Transcript Highlights:

• The workforce.
• Dakota County, from Hennepin County, and from St.
• Again in Sherburne County, again in Hennepin County, again in St. Louis County.
• If there's a cabin in the next county over, or something happens in the next county, the county needs
• Louis County.

Transcript Highlights:

• you can see the green are the counties you can see the green are the counties where<01:09:50.000
• <01:17:39.520> who community from our our counties who community from our our counties who
• who are now reversing those Workforce who are now reversing those Workforce habits<01:17:58.480>
• to full remote workforce?
• <01:51:40.520> oh get the question about my Workforce oh get the question about my Workforce

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Jeff Holy from the 6th District, west side of Spokane County.
• County, three terms in the House, end of my second term of the Senate.
• So District 13 is Grant County, Kittitas County, a little bit of Adams, and a little bit of Douglas.
• I represent Walla Walla County, a large piece of Benton County, and Franklin County in eastern Washington
• I represent Walla Walla County, a large piece of Benton County, and Franklin County in eastern Washington

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do represent Palm Beach County, so which is the county where this library most likely will go.
• We're a large county, but we have a very rural area.
• And there's a lot of counties, and not all rural counties are the same.
• are fiscally constrained, unfortunately, poor counties.
• And the county that Senator Burgess and I reside in, we are blessed to have a wonderful county commission

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing FSU Day at the Capitol, Catholic lay leaders, seniors advocates, Broward County school officials, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then moved through its special order calendar, beginning with several Florida Statutes revision bills. SB 36 adopted the 2025 Florida Statutes and prior session law; SB 38 conformed statutory terminology for the Division of Criminal Investigations; SB 40 removed repealed provisions; and SB 42 cleaned up obsolete language, cross-references, and typographical errors. Each passed unanimously or nearly unanimously after brief explanations and no substantive debate. The Senate also passed CS/SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, as amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role under USF and clarify research and modeling responsibilities; CS/SB 116 on veterans, which expanded veteran awareness and coordination efforts, added mental health training, and authorized adult day health care; SB 118 on presidential libraries, which preempted local regulation to give a future Florida presidential library maximum flexibility; CS/SB 126 on prescription hearing aids, allowing mail distribution for adults after appropriate professional evaluation; SB 150 on abandoning restrained dogs during natural disasters, amended to conform to the House; SB 294 limiting collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions; and SM 314 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure. Most of these measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 118 drew questions about local zoning, parking, and safety and passed 36-3, with one senator later changing to a no vote over local control concerns. Later, the Senate approved CS/CS/SB 322 creating a nonjudicial process for removing unauthorized persons from commercial property, and CS/SB 348 on ethics, which would penalize false claims of military rank or honors for material gain and require paycheck withholding for delinquent ethics fines owed by public employees. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, which included a CPI/case manager recruitment program, a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improved data collection and capacity analysis for commercially sexually exploited children. CS/SB 108 on administrative procedures was adopted after a detailed explanation of rule review, transparency, and rulemaking deadlines, and CS/SB 160 on public accountancy passed after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of CPA licensure pathways. The longest and most celebratory debate centered on CS/SB 110 for rural communities. The bill created an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school and health care investments, and related rural support measures. Amendments refined transportation priorities in the Everglades agricultural area and clarified the FARM road program. Senators from across the chamber praised the bill as a long-awaited investment in rural Florida, agriculture, broadband, health care, and quality of life. After extensive debate and emotional closing remarks from the sponsor and leadership, the bill passed overwhelmingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a reformed attorney businessmen and dad and former county commissioners.
• Finally, I will give an update on the workforce.
• the workforce credential program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder or students on a modified
• Do you also work with your local workforce boards?
• So so, yes, they could be a part of the workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've actually improved our workforce out there in behavioral health.
• And they kind of drive the workforce or drive out the workforce.
• , one in Curry, one in Eddy, and one in Doña Ana County.
• DeBaca, Quay, Roosevelt, and Union counties.
• The workforce is not out there.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the First District, which is part of Arlington County.
• I represent Arlington County in the State Senate.
• I represent the 15th District in Fairfax, located entirely in Fairfax County.
• professionalization of the DSP workforce.
• Statistically, this workforce is primarily women of color.

Keywords: Disability Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funding for indigent health care programs at the county level.
• County, there's 88 cities.
• First, on behalf of the urban counties of California, the counties of Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Ventura
• , and County Connection via transportation.
• with my county colleagues.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• the record, I am Willard Haley, representing the 58th District of Missouri, including all of Morgan County
• and Moniteau County and a sliver of Cooper County.
• Development in the Department of Economic Development to the Office of Workforce Development in the
• Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
• Development to the Office of Workforce Development.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jalen Woodard, Policy Fellow with the Alameda County Office of Education.
• Pamela Gibbs, representing the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
• Christina Salazar with the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.
• I'm the San Joaquin County SELPA Director.
• I'm the San Joaquin County SELPA director.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals across seven education-related items and received testimony from the Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Education, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and the Office of Public School Construction. On dual enrollment, the administration proposed $100 million one-time Proposition 98 funding plus policy changes to expand access, including eligibility for regional occupational centers, added support for justice-involved youth, priority for higher-need LEAs, teacher professional development, and a reduction in required daily instructional minutes for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the funding as not clearly tied to implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal but suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Several public commenters and members supported the investment and urged inclusion of technical assistance and adult dual enrollment. For the reading difficulty screener proposal, the Governor proposed $40 million one-time funding and statutory changes requiring kindergarten screeners after 91 school days and grades 1-2 screeners after 46 school days, with the stated goal of reducing over-identification and allowing time for foundational instruction. The LAO recommended rejecting the funding, saying costs were likely overstated and that LEAs could use discretionary block grant funds instead. CDE supported the funding but the timing restrictions drew significant concern from the chair and public witnesses, who argued the deadlines were too prescriptive and could delay early intervention; advocates and literacy organizations urged preserving local flexibility and screening earlier. CDE and Finance defended the timing as based on data and consistent with other states, while also emphasizing that early instruction and support could still begin on day one. On special education, Finance described a proposal to increase the base rate to $99 per ADA through a $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 augmentation, along with COLA and enrollment adjustments. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be achieved with less funding; CDE strongly supported the increase, citing rising enrollment, cost pressures, and inequities across SELPAs. Public testimony from districts and SELPAs echoed the need for more funding and asked for even higher per-ADA support. The committee also heard a school facilities update showing Proposition 2 bond balances and demand levels, with OPSC noting funds are being used for new construction, modernization, small district set-asides, lead remediation, and natural disaster assistance. For the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, members heard that the student teacher stipend program’s grants management system is complete and that the Commission is seeking to track participation and outcomes; the Governor also proposed additional state operations funding to address misconduct workload, implement SB 848-related data systems, and administer the stipend program. Finally, the Governor proposed $250 million one-time funding to continue teacher and school counselor residency grants through 2029-30, which the LAO said could help fill shortages but may be harder for rural LEAs; CTC supported the program and said regional technical assistance hubs are helping expand access. No formal votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chittenden County. Chittenden County.
• I love nothing against Chitten County. I love Chitten<00:37:37.359> County. Chitten County.
• Several Vermont counties have no resident ophthalmologists at all, and national workforce trends show
• Several Vermont counties have no resident ophthalmologists at all, and national workforce trends show
• <02:05:01.119> County<02:05:01.440> where in Franklin County or Essex County where

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House began with several announcements and recognitions, including a lengthy tribute to Representative Carolyn Brangan of Georgia on her retirement and years of service, followed by remarks from Brangan explaining that she is leaving to care for her husband during cancer treatment. Additional members offered brief reflections, including one on the end of the session and another welcoming students from Founders Memorial School to the gallery, and a member from Brattleboro highlighted a collaborative mural in the card room titled “These Green Hills, Vermont State Symbols and Personal Reflections.” The body then took up its calendar. It adopted Joint House Resolution 12, authorizing limited remote voting in joint committees through the remainder of the calendar year, with an ADA-related accommodation for members physically present but unable to access a meeting room. The House also suspended rules to take up and concur in the Senate amendment to House Bill 935 on emergency management. The committee report described grant programs for emergency response and technical rescue, new definitions and shelter-planning language centered on “whole community,” a wildland fire response task force, and an emergency rulemaking provision requested by the Agency of Natural Resources; the committee approved the Senate proposal on an 8-3 straw poll, and the House concurred. The House next adopted the conference committee report on House Bill 952, the capital construction and state bonding budget adjustment bill. The report explained changes made in conference, including shifting funds to cover a higher-than-expected bid for the St. Johnsbury facility, restoring some funding for maintenance at the women’s correctional facility in Chittenden County, and setting aside $750,000 toward planning for Wi-Fi installation in correctional facilities. It also noted a lease-related language change for a Vermont Huts project at Little River State Park, with notification to the institutions committee chairs. The House then took up Senate Bill 64 on optometrists’ scope of practice; the committee presentation supported allowing specially credentialed optometrists to perform certain minor surgical, laser, and injection procedures, citing improved access, safety, cost, and workforce development, and the bill was read for second reading with committee recommendations for concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Fresno and County of Kern, in respectful opposition.
• of Fresno and County of Kern, in respectful opposition.
• The workforce protections are just as important.
• The workforce protections are just as important.
• Of course, going forward, we represent the utility workforce.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would bar AI from independently providing therapy or psychotherapy services, require licensed human oversight, and impose disclosure, consent, confidentiality, and privacy protections. Supporters, including a bereaved parent and behavioral health groups, argued that chatbot “therapy” can be dangerous and that only licensed professionals can safely handle crisis situations. Opponents, including TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association, said the bill could restrict beneficial clinical tools and create conflicts in triage, screening, and data use. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for child safety in chatbot use, including risk assessments, crisis protocols, parental controls, time limits, limits on data use, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. Supporters said children are especially vulnerable to sycophantic companion chatbots and cited the death of Adam Raine; opponents raised concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The bill passed 4-0 to Judiciary and was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1013, which would require annual DOJ audits of automated license plate reader use, training for users, and a 30-day retention limit for ALPR data, with limits on hot lists and query access. Supporters said most data belongs to innocent drivers, existing safeguards have been widely violated, and shorter retention would protect privacy without eliminating investigative value. Law enforcement groups opposed the bill, arguing the 30-day limit would hinder solving older crimes, locating missing persons, and recovering stolen vehicles. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1292 would authorize certain cities to use stationary cameras or sensors to enforce curb and loading-zone rules, particularly around delivery zones, bike lanes, and no-stopping areas. Supporters framed it as a local-control and safety measure for modern curb management, while privacy advocates warned against expanding automated enforcement through pilot programs. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then heard SB 1101, which would require California higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies and to limit disclosures to what is legally required. Supporters from the University of California Student Association, faculty groups, labor organizations, and privacy advocates said the bill would improve transparency and protect against politically motivated federal investigations. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Finally, SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, was introduced as a labor measure responding to AI-related layoffs and reduced hiring. It would require advance notice of technological displacement, reporting to workers and the state, and priority for displaced workers in some cases. Supporters said the state needs data and notice to respond to AI-driven job losses; the transcript ended during the bill’s presentation before testimony or a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas now, and that we develop a workforce that aligns with what the workforce needs 20, 30, 40 years
• And, you know, I can go down Montgomery County, 98% full; Freestone County, 98% full.
• I can go down Montgomery County, 98% full; Freestone County, 98% full; Bexar County, 96% full; a jail
• Service, warrant service officer in every county jail, 243 county jails in the state.
• Smaller counties but also larger counties. It helps everyone. The funding is there.

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Medina counties.
• And they range from Orange County up to Hunt County where the reservoir, the river basin starts.
• Growth in, in Orange County all the way up to Hunt County and Sabine County, Trent County, Saint Augustine
• , Newton County.
• That's how poor the counties they are.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supporting all of that is our world-class workforce.
• On the right-hand side, we see the workforce by degree.
• So there's a huge workforce gap right now.
• Workforce gap of that amount in this region, which is huge.
• Maybe I'm not hitting, but 16 counties, 7,500 total reach.

Transcript Highlights:

• We continue to invest in workforce development, climate-focused job programs, safety training, and future
• We continue to invest more in workforce development, climate-focused job programs, safety training, and
• I would argue we need to do one step further, which is there is a whole pile of workforce horses not
• We want to see the money getting to the workforce.
• Ran out of money in many counties throughout the state.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why there's a request for the workforce training and technology centers.
• So, what happened in Beaver County? What happened?
• So, competitive pay for the people that were turning out or of the workforce.
• Nowata County is our one gap, so we're already on it.
• We're also working in creative workforce infrastructure.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paid family leave truly is infrastructure for our workforce. It is a safety net for our workforce.
• That ensure that our workforce is safe.
• and workforce participation among opportunity youth.
• Workforce has been our main focus; we have a desperate need for healthcare workforce.
• that they provide for our healthcare workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:55.920> So,<00:12:56.040> if different from county to county.
• So, if different from county to county.
• You know, counties already struggle trying to recruit their workforce.
• I was thinking about counties.
• He ended as a county manager.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• THE SRT PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED AUGUST 5 WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND PASCOE COUNTY AS AMONG THE
• THE COUNTIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ASSESSED THAT HAVE ALREADY SAID TO ME I WANT TO BE NEXT, BROWARD COUNTY
• AND SAID COUNTY SHERIFF, COUNTY FIRE AND DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR AREA AS A DELEGATION BUT WE'VE GOTTEN
• FLAGLER COUNTY I WAS VERY BLESSED TO BE PART OF THAT COUNTY. 1989, EITHER 87 OR 89.
• THAT WAS A HUGE INVESTMENT FOR A SMALL COUNTY.