Video & Transcript : 'multistate employees' :
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OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 27th, 2026
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Just for clarity, it speaks of the employees shall be required to reimburse the payer entity for the
- The employees shall be required to reimburse the payer entity for the amount of the qualified education
- Just for clarity, it speaks on of the employees shall be required to reimburse the payer entity for the
- amount. the employees shall be required to reimburse the payer entity for the amount of the qualified
- Page five, line two, it says all participating employees regardless of prior length of service.
Bills:
SJR50 , SJR51 , SJR52 , SJR53 , SJR54 , SJR39 , SB1290 , HB4028 , HB4029 , HB4073 , HB4074 , HB4075 , HB4076 , HB4077 , HB4078 , HB1250 , HB2951 , HB2961 , HB3151 , HB3581 , HB3705 , HB3970 , HB3972 , HB3980 , HB3981
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledges, and several floor recognitions, including the Doctor of the Day, Psychologist of the Day, and Nurse of the Day. Members also honored the OSBI Cold Case Team for its work on unsolved cases, recognized the 75th anniversary of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and welcomed guests for the Prague-Kolache Festival. The chamber then moved into floor action on multiple measures and conference motions.
The most significant item was Senate Joint Resolution 39, a property tax constitutional amendment. After extensive debate over the impact on homeowners, seniors, farmers, schools, local governments, and future revenue, the Senate adopted House amendments by a 27-19 roll call and then passed the resolution 40-8. However, the motion to order a special election failed 26-20, so the measure did not advance to a special election call. Senators also rejected House amendments to Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 215 and requested conference on both.
The Senate passed Senate Bill 1290 unanimously as an emergency measure, and advanced or passed several House bills dealing with ARPA and funding reallocations: HB 4028, HB 4029, HB 4073, HB 4074, HB 4075, HB 4076, HB 4077, and HB 4078. Other approved measures included HB 1250 creating a Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund for local law enforcement grants, HB 2951 renaming Red Rock Prison as the Chief James Smith Correctional Center, HB 2961 creating a Gold Star Survivor tuition benefit, HB 3151 extending the school year to 173 days, and HB 3581 increasing penalties for riot-related offenses. The Senate also took up HB 3705, which would raise the Parental Choice tax credit cap from $250 million to $275 million, but the transcript cuts off during questioning on that bill.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- and employees.
- Finally, just prior to the COVID pandemic, there were discussions of firing any employee who declined
- Eventually, however, the hospital required all employees to have a flu vaccine annually.
- Eventually, however, the hospital required all employees to have a flu vaccine annually.
- I personally, as a government employee, faced mandates, and I didn't do it.
Committee:
House Health and Welfare
Summary:
The committee first heard opening remarks from LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein and CMS Medicaid Director Dan Brillman, who discussed ongoing federal-state collaboration and praised Louisiana’s work on Medicaid and health system reforms. The committee then took up House Bill 1214 by Chairman Miller, which would create an Office of State Healthcare Facilities within LDH to centralize oversight of five state-operated inpatient facilities. LDH said the bill would streamline administration, combine shared services, add no new FTEs, and improve care and outcomes for vulnerable residents. Members asked about capacity and waiting lists at the facilities, and the bill was reported favorably without objection.
The committee next considered House Bill 1041 by Representative Ghali, a medical-freedom bill aimed at prohibiting denial of access or discrimination based on “medical intervention status.” After amendments were adopted, the bill was narrowed to exclude K-12 schools, colleges, hospitals, health care facilities, and tuberculosis-related actions, while keeping existing school outbreak exclusion law in place. Supporters, including patients, nurses, physicians, and advocacy groups, testified that mandates during COVID caused coercion, job loss, and harm, and argued for bodily autonomy and informed consent. Opponents, including the Louisiana Hospital Association, American Lung Association, and Louisiana Families for Vaccines, said the amendments addressed some concerns but warned the bill could weaken outbreak protections for children; after debate, the committee reported the bill favorably with amendments.
The committee then heard House Bill 414 by Representative Chenevere, which closes a loophole in background-check law by barring hiring of certain direct-care workers with substantially similar out-of-state convictions that would disqualify them in Louisiana. Amendments clarified the definition of covered workers, removed licensed ambulance personnel, and addressed documentation and third-party screening. The Attorney General’s office said the bill is intended to protect vulnerable Medicaid beneficiaries from people with serious criminal histories, and supporters from disability and EMS communities backed the measure. The bill was reported favorably with amendments.
Finally, the committee began House Bill 786 by Representative Egan, which would prohibit managed care organizations from using extrapolation to determine provider audit overpayments or recoupments, requiring decisions to be based on actual claims. Members discussed a proposed amendment preserving the Department of Health and Department of Justice’s ability to use extrapolation in fraud investigations under existing law, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the bill.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Apr 13th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- in, if we don't offer them something, three other 12, 20 employees.
- Sheriff, if I may, I've had employees reach out to me over the past several months.
- Multiple different employees reach out to me about what's happening within the organization.
- Employees that are involved on the technical side, multiple different employees. Okay.
- So employees are reporting to you. I've had former board members... About their board. Yeah. Rep.
Bills:
HB345 , HB502 , HB511 , HB655 , HB667 , HB713 , HB714 , HB730 , HB743 , HB777 , HB803 , HB836 , HB871 , HB1037 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175
Summary:
The committee heard several transportation and aviation measures. HB 1175, by Rep. Turner, updated aeronautics-related definitions and was reported favorably without objection. HB 655, by Rep. Brough, authorized DOTD to use cost-plus contracts for operation and maintenance of state ferry systems, with Secretary Glenn LaDay explaining it was intended to give DOTD flexibility for possible privatization or contracting of ferries such as Cameron; it was also reported favorably. HB 1037, by Chairman Borek, shifted certain DOTD operational responsibilities to a chief operating officer and was reported favorably, and HB 1174, also by Chairman Borek, recreated DOTD and was reported favorably as a cleanup measure. HB 714 and HB 502 were voluntarily deferred.
The committee then considered several port-related bills. HB 871, by Rep. Carver, would have added two St. Tammany Parish appointees to the Port of New Orleans board, but the author asked to voluntarily defer it, saying the timing was premature given ongoing work on the Louisiana International Terminal and related access projects. HB 345, by Rep. McMakin, expanded the Rail Infrastructure Improvement Program to include rail infrastructure at ports and was reported favorably. HB 713, by Rep. McCormick, would cap the Caddo-Bossier Port executive director’s compensation at the statewide average of the top ten port directors; after extensive debate and testimony from the port, the Port Association, and Caddo Parish opposing the bill, the committee voted 12-1 to involuntarily defer it. HB 667, also by Rep. McCormick, would change Caddo-Bossier Port commissioners from appointed to elected; witnesses argued it would politicize the board, create election costs, and conflict with the port’s current structure, and the committee again voted 12-1 to involuntarily defer the bill.
The committee also advanced local infrastructure and flood-protection measures. HB 743, by Rep. St. Blanc, creating the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport District in St. Mary Parish, was reported favorably after testimony that the district would help the parish manage the airport as an economic development asset. HB 836, by Rep. Hilferty, would reconfirm members of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East by Senate confirmation; after concerns that the original August 1 date could interfere with hurricane-season operations, the committee adopted an amendment moving the reconfirmation date to December 1, 2026, and then reported the bill favorably by substitute. Finally, HB 730, by Rep. Cruz, was presented to prohibit the use of ADS-B aircraft tracking data to assess taxes or fees on aircraft owners, with an amendment narrowing the bill to smaller aircraft; the discussion continued into questions about enforcement and exemptions for carrier airports.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- with incentivizing our private-public sector as far as partnerships to whether we can loan their employees
- with incentivizing our private-public sector as far as partnerships to whether we can loan their employees
- Last year, we loaned five employees, and this year we expanded that to 10.
- I'm a 10-year employee for Dial Chemical, a process operator.
- Carver's bill into that list of laws. its approved charter and the schools officers and employees shall
Committee:
House Education
Summary:
The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection.
The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote.
Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection.
The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, it is also a request from a lot of employers um who have employees um that their training um is uh
- Um, it is also a request from a lot of employers um who have employees um that their training um is uh
- Um, it is also a request from a lot of employers um who have employees um that their training um is uh
- Um, it is also a request from a lot of employers um who have employees um that their training um is uh
- Um, it is also a request from a lot of employers um who have employees um that their training um is uh
Committee:
Senate Higher Education
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 10:30 A.M.
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, we have two employees, myself and I have an assistant.
- </c> >> That's only two employees. >> That's only two employees.
- >> That's<00:08:17.280><c> two</c><00:08:17.440><c> employees.
- So, both of the employees did get a pay raise in September of last year.
- So, both of the employees did target.
Committee:
Joint Appropriations
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee - Morning Session Dec 17th, 2025
A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Jumping more into budget numbers and kind of our operations we still sit at 373.5 full time employees
- I'll throw another one at you while they're thinking: number of employees.
- The governor wants us to not have any more state employees than when we started in 2019, so thanks to
- Boots on the ground, that is not totally how many increased employees would that be for?
- That would probably be, I think, what did we put in there, 3 or 4 district employees?
Committee:
House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee
Summary:
The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year.
Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels.
The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide.
Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In other words, what types of employees do they need, what types of skills do those employees need to
- We do collaborate to tackle a lot of different problems, including existing employees who have. have
- So now we have a total of 64,000 students, 21,000 employees, and we have areas that we try to focus on
- Where do you go to find the people that the companies you represent want as their employees?
- Good employees that we had.
Committee:
House Higher Education
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So I am a state employee. nor opposed to any piece of filed legislation.
- If you're a certified employee, your license is gonna be revoked for that.
- Bus drivers interact with students, and bus drivers are not certified employees.
- Yes Commissioner Is there a mandatory training for employees?
- Every all new employees have to get this. All right, OK.
Committee:
House Public Education
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Status of Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So, you know, an apprentice is a W-2 employee. It's not just a training program.
- You're an employee.
- Employee.
- And the staff part of it, the fact that you can get a RIT and a disability tax credit for the same employee
- , I mean, that's a good way to wrap around a... ...disability tax credit for the same employee.
Summary:
The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the January minutes. Members then heard from Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development Josh Cutler, who gave an update on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s apprenticeship efforts and emphasized apprenticeship as an earn-while-you-learn model that can help address workforce shortages while including people with disabilities. He described growth in apprenticeships across sectors such as banking, bio, early education, health care, and human services, and noted recent milestones including the state’s 10,000th registered apprenticeship, expanded tax credits, reduced program fees, added apprenticeship liaisons, and Grow grants to support program development.
Committee members focused on how apprenticeship could be adapted for human services and disability-related jobs, including early education, direct care, PCA work, sterile processing, and related health occupations. They asked about funding structures, employer participation, community college involvement, and how to make programs accessible to people with disabilities. Cutler explained that apprenticeship programs are employer-designed but must meet core requirements such as paid employment, at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, related technical instruction, mentorship, and progressive wages. He said the state can support programs through the registered apprenticeship tax credit, which he said is $4,800 per apprentice and can be stacked with the disability employment tax credit, and through Grow grants, which were most recently awarded at about $2.1 million statewide.
Members and Cutler discussed using intermediaries such as trade associations, nonprofits, and disability organizations to help employers set up programs and navigate incentives. He said the commission could be useful as a convener and suggested a targeted panel or information session with apprenticeship liaisons, employers, and existing sponsors to identify a few specific occupations and build a proof of concept. The meeting ended with agreement to follow up offline on potential partner employers, including Eastern Bank, and on possible next steps for a focused panel or pilot opportunities.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- insurance law, Chapter 32B, municipalities, school districts, and local units whose retirees and employees
- Members who are serving on local health insurance negotiating groups are also known as PECs, public employee
- We represent the 427 new car and truck franchise dealers across the Commonwealth, over 25,000 employees
- The new car and truck franchise dealers across the Commonwealth, over 25,000 employees, and we’re almost
- I believe the group LTD plan currently offered to employees in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts actually
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on a wide range of insurance-related bills. Topics included public adjusters (H. 1100/S. 785), electronic cancellation notices (H. 1123/S. 701), insurance rebates and loss-mitigation devices (H. 1233), flood hazard determinations (H. 1087 and related flood bills), organ donor insurance protections (H. 1248/S. 727), mental health parity in disability policies (S. 780), motor vehicle service contracts (H. 1139/S. 812), modernization of business-to-business insurance transactions (H. 1105), and a bill changing the GIC withdrawal notice deadline (H. 1150). Committee chairs set a three-minute testimony limit and heard from legislators, industry representatives, advocates, and affected consumers.
Testimony on public adjusters was sharply divided. Insurance agents and property-casualty industry representatives argued that bills barring insurers from prohibiting public adjusters would interfere with policy terms, while public adjusters and several consumers described cases where adjusters helped secure substantially higher settlements and said some surplus lines policies already contain anti-public-adjuster endorsements. On electronic notices, the insurance industry supported consumer opt-in email communications, while agents warned that email-only cancellation notices could cause consumers to miss cancellations. On rebates/loss mitigation, insurers supported allowing risk-mitigation devices outside the policy to encourage innovation, while agents opposed the bill as an improper inducement. Flood-related bills drew opposition from insurers who said flood determinations are complex and federally governed.
The committee also heard strong support for organ donor protections from a kidney transplant recipient and the American Kidney Fund, who said the bill would prevent insurance discrimination against living donors and could encourage more donations. On disability parity, a disability insurance specialist opposed S. 780, arguing that mental health limitations are a consumer choice that helps keep coverage affordable, while the bill’s sponsor said it would prevent unequal limits on behavioral health claims. The committee also heard support for H. 1139/S. 812 from the service contract industry, and support for H. 1105 from APCIA as a modernization measure for specialty commercial lines. No votes were taken; after testimony concluded, the chairs closed the hearing.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/10/2026 - House Republican Caucus Calendar #25
Transcript Highlights:
- the bill creates the Health Insurance Trust Fund Oversight Board to approve changes to the state employee
- understanding: the bill is creating a Health Insurance Trust Fund Oversight Board regarding the state employee
- Currently, state employees only pay about 7% of their health insurance costs.
- State employees only pay about 7% of their health insurance costs.
- You know, most employers start at 50-50 and then make employees pay more.
Summary:
The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members.
Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board.
The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Special Session E May 12th, 2026
Florida Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 2504, filed during the 2026 regular session, relating to collective bargaining and state employees
- Senate Bill 2504E by Senator Hooper, a bill to be entitled an act relating to state employees.
- Senate Bill 2504E, a bill to be entitled an act relating to state employees.
- issues at impasse in the collective bargaining negotiations between the state of Florida and its employees
- The bill establishes contribution rates by employers for each class of employee who participates in the
Summary:
The Florida Senate convened in special session for budget conference work, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moments of silence honoring Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to budget and related conforming legislation, including appropriations, implementing bills, collective bargaining/state employees, retirement, law enforcement radio system, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, correctional facilities, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup, fuel taxes, and taxation. Senators also heard Chair Hooper outline the process for moving identical Senate bills and House companion bills into conference posture.
The Senate then took up and passed several Senate bills and House companion bills, generally by 32-0 votes, after adopting delete-all/insert-nothing amendments to place the Senate language onto the House vehicles. Bills addressed fuel taxes and Inland Protection Trust Fund distributions, the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, judicial certification, K-12 education conforming changes, retirement, higher education, health care, collective bargaining/state employees, government administration, correctional facilities financing and capital improvements, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, and taxation. In debate on the tax bill, Leader Berman urged consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax to provide relief at the pump, but the House-passed tax bill did not pass as received, and the Senate requested conference instead.
The chamber also processed the main budget measures: Senate Bill 2500E and House Bill 5001E for the General Appropriations Act, and Senate Bill 2502E and House Bill 5003E for the implementing bill. After substituting the House bills and adopting conforming amendments, the Senate passed them and requested conference. For the remaining House bills, the Senate either passed them as amended and then acceded to or requested conference on the House request. The session concluded with a motion to waive rules for publishing the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session, an announcement that the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet on May 12 or 13, and adjournment upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other Senate business.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Apr 20th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- It is a dangerous profession at times where employees have been struck down, harassed, pushed, and even
- It is a dangerous profession at times where employees have been struck down, harassed, pushed, and even
- It is a dangerous profession at times where employees have been struck down, harassed, pushed, and even
- It is a dangerous profession at times where employees have been struck down, have been. at times, where
- employees have been struck down, have been harassed, been pushed, and even in some cases beaten.
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 9th, 2026
Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is the Nebraska Advantage Act, relating to recalculation of the base year for employees, and includes
- Section 75-7, 507.01, relates to recalculation based on employees, and repeals the relevant sections.
- If the business operation was sold or transferred, the taxpayer's base year employees are calculated
- by the number of equivalent employees employed at the business operation sold or transferred, using the
- permit may be issued by the central district office of the commission or by designated commission employees
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/26/2026 - House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation
House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- I've led 29 acquisitions, mergers, and integrations in my career, and I've never laid off an employee
- And we did displace employees as we put these new automation techniques in.
- But very early on, I just directed our HR department to make sure that any employee who is displaced
- And to put that in context, we have 4,000 employees.
- We are also 17th when it comes to volunteer hours by all of our employees to support the communities
Summary:
The committee began with a lengthy informational presentation from Sonora Quest Laboratories on how it is using artificial intelligence and innovation in laboratory medicine. Company leaders described current and planned uses of AI in digital pathology, digital cytology, predictive analytics, genomics, sepsis markers, pharmacogenomics, and “digital twin” modeling for treatment planning and drug trials. They emphasized that their systems are kept in a closed, secure ecosystem, that human experts remain in the loop for validation, and that AI is being used to improve accuracy, speed, and productivity rather than replace workers. Members asked about specimen handling, safeguards against incorrect AI outputs, data security, expansion into hospital labs, and whether AI could help with precision medicine, rare diseases, and reducing step therapy; the presenters said AI could improve diagnosis and tailor treatment, but stressed ongoing human review and regulatory controls.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 1786, which requires covered providers using generative AI to add provenance data to AI-created or significantly modified video, image, or audio content, using methods such as watermarking or metadata, with minor edits exempted. A Wilmot amendment was explained and adopted; it clarified the provenance requirements, added exceptions for certain interactive and non-user-generated media, protected trade secrets and confidential AI design information, and delayed the effective date to February 1, 2027. Members discussed the bill’s consumer-protection purpose, concerns about misleading AI-generated media, possible Commerce Clause issues, and the scope of the covered-provider definition. One member raised a concern about undefined “user” language, while others supported the measure as a needed disclosure requirement in a fast-changing policy area.
The committee voted to give SB 1786, as amended, a do pass recommendation. The amendment passed on voice vote, and the final roll call was 4 ayes, 2 nays, and 1 absent. The chair closed by thanking members for their work during the committee’s first year and noting the session’s collaborative tone.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Gildon, directs the Office of Financial Management to study the impacts of allowing state employees
- that's provided to Medicare-eligible retirees that purchase their health care through the Public Employees
- that's provided to Medicare eligible retirees that purchase their health care through the public employee
- is just an amendment that would study the impacts of people who are concurrently enrolled, state employees
- I don't believe that was ever the intent that employees collect basically 190% of their paychecks for
Bills:
SB5998
Committee:
Senate Ways & Means
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Ways & Means Feb 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Gildon, directs the Office of Financial Management to study the impacts of allowing state employees
- that's provided to Medicare-eligible retirees that purchase their health care through the public employee
- that's provided to Medicare eligible retirees that purchase their health care through the public employee
- is just an amendment that would study the impacts of people who are concurrently enrolled, state employees
- I don't believe that was ever the intent that employees collect basically 190% of their paychecks for
Summary:
The Senate Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on Senate Bill 5998, the proposed operating budget, and received a staff briefing on 39 proposed amendments. The amendments covered a wide range of issues, including technical corrections; truancy intervention funding; public defense and Blake-related vacatur work; family reading, shellfish program review, cultural resource protection, agritourism, transmission planning, paid leave, developmental disabilities services, nursing home rates, TANF workforce services, food bank language, oral health access, behavioral health partnership access, sexual assault nurse examiner training, Department of Corrections security measures, child welfare staffing, pediatric interim care centers, Working Connections Child Care, range rider funding, Chinese American history month materials, Running Start, retiree health subsidies, school bus contractor costs, local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, charter school enrichment, arts grants, and a tribal liaison position. Several amendments were withdrawn before action, including the truancy increase, Blake funding, one DD-related amendment, and others.
The committee adopted a number of amendments, including the technical corrections packet, reductions or savings-related corrections, the family reading program, shellfish review funding, the transmission-system implementation funding, the oral health foundation, the partnership access line, health technology assessment funding, the governor errata correction, the sexual assault nurse examiner training contract, the DOC canine scheduling language, the child welfare staffing correction, the people transportation language, the TTK-related amendment, and the tribal liaison funding. It rejected several others, including agritourism, paid leave study language, DD waiver expansion, nursing home add-ons, the PIC program, range rider funding, Chinese American history month materials, Running Start restoration, the LEA restoration amendment, and the arts grant restoration. Some amendments were withdrawn after discussion, including the DD waiver and LEA-related proposals.
During debate, supporters of various amendments emphasized service needs for vulnerable populations, including people with developmental disabilities, survivors of sexual assault, Medicaid dental access, behavioral health callers, and students in Running Start and TTK. Opponents repeatedly cited budget constraints, the need for a sustainable operating budget, and the view that some issues were better addressed through collective bargaining or future negotiations. The committee then rolled the adopted amendments into a new substitute Senate Bill 5998 and voted to send it to the Rules Committee with a do-pass recommendation, subject to signatures. Several members stated they would vote no on the budget overall, while others supported it as a difficult but necessary compromise. The meeting adjourned after the final vote.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Early Learning & Human Services Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- This cost report is required annually and includes wages and benefit information about its employees.
- This cost report is required annually and includes wages and benefit information about its employees.
- as the state requires us to account for every client service position, wage, and benefit cost by employee
- I ask you to support House Bill 2600 to make sure supported living... ...supported living employees are
- After months of them refusing to budge, employees voted unanimously to authorize a strike.
Summary:
The House Early Learning and Human Services Committee held public hearings on two bills. HB 1873 would expand Working Connections Child Care eligibility to full-time graduate and professional students with household income at or below 85% of state median income, with copays waived to the extent allowed by federal law. The prime sponsor and student testifiers argued that child care costs and limited stipends force student parents to choose between education and family responsibilities, while some members raised questions about program cost, uptake, and return on investment.
The committee also heard HB 2600, which would require DSHS to update the Supported Living Cost Report template and convene a work group to develop Medicaid rate recommendations aimed at improving compensation for direct support professionals. Supporters, including SEIU-affiliated workers, said the bill would increase transparency and help ensure state funding reaches frontline caregivers, citing low wages and high turnover. Opponents from provider organizations argued the current cost report is already detailed, that the bill would add administrative burden, and that recent rate increases have already been passed through to wages and benefits.
In executive session, the committee considered three Senate bills. It adopted a striking technical amendment and voted 9-1 to report out SSB 5911, which protects funds for youth in extended foster care and raises the threshold for protected accounts. It then voted 10-0 to report out SSB 5957, expanding the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee to include more people with lived experience and representatives of disproportionately homeless populations. Finally, it voted 7-3 to report out SSB 6184, which updates Office of Homeless Youth programs and language, including expanding eligibility for emerging adults up to age 21. The meeting ended with an interim planning discussion focused on future work on critical incidents, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities data, homelessness, child care, and facility tours.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Feb 12th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- know, one of the frustrating challenges is that what is being missed in disaster assistance is the employees
- So my employees that are harvesting crops and sometimes serving food banks are now going to food banks
- And so all of a sudden he had 20 or 30 employees that he had. Forage crops.
- And so all of a sudden he had 20 or 30 employees that he just—I mean, he's got cleanup work—and he said
- , 'I'm going to spend an immense amount of money trying to keep all my employees busy recovering.'
Committee:
House Agriculture & Natural Resources