Video & Transcript : 'wage increases' :
Page 167 of 500
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee Meeting Jun 23rd, 2026
Environment, Energy & Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- This legislation will help address growing concerns about the rapid increase in affordable, high-powered
- But out of nowhere, you're dealing with a significant increase in applications.
- There's an urgent need for consumer protection from the risk of rapid increases in utility bills and
- They're driven by the huge increase in life. ...fund the infrastructure and other costs.
- We don't want to have inaction lead to the ratepayers, like all of us, paying large increases.
Committee:
Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached.
Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided.
The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- So increase in the claims cost.
- </c> the increased 1 million2 million um cap. the increased 1 million2 million um cap.
- </c> account for an increase in claims filed. account for an increase in claims filed.
- </c> increases our exposure to lawsuits. increases our exposure to lawsuits.
- </c><01:21:45.280><c> Uh</c> pressure, increased defense cost. Uh pressure, increased defense cost.
Committee:
House Revenue
Keywords:
veterans, property tax exemption, disabled, service-connected disability, Wyoming, governmental claims, liability limits, inflation adjustment, public safety, local government insurance, HB0127, recreation mill levy, recreational facilities, public recreation, mill levy, property tax, local tax, county commissioners, school district levy, voter approval
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Our members have reported disruptions to workflows, increased strain on remaining employees, and reduced
- Our members have reported disruptions to workflows, increased strain on remaining employees, and reduced
- </c> program and increase costs for everyone. program and increase costs for everyone.
- Likewise, employees should also have the option to choose in to a wage replacement product, should it
- We are already seeing increased expenses related to compliance, administration, and legal guidance.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Our organizations work together to increase the supply of affordable housing in the state.
- We increase the price to build through our labor laws.
- We increase the price to build through some of the other regulations that we are creating.
- And if we keep increasing that amount, that's money that we cannot spend on this stuff.
- This lack of protection threatens existing affordable housing stock that SB 79 seeks to increase.
Committee:
Senate Housing
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Jan 29th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Finance Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Their services have dramatically decreased, even though we've increased the price of Medicare by 60%
- I mean, what we want to, the ultimate outcome, I think, is to increase transparency, to increase.
- There's been an increase in Medicaid over the past four years; it's the biggest budget line now, and
- The area wage index and do that fairly for our citizens that are in rural communities.
- But we are getting premium increases in Vermont of 20% a year, 25% a year, and it's busting the bank.
Committee:
Senate Finance Committee
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> that's increasing all of the expenses. that's increasing all of the expenses.
- It's because it's not an increase in percent. You want to increase it 100%, increase it 100%.
- You cannot increase more than this, but you can increase up to that.
- You cannot increase more than this, but you can increase up to that.
- You cannot increase more than this, but you can increase up to that.
Committee:
House Judiciary
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Children and Family Law (02/03/2026)
Children and Family Law
Transcript Highlights:
- So a formula was created to determine the amount of alimony based on the delta between the gross wages
- She said that could actually increase people accessing public benefits, so they oppose the change.
- they can<03:10:00.720><c> be</c><03:10:00.960><c> by</c><03:10:01.200><c> by</c><03:10:01.520><c> wage
- So uh you can be by by wage assignment. So uh you can<03:10:04.319><c> do</c><03:10:04.479><c> that.
- , would this then say had garnished wages, would this then say someone<03:10:18.240><c> is</c><03:10:
Committee:
House Children and Family Law
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't know overall if that would be—some of those are reductions, and likely some of those are increases
- don't know overall if that would be, some of those are reductions, and likely some of those are increases
- local businesses capitalize on those tourists and bring in tax dollars to our state and create family-wage
Summary:
The Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee met in executive session on January 28, 2026, and advanced six bills. House Bill 2325, creating a tourism self-supported assessment program for statewide tourism promotion, was amended to add certain large restaurants and retailers, adjust enforcement and governance provisions, and remove a recommendation tied to an advisory report; the committee adopted Amendment 264 and reported the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation by a 12-0 vote, with one member excused. Members supporting the bill emphasized tourism’s economic benefits, local flexibility, and the need for stronger statewide marketing funding.
House Bill 2481, addressing surveillance-based price discrimination and surge pricing for retail goods, drew the most discussion. Representative Kloba withdrew the proposed substitute, and the committee voted on the bill as written. Members debated affordability, grocery pricing fairness, and the impact on businesses; Representative Waters said she would work on the issue further but urged a no vote. The bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation on an 8-4 vote, with one excused.
House Bill 2503, on documentation for data used to train AI systems, was amended to require posting information describing efforts to remove child sexual abuse material from training datasets. Supporters said the bill promotes transparency and accountability in AI, while opponents warned the measure could burden startups and smaller developers. The amended bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation on an 8-4 vote, with one excused. House Bill 2397, concerning reimbursement timing under the State Fire Services Mobilization Plan, was amended so the 60-day reimbursement clock starts when complete documentation is received; it passed unanimously with one excused. House Bill 2278, on tourism promotion areas, and House Bill 2417, updating victim protections under the Washington Code of Military Justice, were both reported out unanimously with one excused.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug 29th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 791, Cortese, auto sale document processing fee increase, do pass as amended to reduce the cap to
- SB 763, Hurtado, conspiracy against trade, do pass as amended to strike the increase in jail terms; that
- SB 642, Limón, Equal Pay Act, do pass as amended to reduce the wage recovery period to six years and
Summary:
The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 29, 2025 suspense hearing on Senate bills, with the chair emphasizing the state’s ongoing budget constraints and the need to make difficult choices among 261 bills on the suspense file. After establishing a quorum, the committee began taking action bill by bill, with many measures receiving do pass or do pass with amendments recommendations, while others were held in committee or designated as two-year bills. The chair noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later on the committee website.
The hearing covered a wide range of topics, including insurance and claims data, wildfire relief and prevention, water planning, energy and utility regulation, housing and land use, health care, labor and employment, criminal justice, education, environmental policy, and election-related measures. Several bills were amended before passage, often to narrow scope, remove sections, adjust definitions, delay implementation, or clarify funding and enforcement provisions. Some notable actions included moving bills on AI regulation, transit-oriented housing, paid family leave, wildfire mapping, chemical hair relaxers, and pharmacy benefit managers, while other bills on subjects such as controlled substances, high-speed rail, and certain education or housing proposals were held.
The committee also took formal roll-call votes on selected bills, with some passing on A roll calls and others on B roll calls; a number of measures were advanced with Republicans not voting. One highlighted vote was SB 79 by Senator Wiener, which passed after amendments and a recorded roll call. At the end of the hearing, the committee reported that 190 bills were moved to the Assembly Floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, concluding the suspense hearing for the session.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 27th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII
Transcript Highlights:
- , nursing home room rate increase.
- That small increase was probably related to your salary increase, the 5%. piece that was added to that
- Item number 10, targeted. increases.
- for salaries and wages which is an increase of $47.4 million above 2425 spending levels in alignment
- We've seen that increase in that.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 10 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- , increase, increase, uh<01:16:45.840><c> they</c><01:16:45.960><c> were</c><01:16:46.360><c> granted
- 25% rate increase, uh they were granted 25% rate increase, and<01:16:48.560><c> they</c><01:16:48.640
- your your health care just increased your your health care costs."
- </c> high wage paying jobs. high wage paying jobs.
- </c> people away from smoking by increasing people away from smoking by increasing the<03:43:57.480><
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Increasing husbandry will increase the herd size. Increasing herd size will reduce prices.
- Thank you very much. increase husbandry of animals. increase husbandry of animals.
- Increasing<02:52:51.279><c> husbandry</c><02:52:51.840><c> will</c><02:52:52.240><c> increase</c><02:
- 52:52.399><c> the</c> Increasing husbandry will increase the Increasing husbandry will increase the herd
- Increasing herd size will herd size. Increasing herd size will reduce<02:52:54.800><c> prices.
Committee:
Senate Commerce
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration Apr 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, we want to increase transparency.
- Now, granted, these are all entry-level, minimum-wage jobs, but it's something.
- These men and women are not making minimum wage. They're making $78,000 to $85,000 a year.
- We got to increase our standards.
- We increase the accountability measures and we increase the minimum standard.
Summary:
The commission held an open discussion on how to develop recommendations for its report due at the end of September, with chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger emphasizing that the group is moving from information-gathering into idea-sharing. Members discussed the need for more testimony from stakeholders such as reentry centers, correctional officers, unions, and the judiciary, and several participants urged the commission to use prior reports and existing data as a starting point. There was broad agreement that the work should focus on outcomes, transparency, and identifying gaps across the correctional and community supervision systems.
A major theme was whether Massachusetts should move toward a more integrated, step-down model that better connects DOC, county sheriffs, probation, parole, reentry centers, and community-based services. Participants raised the possibility of expanding use of minimum security, pre-release, day reporting, and community justice support centers, and some suggested exploring whether sheriffs should have jurisdiction over people with longer remaining sentences, or whether judges should have more discretion to place people in county facilities. Others stressed the importance of involving the judiciary earlier, improving sentencing information, and aligning programming across agencies so reentry planning begins at sentencing and continues through release.
The discussion also focused on facility conditions, women’s housing, Bridgewater, Framingham, restrictive housing, and the relationship between correctional settings and mental health needs. Several members called for more consistent standards, better data on spending and program effectiveness, and stronger accountability for evidence-based practices. The group also raised concerns about contraband K2, the need for cultural change inside institutions, and the importance of trust, staff training, and soft handoffs to the community. No votes were taken; the meeting was primarily a working discussion, and the chairs said they would circulate a written set of recommendations and continue the conversation at future meetings.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Service (9-17-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- So, it would be a 25, uh, 50% increase over the first fiscal year and then another uh 50% increase after
- So, it would be a 25, uh, 50% increase over the first fiscal year and then another uh 50% increase after
- And you can see the largest increase, um, we did have a $2.1 billion increase, which is an 11.6% increase
- And you can see the largest increase, um, we did have a $2.1 billion increase, which is an 11.6% increase
- And you can see the largest increase, um, we did have a $2.1 billion increase, which is an 11.6% increase
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services heard a presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults with serious mental illness who do not qualify for nursing home care but need structured support, medication assistance, meals, housekeeping, transportation, and supervision. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and rely on a state supplementation rate of about $50.70 per day, which they argued no longer covers operating costs because of rising food, labor, insurance, and maintenance expenses.
The presenters said the sector has shrunk significantly over time, citing a drop from 64 homes in 2002 to 34 today among the homes serving this population, with 30 closures over 23 years and two more closures since August. They argued that the closures have contributed to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer stays in psychiatric hospitals, and they gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before stabilizing in a personal care home. One provider also described spending more than $800,000 on capital improvements after acquiring Kentucky facilities and said reimbursement is too low to sustain safe operations. They asked for an incremental reimbursement increase over two years and said they have also proposed an assisted-living model for people with mental illness.
Members asked about staffing, reimbursement, and the number of people still needing placement. The presenters said there is no requirement for licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use medication technicians and occasional LPNs. They estimated they are currently serving about 2,000 residents and said they receive roughly 30 referrals for every one person admitted, with many referrals involving people whose needs exceed the personal care home level. Senator Meredith and Representative Fleming said any funding request would need documentation of savings and corresponding budget offsets, while Representative Duval expressed support and asked about possible staffing and program improvements. The witnesses also compared Kentucky’s flat-rate reimbursement to a more individualized reimbursement model in Minnesota, saying a needs-based system would better match staffing and reduce hospitalizations.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Aging and Independence May 11th, 2026
Joint Committee on Aging and Independence
Transcript Highlights:
- We believe the task force could increase access to assisted living for more older adults.
- Funding has not kept up with the rising cost of supporting these positions, nor the increasing need for
- Payroll costs would greatly increase under these regulations.
- These increases are not incremental. They are structural, and there is, I don't know.
- Without clear level 4 distinctions, this change increases the likelihood of confusion among surveyors
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Aging and Independence heard testimony on Senate 3057/House 5376, a bill to create an Assisted Living Residence Trust Fund and implement recommendations from the Assisted Living Residence Commission. Supporters, including AARP and the state long-term care ombudsman, backed the trust fund for certification staffing, compliance reviews, investigations, ombudsman services, public reporting, and appeals. The assisted living industry, represented by MassALA, supported the affordability task force and certified medication aides, but asked for amendments to expand career paths and to remove or limit fines as a funding source, arguing fines should be capped and tied to health or safety risks. The ombudsman emphasized the need for more staffing and resources, noting the current caseload and travel burden across the state.
The committee also took testimony on Senate 3056/House 5243 concerning medication administration in rest homes. Rest home operators, MARCH, and LeadingAge Massachusetts opposed proposed Department of Public Health changes that would replace the long-standing responsible person model with a MAP-based framework or require more licensed nursing staff. They argued the current model has been used for decades, is safe and affordable, and is better suited to rest homes than MAP, which they said was designed for different settings. They urged the committee to preserve responsible person medication administration while improving training and oversight, and several witnesses asked for a task force or substitute language to study best practices rather than impose immediate regulatory changes.
Committee members asked questions about the history of the responsible person model, how medication administration works in practice, and whether other states use similar systems. Chair Stanley said the committee was still reviewing building code-related recommendations for assisted living and noted that those issues may require more time. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Not only did this increase accuracy, but it also reduced the number of income-related exceptions that
- Not only did this increase accuracy, but it also reduced the number of income-related exceptions that
- the average wage in the state.
- Sevchik, so the increase, I understand the reason behind it.
- Page 103 increased the flexibility of rating the enhanced short-term plans.
Summary:
Senate Commerce first took up three gubernatorial appointments and sent all three to the Senate floor with recommendations for confirmation: Salvador Cruz as director of the Department of Finance, Nora Carpenter to the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, and Gregory Donica to the same board. Each motion passed without opposition.
The committee then received an annual update from Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho. He reported record enrollment activity, including more than 139,000 selections in open enrollment 2025 and over 144,000 in open enrollment 2026, with most enrollees receiving tax credits and many working with agents or brokers. Kelly said the exchange remains financially self-sustaining, has low operating costs, and achieved strong customer satisfaction scores. Members asked about rising premiums, the shift toward bronze plans, and enrollment timing; Kelly and later Insurance Director Dean Cameron said Idaho premiums remain among the lowest nationally, helped by the 1332 reinsurance waiver, though affordability concerns are increasing.
The committee also reviewed and approved one Department of Commerce pending rule docket and several Department of Insurance rule dockets under zero-based regulation. The Commerce rulemaking was described as a non-substantive cleanup that removed obsolete language, aligned definitions, and adjusted some grant limits, including the Idaho GEM grant program. Insurance rule changes similarly focused on simplifying, clarifying, and removing duplicative statutory language across self-funded plans, long-term care insurance, small employer and individual health insurance, coordination of benefits, short-term health insurance, and managing general agents. The most notable policy-related change was the short-term health insurance docket, which was approved with an effective date upon adjournment to avoid a gap after a temporary rule expires; all dockets were approved unanimously.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> increase by 18%. increase by 18%.
- </c> increase in inflation since January. increase in inflation since January.
- Workers will see increased wages up to $7,200.
- :11:46.958><c> wages</c><07:11:47.440><c> up</c><07:11:47.600><c> to</c> will see increased increased
- wages up to will see increased increased wages up to $7,200. $7,200. $7,200.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Republican Leaders Media Availability Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But in the end, he signed by a long measure the largest tax increase in our state's history and thought
- know, one of the things, again, trying not to get too into the federal stuff, but we're seeing huge increases
- leaders basically encouraging that kind of behavior is what's also, I think, contributing to the increased
- That's the real way you boost working people's wages.
Summary:
House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability on the second day of the 60-day legislative session, reacting to Governor Ferguson’s State of the State address and outlining their priorities. They said the top issue is affordability, and argued the governor and Democratic majority are responding with more taxes, regulation, and government spending rather than restraint. They criticized the prospect of a state income tax, calling it unconstitutional, politically unpopular, and likely to expand beyond high earners over time. They also said the state should avoid raiding the rainy day fund and instead look for savings through tighter budget management, reduced middle management, and a focus on core services.
The leaders also discussed public safety, immigration enforcement, child care oversight, transportation, housing, and the Climate Commitment Act. On immigration, they said law enforcement coordination is essential and criticized mixed messages from state leaders about federal enforcement and sheriffs. On child care, they said allegations of fraud in subsidy programs should be investigated through audits and oversight, and rejected the idea that looking for fraud is offensive to honest providers. They said there is some bipartisan agreement on using Climate Commitment Act revenue for the Working Families Tax Credit, transportation, and wildfire prevention, but argued the tax itself is regressive and should be redirected to better uses.
On the budget, Republicans said the current deficit will not be solved by a future income tax and that the state will likely need spending cuts or savings. They said there is some limited agreement with moderate Democrats against further tax increases and against using the rainy day fund as a first step. On housing and transportation, they said the real solutions are permitting reform, changes to the Growth Management Act and energy code, and more stable transportation funding, rather than more state spending on affordable housing or piecemeal fees. No votes were taken, and the event ended as a press availability with questions from reporters.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Mar 31st, 2025
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 03/11/25
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- 00:25:01.200><c> uh</c><00:25:01.360><c> create</c> increased impervious services uh create increased
- </c> simply building houses, increasing simply building houses, increasing density<00:28:12.559><c> by
- </c> public interest as density is increased public interest as density is increased with<00:28:25.520
- SF 2229 proposes to increase housing options for older adults and increase housing supply by allowing
- </c> wage workers and vulnerable neighbors. wage workers and vulnerable neighbors.
Committee:
Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention