Transcript Highlights:

• reps to ensure that... ...with the existing other agencies and industry and labor reps to ensure that
• We implemented a national conversion of the CIP codes, which I know we regularly talk about, like CTE
• But this is a good example of it being complicated because nobody else uses CIP codes as just a term
• When the national SIP code changes, and it doesn't happen too often, but when...
• And then labor market data, which come from the Washington Unemployment Insurance.

Summary: The House Education Committee received status updates on career and technical education (CTE), including OSPI’s work under 2024 legislation on allied health pathways and a statewide CTE task force, an update from Core Plus Maritime, and findings from an Education Northwest longitudinal study of Washington CTE access and outcomes. OSPI described development of allied health guidance such as a home care aide to nursing assistant bridge, model curricula, updated course equivalency frameworks, and coordination with health agencies and employers. It also reviewed Core Plus framework work, task force expansion under later legislation, and the timeline for recommendations due in November 2026. Committee members asked about health profession outreach, equitable access for rural districts, data updates, and employer support for local programs; OSPI said it continues to work with agency and industry partners and that local labor-market alignment varies by region. Core Plus Maritime presenters described expanding maritime career exploration into middle school through low-cost ROV curriculum, student visits to ferries and vessels, Sea Scouts partnerships, and ship-based safety and welding experiences. Industry representatives from the Northwest Marine Trade Association, American Seafoods, and Vigor Marine Group emphasized the maritime sector’s economic importance, aging workforce, and need for hands-on training to build the pipeline for family-wage jobs. A teacher from South Kitsap High School said the program gives students a clear pathway and has helped connect them to careers in shipyards, fishing, and related trades. Vigor also noted support for a student welding competition and equipment donations for a Rainier Beach shop. Dr. Sam Riggs of Education Northwest presented a longitudinal study using state data from 2013-14 through 2023-24. The study found CTE access has been relatively steady statewide, but offerings vary by school size, locale, and income, with rural and lower-income schools generally offering fewer pathways. Participation is high: nearly all students earn at least some CTE credit, and more students are accumulating multiple credits over time, though fewer go deep within a single pathway. Students who earned more CTE credits, especially within pathways such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and construction, were more likely to graduate on time and later had stronger postsecondary certificate attainment and earnings. Riggs recommended addressing local barriers to participation, considering whether the CTE graduation requirement should better encourage depth while preserving flexibility, and aligning offerings more closely with labor-market needs. Committee members asked about COVID-era trends, student motivation, early workforce entry, delivery settings such as skill centers, and how to interpret the comparison groups used in the analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• When I think of that, and I think of how good Texas... Texas has been to generations of my family.
• I look forward to serving the citizens of Texas and the Texas Tech University System. of the Governor
• Number of physicians that want to practice in rural Texas, or if the Texas Education Code (TEC) has anything
• They were crossing the entire state of Texas; we're just about everywhere, but South Texas.
• How's Texas?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• agreement with Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas
• ,<00:10:47.120> North Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, North Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, North
• would require a substantial—I mean, we'd probably have to, like I said, rewrite the entire election code
• Do I need to be paid for the labor now?"
• Do I need to be paid for the labor now?"

Keywords: Voter List Maintenance - State Board of Elections -- 05:38 State Employee Health Insurance Plan – 44:18 Discussion of HB 622 (2025 RS) – 01:01:43, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Committee on State Government met on July 29, established a quorum, approved the June 24 minutes unanimously, and heard an update from the State Board of Elections on voter list maintenance. Taylor Brown, the board’s general counsel, explained the federal NVRA requirements and Kentucky’s statutory process for maintaining voter rolls, including use of USPS change-of-address data, ERIC reports, and agreements with non-ERIC states. He said Kentucky has entered or discussed agreements with several states, and that the board sends postcards to voters believed to have moved; if a voter does not respond to an 8D2 postcard and does not vote over two federal election cycles, the registration may be removed. He also described other removal categories such as death, felony conviction, incompetency, duplicate registrations, and self-requested cancellations. Brown reported that between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the board removed 284,381 registrations from the rolls, including 42,675 for death, 5,940 for felony conviction, 5,527 for registration in another state, 578 for incompetency, 223 based on jury questionnaires indicating non-citizenship, 746 self-removals, and 3,381 duplicates, along with 225,311 removals through the address-maintenance program. He said Kentucky’s total registrations decreased by roughly 169,000 over the year and are now below the Census Bureau’s estimate of the state’s voting-age population. Brown emphasized that receiving a postcard does not mean a voter has been purged and that failure to vote alone does not trigger removal. Members asked about the 223 non-citizen-related removals, the availability and effectiveness of alternatives to ERIC, the partisan criticism of ERIC, and how duplicate registrations are identified. Brown said the non-citizen jury questionnaire cases had been referred to the Attorney General for further review, that Kentucky currently has no organized alternative to ERIC but is pursuing reciprocal agreements with states such as Florida, and that ERIC recently changed bylaws to remove a postcard requirement that had been costly for member states. On duplicates, he said the board uses multiple data points, not just name and address, and noted that fuller Social Security data could improve accuracy. Committee leaders praised the board’s work and said they wanted to meet before session to discuss possible statutory changes to improve voter list maintenance.

Transcript Highlights:

• changes relating to the electrical code. changes relating to the electrical code.
• And Commissioner Bliss and Bach, code on R86? Um and then yeah, Chair code on R86?
• because our code doesn't recognize them. because our code doesn't recognize them.
• code that we have adopted in Minnesota. code that we have adopted in Minnesota.
• county labor for excuse me, county labor county labor for excuse me, county labor force<00:41:27.200

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state of Texas.
• Texas will not bend to these delusions.
• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
• We can do it on a case-by-case basis,' this Texas Senate passed...
• Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 15.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and then handled several procedural matters, including a failed motion to excuse Senator Johnson’s absence after a roll-call vote. The chamber also postponed the reading and referral of bills until later in the calendar and adopted motions allowing the Education K-16 Committee to meet while the Senate was in session. The Senate then recessed until 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 6. The main floor action centered on Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 9, which lowers the voter-approval tax rate for certain cities and counties from 3.5% to 2.5% for maintenance and operations. Senator Bettencourt argued the bill would slow local property tax growth and align city and county limits more closely with school district limits, while Senators Hinojosa and Menendez raised concerns about reduced local revenue, public safety funding, and the short time for cities to assess the impact. The Senate suspended the regular order, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the constitutional three-day rule, and finally passed SB 9, with a clarification later entered that the final passage vote was 18-3. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 7, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, which sets state policy for the use of certain spaces and facilities according to biological sex and creates enforcement mechanisms for state agencies and political subdivisions. Supporters said the bill was needed to protect women and children in restrooms, locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and schools, while opponents questioned the scope, enforcement, civil penalties, and possible conflicts with federal law and local control. After extensive questioning, the chamber adopted a clarifying amendment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed SB 7 by a vote of 19-2. Finally, the Senate passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 15, which addresses deed fraud and real property theft by tightening recording requirements for certain property documents and creating new criminal offenses for real property theft and fraud. Senator Hinojosa explained that the bill combined civil and criminal provisions, added photo ID requirements for in-person filings, and included restitution and enhanced penalties for certain victims and properties; a floor amendment made cleanup changes, removed a training mandate, and clarified that electronic and mail filings were not affected. The Senate adopted the amendment, suspended the three-day rule, and passed SB 15 unanimously, 21-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are other states that just recently—I know Texas, and I think Arizona—have dealt with specifically
• There are other states that just recently—I know Texas, and I think Arizona—have dealt with specifically
• And in the state of Florida, the CPG industry accounts for 985,000 jobs and a total labor income of about
• California—which we know what California is on record with doing—or Illinois or Virginia or West Virginia or Texas

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard four bills. CS/SB 150, by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado, and was presented as “Trooper’s Law” in response to a widely publicized rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. The bill drew supportive public cards and brief supportive remarks from Senator Boyd, then passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 374, by Senator Truenow, would refine the definition of farm product to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from adopting ordinances that limit the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment was withdrawn to allow further discussion on food waste issues. Speakers from composting, recycling, and poultry interests supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 560, by Senator Martin, would restrict certain chemical additives in food products. The sponsor said the bill targets 10 chemicals he believes are harmful, noted that two have already been banned by the FDA, and argued Florida should act rather than wait for federal action. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules, raising costs, and disrupting supply chains, while some senators said they supported the bill for now but expected further changes. The committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Rouson voting no. SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry, add criminal penalties for certain dangerous-dog attacks, and require permits, microchipping, spay/neuter, and $100,000 liability insurance for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and the Rock family described severe attacks and deaths involving dangerous dogs and argued the registry would help protect the public. Some senators questioned the registry’s usefulness, the amount of information collected, and insurance availability, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• not service the sole basis for determining whether to deny a claim that denial under the insurance code
• We're going to take up strike All Amendment bar code 2, 2, 7, 3, 1, 2, Without objection.
• We had a ballot initiative in Texas Proposition 7 in which 1.6 million Texans voted in favor of making
• the last 3 years with previous legislation that have been floated spoke heavily with the state of Texas
• So the research that I've done over the past 3 years, I think one of the things in the state of Texas

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• corporate structure so that we can invite Those businesses here and compete with states like Delaware and Texas
• How would this bill have helped to keep them here and not lose them to Texas?
• the gray areas for out-of-state transport and why they would be exempt from the Oklahoma insurance code
• So, out-of-state providers Are out-of-state transport providers exempt from the Oklahoma insurance code

Bills: HB3081, HB3127, HB3128, HB3498, HB2035

Keywords: fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, medical marijuana, employment rights, safety-sensitive positions, workplace policies, public assistance, workforce development, economic competitiveness, task force, apprenticeships, training programs, training barriers, business growth, industry coordination, business entities, corporation law

Transcript Highlights:

• they found that with every $100 increase in their Child Tax Credit, there was almost a 3% increase in labor
• Many factors contribute to that overall decrease in poverty, including lower unemployment, increased labor
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, now it goes back to June of 2025 because there's been a little bit of a gap
• On page two, New Mexico has low rates of labor force participation and high rates of poverty.
• Maybe Texas Red has one, but we just launched our Yes New Mexico app.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a growing and reliable labor force, and then on the right side of the page, four things that
• For example, against Texas, I think that's something we can claim quality-of-life advantages over states
• It really does start with energy availability, available land and sites, skilled labor, permitting.
• We have a great labor force.
• Going forward, we'll be looking and reviewing the cost of labor in the other states, the cost of energy

Summary: The LEAD Committee met with the Department of Commerce to review a high-level strategic plan for Oklahoma economic development. Commerce Director Bud presented a plan centered on the state’s competitive advantages: central location and logistics, low cost of doing business, energy availability, labor force, tax environment, and partnerships with tribes, local communities, universities, and workforce organizations. He said the agency must focus on industries where Oklahoma has a “right to win,” identifying aerospace and defense, energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, and cybersecurity as priority sectors, with other sectors such as transportation logistics, automotive, finance/shared services, federal offices, bioscience, and broader IT treated as secondary or longer-term opportunities. Members asked about workforce, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, incentives, research and development, housing, and how Commerce should stay focused on its core mission. Commerce said CareerTech remains a major asset, but the state needs better coordination among agencies, universities, and workforce partners. Officials also said entrepreneurship should be encouraged within target industries, infrastructure readiness should be mapped and aligned to industry needs, and incentives should be evaluated against total cost of operations rather than compared only on percentage terms. They noted that the Incentive Evaluation Commission is comparing Oklahoma’s incentives with other states and that closing deals begins early, with the right people and partners involved from the start. The discussion also emphasized the need for stronger statewide marketing, better use of regional development staff, more robust research/data capabilities, and a stronger international strategy. Legislators raised concerns about Commerce being tasked with programs outside its core mission, and Commerce said it must administer those programs unless the Legislature changes the law, though it would like to streamline and reallocate resources where possible. The meeting ended with broad support for the strategic direction, appreciation for Commerce’s work on recent projects, and adjournment without any formal vote or action taken.

Bills: HR58, HR59, HR60, HR61, HR62, HR63, HR64, HCR32, HB43, HB447, HB573, HB1000, HB1001, HB1002, HB1003, HB1004, HB1005, HR46, HR48, HR50, HR51, HR52, HR53, HR54, HR55, HR56, HR57, HCR31, HB20, HB21, HB166, HB494, HB710, HB795, HB985, HB986, HB987, HB988, HB989, HB990, HB991, HB992, HB993, HB994, HB995, HB996, HB997, HB998, SB128, SB149, SB174, SB191, SB205, SB213, SB218, SB220, SB229, SB238, SB243, SB375, SB379, HB8, HB9, HB10, HB15, HB16, HB17, HB18, HB19, HB22, HB33, HB34, HB35, HB44, HB46, HB47, HB48, HB61, HB101, HB126, HB135, HB142, HB164, HB185, HB215, HB226, HB232, HB233, HB242, HB284, HB292, HB297, HB301, HB334, HB436, HB468, HB548, HB571, HB582, HB593, HB594, HB609, HB613, HB712, HB722, HB732, HB746, HB781, HB827, HB845, HB848, HB921, HB923, HB951, HB953, HB999, HB129, HB130, HB287, HB489, HB545, HB553, HB555, HB570, HB854, HB952, HB28, HB36, HB50, HB52, HB56, HB62, HB68, HB92, HB110, HB117, HB119, HB124, HB140, HB147, HB171, HB182, HB193, HB196, HB203, HB228, HB234, HB260, HB268, HB271, HB285, HB289, HB351, HB400, HB413, HB469, HB534, HB551, HB552, HB574, HB576, HB634, HB649, HB677, HB735, HB739, HB779, HB784, HB796, HB842, HB850, HB919, HB149, HB733, HB875, HB868, HB901

Keywords: waterfowl conservation, wetlands preservation, Ducks Unlimited, environmental stewardship, Louisiana, tennis, athlete recognition, family legacy, sports achievements, coaching, student parents, higher education, academic support, family stability, workforce equity, Homeland Security, federal funding, public safety, emergency services, TSA

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we also will do is a labor...
• That's where we tried to create that definition of Labor Broker.
• Then that labor broker says, "Well, now you owe me..."
• I don't know if the term was "labor brokers" or not, but...
• So that was the definition that we came up with at LSA: Labor Broker.

Bills: HB43, SB81, SB178, SB138, SB89, SB183, HB27, HB188, HB199, HB190, SB117, HB43, HB27

Keywords: criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, speedy trial, visiting judge, court administration, violent crimes, Alabama Supreme Court, employment, criminal record, certificate of employability, occupational licensing, negligent hiring, rehabilitation, limited relief, tribal police, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1867 in Houston, Texas, the Republican Party of Texas was created by 150 colored men.
• We have creosote pollution in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas. Texas.
• Austin, North Texas.
• God bless Texas.
• I am a resident of Texas. I was born in Texas and have lived in Southlake since 1987.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We border Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. 22,000 square miles.
• We have a study coming up from Tucumcari to the Texas state line, US 54, the Grand Avenue, Business 215
• Connect Texas; they want to connect Texas to I-25. We're still at a real early preliminary stage.
• understanding that Congress has taken action to identify the corridor from the Mexican border on the Texas
• Going up like Texas and New Mexico, how does that play or not play into it? Any comment on that?

Transcript Highlights:

• Lubbock is the home to Texas Tech University System and it's the flagship institutes for Texas Tech.
• Texas Tech University, Texas Tech Health Science Center, both world-renowned organizations.
• Texas Southern University and later his law degree from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern
• President of Texas A&M University, welcome.
• Lastly, for a secondary offense committed in a different county under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

Bills: SJR 1, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 36, SJR 1, SJR 5, SB 9, SB 40

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Transportation Institute is recognized around the country, particularly at Texas A&M, as the
• The code doesn't define the axle weights extremely well, so part of this bill is to clarify the axle
• Earlier, someone spoke that the code will allow you to haul 40,000 pounds, but actually, the code reads

Bills: SB110, SB64, SB42

Keywords: weight limits, trucking regulations, transportation, enforcement authority, portable scales, SB64, Alabama, state waters, public waters, aquatic plants, aquatic vegetation, lake management, waterway maintenance, environmental regulation, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, commercial contractors, vegetation removal, mowing aquatic plants, uprooting plants

Transcript Highlights:

• looking at the FIR, the synopsis of Senate Bill 111, and it says we are going to amend the Motor Vehicle Code
• and implementing that, we realized that there was a disconnect between this definition in the MVD code
• Which connects New Mexico 404 to the Texas state line.
• TxDOT is constructing their portion of RCRAF, so a lot of the wind blades can't use 136 on the Texas
• no relief— it is the relief route, I guess, because of the other areas That we can't access, like Texas

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll touch on a few important labor force points for this...
• DOT has information on its website about labor rates.
• Department of Labor.
• And you could see in the top right that there's a labor rate.
• North Dakota Century Code 54-03-03.28 is linked in your agenda.

Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave policies, labor market conditions, and prevailing wage issues, then later took up committee rules and bill-draft jurisdiction. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the state has paid the full family premium since 1979, described cost-control and benefit-enhancement changes over time, and explained current plan options, wellness incentives, employer wellness discounts, and the upcoming bid process for the 2027-29 contract. HRMS then presented compensation comparisons showing state classified pay generally trails private and regional markets, with larger gaps at higher-level jobs, and reviewed benefits and leave policies, including the new enhanced annual leave and new-hire leave, the state’s unpaid family leave structure, and varying tuition reimbursement practices. Job Service reported on labor force trends, low unemployment, high labor force participation, job openings, and wage growth, and OMB said there are no state prevailing-wage requirements beyond federal Davis-Bacon rules for federally funded projects. The committee then considered a proposed amendment to Joint Rule 211 to better align the health insurance mandate review process with recent statutory changes. Members discussed how the rule should reference both the committee’s required actuarial reports and the Legislative Council cost-benefit analysis, and the amendment was adopted on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed how its jurisdiction decisions affect whether a bill draft receives actuarial analysis, with staff explaining that a decision not to take jurisdiction means the bill is not treated as impacting the relevant retirement or health plans for purposes of that analysis. After that, the committee began reviewing bill drafts for jurisdiction. The first draft, bill draft 33, would automatically renew pre-tax elections for dental and vision coverage during open enrollment instead of requiring annual re-election. Members debated whether it had any actuarial impact, noting the state does not pay those premiums directly, and the discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• WOULD DO IS REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO RAISE MONEY, SEEK PARTY ENDORSEMENTS, AND CAMPAIGN ON POLITICAL LABORERS
• EVEN THIS LAST YEAR WE SOUGHT THE SUPREME COURT PULLED TEXAS RIGHT TO OBJECT MATERIALS THAT HAD TO DO
• >> Chair Trabulsy: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I JUST CITED IN JULY WE SAW THEM ROLL DOWN AGAIN THAT TEXAS
• WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FREE SPEECH COALITION VERSUS PAXTON IN TEXAS, THAT WAS RECENTLY UPHELD IN 2025 AND
• IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS AND IOWA, FEDERAL JUDGES BLOCKED MAJOR PARTS OF LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT BECAUSE THEY

Transcript Highlights:

• , electrical codes, all that I guess would fall under that.
• Maybe it’s in the codes to mention codes. Okay, thanks.
• , electrical codes, all that I guess would fall under that.
• Maybe it’s in the codes to mention codes. Okay, thanks.
• Maybe it’s in the codes to mention codes. Okay, thanks.

Keywords: 1189, house, all