Transcript Highlights:

• Affect patient access to care.
• about the quality of care.
• Delayed patient care.
• of their future care.
• We know that the hospitals present a huge percentage of the care, doctor care, and other provider care

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also bargain two health care agreements: the state employee health care agreement, PEBB, and the K
• care benefit.
• care benefit.
• And, just noting, as with many health care rates, the cost of graduate student health care has gone up
• I do have a caveat here that for non-state employees, so those child care, adult home care providers,

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met on May 8, 2026, to review goals and objectives for the 2027–2029 master collective bargaining cycle and to hear updates on higher education and Washington Management Service bargaining. OFM’s Jenny Sheehan outlined the state workforce, noting that most employees are represented, the workforce remains heavily governed by civil service rules and CBAs, and the state is entering bargaining under a constrained hiring and budget environment. She described the bargaining timeline, the role of the June revenue forecasts in determining whether targeted compensation increases can be funded, and the state’s goals of affordability, maintaining labor relations, supporting equity, and addressing non-economic issues such as AI use, leave, immigration-related workplace concerns, and union access in a hybrid work environment. Sheehan also reviewed the 2025–2027 bargaining cycle, including the prior WPEA ratification issue and the requirement that tentative agreements be submitted by October 1 for financial feasibility review and possible legislative funding. She said the 2025–27 agreements cost about $1.2 billion in general funds and $1.7 billion total, excluding the later-funded WPEA agreements. In response to a question, she explained that paid family and medical leave is not bargained over directly because it is governed by statute and ESD rules. She then presented on Washington Management Service bargaining, explaining that only certain WMS employees are eligible to bargain, that representation remains small, and that current WMS contracts are handled through addenda to existing agreements. She also described interest arbitration for certain groups, including ferries and public safety-related employees, and said arbitration awards still must be financially feasible and submitted by October 1. The committee also heard from Western Washington University and the University of Washington on higher education bargaining. Western described its locally bargained contracts, the importance of local bargaining for workload, tenure, grievance, and safety issues, and the impact of the state fund split on budget planning. Western said it has no state funding for student compensation and has requested inclusion of student employees in the wage base. UW outlined its large workforce and the different bargaining frameworks under RCW 41.56 and 41.80, emphasizing that state funding and tuition make up only a portion of its budget and that the fund split and health care cost increases significantly affect compensation planning. UW also highlighted its request for state funding for academic student employee compensation, saying rising costs are reducing the number of positions and affecting class sizes and the academic pipeline. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members discussed the upcoming bargaining and arbitration timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Angela Young, testifying on behalf of CARES.
• um which helps that collaboration um which helps that collaboration amongst<01:33:36.320> with
• <01:34:08.719> Um, collaboration also with Jessica. Um, collaboration also with Jessica.
• cares behalf of cares and<01:37:28.080> so<01:37:28.560> like<01:37:28.800> I<01
• opposition so that we can collaborate opposition so that we can collaborate better,<04:23:34.720

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a suite of bills in the care and protection space.
• In fact, she threatened me. child care in the state?
• All three girls are in foster care.
• They would have been safe in my care. The trauma lingers.
• My son was not removed from my care for any type of neglect or abuse.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a package of Department of Children and Families bills focused on care and protection proceedings, sibling placement, parenting time, foster parent eligibility, adoption timelines, and a proposed Harmony Montgomery Commission. Rep. Marjorie Decker framed her bills as a set intended to reduce trauma for children removed from home by promoting sibling placement, visitation, cultural continuity, and limits on barriers to foster/adoptive placement. Witnesses from CASA, the Massachusetts Child Welfare Coalition, CPCS, and others generally supported the sibling-placement and parenting-time bills and the Harmony Commission, while several urged that the commission include a birth parent with lived experience and that its scope remain focused on child safety and family rights. A former juvenile court judge also supported the Harmony Commission, citing failures in the Harmony Montgomery case and broader concerns about DCF power and child representation. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing focused on Senate 114, the “Family Protection and Transparency Act,” which would require DCF to provide families with written and verbal notice of their rights during investigations, including the right to remain silent, consult counsel, and refuse entry absent legal authority except in emergencies. Supporters included parents, former foster youth, attorneys, advocates, and a peer mentor, many of whom described personal experiences of confusion, coercion, retaliation, and family separation when DCF became involved. They argued the bill would improve due process, language access, transparency, and accountability without limiting DCF’s emergency powers. Several witnesses also described intergenerational DCF involvement and said families often need resources and legal guidance rather than punitive intervention. Testimony on House 268 emphasized the importance of keeping siblings together in foster care whenever possible. Advocates cited research showing better mental health, educational, and reunification outcomes when siblings remain together, and several young people testified about being separated from brothers and sisters and the lasting impact of that separation. CPCS supported the bill and said regular sibling visitation should be required when joint placement is not possible. House 269, 270, 271, 288, and 293 were also on the notice, but the transcript reflects little or no testimony on some of those measures. The hearing concluded after the committee heard from all scheduled witnesses and invited written testimony for additional details.

Transcript Highlights:

• think it was Monday, with Another significant vendor that may come in and has the potential of taking care
• I think we were working together collaboratively on trying to come up with some ideas of what we could
• in inquiry, and then we got the advisory council, which will provide a level of transparency, collaboration
• will help kind of the unbridled expansion of these tools that'll help us be more thoughtful and more careful
• I've been trying to find ways to continue to collaborate with the various sectors.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the folks in the private sector, they have unlimited medical care costs.
• Can you explain to me what your barrier is to providing infant care now? Money. It's funding. Mr.
• You are perfectly capable of applying to provide child care now.
• You are eligible for infant and toddler care. You're eligible for New Mexico Pre-K care.
• It does take some time, of course, to get the license for child care, but we're working on it.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• applications, whether that's don't care applications, whether that's don't care officers<00:34:23.839
• Not for the supplemental care. >> Okay.
• ,<01:36:20.560> and foundational to that collaboration, and foundational to that collaboration
• critical health for health care critical health for health care workforce<01:42:09.760> shortages
• want to talk about the healthc care want to talk about the healthc care positions<01:48:20.560><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care grants, uh, part of statute. care grants, uh, part of statute.
• So it's a low-cost collaboration and it's only $5,000.
• it's a a lowcost it's a collaboration it's a a lowcost it's a collaboration and<01:00:27.920>
• Usually when you add people and collaboration it leads to higher costs.
• to people and collaboration it leads to higher<01:15:39.920> costs.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education. After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed. During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• My second point is we're all aware of the nightmares that have happened under DCYF care, and I'm sure
• and I'm sure every single DCYF care and I'm sure every single person<00:15:16.240> who<00:15:
• certainly opportunity to collaborate certainly opportunity to collaborate with<00:20:24.000>
• The collaboration that I just mentioned ensures that we're meeting family needs.
• We're going to take care of everything for you."

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with a brief update and prayer for Oscar, a person known to members, noting he was making slow but encouraging progress and awaiting transfer to rehab. The hearing then began on House Bill 518, which would require the commissioner of DHS to provide a detailed annual report of DCYF costs. Representative Erica Leyon, the sponsor, said the bill was intended to improve transparency, clarify how DCYF resources and shared services are used, and help future discussions about staffing, funding, and whether DCYF should remain within DHHS or become a separate department. She said the department could likely comply without additional cost and was open to adjusting the reporting date, with the department preferring December 31 instead of September 1. Committee members and the DCYF director, Marie Nunan, discussed whether the bill was duplicative of existing reporting and whether it should also include federal funding mandates. Nunan said DCYF already has many policies and reports, but does not currently produce one consolidated DCYF-specific report in this form; she also said the department believed it had the capacity to file the report and was not taking a position on the bill. Several members questioned whether the measure was necessary, while others supported transparency but suggested the information was already available or could be obtained without legislation. In executive session, the committee voted 15-1 to retain HB 518, meaning it will not advance to the calendar at this time. The committee then opened House Bill 775, sponsored by Representative Jod Nelson, concerning supervised visitation centers. Nelson introduced Dr. Scott Hampton, who testified that supervised visitation is important for child safety, domestic violence prevention, and family preservation. Hampton described the history of visitation centers in New Hampshire, saying funding cuts had reduced the number of centers over time and that prior legislation had failed due to budget reductions. He argued that supervised exchanges can reduce risks such as abuse, abduction, and homicide, and said the service can prevent harm without adding cost by avoiding more serious incidents. The hearing on HB 775 was still underway at the end of the transcript, with no vote or final action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not care what your immigration status is.
• experience discrimination in your apartment building because of the language that you speak, we could not care
• I would invite Yvonne to share anything about our collaboration.
• It connects people to the resource, the hotline and the care coordinators who answer the phone call,
• The other question that you had asked was about our collaboration with Stop the Hate.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration met to hear the Civil Rights Department’s budget items, with the chair opening by emphasizing that agency directors should appear in person if they want their items heard. Go-Biz was not heard because its director was absent. The department outlined four chaptered-legislation implementation items: SB 464 on updated pay data reporting categories, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 935 expanding data collection and reporting, and SB 518 creating the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery. The Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office had no concerns with these proposals. Members then asked about the department’s broader workload and role in responding to discrimination, hate incidents, and immigration-related fears in communities. CRD explained that it handles complaints in areas such as housing, employment, public accommodations, hate crimes, and human trafficking, but does not have jurisdiction over the federal government or landlord-tenant law generally. Officials said filings and open matters have risen sharply, with the department nearing 12,000 open matters, and described outreach in multiple languages, immigrant-serving work, and support for victims through T and U visa-related assistance. They also discussed the Commission on the State of Hate, the California vs. Hate hotline, and coordination with Stop the Hate grantees and community organizations. The committee also heard items on ongoing workload for AB 2188, AB 1041, and AB 1949, which would convert limited-term resources to permanent positions because workload has met or exceeded initial estimates. The LAO had no concerns. A final item requested $502,000 for ongoing security guard services at CRD public counters after more than a dozen threats to staff since July 2024; the LAO again had no concerns. Members expressed support for the security request and discussed the need for safe public-facing offices. No votes were taken, and each item was closed after discussion and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the initiative directs HHSC, TDCJ, and TWC to collaborate with... ...local workforce development boards
• Opportunity to collaborate. Very good. Thank you. Members, any other questions?
• Currently, this letter, along with our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, is under the care
• Under House Bill 1397, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is charged with the care, custody
• Statutorily, fraud, waste, and abuse are only addressed in the subsidized child care program.

Bills: HB1397, HB1893, HB1950, HB2027, HB2791, HB3698, HB3699, HB3700, SB2603, SB2607, SB2565

Keywords: Texas Constitution, Declaration of Independence, victory or death letter, display, historic preservation, HB 1893, Texas public information law, Public Information Act, Government Code 552.130, Transportation Code Chapter 730, license plate number, vehicle registration, law enforcement video, police body camera, dashcam, redaction, public records request, open records, government transparency, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• > here of the direct care lines of service here of the direct care lines of service here to<00
• Currently, if you are in the health care system with the Veterans Administration, getting health care
• Currently, if you are in the health care system with the Veterans Administration, getting health care
• and care quality across the state.
• consistency in care and of in<00:13:39.199> Care<00:13:39.560> Quality<00:13:40.399>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to work collaboratively to resolve this issue.
• I care about the work that we do at New Hampshire Housing, but I care much more for the people who we
• I care about the work that we do at New Hampshire Housing, but I care much more for the people who we
• I care about the work that we do at New Hampshire Housing, but I care much more for the people who we
• I care about the work that we do at New Hampshire Housing, but I care much more for the people who we

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2282 would allow DelPuerto Health Care District to provide emergency health care to rural communities
• AB 2282 would allow DelPuerto Health Care District to provide emergency health care to rural communities
• And this has been a process that has been very collaborative.
• And sometimes when I think about that, I say, who cares?
• We need more of you here to reach across the aisle and work collaboratively in this space.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving through the daily file. Several measures were taken up and passed, including bills on county jail accountability (AB 2257), claims against public agencies (AB 2529), affordable housing management metrics (AB 2689), digital wellness instruction in schools (AB 2071), pedestrian and bicycle safety project streamlining (AB 1976), manufactured home transport permits (AB 2012), a Surplus Land Act amendment tied to an Inland Empire soccer project (AB 2139), a Monterey Bay stewardship authority (AB 1548), online electrician licensing (AB 1707), a Caltrans study of navigation apps’ traffic impacts (AB 2105), coastal resiliency permitting reforms (AB 2051), downtown housing streamlining and financing (AB 2074), Cal Fire compensation (AB 2129), emergency care authority for Del Puerto Health Care District (AB 2282), charter school facilities hardship relief (AB 2316), theft by a peace officer under color of authority as serious misconduct (AB 2337), an Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander-serving institution designation (AB 2374), energy and cannabis support bills (AB 2464, AB 2537), and a suicide prevention plan requirement for treatment facilities (AB 2562). Most of these measures passed with broad bipartisan margins, and several were described as support bills with no opposition. The floor also debated a major criminal justice measure, AB 2727, which would raise the threshold for elderly parole eligibility for people serving sentences for violent sex offenses and add screening safeguards. Supporters from both parties emphasized child protection, survivor trauma, and specific local cases involving offenders who had become eligible for release; the bill passed 66-0. Another significant debate centered on AB 1958, which would clarify procedures under the California Racial Justice Act by refining how disparity claims are established and rebutted; the author said he would take Senate amendments to address concerns from district attorneys. The Assembly also considered AB 2313, a gas-to-electric transition bill allowing customers with planned service line replacements to opt out of gas service and use funds to electrify their homes. Members raised concerns about cost shifts and equity, and the author responded that the bill includes no-cost-shift language, larger credits for disadvantaged communities, and would not proceed if the math does not work; it passed 41-21. The final major item was AB 1709, a high-profile social media safety bill creating a minimum age of 16 for accounts on platforms using addictive features and establishing an e-safety commission. The author and many supporters from both parties framed the bill as a response to youth mental health harms, addictive design, and the need for age-based safeguards, while some members raised concerns about impacts on LGBTQ youth and other isolated young people who rely on online spaces. Supporters said the bill targets addictive design rather than speech and is intended to preserve safe online connection while limiting harmful features. The measure drew extensive bipartisan support and was still under debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• you know, in order to look forward to that growth and development, we're going to have to also take care
• Take care of our resources, so I appreciate what you all do and how you look at that and what you'll
• And the Affordable Care Marketplace was affected by about $1 trillion over 10 years.
• And Child Care Cooperative for PED and the Early Child Care Department over a three-year period.
• Another program that we're working closely with, in collaboration with the health care authority and

Transcript Highlights:

• Father, it has been my greatest joy to yield my life and service to those whom you have placed in my care
• Committee substitute for Senate Bill 1602, a bill to be entitled, An act relating to health care patient
• I really appreciate the collaboration with Representative Busada in the House to make it to where we
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 1427, a bill to be entitled An act relating to health care.
• You're in a nursing home, and we all want great, highly trained individuals caring for those of us in

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then moved into special order and returning messages. Early floor action included passage of HB 6503 (relief for Mandy Penny Lamon by Sarasota County), HB 1123 (sewer collection systems), HB 211 (farm products), and a joint resolution on ad valorem tax exemption for agricultural tangible personal property, all approved without opposition. Several other measures were temporarily postponed before the chamber recessed and later returned to messages from the House. The Senate then took up a series of House amendments and conference-style motions on major bills. SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response was amended and concurred in after debate over hurricane recovery, local government moratoriums, evacuation timing in the Keys, and property tax and redevelopment provisions; it passed 34-1. CS/HB 1609 on waste incineration and auxiliary containers was heavily debated over plastic and polystyrene preemption, local beach and park regulations, and landfill/incinerator provisions, then passed 26-10. CS/HB 1205 on citizen initiatives was amended to allow volunteers to carry up to 25 petitions without registration/training and passed 28-9. The Senate also refused to concur in a House amendment to SB 234 on offenses against law enforcement, and in SB 116 on veterans, seeking to restore funding for veteran suicide prevention. Later, the chamber approved or advanced several education and health-related bills. CS/HB 1255 on education was amended and passed, with changes to school readiness and other education provisions. CS/HB 875 on educator preparation passed after discussion of cognitive science, classroom management, teacher excellence programs, and the phaseout of the general knowledge test. CS/HB 1105, a large education package, passed after debate over charter school conversions, cell phone restrictions, and other school governance changes. In health care, CS/HB 1427 was introduced as a comprehensive package combining multiple health-related provisions, though the excerpt ends before final action on that bill. Throughout the day, the Senate also concurred or refused to concur in various House amendments on mental health, financial institutions, land development, brownfields, and out-of-network provider legislation, with votes generally recorded and several measures passing on divided but mostly favorable roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota's energy future is best secured through continued collaboration with its neighbors.
• Minnesota's energy future is best secured through continued collaboration with its neighbors.
• So frankly, I don't care what North Dakota does.
• We need to be caring about Minnesotans more than we care about industries in North Dakota.
• We need to be caring about Minnesotans more than we care about industries in North Dakota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have, we are collaborating with GPL as they have a trade mission at about the same time, and we've
• So things like food banks is one of the big things that we're seeing a lot of collaboration in across
• So things like health care and, you know, homelessness, housing, all of those things are at the top of
• good idea, and I would like to be able to work more closely with the ACA and actually have them collaborate

Bills: HB2754

Keywords: Arizona Commerce Authority, business development, economic growth, small business support, job creation, Board of Directors, e-verify, grant administration, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm left questioning, as someone who likes to be collaborative over how you come into compliance and
• And so I think we want to do it collaboratively with DEED.
• And so like I think we want to do<01:19:15.760> it<01:19:16.000> collaboratively<01:19:
• <01:19:17.280> I<01:19:17.440> also do it collaboratively with DED.
• I also do it collaboratively with DED.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So and then I just realized, okay, I need to open my own take care, my family, take care.
• couldn't find child care.
• We also know that child care... Child care access directly impacts the economy.
• care for children.
• Child care is essential. Child care is what got California the fourth spot.

Summary: The hearing focused first on how wildfires and other disasters affect child care providers, families, and early education infrastructure. State officials from the Department of Social Services and Department of Education described disaster response and preparedness efforts, including shelter coordination, licensing outreach, emergency waivers, distribution of supplies, and the statewide child care disaster plan. Testimony from providers and advocates emphasized major gaps in recovery funding, insurance coverage, rebuilding support, mental health services, and coordination with local rebuild plans. Several witnesses urged more dedicated disaster-recovery funding for child care facilities and suggested statutory changes, including allowing greater flexibility for rebuilding costs and requiring early childhood programs to be included in local disaster planning. The second panel addressed immigration enforcement and its impact on child care. Advocates from the Children's Partnership, Every Child California, and CHIRLA said enforcement activity is causing families to keep children home, disrupting continuity of care, reducing enrollment, and creating fear and trauma for children and providers. They argued that immigrant and mixed-status families need clearer protections, privacy safeguards, legal support, trauma-informed guidance, and safe-haven policies for child care settings. Speakers also stressed that the child care workforce is heavily immigrant and that recent state laws such as AB 49 and AB 495 will require funding, training, and technical assistance to implement effectively. Public commenters, including child care providers, described personal experiences with fire damage, displacement, permit delays, lost income, and the emotional toll of serving families during crises. Others described how immigration enforcement has made parents afraid to attend events, drop off children, or remain connected to providers. Committee members repeatedly noted that child care is often overlooked in emergencies and asked state officials how child care systems are being integrated into disaster planning and how local and state agencies can better coordinate. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.