Transcript Highlights:

• The bill allows children's residential agencies to provisionally hire qualified employees while awaiting
• So to ensure children's safety, prospective employees must clear the checks through the DOJ, the FBI,
• To ensure children's safety, prospective employees must clear the checks through the DOJ, the FBI, and
• Additionally, the employees would not be allowed any unsupervised contact with kids until the full out-of-state

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services met, adopted its committee rules, and then considered four items, including two consent bills. The chair opened with remarks about protecting California’s safety net and set limits on testimony. The committee rules were adopted by roll call, and the consent calendar later passed 5-0, with the remaining member’s vote added afterward for a 6-0 final tally on the rules and consent items. AB 276 by Assemblymember Bennett addressed delays in out-of-state child abuse registry background checks for children’s residential agency staff. Supporters, including the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Casa Pacifica, said long clearance times were worsening staffing shortages and causing qualified applicants to leave, while the bill would allow provisional hiring only after DOJ, FBI, and California Child Abuse Central Index clearance and without unsupervised contact with children. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill 5-0, sending it to the Assembly Public Safety Committee. AB 319 by Assemblymember Jackson sought to improve services for foster youth with severe trauma by requiring counties to submit and update detailed plans to the Joint Interagency Resolution Team for providing effective therapeutic interventions in the least restrictive settings. A former foster youth testified in support, and a committee member noted the ongoing shortage of therapists serving foster youth. The bill was approved 5-0 as amended and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. After the consent calendar and remaining votes were completed, the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1002 by Blanco relating to the establishment of a county employee family leave pool program
• Senate Bill 1067 by Middleton relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education and employees
• 1097 by Hughes relating to a franchise tax credit for taxable entities that make contributions to employees
• Senate Bill 1115 by Hinojosa of NASCAS relating to eligibility for custodial officer service in the Employees

Bills: SJR36 , SB26 , SJR3 , SJR48 , SJR50 , SJR51 , SCR15 , SCR17 , SB3 , SB5 , SB12 , SB18 , SB1001 , SB1002 , SB1003 , SB1004 , SB1005 , SB1006 , SB1007 , SB1008 , SB1009 , SB1010 , SB1011 , SB1012 , SB1013 , SB1014 , SB1015 , SB1016 , SB1017 , SB1018 , SB1019 , SB1020 , SB1021 , SB1022 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB1025 , SB1026 , SB1027 , SB1028 , SB1029 , SB1030 , SB1031 , SB1032 , SB1033 , SB1034 , SB1035 , SB1036 , SB1037 , SB1038 , SB1039 , SB1040 , SB1041 , SB1042 , SB1043 , SB1044 , SB1045 , SB1046 , SB1049 , SB1050 , SB1051 , SB1052 , SB1053 , SB1054 , SB1055 , SB1056 , SB1057 , SB1058 , SB1059 , SB1060 , SB1061 , SB1062 , SB1063 , SB1064 , SB1065 , SB1066 , SB1067 , SB1068 , SB1069 , SB1070 , SB1071 , SB1072 , SB1073 , SB1074 , SB1075 , SB1076 , SB1077 , SB1078 , SB1079 , SB1080 , SB1081 , SB1082 , SB1083 , SB1084 , SB1085 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1088 , SB1089 , SB1090 , SB1091 , SB1092 , SB1093 , SB1094 , SB1095 , SB1096 , SB1097 , SB1098 , SB1099 , SB1100 , SB1101 , SB1102 , SB1103 , SB1104 , SB1105 , SB1106 , SB1107 , SB1108 , SB1109 , SB1110 , SB1111 , SB1112 , SB1113 , SB1114 , SB1115 , SB1116 , SB1117 , SB1118 , SB1119 , SB1120 , SB1121 , SB1122 , SB1123 , SB1124 , SB1125 , SB1126 , SB1127 , SB1128 , SB1129 , SB1130 , SB1131 , SB1132 , SB1133 , SB1134 , SB1135 , SB1136 , SB1137 , SB1138 , SB1139 , SB1140 , SB1141 , SB1142 , SB1143 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SB1146 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1149 , SB1150 , SB1565

Summary: The Senate met briefly and referred a large number of first-reading bills and resolutions to standing committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including hemp regulation, dementia research funding, parental rights and public education, municipal library funding, tax and local government issues, criminal justice, health care, education, transportation, natural resources, and election law. Several constitutional resolutions were also referred, including proposals related to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a severance tax revenue fund. Most of the transcript consists of the reading of bill captions and committee referrals, with no substantive debate or testimony recorded. The listed measures included proposals on school uniforms, charter schools, Medicaid fraud remedies, insurance practices, occupational licensing for people with criminal convictions, water and sewer utility cybersecurity, agricultural protections, public meeting broadcasting, and various local and state governance matters. No votes were taken on the bills in this segment. The only formal action reflected was referral of the bills and resolutions to the appropriate committees, followed by adjournment of the Senate until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think more of them would have employees if we didn't have so many mandates on having employees.
• I think more of them would have employees if we didn't have so many mandates on having employees.
• </c><03:44:07.920><c> Just</c> Article 13 is for 18 employees. Just Article 13 is for 18 employees.
• no employees There's been no employees fired<03:45:48.920><c> or</c><03:45:49.040><c> terminated.
• employee terminated No state employee terminated because<03:45:55.000><c> of</c><03:45:55.040><c> the

Transcript Highlights:

• market by companies founded and grown right here in Massachusetts: Voyager Therapeutics with 172 employees
• , Apic Bio with 50 employees, Adalanta Therapeutics with over 70 employees, Via Scientific with 30 employees
• , and Comanche Bio, also 30 employees.
• In fact, a majority of our members are businesses with 200 or fewer employees.
• So you're still employee? Okay, I'm just getting the sense that you're all out of work right now.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee on Economic Development held a hearing on the DRIVE Act, a proposal to invest $400 million in Massachusetts research and innovation without new taxes. Governor Healey and administration officials said the bill would direct $200 million to public higher education research and regional partnerships and $200 million to a research funding pool for hospitals, universities, and other institutions, with the goal of retaining talent, leveraging private and philanthropic dollars, and offsetting major federal R&D cuts. They argued that research is a core economic engine for the state, supporting jobs across labs, construction, services, and surrounding businesses, and said the bill would help protect the Commonwealth’s tax base and competitiveness during a period of federal uncertainty and cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs. Committee members raised concerns about whether Fair Share surtax dollars should instead be used for K-12 and other community needs, whether the proposal is enough given the scale of lost federal grants, and how the money would be allocated. The governor responded that the funds are one-time surplus dollars, that most surtax revenue already supports education, and that the bill is meant as a bridge to stabilize public higher education and research. She also said the legislation includes a review board and could support a revolving or matched-fund approach in some cases. Several members pressed for more detail on selection criteria, future funding, and whether private companies and large endowments should contribute more. University of Massachusetts leaders and researchers testified that federal grant cancellations and delays are already causing layoffs, furloughs, rescinded admissions, and lost research capacity. UMass officials said the bill would help preserve faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and research programs in medicine, climate science, marine science, Braille instruction, and AI decision-making. They emphasized that the funding should be merit-based and that the state needs to act quickly to prevent talent from leaving Massachusetts. Business, labor, and industry groups, including MassBio, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, AIM, the AFL-CIO, and Building Trades, supported the bill, saying it would protect jobs, sustain the innovation ecosystem, and reinforce Massachusetts’ national leadership in research and life sciences. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• With some exceptions, all civil service employees of the State Board of Education that are engaged in
• , the number of employees under him?
• Carlos Lopez with the California School Employees Association, representing nearly 300,000...
• employees.
• While it has been stated that these changes would be minimal for employees, the reality...

Transcript Highlights:

• With some exceptions, all civil service employees of the State Board of Education that are engaged in
• , the number of employees under him?
• employees.
• employees.
• While it has been stated that these changes would be minimal for employees, the reality...

Summary: The joint Senate Education and Budget Committee hearing focused on the Governor’s proposed education governance overhaul, which would shift day-to-day management of the California Department of Education from the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to a new appointed education commissioner, while giving the Superintendent new voting roles on the State Board of Education and the Community College Board of Governors. Chair Perez opened by stressing that the proposal raises major policy questions beyond the budget process and should be evaluated for its effect on students, local control, and accountability. Brooks Allen of the State Board of Education argued the change would unify policymaking and implementation, reduce fragmented authority, and create clearer accountability, citing decades of reports criticizing California’s “crazy quilt” governance structure and noting the proposal is timed for the 2026 transition. Amber Alexander of the Department of Finance outlined the fiscal and staffing transfers, describing the plan as largely cost-neutral and explaining how positions would shift between the State Board, the Department, and the new Superintendent’s office over 2026-27 and 2027-28. Sarah Cortez of the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LAO supports shifting management to an appointed commissioner but recommended several refinements: preserving legislative oversight, requiring Senate confirmation of the commissioner, clearly defining the Superintendent’s duties as a public representative/advisor/evaluator, and refining the State Board’s role to focus on major policies requiring public input. She also said the fiscal plan should be cost-neutral and more fully specified. Senators raised concerns about the timing during an election year, the constitutional status of the Superintendent, whether the proposal should instead be a constitutional amendment, and whether governance changes actually improve student outcomes or simply rearrange the org chart. Some members questioned whether the proposal would confuse voters and undermine democratic accountability, while others said the current structure is already confusing and that the reform could improve clarity for districts and local boards. The discussion also covered how curriculum is set, with LAO explaining that the Legislature has broad authority but has delegated much curriculum work to the State Board and the Instructional Quality Commission. Members asked how the new structure would affect local districts, who they would call for guidance, and whether the commissioner would have authority over policy; the presenters said policy authority would remain with the State Board, while the commissioner would handle administration and implementation. No votes were taken during the panel discussion, and the hearing was organized to continue with additional panels and public comment later in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, page one, we removed the restrictions on the Good Neighbor Authority employees covered with
• contract employees.
• </c> the Good Neighbor Authority employees the Good Neighbor Authority employees covered<00:36:40.960
• :37:13.920><c> and</c><00:37:14.160><c> contract</c><00:37:14.560><c> employees.
• </c> on FT and contract employees. So, Mr. on FT and contract employees. So, Mr.

Bills: HB0078 , HB0087 , SF0070 , SF0068 , SF0017 , SF0043

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Both include a provision that reduces classification of certain employee classifications, and that is
• </c><00:09:05.760><c> or</c> classification of certain uh employee or classification of certain uh employee
• or uh<00:09:06.640><c> employee</c><00:09:07.120><c> classifications</c><00:09:07.920><c> and</c><00
• :09:08.080><c> that</c><00:09:08.320><c> is</c> uh employee classifications and that is uh employee classifications
• </c><00:32:16.320><c> on</c> provide training to DOC employees on provide training to DOC employees on

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:19.520><c> We</c><00:24:19.760><c> also</c> related to state employees.
• We also related to state employees.
• </c> excluded and exempt employees. excluded and exempt employees.
• all have to have a employees, they all have to have a temporary<00:26:25.039><c> date.
• ,</c> lower salary, they're great employees, lower salary, they're great employees, but<00:31:29.200>

Bills: HB1721 , HB1714 , HB1718 , HB1732 , HB1740 , HB1777 , HB1842 , HB1919 , HB1701 , HB1923 , HB1741 , HB1734 , HB1739

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does require consultation with the employee that removed the student.
• are required to assist that employee, and it also specifically identifies the school principal.
• are required to assist that employee, and it also specifically identifies the school principal.
• It requires that that employee that's reporting or that employee that removes a student, or is acting
• </c><01:55:26.080><c> to</c> doing is working with our employees to doing is working with our employees

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• subcommittee reviewed and approved the following items as presented by Grant Wallace, Director of the Employee
• Able, Mutual Insurance Company, and COPSAC, proposed state and public school employees' 2027 contribution
• subcommittee reviewed and approved the following items as presented by Grant Wallace, Director of Employee
• ABLE, Mutual Insurance Company, and COPSAC, proposed state and public school employees' 27 contribution
• That is Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System. It's a request to review investment summaries.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• subcommittee reviewed and approved the following items as presented by Grant Wallace, Director of the Employee
• Able, Mutual Insurance Company, and COPSAC, proposed state and public school employees' 2027 contribution
• subcommittee reviewed and approved the following items as presented by Grant Wallace, Director of Employee
• ABLE, Mutual Insurance Company, and COPSAC, proposed state and public school employees' 27 contribution
• That is Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System. It's a request to review investment summaries.

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Transcript Highlights:

• They may not have W-2 employees. They may not have a traditional out-of-state office.
• Protect passive and minority owners and clarify the lack of W-2 employees or... ...protect passive and
• minority owners and clarify the lack of W-2 employees or a physical office is by itself not enough to
• Kat Brackman with the California School Employees Association, in support.
• Kat Brackman with the California School Employees Association, in support. Thank you.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Heidi Pickman with Cameo, who represents small businesses throughout California with five or fewer employees
• Employees to help provide testimony on behalf of the bill. Thank you so much, committee.
• After searching, I employees to help provide testimony on behalf of the bill.
• Good morning, Nalia Griffin with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in
• Welcome. employees and support. Thank you. Good morning. Dr.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• certain employers to claim a 100% tax credit for specified monetary contributions paid to eligible employees
• It allows an eligible taxpayer to receive at least $1,000, limits the employee tax credit and the employer
• labor pools operating in Florida to register annually with the Department of Commerce, ensuring employees
• It does not promote honest and transparent business practices, and it does not incentivize employees
• And in today's market, where there are a lot of small businesses that need ...permanent employees that

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of our employees are local and have deep roots in the community as well.
• You've mentioned your employees, and I was just wondering if each of you could share a little bit about
• A total headcount of employees in the neighborhood of 100 in Washington.
• We're right in the Five Corners, and we have 101 employees. We're a single-point dealership.
• We're right in the Five Corners, and we have 101 employees. Okay. Rep. Ramel. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Bills: HB2467 , HB2495 , HB2552

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: HB 2467, fifth-wheel travel trailer, fifth wheel trailer, travel trailer, RV, recreational vehicle, trailer length, vehicle length limits, oversize vehicle, truck and trailer, tractor-semitrailer, semi-trailer, kingpin, Washington RCW, Department of Transportation, WSDOT, highway safety, commercial trucking, towing, motor home

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute still ensures that non-certified individuals, including facility employees,
• This is about protecting our customers, as well as our employees. Thank you.
• It is focused on strengthening employee eligibility requirements for facilities within the Texas Juvenile
• Advocating for themselves, making heightened scrutiny of potential employees essential for ensuring their
• I review records; I've got 93 employees, and I review records all the time.

Bills: HB2947 , HB3276 , HB3513

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• In the early 80s, two of the biggest agencies that had a lot of employees, PR, provided health benefits
• They had the business with the state teachers and... ...the state teachers and state employees.
• If you let me manage your benefit, we'll save you money on your prescription benefit for your employees
• businesses, will have no choice but to either absorb these additional costs or pass them to their employees
• or... ...or pass them to their employees or customers.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• They're just a more versatile employee. They're just a more versatile employee.
• Well, we have a little over 3,200 employees, so we have a lot of employees.
• According to some of the federal court orders, we need more employees as far as the correctional officer

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is anybody making threats against your employees, I will stand beside you.
• Threaten the designated immigration support services provider, employee, or volunteer identified in the
• I have no problem with employees wanting to organize and be part of a labor union and to negotiate for
• I have no problem with employees wanting to organize and be part of a labor union and to negotiate for
• SB 1149 expands bereavement leave to include, quote-unquote, designated family—someone their employee