Transcript Highlights:

• We're paying them in the commercial market.
• We're paying them in the commercial market.
• We're paying them in the commercial market.
• failure to pay is willful, meaning the person has the current ability to pay but refuses to do so.
• We strive to pay better and offer better pay and benefits so that people want to work for us, and it

Summary: The committee first heard Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor and Industries to study child care workforce conditions and make recommendations on employment standards. Staff explained that the proposed second substitute narrows the board’s role from setting enforceable standards to making recommendations, with estimated ongoing costs for L&I staffing and smaller costs for board member stipends and possible DCYF support. Supporters, including child care providers, SEIU 925, and labor representatives, said the bill would help address understaffing, low wages, and retention problems; opponents, including child care industry groups and private schools, argued it duplicates existing work, adds bureaucracy, and creates unfunded costs. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 1634, which would direct OSPI and ESDs to develop a technical assistance and training framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health supports. Staff said the bill aligns with the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and could largely be implemented with existing work and limited additional costs, though DOH would need some support. Testifiers from behavioral health and school counseling fields described severe youth mental health needs and urged passage, and OSPI said the work is doable with current resources. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2636, which would create a public education review advisory council to recommend K-12 policies and funding provisions for JLARC review; staff described JLARC, OSPI, and State Board costs, and no public testimony was offered. The committee next heard House Bill 1316, which would expand the Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness program so additional university campuses can access funding. The sponsor said the program has strong retention outcomes, and student advocates testified that campuses such as UW Bothell need access to already appropriated funds for emergency aid, food pantries, and case management. Staff then briefed Substitute House Bill 2474, which would allow the Student Achievement Council Tuition Recovery Trust Fund to be used for refunds tied to broader consumer protection violations, with no expected fiscal impact; there was no testimony. The committee also heard Substitute House Bill 2365 on digital equity, which would expand the Broadband Office’s role, revise the digital equity forum, and rename the grant program; supporters emphasized rural access, affordability, and the loss of federal digital equity funding, while staff estimated significant Commerce staffing costs and some additional agency impacts. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2401, creating a Washington State Boys and Men Commission contingent on non-state funding, with staff outlining OFM startup and fundraising costs and an estimated operating budget if fully funded. Supporters said boys and men face mental health, education, and mentorship gaps and that the commission would improve coordination; the bill drew testimony from rural school leaders, nonprofit advocates, and community members. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language access, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines and a report on interpreter and translator shortages; staff said the office could absorb the work but other agency and local government impacts were uncertain. Substitute House Bill 2517, on permitting for high-capacity transit, would let regional transit authorities apply for permits earlier and streamline land-use processes; Sound Transit and the sponsor said it would speed delivery of major projects, while staff estimated Commerce technical-assistance costs and possible local government impacts. The last bill heard was Substitute House Bill 2145 on the 340B drug pricing program, which would bar manufacturers from restricting contract-pharmacy access and require reporting to DOH; supporters said it protects safety-net providers and patient services, while opponents warned of higher costs for employers, state health plans, and litigation burdens. No final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a formidable amount to be paying out of pocket.
• So that's a formidable dollar amount to be paying out-of-pocket.
• That remaining... ...and transplant-related care, but it only pays 80% of the costs.
• For many patients, that's an impossible choice: pay for care, or pay for rent, or pay for your groceries
• pay for rent or pay for your groceries here's the problem under current Massachusetts law residents

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on several health care bills focused primarily on autism services and kidney disease coverage. Committee chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman opened by outlining hearing procedures, testimony rules, and filing deadlines, and noted the hearing would be recorded and written testimony accepted. They said the day’s topics included affordability and access to behavioral health services, provider reimbursement, Medicare coverage for vulnerable populations, and MassHealth eligibility asset exemptions. A major portion of the hearing concerned House Bill 4623, which would add board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCABAs) as a recognized mid-level supervisory role in the MassHealth reimbursement framework to help address long wait lists for autism spectrum disorder services. Representative Lisa Field, actuaries, clinicians, and autism service providers testified that the current two-tier model limits workforce capacity, contributes to long delays, and leaves families waiting months for care. Supporters said the bill could expand access, improve retention, and potentially reduce MassHealth costs, while also helping providers meet growing demand and new administrative requirements. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 4425 and Senate Bill 2737, which would allow Massachusetts residents under 65 with end-stage renal disease to purchase Medigap coverage. Legislators, dialysis advocates, and patients described high out-of-pocket costs under Medicare, barriers to kidney transplant eligibility without secondary insurance, and the financial strain on patients and families. Testifiers said the change would affect about 846 residents, could modestly increase premiums, and might reduce Medicaid spending by preventing asset spend-downs. Senator Gomez and others spoke from personal experience with dialysis and transplant care. Finally, the committee heard testimony on House Bill 4353 and Senate Bill 2587, which would require regular data-driven review of MassHealth ABA reimbursement rates. Providers and association representatives argued that reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation, workforce shortages, accreditation costs, and new 2026 MassHealth policy requirements, and said the bills would improve transparency and ensure rates reflect the true cost of care. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs thanking participants, inviting additional written testimony, and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to pay claims for the Crime Victims Reparations Program.
• It's to pay overtime worked by State Police driving track personnel.
• It is to pay three new extra help attorneys.
• It is to pay three new extra help attorneys. Mr.
• This is to pay for 12 narcotic detection canines.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is this what you are already paying? Chairman Lent, Senator Nichols, that's a great question.
• And with the threshold, we wouldn't be able to pay for that, or we'd have to pay for the full amount.
• Under the threshold, we wouldn't be able to pay for that, or we'd have to pay for the full amount, and
• I just wanted to ask you, what are your elective course fee costs right now that you're paying?
• ...elective course fee costs right now that you're paying? Mr.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 940, which revises Idaho Digital Learning Academy (IDLA) policy and funding. The sponsors explained that the bill is intended to preserve IDLA’s core role in filling instructional gaps, while limiting use for K-5/LaunchPad, fully virtual schools, private schools, driver’s education, and broad “custom section” enrollments. They also described fee changes, including codified course fees of $40 for state-required courses and $100 for non-required courses, plus a report back to the Legislature. The sponsors said the bill was designed to address concerns about administrative costs and “double dipping,” while still protecting rural schools’ access to IDLA for credit recovery, dual credit, and courses not locally available. Testimony was split. School administrators and education groups largely opposed the Senate amendments, arguing they would sharply reduce flexibility for rural and small districts, create scheduling and administrative burdens, and limit access to electives, advanced courses, and required classes where staffing is unavailable. IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons said the bill as written was workable, but the amendments would significantly change the program and, combined with the fiscal reduction, could force IDLA to deny service to thousands of additional students. Supporters of the bill said the amendments were meant to prevent misuse of state funds for fully virtual programs and large custom-section enrollments, while still allowing districts to pay for access if they choose. Several senators questioned the fee structure, the meaning of “not entirely virtual,” the fiscal note, and how the bill interacts with the separate JFAC appropriation action. Some members said they would support the bill but had concerns about the cuts and the intent language in the appropriation bill; others opposed the motion, arguing the reductions would harm students and that no code or rule violations had been shown. The committee ultimately voted to send House Bill 940 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, with Senators Carlson and Zito recorded as opposed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or in jobs that pay low wages.
• County and were working for pay and were over 18.
• this on-campus job that's definitely going to pay me, in spite of the fact that it's going to benefit
• We're also working in the spirit of California Jobs First, by targeting sectors that are high paying
• But even those that have enough financial aid still have to pay for their living costs, and that then

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, rather than your value line, you said your number fourth in pay? Is that what you said?
• You said number fourth in state pay or something?
• We're 20th currently in pay for trooper, 21st for sergeant, 23rd for captain.
• Well, for starters, it's a difficult job, but also the pay has become an increasing problem.
• These homeowners have an obligation to pay everything for these communities.

Summary: The committee took up a series of Senate bills, beginning with SB 1421, a contentious measure restricting financial institutions and check cashers from accepting certain identification from unauthorized immigrants and limiting remittance transfers without proof of lawful status. An attempted strike-everything amendment by Rep. Villegas would have redirected the bill to authorize tax-deeded property sales for affordable housing, but the committee rejected that amendment. After public testimony both for and against the underlying bill, the committee voted 6-2 to give SB 1421 a due pass recommendation. The committee then approved SB 1254, which revises Industrial Commission of Arizona statutes, including renaming certain positions, shifting boiler and elevator oversight, and requiring fee schedules to be posted online. It also passed SB 1515, which creates a public safety parity fund for retention pay and benefits for DPS and corrections employees using investment earnings from the budget stabilization fund; supporters cited vacancies, turnover, and pay gaps, while opponents argued the state should fund raises through the general fund. Both bills received due pass recommendations after amendment adoption and roll call votes. Other measures considered included SB 1206, which restricts adjusters and contractors from soliciting work during active loss events or emergency responses, with an exception for essential services; SB 1563, which continues the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and lowers certain fee caps; and SB 1649, which creates a digital assets reserve fund, though an amendment to turn it into a transparency measure on employers receiving public assistance was rejected. The committee also passed SB 1290 after rejecting an amendment on emergency price controls and adopting a Carter amendment clarifying HOA executive sessions may be closed only for discussion without action; testimony on that bill focused heavily on HOA transparency versus privacy concerns. Finally, the committee approved SB 1670, a contractor licensing preemption bill, and SB 1671, which continues the Department of Gaming and related commissions and updates reporting and conflict-of-interest requirements, with the department supporting the continuation and amendment language.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they're not being asked to pay for the whole exception.
• They're being asked to pay for a small sliver of the exception.
• They are not supposed to be using exceptions to pay for bonuses.
• Guess who pays the bill on that? We do.
• this bill to have Medicaid pay for it if that's available.

Transcript Highlights:

• We use $6 billion of it to pay down the UI debt.
• That's what is paying most of money for."
• And it's also correct that right now we're only paying on interest. We're not paying any principal.
• He was mentioning that the state pays a portion and the federal government pays a portion.
• And, you know, I know you either pay me now or you pay me later.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department described funding for EDD Next document management work, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit increases, WIOA adjustments, UI and school employee benefit changes, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to an EDD Next reversion. PERB discussed reduced funding requests for AB 288 due to litigation and a proposal to implement AB 1 covering legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and removing a salary cap for the DWC administrative director. CalHR proposed consolidating employee assistance services into a statewide contract with enhanced support for first responders, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs, state contributions, and benefit overpayments. Members focused heavily on the unemployment insurance debt and interest payments, asking why the administration had no concrete plan to pay down principal. Finance and LAO explained that the state’s UI tax structure has long been insufficient and that any long-term solution would need to address both the outstanding federal loan and the structural imbalance in employer taxes. Questions also centered on EDD Next costs and timelines, with the chair asking for clearer long-term project cost estimates and Finance noting that future maintenance and operations costs will continue after implementation. On DIR’s emerging technologies unit, members asked whether it would address AI-driven workplace harms; DIR said the unit would focus on physical workplace safety issues involving AI, robotics, autonomous equipment, and related guardrails, while LAO noted broader labor-practice questions would likely fall outside Cal/OSHA’s scope. In the CalPERS discussion, members raised concerns about transparency in private equity and external management fees, while CalPERS said higher fees reflect a strategy of greater private-market and active-management exposure and are offset by higher net returns. Members urged more information on specific investments and future reporting. For CalSTRS, Finance presented routine contribution and overpayment adjustments, but members also raised broader transparency concerns that CalSTRS staff said they would follow up on separately. Public comment in Part A was dominated by strong support for an immigrant worker emergency relief fund, along with support for apprenticeship and workforce proposals and PERB staffing. The chair and members said they would follow up on where the immigrant relief proposal should be considered, noting it may belong in another policy area. The hearing then moved into Part B with an overview of Judicial Branch-related May Revision items, including court interpreter funding, appellate court security, workload cap changes, lactation room implementation delays, and a reduction to the state court facility construction backfill.

Transcript Highlights:

• You already pay for this, sir. But how much does it cost? You pay for Medicaid expansion in Texas.
• Not necessarily there's people that have never gone to the doctor that we still pay we still pay every
• We actually are already paying for that.
• That's what I'm saying, we pay for that, particularly, we pay through it directly to the hospitals, through
• You pay taxes every year. Your taxes already go to to pay for this program, your federal taxes.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB1, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• The right to keep and bear arms is an individual right, not a pay-to-play permission slip.
• . share of annual household income used to pay annual home energy bills.
• It's the parent deciding whether to pay the power bill or buy groceries.
• They should also pay for their climate pollution.
• Students are looking to work jobs that can pay for their education and daily living expenses.

Bills: HB2521, HB2249, HB1796

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• Bronson pointed out, is our pay.
• our staff and what everybody else pays.
• On average, this pay disparity is over $7000.
• And you're paying somebody Almost like you're paying somebody almost $250,000 for a $20 million dollar
• You, you've got to pay for staff, you've got to pay for technology, you've got to pay for all the things

Transcript Highlights:

• and when they have to pay.
• So a married couple earning $1 million or more would have to pay this tax.
• So a married couple earning $1 million or more would have to pay this tax.
• I mean, if we're exempting tribes out of paying the tax, I'm not sure why they're still on here.
• I mean, if we're exempting tribes out of paying the tax, I'm not sure why they're. of work.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no plan to pay for this tax cut for the wealthy and large corporations.
• No plan to pay for this tax cut for the wealthy and large corporations.
• The Republicans have no plans to pay for this tax cut for the wealthy...
• By pay attention, please. All those opposed to the floor amendment, please stand up.
• They pay taxes in our community. They are working.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions and proclamations, including International Mother Language Day, Arizona Nurses’ Day, Environmental Day, Teamsters Local 104, and Arizona Aerospace Day. Attendance was recorded at 57 present, zero absent, and three excused. The chamber also announced committee meetings, bill referrals, and later adjourned until Thursday, February 12, 2026. The main floor action centered on House Bill 2785, a taxation measure tied to federal tax conformity. Members debated whether Arizona should conform to federal tax changes, with supporters arguing it would validate current tax forms and provide tax relief, and opponents warning it would mainly benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations while reducing state revenue. The bill passed 32-26 with two not voting. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole for two calendars of bills. In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced HB 2190, HB 2206, HB 2396, HB 2442, and HB 2448, all on health and human services topics, with amendments adopted on the first three. HB 2206 drew extended debate over SNAP payment error rates and whether the bill would impose an unfunded mandate and make benefits harder to access; supporters said it would reduce waste and save money, while opponents said it would set DES up for failure. HB 2396, which would restrict certain SNAP purchases, drew testimony over whether it would improve nutrition or unfairly limit low-income families and create a “food police” system. HB 2442 and HB 2448 also drew criticism over added SNAP work requirements and limits on agency waiver authority during recessions. The Committee later advanced HB 2688, HB 2689, HB 2690, HB 2796, and HB 2797, including bills on government staffing, hospital immigration-status data collection, unemployment benefits, SNAP eligibility/redeterminations, and fraud reporting. HB 2689 prompted sharp opposition over fears it would deter immigrants and mixed-status families from seeking medical care, while HB 2796 and HB 2797 were criticized as adding administrative burdens and duplicative SNAP checks. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report, and a motion to amend the report to show HB 2689 failed was rejected 24-32.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no plan to pay for this tax cut for the wealthy and large corporations.
• No plan to pay for this tax cut for the wealthy and large corporations.
• The Republicans have no plans to pay for this tax cut for the wealthy...
• They pay taxes in our community. They are working.
• They pay taxes in our community. They are working.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They pay their taxes, they're good citizens, and oh, by the way, they pay tuition for their kids to put
• We ought to pay the full tuition.
• Advertising and they may be put for pay. I mean, I don't know.
• Pays, what, $38 of that $60,000?
• pays for each teacher what does the state pay that that salary we have a minimum salary schedule, but

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• We pay for salaries, instructional materials, and other things like that.
• That suggests that all the GRT tax can only be used to pay for the bonds.
• used to pay the bonds.
• I understand if we're paying the bulk and wanting to change some of that.
• I myself have been denied my sick leave and pay.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, my number one priority when I think about, uh, appropriations for this session is, uh, pay
• Among states in terms of what we pay our district judges.
• Federal courts pay between $600,000 and 98,000.
• An hour, where OCFW is not involved, Texas counties pay anywhere between $150 and $250 an hour.
• Texas counties would be paying $90 to $125 an hour for their services.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> forget to give it to us they could pay forget to give it to us they could pay one%<00:49:35.160>
• </c> going to take the pension and the pay going to take the pension and the pay the<00:53:09.119><c>
• </c> person's salary the state's going to pay person's salary the state's going to pay the<00:53:24.280
• </c> now pay for it most group twos they pay now pay for it most group twos they pay for<00:59:16.280
• </c> positions what they're pay positions what they're pay yeah<01:01:57.400><c> but</c><01:01:57.559

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pay me now or pay me later. MEN IN THE U.S.
• PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER.
• If I pay a co-pay with my private insurance, then why can't the expansion population pay a co-pay?
• IF I PAY A CO-PAY WITH MY PRIVATE INSURANCE, THEN WHY CAN'T THE EXPANSION POPULATION PAY A CO-PAY?
• Pay me now or pay me later. Medicare allows me to pay me now.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, yes, when we were regulated, we were happy to pay.
• So when they hire a consultant, we've got to pay.
• It was also a may-pay, and often the judge would ignore that, and I believe this changes it to a shall-pay
• , so they will be paying the restitution.
• </c><01:03:36.799><c> the</c> pay so they they will be paying the pay so they they will be paying the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all