Transcript Highlights:

• AB 398 will establish a minimum refundable benefit of $300 for the California Earned Income Tax Credit
• Establishing a Cal EITC minimum of at least $300 would provide a meaningful credit for claimants, make
• Coalition, we ask that you please support AB398 to increase the CaliITC minimum to 300 and make the
• So your bill will establish a minimum $300 payment tax credit. for anyone making Minimum $300 payment
• Fair wages and insurance—make sure that they have medical insurance.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its first regular hearing of the 2025-26 session, adopted its proposed committee rules on a 5-0 vote, and reinstated a suspense file for bills with fiscal impacts over the committee threshold. The chair explained that only AB 418 would be eligible for an immediate vote, while several other measures would be held for suspense consideration because of budget constraints. AB 330 was pulled by the author. AB 418 by Wilson, which would create a clearer process and administrative remedy for county Chapter 8 tax sales, received support from county tax collectors and housing and taxpayer groups. Supporters said the bill would add transparency, due process, and a noticed public hearing for negotiated sales of tax-defaulted properties, while helping counties dispose of low-value or problematic properties more efficiently. The committee voted 6-0 to send AB 418 to Appropriations. Several other bills were heard and then referred to suspense: AB 27 by Chau, which would exclude Chiquita Canyon landfill relief payments from gross income and protect recipients’ eligibility for public benefits, drew strong support from affected residents and environmental advocates; AB 258 by Conley would increase funding for California fairs, with supporters emphasizing fairs’ emergency-response role; AB 397 by Gonzalez would expand the California Young Child Tax Credit into a broader child tax credit for older children; and AB 398 by Aaron would set a $300 minimum refundable Cal EITC benefit. The committee also heard AB 231 by Tye, which would offer a tax credit to microbusinesses that hire formerly incarcerated people, and it too was referred to suspense after supportive testimony from reentry and small-business advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the legislature, through policymaking, you've decided to raise the minimum wage, but you haven't provided
• The minimum wage, and I remember telling the administrators I was working with that... that's illegal
• It was then under the federal minimum wage, so that made it more so.
• wage, I mean... were living with the minimum wage was very heartening.
• Those that are still working underneath the state minimum wage.

Transcript Highlights:

• the hourly minimum wage.
• So we know the state minimum wage in California right now is $16.50.
• We know that in counties like Siskiyou, they are paid the minimum wage, $16.50.
• The average wage being $18.20, which is far below the estimated necessary living wage of $28.72, according
• Explore the impact of differential wages.

Summary: The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk. The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care. The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minimum of $100 million a year.
• It is $100 million minimum for any state.
• Moving on to slide 11, this is national and state wages and salaries.
• Regardless of income, with no copay, and it's tied to a $21 an hour minimum wage.
• So we're creating a base minimum wage in this industry.

Transcript Highlights:

• minimum, we need to have this process. minimum, we need to have this process.
• <00:30:04.320> security medium security minimum security medium security minimum security
• <00:30:16.000> security take one of the minimum security take one of the minimum security
• 02.000> require Minimum medium security inmates require Minimum medium security inmates require
• RAD recommendation or at the minimum RAD recommendation or at the minimum setting. setting. setting.

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and 30 minutes is the minimum for the meal break.
• , and 30 minutes is the minimum for the meal break.
• , and 30 minutes is the minimum for the meal break.
• A restroom than 15 minutes, but 15 minutes is that minimum, and 30 minutes is the minimum for the meal
• as a professional and receive progressive wage increases.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• about calculating the um uh the minimum about calculating the um uh the minimum amount<00:05:38.440
• application of prevailing wage application of prevailing wage protections<01:15:48.159> on
• Minnesota Minnesota's prevailing wage Minnesota Minnesota's prevailing wage law<01:16:02.760>
• <01:18:41.159> rate gets a certified prevailing wage rate gets a certified prevailing wage
• Prevailing wage doesn't dictate a wage rate; it reflects what the private market is already paying and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then you could also think about providing district minimums or tiering by school size.
• Brown used the as a wage for food service workers, um, the custodians, right?
• Brown used the as a wage for food service workers, um, the custodians, right?
• We almost expended the whole budget of $140,000 for wages and stuff.
• Three quarters for the meal program. >> It's wages and benefits. >> It's wages and benefits for your

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The individuals that receive these apprenticeships have higher wages over time for themselves and their
• So right now, there are four wage classifications to the Department of Workforce: there's Class A, Class
• Maybe their market share is 20% prevailing wage paid by taxpayers. They pay into it.
• It would no longer impose the $5 minimum late filing fee on certain tax programs, where we find often
• an employee, those wages are limited to $500,000 per employee.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been valuable to library staff that don't make a livable wage to increase their wages.
• So being able to have a livable wage is really important, and hiring additional staff to expand their
• This funding can be used for wages and also for collection development.
• wage.
• So I support spending a minimum of $40,000 on these libraries for sure.

Bills: SB61, SB62, SB99

Keywords: rural libraries, funding, cultural affairs, education, community support, appropriation, state investment, public resources, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 2026-2027 school year only, a school district cannot be penalized for not meeting the applicable minimum
• The base period for which the minimum number of new jobs must be created is five years for an expansion
• The bill defines qualifying wage increase as a new wage paid to an eligible employee after receiving
• an upskill credential that is at least 25% greater than the employee's average gross weekly wage for
• the six calendar months preceding training and above the weekly wage in West Virginia as determined by

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the previous meeting. It then took up House Bill 5510, which was amended to incorporate provisions modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and fees and to treat low-proof spirits more like beer, including a $1.25 per gallon tax. The committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered a major education funding bill, Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 5453. After counsel explained the proposed block-grant school funding structure and supplemental aid for special education, members discussed whether charter schools should be included. The committee adopted an amendment to include charter school students in the special education funding provisions, then adopted another amendment removing certain outdated staffing ratio and administrator limitations effective July 1, 2027. The amended bill was then reported to the full Senate. The committee also took up House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year contracts for educational materials with technology licensing components and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers. Members amended the bill to clarify contract language, extend the training timeline, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate. The amended bill was reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4006, focused on aerospace and advanced manufacturing development, was explained as creating grant and workforce programs tied to aerospace investment and jobs. The committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment that changed the funding mechanism and other details, then reported the amended bill to the full Senate. Committee Substitute for House Bill 4009 was also amended to shift from the portable benefits concept to a broader workforce-readiness package, including a microcredential program and expansion of the apprenticeship tax credit to all apprenticeship programs; it too was reported to the full Senate. Finally, House Bill 4004, the Recharge West Virginia Act, was explained as a reimbursement program for employers training employees who earn upskill credentials and receive wage increases. The committee adopted an amendment raising the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000, then reported the amended bill to the full Senate. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is actually a week median weekly real wages.
• highest wages that they're going to earn over their career.
• We've got the blue line, which represents the median real wages.
• On median weekly real wages, just because of their size.
• That's moving up real wages that goes sideways there.

Transcript Highlights:

• It relates to minimum wage for farm laborers or farm employees and temporary foreign workers.
• Wage Act.
• It relates to minimum wage, farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers, legislation originally
• House Bill 238 relates to labor and employment, payment of wages, minimum wage and overtime wages, and
• and the failure to pay minimum wage and overtime wages by giving the Department of Labor and Industry

Keywords: March 11, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that is, like a total dollar amount, and then the merit plan provides the limitations on sort of minimum
• that is, like a total dollar amount, and then the merit plan provides the limitations on sort of minimum
• that is, like a total dollar amount, and then the merit plan provides the limitations on sort of minimum
• Secretary Bottern, um, I appreciate hearing that you feel our wages are getting more competitive.
• Secretary Bottern, um, I appreciate hearing that you feel our wages are getting more competitive.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We look at labor market information, but also wages that are being earned in Arkansas.
• It's to get folks into the workforce with a livable wage.
• It's to get folks into the workforce with the livable wage.
• Because a lot of times a short-term training might be a livable wage, but it's at that bare minimum of
• a livable wage.

Summary: The committee approved the November 3 minutes and then received an extensive presentation from Arkansas education and workforce officials on how the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts are affecting career and technical education, concurrent enrollment, and postsecondary readiness. Officials said the state’s goal is for students to leave high school employed, enrolled, or enlisted, and reported increases in K-12 CTE enrollment from about 161,000 to 171,000 students and concurrent CTE enrollment from about 12,000 to 16,000. They also described the new success-ready pathways, merit and distinction designations, and how those measures tie into school accountability and graduation outcomes. The discussion then turned to scholarships and grants. Officials explained that ACCESS expanded concurrent credit support, increased funding per credit hour, and broadened eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge and Governor’s Scholar programs by adding diploma-of-merit and diploma-of-distinction pathways. They said the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship itself did not change, but the non-distinguished Governor’s Scholar award now includes diploma of distinction as an additional eligibility route. Members raised concerns about how these requirements apply to private school and homeschool students, and officials said the intent is to ensure those students can qualify if they meet the same standards, though some implementation details are still being worked out. Questions also focused on whether students who explore multiple pathways could be penalized in school letter grades; officials said the system allows multiple ways to earn credit, including AP, IB, concurrent credit, technical certificates, and apprenticeships. Officials also reviewed workforce scholarships and short-term training funding. They said the state is developing policy for the Workforce Challenge and related professional skills training to set an 80-hour minimum and tiered funding, and they discussed the new federal Workforce Pell rules, which they said are very narrow and will likely apply to only a small number of Arkansas programs unless providers repackage training into stackable, credit-bearing pathways. Members asked for lists of eliminated programs, apprenticeships, and data on scholarship recipients, and staff said they could provide those. The committee also heard from Cody Waites on a $35.8 million U.S. Department of Labor cooperative agreement for the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, which Arkansas will administer nationally. He said the grant will support advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, use a pay-for-performance model, and be distributed to sponsors after apprentices are employed for 90 days, with applications opening January 28 and the state expecting to keep administrative costs under 8-9%.

Transcript Highlights:

• through the Special Needs Differential Allocation for School Readiness Program providers who meet Minimum
• wage.
• This is the bare minimum, and please don't take that away from us. Good morning, senators.
• For example, labor pools cannot deduct so much from a paycheck that it falls below minimum wage.
• wage.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hourly wage in the community should match the hourly wages paid at the supported living centers.
• The high-end wage equals $20 an hour.
• The $7.25 minimum wage—that was, if I could just finish my thought on this—on the $7.25 that was placed
• or the minimum wage back in 2009. $10.60 is approximately the same purchasing power as $7.25. ...had
• They need to earn a livable wage.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the average wage is nearly $100,000.
• , the average wage is nearly 100,000.
• These also contribute to the wage difference.
• These occupations have median annual wages of nearly $170,000.
• So nexus is the minimum connection. Based on physical presence.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• wage and overtime for state.
• Under 387, if the employer doesn't pay the minimum wage or overtime, then it'll go directly to court.
• found instances of wage theft.
• Department of Labor Wage Standards Department of Labor Wage Standards Division,<00:24:43.760> right
• Department of Labor to to file the wage Department of Labor to to file the wage theft<00:25:09.120

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, New Mexico child care teacher wages remain below administrator wages. In U.S.
• Census data, they are ranked second in the country, while childcare workers' wages are ranked 15th.
• nation. care wages are absolutely moving in a different direction than the nation.
• Especially to me, if there are minimum thresholds—minimum salaries that they have to pay to be eligible
• These wage requirements are addressed through the increased rate.