Transcript Highlights:

• We actually use some of the requirements in the Labor Code.
• I wanted to check so I can give you the right Labor Codes that cover and govern our procedures with our
• Violations of Labor Code Section 6425 are charged as felonies.
• So our BOI unit, in accordance with these Labor Codes and regulations, is what governs and identifies
• Sorry, I don't have those codes memorized.

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13 is an act to amend Title 6 and Title 16 of the Delaware Code relating
• agenda item two: Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, an act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code
• Title 29 of the Delaware Code relating to the protection of nonprofit acute care hospitals.
• What this bill does is it modernizes Delaware's laws governing the Delaware Health Information Network
• I'm the Director of Government Affairs for Pet Advocacy Network, and I'm here today to support Senate

Bills: SB313, SB296

Keywords: Delaware Health Fund, healthcare access, preventive care, tobacco settlement, public health initiatives, grant program

Summary: The House Health and Human Development Committee met and considered a series of health, human services, and related bills. The committee heard and advanced House Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 13, which standardizes hospital charity care and financial assistance statewide, and Senate Bill 296 with Senate Amendment 1, which restructures the Delaware Health Fund grant process with a more formal, transparent competitive rubric. Both measures received supportive testimony from DHSS, the Delaware Healthcare Association, and the Delaware Nurses Association, and both were released by committee on roll-call votes. The committee also released Senate Bill 313 with Senate Amendment 1, which places a temporary moratorium on acquisitions of nonprofit acute care hospitals by for-profit entities and expands notice/review requirements for sales of hospital real estate; Senate Bill 340 with Senate Amendment 1, which requires long-term care facilities to carry specified liability insurance, with questions raised about the exemption for state-owned facilities; Senate Joint Resolution 20, which directs DHSS to study independent assessment tools for Medicaid home- and community-based services; and Senate Bill 341, which updates Delaware Health Information Network law and formally recognizes DIN as the state’s health data utility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some discussion on constitutional concerns, insurance coverage, and the rationale for the state exemption in SB 340. Later, the committee advanced Senate Bill 257, which requires new animal shelters to be licensed and inspected before operating and removes a prior exception for certain rescue organizations; and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 278 with House Amendment 1, which allows earlier pre-authorization for summer child care enrollment and lowers copays for half-day care. Public testimony on these measures came from animal welfare advocates, YMCA representatives, and other stakeholders, all largely in support. Each bill was released by committee, with several votes walked for absent members, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• two different philosophies of governance two different philosophies of governance and<00:36:53.119
• The Water Code was passed in 1987.
• The Water Code was passed in 1987.
• Because the code we got. And and why?
• ,<00:43:23.920> which abiding by our state water code, which abiding by our state water code

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on several measures. SB 2723, which would designate April 27 as State Sheriff’s Day, was supported by the Department of Law Enforcement and a long-serving sheriff, who described the historical roots of Hawaii’s sheriffs in the Kingdom of Hawaii and said the bill would recognize that legacy. HGA submitted written comments, and there was no opposition or vote taken on the measure during the excerpt. The committees then heard SB 17 on wildfire mitigation. The Public Utilities Commission, DLNR, the State Fire Council, OPSD, the Attorney General’s office, and Kamehameha Schools all testified, mostly in support of the bill’s intent but with suggested amendments. Several witnesses said the bill should better define the working group’s structure, staffing, and funding, and the Attorney General noted constitutional concerns about placing the group outside a principal department and pointed out possible overlap with Acts 302 and 303 from the prior year. Committee members questioned whether SB 17 duplicated earlier wildfire legislation, and witnesses generally said it did not directly conflict but overlapped with existing efforts. On SB 2358, which would require reimbursement for search-and-rescue costs when people leave trails and enter closed areas, the State Fire Council and the Hawaii SAR Alliance testified in opposition or caution, arguing that reimbursement could deter people from calling for help and that Hawaii’s SAR system still has structural and administrative gaps. A committee member asked whether other jurisdictions had used similar measures without discouraging rescues; the Fire Council said Kauai has a similar law but it has not resulted in invoices being sent. No action was taken in the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 2475 on Red Hill remediation funding and reimbursement from the Department of Defense. The Board of Water Supply, DLNR, and other testifiers supported the bill, emphasizing the need for long-term research, monitoring, and cleanup, while also noting the unique groundwater conditions and the importance of keeping the funds focused on Red Hill contamination response. Committee members asked about existing federal and state funding, whether the state had received any direct federal money, and what would happen if reimbursement is not obtained. DLNR said it was still working through the reimbursement mechanism and that some federal funding had gone to the Red Hill registry, but not directly to the state for this purpose.

Transcript Highlights:

• has been read for the first time and it is treated like a bill and referred to the Committee on Government
• Um, this bill, H. 532, simply strikes the relevant Vermont code section, thus making Vermont law and
• That Vermont code section, contrary to That Vermont code section, contrary to the<00:13:53.360> applicable
• simply strikes the relevant Vermont code simply strikes the relevant Vermont code section,<00:14
• and Military Government Operations and Military Affairs<00:15:44.079> requests<00:15:44.480><

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, then suspended rules to introduce 16 House bills by number only. The bills were referred to committees, and H.790, the House Committee on Appropriations Budget Adjustment Act, was placed on the calendar for notice the next legislative day. The chamber also read JRH7, a joint resolution supporting the existing U.S.-Denmark treaty relating to Greenland and opposing American efforts to secure sovereignty over the island; it was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. HCR 162, congratulating the 2025 Colchester High School Lakers Division 2 championship football team, was read and celebrated, with the team and coaches recognized in the chamber. Members also marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with remarks tied to HCR 174 and a moment of silence. On the action calendar, the House passed H.508, approving amendments to the Burlington city charter. It then took up H.532, which removes a Vermont statutory provision allowing mandatory retirement of college professors at age 70 so state law aligns with federal age-discrimination law; the committee reported it ought to pass by a 10-1 vote, and the House ordered third reading. The final action item, S.23 on the use of synthetic media in elections, was postponed for one legislative day at the request of the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee. The meeting also included several announcements: the Rural Caucus and Older Vermonters Caucus scheduled upcoming meetings, House Democrats noted a caucus and a visit from Congresswoman Becca Balint, House Republicans announced a caucus after adjournment, and House Progressives said they were not caucusing that week. The House then adjourned until Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 3:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• all authorities is everything governing all authorities is everything governing all authorities is given
• certificate of birth or other government certificate of birth or other government document or medical
• training institute and government training institute and government training institute and mandating
• uh to further provide for the the code uh to further provide for the the code uh to further provide
• code language the current existing code code language the current existing code code language the current

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The color coding, the blue section, as you all know, is the SEG section.
• State government.
• And so that is typical across state government.
• We have Public School Code 22, Section 22, 513 and also NMAC, New Mexico Administrative code 6.291, which
• And governance is really important because it provides not only governance, oversight, but accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of land grant governance, land grant governance really has been.
• The United States government played a role of the federal government, as I mentioned.
• federal government.
• . governance structures.
• So that was a different new part of the governance that came in with the territorial water code.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code.
• Um, We are pursuant to sections 551.002 and 571.139B of the Texas government code, we are ready to proceed
• code.
• code.
• The Federal Election Commission has, and the term member is not defined in election code.

Transcript Highlights:

• we will now hold an executive session pursuant to section 55071,55074, 571139, and 57,140 of the government
• code.
• , find by a preponderance of the evidence that respondent violated Section 253.007 of the election code
• Code.
• However, the local government code, and it's cited in I believe footnote 1 in the opinion, uh, applies

Transcript Highlights:

• They do allow government to choose public good over profit.
• Local governments still need to adopt some of that into the code, and then the market needs to start
• Local governments still need to adopt some of that into the code, and then the market needs to start
• I don't know. governments still need to adopt some of that into the code.
• And you're still talking about a local government process, so local governments have to have that conversation

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:

• planned by local governments.
• So our public project revolving fund, which serves local governments, tribal governments, and state governments
• through local government workforce boards through grants.
• So I'll just run through the P codes real fast.
• Commission, Agency Code 605, and... Next is Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, Agency Code 605.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:51.960> and<00:33:52.120> fire<00:33:52.519> codes modern building codes
• and fire codes modern building codes and fire codes undergo<00:33:54.159> a<00:33:55.320>
• the of the of the state building codes the of the of the state building codes um<00:41:43.480>
• 01:04:03.599> not already opined that the code does not already opined that the code does not
• where they're trying to adopt the codes where they're trying to adopt the codes and<01:14:23.440

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a wide range of housing-related bills. HB 295 on Hawaiian homelands drew support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and individual testifiers who described long waits for DHHL housing, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands offered comments noting that lowering the Native Hawaiian blood quantum from 50% to 25% would require multiple legal and federal review steps. The committee also heard testimony on several Hawaii Public Housing Authority measures, including HB 99, HB 1096, HB 1097, HB 1095, HB 1093, and HB 1094, which generally received agency support and little or no public opposition during the hearing. HB 1094 prompted questions about the handling and sale or donation of seized property, and the agency said it lacked capacity to manage that work directly and would need to consult the Attorney General on liability concerns. The committee then heard HB 1056 and HB 1467, both related to a proposed Hawaii Homes or housing resiliency program. DCCA, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported HB 1056, while the Attorney General requested clarification on fund language. The Insurance Commissioner said DCCA was willing to run the program and that strengthening homes would help keep insurance available in Hawaii. For HB 1467, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and Climate Advisory Team also supported the measure, with the Attorney General raising concerns about delegation, the special fund, and extension authority. Testimony on both bills emphasized hurricane retrofits, with some witnesses urging harmonization of the two similar proposals and one witness warning that the bills could conflict with efforts to reduce building-code minimum standards. Other measures included HB 1013 on important agricultural lands, which received support from HHFDC, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, DBEDT, the Agri-Business Development Corporation, and Purple Maiʻa Foundation, with some agencies offering comments. HB 1294 on agricultural workforce housing drew comments from the Attorney General, who said commissions may be established by law rather than by the department itself, along with support from OHA, a council member, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. HB 89 on teacher housing received support from OHA and education groups, while the Attorney General said the bill may have constitutional issues and suggested amendments to set standards for voucher applications. HB 276 on condominiums and HB 528 on residential leases also drew support, with no testimony in opposition. HB 415 on public safety and fire sprinklers generated the most clear split in testimony: the State Fire Council, a fire department representative, and an individual supported the bill, arguing sprinklers improve safety and can prevent major losses, while BIA Hawaii, Pacific Home and Appliance Distribution, NAAP Hawaii, Gentry Holmes, and DR Horton Hawaii opposed it, saying the added cost would worsen housing affordability and that existing codes already address safety. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly closed each bill after testimony and questions, and the hearing moved through the agenda without recorded committee votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, bodily injury rather than what previously is in the code or currently is in the code, serious bodily
• Um, the criteria keeps one of the three that's now in the code. And leaves 2, cuts 2 away.
• The code presently includes 3 criteria.
• These children lose the very services funded and intended by the federal government and the state government
• According to the Attorney general calculation that's in the code at the moment. OK, perfect.

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair: Representative, you're recognized to present your Amendment bar code 185837.
• The bill does not require a local government to adopt body cameras.
• Clerk: Andrew Khalil, Florida Association of Code Enforcement waives in support.
• Local governments and developers have tried to find a balance between the two.
• And one is extraordinary - how can a local government meet this explosive growth?

Transcript Highlights:

• by Century Code.
• And it's the governing board, the owners of the NDIRF.
• With the current code that we have now?
• Well, we work with local government... Well, we work with local governments each and every day.
• We’re always evaluating our Century Code, our chapter 54-10.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A3.
• The amendment is coded.
• The amendment is coded A.
• The amendment is coded A-6.
• The amendment is coded A23.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> This bill promotes government accountability and efficiency by providing for a systemic review of
• So let's take up Amendment bar code 3, 8, 6, 5, or >> that amendment.
• Karen Murillo, AARP waives in support at Herndon, the director of government relations and community
• So and would building codes still be required to be followed in connection with this?
• All state building codes. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions on the bill.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The 1963 Legislative Assembly did enact North Dakota Century Code 52-12, which authorized state agencies
• We look at both private market and government markets when we do the salary analysis, but again, the
• or Administrative Code sections that provide authorization for those plans.
• North Dakota Century Code 54-03-03.28 is linked in your agenda.
• Last legislative session, there were some changes made to North Dakota Century Code 54-03-08.08.

Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave policies, labor market conditions, and prevailing wage issues, then later took up committee rules and bill-draft jurisdiction. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the state has paid the full family premium since 1979, described cost-control and benefit-enhancement changes over time, and explained current plan options, wellness incentives, employer wellness discounts, and the upcoming bid process for the 2027-29 contract. HRMS then presented compensation comparisons showing state classified pay generally trails private and regional markets, with larger gaps at higher-level jobs, and reviewed benefits and leave policies, including the new enhanced annual leave and new-hire leave, the state’s unpaid family leave structure, and varying tuition reimbursement practices. Job Service reported on labor force trends, low unemployment, high labor force participation, job openings, and wage growth, and OMB said there are no state prevailing-wage requirements beyond federal Davis-Bacon rules for federally funded projects. The committee then considered a proposed amendment to Joint Rule 211 to better align the health insurance mandate review process with recent statutory changes. Members discussed how the rule should reference both the committee’s required actuarial reports and the Legislative Council cost-benefit analysis, and the amendment was adopted on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed how its jurisdiction decisions affect whether a bill draft receives actuarial analysis, with staff explaining that a decision not to take jurisdiction means the bill is not treated as impacting the relevant retirement or health plans for purposes of that analysis. After that, the committee began reviewing bill drafts for jurisdiction. The first draft, bill draft 33, would automatically renew pre-tax elections for dental and vision coverage during open enrollment instead of requiring annual re-election. Members debated whether it had any actuarial impact, noting the state does not pay those premiums directly, and the discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The local governing authorities absolutely would, based on a Because that's not LED's role.
• So it's duplicative of the existing structure of the code, Children's Code and Criminal Code.
• And so the... of the code, children's code and criminal code.
• Chairman, Molly Alexander with Blue Cross, government relations coordinator. Very good.
• So Code of Criminal Procedure 401 governs the qualifications for jurors, and some don't realize this,

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's acting as a code enforcement mechanism, it's basically supplanting code enforcement for proper
• So when you go to the post office and change your ZIP codes...
• So when you go to the post office and change your zip codes.
• We don't want to run all over local governments. That's not right.
• We don't want to run all over local governments. That's not right.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and first took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 governing local business taxes while allowing municipalities that already levy a gross-receipts-based business tax to continue doing so, with limits on changing the tax rate. The sponsor’s proxy and committee members discussed whether local business taxes fund identifiable services, with supporters saying the bill would reduce burdens on businesses and opponents arguing it would remove a capped home-rule revenue source used for general services, economic development, inspections, fire and police support, and business regulation. The Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities opposed the bill, citing a statewide revenue loss and concern that costs would shift to residential taxpayers, while one member noted the bill should be considered in the context of broader property tax changes. SB 122 was reported favorably by a roll call vote, with Senators Leek, Passidomo, Pizzo, Trumbull, and Chair McClain voting yes and Senator Sharief voting no. The committee then held an extended informational panel on Florida’s housing shortage and affordability challenges. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven primarily by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs far more units each year, that local comprehensive plans and zoning often fail to prioritize housing, and that the state should focus more on measurable impacts, density, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other ways to let the market respond. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center presented data showing increased single-family and multifamily construction but limited condo growth, highly concentrated new development in a handful of counties, and continued high cost burdens for renters, especially lower-income and older households. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research and Consulting said the national housing market is slow, Florida prices are easing but remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and affordability problems are being driven by land, construction, financing, and insurance costs; she urged more product diversity, including build-to-rent, townhomes, manufactured housing, and higher-density redevelopment tailored to local demographics. Members questioned the panel about density, vertical development, impact fees, construction costs, and incentives for local governments. Several senators said local governments need clearer direction or incentives to approve more housing, while others emphasized preserving local character and avoiding overdevelopment. The panel generally agreed that no single policy will solve the problem, but that Florida needs more housing types, more density in appropriate places, updated zoning and building codes, and a more market-responsive regulatory framework. After the presentations and discussion, the committee adjourned with no further business.