Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Enterprise Director for Workforce Development at Minnesota Management and Budget.
• I am the Enterprise Director for Workforce Development at Minnesota Management and Budget.
• the general subject of finance and transportation policy reform and some others, and as relates to equity
• Um and so, as relates to equity<01:43:04.360> opportunity,<01:43:04.840> access,<01:43:
• equity opportunity, access, design, etc. equity opportunity, access, design, etc.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce challenges are real. Vacancy rates remain elevated in many areas.
• shortages with several and workforce shortages with several operating<01:03:50.160> at<01:03:
• Workforce<01:04:11.599> challenges<01:04:12.079> are<01:04:12.240> real.
• <01:04:13.200> Vacancy Workforce challenges are real.
• Vacancy Workforce challenges are real.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is high turnover and burnout and a lack of a coordinated workforce development strategy.
• I don't know. >> One of the reasons is that we don't associate them with workforce.
• I don't know. >> One of the reasons is that we don't associate them with workforce.
• I don't know. >> One of the reasons is that we don't associate them with workforce.
• We need to have more in the workforce.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sought to reduce the portfolio's reliance on equity markets alone.
• MOSERS has historically had less equity and less equity-driven risk and more diversified resources.
• Lower equity exposure can lag in very strong equity markets, but also can provide more downside protection
• We've seen really strong performance from public equities. We can see that on the next year.
• We've all watched the U.S. equity market. We know how strong the U.S. equity markets performed.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held a hearing focused on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) and its long-term financial condition. MOSERS Executive Director Abby Spieler and investment consultant Tim McKinery outlined the system’s structure, membership, funding policy, and investment approach. They reported that as of the June 30, 2025 valuation, MOSERS had a 55.4% funded ratio, about $17.4 billion in liabilities, and about $9.6 billion in assets. They explained that the FY27 employer contribution rate was certified at 32% under the board’s minimum contribution policy, up from 30.25%, and said the increase is tied to a $46 million new decision item in House Bill 5. The presentation emphasized that MOSERS is a mature plan with more retirees and inactive members than active employees, and that slow or declining payroll growth has made it harder to pay down unfunded liabilities. MOSERS described recent policy changes intended to improve long-term stability, including lowering the investment return assumption over time, updating mortality assumptions, and adopting a minimum employer contribution policy. The board’s 2024 asset-liability study also led to a shift toward more public equity exposure and less fixed income, with the consultant saying asset allocation has been the main driver of relative investment underperformance versus peers in recent years, though recent returns have improved and the portfolio has outperformed its policy index over shorter periods. Committee members questioned why the funded ratio has fallen over time, whether past investment assumptions were too optimistic, and whether the board had been too conservative in its asset allocation. MOSERS representatives responded that the earlier strategy was a board-approved risk-balanced approach and that hindsight makes the results easier to judge, while stressing that current changes are intended to improve long-term outcomes. Members also asked about the impact of inactive members, the automatic refund proposal for small terminated accounts, and the ongoing Catalyst Capital litigation. MOSERS said the proposed legislation would automatically refund small inactive balances and auto-escalate deferred compensation contributions, and reported that litigation-related attorney fees have been about $20 million so far. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the subcontract between American Equity and Equity in Education.
• The very first thing that Equity in Education was to assist American Equity in doing was identifying
• We invited Equity in Education to work with us.
• First of all, American Equity was his idea.” “First of all, American Equity was his idea.
• She said that there was another organization, Equity in Education, that was doing work similar Equity

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The hearing concerned a Legislative Ethics Board complaint against Representative Tara Simmons in Washington State OAH Docket 401-645. The judge outlined the process, the two issues on appeal—whether Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070, and, if so, what penalty should apply—and admitted a number of exhibits by stipulation or prior ruling, while taking one exhibit under advisement pending an offer of proof. The board also moved to sequester witnesses, which was granted, and the judge deferred ruling on a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after hearing the board staff’s case. Opening statements followed, with staff alleging Simmons used her position to benefit an outside organization and to secure special privileges, and the defense arguing the conduct was lawful, technical in nature, and consistent with prior ethics guidance. Board staff then called Kimberly Gordon, an attorney and founding board member/treasurer of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), as its first witness. Gordon testified that AEJG used data dashboards to make justice-system data more accessible, received state proviso funding sponsored by Simmons, and also received two donations from Simmons—$10,000 and $40,000. She said the first donation was intended to help hire Antoine Coleman, whom Simmons had recommended and who was later identified as Simmons’s romantic partner, and that AEJG returned the $10,000 and declined the $40,000 after concluding there was a potential conflict of interest. Gordon also testified that AEJG believed Simmons’s involvement in the organization and her communications about Coleman created ethical concerns. Gordon further testified about a second proviso intended to expand AEJG’s work into education data and its subcontract with Equity in Education Coalition (EEC). She said EEC did not perform the expected deliverables, prompting repeated communications with the Administrative Office of the Courts and a meeting involving Chris Stanley, where AEJG raised concerns that EEC was not complying and that Simmons had intervened in the dispute. According to Gordon, Stanley ultimately directed the parties to rewrite the subcontract and continue, but AEJG later moved forward largely without EEC’s assistance. The board staff introduced AEJG’s complaint and related timeline exhibits during her testimony. After direct examination, the hearing recessed for lunch, and cross-examination by Simmons’s counsel began when the hearing resumed.

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh, as we look at our pension funds who have different allocations to equity, those who have more equity
• , uh, as we look at our pension funds who have different allocations to equity, those who have more equity
• to equity, those who have more equity to equity, those who have more equity are<00:10:46.000>
• <00:19:43.280> and average uh allocation to equities and average uh allocation to equities
• Uh again I would say this on equities.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 01:02 Approval of Minutes: 02:03 Annual Investment Review: 04:10 Adjournment: 37:34, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, welcomed new staff member Sean Parks, and announced that it would not meet in November. The next meeting was scheduled for December 8 at 10:00 a.m., with the chair noting that pension bills would be heard then and emphasizing that all pension bills must go through the full process and include actuarial analysis. Brad Gross of the Public Pension Oversight Board presented a detailed review of Kentucky retirement systems’ investments and funding. He said fiscal year 2025 ended with about $50.5 billion in pension assets and $12.52 billion in retiree health assets, both up from the prior year. He reported strong investment performance across the systems, with all Kentucky public pension funds exceeding their policy benchmarks and the median peer return of 10.4%. He also discussed long-term return trends, asset allocation differences among the systems, fee levels, and cash flow, noting that cash flow remains a key monitoring issue and that supplemental appropriations have improved the cash position of some funds, especially the Kentucky State Police and TRS systems. Gross also explained that assumed rates of return have generally fallen over time, which increases unfunded liabilities and required contributions, and said the systems’ current assumptions range from 5.25% to 7.1%. He noted that the committee’s materials included peer comparisons and historical charts, and that all asset classes were within target ranges. In response to a question from Senator Funky From, Gross was asked about pension spiking and whether supplemental general fund contributions could create a false sense of security in cash flow analysis; the question was raised but not resolved in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without action, we risk losing the workforce our communities depend on.
• These bills are about equity.
• Without action, we risk losing the workforce our communities depend on.
• These bills are about equity.
• design and actual workforce experience. design and actual workforce experience.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The commission approved the March 17 minutes and then heard testimony on Senate File 4419 / House File 4069, as amended, which would exempt J-1 visa-holding teachers and their school districts from Teachers Retirement Association contribution requirements during the teachers’ exchange term. Senator Pappas and Representative Feist said the bill is intended to help districts fill hard-to-staff special education and other positions by letting J-1 teachers keep more of their pay for immediate relocation costs, while also redirecting employer savings toward onboarding, mentorship, and cultural orientation. They argued the teachers are temporary by design, often cannot stay long enough to benefit from TRA, and that the bill would be roughly neutral for TRA because contributions and matching liability would both be removed. Supportive testimony came from Matthew Connelly of Lattice Global Teachers and Melissa Schaller of Intermediate School District 917. Connelly said J-1 teachers arrive with significant upfront expenses and only a short window to establish themselves, and that the exemption could save them about $4,000 to $5,000 while helping schools afford recruitment and support costs. Schaller said her district has relied on international special education teachers to fill vacancies, that the H-1B option is no longer workable because of a large fee increase, and that J-1 hiring is needed to remain competitive; she noted 17 open special education positions for 2026-27 and no other applicants. Caitlin Snyder of Education Minnesota opposed the bill, arguing it lowers compensation and removes a retirement option without enough input from teachers themselves. She said the bill does not ensure the employer savings would be used for housing or other supports, and urged more direct consultation with J-1 teachers. Several members raised concerns about fairness, pension protection, and whether the bill could create unintended consequences for teachers who later remain in Minnesota. Senator Pappas responded that the circumstances are unusual because J-1 teachers are temporary and often cannot return, and said TRA had indicated the proposal would be neutral or supportive, unlike a separate St. Paul teachers issue. Representative O’Driscoll asked about J-1 teachers in higher education and private schools, and Mr. Connelly said the visa is mainly used in K-12 settings but can also appear in charter and private schools; he also noted many J-1 holders face a two-year home-residence requirement. The chair indicated the bill was slated for inclusion in the omnibus pension bill, but no final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a skilled workforce. These are business owners. These are taxpayers.
• This is skilled workforce. This is business owners. These are taxpayers.
• development, job placement, That are already delivering results on the ground in workforce development
• And like I said, you have that workforce growth that we desperately need right now.
• Equity gaps and barriers to expansion.

Bills: HB165, HB175, HB198, HB272, HB457, HB488, HB566, HB603, HB763, HB902, HB909, HB971, HB981, HB1066, HB1125, HB1154, HB1231

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• So rates rose a little bit, and equity markets came in.
• You don't have to actually own the equity.
• rather than a broad U.S. equity and a broad international equity.
• will be proxied with public equity?
• Private equity will be proxied with public equity. Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you can look at reductions in workforce. That's never something that the operations want to do.
• 00:05:27.360> at<00:05:27.520> reductions<00:05:28.000> in<00:05:28.240> workforce
• can look at reductions in workforce. can look at reductions in workforce.
• They're looking for workforce.
• They're looking for workforce. airports. They're looking for workforce.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And over time, you get to build up a little bit of equity in that.
• But there's a formula that determines how much that equity is.
• But there's a formula that determines how much that equity is.
• But there's a formula that determines how much that equity is.
• Where the tenant actually gets to start building equity.

Summary: The committee met for work sessions on land banking/shared homeownership and on maximizing existing housing stock. Members first heard an overview from Commerce on alternative homeownership models, including community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, middle housing, church land for housing, and public land transfers. The discussion focused on how these models can help households build equity while keeping housing permanently affordable. Committee members asked about statewide counts of co-ops and land trusts, and Commerce said it does not track all of those entities directly. Pierce County staff then described the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s rapid acquisition fund and its role in acquiring, holding, and transferring public land for affordable housing. They said the county used general fund and affordable housing sales tax dollars to buy properties, preserve a manufactured home park through resident ownership, and create a pipeline of sites for future development. Members asked about the advantages of a public development authority, funding sources, the use of surplus and underutilized public property, and how the model works with housing authorities. Spokane land bank staff followed with testimony that land banks can reduce blight, preserve affordability, and help nonprofits acquire land quickly, but that holding costs and taxes can make the work harder without state support. They also described brownfield assessments, donated properties, and work on Black homeownership and public surplus properties. The committee then heard from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center on limited equity cooperatives, especially in manufactured housing communities. The witness said Washington now has about 43 limited equity co-ops and that recent subsidy funding and legislation have accelerated resident purchases of manufactured home communities. Members asked how residents benefit from capped equity, how values are affected, and whether the model improves access to lending; the witness said the model stabilizes costs, allows modest equity gains, and that a recent law allowing manufactured homes in co-ops to be titled as real property should improve access to traditional financing. The committee also discussed House Bill 1974 from the prior session and possible updates to land banking legislation. In the second work session on maximizing existing housing stock, Commerce reviewed recent housing laws and implementation timelines, including ADUs, middle housing, condo liability reform, SEPA changes, tiny homes, and co-living. Members raised concerns about the long implementation horizon, vacancy data, corporate ownership of homes, and the need for better support for small landlords and first-time ADU owners. Sightline then testified on mobile dwelling units, arguing that RVs, tiny houses on wheels, and similar units are a low-cost, quick-to-install housing option that is often blocked by zoning; the witness said many Washington residents already live in these units, often informally. Finally, AARP discussed housing options for older adults, including ADUs, missing middle, manufactured home communities, co-living, universal design, and village-style support models, emphasizing aging in place and the need for more accessible, affordable housing choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• our students whether they choose to go to higher education, technical education, or go into the workforce
• our students whether they choose to go to higher education, technical education, or go into the workforce
• our students whether they choose to go to higher education, technical education, or go into the workforce
• and then want to later return workforce and then want to later return for<00:10:04.760> a<00:
• Educators and community members check for content and grade-level alignment, as well as equity gaps in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• qualified physicians to practice right here in New Mexico, this bill helps strengthen our health care workforce
• providing requirements for determining impairment, and requiring the Department of Health and the Workforce
• 114, introduced by Senator Pope, is an act relating to housing, prohibiting a hedge fund, private equity
• hedge fund, introduced by Senator Pope, an act relating to housing, prohibiting a hedge fund, private equity

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're asking you to support the unionized workforce, let this play out, and oppose this bill.
• recent report highlights how these processes can unintentionally slow down projects that support equity
• We have the best workforce in the country to develop geothermal.
• We have the best workforce in the country to develop geothermal.
• prevailing wage for all construction workers participating in these projects, which will ensure workforce

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're mounting a big education campaign and better water workforce.
• Data integration and planning tools, rural and tribal equity, and water planning through outreach to
• That is what we will be looking at, as well as growing the water workforce.
• I am a product of water workforce development at New Mexico State University under a federal program.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will move that House File 4110 be re-referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development
• With that, I will renew my motion that House File 4110 be rereferred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor
• The motion passes and House File 4110 is rereferred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor, Economic Development
• This is not equity. And if we are serious about choice, we must also confront this.
• This is not equity. consistency. This is not equity.

Bills: HF4110, HF4101, HF4144, HF3546

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, medical assistance, data matching, eligibility, reporting, human services, assisted living, health regulations, inspection authority, vulnerable adults, local government, program integrity, high-risk providers, enrollment requirements, fraud prevention, compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• The endgame we all agree is trying to get kids to graduate with knowledge to either enter the workforce
• The endgame we all agree is trying to get kids to graduate with knowledge to either enter the workforce
• We all agree is trying to get kids to graduate with knowledge to either enter the workforce or to go
• sure<01:43:45.920> it's<01:43:46.080> not<01:43:46.159> an<01:43:46.400> equity
• issue or or a sure it's not an equity issue or or a challenge<01:43:47.840> otherwise.

Bills: SF0059, SF0053

Keywords: language proficiency, literacy education, reading interventions, dyslexia support, Montessori methods, individualized reading plans, amateur status, high school athletics, student eligibility, sports regulation, monetary compensation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:28:28.199> companies purchasing by private Equity companies purchasing by private Equity
• they're selling to a private Equity they're selling to a private Equity company<01:36:46.520>
• 48.159> being company the private Equity company being company the private Equity company being
• <02:01:00.000> you<02:01:00.119> have<02:01:00.199> a equity private Equity
• a per you have a equity private Equity a per you have a series<02:01:00.520> of<02:01:00.679><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MOSERS has historically had less equity and less equity-driven risk and more diversified risk sources
• Lower equity exposure can lag in very strong equity markets, but also provide more downside protection
• About 12.7% less in public equity exposure relative to peers.
• Public equities was the best performer, returning about 11%.
• We've all watched the U.S. equity market. We know how strong the U.S. equity markets performed.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held a hearing focused on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) and its long-term financial condition. MOSERS staff and its investment consultant reviewed the system’s structure, membership, funding policy, and investment approach. They reported a June 30, 2025 funded ratio of 55.4%, with about $17.4 billion in liabilities and $9.6 billion in assets, and explained that the board certified a 32% employer contribution rate under its minimum contribution policy, up from 30.25%, which will increase state appropriations. They also described the system as mature, with more retirees and inactive members than active employees, and said declining payroll growth has made it harder to improve funding. The presentation emphasized that recent board actions were intended to strengthen the plan over the long term, even though they increased near-term costs. Those changes included lowering the assumed investment return over time to 6.95%, updating mortality assumptions, moving from an open to a closed amortization schedule, and adopting a minimum employer contribution policy. The investment consultant said MOSERS historically used a more risk-balanced asset allocation than many peers, which helped explain weaker relative returns during a long period when public equities outperformed; the board has since shifted toward a more equity-oriented allocation. He said recent performance has improved, with the portfolio outperforming its policy index and ranking better against peers in the short term, though longer-term peer performance remains a concern. Committee members questioned why the funded ratio had declined over roughly 20 years and whether past investment and actuarial assumptions were too optimistic or too conservative. MOSERS officials responded that the current board is trying to correct earlier decisions and that the present strategy is more in line with industry practice. Members also discussed a proposed MOSERS bill package that would automatically refund small balances to terminated non-vested members and increase deferred compensation auto-escalation, with officials saying the refund provision would improve efficiency and return small balances sooner. The committee also briefly discussed ongoing litigation involving Catalyst Capital; MOSERS said attorney fees have been about $20 million so far, the case remains on appeal, and the damages amount is sealed. No formal votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we know that venture capital and private equity have become a problem in our health care and
• includes expert perspectives from across consumer advocacy, utility operations, and economic and workforce

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: During the legislative meeting, House Bill 287 was discussed, which proposes the establishment of a permanent Health and Human Services Committee to oversee the state's $14.4 billion expenditure in this area. An amendment to the bill was adopted, which clarified funding and operational details. Public comments were solicited, but no one spoke in opposition. The committee ultimately voted, with some members expressing concerns about budget implications, but the motion to pass the bill as amended was made and seconded, with several members opposing it. House Bill 371 was also addressed, which focuses on creating an Acequia Infrastructure Fund to support land grant and Acequia communities. The bill aims to provide a financial mechanism for these communities to access funds for infrastructure projects without relying on capital outlay requests. The committee discussed the bill's implications, potential funding sources, and the need for further amendments regarding representation and oversight. A motion to pass the bill was made, with some opposition noted, particularly regarding the lack of specificity in the bill's provisions. Lastly, Senate Bill 143 was presented, which seeks to raise the caps on inspection fees under the Egg Grading Act, among other agricultural regulations. Supportive testimony was provided by representatives from agricultural organizations, emphasizing the need for updated fee structures. The committee engaged in discussions about the bill's implications for consumers and the agricultural sector, ultimately moving towards a vote to pass the bill.