Transcript Highlights:

• This is in part due to the fact that our IHSS workers are leaving the workforce.
• , and we will always be essential workers.
• Essential workers, and we will always be essential workers.
• Without my workers, I would not be here today.
• Louis Costa with the sheet metal air rail and transportation workers.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement met for its first hearing of the session, adopted committee rules, and heard several labor-related bills. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including limits on testimony and expectations for orderly conduct. Members then took up measures affecting public employee bargaining, contracting, confidentiality, school employee benefits, pay stub information, and state correctional health staffing. AB 672 would require public employers to notify PERB when filing court actions involving statutes PERB administers and allow PERB to intervene; it drew support from SEIU, AFSCME, school employees, labor groups, and no opposition, and was passed out of committee. AB 283 would move IHSS bargaining from the county to the state level; providers and recipients testified about low wages, long delays in bargaining, and care access concerns, while counties and public authorities raised cost, scope, and implementation issues. The bill passed 7-0 after members discussed family care worker concerns and the author said he would continue working on the issue. AB 339 would require local governments to give unions 120 days’ notice before contracting out bargaining-unit work. Labor supporters said the bill would make existing meet-and-confer rights meaningful and protect jobs, while counties, cities, special districts, chambers of commerce, and staffing groups argued it would burden local agencies and interfere with existing MMBA procedures. The committee also heard AB 340, which would make communications between employees and union representatives confidential for PERB purposes; supporters said it codified existing case law, while school administrators, special districts, counties, and business groups warned it could hinder investigations. AB 378 would extend the classified school employees summer assistance program to JPA employees, and AB 374 would require more detailed pay stubs for classified school employees; both had labor support and some education-sector opposition over implementation and cost concerns, and both advanced. AB 393 would require cost analyses before contracting out physician work at CDCR and the Department of State Hospitals; supporters argued the state was overpaying contractors amid high vacancy rates, and the bill also advanced. At the end of the hearing, the committee recorded final votes showing AB 283, AB 340, AB 374, AB 378, AB 393, and AB 672 all passing out of committee, while AB 339 remained on hold with a 4-0 vote and some members not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This week on Senate Spotlight, protecting workers or supporting small businesses.
• jobs, that's even more harmful to the worker than before.
• jobs, that's even more harmful to the worker than before.
• Well, I went and met with the steel workers that were laid off.
• true to you, you met with these workers true to you, you met with these workers who<00:04:34.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• workers.
• ' excess funding in the the Workers' excess funding in the the Workers' Compensation<00:10:38.040
• <00:21:41.840> general<00:21:42.240> workers have a rate worker general workers have
• professionals, clerical workers. professionals, clerical workers.
• workers' comp is a state monopoly. workers' comp is a state monopoly.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We need social workers. We need more social workers."
• workers. We need more social workers. workers. We need more social workers.
• have in social workers. have in social workers.
• workers. I understand. workers. I understand.
• . workers. workers.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . workers. workers.
• I have two of those worker six.
• social workers. Yeah. social workers. Yeah. >> Yes.<00:53:58.000> Yeah.
• social worker social worker position?
• brought in the psych social workers. brought in the psych social workers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Strong businesses mean strong workers. Strong workers mean strong communities.
• I have talked to many retail and grocery workers over my career.
• There are many of those workers, non-union.
• Other union workers I talked to are making minimum wage.
• Nearly 20% of all California workers were enrolled in Medi-Cal in 2023.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They really came together and said to us, as a team and the other team, do good work for the workers
• <00:12:38.000> and<00:12:38.240> 911 corrections workers and 911 corrections workers
• It's our public workers in large part that make Minnesota the place that we all want to live.
• It's our public workers in large part that make Minnesota the place that we all want to live.
• It's our public workers in large part that make Minnesota the place that we all want to live.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . workers. workers.
• ensure that lawfully authorized workers ensure that lawfully authorized workers feel<01:26:57.040
• rates are intended to support workers rates are intended to support workers and<01:29:24.560>
• <01:31:16.400> owners immigrant workers and business owners immigrant workers and business
• not backfilled by US-born workers. not backfilled by US-born workers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It covers nearly every Minnesota worker.
• Lower wage workers get more support.
• are uh are 18 18 19% of workers are uh are 18 18 19% of Minnesota<00:52:24.640> workers<00:52
• <01:03:29.599> taking concern about uh county workers taking concern about uh county workers
• Is it typically lower-wage workers that are using the benefit? Is it higher-wage workers?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Dislocated Worker Program focuses on workers who have been laid off or terminated and are in our
• The Dislocated Worker Program focuses on workers who have been laid off or terminated and are unlikely
• This includes the Incumbent Worker Training Grant and the Quick Response Training Grant.
• So we did have a pretty robust outreach program for incumbent worker training.
• So this would be contracts for incumbent worker training, contracts for on-the-job training.

Summary: The subcommittee met to receive an informational presentation from CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrian Johnson, joined by Anthony Gagliano of CareerSource Suncoast, on the structure, funding, and services of Florida’s workforce development system. Johnson explained that CareerSource serves job seekers and businesses through 21 local workforce development boards and nearly 100 career centers, using federal and state funding streams such as WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, SNAP Employment and Training, and TANF. She described services including case management, training, wraparound supports, job matching, rapid response for layoffs and disasters, and business services such as recruitment, customized training, and on-the-job training. She also highlighted the REACH Act’s role in consolidating local boards from 24 to 21, creating the Master Credential List and Credential Review Committee, and implementing performance-based letter grades for local boards. Members asked detailed questions about funding formulas, letter grade metrics, apprenticeships, youth services, small business access, and the demand occupation list. Johnson said federal allocations are driven largely by unemployment and poverty formulas, which has reduced Florida’s WIOA funding by about $27 million over four years because of the state’s low unemployment rate. She explained the letter grades measure outcomes such as increased earnings, reduced public assistance, employment and training outcomes, work-based learning, business engagement, and service to individuals in certain programs, and said the system is being reviewed for possible changes, including removing extra credit and adjusting weights. On youth services, she said Florida has a waiver allowing a 50/50 split between in-school and out-of-school youth funding, and that local partnerships drive outreach. On the demand occupation list, she said it is based on state labor market data and projections, but local boards can submit evidence of local demand when data does not reflect conditions in their area. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on apprenticeships and workforce training grants. Johnson and Gagliano described apprenticeship navigators funded by the $7.75 million apprenticeship expansion allocation, which help employers navigate registration and expand apprenticeships into nontraditional fields such as IT, health care, education, and hospitality. Gagliano gave examples from CareerSource Suncoast and said navigators helped employers move faster through registration and develop programs with local education providers. Johnson also discussed Incumbent Worker Training Grants and Quick Response Training Grants, noting recent awards of nearly $3 million to 69 businesses and $6.5 million to 24 businesses, respectively, and said these programs are targeted toward high-skill, high-wage occupations and priority industries. The meeting ended with no votes or formal action; the chair thanked the presenters, invited follow-up questions, and adjourned the meeting without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employers are also challenged with finding skilled workers.
• This class included entry-level workers trying to enter the trades and older workers seeking to make
• Most of our members have fewer than 10 workers and are the true Main Street small businesses.
• And those are the ones that are really, really struggling to find those types of workers. So.
• types of workers.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• These behavioral health supports often rely on counselors, social workers, and psychologists, but the
• So to become a licensed social worker, you would need a master's degree.
• I was thoroughly impressed as a master-level social worker myself.
• supervising social worker or psychologist.
• When I I entered into school as a licensed master level social worker.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so real quickly, this bill basically adds utility workers to the criminal...
• Yeah, so real quickly, this bill basically adds utility workers to the criminal...
• And I asked about utility workers. Why do we have to add utility workers?
• I don't think a utility worker would be in a bar on official...
• And I asked about utility workers. Why do we have to add utility workers?

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This remaining gap could allow a city or a district to potentially exclude specific classes of workers
• This remaining gap could allow a city or a district to potentially exclude specific classes of workers
• retirement system or CalPERS, and some do not, and we think that's just a bad outcome for public workers
• SJR 2 outlines a comprehensive vision of fairness, dignity, and opportunity for classified workers.
• California cannot allow our classified workers to be treated as an afterthought.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several retirement and school employment measures. SB 301 by Sen. Grayson would prevent CERL-covered cities and districts from amending retirement contracts to exclude certain employee groups, closing a loophole similar to one previously addressed for CalPERS. The bill was supported by California Professional Firefighters and received no opposition. SB 443 by Sen. Rubio would clarify that employees transferring into a joint powers authority can retain CalPERS classic status even when the JPA expands later; the city of La Verne, a flood management agency, and AFSCME supported the bill, and it also drew no opposition. Both bills were moved out of committee on unanimous votes and sent to Appropriations, with the consent calendar items SB 521, SB 581, and SB 853 also approved. The committee then heard SB 494 by Sen. Cortese, which would give classified school employees the right to have disciplinary appeals heard by an administrative law judge rather than by the school board. Supporters, including CSEA, AFSCME, and CFT, argued the bill would create parity with teachers and community college faculty and provide a fairer appeal process. Opponents, including the California School Boards Association, county superintendents, school business officials, and community college groups, argued it would remove local control, impose a one-size-fits-all process, and shift costs to districts. The bill was passed out of committee and referred to the Committee on Higher Education. The committee also considered SJR 2 by Sen. Cortese, a resolution urging Congress and the President to enact federal protections for classified school employees, including better wages, benefits, safety, and workplace rights. Support came from CFT, CSEA, and other labor groups, with no opposition. The resolution was adopted and moved forward. At the end of the hearing, the committee reopened the roll to add votes, and all listed measures ultimately passed unanimously or near-unanimously before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• talking about the exempt workers. talking about the exempt workers.
• requested it for those workers. requested it for those workers.
• educational worker. educational worker.
• protect our educational workers. protect our educational workers.
• the safety of education workers. the safety of education workers.

Bills: HB1890, HB1888, HB1676

Keywords: teacher pay, teacher salaries, salary step increase, annual increment, longevity step, public school teachers, public charter school teachers, collective bargaining, Hawaii Department of Education, teacher retention, teacher recruitment, cost of living, educator compensation, public employee bargaining, appropriation, salary schedule, school staffing, teacher shortage, HB1888, Hawaii

Summary: The committees heard three measures, beginning with HB 1890 HD3, which would provide automatic step increases and a COVID-era retention bonus for teachers. Supporters included HSTA, the Democratic Party’s Education Caucus, and a student who said higher pay and predictable salary growth would help retain teachers in Hawaii. The Department of Education supported the intent but asked that the bill be expanded to cover all department employees. The Attorney General’s office said the draft needed clarification to avoid conflict with Chapter 89 and to make clear any funding was subject to legislative appropriation. The Office of the Public Defender and B&F testified in opposition, and committee members questioned whether the step increases were already in the current contract and whether the bill was needed. HSTA said the current contract includes automatic step increases subject to funding, but argued the bill was still needed because funding is not guaranteed and the measure would codify the policy. HSTA also said the COVID bonus would apply only to active teachers who worked during the pandemic and estimated the total cost at roughly $150 million to $200 million over four years. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 1888 HD3, which would require DOE and charter schools to report harassment incidents and strengthen penalties for harassment of educational workers from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor. DOE supported the bill and suggested narrowing language about assisting workers with temporary restraining orders, saying that function would be better handled through the Attorney General’s pilot program. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the harassment language was overly broad, vague, and potentially unconstitutional, and that existing assault and terroristic threatening statutes already protect educational workers. HSTA, the State Commission on the Status of Women, and several individual testifiers supported the measure, describing increased intimidation and harassment of teachers and other school staff, especially since COVID. The Special Education Advisory Council opposed the bill’s language on “disrupting and interfering” with school functions, saying it could chill parents of students with IEPs from advocating for their children. Testimony was split, with the chair noting 20 in support and 16 in opposition in the portion shown. A final witness, Michelle Pestana, testified in opposition based on her family’s experience with special education services, describing alleged seclusion and restraint of her daughter and expressing concern that DOE testimony in prior hearings had targeted special education parents. Her remarks were cut off as time expired. The transcript ends before any committee action or vote on HB 1888 was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we have someone from the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation here as a resource witness,
• All of those different sectors could benefit from these basic skills and entry-level workers.
• As you know, the workers' compensation system can be rigorous and brutal for anyone trying to navigate
• The bill creates a blend of employment law and workers' compensation law.
• If you go, you have a right to the appeals panel of the Division of Workers' Compensation.

Bills: HB1654, HB1691, HB2545, HB2652, HB3799, HB4144, HB5008

Keywords: peace officers, firefighters, employment protection, worker's compensation, job security, maximum medical improvement, government employment, firefighter cancer benefits, emergency medical technicians, compensation claims, cancer exposures, firefighting hazards, workforce training, rural development, grant program, job-specific training, Texas Workforce Commission, child care, single-parent, subsidized

Transcript Highlights:

• So members, House File 4598 is the Workers' Comp Advisory Council recommendations.
• House File 4598 is the Workers' Comp Advisory Council recommendations.
• is the Workers' Comp Advisory Council<00:01:37.960> recommendations.
• > Council<00:01:42.240> meets the Workers' Comp Advisory Council meets the Workers' Comp
• '<00:02:39.680> Compensation process that the Workers' Compensation process that the Workers

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Health and Human Service case workers.
• service workers typically making about $31,000 a year.
• We are constantly training new workers.
• If you don't pay your workers enough.
• And when these workers leave, it costs all of us.

Keywords: Texas state employees, retirees, compensation, House Bill 343, House Bill 247, Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Representative John Busey, cost of living, workforce, legislative session

Summary: The committee meeting focused on critical issues facing Texas state employees and retirees, highlighting the need for increased compensation and improved benefits. Senator Sarah Eckhardt and Representative John Busey presented new legislation aimed at addressing these longstanding problems, including proposed House Bills 343 and 247, which seek a $10,000 across-the-board pay increase for state employees. Senator Eckhardt emphasized the growing wage gap between public sector jobs and private sector offerings, which has led to high turnover rates and the loss of institutional knowledge. Public testimonies underscored the urgency of the issue as retirees shared their struggles with stagnant pensions amidst rising living costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• law in Minnesota for 86 years, from 1887 to 1973, providing a valuable, common-sense right to any workers
• And this bill would enact Senator Maye Quade's provisions that offer very basic protections for workers
• for workers by regulating what<00:02:24.920> employers<00:02:25.440> may<00:02:25.640>
• Act, uh an appropriation for hiring of one FTE worker, would be the Worker Rights Coordinator position
• of one FTE worker, would be the Worker of one FTE worker, would be the Worker Rights<00:05:04.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By 2030, it'll be a 21% increase in the need for health workers, for community health workers.
• Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan. Thank you so much.
• Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan. AB 499 today, the Robert F.
• Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, provides medical benefits to about 6,000 farm workers and their families
• Teresa Romero, President of the United Farm Workers, in support.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on March 25, 2025, with Chair Mia Bonta presiding and initially operating as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The committee heard several health-related bills, including AB 73 on creating a Black Mental Health Navigator certification, AB 499 on lowering the state reimbursement trigger for the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, AB 843 on aligning California health insurance language-access rules with federal standards, AB 257 on a specialty care network using telehealth and virtual services for Medi-Cal and underserved communities, AB 64 on allowing diacritical marks on vital records, AB 315 on the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, and AB 40 on clarifying that emergency services include reproductive health services such as abortion. Testimony generally emphasized disparities in access, culturally competent care, language access, rural provider shortages, and the importance of preserving or expanding programs that help vulnerable populations. Supporters included authors, state and local health organizations, advocacy groups, and affected individuals. AB 73 was backed as a way to address stigma, mistrust, and culturally competent mental health access for Black Californians. AB 499 was described as helping keep a self-insured farmworker health plan operational while maintaining a low-cost, labor-management model. AB 843 was supported as a way to prevent children and families from having to translate sensitive medical and insurance information and to protect limited-English-proficient Californians. AB 257 drew support as a demonstration project to improve specialty care access through California-based clinicians and virtual care, with examples of reduced wait times and costs. AB 64 received emotional testimony from the author, a child and his family, and others about the importance of accurately recording names with accents and other marks. AB 315 was presented as a cost-neutral or cost-saving way to expand home- and community-based care for medically fragile people, with strong support from disability, health, and provider groups. AB 40 drew support from reproductive health and medical organizations, while one opposition witness argued it could conflict with emergency care standards and overburden emergency departments. The committee took roll-call votes and advanced AB 499, AB 73, AB 843, AB 257, AB 64, AB 315, and AB 40 to Appropriations, with AB 40 receiving some no votes. The committee also adopted its 2025-26 rules and approved a consent calendar that included AB 225, AB 304, AB 403, AB 688, and AB 951. Several measures were initially placed on call and later lifted and recorded as passing out of committee before adjournment.