Transcript Highlights:

• So what does our current landscape look like for workforce right now?
• Currently, there are just over 18,000 people in the manufacturing sector workforce.
• It's not that there are people that are not participating in the workforce.
• And we already know we have an aging workforce.
• The one thing that’s always undertaken is workforce availability. Well, no.”

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to traffic in an exploitable Workforce to traffic in an exploitable Workforce they<00:28:18.000>
• Workforce Development and Workforce Services, on the other hand, rely more on federal funds.
• <00:56:58.079> Development fund dollars are Workforce Development fund dollars are Workforce
• years and then finally Workforce years and then finally Workforce Services<00:58:30.640> and<
• in fiscal year 27 from the Workforce in fiscal year 27 from the Workforce Development<01:18:55.920

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission.
• And our workforce is having to choose the alternatives or stepping out of the workforce altogether.
• But in the immediate, we need solutions to get our workforce back.
• In terms of the Texas workforce commission and child care crisis.
• The workforce of today depends on it and the workforce of tomorrow is waiting.

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:

• This is going to be the workforce need of the future: to train a workforce capable of meeting these job
• . workforce. workforce.
• We're convening with workforce.
• and um build an educated workforce and um build an educated workforce<01:04:25.520> at<01:04:
• workforce at that. So that's futurity. workforce at that. So that's futurity.

Keywords: The livestream event for this meeting failed before the meeting was finished. This copy was pulled from backups and is reposted in it's entirety., 958, all

Summary: The committee met to review KHEAA’s student aid programs ahead of the upcoming biennial budget. KHEAA officials outlined the agency’s role administering state grants and scholarships, emphasizing that net lottery proceeds are statutorily dedicated to student financial aid after a literacy appropriation. They focused on the College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), and KEES, and explained that the FAFSA simplification changes significantly expanded eligibility for Pell and CAP recipients. KHEAA said the General Assembly’s additional funding this biennium allowed CAP to be fully funded, and that FY25 spending for CAP reached about $232 million for roughly 72,000 students, up from about 55,000 recipients the prior year. Officials said they are watching current-year application trends closely and expect a clearer funding picture by late fall as awards are actually disbursed and enrollment data comes in. Members asked about how CAP eligibility works, the difference between applicants and recipients, and whether KTG is tied to Pell eligibility. KHEAA explained that CAP is essentially aligned with Pell eligibility, while KTG uses a different need formula and is limited to private colleges in Kentucky. They also noted that schools verify final eligibility after KHEAA’s initial review of application data. Questions about the FAFSA simplification act and federal changes led KHEAA to say they do not expect major effects on state grant and scholarship programs, though federal student loan changes may affect students, especially at the graduate level. The committee also discussed KEES, which KHEAA said has been fully funded since its creation, and dual credit/work-ready scholarships. KHEAA reported that dual credit participation continues to grow and that FY25 spending for dual credit and Work Ready Kentucky totaled about $26.4 million, compared with a $13.1 million appropriation, with transfers from Work Ready used to keep dual credit fully funded. Officials said they will seek growth funding for dual credit in the next budget because the program has expanded and now includes the work-ready component under one statute. Members asked about transferability of dual credit courses and whether students actually use the credits toward degrees; KHEAA said it does not have hard data on every credit’s transfer, but it is seeing positive trends in bachelor’s completion and more high school graduates earning associate degrees. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the July 15, 2025 meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:29.200> development, workforce development, workforce development, um<00:32:31.039>
• workforce and loan reforms and medical assistance cuts.
• > our<00:35:09.040> RHTP rural workforce through our RHTP rural workforce through our RHTP
• The um nurse compact workforce planning.
• The workforce is here. This the culture. The workforce is here.

Bills: HF1925

Keywords: nurse licensure, multistate license, healthcare, public safety, interstate compact, nursing regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• health workforce is primary among them. health workforce is primary among them.
• shortage<00:32:31.039> or No health care workforce shortage or No health care workforce
• Healthcare Workforce Advisory The Healthcare Workforce Advisory Council<00:34:44.000> will<00:
• <00:42:57.440> healthcare made in um workforce healthcare made in um workforce healthcare
• We had mental health um workforce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can have additional workforce development across the state.
• We have an educated workforce.
• So, in 2001, 11% of engineers in the workforce were women.
• It cheats the Workforce Development Fund.
• I really appreciate the green votes today on the Labor Workforce Bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when I say all things workforce, I mean all things workforce within and outside of state government
• on all things workforce. on all things workforce.
• ,<00:03:14.320> I And when I say all things workforce, I And when I say all things workforce
• > within<00:03:16.519> and mean all things workforce within and mean all things workforce
• We began working with the Workforce We began working with the Workforce Division<00:03:22.440>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate Bill 313, relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development described the bill as part of a broader effort to integrate CTE more fully into Vermont’s education system, with goals including universal access, more consistent admissions and credit policies, better transportation access, updated rules and procedures, and stronger alignment with workforce needs. The committee emphasized that CTE should be treated as a core part of education, not a stand-alone track, and reported the bill favorably 11-0-0 after hearing from education, labor, workforce, fiscal, and CTE stakeholders. The Committee on Education recommended a few changes, including a typo correction and removal of a legislative working group, explaining that broader education reform work already underway would make a separate working group duplicative. It added a task for the Agency of Education to study how to serve adult diploma students in CTE programs amid federal funding changes, and it supported the bill with an amendment vote of 10-0-1. The Committee on Appropriations said the fiscal impact could not yet be estimated because it depends on future rulemaking, and it recommended the bill ought to pass in concurrence as amended by a vote of 10-0-1. The House adopted the Education Committee amendment, then adopted a further amendment offered by Representative Bartley and others that incorporated language from S. 230 while removing a solicitation provision related to Department of Corrections property. The House then agreed to propose the amended bill to the Senate, ordered third reading, suspended rules to place the bill in all remaining stages of passage, passed S. 313 in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules again to message its action to the Senate forthwith. The House then recessed until 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce. We don't have workforce responsibility anymore, as you know.
• My question goes back to workforce. We talk about that a lot.
• As you all know, you've tried to solve this workforce challenge.
• They'll have their workforce here. So that's the way I would see it fitting in.
• The other question I have is with regard to the Workforce Commission.

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:

• Workforce pathways or flexible instruction for children in foster care.
• Education and workforce development.
• First, strengthening workforce participation and business productivity.
• Second, developing a future-ready workforce.
• By the Texas Workforce Commission, they're supported by many grants.

Bills: HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• Salton Sea restoration and skilled and trained workforce standards.
• These workforce requirements ensure that a certain percentage of workers engaged on covered projects
• for all With all that being said, SB 369 would ensure that a skilled and trained workforce would be
• I would also say and agree that having the skilled and trained workforce does provide that hand up to
• So I'm in favor, definitely in favor of having our skilled and trained workforce there.

Summary: The committee heard several water- and environment-related bills. SB 72, by Senator Caballero, would modernize the California Water Plan and set long-term water supply targets, including an interim goal of 9 million acre-feet of additional water by 2040. Supporters from water districts, local governments, business groups, and agricultural interests argued the bill is needed to address climate-driven shortages, protect the economy, and improve planning for droughts, flooding, recharge, recycling, storage, and conveyance. Opponents, including environmental and conservation groups, argued the bill could overstate demand, increase costs, and make it harder to protect instream flows and ecosystems. The committee discussed the science behind the 9 million acre-feet target and the need to balance water supply planning with fish and ecological needs. SB 72 passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 369, by Senator Padilla, would require a local skilled and trained workforce for all Salton Sea restoration work. The author and sponsors said the bill would protect workers exposed to hazardous conditions at the Salton Sea, create good local jobs in Imperial County, and ensure long-term workforce standards for publicly funded restoration projects. Support came from labor organizations, contractors, and other regional stakeholders; no opposition testified. Members emphasized the region’s high unemployment and the importance of workforce development. The bill passed on a do-pass motion to Labor and Employment. SB 697, by Senator Laird, would update the stream system adjudication process by allowing the State Water Board to use modern technology, such as stream gauges and digitized records, when investigating water rights claims, while still allowing field investigations when needed. The author said the process has not been updated since 1976 and should be streamlined. After amendments addressed stakeholder concerns, there was no opposition testimony. The committee asked whether the bill would affect pre-1914 water rights, and the author said it would not. SB 697 passed as amended to Judiciary. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 599, SB 609, and SB 765 earlier in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving over to an entrepreneurial mindset workforce, we don't have workforce responsibility anymore,
• My question goes back to workforce.
• It's about preparing somebody for the workforce.
• Workforce challenge: the money sits all over these agencies.
• The other question I have is with regard to the workforce commission.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My first question is about the Workforce Pell Grant.
• to the degree that we can, understanding that the workforce is decreasing.
• and where those workforce education programs are going to be hosted.
• investments that you have put forward and workforce training internships via GROW.
• And we've trained the workforce for all of the state of New Mexico.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• Our unit and an apartment referred to the Committee on Trade Workforce and and Economic Development.
• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• HB 1147 by GAA is relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of a workplace soft
• skill training pilot program for the Subcommittee on Workforce, HB 11488.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we will now go on to, um, Harry Rommel with for healthcare workforce update.
• Uh, we'll take a quick look at the workforce, behavioral health.
• Could you tell me who is on the healthcare workforce committee?
• , and this is their health workforce projection specifically for the state.
• model, which again is based on existing workforce, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, they invited the Department of Education to returns that we can continue our discussion on workforce
• In-house, our work is tightly tied to workforce needs at the local state and national levels.
• He's strong, believe on workforce development in a He's strong, believe on workforce development in a
• These outcomes extent beyond workforce certificates into a broader higher education system.
• Our workforce system also supports adult learners. And those are individuals.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did user testing and piloted that with the help of the Central Florida Local Workforce Board last
• This is an issue that every state workforce agency is wrestling with.
• Every state workforce agency, like us, is wrestling with the funding.
• At local workforce boards or other agencies, employees do.
• There is a singular system that is connected to the other agencies' different workforce tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• investment board and the Office of Workforce Development, Accelerate Mississippi, and workforce training
• investment board and the Office of Workforce Development, Accelerate Mississippi, and workforce training
• note that MDES will reduce its workforce note that MDES will reduce its workforce by<00:04:05.840
• > developed<00:13:48.240> and workforce, uh, we have developed and workforce, uh, we have
• 16:03.440> training funds uh workforce enhancement training funds uh workforce enhancement training

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: MDES presented its FY27 budget request, describing the agency as a special fund workforce agency focused on helping Mississippians get jobs through employment services, labor market information, and unemployment insurance. Executive Director Bill Ashley said the revised request seeks level spending authority similar to FY26, with line-item changes driven mainly by higher salaries and fringe benefits and lower contractual services. He said MDES currently has 406 employees, 28 active recruitments, and six additional planned positions, for a requested total of 440 positions, down from 453 authorized last year. The request also includes $1.4 million for the State Longitudinal Data System and $400,000 for Accelerate Mississippi fiscal support. Committee members asked about the SLDS pass-through funding, whether it is recurring, and the staffing/pin changes; MDES explained the SLDS is a recurring annual pass-through and that the staffing request reflects turnover and recruitment needs rather than a net expansion. Accelerate Mississippi then outlined its FY27 request and program updates. Officials said the office is requesting level funding overall, with some salary adjustments tied to benefits and two new positions, including one for Talent Solutions and one systems administrator. They described workforce initiatives such as Encore, a recruiter/instructor program; Facet, a partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College to strengthen instructor preparation; Power Path, a K-12 advanced manufacturing credential model; and expanded career coach activity, reporting 204 coaches serving 209 schools and more than 22,000 unique student interactions. They also reviewed funding streams for workforce enhancement training, Mississippi Works, Equip Mississippi, and ARPA, saying ARPA funds are on track to be fully spent by the September 30 reimbursement deadline and that monthly check-ins are being used to ensure funds are drawn down. Members asked about the budget changes, the use of contractual services, and the career coach program; the office said it was shifting some audit and monitoring costs to the funds being monitored and was not requesting an increase for career coach funding. The Mississippi community college presidents and the Community College Board also presented their budget priorities. They reported that Mississippi community colleges served 88,600 students in academic year 2023 and said the system’s graduation rate is about 42 percent, with a goal of reaching 55 percent. Their FY27 request includes a 6 percent salary increase for employees, increased basic operations funding, and continued support for CTE Advantage programs, totaling $61.5 million in general support. On facilities, they requested $150 million after receiving no facilities funding last year, citing roughly $413 million in identified needs across capital improvements, repairs and renovations, and pre-planning. The Community College Board requested restoration of $310,000 in general fund cuts and a new $2 million appropriation for adult education, noting that an estimated 300,000 to 330,000 Mississippians lack a high school diploma. No votes were taken during the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this would workforce one reporting.
• Line um workforce one um requirement.
• putting a lot of pressure on a workforce putting a lot of pressure on a workforce development<00
• It still is workforce.
• It still is workforce. Um, I ed areas. It still is workforce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all