Transcript Highlights:

• On line 18, a $1.1 million annual increase for insurance and compensation needs.
• To that, we added insurance and compensation increases on line 73 of $2.77 million per year.
• On line 82, a $7,000 lease cost increase of $1.7 million per year.
• To that, we added on line 81, an insurance and compensation increase of $174,000 per year.
• We also added on line 82, a $7,000 lease cost increase beginning in fiscal 2027, and we reduced their

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• We all agree that third-party litigation funding has been and continues to be an increasing problem.
• CJA agrees that ensuring outside investors do not... ...increasing problem.
• To officially apologize for its own role in the early wars and massacres waged against California Native
• Between 1851 and 1859, the state wrapped up millions of dollars waging a war against tribes.
• But I definitely think that it's really important that we do everything we can to increase abilities

Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused largely on legal ethics, access to justice, public notice, water-rights notice, and protections for vulnerable people. AB 2305 would bar corporate investors such as private equity and hedge funds from directing or influencing litigation decisions; it was supported by the Consumer Attorneys of California and others, with the Civil Justice Association of California supporting if amended to add disclosure requirements. AB 2039 would tighten discipline for attorney misconduct, protect whistleblowers inside law firms, and restrict certain client-loan arrangements; it drew support from consumer attorneys and a support-if-amended position from CJA. AB 2109 would require the State Bar to adopt the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ Universal Bar Exam after the troubled February 2025 California bar exam; members discussed the need for broader review and possible reciprocity, but supported moving the bill forward. The committee also advanced AB 2115, which would issue a formal legislative apology to California Native peoples for the state’s role in historic violence and dispossession, with strong support from tribal leaders and Native organizations. Members spoke at length about the need for acknowledgment, healing, and a Capitol plaque memorializing the apology. AB 2179 would expand electronic filing and remote appearance options to workplace violence restraining orders, aligning them with other protective order procedures; it received support from local governments, prosecutors, labor groups, and advocacy organizations. AB 2534 would allow restraining orders based on forced marriage or attempts to compel marriage, and the committee heard powerful testimony from a survivor and support from family violence advocates. Two other measures addressed notice and transparency. AB 2323 would modernize public notice by keeping print publication as the legal standard while requiring online availability, with supporters emphasizing access, archival value, and the role of community newspapers; a special districts group opposed unless amended. AB 2125 would require courts in water-rights adjudications to consider proof of notice and receipts before proceeding, prompted by testimony from Ventura County farmers who said they lost water allocations without adequate notice. The committee approved the bills it heard, including several on consent, and later took roll-call votes to move the measures forward, generally sending them to Appropriations or to the floor as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we certainly need to increase the responsibility of our resident advisors to make sure that if they
• , far below living wages, and they still have to pay, Madam Chair, out of what they do earn.
• Every year, we increase the number of our graduates.
• Our funding will invest in increasing access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
• in those types of substances or that could be correlated with the increase in overdose deaths.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• At an average annual wage of $88,874, manufacturing workers' wages are 16% higher than the state's average
• wage.
• </c> provide high-wage careers. provide high-wage careers.
• average annual wage of $88,874, manufacturing<00:54:10.280><c> workers'</c><00:54:11.200><c> wages</
• The omnibus bill will also allow wage.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an hour from Uber, and they could get paid $20 an hour by Lyft, but if they would rather have their wage
• Senator Lakey continued: “On the tax side, if this person was employed by that firm, the wages paid and
• “The wages paid and the benefits paid are still a business expense, aren’t they?” Ms.
• So as an employer, if this was a regular employee, I paid them away…” The wages paid and the benefits
• “If this was a regular employee, I paid them a wage and I contributed to their benefit account, both

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee first approved the minutes from February 26, 2026 by voice vote. It then heard House Bill 738, which would allow an additional option for LLC organizers to list a commercial registered agent’s address instead of a residential/home address on the Secretary of State’s website, with the stated goal of improving privacy and safety for home-based businesses while preserving existing LLC formation options. Representative Dygert said the bill was developed with input from the Secretary of State’s office and that other states use similar approaches. After questions about the definition and use of commercial registered agents, the committee voted to send HB 738 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 645, a proposal to create voluntary portable benefits accounts for independent contractors and other 1099 workers. Majority Leader Den Hartog and a supporting witness described the bill as a way for contractors and hiring entities to contribute to worker-owned accounts that could be used for benefits such as health, disability, life, retirement, income replacement, and unemployment insurance, with administration by approved third-party providers under Department of Insurance oversight. Supporters argued the bill would expand flexibility and access to benefits without changing worker classification, and noted similar laws in other states. Opponents, including the Idaho AFL-CIO, warned the bill could worsen worker misclassification, blur the line between employees and contractors, and create concerns about immigration verification, workers’ compensation, and tax treatment. Committee members raised repeated questions about whether the bill could affect the right-to-control test, workers’ compensation, federal classification rules, and whether the accounts might be used without health coverage. The sponsor and witness responded that the bill would not alter existing classification law, would not create an employer-employee relationship, and would remain subject to federal law. After closing debate, the committee approved HB 645 on a 5-4 roll call vote and sent it to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think that's increasing our workload right in terms of the number of eligibility determinations.
• For example, we do access the federal hub on people's wage data.
• We have access to the Department of Economic Security wage data there, and so where we can verify it
• Um we have access to wage data security.
• </c><00:26:56.240><c> are</c> pull down assuming their um wages are pull down assuming their um wages

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Was that, as it's the collection of tolls, a result of increase in the tolls or increase in the volume
• That increases occupancy, and capacity increases are unlikely to increase revenue.
• During the pandemic, an 18% increase.
• To the second question of whether increasing occupancy would increase revenue, we found that the answer
• </c> uh it increases makes them look better. uh it increases makes them look better.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:00 Approve Minutes from November 13, 2025- 00:00:55 RiverLink Tolling Operations for Louisville Bridges-Quarterhill Testimony- 00:01:48 Staff Report on Veterans’ Centers- 00:26:45 Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Response to Staff Report- 0:58:53 Adjournment- 1:18:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the November 13, 2025 meeting and then heard testimony from Quarter Hill, the tolling subcontractor for RiverLink on the Indiana-Kentucky bridge system. Quarter Hill described its role in back-office support and call center operations for the Lincoln, Kennedy, and Lewis and Clark bridges, and said the contract began in 2021 with go-live in September 2023. The company reported that revenue has increased since it took over, customer service response times have improved, and it has been operating at a loss because the contract was based on outdated transaction estimates and did not account for higher-than-expected volume and added support costs. Members questioned Quarter Hill about the role of consultants, the low reported collection rate, and why the company was leaving the contract. Quarter Hill said a single large consulting engineering firm had been hired to help shape the RFP and contract, but argued that consultants and overly detailed requirements can create disputes and hinder efficient service. On collection rates, the company said the reported 85% rate reflects the absence of registration holds and other enforcement tools, and that the remaining unpaid tolls are the hardest to collect. The company also said it had lost significant money on the contract and had reached a change order and termination agreement, while emphasizing that the system itself was functioning well. The committee then received a staff report on Kentucky veterans centers. Staff said quality of care is generally high and staffing has improved, but reported occupancy figures are misleading because they are based on certified beds rather than functional capacity after conversions to single-occupancy rooms and capital projects. The report said actual occupancy is closer to 85% than the commonly reported 56%, and that increasing occupancy would not necessarily increase revenue because the state’s cost of care exceeds reimbursement and private-pay revenue. Recommendations included adopting functional occupancy reporting, continuing the move to single-occupancy rooms, reviewing modernization needs at Thompson Hood, including Eastern Kentucky in planning, and referring the Radcliffe HVAC procurement and installation to the Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney General for review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um we're seeing dollars and lost wages.
• </c> assistance. $47 million in lost wages assistance. $47 million in lost wages for<00:25:57.200><c>
• So I find it hard to believe that we're increasing reporting.
• We're making this increasing reporting.
• 58.880><c> and</c><01:28:59.199><c> reporting,</c> increase in compliance and reporting, increase in

Bills: HF3477 , HF3480 , HF3781 , HF3357 , HF3737 , HF3664 , HF3621

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, immigration enforcement, economic impact, Operation Metro Surge, study, appropriation, local government, Legislative Commission on Legislative Security, legislator security, elected official security, staff security, statehouse security, capitol security, legislative district safety, political violence prevention, threat assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• However, the restrictions on annual increases to the maintenance budgets of state entities may have a
• This legislation will limit any annual increase in the maintenance budget of any entity...
• Will limit any annual increase in the maintenance budget of any entity of the state government of the
• So if the determination was made that yes, we need to increase wages, this bill wouldn't stand in the
• For the last few years, I've been thinking about a population increase and an inflation increase, some

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• performance, in terms of percentages increased over year.
• Under our model, we think we're going to increase that by $6 million to $7 million annually.
• I think that change is an increase. We've been trying to figure out how to fund that locally.
• The top three are: wages and salaries is number one.
• I can tell you every year it’s wages and salaries that is number one.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s proposed workforce system overhaul, including a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan and a package of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate workforce governance, reduce administrative costs, and redirect more funding to training and supportive services. Commerce officials said the plan would replace the current structure of 10 local workforce boards and more than 200 board members with a single statewide board and one administrative entity, while keeping local offices open and using regional business councils to preserve employer and local input. They said the state has already reduced Commerce headcount and operating costs, and that the changes would improve coordination with higher education, adult education, vocational rehabilitation, DHS, and Arkansas Industry Connect. Much of the discussion centered on the waiver package, especially the proposal to make the state board function as the local board, allow more flexible movement of funds across regions, eliminate the WIOA “last dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, create affiliate sites instead of requiring every area to maintain a comprehensive center, and relax the 14 youth program element requirement. Officials said the State Board of Workforce Development approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, and that implementation would begin only after federal approval and a closeout process, likely taking up to a year. They also described plans to streamline referrals and data sharing, expand mobile and virtual services, and use a more centralized model to improve customer service and employer engagement. Members raised repeated concerns about rural representation, local control, board composition, and whether jobs and relationships would be lost if local boards were eliminated. Commerce officials responded that local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired by the state, and regional business councils would help ensure local employer voice. Several members also questioned how the funding was being used, citing audit findings that only about $1.8 million to $1.9 million of roughly $14 million to $15 million in federal workforce funds had gone to training and supportive services. Officials said the reorganization could increase annual training spending to roughly $6 million to $7 million by reducing overhead, one-stop operator contracts, and board administration. The committee also discussed how the changes might support workforce training facilities, apprenticeships, child care and transportation assistance, and employer-driven training in fields such as manufacturing, health care, technology, and welding. The Division of Higher Education also briefed members on Workforce Pell. Officials explained that the new federal program would extend Pell eligibility to short-term programs, but only within narrow limits, such as 150 to 599 clock hours and 8 to 15 weeks of instruction, with additional completion and employment benchmarks. They said Arkansas is working with colleges and universities to identify programs that fit the criteria and that the governor has designated the Division of Higher Education to lead implementation. No votes were taken by the committee during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• offense of providing a controlled substance to a person in custody of a correctional facility, increasing
• HB 3494 by Hernandez, relating to the wages paid to certain workers with disabilities, referred to the
• HB 3498 by Cook, relating to increasing the criminal penalty for assault of a retail establishment employee
• including the removal of certain unauthorized documents from a dwelling, creating criminal offenses, increasing
• property for a resident's homestead exemption based on the amount by which the limitation on the Increases

Summary: The House met briefly to read a large number of first-reading bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and refer them to the appropriate committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public health, education, criminal justice, taxation, transportation, water and natural resources, elections, housing, veterans issues, local government, and constitutional amendments. Several bills focused on school policy, health care regulation, property tax and sales tax changes, criminal penalties, and local or state agency authority. Among the notable items were proposals on name and sex changes on birth records, college admissions inquiries into criminal history, foster care contractor liability, school nutrition and assessment policy, election procedures, homestead and franchise tax exemptions, public retirement system reporting, and numerous transportation and infrastructure measures. The House also received resolutions designating local honors and observances, including Brownsville as the bicycling capital of the Rio Grande Valley, Port Aransas as the fishing capital of Texas, and Selena Quintanilla Perez Day. Some measures proposed constitutional amendments on legislative procedure, homestead taxation, and election-law enforcement authority. No debate or testimony occurred in this segment; the action was limited to first reading and referral. The session also referred several resolutions to the Local and Consent Calendars. At the end of the proceedings, the House adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:47.599><c> sales</c> they're looking at increasing sales they're looking at increasing sales
• in ridership, and that light rail is driving that increase.
• I'm going huge increases in tab costs.
• We had $10 billion in tax increases two years ago. >> Okay.
• </c><01:36:29.280><c> two</c> had $10 billion in tax increases two had $10 billion in tax increases two

Bills: HF3694 , HF3844 , HF4006 , HF3785 , HF3849 , HF4102 , HF3441 , HF3507 , HF3562

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation, tow trucks, variable message signs, road safety, emergency service, optometrist, window glazing, motor vehicle regulations, medical prescriptions, transportation safety, infrastructure, construction, appropriation, state project, motorized bicycles, motorcycles, electric vehicles, transportation regulations, safety standards, dealer license

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> feel like they're trying to uh increase feel like they're trying to uh increase fees<00:30:12.600
• </c> automatic increases automatic increases right<00:32:59.120><c> so</c> right so right so um<00:33
• Plus, it says shall be increased.
• <01:15:12.199><c> benefit</c> increased benefit increased benefit does<01:15:14.960><c> go</c><01:15:
• </c><01:50:43.079><c> wage</c><01:50:43.480><c> claim</c> sections okay all right wage wage claim sections

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met to continue work on House Bill 2, with the chair saying the goal was to finish the bill as given by the governor, though additional amendments were expected. Members first discussed the bail section and agreed to hold it for later because a separate House bail bill was expected on Thursday and could have significant county cost impacts. They also generally accepted the proposed reorganization of positions between Fish and Game, DNCR, and the Department of Environmental Services, but noted the need to review effective dates and funding details, including a possible double appropriation of $275,000 for a scientist position already funded in HB 1. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on environmental review and native plant-related sections moving functions from DNCR to DES. Members discussed changing the rulemaking timeline from 180 days to 90 days, and clarifying that “begin” means the public hearing stage. They also reviewed how fee revenue would shift between agencies in HB 1 so the budget impact would be net zero. The committee indicated it would prepare amendments reflecting these changes and revisit them at a later vote. The longest discussion concerned the boathouse provisions. Members debated whether the new definitions and construction standards were appropriate in a budget bill, with one member arguing they should be in a separate bill, while others said the provisions were urgent because of a lawsuit and the lack of clear guardrails. Concerns included the February 20, 2025 effective date, which some thought might be retroactive, the detailed limits on what may be stored in a boathouse, and a fee increase that some felt could discourage homeowners from seeking permits. The committee also questioned whether the fee structure should be tiered for smaller projects and whether permit-by-notification projects should be exempted. No final votes were taken on these sections during the discussion; instead, members agreed to seek legal and policy answers and to return with amendments and public hearing input before voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, increases safety risks.
• </c> bathroom restrictions increase their bathroom restrictions increase their vulnerability. vulnerability
• providing for minimum wage and providing for incremental<07:06:42.080><c> increases.
• ,</c> I know that markets should drive wages, I know that markets should drive wages, would<07:08:24.558
• ,</c> can't budget your way out of low wages, can't budget your way out of low wages, if<07:08:40.798

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :48:26.880><c> war</c><01:48:27.520><c> on</c> administration is waging a war on administration is waging
• </c> haven't gotten wages growing faster yet. haven't gotten wages growing faster yet.
• We got to do policies to get those wages wages wages growing.<03:34:09.920><c> But</c><03:34:10.640><
• We have increased spending.
• We have increase spending, our 2021.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The partnership significantly increased the reach and family representation in Lawrence.
• nice data to see that it's a vision for a lot of these students to want to work, earn an income and a wage
• work, Bernie. that it's a vision for a lot of these students to want to work, earn an income and a wage

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Permit Commission on Status of Persons with Disabilities met on April 27 and approved the prior meeting minutes before hearing a presentation from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE). Presenters from UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion, the Arc of Greater Haverhill-Newburyport, Northeast, and Lawrence Public Schools described LPTE as a five-year grant focused on improving transition outcomes for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Lawrence through community partnerships, work groups, and family engagement. A major focus was a family survey designed to better understand barriers to transition planning and IEP participation. Presenters said the survey response rate increased sharply after Lawrence Public Schools helped distribute it, rising from about a dozen responses to more than 200. Survey findings showed common barriers such as scheduling conflicts, language access, childcare, transportation, and limited understanding of IEPs and transition planning. The data also suggested that many families expect college or employment outcomes for their children, but fewer reported access to pre-employment training, indicating a communication gap rather than a lack of services. Lawrence school staff explained that the district has a five-person transition team, bilingual resources, workshops, and a developing online transition hub, and that they are using the survey results to improve visibility and access to existing supports. Committee members discussed the need to start transition planning earlier, expand real-world work experiences, improve outreach to Latino families, and better connect students with college, trade, and employment pathways. Several members suggested partnerships with summer youth employment, volunteer programs, and college or alumni panels. The presenters said the grant ends in September, but the resource hub will continue through the Arc and they are exploring ways to sustain the consortium model. The meeting ended with thanks to the presenters, an update that committee members would meet with Seed on Massachusetts as a model employer, and notice that the next meeting would feature the Office of Veteran Affairs before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• perspective that she will bring from a district that is struggling with declining enrollment and increased
• Oregonians successful in building good businesses and industries so that they can all achieve a family wage
• But that generation is becoming more and more hardened because... ...they can all achieve a family wage

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the partnership significantly increased the reach and family representation in Lawrence.
• nice data to see that it’s a vision for a lot of these students to want to work, earn an income and a wage
• transition training. that it's a vision for a lot of these students to want to work, earn an income and a wage

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met on April 27 and approved the prior meeting minutes. The main presentation was from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE), a five-year Administration for Community Living grant focused on improving transition outcomes for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Lawrence. Presenters described the project’s community conversations, consortium model, and four work groups, with emphasis on the family-partnership work group and a survey designed to better understand family engagement, barriers, and expectations around transition planning. The survey results showed that family participation increased significantly after Lawrence Public Schools helped distribute it, rising from a small number of responses to more than 200. Key findings included barriers such as meeting times, language access, child care, and limited understanding of IEPs and transition timelines. Families generally expected college or employment outcomes for their children, but many reported limited awareness of pre-employment training and transition planning, especially for younger students. Lawrence Public Schools described its five-person transition team, bilingual resources, workshops, and a new transition website, while noting that even with added supports, engagement remained lower than hoped and requires ongoing relationship-building. Committee members asked about cultural outreach, early transition planning, college and trade pathways, summer youth employment, and how to expand real-world work experiences. Presenters said the district is trying to start transition conversations earlier, improve access to accommodations and postsecondary options, and expand employment experiences beyond simulated settings. They also noted that the LPTE resource hub will be transferred to the Arc and remain available after the grant ends in September, and that the consortium model may continue in some form. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adjournment, and members were reminded of an upcoming meeting with Seed on Massachusetts as a model employer and a future presentation from the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are fighting every day for good wages, great benefits, a dignified retirement, and so much more.
• Voters backed that commitment with an 80-cent-per-pack cigarette tax increase on tobacco products.
• And whereas AFSCME Arizona has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advocating for fair wages, dignified

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jasleen Chatwal. Members also introduced a number of guests and visiting groups, including Irish dignitaries for St. Patrick’s Day recognition, labor organizations such as AFSCME and CWA, the Arizona Farm Bureau, the Arizona chapter of the American College of Surgeons for Stop the Bleed training, and advocates for rare skeletal conditions. A proclamation recognizing St. Patrick’s Day was read, and the House later heard a proclamation honoring AFSCME Arizona. On the floor, the House took up several procedural motions, including requests to have the Senate return HB 4027 and HB 2444 for reconsideration, and received multiple Senate bills on first and second reading. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole and approved HB 2750 with a friendly floor amendment, sending it forward as amended. The House also sent HB 2999 to an additional Committee of the Whole, adopted a floor amendment, and advanced it as amended for engrossing. During third reading, HB 2197, relating to water access and camping near water sources, failed on reconsideration after members debated whether it imposed unnecessary criminal penalties and enforcement concerns. HB 2429, relating to vacation and short-term rentals, passed after supporters said it restored local control to cities and towns. HB 2950, creating special districts for tourism improvement areas, passed after amendments made participation voluntary and added notice requirements. HB 4001, relating to nicotine products, also passed after debate over youth vaping, enforcement authority, and whether the bill struck the right balance between regulation and parental responsibility. The House then made committee announcements and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also acknowledge the ongoing struggles we face, the wage gap, reproductive rights.
• However, according to the institute for women's policy research, Latinas continue to face the largest wage
• An Oakland native, she is committed to increasing gender and racial equity and improving community health

Keywords: 988, house, all