanced, the former changing workers’ compensation health benefit calculations and the latter requiring L&I to publish actuarially indicated industrial insurance rates.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 6302, which would address misclassification in finishing trades on public works by limiting contractors and subcontractors to no more than two independent contractors on covered finishing work such as drywall, flooring, tile, painting, and glazier work, with violators treated as employees for prevailing wage and workers’ compensation purposes. Supporters from building trades and pipefitters said the bill would reduce misclassification, protect workers, and level the playing field; opponents from general contractors and contractor associations said it would effectively ban legitimate independent contractors, reduce flexibility on public projects, and hurt small businesses. L&I said it had clarifying questions about how the cap would apply and asked for more specificity.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 04/01/25
State and Local Government
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- from basic wage and hour protections is not an accident of history.
- minimum wage.
- That is resilience... ...parity with contemporary wage laws.
- Thank you. ...wages.
- Motion prevails, and a moment of silence is requested in memory of Mr. Mark K. Harris.
Summary:
The Senate resumed debate on An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts and considered a series of amendments focused on farm economics, land preservation, energy, labor, and agricultural education. Senator Tarr’s Amendment 5, allowing local-option tax exemptions for newly constructed farm buildings for up to five years, was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-0. Several other Tarr amendments were debated but not adopted, including proposals on APR criteria and climate resilience, a one-stop permit and grant portal, a foreign-ownership farmland registry, horse-riding instructor licensing, expanding farm-based renewable energy, a farm stand waiver process, non-agricultural conversion notice requirements, and a health and wellness amendment. Senator Mark’s Amendment 20, creating a Massachusetts Food Tourism Task Force to support marketing and procurement of agricultural goods, was adopted. Senator Gomez’s Amendment 41 on farmworker fairness and wage protections was withdrawn after discussion, with Senators Eldridge and Comerford speaking in support of continued work on the issue. Senator Fattman’s Amendment 34, directing a study of agricultural schools and regional workforce needs, was adopted by roll call vote 37-0.
The chamber also took up several procedural matters and extension orders. The Senate adopted a Ways and Means amendment and then ordered the agricultural bill to a third reading before passing it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 39-0. Separately, the Senate adopted extension orders for the Committee on Revenue and the Committee on Financial Services, with Senators Eldridge and Feeney explaining the need for additional time on revenue and financial services bills; Senator Tarr raised concerns about the scope and duration of some of the extensions. The Senate also approved an extension for a financial technology services bill.
In addition to legislative action, the Senate observed a moment of silence in memory of Mark K. Harris after a motion by Senators Collins and Miranda, and recognized guests for Youth Mentoring Day and the Mass Mentoring Program. The chamber also passed a memorial overpass designation for U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Raymond G. Torville and a local alcohol-license bill for the town of Topsfield. The session concluded with an order to adjourn until the next day at 11 a.m., with the adjournment also dedicated to the memory of Mark K. Harris.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The case didn't prevail, but the principle is a good one in theory.
- The case didn't prevail, but the principle is a good one in theory.
- The case didn't prevail, but the principle is a good one in theory.
- The case didn't prevail, but the principle is a good one in theory.
- The case didn't prevail, but the principle is a good one in theory.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Apr 1st, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- minimum wage.
- Parity with contemporary wage laws.
- Not to mention the provision in this bill about overtime. ...for many years, make the minimum wage.
- The ayes have it, and the motion prevails, and asks for a moment of silence in memory of Mr.
- The motion prevails, and ask for a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Mark K. Harris.
Summary:
The Senate resumed consideration of An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts and took up a series of amendments focused on farm taxation, land preservation, permitting, renewable energy, marketing, and labor standards. Amendment 5, offered by Senator Tarr, would allow local option tax exemptions for newly constructed farm buildings for up to five years; it was supported by Senator Comerford and adopted by a roll call vote of 38-0. Amendment 20, offered by Senator Mark, created a Massachusetts Food Tourism Task Force to improve marketing and promotion of agricultural goods, and it was also adopted. Several other Tarr amendments were debated but rejected, including proposals on APR criteria, a one-stop permitting and grants portal, foreign ownership tracking in the farmland registry, horse-riding instruction licensure, higher solar/agrovoltaics caps on farmland, farm stand waiver flexibility, notice before conversion of registered farmland, and a health and wellness amendment.
A major point of debate was Amendment 41, offered by Senator Gomez, which sought to extend wage and hour protections to agricultural laborers, including raising the subminimum wage, adding overtime, paid breaks, and paid time off. Senator Gomez described the measure as a correction to racist historical exclusions, and Senator Eldridge and Senator Comerford spoke in support of stronger worker protections and continued negotiations. The sponsor ultimately withdrew the amendment, saying talks with stakeholders and Senate leadership would continue. The chamber also heard a brief recognition for youth mentoring guests and later adopted a study amendment from Senator Fattman directing an assessment of the need for a Central Massachusetts agricultural school; that amendment passed 37-0.
After the agricultural bill was amended by the Senate Ways and Means amendment and ordered to a third reading, the Senate passed the bill, An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts (S. 3029), to be engrossed by a vote of 39-0. The Senate then adopted several committee extension orders, including extensions for the Revenue Committee and the Financial Services Committee, with some discussion about the number and scope of bills covered. The chamber also passed a local bill designating the U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Raymond G. Torville Veterans Memorial Overpass in Sandwich and another local alcohol licensing bill for Topsfield. The session ended with recognitions for community and youth groups, a motion to adjourn in memory of Mark K. Harris, and adjournment to the following day at 11 a.m.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets
Transcript Highlights:
- wage.
- wage if they're going to contract the work out.
- wage are done on public construction because it's public construction whether it's done by a utility
- wage also.
- wage if they're going to contract to work out if they do it on their own workforce then they're going
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on the BRIGHT Act, a higher education capital bill that would use Fair Share surtax revenue to fund major repairs, modernization, and decarbonization projects across UMass, state universities, and community colleges. UMass leadership described a $4.8 billion deferred maintenance backlog, aging buildings, and the need to modernize facilities, improve accessibility, and reduce emissions. Administration officials said the bill would authorize $2.5 billion in capital funding, split roughly 50-50 between UMass and the rest of public higher education, plus additional targeted funding for housing planning, smaller modernization projects, campus master plans, and workforce skills grants. They emphasized that the financing structure is modeled on the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and would not raise student costs, while also supporting affordability through financial aid and free community college.
Members raised questions about regional equity, the distribution of funds among the five UMass campuses and the 24 state university/community college campuses, project labor agreements, whether the bill would unlock private or federal matching funds, and how the system is preparing for AI and changing workforce needs. UMass officials said project selection is data-driven, based on deferred maintenance, safety, accessibility, sustainability, and programmatic needs, and that the flagship campus in Western Massachusetts would likely receive a large share because of its size and needs. They also said UMass Boston would receive its own share and would not be shortchanged by the Bayside project. On labor, they said PLAs are commonly used and they would follow existing board and building authority policies. On affordability, they said the university has shifted hundreds of millions into need-based aid and that the state’s recent support has helped keep tuition low for many students.
DCAMM and higher education officials said the state’s public campuses account for a large share of state-owned building space and a disproportionate share of operational carbon emissions, making decarbonization a major driver of the bill. They said the legislation would allow larger, more comprehensive projects that can address deferred maintenance, energy efficiency, and program needs at the same time, while also making some projects shovel-ready through the Fair Share supplemental funding already appropriated. A later panel from the State Universities Council of Presidents argued the bill’s authorization is still too small to meet long-term needs and urged the committee to increase the bond cap and ensure a more equitable distribution among segments. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- theft and protect prevailing wage standards.
- wage compliance.
- While we appreciate the author's goal of strengthening enforcement of prevailing wage and apprenticeship
- wage claim with the Labor Commissioner.
- That represents a 17% wage increase.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations.
The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call.
The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Motion prevails. Thank you, Representative Lee.
- The vote does not prevail.
- </c> the vote does not prevail. the vote does not prevail.
- It did not prevail. this provision. It did not prevail.
- c> jobs,</c><01:18:37.520><c> long-term</c> means high high wage jobs, long-term means high high wage
Keywords:
taxation, pass-through entity, qualifying owner, partnership, S corporation, tax return, corporate franchise tax, individual income tax, research expenditures, federal compliance, Minnesota Statutes, income tax, corporate tax, section 179, federal conformity, HF3815, Minnesota taxes, tax conformity, Internal Revenue Code, IRC conformity
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Apr 1st, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The exclusion of farm workers from basic wage and hour protections is not an accident of history.
- minimum wage.
- That is resilience... ...parity with contemporary wage laws.
- The ayes have it, and the motion prevails, and asks for a moment of silence in memory of Mr.
- Motion prevails, and a moment of silence is observed in memory of Mr. Mark K. Harris.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session - Part 1 - 05/13/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
MN
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 3/23/26
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The motion prevails. prevails. prevails.
- The motion<00:47:34.120><c> prevails.</c> The motion prevails. The motion prevails.
- </c> median wage. median wage.
- </c> motion does not prevail. motion does not prevail.
- </c> does not prevail. does not prevail.
Keywords:
vehicle registration, title transfer, rental vehicles, state regulations, motor vehicle laws, school buses, USDOT number, first aid kits, transportation safety, vehicle regulations, transit safety, assault penalties, public transportation, criminal justice, transit workers, transportation, railroad, safety, economic development, public roads
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-CLAIMS REVIEW/LITIGATION REPORTS OVERSIGHT Mar 16th, 2026
ALC-CLAIMS REVIEW/LITIGATION REPORTS OVERSIGHT
Transcript Highlights:
- “A claim for wages that one of your constituents didn’t get paid.
- minimum wage laws, make sure that people are getting paid a fair wage and they’re getting paid for their
- And in two installments, we got the $1, back wages paid in full.
- if it's a failure to pay overtime or minimum wage, you know, so.
- This is unpaid wages, unpaid salary for $27,000?