Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the adult family home providers, child care providers, and language access providers.
• Expanded access to union members' use of state time, email, and equipment.
• use all the time to be able to access them.
• use all the time to be able to access them.
• And those are themes, I believe. to be able to access them. So that is something that we've seen.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• He said it is intended to help local schools use a tax credit because robotics teams are not accessing
• He said robotics teams are not accessing as many resources as they need because we live in an expensive
• or however much is needed, could be dedicated to areas that are underserved or perhaps do not have access
• instance, if Poplar Bluff fell into this category, then they should make sure it is able to have access
• She said she could imagine that if they are trying to create benefit and make sure schools have access

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard House Bill 3359, presented by Representative Wilson on behalf of Representative Riggs. The bill would create a 20% state income tax credit, capped at $10 million annually beginning in tax year 2027, for donations to registered school robotics/STEAM programs. Eligible contributions were described as cash, equipment, software, materials, supplies, and possibly employee volunteer hours, with a six-year sunset. Committee members asked for clarification on whether the credit applies to individuals or businesses, whether volunteer time by parents or other non-experts would qualify, which state agency would administer reporting, and whether the 20% rate should be higher. Wilson said the bill would need clarifying language, including on volunteer eligibility and the reporting department, and said he was open to revisiting the percentage and other details with the sponsor. The primary witness in support was Sarah Waldron, an 18-year-old Westminster Christian Academy senior and robotics team CEO who said she wrote the bill. She argued the credit would help businesses invest in robotics programs, address unequal access across Missouri, and strengthen workforce readiness in STEM and AI. She said the bill was intended to support business employee volunteer hours, not individual volunteer claims, and noted she had drafted an amendment to provide larger credits for under-resourced schools based on free-and-reduced-lunch percentages. Committee members praised her work and discussed how to target aid toward rural and under-resourced districts. One witness testified in opposition, State Public Advocate Arne C. A. C. Dinoff, who said he supported robotics and the student’s effort but opposed the tax credit because of the state’s budget deficit and the broader cost of tax credit programs. He objected particularly to subsidizing volunteerism and said robotics should be supported locally rather than through a state tax credit. The hearing concluded without a vote or other formal action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last several years, we've talked about the change of demographics and population shifts and access
• a trauma doctor, but at the head of the U of L health care system, he says, "We can make things accessible
• he says, "We can make things accessible he says, "We can make things accessible through<00:05:43.360
• <00:07:19.080> to<00:07:19.200> quality<00:07:19.640> health to to have access
• to quality health to to have access to quality health care.<00:07:20.760> That<00:07:21.040><

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a major step forward in improving health care access to Blountstown and the surrounding
• is the Calhoun Liberty Hospital, which has been recognized as one of the nation's top 100 critical access
• This has been a major step forward in improving the health care access to Bluntstown in the surrounding
• Accessible to Floridians. This is a federal program. It is not a state program.
• This not only increases access to federal funding, but also keeps responsibility for disaster mitigation

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard several housing and disaster-recovery items. The committee heard SB 48 by Senator Gates, which would require local governments to allow voluntary accessory dwelling units, preserve homestead treatment for the owner-occupied portion of the property, limit undue parking restrictions, require 30-day minimum rentals, extend certain density bonuses for military families, and allow reusable tenant screening reports. The bill drew strong support from the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals and several others, and it was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 34 by Senator Sharif, creating a historic cemeteries program to help preserve historic African-American cemeteries and allow sale of excess vacant land if proceeds are used for long-term maintenance; it was also reported favorably. The committee then considered and recommended confirmation of Fox Henderson to the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Members also received a presentation from the Department of Commerce on the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and Rebuild Florida. Deputy Secretary Justin Domer described the state’s administration of HUD disaster recovery funds, including more than $4.3 billion received since 2017, housing repair and replacement programs that have completed 5,271 homes, and infrastructure and mitigation projects such as sewer conversion in Alford, the new Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, and the Florida Keys desalination plant. Members asked about average project costs, contractor oversight, corrective actions for deficient work, and audit procedures; Domer said the department uses inspections, vendor oversight, and financial penalties, and noted stricter contract consequences in newer programs. The Division of Emergency Management also presented on Elevate Florida, a federal mitigation program that allows homeowners to apply directly for elevation, reconstruction, acquisition/demolition, or wind-mitigation projects, with a 75/25 federal-homeowner cost share and no state funds. Director Kevin Guthrie said the program is designed to reduce repetitive flood losses and keep homeowners in place, and that it has received more than 12,000 applications, with about 1,500 prioritized, 500 on a wait list, and 305 submitted to FEMA for final approval. Members asked about the 25% match for seniors, the wait list, contractor procurement, and how projects are classified; Guthrie said the program uses insurance proceeds where available, has competitively procured 27 contractors, and may shift projects from elevation to reconstruction depending on damage and flood rules. The committee adjourned after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• In response, House Bill 4233 eliminates that auditor access requirement and instead ensures that digital
• The initial provision requiring auditors to access pseudonymized customer information was identified
• Research shows that access to financial resources... is one of the most likely predictors of whether
• He controlled whether she had any access to food.
• They were either not aware of them or there were barriers to accessing them.

Bills: HB3803, HB3804, HB3805, HB3806, HB3833, HB4134, HB4233, HB4238, HB4243

Keywords: HB 3803, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 712, perpetual care cemetery, perpetual care trust fund, cemetery regulation, financial confidentiality, confidential records, regulatory examination, Texas Department of Banking, commissioner disclosure, interagency information sharing, state agency enforcement, federal agency disclosure, trust fund oversight, burial services, cemetery trust, consumer protection, state banks, Texas Finance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh we need to know how we can increase the supply of accessible vehicles.
• Uh we need to know how we can increase the supply of accessible vehicles.
• Uh we need to know how we can increase the supply of accessible vehicles.
• Uh we need to know how we can increase the supply of accessible vehicles.
• I also think that accessible vehicles.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They get denied access to it.
• <01:08:05.440> um grants and funding sources to access um grants and funding sources to access
• <02:10:11.040> and forms that was uh readily accessible and forms that was uh readily accessible
• <02:23:56.840> board communication access board communication access board um<02:24:00.359
• Illegally parked vehicles in accessible parking spaces and access aisles are common complaints that we

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:33.600> to insecurity improve Equitable access to insecurity improve Equitable access
• But they shouldn't be limited because they don't have access to this fund. Thank you.
• public goods and they guarantee access public goods and they guarantee access to<02:04:18.000>
• Any investment in public education must go to the roads that can be accessed by everyone.
• Any investment in public education must go to the roads that can be accessed by everyone.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:37.600> for protection, health care access for protection, health care access for children
• That is a healthc care access<00:36:35.520> problem. access problem. access problem.
• access to it? access to it?
• , is about affordable health care access, is about affordable health care access, accountability,
• Parents are still struggling to access Parents are still struggling to access services.<03:49:33.760

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, as I spoke, the $77 million for the Health Safety Net, protecting access to care for the
• uninsured $77 million for the Health Safety Net, protecting access to care for the uninsured and underinsured
• And finally, as I spoke, the 77 million for the Health Safety Net, protecting access to care for the
• uninsured million for the health safety net, protecting access to care for the uninsured and underinsured
• In Massachusetts, we fight for our health care workforce, for access, and for equity, because that is

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the pledge and quickly took up several committee reports and local matters. It adopted a resolution congratulating Captain Mark S. Tommel on his retirement as fire captain in Maynard. The chamber then advanced multiple bills from Ways and Means, including a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill (House 4530), a bill setting the 2026 state primary election date (House 4531), and a local bill on affordable housing and branch library space in Dorchester (House 4532, with an amendment). It also passed to enact two local bills already on final passage: one authorizing Lexington to grant additional on-premises wine and malt beverage licenses and another authorizing Melrose to establish a means-tested senior property tax exemption. The most substantial debate centered on House 4530, the supplemental appropriations bill. Representative Lawn spoke in support, describing it as an urgent response to federal health care funding cuts and emphasizing support for safety net hospitals, community health centers, and the Health Safety Net. He cited a total $234 million investment, including $122 million for acute care hospitals, $35 million for community health centers, $2.5 million for the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and $77 million for the Health Safety Net. After a roll call vote, the House passed the bill to be engrossed by a vote of 148-1. The House also observed a moment of silence in memory of former House clerk Bartley J. Bart Joyce, recognizing his long service to the chamber. Earlier, members briefly recessed and later resumed after a quorum issue and a roll call. The session concluded with adoption of an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m., and the House adjourned to meet Thursday in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, froze access to and funding for certain HHS froze access
• It's just whether we access it in the exam.
• This Joint Legislative Audit Committee could direct—we have the authority to access records based off
• If approved by JLAC, we will need access to information, records, and staff, excuse me, from all state
• we may receive pushback from the providers, but if that's the case, DES certainly has access to those

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this is helpful for anybody who has any sort of accessibility needs.
• If you're on, you accessibility needs.
• <00:18:59.679> for that transition um more accessible for that transition um more accessible
• improvement plans for accessibility. improvement plans for accessibility.
• the current accessibility guidelines. the current accessibility guidelines.

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:34 Approval of Minutes 00:56 Information Items 05:40 Project Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 14:00 Project Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 20:40 Lease Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 24:53 Rpt from OFM – Ky Infrastructure Authority 40:38 Office of Financial Management 47:39 Remaining 2025 Meeting Dates 48:05 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April minutes, and several informational reports. Those information items covered upcoming general obligation debt for Bullitt, Jefferson, and Warren counties; Kentucky Communications Network Authority updates tied to House Bill 6; Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation reallocations under House Bill 1; and School Facilities Construction Commission debt activity, including 20 prior debt issues totaling about $386 million with roughly 85% locally supported debt service and 15% SFCC participation. Members then discussed concerns about a Kentucky Communications Network Authority project, focusing on a reported discrepancy between an appropriation of $12.927 million and an apparent payment of about $8.532 million on a project with a cost estimate of $12.449 million. Several members asked for more detailed written information before the next Capital Projects meeting, noting that a lawsuit is pending and that they wanted to better understand the basis for the request and the spending to date. The committee also heard and unanimously approved a donor-funded Northern Kentucky University project to renovate tennis courts, with possible pickleball additions, after questions about why approval was needed, the project’s estimated $3 million cost, and its expected minimal ongoing operating costs. The committee next received Kentucky State University pool allocation reports for three projects: a $2 million McCullen Hall renovation, a $1.75 million walkway and miscellaneous repairs project, and a $2 million academic services building roof-and-window project. A member asked specifically about curb cuts and accessibility in the walkway project, and Kentucky State said existing curb cuts would be repaired and additional accessibility issues would be reviewed by engineers. The lease report from the Finance and Administration Cabinet included one lease modification requiring approval for the Attorney General’s office in Franklin County and one no-action modification for the Board of Cosmetology; the Attorney General lease was approved by roll call vote. Finally, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented five loans and 37 grants, with action taken on the loan and grant items. The loans included a Hodgenville wastewater treatment plant increase, a Grant County sewer district treatment plant loan, a Mount Sterling dam rehabilitation loan, and two Morganfield drinking water loans for granular activated carbon treatment, one with full principal forgiveness. Members asked about the Morganfield project’s purpose and were told it was a remediation effort for a water-quality concern, and they also raised questions about engineering fees, which KIA said are compared against a U.S. Rural Development fee schedule that is industry accepted. The committee also reviewed cleaner water program grant reallocations from county allocation pools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Election administrators still have access to it, election employees, and vendors.
• Not every Texan... ...polling locations accessible.
• There are no changes in access, so there's...
• Access is the same. Mail-in ballots are the same. The number of days are the same.
• For distribution within these defined regions, this promotes a more orderly market access.

Bills: HB45, SB1540, SB2225, SB2284, SB2382, SB2487, SB2514, SB2595, SB2876, SB2877, SB3031, SB2753

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, spirit beverages, alcoholic beverages, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, distribution, taxation, firearms, local regulation, archery equipment, weapons, voter registration, statewide list