Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, we need to look at the root cause of problems in America: problems of affordable housing and wages
• They deserve worthy wages, but their wages are declining. These workers deserve our respect.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizonans, and that many of us here in the Democratic Caucus have introduced bills to increase the minimum wage
• While they watch the cost of rent, gas, and groceries skyrocket, their wages and benefits remain the
• , along with colleagues in the Democratic Caucus, have introduced legislation to raise the minimum wage

Summary: The House convened on Ash Wednesday with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the journal approved, and a series of guest introductions recognizing Dr. William Thompson, Disability Day at the Capitol participants, Arizona Cattle Growers, a GCU student guest, striking ASU Aramark workers and union supporters, Nurse-Family Partnership nurses, Navajo Nation visitors, and others. Members also made remarks honoring Lent, Ramadan, Black History Month, and various community figures. Attendance was recorded at 54 present, 3 absent, and 3 excused, and the House received committee substitutions and Senate messages without objection. The chamber adopted House Resolution 2006, a death resolution honoring Yvonne Glee Lyme Federson and her work with Childhelp to combat child abuse. The resolution was adopted unanimously, followed by a moment of respectful silence. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole and later an additional Committee of the Whole to consider several bills. Measures receiving do pass recommendations included HB 2089, HB 2177 as amended, HB 2258, HB 2322 as amended, HB 2786, and HB 2825 as amended, with amendments adopted on HB 2177, HB 2322, and HB 2825. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and ordered those bills engrossed or regrossed as appropriate. In the additional Committee of the Whole, members debated HB 2074, HB 2104, and HB 2105, all property- or health-related measures. HB 2074 drew sharp debate over an amendment removing a life-of-the-mother exception in a partial-birth abortion provision; supporters said the change clarified that safer medical alternatives exist, while opponents argued it would criminalize care even to save a mother’s life. HB 2104 and HB 2105 were amended to add taxable improvements as a trigger for assessor review and to make a standardized report optional, with supporters saying the changes improved county property tax administration and opponents warning they could hinder assessors and create litigation. All three bills received do pass as amended recommendations and were ordered engrossed. The House then took up third-reading votes and passed HB 2173, HB 2203, HB 2223, and HB 2501 by 57-0 votes with three not voting. HB 2307, an emergency measure concerning dangerous and incompetent defendants and out-of-state treatment options, passed 37-20 with three not voting, but failed to achieve the required two-thirds vote for the emergency clause. Members explained votes in support as a temporary response to a lack of in-state treatment beds, and in opposition as a bill that was too broad or not yet implementable. The House adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, F1 is a letter from the Department of Labor and Licensing, Division of Labor, Wage and Hour.
• This is $200,000 in appropriation to cover the increase in payments made to wage and hour claimants after
• violations have been found in the Fair Labor Standards Act and Arkansas wage and hour laws, supported

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee considered several appropriation and transfer requests, beginning with a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing to cover administrative costs for its enterprise licensing platform, funded by license and application fees. It then reviewed two large Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation for the final quarter of the fiscal year, and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support the Arkansas BEAD broadband grant program, including an extra help position and grants to internet service providers. The broadband item drew extensive questions about awardees, contract amendments, accountability, build-out timelines, backup plans if providers default, the definition of broadband serviceable locations, and the cost per location. The State Broadband Director said no providers had requested amendments, the program would use milestone-based disbursements and a four-year build-out period, and the first tranche would serve 51,566 homes and businesses with $126.1 million in grants. Both Section B and Section C items were approved. In Section D, the committee approved a $458,000 transfer within the Department of Correction from the female work release program to the Tucker Unit water treatment plant, a $25 million transfer within the Department of Education to cover declining enrollment, teacher incentive, school recognition, and Easter Seals funding, and a $229,000 transfer for the Department of Shared Administrative Services to support two project management office positions. The education transfer prompted questions about how declining enrollment funding is calculated, how many districts receive it, and how long districts can continue to receive it; agency staff said 152 districts were on the preliminary list and the formula is based on the prior two-year average ADM compared with the previous year. The committee also gave favorable advice on a proposed $4.7 million loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization tools; agency officials said the loan would be repaid through cost recovery rates over five years and would replace an existing loan that is ending, with expected savings from consolidating applications but no precise savings estimate yet. The committee then reviewed cash fund and federal grant requests, including $200,000 for wage and hour claimant payments, $15 million for unclaimed property claims, $8,000 for a heritage program grant, and $1.1 million for a College and Career Coaches grant to expand services in rural districts. It also reviewed pay plan and budget manual items without objection. The most extensive report discussion focused on the Medicaid trust fund, where DHS and DFA officials said the balance has been declining and that the state may need to add capital back into the fund. Senators and representatives asked about the current balance, the projected year-end level, the role of the $100 million set-aside, the impact of outstanding Medicaid rules from the prior session, and whether future federal funding could help reduce long-term Medicaid costs. Officials said they are still working through more than 10 outstanding rules with CMS and do not yet have a final price tag for those changes. The meeting ended after the reports were reviewed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That program started in November of 2020, and there is a... we look at what the wage increase is for
• Idahoans. is a... we look at what the wage increase is for Idahoans a year post-training, and on average
• , 39% wage increase for adults going through the Launch program.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the agency’s statutory role, funding sources, staffing, and FY27 requests, including an ongoing transfer within the In Demand Careers Fund to increase trustee and benefit payments for Idaho Launch grants, a proposal to consolidate the STEM Action Center into the council, and requests for reappropriation authority for several grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training, semiconductor, and child care grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the proposed STEM merger would transfer remaining dedicated-fund balances to the Workforce Development Training Fund. Members asked about the effect of a $10 million cash transfer on Launch awards, repayment of grants by students who do not meet requirements, and the use of employer training funds; Sechrist said wording such as “up to $10 million” would avoid reducing awards and that the agency is still exploring debt collection options. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s vocational rehabilitation and independent living services, its dedicated funds, and FY27 requests for additional appropriation to spend Social Security reimbursement revenue and for replacement vehicles from the adaptive aids fund. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support clients’ employment and independence, and that the requested increases would help cover needed vehicles and offset other costs. She also said holdbacks would have a modest effect on services, including reduced site restoration funding and some cuts to client services and travel. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described the agency’s preservation mission, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY27 requests, including $450,000 for the second year of moving state records and collections into a new archives addition, plus IT hardware and reappropriation authority. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the collections move, and the agency’s role in America 250 activities. Members asked about archaeological review travel, the agency’s long tenure, and the use of miscellaneous revenue; Gallimore agreed to provide travel records and thanked the committee for its support. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those you look at the average wage and this is incredibly important because when you look at the average
• wage of an aerospace worker, it's significantly higher, almost 2 times higher in some respects, then
• Of course, we've got 80 billion towards wages and salaries paid and $0.99 of every dollar spent by a

Transcript Highlights:

• , the revenue source at the heart of the Well Washington Fund is a corporate payroll tax on annual wages
• for those more lucrative paying jobs because of your suggested tax, and they're only bringing in low-wage
• They'll locate them elsewhere, and they might still keep their lower wage earners here.

Summary: The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs. In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many<00:09:21.400><c> make</c><00:09:21.680><c> minimum</c><00:09:22.120><c> wage.
• </c> Many make minimum wage. Many make minimum wage.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House and Senate DFL lawmakers, joined by Unidos Minnesota and other allies, held a press event responding to a budget deal they said would end MinnesotaCare coverage for roughly 20,000 undocumented adults at the end of the year while preserving coverage for children. Speakers, including Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Sen. Sandy Leafman, and Emilia Gonzalez Davalos, argued the agreement was cruel, would harm vulnerable families and essential workers, and was being justified under a false claim of fiscal responsibility. They said the affected people are Minnesota residents who work, pay taxes, and contribute to the state, and they rejected the idea that private insurance markets are a viable substitute. The speakers emphasized that many enrollees are receiving ongoing care such as cancer treatment, dialysis, insulin, and asthma medication, and warned that losing coverage would push people into emergency rooms and increase costs for hospitals and communities. They also said the deal set a dangerous precedent by using mixed-status families and undocumented workers as bargaining chips in negotiations. Several speakers framed the issue as part of broader attacks on immigrant communities at the federal and state levels. In response to questions, the lawmakers said they had not been given meaningful input on the agreement, that the DFL leadership had tried to make the “least harm” choice, and that the members speaking would vote no on the provision. They said their focus was on this specific health-care agreement rather than other budget bills, and they indicated the program’s cost was within projections, citing about 20,000 enrollees, roughly 17,000 adults, and spending under $4 million so far. The event ended with a call to continue fighting the deal and to pursue a Minnesota public option and broader long-term coverage solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 669 by Gonzalez de Paso relating to a database of employees penalized to the failure Wages are convicted
• certain criminal offenses involving the wage staff referred to the subcommittee on workforce 670 by
• Relating to the minimum wage, refer the subcommittee on workforce.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Using Massachusetts minimum wage rates, that is valued at $3,056,070.
• Using Massachusetts minimum wage rates, that is valued at $3,056,070.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate held an informal session centered on its annual scouting recognition program, led by Senator Tarr and other Senate leaders. Scouts from several Massachusetts councils recited the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath, and the Scout Law, and the chamber heard a report on Scouting America in Massachusetts from Eagle Scout Molly Murphy of Woburn, assisted by other scouts and flag bearers from across the Commonwealth. Murphy described her own scouting experience, leadership roles, Eagle Scout project, and the challenges and benefits of scouting, emphasizing leadership, service, and community impact. Murphy also presented statewide scouting statistics for 2025, including 19,761 youth in 872 units, 9,402 adult volunteers, more than 23,500 merit badges earned, 482 Eagle Scouts, and over 203,000 hours of community service valued at more than $3 million. The Senate voted to print the scouting report in the Journal. Senators then read and presented a gubernatorial proclamation declaring April 23, 2026, as Scout Appreciation Day in Massachusetts, citing scouting’s service, character-building, and conservation values. In addition to the scouting program, the Senate transacted several routine matters. It passed to be enacted two local bills: one authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption and another further regulating the appointment of a special police officer in Malden. The Senate also adopted a resolution commending the IBS patient support group for recognizing April 19, 2026, as World IBS Day, and it engrossed a bill allowing retired police officers to serve as special police officers in Fairhaven after adopting an amendment, as well as a bill increasing the Haverhill Board of Health from three to five members. The Senate adopted an order to reconvene on Monday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Using Massachusetts minimum wage rates, that is valued at $3,056,070.
• Using Massachusetts minimum wage rates, that is valued at $3,056,070.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Relations Act to establish court interpreters as employees and allow them to collectively bargain over wages
• While spoken language interpreters are able to negotiate terms related to wages, working conditions,

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, when they're looking at the median salary and wage and stuff, are they dividing it up locally,
• Is there any distinction in those wages?

Summary: The Postsecondary Education Committee met and adopted PCS working drafts for several bills before hearing them. House Bill 2210, by Representative Lay, would modernize Oklahoma’s youth apprenticeship system by allowing earlier entry, expanding eligibility to ages 16-25, assigning implementation to CareerTech, and adding paid-work protections and statewide ROI reporting; it passed 9-0. House Bill 4363, by Pro Tem Moore, would update outdated statutory references to reflect current operations and governance; it also passed 9-0. House Bill 2398, by Representative Hill, would create a “credential of value” framework to align higher education, CareerTech, and workforce systems, with safeguards for high-need fields and regional wage considerations. Supporters said it would help students understand the earning value of programs before enrolling, while concerns were raised about possible effects on humanities and other lower-paying fields; the bill passed 8-1. House Bill 3557, by Representative Danny Williams, would clarify that 4-H and county extension fundraising money remains locally controlled and protected rather than being swept into a state-level account. Members discussed how the funds are currently handled and who would control them under the proposal; the bill passed 6-2. House Bill 3701, by Representative Caldwell, would codify the State Regents’ existing process for reviewing and potentially consolidating low-producing higher education programs, including mandatory action after repeated low-producing status while preserving exemption authority. Questions focused on whether the bill merely formalized current practice and whether reporting back to the legislature should be added; the chair offered to include a reporting requirement if desired. The bill passed 6-2, and the chair announced this was the committee’s last House bill meeting for the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a fully funded program by the people who rely on it, by the sweat and hard-earned wages of American
• sweat the people who rely on it by the sweat and<00:23:59.760><c> hard-earned</c><00:24:00.320><c> wages
• </c><00:24:00.720><c> of</c><00:24:00.960><c> American</c> and hard-earned wages of American and hard-earned
• wages of American workers.<00:24:02.480><c> Without</c><00:24:02.880><c> Social</c><00:24:03.200><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:46:28.080><c> Motion</c><00:46:28.440><c> prevail.</c> Opposed? Okay. Motion prevail.
• Motion prevail.
• Motion prevailed. Congratulations, everyone. Thank you, Chair. All right.
• Okay.<01:53:01.320><c> Motion</c><01:53:01.640><c> prevailed.</c> Okay. Motion prevailed. Okay.
• Motion prevailed. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails and the minutes are adopted, and I am really smacking this gavel hard today.
• The motion prevails, and the A1 amendment is adopted.
• The amendment prevails yet again, and the amendment is actually adopted. All right.
• There being seven ayes and seven nays, the motion does not prevail. I will lay the bill over.
• </c> the motion does not prevail. the motion does not prevail.

Bills: HF4407 , HF4382

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: child welfare, African American children, racial disproportionality, family preservation, reunification, foster care, kinship care, relative placement, noncustodial parent, guardian ad litem, ombudsperson, Department of Human Services, county social services, active efforts, reasonable efforts, child protection, placement, out-of-home placement, Northstar kinship assistance, data disaggregation

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion<00:59:42.400><c> does</c><00:59:42.640><c> not</c><00:59:42.880><c> prevail.
• </c> motion does not prevail. motion does not prevail.
• The motion<01:40:41.920><c> does</c><01:40:42.080><c> not</c><01:40:42.320><c> prevail.
• </c><01:40:43.360><c> Thank</c><01:40:43.520><c> you,</c> motion does not prevail.
• Thank you, motion does not prevail. Thank you, Represent<01:40:44.080><c> Norris.

Bills: HF3403 , HF2687 , HF2381

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF3403, emergency rental assistance, rental aid, homelessness prevention, housing crisis, imminent risk of homelessness, eviction prevention, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aids, general fund appropriation, Minnesota revenue commissioner, poverty level, low-income housing, housing stability, family homeless prevention and assistance, emergency housing assistance, HF2687, single-family homes, corporate landlords

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails, and the A4 amendment is adopted. Representative Duran, begin your testimony.
• </c><00:06:53.199><c> Motion</c><00:06:53.520><c> prevails</c> &gt;&gt; All those oppos say nay.
• Motion prevails &gt;&gt; All those oppos say nay.
• Motion prevails and<00:06:54.080><c> the</c><00:06:54.160><c> A4</c><00:06:54.560><c> amendment</c><00
• </c> &gt;&gt; Motion prevails and A1 is adopted. &gt;&gt; Motion prevails and A1 is adopted.

Bills: HF1567 , HF2809 , HF3380

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety officer, peace officer, correctional officer, law enforcement, police privacy, officer safety, doxxing, personal information, data privacy, government data practices, private data, internet posting, online disclosure, residential address, phone number, email address, family member protection, child safety, school information, public records

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the minutes for March 17th are approved.
• Motion prevails. I just had a question on the A1, but it's fine. Have a question. Okay.
• </c><01:34:28.400><c> The</c><01:34:28.560><c> motion</c><01:34:28.960><c> prevails.
• The motion prevails. those opposed. The motion prevails.
• The motion prevails. The bill is in the shape you would like to see it in.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the DE1 amendment is adopted.
• </c><00:02:02.520><c> and</c> those oppos nay the motion prevails and those oppos nay the motion prevails
• The motion prevails, and the A1 amendment is adopted.
• The motion prevails, and the A1 amendment is adopted.
• The motion prevails, and the A1 amendment is adopted.

Bills: HF1124 , HF1457 , HF1803

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: school calendar, education, school year, Labor Day, state law, school construction, landfill, dump site, closed landfill, contaminated site, pollution control agency, school siting, public school, charter school, environmental health, student safety, brownfield, solid waste, waste disposal site, site contamination

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. Senate File 447, as amended, is re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• I I all the opposed say no<00:32:25.639><c> the</c><00:32:25.760><c> motion</c><00:32:26.120><c> prevails
• Senate file 44 S no the motion prevails Senate file 44 S as<00:32:28.320><c> amended</c><00:32:28.799
• The motion prevails. Senate File 1690 is recommended to pass and re-refer to Judiciary.
• Senate file 1690 no the motion prevails Senate file 1690 is<01:41:32.520><c> REM</c><01:41:32.920><c

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all