Video & Transcript : 'wage increases' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Business and Professions
Transcript Highlights:
- However, relaxing vital veterinary regulations will not increase access; only funding will.
- The sponsors, with combined... ...will not increase access; only funding will.
- In fact, collections increased.
- AB 2311 would increase physician choice, support the independence of public district hospitals, and increase
- There's no increase in risk developed within our health care system through practicing it. Mr.
Committee:
House Business and Professions
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 27th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V
Transcript Highlights:
- So, so, uh, clarify for me, uh, are we doing annual increases, performance increases, or?
- Also, um, when the Supreme Court put in their increase to, uh, request to increase staff attorneys by
- additional $1.7 million to increase funding for operational expenses, to fund salary increases for certain
- It would increase our capacity substantially.
- And then finally we are also requesting a 6% increase in salary, the judiciary-wide increase.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, so, this bill, SB 2140, authorizes counties to require contractors to disclose employee wage, benefit
- So, this bill, SB 2140, authorizes counties to require contractors to disclose employee wage, benefit
Keywords:
immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, detainer, ICE, federal immigration authorities, 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 U.S.C. 1373, 8 U.S.C. 1644, deportation, undocumented immigrants, noncitizen, migrant rights, local police cooperation, law enforcement cooperation, hold request, judicial warrant, probable cause, civil immigration enforcement, county police, state police
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 16th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- not hiring local farmworkers; they're hiring the Braceros instead, and they're not paying minimum wage
- , and she talks to all the farmworkers there and then shames the farmer into paying actual minimum wage
Summary:
The Senate met with a quorum present and began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several routine announcements. Senator Weber Pierson removed SB 977 from the consent calendar. The chamber then took up a series of gubernatorial appointments, including Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission; all were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls after brief presentations by Senator Grove.
The Senate also considered several commemorative resolutions. SCR 152, by Senator Reyes, designated April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day. Senators from both parties spoke in support, praising Huerta’s lifelong labor, civil rights, and nonviolent organizing work, and noting her role in the farmworker movement and the contributions of Filipino farmworkers. The resolution passed unanimously. SR 91, by Senator González, recognized Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week; SCR 149, by Senator Valadares, marked World Autism Awareness Day and emphasized early intervention and adult services; and SCR 150, by Senator Choi, recognized National Librarian Day and the public value of librarians. Each of these resolutions was adopted with broad support.
The Senate also passed SB 1078 by Senator Laird, an urgency measure giving Santa Cruz County voters the opportunity to consider a local tax increase above the combined local tax rate cap to help fund services, including medical services; the bill passed 29-9 on both urgency and final passage. SR 98 by Senator Wiener, designating Heat Pump Week in California, also passed with strong support, highlighting energy savings, emissions reductions, and the state’s electrification goals. After lifting the call, the chamber confirmed the earlier appointments and adopted the remaining consent calendar items without objection. The session ended with committee announcements and an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a nurse and community leader, with the Senate scheduled to reconvene on April 20, 2026.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Mar 4th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Part one modernizes reporting of wages to federal standards from cash, which is the current statute,
- to wages.
Bills:
HB4246 , HB4230 , HB3617 , HB3657 , HB2976 , HB3391 , HB4459 , HB4128 , HB3989 , HB2989 , HB4060 , HB3145 , HB2992 , HB3464 , HB4246 , HB4230 , HB3617 , HB3657 , HB2976 , HB3391 , HB4459 , HB4128 , HB3989 , HB2989 , HB4060 , HB3145 , HB2992 , HB3464
Committees:
House Energy , House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight
Keywords:
HB4246, water rights, rural water, wastewater, drinking water, environmental quality, DEQ, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Rural Water Association, technical assistance, water infrastructure, small systems, utility operators, emergency water response, nonprofit contractors, vendor qualification, competitive bidding, best value procurement, central purchasing act, rural utilities
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Jan 22nd, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They will see better wages and better standards because of her work.
- This means fair wages for working families in California, being a strong champion for all Californians
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled routine announcements and motions, including a request by Senator Arreguín to remove SB 239 from the inactive file for second reading. The chamber then took up SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, a resolution concerning immigration rates, which was debated briefly and placed on call before later amendments were adopted by a 29-10 vote.
The Senate next considered SR 70 by Senator Pérez, commemorating the third anniversary of the Monterey Park tragedy. Senator Pérez and Senator Rubio spoke about the 11 lives lost, the injuries, the heroism of Brandon Tsay, and the need to remember the victims and support the community. The resolution passed unanimously, 39-0, after which Senator Pérez introduced Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang on the floor.
The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment memories honoring Mary Gutierrez Hunter, labor activist Bob Mulholland, former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand, and Vietnamese American community leader Vu von Locke. Senators described each person’s public service, organizing work, and lasting impact on labor, veterans, local government, refugee resettlement, and community institutions. The Senate also announced the Appropriations Committee would meet shortly after adjournment and noted the next floor session would be held Monday, January 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee May 5th, 2026
Budget and Fiscal Review
Transcript Highlights:
- It's what we're doing to... ...increase costs. We need to stop.
- I think there is an increase, there is a projected increase in federal funding in the Governor's budget
- I think over $1.5 to $2 billion in provider increases.
- How many reimbursement rates have been increased in the last decade? They have.
- Again, Proposition 35 included rate increases.
Committee:
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review
Summary:
The committee heard AB 108, a budget bill junior that would amend the 2025 Budget Act to create a one-time $25 million General Fund grant program at HCAI for hospitals in immediate and significant financial distress. The bill also included a technical change related to property tax deferments for eligible low-income seniors. Finance explained that eligible hospitals would have to be not-for-profit, have less than 10 days cash on hand, show best efforts to exhaust other financing, and have a payer mix of more than 50% government payers and uninsured patients; the bill also gives HCAI expedited contracting and rulemaking authority. Members and the LAO noted the proposal is intended as a short-term bridge until July 1, while broader hospital support is expected in the May Revision and next year’s budget.
Much of the discussion focused on whether $25 million is enough, how many hospitals would qualify, and whether the 10-day cash threshold is too narrow. Several senators argued the administration had not provided enough data or a clear methodology, and raised concerns about fairness compared with the earlier Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which used broader criteria and provided loans rather than grants. Members also raised broader policy issues affecting hospital finances, including Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, seismic retrofit costs, federal funding changes, and the need for better data and more immediate assessment of hospital distress. The LAO said the current proposal is narrower than the prior loan program and emphasized the need for better reporting and analysis going forward.
Public commenters, including the California Hospital Association, district hospital representatives, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and county officials, supported the bill and urged additional longer-term funding for distressed hospitals. The chair and several members said the bill is a short-term emergency measure for a small number of hospitals at risk of imminent closure, while broader solutions will be addressed later in the budget process. AB 108 was then moved and passed out of committee on an 18-0 vote, with the roll held open briefly to secure remaining votes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Apr 22nd, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- However, it is unclear whether this standard permits modest increases in size.
- In fact, it's increasing. And yet at this moment, we are not... It's increasing.
- For many of the reasons that the opposition already stated, increases in utility rates, increases in
- I'd like to see that 15% increase for our Cal Fire men and women work.
- Increases to Cal Fire's budget.
Committee:
Senate Revenue and Taxation
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on public health, wildfire recovery, local government finance, transportation, and rural health care. SB 1124 by Senator Archuleta would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco retail locations. The author and a physician witness argued the bill would raise awareness of a highly underused screening that can save lives, while retailers and fuel/convenience groups raised implementation concerns about signage size, notice, and penalties. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a 4-0 vote after the committee later took up the on-call item.
SB 1352 by Senator Valadao and Senator Allen would clarify that wildfire victims can rebuild homes up to 110% of the original size without triggering reassessment, so long as the property was destroyed in a governor-declared disaster. Supporters, including the L.A. County Assessor, the California Assessors Association, Realtors, and taxpayers groups, said the bill would reduce uncertainty and help families rebuild without higher property taxes. It passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. SB 1343, presented by Senator Allen on behalf of Senator Dodd, would provide a $4,000 income tax credit for sales tax paid on furniture and appliances purchased to furnish a primary residence after a disaster; it drew one opposition witness from the California Teachers Association but otherwise had no public opposition and passed 5-0 to Appropriations.
SB 1172 by Senator Hurtado would place caps and transparency requirements on consultant compensation in local tax-sharing agreements, responding to cases in Shafter and Dinuba where revenue was allegedly diverted to consultants. Local government and business groups supported the measure as a guardrail, while some members expressed concern about Sacramento limiting local control; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1408 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to place a countywide sales tax measure of up to 1% on the ballot to continue transportation funding; transit agencies and local officials supported it, while taxpayer groups opposed it, and it passed 4-1. SB 1404 by Senator Stern would restore a fee on property owners in state responsibility areas to fund Cal Fire wildfire prevention and suppression, with supporters arguing the fee would broaden funding and opponents calling it an unfair tax on rural and wildfire-prone residents; it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1102 by Senator Dodd would create a $2,000 tax credit for frontline nurses working in rural hospitals; supporters said it would help recruit and retain nurses in underserved areas, and the bill passed 5-0 as amended to Appropriations.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There's a large. ...of increasing port traffic with trucks coming off the port, and so you basically
- None of the places where road diets have been implemented have increased transit use, bike commuting,
- Officers have claimed that this traffic calming would slow down cars and increase pedestrian safety.
- Last year alone in Houston, we saw 365 bike crashes, which is a 21% increase.
- Increase, and 16 cyclist deaths. Statewide cyclist fatalities have risen more than 50% since 2019.
Bills:
HB341 , HB469 , HB971 , HB1624 , HB2721 , HB2959 , HB3365 , HB3731 , HB3793 , HB3861 , HB3946 , HB3966 , HB4348 , HB4401 , HB4402 , HB4924 , HB4966 , HB5563
Committee:
House Transportation
Keywords:
affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, commercial vehicle, safety standards, enforcement, Texas counties, transportation
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Apr 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It's going to dramatically increase the bycatch, the closer you get.
- It has reduced wages for our crews and has forced us to cut costs.
- The buffer zone increased.
- Bernard were increased... The very outside of St. Bernard were increased to one and a half miles.
- It has increased by 4%, by 267 square miles.
Summary:
The committee took up House Bill 886 by Rep. Orgeron, which would make seasonal catch totals and related reporting for the commercial menhaden fishery publicly available by carving out an exception to confidentiality rules. The author said the bill was intended to align with the original intent of prior reporting legislation and to ensure the public can see how much menhaden is being taken from Louisiana waters. Supporters, including Louisiana Wildlife Federation, CCA, charter captains, and recreational anglers, argued the fishery uses a public resource and that transparency is needed for policymaking. Opponents said they did not object to transparency in principle, but one speaker asked that size-sampling data be removed, arguing it has no scientific value and is already handled through NOAA and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Council processes. The committee reported HB 886 favorably without opposition.
The committee then heard House Bill 855, also by Rep. Orgeron, which would establish a 22-foot depth requirement for the commercial use of purse seines in the menhaden fishery. The author said the bill was based on a state-funded bycatch study showing red drum bycatch rises sharply in shallow water and that the current quarter-mile buffer is insufficient, especially in nearshore areas where recreational fishing and sensitive habitats are concentrated. Supporters emphasized the public trust nature of menhaden, the economic value of recreational fishing, and concerns about bycatch, beach fouling, and localized depletion. Several speakers cited the bycatch study, public comments opposing the recent reduction from a half-mile to a quarter-mile buffer, and the belief that deeper-water fishing would reduce impacts on redfish and other species.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries staff and the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Scott Rayburn, answered questions about the current buffer rules, enforcement, and the science behind the 22-foot threshold. They explained that the recent reduction to a quarter-mile buffer came from a commission directive and that the department had investigated complaints but found no violations. Dr. Rayburn said the 22-foot figure came from modeling red drum bycatch as a function of depth and that the study focused on red drum because of its economic and social importance, while not analyzing every species in the same way. Opponents of the bill, including West Bank Fishing and Ocean Harvesters representatives, said the rule of three is a standard confidentiality concept, argued the bill should not be framed as anti-transparency, and urged removal of the size-sampling provisions. The committee heard extensive testimony but no final action on HB 855 was recorded in the excerpt.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment Apr 8th, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- It's going to dramatically increase the bycatch, the closer you get.
- It has reduced wages for our crews and has forced us to cut costs.
- The buffer zone increased.
- Bernard were increased to one and a half miles. Is that correct? No.
- It has increased by 4%, by 267 square miles. Welcome to Natural Resources.
Committee:
House Natural Resources & Environment
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- And rents are adjusted year over year as wages and income rise.
- And rents are adjusted year over year as wages and income rise. These communities aren't projects.
- And when we debate what kind of tax we might want to either increase or decrease, there's a lot of debate
- Should we increase or decrease the income tax or whatever?
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Post-COVID, it has... increased times five.
- We were here before COVID. and it was times three and it just only increasing.
- Despite the increasing needs of students.
- It increases P-TECH funding from $50 to $150 per student.
- We also, you've got a lot in this bill about. increasing the onsped, increasing the diagnostics for that
Bills:
HB6 , HB27 , HB 123 , HB210 , HB213 , HB222 , HB610 , HB 1085 , HB1481 , HB6 , HB27 , HB123 , HB210 , HB213 , HB222
Committee:
House Public Education
Keywords:
mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- There's a large number of increasing port traffic with trucks coming off the port, and so you basically
- You might think that increasing the amount of bus-only lanes would make residents more likely to give
- Meanwhile, the number of registered vehicles in Texas has increased from over 22 million in 2020 to an
- This process leads to operational inefficiencies, increased costs, and processing time.
- That's nearly a 400% increase of thefts, assaults, trespassing.
Bills:
HB 341 , HB 469 , HB 971 , HB 1624 , HB 2721 , HB 2959 , HB 3365 , HB 3731 , HB 3793 , HB 3861 , HB 3946 , HB 3966 , HB 4348 , HB 4401 , HB 4402 , HB 4924 , HB 4966 , HB 5563
Committee:
House Transportation
Keywords:
affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, commercial vehicle, safety standards, enforcement, Texas counties, transportation
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It's our understanding that it will, again, increase.
- The program has increased. Slide 10 outlines a little bit how these programs work.
- For the incremental tax increase for an Event Trust Fund, there is no minimum or maximum.
- That bill also acknowledged the increasing involvement of young people in mass shootings.
- Increasing the likelihood of justice involvement.
Bills:
SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448
Committee:
Senate Economic Development
Keywords:
hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- He's waging war on working families here at home.
- </c> what is Trump increasing the budget for? what is Trump increasing the budget for?
- He's just waging illegal wars abroad.
- to</c> percentage increase to the increase to percentage increase to the increase to the<06:35:12.240
- </c> increased by 12%. increased by 12%.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (04/09/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- What it does is, for this department and the other two that handle in-house projects, it increases the
- the amount of um projects to increase the amount of projects<00:32:17.360><c> that</c><00:32:17.600>
- in prices and inflation the the increase in prices and inflation that<00:41:01.680><c> we're</c><00:
- </c><01:27:49.199><c> On</c><01:27:49.440><c> a</c> on something else will increase.
- On a on something else will increase.
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns.
Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You haven't increased the basic allotment since 2019.
- So the voucher program in Indiana has only continued to increase since it passed.
- That increases our class size.
- Each school I have worked in has tried to do more to increase opportunities for students, but the increase
- This is due to the state not increasing the basic allotment.
Committee:
Senate Education
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities.
Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases.
Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Health and Human Services Feb 16th, 2026 at 09:04 am
House Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- We're seeing double-digit rate increases.
- How do they know the plan isn't going to increase?
- annual increases?
- Will their amount they pay every month increase? Will their amount they pay every month increase?
- So, Madam Chair Then would it include whether or not they increased wages?
Committee:
House House Health & Human Services
Keywords:
SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine certain pending nominations. May 1st, 2025 at 09:30 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I've previously called for Ireland to increase its defence spending to safeguard vital undersea cables
- States invented this technology and then the manufacturers and inventors drawn by the siren of cheap wages
- already, because Macron in particular, they've increased from their GDP to 2 point something percent
- for other nominees to be ambassadors to Latin American countries has been concern about China's increasing
- I believe we have partial sanctions in place, and the president may very well choose to increase that
Committee:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Keywords:
diplomatic nominations, foreign policy, ambassadors, U.S.-European relations, Bilateral relationships, security, trade
Summary:
The meeting focused primarily on diplomatic nominations, featuring discussions about the implications of these roles on U.S. foreign policy. Notable was the introduction of nominees for key ambassadorial positions, including ambassadors to the Dominican Republic, France, and the Netherlands. Senator Shaheen emphasized the importance of U.S.-European relations, particularly in light of current global challenges, while other members voiced their concerns regarding the nominees’ qualifications and the impact on bilateral relationships. Public support for these nominations was evident, as was the committee's commitment to fostering stronger connections with allied nations, particularly in addressing security and trade issues.