Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the mental health workforce licensing audit dealt with four boards and the Office of Professional
• Understanding it's been two years since that was done when we started mental health workforce, uh, BMHP
• under the mental health workforce under the mental health workforce licensing<00:21:23.679> requesting
• <00:27:19.760> Those mental health workforce licensing.
• Those mental health workforce licensing.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first accepted the minutes from the April 4 meeting, then moved to a discussion of potential audit topics and follow-up on prior performance audits. Christine Young, Director of Audits, and Jay Henry, performance audit supervisor, walked members through a spreadsheet showing the status of roughly 30 performance audit reports from the past 10 years, including the number of observations, whether agencies concurred, how many observations were fully addressed, and when each report was last updated. They explained that “fully addressed” only means the agency addressed the observations it agreed with, and that some reports include rejoinders when the audit office disagrees with an agency’s response. Members also discussed how some audits have been updated and others have not, including an example from the prescription drug monitoring program, which moved from the Board of Pharmacy/OPLC to HHS and was recently updated after staff contacted HHS. A major focus was the mental health workforce licensing audit, which was described as having little or no follow-up in the spreadsheet. Several members said this was especially concerning given the ongoing mental health crisis and argued that the committee should require a response. The committee agreed to start by sending letters to the chairs of the boards listed under that audit, asking the chair or designee to appear at the next meeting or respond in writing about what has been done and what remains unresolved. Members noted that the current process is voluntary and self-reported, which can lead to long delays or no response, especially for boards that meet only monthly and may have changed membership or leadership since the audit was issued. The committee also discussed other audit follow-up issues, including the liquor commission division of enforcement and licensing, which staff said was farther along than its percentage suggested, and a recently released human rights report that was not yet due for update. Members raised the possibility of using future budget reviews to ask agencies what they have done about old audit findings. In addition, the committee briefly discussed future audit topics, including a possible audit of local school districts related to special education, and staff explained that the statute allows the LBA to audit a limited number of non-state entities over a five-year period. The motion to authorize the chair and LBA to draft and send letters to the mental health workforce licensing boards passed by show of hands with one abstention. The next meeting was tentatively set for June 6 in State House 100, with staff to confirm the room and schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• The server was the daughter of a longtime server at Park Tavern, so there was generational workforce
• So there was generational workforce<00:01:48.159> there<00:01:48.399> as<00:01:48.640><
• c> well,<00:01:49.439> valued<00:01:49.920> members workforce there as well, valued
• members workforce there as well, valued members of<00:01:50.320> the<00:01:50.560> community
• <00:32:26.559> in the committee that the workforce in the committee that the workforce in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's the state workforce plus anybody else whose company has signed up or individuals.
• <00:17:40.799> and more likely to stay in the workforce and more likely to stay in the workforce
• 23,000 exclusive of the state workforce? 23,000 exclusive of the state workforce?
• So it's the state<00:19:00.480> workforce<00:19:01.240> plus<00:19:02.240> anybody
• c><00:19:03.200> else<00:19:03.720> whose state workforce plus anybody else whose state

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:06.560> strategy structured system and workforce strategy structured system and workforce
• This improves our workforce.
• This improves our workforce. is. This improves our workforce.
• The thing that is disappointing to me is we have a workforce shortage.
• It's really disappointing because I'm on the workforce committee, too.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• She attributes the decline in care to the current workforce crisis.
• Therapy providers deal with wage pressures, inflation, workforce shortages, and staff turnover.
• By supporting recovery housing, Texas invests in human capital and strengthens its workforce.
• Age pressures, inflation, workforce shortages, and staff turnover are significant challenges.
• By supporting recovery housing, Texas invests in human capital and strengthens its workforce.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, whereas the D... mission is involved, uh, about strengthening the workforce, uh, transferring the
• workforce workforce uh<00:14:30.440> transferring<00:14:31.079> the<00:14:31.320> State
• Okay, moving on to the last measure on the agenda: Senate Bill 1503, relating to workforce development
• The bill would develop a local workforce to meet the growing demand in defense-related personnel and
• <00:53:55.400> Development 1503 to Workforce Development 1503 to Workforce Development okay

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered Senate Bills 470, 828, 730, and 1383. SB 470 would create a deferred retirement option program for police officers. The Employees Retirement System warned it could worsen the system’s $14.1 billion unfunded liability by stopping employer and employee contributions during the DROP period, and the Attorney General raised possible tax-qualified status, Internal Revenue Code, and age-discrimination concerns. Police and other supporters testified in favor, but the committees ultimately recommended deferring the bill indefinitely. SB 828 would expand workers’ compensation medical benefits for firefighters to cover an additional respiratory condition. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Firefighters Association supported the measure, citing occupational exposure and health risks. The committees recommended passage with amendments, and the motion was adopted by both committees. SB 730, which concerns allowance on service retirements, drew support from the Department of Human Resources Development and the Department of Law Enforcement, but also comments from the Attorney General and ERS. DHRD said the bill could help recruitment and retention but requested more time to work on language with ERS, Budget and Finance, and the AG’s office. The committees postponed decision-making until Friday, February 7, at 3:15 p.m. in Conference Room 225. SB 1383, relating to fire protection, received broad support from the Governor’s office, Department of Defense, DLNR, Hawaiian Electric, and others. The committees agreed to pass it with amendments, including language suggested by the Hawaii Insurance Council on wildfire-related insurance issues and a committee report link to the Lina fire forward-looking report, phase three. The amended recommendation was adopted by both committees. Later in the meeting, the committees also heard SB 1360 and SB 1361 on ERS administrative and reporting matters, SB 340 on HLRB enforcement authority, and SB 997 on energy; SB 1360 and SB 1361 were presented as housekeeping measures, SB 340 drew disagreement between the Attorney General and HLRB over enforcement authority, and SB 997 was amended to incorporate prevailing-wage renewable energy rate language from SB 743 and then passed with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• and welcoming classrooms are essential for preparing students for a diverse democracy and a global workforce
• and welcoming classrooms are essential for preparing students for a diverse democracy and a global workforce
• underpinnings of this problem and empowering them to be part of the creative thinking and green workforce
• The creative thinking and green workforce development that will be essential to bring our planet back
• It values creativity as an essential skill for student success and workforce readiness.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with the largest portions focused on the Healthy Youth Act (S.340/H.656), comprehensive and inclusive curriculum bills (H.655/S.371 and related measures), climate literacy education (H.560/S.391), computer science coursework (H.534/S.362), arts education funding and STEM-to-STEAM proposals (H.561 and H.4297), and a homeschooling reporting bill (H.518). Supporters of the Healthy Youth Act argued it would preserve local control while requiring medically accurate, age-appropriate, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and regular updates to state health frameworks; opponents raised parental rights, age-appropriateness, and opt-out concerns, with some calling for fetal development content. Supporters of inclusive curriculum bills said they would improve representation, belonging, and civic understanding, while opponents argued they could undermine parental authority or promote ideological content. Climate, computer science, and arts advocates emphasized workforce readiness, student engagement, and the need for state support and funding to expand access and teacher training. Testimony on the climate literacy bill described increasing climate impacts in Massachusetts and argued that interdisciplinary instruction would prepare students for science, policy, and green careers; witnesses said the bill was not a mandate but a support and funding measure. Computer science supporters said access remains uneven, especially for girls, students of color, and students with disabilities, and urged stronger statewide requirements and AI-related standards. Arts advocates backed both the STEM-to-STEAM bill and the Lowell Mason arts funding proposal, citing research on student achievement, attendance, creativity, and the economic importance of the arts sector. The homeschool bill was supported by a homeschool advocacy group as a modernization of reporting requirements. The committee closed testimony on numerous bills where no one remained signed up or testimony had concluded, including several education, curriculum, and commission proposals. No votes were taken during the hearing itself. At the end of the session, the committee closed out the remaining testimony and adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also going to be geared towards workforce and also towards data systems.
• It's also going to be geared towards workforce and also towards data systems.
• We want children to learn, but it is also a workforce issue.
• It is the foundation to our workforce when parents have to reduce their hours at work.
• So I think as we work with the workforce, look at recommendations, we should have agency updates like

Summary: The committee met to review early childhood education funding, access, and program sustainability, with Secretary Aleva and Director Ashland Abney providing updates on Arkansas’s ABC state-funded preschool program and the federal CCDF/SRA program. Members discussed the long-standing flat funding for ABC, which rose from $11 million to $14 million in 2018, compared with roughly $137 million in federal CCDF/SRA funding. Officials said ABC serves about 23,000 children, while SRA serves about 14,871 children and has a wait list of about 2,971 children. Members also asked for more data on rural versus urban access, provider types, and the number of slots and providers by region. A major topic was how to improve quality and access while aligning early childhood with K-12. Officials said the department is moving from the Better Beginnings environmental rating system toward CLASS observations, using local leads and a kindergarten-readiness strategy tied to quality improvement. Members raised concerns about deserts and islands in service availability, the cost of school-based versus community-based providers, and the need to support infant-toddler care as well as preschool. The commissioner said early learning should be part of long-term state education investment, but that simply adding money would not solve access gaps without broader structural changes. The committee also discussed recent funding changes and their effects on providers and families. Officials said a $14.741 million PDG-BFV competitive grant will support systems-building work, including local leads, workforce, data systems, and third-party CLASS observations, but it is a one-year grant and not direct service funding. Members questioned the impact of new co-pays, provider closures, and slot reallocations; officials said eight closures were tied specifically to funding changes, and that paying only for enrolled children rather than allocated slots saved about $576,000. They also discussed dual enrollment in home visiting and ABC, with officials estimating that limiting double enrollment could save about $2.4 million and potentially serve about 470 more children. The meeting ended with agreement to continue regular updates and further discussion, and the committee adjourned without a vote on legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is work relating to workforce development, and this requires the Department of Labor and Industrial
• Relations to study the establishment of the Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award program.
• Relations to study the establishment of the Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award program.
• First up on our agenda is Senate Bill 2198 relating to workforce development.
• First up on our agenda is Senate Bill 2198 relating to workforce development.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures. SB 2198 would direct DLIR to study a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award program and report back to the Legislature; DLIR supported it so long as it did not affect its supplemental budget request. SB 2140 would authorize counties to require contractors to disclose wage, benefit, hour, and employment-status information and to deny or suspend permits for certain labor-law violations; DLIR and labor representatives supported it as an added accountability tool, while the committee discussed whether state law alone was sufficient and whether counties would still need to pass their own ordinances. SB 3055 would prohibit falsely impersonating a union representative; union and labor groups strongly supported it, and UPW said it was open to amendments to address concerns raised by OPA. SB 3090, SB 3091, and SB 3092 were emergency appropriation bills for public employment cost items tied to collective bargaining and temporary hazard pay or salary adjustments for various bargaining units; agencies and unions generally supported moving them forward, and B&F said the amounts were still being finalized because negotiations were ongoing. The committee also heard SB 2761, which would bar social media platforms from allowing users under 16 to create or maintain accounts if the platform knows the user is under 16. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection offered comments, while CCIA and Meta opposed the bill, raising constitutional and First Amendment concerns and arguing that blanket bans could push teens to less regulated spaces online. Meta also said the bill’s carveouts were too narrow and would leave major platforms outside the scope of the restriction. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage of SB 2198 with amendments, SB 2140 as is, SB 3055 with amendments adding a specific intent-to-deceive standard, SB 3090 with amendments, SB 3091 with amendments, SB 3092 with amendments, and SB 2761 with amendments adopting DCCA’s changes and noting potential First Amendment issues in the committee report. For the appropriation bills, the committee changed the effective date to January 1, 2077 as a placeholder. All recommendations were adopted, with reservations noted on SB 2761 from Senators Moriwaki, Fevella, and Ihara.

Transcript Highlights:

• more competitive for R&D companies that may find a natural home here in New Mexico, which has the workforce
• Workforce and advanced science collaborators.
• A space council would provide a single visible point of coordination to align policy, workforce development
• A space council would provide a single visible point of coordination to align policy, workforce, development
• , infrastructure, point of coordination to align policy, workforce, development, infrastructure, and

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of AI is practical and focused on improving how Floridians access services law strengthening our workforce
• So how do you anticipate are changing kind of your workforce needs within the agency?
• There is a combination of people are coming into that government workforce already having been exposed
• different from the standard employee that you be looking at. >> So I think it where it goes back to workforce
• Some legislature that's sent out to guide the workforce on what they can or can't do.

Transcript Highlights:

• The workforce that we're going to create for the future.
• Abdi stated, a workforce issue, which this next slide talks about. I mean, Ms.
• Abdi stated, a workforce issue, which this next slide talks about. I mean, Ms.
• Abdi stated, a workforce issue, which this next slide talks about. I mean, Ms.
• Abdi stated, a workforce issue, which this next slide talks about. I mean, Ms.

Bills: HF25, HF4

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling to order this meeting of the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and
• Workforce shortages made it harder to keep doors open. Shopping centers felt like ghost towns.
• The fear in our workforce is real and it's understandable.
• Think about what that does to the workforce.
• by external forces, including workforce by external forces, including workforce instability<01:04

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• His passions focus on strengthening emergency care systems, workforce readiness, and medical education
• His work focuses on expanding primary care training, rural workforce development, and social accountability
• the state's only academic health center, the backbone of our physician training and health care workforce
• Together, they are committed to advancing policies to protect patients, strengthen the physician workforce
• only academic health center, where she leads statewide efforts to advance equity and health care workforce

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a history and a workforce and a research capacity to be the leaders in that space for America
• So we're upskilling our employees or our workforce while we're making it easy for companies to hire and
• The bottom line we're improving our workforce making it easier for companies to be successful.
• Two Department of Workforce Solutions, they sit on the JTIP board, but let's make sure that we're using
• So, we work very closely with our Department of Workforce Solutions, with our higher education programs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• partly even if they aren't motivated and they're taking advantage, they are getting out into the workforce
• So ironic that you're bringing this up because we have a workforce crisis in our state, and LFC just
• So accelerated graduation programs would allow us to save taxpayer funds and build our workforce.
• The workforce that supplies the design, supports, and builds New Mexico infrastructure represents over
• We did work with the mayor, connecting with Workforce Solutions to make sure that we get the bridge up

Transcript Highlights:

• I WILL CALL THE CURRENT WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE TO ORDER.
• THIS IS 561 I AM HERE TO PRESENT HOUSE BILL 561 THAT STRENGTHENS FLORIDA'S EDUCATED WORKFORCE BY REDUCING
• THIS CHANGE ALLOWS THEM TO REENTER THE WORKFORCE MORE EFFICIENTLY WHILE COMPLETING OUTSTANDING REINSTATEMENT

Transcript Highlights:

• needs what we've relate to Workforce needs what we've been<00:05:26.000> doing<00:05:26.400><
• The university system is a significant driver for the workforce pipeline.
• Each year, about 3,000 of our graduates enter the New Hampshire workforce.
• <00:27:30.320> so their biggest concerns as Workforce so their biggest concerns as Workforce
• I already mentioned that will have real impacts on our future workforce needs.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• the practices of payers on our workforce the practices of payers on our workforce here<00:56:36.319
• since 2018 on healthcare workforce since 2018 on healthcare workforce issues.<04:03:17.120> And
• in our healthcare workforce shortage. in our healthcare workforce shortage.
• I served for 10 years in the Workforce.
• That means return to the workforce.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . our workforce, where two clear winners. our workforce, where employees<05:26:12.240> gain<05
• New Hampshire's workforce retention.
• And causes of our workforce challenges.
• This bill also undermines workforce stability.
• progressively dismantle the workforce progressively dismantle the workforce and<05:35:36.958>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1150, which would require disclosure of complaints to public employees within five business days. Members said the sponsor was still working on an amendment, so the bill was held for another week with the understanding it would be executed next week if no amendment was ready. The chair also outlined the committee’s schedule, including upcoming floor reports and the goal of finishing the remaining committee bills on time. The committee then took up House Bill 1168, concerning employer documentation requirements. Supporters argued the bill would give employers more time to gather payroll records, especially when claims arise years later, and said the current system should be adjusted for fairness to businesses. Opponents, including several members, said payroll records are usually electronic and should be produced quickly so workers waiting on wages are not delayed. The Department of Labor deputy commissioner testified that employers can already request extensions and that further extensions could still be requested under the current process. The committee voted 11-9 to ought to pass HB 1168. Next, House Bill 1250, dealing with notice, documentation, and job reinstatement requirements for leave related to childbirth, postpartum care, and pediatric appointments, was considered. Members said the statute was newly enacted, had been carefully negotiated, and should be allowed to work before being revised. The committee voted 20-0 to recommend inexpedient to legislate, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1043, which would allow private employers to adopt their own minimum pay policies for report-to-work situations instead of being bound by the current two-hour minimum, so long as the policy is established in advance. The sponsor said the bill would modernize an outdated law and preserve the current default if no policy is adopted. Members raised questions about collective bargaining agreements and whether the bill could weaken existing worker protections, while the sponsor and supporters said it was intended to provide flexibility rather than a mandate. The hearing continued with questions and discussion, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.