Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will come to order.
• Yeah, so we've heard versions of this in committee prior on House bills.
• All those in favor of adopting the House Committee amendment ending in 0.04H signify by saying aye.
• Okay, so now I move to roll House Committee amendments 0.04H and 0.02H into a new House Committee substitute
• Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, we are now adjourned.

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1196, sponsored by Sen. Mike Henderson, which combines two workforce-related measures: an expansion of Fast Track grant income eligibility and implementation of Workforce Pell Grants for short-term, non-credit workforce training programs. Henderson said the Fast Track income caps would rise from $40,000 to $50,000 for individuals and from $80,000 to $100,000 for joint filers to reflect inflation, and that the Workforce Pell provisions would help community and technical colleges offer stackable credentials in fields like welding, manufacturing, CDL training, and health care support. He also explained the emergency clause was needed so Missouri could begin drawing federal funds on July 1. Witnesses from the Missouri Community College Association, Graduation Alliance, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and public higher education testified in support. They emphasized the bill’s value for expanding access to training, meeting employer workforce needs, and helping adults earn credentials or diplomas. One witness supported the Workforce Pell and adult diploma provisions but objected to raising the income thresholds. No one testified in opposition. During executive session, the committee adopted two House committee amendments: one incorporating additional workforce diploma and Fast Track language, moving the Missouri Workforce Development Board under the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, and preserving the emergency clause; and another repealing the sunset on the adult workforce diploma program. The amendments were rolled into a House committee substitute, which the committee then voted do pass by a roll call of 12 ayes and 1 no.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will come to order.
• Yeah, so we've heard versions of this in committee prior on House bills.
• All those in favor of adopting the House Committee amendment ending in .04-8 signify by saying aye.
• Okay, so now I move to roll House Committee Amendments 0.04H and 0.02H into a new House Committee substitute
• That does conclude the executive session on Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House will come to order. Reports from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Affairs.
• Along from the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration, designates the following bills to be
• The bill before us is the budget for the Workforce Labor and Economic Development Committee, otherwise
• , but even that piece of legislation did not make it out of the Commerce Committee.
• Members, those of you on other committees, you do workforce development if you're in education.

Transcript Highlights:

• the House members.
• House 4720.
• So S. 327, House 711, House 658, House 736, Senate 435, House 4720, House 514, Senate 418, House 520,
• House 418, House 520, Senate 320, House 532, Senate 375, House 570, House 570, House 579, House 580,
• House 587, House 664, House 665, House 665, House 668, House 679, Senate 448, House 679, House 680, House

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its 13th hearing, chaired by Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Gordon, and heard testimony on a large slate of bills covering personnel and miscellaneous education issues. The first major topic was House Bill 711 and Senate Bill 327, the “So All Students Thrive” proposal, which would change reduction-in-force rules so districts could consider teacher effectiveness, student impact, staffing needs, and diversity-related factors alongside seniority. Supporters from Educators for Excellence, including teachers and a former school committee chair, argued that current seniority-based layoff rules can push out effective early-career educators and harm efforts to build a more diverse workforce. Committee members raised questions about tenure, union involvement, and how the bill would interact with the Educator Diversity Act and local contract negotiations; members generally said they shared the goal of diversifying the educator workforce and encouraged continued collaboration and feedback. The committee then heard testimony on House Bill 658, which would require educator training on gifted and advanced learners. Parents, teachers, researchers, and advocates said Massachusetts lacks required preservice or professional development on gifted education, leaving many advanced students unchallenged and underserved. Witnesses described students who are bored, under-identified, or even discouraged in school, and argued that training would help teachers recognize and support gifted students, including students of color, multilingual learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Testimony also supported related prior bills on advanced learners and emphasized that the state should act on a 2019 DESE report recommending such training. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 736 and Senate Bill 435, which would establish de-escalation training for school transportation. The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council said the measure would improve safety for students and bus operators, fill a gap in current school bus driver certification requirements, and better support students with disabilities. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4720, concerning the Athol-Royalston Regional School District’s state bailout-related reserve requirements; the superintendent said the district has long maintained fiscal stability but is still forced to leave over half a million dollars unspent each year, limiting resources for a high-poverty student population. After testimony concluded, the chairs read the full list of bills on the agenda, thanked the committee and staff, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our sites, our universities, our workforce organizations, and legislators are all part of this effort
• The legislative process, you are often, as the lead committee, one of the final steps in getting a deal
• Our sites, our universities, our workforce organizations, and legislators are all part of this effort
• The legislative process, you are often, as the lead committee, one of the final steps in getting a deal
• But I think if we create a legislative framework, if we create a workforce plan and so forth that supports

Summary: The LEAD Committee met with the Department of Commerce to review a high-level strategic plan for Oklahoma economic development. Commerce Director Bud presented a plan centered on the state’s competitive advantages: central location and logistics, low cost of doing business, energy availability, labor force, tax environment, and partnerships with tribes, local communities, universities, and workforce organizations. He said the agency must focus on industries where Oklahoma has a “right to win,” identifying aerospace and defense, energy, agribusiness, manufacturing, and cybersecurity as priority sectors, with other sectors such as transportation logistics, automotive, finance/shared services, federal offices, bioscience, and broader IT treated as secondary or longer-term opportunities. Members asked about workforce, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, incentives, research and development, housing, and how Commerce should stay focused on its core mission. Commerce said CareerTech remains a major asset, but the state needs better coordination among agencies, universities, and workforce partners. Officials also said entrepreneurship should be encouraged within target industries, infrastructure readiness should be mapped and aligned to industry needs, and incentives should be evaluated against total cost of operations rather than compared only on percentage terms. They noted that the Incentive Evaluation Commission is comparing Oklahoma’s incentives with other states and that closing deals begins early, with the right people and partners involved from the start. The discussion also emphasized the need for stronger statewide marketing, better use of regional development staff, more robust research/data capabilities, and a stronger international strategy. Legislators raised concerns about Commerce being tasked with programs outside its core mission, and Commerce said it must administer those programs unless the Legislature changes the law, though it would like to streamline and reallocate resources where possible. The meeting ended with broad support for the strategic direction, appreciation for Commerce’s work on recent projects, and adjournment without any formal vote or action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Taylor Tidwell Bennett and I serve as Senator Champion's committee legislative assistant.
• <00:04:41.600> legislative Senator Champions Committee legislative Senator Champions Committee
• be uh a part of this committee. be uh a part of this committee.
• So, committee, committee, committee, >> I<01:34:56.560> will<01:34:56.719> need<01
• So I've the workforce. Uh for example, the the workforce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , other committees, about what can we do to get more Kentuckians into the workforce.
• , other committees, about what can we do to get more Kentuckians into the workforce.
• , other committees, about what can we do to get more Kentuckians into the workforce.
• , other committees, about what can we do to get more Kentuckians into the workforce.
• , other committees, about what can we do to get more Kentuckians into the workforce.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its July 30, 2025 meeting. Members then heard a presentation from Roger McCann of the Department for Community Based Services on Kentucky’s 2026-2027 Community Services Block Grant state plan. He explained that the federally funded grant, now about $12 million annually, is distributed through 23 local community action agencies that use flexible funds for locally identified needs such as housing, nutrition, transportation, Head Start, and domestic violence services. McCann said the plan is submitted every two years and that the agencies served about 264,000 Kentuckians and 130,000 families in 2024. Senator Meredith asked whether there was a central place to review local projects, and McCann said regular reports exist and could be shared with members. The committee then approved the CSBG state plan by roll call vote. After that, members received an update on Kentucky’s state-designated domestic violence shelter programs from Angela Yanelli of ZeroV, Mary Foley of Maryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and Elizabeth Martin of the Center for Women and Families. The presenters described ZeroV’s role as the statewide domestic violence coalition, its 15 member programs across all area development districts, and its contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide emergency shelter, supportive services, housing assistance, and batterers intervention programming. They emphasized that services are available 24/7 and are trauma-informed, with a strong focus on children and family support. The domestic violence providers reported high demand and rising costs. ZeroV said its network served more than 14,000 adults and children in fiscal year 2025, including nearly 900 children in shelter and more than 500 in outreach, while Maryman House reported operating at 90-92% capacity, with 53 households waiting for emergency shelter and 63 more waiting for intake. Maryman House also described an 8-unit transitional housing complex and plans for a 48-unit apartment complex if tax credit funding is approved. The Center for Women and Families highlighted school-readiness support for children, tutoring, counseling, and family services, including back-to-school supplies and rights information for homeless students. No additional votes or formal actions were taken during the domestic violence presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Both organizations support this legislation. This bill addresses our workforce.
• workforce development and economic competitiveness.
• All right, then we'll go to committee, and first on the list here on committee is our ranking member,
• And are there any other members of the committee that wish to address the committee?
• Representatives, you have a due pass on House Bill 7.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee met to hear House Bill 7, sponsored by Representative Garrett and Representative Cates, which would continue and support apprenticeship and workforce training funding. The sponsors and the Department of Workforce Solutions described strong growth in apprenticeship participation, especially in the building trades, and said the fund has helped expand programs while maintaining high retention and employment outcomes. They emphasized that the bill would provide predictable, sustained investment in skilled labor needed for construction, infrastructure, and other growing sectors. Supportive testimony came from contractors, chambers of commerce, trade unions, and a small business owner, all of whom said apprenticeship funding is essential to meeting workforce shortages and keeping workers in New Mexico. Committee members asked about program demographics, geographic distribution, rural participation, reentry and high school dropout data, and how apprenticeships connect to displaced workers from energy and industrial closures. The secretary explained that the department uses Rapid Response and economic transition programs for layoffs and closures, and also surveys current energy workers to gauge retraining interest. Several members praised the bill’s return on investment and retention of workers in the state, while Representative de Rassas suggested adding more public transparency and performance metrics. Representative Ortiz asked about future funding after 2031 and whether the program could scale with more money. After discussion, Representative Hall moved a do pass, Representative de Rassas seconded, and the committee approved House Bill 7 with no opposition. The chair also announced upcoming committee meetings and asked members to consent to sharing contact information for committee purposes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee Article 3 will come to order.
• Minority student enrollment is up 90% and workforce training is up more Dr.
• Jaime Taylor: Chairman and committee representatives.
• Betty Reynard: Good morning, Chairman Kitzman, committee members.
• The committee stands in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have available workforce and housing; however, we are starting to see some increases in prices there
• housing.
• Committee in June.
• Housing would be the biggest simply because, at this moment, we do not have dedicated workforce training
• The next slide is to the benefit of our friends at the Legislative Education Study Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the second meeting of the House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment
• All in favor say aye. >> All opposed. >> Committee substitute pass on House Bill 576.
• House Bill 576 as amended by House Committee Substitute 1 passes with favorable expression.
• We have a motion and a second on House Bill 593 as amended by the House Committee Substitute 1.
• House Bill 593 as amended by House Committee Substitute 1 passes with favorable expression.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:38 HB 576 discussion: 01:56 HB 576 voting: 06:54 HB 593 discussion: 08:25 HB 593 voting: 21:58, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 576, which would create the Kentucky Talent Recruitment Grant Program. Representative Robert Duvall said the bill is intended to address Kentucky’s workforce shortage by funding local recruitment efforts for out-of-state talent, with grants of up to $500,000 to cities, counties, and nonprofits, a required 20% local match, and performance-based payments. He said the program is modeled on existing efforts already operating in Kentucky and cited projected economic and tax benefits. The committee substitute removed an appropriation and emergency clause so funding would go through the regular budget process, and members approved the committee substitute, the bill, and a title amendment with favorable expression. The committee then took up House Bill 593, sponsored by Representative Josh Bray, which addresses data centers and utility costs. Bray said the bill is designed to protect ratepayers from subsidizing data center infrastructure and to ensure projects either bring their own generation, use power purchase agreements, or pay upfront for any needed transmission or generation upgrades. He explained that the committee substitute made mostly technical changes, including giving municipal utilities more time to set tariffs, clarifying terms, adding exemptions for certain TVA- and DOE-related projects, and preserving existing contracts and net metering arrangements. Members asked about local control, the $75,000 prepayment, and TVA authority; Bray said the prepayment covers utility due diligence and screens speculative projects, local requirements must be certified before incentives apply, and TVA is federally regulated. The bill received supportive comments from several members, who emphasized protecting utility bills and ratepayers, and it passed the committee with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Article 3 will now come to order.
• County workforce.
• At A&M Tech Cercana, we are strategically focused on workforce alignment and workforce outcomes in our
• that the credentials funded under House Bill 8 lead to stronger workforce outcomes.
• And if there is no objection, the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee article. 3 stands adjourned

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] We are calling the meeting of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee
• I sat on the Workforce Committee in the House.
• I sat on the Workforce Committee in the House.
• I sat on the Workforce Committee in the House.
• I sat on the Workforce Committee in the House.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee and where I also served on the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Subcommittees.
• We need to drug test our legislators. Read between the lines. We need to drug test our legislators.
• especially workforce.
• And it's more than just providing workforce. It's... It's more than just providing workforce.
• Rudman earlier in the committee.

Summary: The committee heard and voted on two higher education bills before moving to a long series of university and college board appointment confirmations. CS/SB 742 would let charter schools directly access the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program for career and technical education programs tied to industry certifications, and would expand the money-back guarantee requirement from three to six programs at career centers and Florida College System institutions. A question was raised about whether the charter school access could reduce district funding or grant availability; the sponsor said it could, depending on available funds. The bill was supported by one appearance form and was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 892, which codifies the Florida State University Election Law Center so it can continue and receive recurring funding. The sponsor and FSU witnesses said the center is nonpartisan and focused on evidence-based research, especially on election administration issues related to natural disasters and public confidence in elections. After testimony and questions, including about the center’s scope and funding, the bill was reported favorably. The remainder of the meeting consisted of testimony from numerous appointees to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities, including Tallahassee State College, Valencia College, New College, Pensacola State College, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of North Florida, St. Johns River State College, Palm Beach State College, Santa Fe College, Daytona State College, and Florida Atlantic University. Most nominees emphasized their personal ties to the institutions, support for workforce education, student success, and local economic development. Several highlighted priorities such as keeping tuition affordable, expanding internships and career pathways, strengthening nursing and other workforce programs, and improving graduation and retention rates. Some appointees also described campus-specific goals, including research growth at FAU and Harbor Branch, community engagement at New College, and continued support for health care workforce partnerships at FGCU. The most notable exchange came during testimony from Dr. Joel Rudman for the Pensacola State College board, where Senator Leek questioned him extensively about prior public comments that appeared to reference threats and drug testing legislators. Rudman said his remarks were aimed at Florida House members and not the Senate, denied any knowledge of illicit drug use by current or former senators, and said he was speaking candidly as a private citizen. Public testimony on his nomination included both support and strong opposition, with one speaker praising his community service and another warning about his alleged disruptive behavior and social media posts. The committee also heard from several supporters and appointees who were not questioned further, and the meeting ended with plans to vote on the appointments after all testimony was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, just to let everyone know, I think we're sharing committee members and presenters with House
• And I will just a shameless plug again for the year-round Legislative Health and Human Services Committee
• It would be housed within the Department of Workforce Solutions.
• I'm hoping that the committee will vote in full support of House Bill 68. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Committee substitute for House Bill 90.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate that as it relates to housing and workforce housing.
• With a request that our Legislative Finance Committee staff and economists work with the Economic Development
• Now, as we transition from the interim to this session, the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee
• The members of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee this year are myself, Representative
• Committee, my name is Rachel Garcia. I'm the LFC analyst for the Workforce Solutions Department.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a committee substitute that I failed to mention, but it is just a legislative draft.
• It is, the committee substitute is simply a legislative counsel draft. Thank you, sir. That is it.
• I urge committee members to keep in-state tuition for Dreamers because it's a smart workforce policy,
• of committee.
• He urged the committee to oppose this legislation. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This board is within the Workforce Transformation legislation, which came before this August body during
• Workforce, and so in the establishment of the Department of Workforce, in the legislation you had two
• groups: an executive committee and a Workforce Board.
• That Workforce Board consists of the 40 some odd folks in the legislation.
• Legislation that developed and created the Department of Workforce established this Workforce Board,

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4479 creates a rural workforce development program at the Texas Workforce Commission to support
• I'm here in support of House Bill 4479, which establishes the rural workforce development grant program
• The committee substitute for House Bill 4483 simply adds language from the comptroller's office that
• The committee substitute for House Bill 4483 simply adds language from the comptroller's office that
• Good morning, Chairman Longoria, members of the Workforce Committee. My name is David Whitehurst.

Summary: The subcommittee heard testimony on a broad agenda of workforce, labor, and workers’ compensation bills. HB 4676 would require political subdivision workers’ compensation networks to follow the same notice, access, and complaint rules as certified TDI networks; supporters said public employees and first responders deserve equal access to care, while municipal risk pool representatives opposed added regulation and said existing 504 networks already perform well. HB 4479 would create a rural workforce development grant program at TWC to support college-and-career readiness and local workforce alignment, and HB 3844 would define “opportunity youth” in state law to improve data, coordination, and access to services for disconnected young Texans; both drew strong support from rural, education, and chamber witnesses. HB 5545 would clarify federal tax treatment for wage-replacement benefits in non-subscriber injury benefit plans, with proponents calling it a win for employers and injured workers. HB 5118 would direct TWC and DIR to study AI and automated employment decision tools in hiring, including bias and oversight concerns. HB 1667 would move existing PTSD workers’ compensation language into a broader Labor Code chapter so more first responders, including state and campus officers, could qualify for benefits; supporters called it a technical fix to extend coverage more evenly across agencies. The committee also heard several first-responder and workers’ compensation bills. HB 2369 would speed up claims handling for injured first responders by allowing a single medical evaluation, giving carriers 60 days to accept or deny a claim, and letting workers seek treatment while disputes proceed; law enforcement supporters said it would help injured officers return to work faster, while opponents warned it would revive extent-of-injury waiver problems and increase litigation. HB 4483 would reclassify certain workers’ compensation maintenance taxes as surcharges to reduce retaliatory taxes imposed by other states on Texas-domiciled carriers, and HB 875, as revised by committee substitute, would create a small-project exception to municipal workers’ compensation and bonding requirements for certain low-value construction contracts in small cities; both were presented as cost-saving measures for Texas employers and local governments. HB 4415 would extend anti-retaliation protections for workers’ compensation claimants from first responders to all public employees and expressly waive sovereign immunity for those claims, with supporters describing it as closing a loophole that leaves public workers without the same remedy available in the private sector. The committee also took testimony on HB 5400, which would expand remedies for sexual harassment victims by removing the requirement to first file an administrative charge, extending the filing deadline from 300 days to two years, clarifying retaliation, and eliminating current damages caps. Supporters, including employment lawyers and a parent of a victim, said the current deadlines and caps prevent many survivors from obtaining counsel or full relief, especially younger workers and those in small workplaces or franchises. Across the agenda, witnesses repeatedly emphasized access to care, fair treatment for injured workers, rural workforce development, and stronger protections for vulnerable employees. After each bill was laid out and testimony heard, the chair generally closed the public hearing and left the bill pending; no final votes were taken, and the subcommittee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were able to work with our legislative partners to establish the greater resilience of the workforce
• We have the Grow Center Advisory Committee.
• We are also grateful for the legislation. Legislatures continued investment in our workforce.
• We have training houses built in.
• So thank you for for building this workforce.

Keywords: 999, senate, all