Video & Transcript : 'wage increases' :
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FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Governmental Oversight and Accountability Feb 11th, 2025
Governmental Oversight and Accountability
Transcript Highlights:
- It increases efficiencies by requiring agencies to publish a notice of proposed rule within 90 days of
- It also enhances transparency by requiring greater availability of incorporated materials and increasing
- While Floridians face soaring housing costs, skyrocketing property insurance, and stagnant wages, this
- Floridians deserve leaders who fight for affordable housing, fair wages, and solutions to real problems
Summary:
The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum present and took up two bills and one presentation. Senate Bill 108, on administrative procedures, was presented by Senator Burgess on behalf of Senator Grall. The bill would require agencies to systematically review rules over five years old, submit annual regulatory plans and reports, and take action on reviewed rules; it also would speed publication of proposed rules after new rulemaking authority and expand transparency for incorporated materials and rule histories. Americans for Prosperity appeared in support, there was no debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote.
The committee then heard a presentation from State Board of Administration Executive Director Chris Spencer on implementation of statutory investment restrictions affecting state funds. He reviewed the SBA’s structure and fiduciary duties, said the agency must maximize financial return using only pecuniary factors, and described the Protecting Florida’s Investments Act restrictions involving Northern Ireland, Cuba, Venezuela, Israel, Sudan, Iran, and China. He noted recent changes, including expanded Iran restrictions after the October 7 attacks, the addition of China-related divestment requirements, and the SBA’s move to eliminate China and Hong Kong from its global equity benchmarks; he said the agency is ahead of schedule on required divestment and in compliance with the law.
Senate Bill 100, on display of flags by governmental entities, was then presented by Chair Fine. The bill would prohibit political flags on government buildings and allow active-duty service members and veterans to use reasonable force to stop flag desecration. The committee heard extensive public testimony, with supporters arguing government buildings should not display political messages and opponents raising First Amendment, vagueness, and enforcement concerns, especially regarding LGBTQ-related flags and school settings. Senators also questioned the bill’s definitions and the reasonable-force provision. After debate, the committee voted to report SB 100 favorably, with Senators Arrington and Polsky voting no and Senators Brodeur, McClain, Rodriguez, Fine, and Chair DeSiglie voting yes. At the end of the meeting, Senator Rodriguez was recorded as voting yes on SB 108, and the committee adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Since our inception in 1987, our... are proposing to increase the maximum are proposing to increase the
- costs are increasing project complexity is<00:32:39.120><c> increasing</c><00:32:39.760><c> and</c><
- That has often come with increased wages as we're seeing new budgets.
- That has often come with increased wages as we're seeing new budgets.
- That has often come with increased wages as we're seeing new budgets.
Committee:
Senate Capital Investment
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 43 (3-10-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- wages, increase jobs.
- <01:14:52.360><c> wages,</c><01:14:52.840><c> increase</c><01:14:53.280><c> jobs.
- </c><01:14:53.760><c> It's</c><01:14:53.920><c> a</c> increase wages, increase jobs.
- It's a increase wages, increase jobs.
- </c><01:24:47.960><c> in</c> pollinators, leading to an increase in pollinators, leading to an increase
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 19th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- increases.
- getting paid less than minimum wage for essential cleaning.
- How can this plan include so many spending cuts but increase the deficit?
- Follow the money and look ...but increase the deficit.
- We bring down the cost by increasing the supply of our housing.
Summary:
The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long Daily File with several guest introductions and floor speeches. Members recognized visiting student leaders, championship football teams from Tuolumne County, Alpha Kappa Alpha members at their Capitol day, and later a descendant of Wong Kim Ark. The chamber also adopted a procedural motion allowing certain members to host guests in the rear of the chamber.
Among the major policy items, AB 578 on food delivery platform refund practices passed 47-2, AB 344 on successor beer manufacturer definitions passed 61-0, AB 454 to make California’s migratory bird protections permanent passed 55-12 on the urgency clause, AB 482 updating the Table Grape Commission passed 64-1, AB 1237 to support transit access for 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket holders passed 56-15 on the urgency clause, AB 738 on wildfire rebuild solar exemptions passed 42-2, AB 1460 on 340B pharmacy access for clinics passed 41-5, AB 750 on homeless shelter oversight passed 49-1, AB 1061 on housing in historic districts passed 41-13, AB 1523 on expanding mandatory mediation thresholds passed 65-0, and AB 316 on AI-related civil liability passed 56-0. AB 761 authorizing the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to seek a sales tax ballot measure passed 47-12.
The chamber also adopted several resolutions. AJR 3 urging protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid passed 53-2 after extensive debate that included criticism of federal cuts and counterarguments focused on state Medi-Cal policy and budget decisions. ACR 65 proclaiming California Tourism Month was adopted by voice vote after coauthors were added, and ACR 62 recognizing California Nonprofits Day was also adopted by voice vote with 65 coauthors. AJR 5 affirming birthright citizenship and opposing efforts to end it passed 58-1 after a lengthy, highly partisan debate centered on the 14th Amendment and the Wong Kim Ark precedent. The session also included passage of AB 571, a CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, which was presented as a long-running bipartisan effort to create a final resting place for Orange County veterans.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Last year, we took a critical step forward to raise wages and protect ride share drivers.
- And that was done after an extensive task force, the most comprehensive wage study... the law that you
- </c><00:16:37.920><c> study</c> Um, the most comprehensive wage study in the globe, which found that
- There's terrible things that are happening with misclassifications of workers and wage theft.
- There's terrible things that are happening with misclassifications of workers and wage theft.
Committee:
Senate Labor
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Part 2 Feb 12th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
New Mexico House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- What we're doing is increasing... ...in here on page three, line two, what we're doing is increasing
- And we saw those numbers were real, and we saw the cost of houses increase dramatically.
- I saw this bill and I was like, what the heck, that's a really huge increase, a tremendously huge increase
- That's what this bill is about: increasing the fines for those who are stealing water.
- So has that been increased since 1907 or whenever 100 years ago was? Mr. Speaker...
Bills:
HB111 , HB108 , HB145 , HB164 , HB291 , HJR6 , HR1 , HB63 , HB64 , HB165 , HB184 , HB200 , HB4 , HB7 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB88 , HB96 , HB166 , HB285 , HB295 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance May 13th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Administration, there was an effort to include a minimum wage increase as part of the budget reconciliation
- Um, but all of these increases would be a one-year increase that they're trying to jam through the reconciliation
- Some are just like a straight up rate increase.
- big rate increases.
- Was it because they, I mean, because of the increase, they just decided in 24 they were going to increase
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Artificial Intelligence Task Force 2025 (6-26-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- where Congress might be saying, "We're giving you this money to expand broadband, to, you know, increase
- And anytime businesses have to pay for inefficient regulations, that money can't be spent on wages, expansion
- And anytime businesses have to pay for inefficient regulations, that money can't be spent on wages, expansion
- can't</c><00:14:05.360><c> be</c><00:14:05.480><c> spent</c><00:14:05.880><c> on</c><00:14:06.040><c> wages
- ,</c> that money can't be spent on wages, that money can't be spent on wages, expansion,<00:14:07.560
Summary:
The 2025 Artificial Intelligence Task Force met for its first meeting of the year and heard updates on federal AI policy, state implementation of Senate Bill 4, and the business community’s perspective on AI regulation. Co-chairs noted that federal legislation could affect the task force’s work later in the year, but said Kentucky still has significant issues to study, including energy, land use, education, social media, and children’s engagement with AI. The task force had quorum and no votes were taken.
Kate Shanks of the Kentucky Chamber said the business community supports continued discussion but favors a federal approach over a patchwork of state laws. She described the Trump administration’s new AI executive order as emphasizing innovation over regulation, noted the pending federal AI action plan, and discussed congressional action including the Take It Down Act and industry-specific changes to existing laws. She warned that state-by-state AI rules could increase costs and burden businesses, and said the Chamber would prefer incremental, flexible policy that avoids conflict with existing law and limits private rights of action. Members asked about uniform model legislation, education uses of AI, and civil liability; Shanks said a model approach could help avoid fragmentation and that liability should generally be handled through consumer-protection-style enforcement rather than broad litigation.
The Commonwealth Office of Technology then reported on implementation of SB 4, saying it has worked with industry, agencies, other states, and vendors to build an AI policy framework now in final review. Officials said an AI Governance Committee has been established and will meet in July, and a draft RFP is being prepared to meet the bill’s tracking and documentation requirements. They said no major implementation challenges have been identified so far, but the impact of pending federal rules remains uncertain. Members also discussed the need to educate students and teachers about AI, with one member emphasizing that schools should teach both how to use AI and how to think critically about information online.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, May 21, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a 154% increase since 2021.
- risk of death by suicide. increased risk of death by suicide.
- ,</c> If you support these benefit increases, If you support these benefit increases, when<04:31:27.120
- It's a permanent increase.
- . increase. increase.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 12, 2026 - 12:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- preemptions of local governments saying, you know, it's not right for local governments to have living wage
- it's not appropriate to tell businesses with local government money that you have to pay a certain wage
- prepare their infrastructure now are going to capture the investment, the innovation, and the high-wage
Summary:
The Transportation Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up four member bills. The first, CS/HB 1387 by Rep. Overdorf, would create the Taxpayer Dollars Protect Workers Act and require secret-ballot union recognition for companies receiving state economic development funds. Questions focused on whether the bill was pro- or anti-union and on its fiscal impact; the sponsor said it was neutral and expected no fiscal impact. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with several speakers arguing it would interfere with private-sector labor relations and discourage companies with existing labor agreements from investing in Florida, while a few supporters backed the measure. The bill was reported favorably on a party-line style vote, with several members voting no.
The committee then unanimously reported favorably CS/HB 1211 by Rep. Albert, which streamlines senior management service governance in the Department of Military Affairs, updates military leave benefits for state employees serving in the Florida National Guard, expands emergency financial assistance eligibility for guardsmen, and repeals an unfunded statutory program. An amendment aligning senior management positions under state statute was adopted without objection. The committee also unanimously reported favorably CS/HB 741 by Rep. Owen, a Department of Commerce bill updating outdated statutes, including provisions on military installation revertor clauses, rural community definitions, community development block grant language, and E-Verify/unauthorized employment provisions; the sponsor said there would be little or no fiscal impact. Finally, CS/CS/HB 1093 by Rep. Spencer, dealing with advanced air mobility, was amended to focus on infrastructure and funding for vertiports and charging systems and to remove liability, siding, and preemption provisions. Support came from industry and legal groups, and the bill was reported favorably unanimously.
Before adjournment, the chair noted that budget recommendations for fiscal year 2026-27 had been submitted to the appropriations chair. The ranking member offered closing remarks, saying it was his last year in the House and thanking members for their collegiality. The meeting then adjourned.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- for the ACT, The program included providing preparation and application assistance for the ACT, increasing
- The program included providing preparation and application assistance for the ACT, increasing student
- Over the life of the program, the majority of funds were spent for salaries, wages, and fringe benefits
Committee:
All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 20, 2026 - 10:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Key SNAP funding provisions include increasing the state administrative share cost and increasing matching
- An approximate $50.6 million increase to the state and the cost of administering SNAP in Florida.
- In analyzing the data, Florida's top errors were due to income, such as wages and salary, followed by
- Strengthen targeted reviews and increase training.
- Yes, I can get back to you on the exact number, but yes, it is an increased number.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- Monthly checking account fees increased from $4.34 to $7.44.
- Minimum balances increased by 25%, and according to the study by the Richmond Federal Reserve, only 1%
- You know, wage mandates, benefit mandates, it's...
- In particular, you know, wage mandates, benefit mandates, the effect of the pandemic on restaurants,
- In the meantime, many small businesses will be closing down because of increased costs, which include
Summary:
The Special Commission on the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card heard extensive testimony from credit union, banking, retail, restaurant, and payments-industry representatives about proposals to limit interchange fees, especially on the tax and tip portions of transactions. Several witnesses opposed state-level restrictions, arguing they would create a patchwork of rules, burden state-chartered institutions, raise compliance complexity, and ultimately reduce resources for fraud prevention, cybersecurity, rewards, and access to credit. Others, including retail and merchant advocates, said swipe fees are a significant and growing cost for small businesses and that states should consider reforms such as limiting fees on taxes and tips, allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs more closely.
Witnesses also discussed recent legal and regulatory developments, including Illinois’s interchange-fee law, OCC and NCUA interim rules, and the ongoing Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement. Industry representatives said the Illinois law has been delayed and is likely preempted for most transactions, while merchant advocates argued the state efforts and court rulings show that networks and banks do not set fees competitively. The proposed antitrust settlement was described by some as a meaningful but limited merchant victory, with temporary fee reductions and expanded surcharge/steering rights, while others said it still falls short of structural reform.
The commission members pressed witnesses on the practical effects of fees, the cost of cash, whether merchants can pass costs through, and whether small businesses are actually seeing benefits from the current system. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for a fair middle ground that protects both small businesses and the payment system. No substantive votes or policy actions were taken beyond accepting testimony, and the meeting ended with adjournment after all scheduled witnesses had spoken.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- It increases the rate funding to support the growth of composting, as well as making it affordable for
- And I would like to also note that the Environment Department indicates that fee increases would have
- A diversified, reliable energy portfolio makes New Mexico more competitive for high-wage job creation
- A diversified, reliable energy portfolio makes New Mexico more competitive for high-wage job creation
- We cannot be contributing to the increased production of high-level nuclear waste.
Committee:
Senate Senate Conservation
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Crime and Public Safety Feb 3rd, 2026 at 03:00 pm
Crime and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- Louis passed its minimum wage and the state came and took it. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
- Louis passed its minimum wage and the state came and took it. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
- I believe you passed to increase the safety of our roadways.
- And with us not being able to enforce this law, we're not going to be able to increase the roadway safety
- I want to make very clear the Missouri Chamber is not opposed to increasing public safety and ensuring
Committee:
House Crime and Public Safety
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Efforts to increase reliable access to fresh local produce is something the Yakama Nation and Yakima
- It strengthens partnerships across agriculture and hunger relief sectors, and it increases efficiency
- We have heard from farmers how impactful these kinds of programs have been for their ability to increase
- their distribution and to increase wages for their workers.
- Increased wages for their workers.
Committee:
House Agriculture & Natural Resources
Keywords:
PFAS chemicals, agriculture, environmental impact, regulation, food safety, farmers, food security, Washington, support for farmers, cannabis, cooperatives, marijuana industry, HB 2238, HB2238, statewide food security, food security strategy, hunger, food insecurity, food access, food assistance
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Special Session D Apr 29th, 2026
Florida Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Gates, is this map based on the population increase or is it based on the 2020 census?
- The first reason is because there is an increase in population.
- I'm here to serve them, to lower the cost of living, to address fair wages, and to move our state in
- This map is expected to increase one party's This map is illegal.
- This map is expected to increase one party's representation by multiple seats.
Summary:
The Senate convened in special session and took up Senate Bill 8D, later substituting identical House Bill 1D, to establish Florida’s congressional districts. The opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were followed by procedural remarks, then extensive floor discussion focused almost entirely on the redistricting proposal, its timing, and its legal basis. Senator Gaetz, explaining the bill, said the Governor had transmitted the map two days earlier, argued that mid-decade congressional redistricting is not prohibited by law, and said the Governor’s stated reasons were to address population growth and to draw race-neutral districts. He also said the legislature could accept, reject, or amend the proposal.
Much of the debate centered on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana decision and whether it affected Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Senators Smith, Rouson, Sharief, Polsky, Arrington, Bracey Davis, Bernard, Nathan, and others questioned the short notice, lack of public hearings, the use of partisan data, the absence of sworn testimony, and whether the map diluted minority voting strength or fragmented communities of interest. Gaetz repeatedly said he was not offering legal opinions, that the Governor’s counsel believed the Fair Districts race-based provisions were inconsistent with federal law, and that any legal challenge would be for the courts. He also said the Governor’s mapmaker reported using census and demographic data, along with political data as one of many inputs, and claimed the map’s compactness was comparable to the current map.
A motion by Senator Smith to temporarily postpone consideration of the bill failed on a 12-23 vote. After the Senate returned from a 30-minute break to review the new Supreme Court decision, debate continued. The chamber then substituted HB 1D for SB 8D, read the House bill, and advanced it to third reading. The transcript ends during debate on final passage, with Senators Rouson and Bernard speaking in opposition and arguing the map was procedurally rushed, legally vulnerable, and politically motivated.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- We must prepare for rapidly increasing out-year challenges.
- That is a huge increase.
- And that's part of why the spending is increasing.
- We urge the committee to increase funding for immigrant legal services.
- We're committed to working with you to increase provider rates.
Committee:
House Budget
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- :59.280><c> especially</c> trying to increase literacy especially trying to increase literacy especially
- </c> haven't seen increases in over 10 years. haven't seen increases in over 10 years.
- </c><02:07:49.760><c> but</c> concerns about cost increases but concerns about cost increases but hopefully
- </c> potentially look at increasing potentially look at increasing um<02:21:19.520><c> the</c><02:21:
- ,</c><02:24:32.160><c> but</c> just because it is a tax increase, but just because it is a tax increase
Bills:
HB1977 , HB1764 , HB1934 , HB2533 , HB1790 , HB2181 , HB1870 , HB2140 , HB2468 , HB2358 , HB1588 , HB1688 , HB1986 , HB2030 , HB2195 , HB1949 , HB1695 , HB1950 , HB2094 , HB2115 , HB2297 , HB2336 , HB2416 , HB2049
Committee:
House Finance
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Apr 28th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Its temperatures have increased to over 200 degrees.
- So this means increased cost, congestion, and just more driving in general.
- The increase from out of state, the rest will come... ...come from Alaska, the increase from out of state
- That is increased oil production from where we are today.
- AB 405 will increase costs for California consumers.
Summary:
The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no.
AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations.
AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.