Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance
• then so the legislation that developed then so the legislation that developed the<00:04:55.000><
• , and also from the general fund to the Workforce Development Fund.
• fund to the Workforce Development<00:50:16.559> Fund<00:50:17.319> the<00:50:17.440>
• with industry professionals and develop with industry professionals and develop essential<00:59:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rights and groundwater development.
• But as to date, no, Brian Dolan: But as the developers continue to develop all around us, it's coming
• Brian Dolan: In order for the development to come, we want developments.
• The TCEQ develops that form.
• Maybe it's not a developer.

Transcript Highlights:

• Human growth and development, and what does that mean to us?
• development.
• The organization is committed to racial uplift primarily through workforce development.
• This has an enormous impact on Massachusetts' workforce and economy.
• They represent a waiting workforce.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors. The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• As long as the developer continues to give them some payment.
• As written, the bill will apply new audit provisions to existing developments.
• I'm an affordable housing developer, a real affordable housing developer.
• So some of your developments are...
• The programs are built to reimburse those developers at full market rent.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

Transcript Highlights:

• Protecting HR employees supports workforce stability, reduces turnover, and helps ensure housing services
• <00:01:42.320> supports Protecting HR employees supports Protecting HR employees supports workforce
• <00:01:43.600> stability,<00:01:44.720> reduces<00:01:45.360> turnover, workforce
• stability, reduces turnover, workforce stability, reduces turnover, and<00:01:46.479> helps<00
• Agency as well as Community Development Agency as well as the<00:02:30.319> legislative<00:02

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 4141, which would amend Minnesota Statutes 609.2231 to add housing and redevelopment authority (HRA) employees and agents to the list of public employees receiving enhanced criminal penalties for assault while performing official duties. Representative Johnson said the bill does not create a new crime, but simply extends existing protections to HRA staff who work in high-contact, high-stress settings such as inspections, enforcement, benefit decisions, and evictions. Testifiers Melissa Taporn and Terry Smith, both representing Minnesota housing authorities/NARO, supported the bill and described numerous incidents of threats, assaults, and weapon-related confrontations involving HRA staff across the state, arguing the change is needed for worker safety, retention, and continued delivery of housing services. Committee members expressed support for the proposal, with Vice Chair Dos saying it would create reasonable guardrails to help keep workers and residents safe. Discussion also noted that repeated or unsafe inspections can add costs back onto housing operations. The chair said the bill would likely be incorporated into the committee’s broader housing policy work with possible tweaks. No vote was taken; House File 4141 was laid over for possible inclusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Office of the Legislative Auditor found that Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development
• , or DEED, wasn't properly analyzing the impact of state-funded grants to nonprofits for the workforce
• , or DED, uh, wasn't properly Development, or DED, uh, wasn't properly analyzing<00:09:31.200> the
• :09:32.959> nonprofits<00:09:33.600> for<00:09:33.760> the<00:09:33.920> workforce
• grants to nonprofits for the workforce grants to nonprofits for the workforce programs.<00:09:35.519

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the first one is the healthcare access fund and then the workforce development fund is listed
• /c><00:01:43.920> and<00:01:44.159> then<00:01:44.400> the<00:01:44.560> workforce
• access fund and then the workforce access fund and then the workforce development<00:01:45.600><
• <00:01:48.079> The development fund is listed on 2.19.
• The development fund is listed on 2.19.

Bills: HF601

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• development because it's happening in development because it's happening in their<00:36:53.839> lensure
• This just gives you a picture of our teacher workforce.
• between different economic development between different economic development regions.<00:45:55.599
• <01:21:43.040> shortages, heard today, face workforce shortages, heard today, face workforce
• uh and diversify our teacher workforce. uh and diversify our teacher workforce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, the budget subcommittee on tourism, economic development, energy, environment, and public protection
• House Bill 359, an act relating to human growth and development instruction. Representative Tate.
• To Economic Development and Workforce Investment: House Bill 24, House Bill 26, House Bill 29.
• <00:30:01.120> and<00:30:01.440> workforce 32 to economic development and workforce
• 32 to economic development and workforce investment,<00:30:02.720> House<00:30:02.960> Bill

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:55 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11:09 Motion to Act on HR 21 15:13 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:52 ConC and Rules Report 29:29 Adjournment 31:04, 958, all

Summary: The House opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 96 members present. Routine business followed: absent members were excused, the rules were suspended to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and the journal from January 12, 2026 was approved. No bills were taken up on second reading, and there were no committee reports or orders of the day at that point. During announcements, members recognized the Frederick Douglass High School cheerleading squad for winning a state title, and several members noted visits or upcoming events involving Kentucky firefighters and fire chiefs. Multiple committee meeting notices were also shared, and House Bill 244 was withdrawn by its primary sponsor. The clerk then read a long list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics including pharmacist reimbursements, immigration enforcement, housing, identity documents, sex-based classifications, school choking prevention, local minimum wages, rental property, labor standards, wages, veterans issues, homelessness prevention, real property appraisers, jury duty, paramedic education, adult performances, sanctuary policies, charitable gaming, court costs, National Guard benefits, child care coverage, and several resolutions. The chamber then considered House Resolution 21, honoring the victims of the UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crash in Louisville and commending first responders. The sponsor described the crash, named the victims, and detailed the extensive multi-agency response. The House opened the board for additional co-sponsors, observed a moment of silence, and adopted the resolution without objection. Afterward, the House recessed briefly for Committee on Committees and Rules Committee meetings, then received committee referrals for numerous bills to standing committees. No floor amendments were introduced, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are certain surveys that have been done about the workforce and the alignment of the workforce,
• There are certain surveys that have been done about the workforce and the alignment of the workforce,
• to acquire a property to develop an enhanced behavioral support zone?
• The department will be taking the lead on developing the training.
• Working with our community to develop goals and to develop our priorities has really been beneficial,

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to strongly support HB 3730 and SB 2361 relative to tomorrow's trucking industry workforce.
• If we do not continue to increase the workforce in Massachusetts and the trucking industry, the cost
• The trucking workforce is significantly older than traditional workforces across the board, mostly male-dominated
• He wanted to honor veterans as well; therefore, he developed the Medal of Fidelity.
• It's no different, and they have done so many technology researches and developments against that.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 36 bills covering aviation, commercial vehicles, school buses, veterans license plates, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate Chair Brendan Crighton outlined the hearing procedures, then the committee heard testimony on a range of measures, including a bill to modernize alternative student transportation for vulnerable students such as those covered by McKinney-Vento, foster children, and students with disabilities; a bill on unmanned aerial systems that would define drones and restrict weaponization, interference with aircraft, and certain surveillance; and a bill addressing airplane noise and reporting at Beverly Regional Airport. Supporters of the student transportation bill argued it would update outdated school bus requirements while preserving safety standards, while drone-related testimony was split between sponsors and public safety advocates who supported stronger restrictions and industry representatives who warned the bills could conflict with federal law and harm legitimate commercial uses. The committee also heard testimony on workforce and school transportation bills. Representatives and industry witnesses supported a proposal to create a grant program and career outreach for the trucking industry, citing a persistent driver shortage and the importance of trucking to the state’s economy. Teamsters Local 170 supported a bill to ease unemployment job-search requirements for school bus drivers and monitors who are expected to return to work within a short period, saying the current rules create unnecessary burdens during summer layoffs. Another school transportation bill would create an under-the-hood exception for CDL licensing of school bus drivers; several chiropractors testified in support, saying they already perform DOT-style exams and should be explicitly authorized to do school bus driver medical certifications. Veterans-related testimony focused on license plate and disability-definition bills. Advocates supported a Medal of Fidelity license plate for Gold Star families and a separate bill to create an air medal plate. The Office of the Veteran Advocate testified in favor of revising the state’s definition of disabled veteran for RMV purposes, arguing the current language is tied to special monthly compensation categories and does not adequately reflect modern service-connected disabilities, including invisible wounds. The American Legion also urged clarification of the definition, while opposing a separate women veterans plate on the grounds that it could divide veterans unnecessarily. The committee took no votes during the hearing and ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, HILLARY HOLLY, FLORIDA FFA DIR.
• OF DEVELOPMENT AND FLORIDA FFA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
• IN ORDER TO BUILD THE FUTURE WORKFORCE OUR AGE OF DISCOVERY.
• THERE ARE STUDIES UNDERWAY TO DEVELOP REAL MARKETABLE INDUSTRIAL USES FOR HIM.
• WE HAVE 100 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND GOING TO DEVELOPMENTS EVERY DAY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the public shelter development program is actually $3 million each and every year.
• So the public shelter development program is actually $3 million each and every year.
• Jason Domer, Deputy Secretary of Community Development of the Department of Commerce. Mr.
• I'm the Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce.
• So the community development block grant disaster recovery funds that... Awarded to the state.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard two hurricane-recovery presentations focused on Florida’s response and long-term recovery efforts. Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reviewed response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including meals, water, sheltering, search and rescue deployments, power restoration, debris removal, flood-control efforts, and generator distribution. He also described ongoing public assistance and mitigation funding, the state’s FROC system for standardizing and speeding reimbursement documentation, and the Elevate Florida residential mitigation program, which will use about $400 million to elevate or reconstruct eligible flood-insurance properties and may expand to county-run programs. Senators asked about manufactured homes, school shelter hardening, mobile home tie-downs, reimbursement for USAR teams, debris hauling, regional sheltering, and FEMA review delays; Guthrie said the state is trying to move recovery faster and more proactively, while acknowledging some limits and federal bottlenecks. The committee then heard from Justin Domer, Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce, on HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs. He explained that Commerce administers long-term recovery funds through its Office of Long-Term Resiliency for housing, infrastructure, and economic development, with funds used as a last resort after FEMA and insurance. Domer outlined the process for the most recent $925 million allocation covering multiple disasters, including Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton, Broward flooding, and North Florida tornadoes, and said the state currently manages about $3.4 billion in DR funds, rising to over $4 billion with the new allocation. He highlighted completed and ongoing housing programs for Hurricane Irma, Michael, and Ian, plus workforce recovery programs and subrecipient infrastructure grants. Senators asked about Broward and Fort Lauderdale funding, homeowner turnaround times, and mobile home eligibility; Domer said Broward and Fort Lauderdale will have separate HUD-directed programs, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $7 million dollars is a request to develop a capital expenditure fund, which we do not have traditionally
• So we're developing one sort of modern platform where everything will go into utilizing the resources
• We know that we don't have a stable workforce.
• Also for 660 of our direct care workforce to bring them up to just what other state agencies are paying
• It's a limited workforce; it's a small pool, and a lot of agencies are going after that same pool of

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.
• California is facing a significant physician workforce crisis. Thanks.
• That is an untapped workforce here in California, and we cannot overlook that part.
• That is a on-tap workforce here in California, and we cannot overlook that part.
• It's a structured pathway that supports both workforce expansion and patient safety.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 1892 by Assembly Member Davies and an act relating to common interest developments.
• AB 2480 will allow student housing developments near college campuses to qualify for our state's super
• Townhome developments are not allowed to be built on mobile Objective standards.
• The goal here is to actually bring this workforce out from under the shadows.
• Strong mentorship helps new teachers develop classroom skills and remain in the profession.

Summary: The Assembly met on May 7, 2026, after an initial delay caused by the absence of a quorum, then proceeded with prayer, a moment of silence for victims of a hate-motivated attack at the Islamic Center in San Diego, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Speaker pro tempore then moved through the daily file, repeatedly urging members to be on time and at their desks as the House of Origin deadline approached. Procedural actions included dispensing with the journal, deferring some items, and moving AB 1667 to the inactive file. The bulk of the session was devoted to floor consideration of many bills, most of which passed with little or no opposition. Measures approved included bills on artificial intelligence provenance information (AB 2713), community college trustee compensation (AB 2528), transit camera enforcement and privacy (AB 1837), excess proceeds claims in taxation (AB 2705), HOA technical cleanup (AB 1892), hepatitis C treatment access (AB 1843), child care planning in local general plans (AB 1914), greenhouse energy code flexibility (AB 2200), rent-now-pay-later consumer protections (AB 2350), housing cleanup and density bonus measures (including AB 2390, AB 2480, AB 1567, AB 1751, and others), spay/neuter access (AB 2010), workforce housing financing tools (AB 2110), supportive housing and homelessness-related changes (AB 2146), mental health and health plan notification measures (AB 1598, AB 2613), student aid and education bills (AB 1534, AB 1636, AB 1669, AB 1728, AB 1784, AB 1871), public safety and criminal justice bills (AB 1546, AB 1572, AB 1872, AB 1877, AB 1932), and several health and social services measures (AB 1602, AB 1628, AB 1680, AB 1825, AB 1845, AB 1906, AB 1907, AB 1925). Most bills were described as support measures, often with bipartisan backing and no opposition, and passed by wide margins. A few bills drew more discussion, especially AB 1751, a housing/townhome bill that sparked extended debate over wages, prevailing wage, stakeholder engagement, and whether the measure could depress pay for construction trades; despite concerns and an opposition speech, it ultimately passed 44-0. AB 1793, which would allow symmetrical rounding of cash transactions to the nearest nickel in light of the penny’s phaseout, also drew light debate and passed 47-1. AB 1932, an urgency measure expanding community-based crisis response, passed with one no vote on both the urgency and the bill. Several urgency or 54-vote bills, including AB 1534 and AB 1932, required later roll calls or calls to be lifted, but all measures described in the transcript were ultimately approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, the city of Clovis has developed an effluent reuse system.
• We are in the process Marquita: organizationally of developing an integrated system that'll actually
• I see the future of Mesalands being serving the community, especially in workforce, and we may always
• So I noted in my report we we had 375 workforce certifications this past year and I want to emphasize
• But those are workforce certificates. Some of them are stand-alone workforce.

Transcript Highlights:

• This came on the heels of the establishment of the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, which
• And not only that, 20% of our workforce, our physician workforce are over the age of 65, not calling
• So this would really, really help get that workforce up and running faster in Texas.
• So the army actually brought me here up at Fort Hood, and now Cavazos, and I developed roots.
• So that's kind of the part of the point of developing these types of residency programs.

Bills: HB163, HB 296

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• , developed or that is being developed, developed or that is being developed, Kindle,<00:42:03.440
• c> and<00:59:10.680> implemented So, TWIST was developed and implemented So, TWIST was developed
• It is hosted a 100% custom development.
• , workforce, workforce, additional<01:03:00.800> fraud<01:03:01.600> fraud<01:03:02.000
• So, as increasing demands on workforce.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:00 Department of Education 00:21:00 Transportation Cabinet 00:35:30 Secretary of State 00:45:15 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:56:11 Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related legislation 01:09:11, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then focused first on the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s legacy systems and two specific projects. COT officials said many agencies have made progress moving off legacy applications, with remaining mainframe systems slated to be retired through RFPs or other work orders. They also described a legacy funding pool of $10 million per biennium used to help agencies transition. The two projects discussed were the Kentucky aerial photography and elevation data program, which provides statewide aerial imagery and lidar data for GIS, E911, environmental, transportation, and other uses, and a citizen identity and access management system intended to give residents a single login for state services. Officials said the GIS program costs about $1.2 million annually to host and maintain, with data acquisition costing several million more per year, and that the citizen identity system would cost about $2.5 million per year after an initial three-year COT investment. Members asked about duplication of funding, licensing, local government use, and whether multi-factor authentication would be required; COT said the GIS data is being acquired as statewide unlicensed data and that MFA would be available but not yet mandated statewide. Committee members pressed COT on costs, overlap with cabinet-level IT spending, and the practical benefits of the GIS and identity projects. COT explained that GIS hosting is generally covered through enterprise assessments billed quarterly to agencies, while the new aerial data is intended to benefit the whole state and local partners. On the identity project, officials said it would centralize authentication for citizens who use state systems, improve compliance with zero-trust and NIST-related security expectations, and reduce help desk and maintenance burdens through self-service account tools. Members also discussed whether the system would extend to local governments; COT said it would be a Kentucky.gov-style state login for users inside the state identity infrastructure, not a local-government system. The Department of Education then testified that it does not operate mainframes or major legacy systems, having moved long ago to cloud-based, off-the-shelf products and vendor-supported services. KDE officials described a strong emphasis on staff cybersecurity awareness, standardized statewide systems, vendor risk-sharing, and reducing sensitive data exposure, including efforts to move away from student Social Security numbers. They also highlighted a transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Identity Automation, which they said will improve identity management and make multi-factor authentication universal across K-12. In response to questions about Kentucky Wired and internet service, KDE said all 171 school districts and KDE agencies have been moved to a new next-generation internet service through ENA by Zayo, with strong satisfaction, e-rate savings, and better reliability. Officials warned that any internet disruption would immediately affect attendance, grades, student records, payroll, security systems, and communications across the K-12 system.

Transcript Highlights:

• Development to order.
• It's integral to the partnership with our community and supplying, being a partner in workforce development
• <00:24:21.520> development.
• <00:24:22.559> Um<00:24:23.120> but<00:24:23.440> as in the workforce development
• Um but as in the workforce development.

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.