Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:08.480> okay<00:14:08.680> with workers okay with workers okay with comments<00:
• 37.480> when to the fact that iron workers when when to the fact that iron workers when when we
• Thank you very much. the iron workers if if the iron workers if if we're<00:17:02.160> um<00:17
• As far as jurisdictional stuff, common sense: iron workers work is iron workers work.
• As far as jurisdictional stuff, common sense: iron workers work is iron workers work.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Labor and Technology, Transportation, and Culture and the Arts heard testimony on Senate Bill 396 and Senate Bill 47, then later the Labor and Technology committee took up Senate Bill 136 and Senate Bill 1523. SB 396 drew support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and others, with a question raised about implementation costs; the director said costs would depend on the scope of the benefit package and the transportation mode involved. The committees recommended passing SB 396 with technical amendments and added appropriation language with a blank amount, and the motion was adopted by recorded votes in both committees. SB 47, which would designate the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, received support from the Office of Collective Bargaining and several individuals, including Charlene Chun, who spoke about family traditions and cultural recognition. Members asked about the cost and whether the day would be a paid day off for state employees; the response was that observance would be subject to collective bargaining. The committees moved SB 47 forward with amendments, noting the collective bargaining and cost issues, and adopted the recommendation by vote. In the Labor and Technology committee, SB 136 on the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund drew strong support from iron workers and related supporters, who argued the bill was about safety, training, and keeping dismantling work within the ironworkers’ trade. Several other unions, including operating engineers, carpenters, laborers, and plumbers and fitters, opposed the bill as too broad and potentially infringing on their jurisdiction. The measure was not decided in the portion provided, but members discussed possible amendments and jurisdictional concerns. SB 1523, which would expand private-sector collective bargaining rights under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and others under NLRB jurisdiction, received broad labor support, including from IATSE, AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Unite Here Local 5, and many individual testifiers. Supporters framed it as protecting workers’ rights and strengthening labor protections, while the Hawaii Labor Relations Board warned it could significantly increase workload and require more staffing, space, and operating resources; the board estimated the bill could expand its caseload substantially and suggested an appropriation would likely be needed. The committee then moved on to the next measure, SB 1440, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• taken care of, less about the workers taken care of, less about the workers that<00:01:22.720>
• Uh but it's been on the workers.
• We care about our state workers.
• We care about our state workers.
• They don't bring workers. They state. They don't bring workers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• is good for workers.
• In these short few months I've had literally tens of or hundreds of union workers and workers come to
• tens of of or hundreds of union workers tens of of or hundreds of union workers and<00:27:53.560
• > me and workers come to see me and workers come to see me about<00:27:56.960> employment
• <00:29:13.280> I how that is dangerous for workers. I how that is dangerous for workers.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• support of Senate File 3407, the Workers support of Senate File 3407, the Workers Compensation<00
• an employee for purposes of workers an employee for purposes of workers compensation<00:03:37.120
• Sections five and 8 injured worker.
• > compensation above which workers compensation above which workers compensation benefits<00:04
• chapter 79 and relates to workers chapter 79 and relates to workers compensation<00:04:39.919>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is relating to warehouse workers. Establishes the Warehouse Workers Protection Act.
• Establishes the warehouse workers.
• For over 30 years, I worked as a nurse case manager in workers' compensation, advocating for workers.
• For over 30 years, I worked as a nurse case manager in workers' compensation, advocating for workers.
• on workers compensation treatment plans. on workers compensation treatment plans.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several labor-related bills. SB 2567 would allow public employers to seek temporary restraining orders against harassment of employees; the Judiciary, DHS, DOE, and others supported it, with some asking that coverage be broadened to all public employees. The Judiciary said it would not oppose expanding the bill’s scope. The chair deferred decision-making on SB 2567 to February 13, 2026, to allow further discussion with the Judiciary and Attorney General’s Office. SB 2386 would expand pay-transparency requirements for job listings and lower the small-employer exemption threshold from 50 to 25 employees. Testifiers largely supported the measure, citing transparency and retention benefits, while one opposition was noted. The committee voted to pass SB 2386 with amendments, including changing the effective date to January 1, 2077. SB 2389, the Warehouse Workers Protection Act, drew support from labor advocates but concerns from DLIR and the Attorney General’s Office about enforcement and a prosecutorial provision; after questions about quota tracking and recordkeeping, the chair deferred the bill. SB 2663 would require employers to respond in writing to workers’ compensation treatment plans within seven days and establish related penalties. DLIR opposed the bill as drafted, citing fairness and existing statutory conflicts, while injured workers and labor representatives supported it and described long delays in treatment approvals. The committee voted to pass SB 2663 with amendments, including directing fines to the special compensation fund, clarifying enforcement, and setting the effective date to January 1, 2077. SB 2555 would allow retirees to work in succession-planning positions without losing retirement benefits; ERS supported the intent but suggested an annual reporting requirement and noted existing rehire mechanisms. The committee voted to pass SB 2555 with amendments, including an annual report requirement and the same January 1, 2077 effective date. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 956 relating to iron workers.
• <00:05:44.720> first to HB 956 relating to Iron Workers first to HB 956 relating to Iron Workers
• I represent Iron Workers Local 625 and the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund.
• Thank you for your time. for the Iron Workers Local 625 for the Iron Workers Local 625 stabilization<
• safety of our workers iron worker is a safety of our workers iron worker is a highly<00:09:11.560

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sole worker. work It's very clear. Sole worker.
• or workers' rights means if any worker or workers' rights organization<01:14:26.200> would<01
• all workers.
• Colorado covers all workers. Maine covers all workers. Rhode Island covers all workers.
• ,<01:38:38.760> workers businesses still need workers, workers businesses still need workers

Bills: HF4110, HF2113, HF4569, HF4414

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. and assault for all workers in Hawaii and assault for all workers in Hawaii but<00:12:29.680
• Many workers in the tourism industry are immigrants, including 68% of housekeeping workers who are immigrants
• , primarily Filipino and Kofa workers.
• Many workers in the tourism industry are immigrants, including 68% of housekeeping workers who are immigrants
• , primarily Filipino and Kofa workers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. All right.
• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. All right.
• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. I'm Lesie Gilpin.
• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. Thank you. All right.
• workers at that time across the state.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met for an information-gathering session and opened by clarifying that the subcommittee would not be voting on budget requests. Because there was no quorum at first, the committee did not take up approval amendments. The first presentation focused on a budget request to incentivize national certification for school social workers and school psychologists. Rep. Vanessa Gracal, along with Amy Oats and Leslie Gilpin, argued for a $500,000 annual appropriation to provide $2,000 salary supplements to nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists working primarily in their certification areas. They said the stipend would help recruit and retain professionals amid shortages, noted that current Kentucky certification numbers are low, and explained the rigorous certification and renewal requirements. In response to questions, they said there is currently no appropriation for this purpose in HB 500 and none they were aware of in HB 6 in 2024. The next topic was school facility funding needs, led by Rep. Bob McCool, Johnson County Superintendent Tom Cochran, Commissioner of Education Robert Fletcher, and other district representatives. They described the “gap funding” issue for school construction projects that had already started before COVID-era inflation sharply increased costs. Johnson County and Harrison County were highlighted as examples of districts that had already committed local funds, passed nickel taxes, and begun construction but now need additional state support to finish projects. Speakers emphasized that many projects were audited and approved, that the state has already funded about half of the gap, and that roughly $130 million more is being sought in HB 500 to complete the remaining work. They stressed that unfinished projects would leave districts with half-built schools and that completing them would bring long-term savings and better facilities for students. The committee then turned to testimony from KASA representatives on the impacts of HB 500 as introduced. The witnesses discussed the importance of school psychology and school social work certification, the benefits of advanced training for student services, and the need to recognize and support highly qualified staff. A member asked whether HB 500 or HB 6 included an appropriation for the certification stipend, and the witnesses answered no. The meeting also included a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting once a quorum was present, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, workers' tax is workers' compensation.
• So again, what is workers' compensation?
• There are no out-of-pocket costs for injured workers in workers' comp systems.
• So, we are the Division of Workers' Comp. workers' compensation, we are the agency that's responsible
• workers comp now.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2375 addresses workers' compensation reform.
• with the Missouri Automobile Dealer Association Workers' and Workers' Compensation Trust Fund, which
• That's the status of Missouri workers' compensation today.
• or the worker is ever stuck with that bill.
• But as a contractor myself, I'm looking at workers' comp.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is hourly workers across the state.
• licensed social workers, school social workers,<00:04:56.400> counselors,<00:04:56.880> nurses
• <00:04:57.280> and workers, counselors, nurses and workers, counselors, nurses and psychologists
• better opportunities to hourly workers. better opportunities to hourly workers.
• <00:29:59.120> in<00:29:59.440> every workers are your constituents in every workers

Bills: HF1049

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Michael Lobb concluded by saying the bill is bad for all workers in Florida and that workers are the
• He said the bill hurts him and his fellow workers and asked the committee not to turn its back on workers
• Thank you. support Florida workers as you claim to.
• Navy and a public service worker.
• At a time when workers were being extremely abused, exploited, and Black workers were not allowed to

Bills: S0042, S0688, S0762, S1168, S1296, S1298, S1300, S1318, S1332, S1376, S1548, S1570, S1574, S1632, S1634, S1750

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, criminal defense, legal representation, death penalty, indigent defense, regional counsel, conflict of interest, background screening, athletic coaches, youth sports, criminal history, expungement, Florida statutes

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 42 on specific medical diagnosis and child protective investigations. A late-file strike-all amendment was adopted that made only stylistic changes to align with the House version. Supporters said the bill would help DCF and child protective teams better identify rare medical conditions and give parents a chance to defend against mistaken abuse findings. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1570, which restores a prior program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices and CARD centers, with nonrecurring funding included. Members then advanced several education, disability, and public services measures. CS for CSSB 182 created a teacher training and mentoring program for high-performing current and retired teachers to mentor teachers in D- and F-rated schools, and CS for CSSB 794 required background screening for employees in residential and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities while directing APD to study support coordination quality, workforce issues, and service gaps. Testimony on SB 794 strongly supported better training, lower caseloads, and more consistent support coordination. The committee also favorably reported CS for CS SB 1168 on background screenings, CS for CS SB 214 to allow rural special districts to pay verified invoices directly, CS for SB 1376 to create grants for genetic counseling education, and SB 1574 (Maddie’s Law) to add newborn screening for biliary atresia; the latter drew emotional support and testimony that early screening could save lives and reduce transplant costs. The committee heard and passed a number of other policy bills, including CS for CS for SB 1510, the DEP agency package, after environmental groups warned that one provision could delay basin management protections and allow more septic systems in impaired watersheds; the bill still passed favorably. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 598 on funeral and cemetery regulation, SB 688 to license naturopathic doctors, SB 1318 on scholarship account reversion rules, CS for CS for SB 682 on domestic violence injunctions and penalties, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local affordable housing update. Several bills were briefly postponed or taken up later in the meeting. In the latter portion of the meeting, the committee approved CS for C.S. for SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria, CS for C.S. SB 762 on assigning conflict capital cases across regional counsel offices, SB 1332 on career offender registration requirements, CS for CS for SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a child, and CS for SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The committee also debated CS for SB 1226 on Public Employee Relations Commission procedures and union certification rules, including a late-file amendment setting a 60% threshold and 25% quorum for recertification; the discussion focused heavily on constitutional concerns, union rights, and differences between first responders and other public employees. The transcript ends while that bill’s debate is still underway, with the committee having already taken numerous favorable votes throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• workers from organizing into a union. workers from organizing into a union.
• It is a barrier designed to stop workers It is a barrier designed to stop workers from<01:49:27.480><
• Um, union<02:04:12.680> workers<02:04:13.080> do union workers do union workers do good
• autonomy is preserved and that workers autonomy is preserved and that workers are<02:08:35.160><
• We're talking about workers, and I appreciate the fact that we need to take care of the worker.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• there's an increase in workers there's an increase in workers compensation<00:07:53.199> fund
• change from base and workers change from base and workers compensation<00:09:18.000> fund
• workers compensation division operating. workers compensation division operating.
• > workers overtime, minimum wage, workers overtime, minimum wage, workers compensation,<00:25:
• <00:25:45.039> I training nursing home workers. I training nursing home workers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the full-time workers there, the union workers... ...my steel worker brothers and sisters on the
• benefits to striking workers just as any other worker.
• Our workers across this state.
• Federal workers are being laid off.
• Of the workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• pockets of the workers as we intended. pockets of the workers as we intended.
• <00:07:26.240> They not paying workers as much. They not paying workers as much.
• shared service rate go to workers. shared service rate go to workers.
• . workers. workers.
• . worker. worker. represent. represent. represent.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to protect workers here.
• We need to protect our workers.
• I want to protect workers here.
• We need to protect our workers.
• We need to protect our workers.

Bills: HF23, HF1355

Keywords: whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932

Transcript Highlights:

• Worker Unemployment Aid Appropriation. Worker Unemployment Aid Appropriation.
• I think they're basically summer worker UI expenses.
• I mean expenses for worker UI expenses.
• the hourly workers unemployment benefit. the hourly workers unemployment benefit.
• Whatever benefits those hourly workers Whatever benefits those hourly workers over<00:32:31.279>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill gives ride share workers.
• Minnesota's labor movement is proud to stand with these workers because we believe that every worker
• proud to stand with these workers proud to stand with these workers because<00:21:21.919> we<
• because we believe that every worker because we believe that every worker should<00:21:23.600>
• co-workers uh in solidarity like this. co-workers uh in solidarity like this.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all