Video & Transcript : 'prevailing wages' :
Page 179 of 400
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Ways & Means Feb 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- credit carryovers, could sorely restrict small businesses' cash flow, threatening its ability to pay wages
- credit carryovers, could sorely restrict small businesses' cash flow, threatening its ability to pay wages
- What level of wage earners pay the most into the tax system now?
- The real cost of denying us the right to affordable health care is wasted in deductibles, lost wages,
- GoFundMe campaigns, Affordable health care is wasted in deductibles, lost wages, GoFundMe campaigns,
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346.
Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured.
Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Public Pension Oversight Board (12-12-25) - Part 1
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:26:47.600><c> threshold</c> The personal individual daily wage threshold that we give them when
- So, there was discussion in 2002 about setting a standard minimum floor-based daily wage threshold.
- So, the recommendation here will be to very modestly adjust that minimum daily wage threshold rate.
- </c> daily wage threshold. We call it DWT. daily wage threshold. We call it DWT.
- </c> modestly adjust that minimum daily wage modestly adjust that minimum daily wage threshold<01:27:
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:12
Approval of Minutes: 00:01:34
Actuarial Valuation Update – KPPA: 00:02:10
Actuarial Valuation Update – TRS: 00:25:32, 958, all
Summary:
The meeting began with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from KPPA officials Ryan Barrow and Erin Saratt on the annual actuarial valuations for the retirement and insurance systems. They said the systems’ funding status improved overall, with three of five insurance funds fully funded, CERS hazardous dropping from over 100% funded to 90.9% because of premium changes, and KRS receiving $650 million in supplemental funding over the biennium. They also reported strong investment returns above assumed rates, higher payroll and membership counts, and resulting actuarial losses tied to higher salaries and premiums, especially on the insurance side.
Members asked several questions about what drove the actuarial losses and whether legislation affected them. KPPA said the CERS insurance loss was driven by premium increases and Senate Bill 10, while the pension-side losses were largely due to higher payroll and benefits for Tier 1 and Tier 2 members. They explained that new Tier 3 employees are designed to add no additional unfunded liability, and that the state administers the systems but does not directly control all hiring. Questions also focused on retiree health premiums, which KPPA said rose about 15% for non-Medicare retirees and 38% for Medicare retirees, with the increase attributed to utilization, prescription costs, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
The committee then heard from TRS Deputy Executive Secretary and General Counsel Beau Barnes on the 2025 TRS actuarial valuation. He reported that the Retirement Annuity Trust and Health Insurance Trust both received full funding, the retirement trust’s funded ratio improved to 61%, TRS 4 remains well funded with no liability, and the health insurance trust improved to 89.1%. Barnes said TRS is on track to fully fund legacy liabilities within the amortization period, with 2044 as the point when the system reflects 100% funding and 2046 as the last year needing additional dollars for the legacy liability. He also explained that lower assumed investment returns and updated mortality assumptions increased liabilities, but that TRS uses direct rate smoothing for budgeting purposes.
At the end of the meeting, the chair circulated a proposed set of “do’s and don’ts of pensions,” emphasizing that future legislation should not create unfunded liabilities. Barnes also noted he would later discuss several legislative proposals for the 2026 session, but the transcript provided ends before that discussion or any votes on those proposals.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Aug 4th, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
MN House debates bill to designate January as Snow Professionals Appreciation Month 5/6/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 1 May 19th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The motion prevails. And the House stands in recess.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee 3/6/25 - Part 1
Rules and Legislative Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- The motion prevails, and the calendar is adopted.
Committee:
House Rules and Legislative Administration
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 02/25/26
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, when you think about housing and around evictions and jobs and lost wages, people are afraid
- that people are afraid, and lost wages that people are afraid, whether<00:08:38.159><c> it</c><00:08
- /c><00:09:24.800><c> already</c><00:09:25.200><c> low</c><00:09:25.680><c> uh</c><00:09:25.839><c> wage
- </c> to them when they're already low uh wage to them when they're already low uh wage um<00:09:27.440
- </c><00:18:04.640><c> for</c> have been lost in terms of wages for have been lost in terms of wages for
Committee:
Senate Jobs and Economic Development
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We always push for higher wages for our members. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh, any other questions?
- </c><01:40:49.840><c> So,</c><01:40:50.080><c> I</c> wages for your members, right?
- So, I wages for your members, right?
- , but it also will increase higher wages, but it also will take<01:41:02.880><c> agreement</c><01:41:
- push for higher wages for our members. members. members.
Bills:
HB1769
Committee:
House Public Safety
Keywords:
criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison.
Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails.
Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 04/14/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
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
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26
Children and Families Finance and Policy
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.
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
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/26
Housing Finance and Policy
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.
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
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26
Public Safety Finance and Policy
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> >> All those oppos say nay.
- Motion prevails >> 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> >> Motion prevails and A1 is adopted. >> Motion prevails and A1 is adopted.
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
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/19/25
Health Finance and Policy
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
MN
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.
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
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 03/11/25
State and Local Government
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
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 2/17/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The motion prevails, and the minutes are approved.
- right all those against say nay the right all those against say nay the motion<00:00:41.879><c> prevails
- c> and</c><00:00:43.039><c> the</c><00:00:43.520><c> minutes</c><00:00:44.079><c> are</c> motion prevails
- and the minutes are motion prevails and the minutes are approved<00:00:45.079><c> so</c><00:00:45.600
- and house file 10 is the motion prevails and house file 10 is referred<01:07:33.720><c> to</c><01:07
Committee:
House Health Finance and Policy
Keywords:
undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, permit to carry, concealed carry, handgun permit, firearm permit, pistol training, sheriff, application process, electronic filing, mail application, fax submission, certified mail, certified delivery, gun rights, Second Amendment, firearms regulation
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-30 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- other interventions to improve the capacity of the state to have healthy, resilient communities prevailing
- other interventions to improve the capacity of the state to have healthy, resilient communities prevailing
- and I know many in the chamber understand that, which would be your hospital bills, could be lost wages
- This would be for the non-economic or... ...be lost wages, any quantifiable cost.
Summary:
The Florida Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness for sexual assault survivors, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a memorial proclamation for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special-order bills, with senators also briefly discussing the session’s pace and thanking staff and colleagues for their work.
The first major bill, on driving and boating offenses, was amended and passed 37-0. As amended, it increases penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide/vessel homicide offenses, and adds notice requirements and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. Senators also passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers 37-0, requiring Medicaid managed care plans to offer more after-hours and holiday access and ensuring more primary care appointment availability outside regular business hours.
The Senate then passed a major condominium and cooperative associations bill, also 37-0, after extensive debate and multiple amendments. The measure extends deadlines for structural integrity reserve studies, adds flexibility for reserve funding and budgeting, tightens rules for managers and inspectors, limits certain requirements to buildings of three or more habitable stories, and extends the rescission period for condo purchases. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s sponsors for years of work responding to post-Surfside safety and affordability concerns.
The longest and most contentious item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendment petition procedures. Sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse in the citizen initiative process by tightening circulator rules, requiring faster submission of signed petitions, adding voter notification, increasing penalties, and shifting costs to sponsors. Opponents argued it would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizens to qualify initiatives. The chamber adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the petition-circulator threshold, volunteer protections, submission timing, invalid-signature investigation thresholds, and notice/cure provisions, while debate continued over whether the overall package would protect election integrity or suppress citizen-led amendments.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
WAL Public Hearing - Tue Feb 3,2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- A lot of wage standard issues we find at the state level are usually payroll violations.
- That's a wage violation, right?
- A lot of wage standard issues we right?
- That's a wage the laborers, right? That's a wage violation,<02:05:57.760><c> right?
- </c> job of monitoring all of these um wage job of monitoring all of these um wage violations.<02:08:
Summary:
The Committee on Water and Land met on February 3, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing a two-minute limit and noting that bills would die if the hearing ran past noon. For HB 1848, the Commission on Water Resource Management and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development both supported the measure with technical, non-substantive amendments. Testimony focused on requiring early consultation about water availability in district boundary amendment petitions, with water officials explaining that the petitioner should submit a written statement reflecting consultation and that the goal was to identify water constraints earlier in the development process. The Land Use Commission’s representative opposed the bill, arguing that water availability is already addressed through existing environmental review and agency consultation, that the issue had been raised and rejected before, and that the proposal could create unnecessary delay or litigation.
The committee then heard HB 1728 on rainwater catchment systems. The Commission on Water Resource Management said it acknowledged the bill’s intent but deferred to counties and other regulatory agencies, including the Department of Health, on regulatory implications. Hawaii Realtors testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing shown.
For HB 1652 on storm water management systems, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken protections created by Act 281 (“Sharkey’s Law”) and increase drowning risk for children by exempting certain water features from safety requirements. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii supported the bill, saying the language clarifies and better balances child safety with practical green stormwater infrastructure, including depth-based limits and exemptions for certain agricultural ponds. The Hawaii Farm Bureau also supported the agricultural pond exemption, saying such ponds are used for irrigation, livestock, and fire control and are generally away from the public. A private testifier, Allison Schaers, opposed the bill and described her daughter’s drowning in a detention basin, arguing that poor maintenance can turn stormwater features into dangerous hazards. The hearing ended without any recorded committee action or vote in the excerpt provided.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 15th, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The ayes have it, and the motion prevails.
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed visiting dignitaries from the Azores, President Beto Vaz Konsalus and Assembly President Rico Virtue Gomush, who were recognized in connection with the sister-city relationship between Lajes das Flores and Stoughton. The presiding senator also noted Stoughton’s 300th anniversary and referenced legislative support for local projects including the block party, community center, and train depot renovation.
The chamber then adopted a resolution congratulating Tri-Valley Incorporated on its 50th anniversary. Senators next approved an act validating certain proceedings of the town of Stowe, which required and received a two-thirds vote. The Senate also enacted several local and special bills, including measures related to police interactions with people with autism spectrum disorder, accidental death benefits for a former Boston firefighter’s spouse, the Longmeadow charter, a means-tested senior property tax exemption for Reading, the Falmouth town clerk position, and affordable housing and cultural space in Brighton.
The Senate suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees, adopted an order to meet again on Thursday at 11 a.m. in formal session, and agreed to adjourn in memory of Elaine McGuire-Darland. A moment of silence was observed, and the Senate adjourned accordingly.
MA