Transcript Highlights:

• We do work with our partners around the direct support workforce, but we have to again pay the wages
• Because it's indexed to certain things like the wages, right?
• Wage index—Federal Bureau of whoever, okay.
• </c><00:38:11.640><c> right</c> like um um the um the the wages right like um um the um the the wages
• :14.119><c> of</c><00:38:14.760><c> whoever</c> wage index Federal Bureau of whoever wage index Federal

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on the Developmental Disabilities Council and related agencies. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities outlined its 2025 legislative priorities, including a pilot project for guardian ad litem and capacity evaluations in guardianship/conservatorship cases, a supported decision-making bill, a health disparities study for people with disabilities, an ABLE savings outreach/staffing measure, a Medicaid buy-in proposal, an adult changing tables equity bill, and a resolution on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Council representatives emphasized that supported decision-making would complement tools like powers of attorney and medical releases, and that the health disparities study would help identify unmet needs by ZIP code and improve state data on the intellectual and developmental disability population. The Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii described its role as the research and training arm within the DD system, working with the DD Council and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center. It reported activities such as interdisciplinary training, community education, technical assistance, research collaborations, the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, publications, telehealth, ECHO Autism, and counseling for Maui fire survivors. The center said it leveraged about $16 million in outside funding last year and highlighted goals focused on workforce development, community capacity, research with direct participation from people with disabilities, and accessible dissemination of information. The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, the state’s protection and advocacy agency, supported the Council’s priorities, especially supported decision-making, which it said could help some people avoid guardianship while preserving liberty and reducing state resource use. The center also raised concerns about the DD system budget and urged legislators to review whether the Developmental Disabilities Division is requesting enough funding, noting possible backsliding in services and eligibility. The Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health then outlined its statewide waiver program serving just over 3,500 people, its service array, and its budget request for increased waiver funding, a federal initiatives coordinator, and IT upgrades to comply with the new HCBS access rule; no votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Which prevails? Does the JFAC action prevail?
• It was a $10 million reduction, or does that policy bill prevail?

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met to revisit the Health and Human Services maintenance budget after the prior appropriation bill failed. Members debated competing FY 2027 budget motions that adjusted the Department of Health and Welfare budget, including reductions tied to House Bill 863’s residential habilitation provider rate changes. One substitute motion to cut the program more deeply failed, while the original motion passed and received a do-pass recommendation. Several members voiced concern about the size of the residential habilitation cuts and the absence of funding for ACT teams, peer support, and other services, while others argued the program’s rapid growth and federal funding dependence justified the reductions. The committee also adopted unchanged standard language from the prior bill and approved new language requiring the department to report by year-end on rules citing Idaho Code 56-202 and to justify or repeal any unsupported rule sections. The committee then approved language for the Department of Water Resources, including filing-fee language and reappropriation authority for ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Fund money, by unanimous consent. It next considered the Workforce Development Council budget, including consolidation of the STEM Action Center into the council and a budget-neutral transfer among expenditure categories; that motion passed. The committee also approved a FY 2026 supplemental reduction for the STEM Action Center and then a FY 2027 reduction that zeroed out the STEM Action Center’s standalone budget in connection with the consolidation, both with do-pass recommendations. Finally, the committee considered language for the Office of the Attorney General restoring about $980,000 from the Consumer Protection Fund. After discussion, members removed “continuous appropriation” wording and replaced it with a regular appropriation for a two-year period. Some members objected that the language would divert dedicated consumer-protection money and reduce general fund reversions, while supporters said it would help cover personnel costs and avoid layoffs. The amended language passed with a do-pass recommendation. The chair then announced the committee would meet the next day to address public schools and IDLA and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are confident that our claims will prevail.
• we will pick up the stones that are necessary in order to fight this battle, and we will in fact prevail
• members, and we anticipate this case will be heard before the judiciary, and we anticipate that we will prevail

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment Burr-339 by Representative Abell removes a provision that entitles a prevailing plaintiff to
• these provisions, the plaintiff would be required to prove that the driver was negligent, and the prevailing
• This amendment simply removes the provision providing for attorneys' fees and costs for a prevailing

Bills: HB2548, HB2453, HB2640, HB2095, HB2386, HB2239

Keywords: health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change, nonprofit conversion, for-profit conversion, health care acquisition, asset sale, Washington RCW, health care competition, price transparency, market oversight, premerger notification, antitrust revolving fund

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. And ask for a moment of silence in memory. All those in favor say aye.
• The motion prevails. And ask for a moment of silence in memory of Mrs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted an order setting a joint convention of the two branches for Thursday, January 16 at 6:00 p.m. to receive a communication from Governor Maura Healey. The chamber then briefly recessed and returned to recognize guests, including the North Attleboro High School football team, which was welcomed for winning the MIAA Division III State Championship after a 35-0 victory over Mansfield. Senator Feeney and Representative Scanlon praised the team’s 10-2 season, the coaching staff, school officials, and the broader community for the accomplishment. The Senate then considered and adopted a motion that, upon adjournment, it do so in memory of Mrs. Margaret C. Pegg Rooney of South Boston. The remarks honored her family, community involvement, faith, volunteer work, and long service at the State House Information Technology Department. A moment of silence was requested and observed in her memory. Finally, the Senate adopted an order to adjourn and set the next meeting for Thursday at 11:00 a.m. The chamber adjourned in memory of Mrs. Rooney.

Transcript Highlights:

• There being 87 ayes and six nays, the motion prevails. The doorkeeper will lock the door closed.
• The motion prevails.

Bills: HB4, HB1, HB2, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB4, HB1, HB 2, HB20, HB19, HB18, HB 4, HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• Mayor Carolyn Harris continued: “Arkansas that can create jobs so that we can have livable wages for
• Where are the jobs that are coming to southeast Arkansas for livable wages? I said livable wages.
• Livable wages. So that we can create businesses. Like I told you, I had a business...”
• Arkansas that can create jobs so that we can have livable wages for our citizens in the surrounding communities
• For livable wages. I said livable wages. I'm not talking about $11 an hour. Livable wages.

Summary: The committee approved the prior minutes and then received a series of audit and compliance updates. Staff reported on delinquent private water and sewer reports, delinquent 2013-2023 water reports, and several municipal accounting code noncompliance cases. Denning and Gum Springs were recommended to be removed from the 60-day clock after staff visits showed improved records, while Fargo, Lead Hill, Almy, Jericho, Haynes, Biggers, Gilmore, and Holly Grove were discussed for repeat findings involving missing audits, poor bookkeeping, unpaid or misapplied street funds, deficit balances, and other accounting deficiencies. Several of these entities were given additional time or had reports filed without objection, while others were deferred for later review. Fargo’s mayor said the town had been understaffed and was working to improve its accounting systems; the committee voted to defer the matter to the August meeting. Lead Hill’s mayor described efforts to complete overdue water audits and improve office procedures, and the committee also postponed action for 60 days. Almy’s mayor and recorder-treasurer were present, and the committee placed the town on the 60-day clock for repeat accounting issues. Biggers and Gilmore both acknowledged long-running audit problems and said they were working with auditors and the IRS; their reports were filed. Holly Grove’s treasurer said she had only recently taken the position, and that report was filed as well. The committee spent considerable time on the street-fund misuse cases for Jericho and Haynes. Jericho was found to have exceeded the statutory threshold tied to fines and costs, with staff noting the town had since become current on its repayment plan; the committee deferred the report to September. Haynes was also behind on its repayment plan for street funds, with staff saying the town had recently made up the shortfall and was current as of the meeting, but the committee still deferred the report to September. Members and staff also discussed how the speed-trap law is applied, whether certain fines and costs count toward the threshold, and the role of the prosecuting attorney in deciding whether to take further action. The committee then reviewed a special report on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District, which had six findings involving board approval of payroll and contracts, credit card documentation, vehicle and cell phone use, competitive bidding, electronic funds controls, and unusually high advertising spending. District Director Craig Douglas said the board had delegated some authority, that receipts were missing during a temporary staffing gap, and that advertising was needed to educate the public; he also defended the sale of trailers and other equipment as a way to exit the trailer business. Several members questioned the explanations and the low resale value of equipment, but the committee ultimately deferred the report to September. The meeting also included a recognition of accounting students interning with audit staff and a final set of actions on deferred water and sewer reports: 11 were filed, seven were deferred for lack of proper responses, and a private report on Shannon Hills Water, Sewer, and Fire Department was noted as involving misappropriation by an office manager and inadequate internal controls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Among those who are working, nearly one in two earn low wages with limited opportunities... ...to earn
• low wages with limited opportunities for advancement.
• It allows them to graduate high school with the skills needed to step into high-wage careers and helps
• more students can develop an entrepreneurial mindset and access CTE pathways leading to robust, high-wage
• to keep pace with inflation, or that's that their district can simply not afford to increase wages to

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would give colleges flexibility similar to K-12, UC, and CSU and help avoid delays and costly change orders. Contractors and electrical subcontractors opposed the bill, saying its skilled-and-trained workforce requirement and safety provisions would narrow competition and disadvantage small and nonunion firms. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass vote and was placed on call. SB 1347 would clarify that stock albuterol may be stocked in all public schools, including preschool programs. The author and a physician testified that the bill would remove confusion in existing law and improve access to emergency asthma medication for students. School nurses, respiratory care advocates, and small school districts supported the measure, and there was no opposition. The bill passed unanimously on a due-pass to the floor vote and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program to designate a lead county office to help regions struggling with career technical education implementation. Supporters said many students remain disconnected from school and work and that the bill would spread proven regional CTE practices. Some committee members questioned whether another pilot was needed, arguing existing CTE programs need more funding and fewer new structures, while the author and sponsor said the bill would build regional capacity and share successful models. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1378 would create a California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program to recognize schools and districts with strong service-learning programs. Supporters said it would validate existing work and encourage civic engagement, while one member raised concerns about adding more designations and workload for schools. The bill passed as amended to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students demonstrating climate science knowledge through coursework and hands-on learning. Supporters, including the Department of Education and climate education groups, said it would align students with growing clean-energy careers; some members cautioned against adding more curriculum-related seals and noted equity and implementation concerns. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, SB 1101, the Higher Education Data Sharing Transparency Act, was presented. It would require CSU, community colleges, independent colleges, and request UC to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights, and to limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters said recent federal investigations and subpoenas have created fear and a lack of transparency on campuses. Committee discussion focused on subpoena authority, constitutional limits, and whether notice should be required; one member said she would abstain because of legal concerns, while another said the bill would continue to be examined in the next committee. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1101 before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Among those who are working, nearly one in two earn low wages with limited opportunities...
• To earn low wages with limited opportunities for advancement.
• It allows them to graduate high school with the skills needed to step into high-wage careers and helps
• more students can develop an entrepreneurial mindset and access CTE pathways leading to robust, high-wage
• to keep pace with inflation, or that's that their district can simply not afford to increase wages to

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to be able to give our workers a fair wage with overtime, with hopefully a better minimum wage
• /c><00:28:22.240><c> workers</c><00:28:22.960><c> a</c><00:28:23.080><c> fair</c><00:28:24.040><c> wage
• </c> be able to give our workers a fair wage be able to give our workers a fair wage with<00:28:25.320
• 28:30.320><c> better</c><00:28:30.720><c> minimum</c><00:28:31.280><c> minimum</c><00:28:31.760><c> wage
• </c> hopefully a better minimum minimum wage hopefully a better minimum minimum wage than<00:28:32.159

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , you want to ask constituents to give you a blank check, and you won't even increase their living wages
• That we're going to make you more successful by changing entry wages, by modulating sales tax, the only
• And if people aren't doing that, the system is so rigged against them to escape poverty in wages alone
• And then they have wages in their pockets, whether they're employees or independent contractors.
• I've got a report in front of me that says the average wage of a worker in Missouri.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• navigate with these increases we are experiencing, and school boards have been forced to pay lower wages
• But after 25 years of underfunding by the state of Minnesota, our wages and benefits have not kept up
• Wages are health insurance.” Not everyone takes the insurance, but everyone takes the wages.
• :08:41.120><c> our</c> year after year, much faster than our year after year, much faster than our wages
• The last renewal we had in my wages.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And for staff, it provides the dignity of a living-wage job in classrooms led by trained, certificated
• No individual provider can sustain a rate cut given the current pressures of wages, staffing shortages
• Even modest wage adjustments to retain staff have a significant impact on already thin margins.
• These dollars would go directly into wages and resident care in your local communities.
• Those wages are already being paid, and reversing course creates workforce instability and access issues

Bills: SB5998

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And for staff, it provides the dignity of a living-wage job in classrooms led by trained, certificated
• No individual provider can sustain a rate cut given the current pressures of wages, staffing shortages
• Even modest wage adjustments to retain staff have a significant impact on already thin margins.
• These dollars would go directly into wages and resident care in your local communities.
• Those wages are already being paid, and reversing course creates workforce instability and access issues

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal, beginning with a staff briefing from James Kettle. He described the budget as built on relatively flat revenue after multiple forecast updates, with substantial mandatory cost growth, especially in Health Care Authority, DSHS, and DCYF. He highlighted major policy-level additions and savings, including large tort liability costs, continued support for long-term services, reductions tied to child care and K-12 items, several assumed revenue bills, and major transfers from reserves and other accounts. Kettle also noted the four-year outlook remained positive overall, with about $1 billion ending fund balance in the final year and roughly $3 billion in total reserves. A committee member asked about a diagram showing the loss of federal funds, and staff said they would follow up. Public testimony then focused first on K-12 education, where school leaders, teachers, OSPI, PTA, and rural district representatives largely opposed the proposed cuts to local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, bus depreciation, and related school funding items. Many argued the reductions would disproportionately harm rural and property-poor districts and weaken early learning access, while several students and educators spoke in favor of career and technical education and IT Academy funding. The committee also heard support for wildfire prevention funding from the Commissioner of Public Lands, who thanked the Senate for restoring those dollars but raised concerns about recreation program reductions. Higher education testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the Senate proposal compared with the governor’s budget. Community and technical college leaders warned that the budget still shifts compensation costs to tuition and reduces Running Start funding, while university representatives from Western, Eastern, Central, WSU, and UW thanked the committee for avoiding deeper cuts. Private vocational college students and administrators urged extension of Washington College Grant eligibility for students already enrolled, and others asked to preserve IT Academy and related certification funding. In early learning, child care and advocacy groups praised the decision not to cap Working Connections Child Care but warned that child care and transition to kindergarten still bear a disproportionate share of cuts; they also requested continued support for Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Pierce County early childhood programs, including Family Connects. The hearing continued with testimony on employee compensation, mental health, and human services. State employee and retiree groups supported the budget’s COLA and wildfire funding but objected to cuts in retiree health benefits. Behavioral health and public safety advocates supported mentoring, Trueblood-related funding, crisis stabilization, and the Recovery Navigator Program, while others opposed reductions to those programs and to community-based recovery services. In human services, witnesses thanked the committee for funding victim services, child welfare supports, health homes, adult day care, community health centers, energy assistance, and disability services, while urging the committee to avoid further reductions to skilled nursing, case management, and recovery navigation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Direct care is just hard for us to recruit right now with what we offer for CNA wages and nursing wages
• </c><00:12:42.800><c> offer</c><00:12:43.040><c> for</c><00:12:43.279><c> CNA</c><00:12:43.760><c> wages
• </c> with with what we offer for CNA wages with with what we offer for CNA wages and<00:12:44.480><c>
• nursing</c><00:12:44.880><c> wages.
• </c> and nursing wages. and nursing wages.

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Solomon, Chessler, aye, Shumake, Short, Slater, Stanford, Horace, Boers, Boers, Trudeau, Valdez, Wage
• in our labor and industry section that have made it very challenging for our small businesses, our wages
• Her boss is a small business owner who can't afford right now to give her a greater wage.
• No hope of making a living wage, and yet they are training our children to move up into jobs that pay
• a good living wage.

Bills: SB5223, SB6071, SB5966, SB6061, SB6016, SB5973, SB5053, SB5249, SB5899, SB6190, SB5574, SB5873, SB5924, SB6263, SB6282, SB5950, SB6074, SB6096, SB5609, SB5901, SB5943, SB5975, SJM8016, SB5907, SB6031, SB6155, SB6158, SB6227, SB5947, SB6085, SB6234, SB6274, SB5909, SB6044, SB6239, SB6045, SB6089, SB6170, SB5954, SB5762, SB6032, SB6066, SB6082, SB6164, SB6176, SB6319, SB6308, SB6200, SB6080, SJM8014, SB6177, SB6052, SB6182, SB5828, SB6335, SB6017, SB5470, SB5990, SB5046, SB5387, SB5637, SB5647, SB5839, SB5888, SB5962, SB6018, SB6037, SB6047, SB6078, SB6130, SB6147, SB6151, SB6197, SB6220, SB6256, SB6311, SB6343

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• A COVERED AMENDMENT WHO HAS ACCESS TO TRADE SECRETS, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, AND EARNED MINIMUM WAGE
• OF TWICE ANNUAL MEAN WAGE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE EMPLOYEE'S MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED IN FLORIDA FOR THE
• >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> TWICE THE MEAN WAGE TO BE $130,000.
• BUT THE MEAN WAGE FOR THE STATE WOULD HAVE BEEN 120. >> Chair: SENATOR PIZZO, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>
• Senator Pizzo: IT DOESN'T TANTAMOUNT TO USING THE MEAN WAGE BECAUSE WHEN YOU DOUBLE IT ALL OF A SUDDEN

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the highest performance. teachers in Dallas are at $110,000 and so those are those are pretty good wages
• So that's not just an average wage increase, it was an average wage increase.
• particular labor market, how that compares to that self-sufficient wage.
• Board, the Workforce Commission, and the TEA, including student, employment, and wage records.
• They're capable of earning a pretty good wage right then and there.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• after being disqualified from collecting benefits and seeking to be represented at a hearing, the low-wage
• She had wages in both Massachusetts and out of state that should have been included in the calculation
• waited for months and months and months, reached us in this limbo, and we were able to submit the wage

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hearing on House 5188, a late-filed bill to establish a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in Massachusetts. Representatives Hadley Luddy and Joshua Tarski, the bill’s sponsors, said they filed it after seeing many constituent cases involving delays, unresolved claims, and difficulty navigating the unemployment system, especially for seasonal workers and others facing financial instability. They argued the commission should review claim data, gather stakeholder input, and identify gaps in the process so the system is more efficient, equitable, and transparent. Greater Boston Legal Services testified in support, describing numerous client cases in which claimants waited months for determinations or were stuck in limbo after the launch of a new online benefits system. Attorneys said DUA’s backlogs and timeliness metrics had worsened, citing large increases in non-monetary, separation, and hearings backlogs, and they urged the committee to consider systemic fixes, including better notice about paid family and medical leave and possibly more funding or staff for DUA. Committee members generally praised the bill and the sponsors’ collaboration, and one suggested the commission’s reporting deadline might need to be extended. No vote was taken during the hearing. After testimony and brief discussion, the chair closed the hearing and concluded the committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• new grant proviso to launch a grant program to reimburse eligible farmers for qualifying overtime wages
• The farm had to pay overtime wages to employees for handpicking one or more specialty crop vegetables
• The grant was available in early 2025 for overtime staff, or overtime wages that were paid in the 2024

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reviewed several House bills in executive session. Staff briefed bills on aviation assurances for wildland fire response (HB 2104), derelict vessels (HB 2199), irrigation district director spouse employment conflicts (HB 2223), statewide food security strategy (HB 2238), water quality and game farms (HB 2343), timber sales efficiencies (HB 2348), treaty reserve fishing rights and repeal of Initiative 456 (HB 2554), and a task force on reducing regulatory stress in agriculture (HB 2619). Members noted that HB 2238 had been heard previously as a striker but was now being considered as the engrossed substitute. Several bills had no amendments and little or no fiscal impact, while others carried modest fiscal notes. The committee took action on most bills: HB 2104, HB 2199, HB 2238, HB 2348, HB 2554, and HB 2619 all received due pass recommendations and were sent either to Ways and Means or Rules, with votes recorded by voice and no opposition noted. The committee took no action on HB 2223 or HB 2343. Members also thanked staff and acknowledged departing senators for their service. In the work session, the Washington State Department of Agriculture presented an overview of the 2024 local farms, workers, and food overtime reimbursement grant. WSDA described how it used targeted outreach, cross-agency coordination, and a streamlined application to administer the one-time program, which reimbursed qualifying overtime wages for hand-harvest vegetable farms selling to local markets and schools. The agency reported that 24 farms received about $213,000 total, and members asked about lessons learned, including how the experience might inform future grant design and broader agricultural support programs.