Video & Transcript : 'farm unit' :

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Apr 20th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • than in any other major agricultural state in the United States.
  • as farm kids, and opening our home to teach others about farming and livestock was something that we
  • as farm kids, and opening our home to teach others about farming and livestock was something that we
  • There's a lot of great things about the farm. It is a wonderful life.
  • Diaspora United Chamber of Commerce.
Summary: The Assembly convened after a delayed quorum call, then moved through routine procedural actions, including unanimous-consent requests on guest seating and committee referrals. A motion by Assembly Member DeMaio to withdraw AB 2624 from committee failed on a roll call vote, 14-44. The chamber also heard multiple guest introductions and held an Armenian Genocide Remembrance ceremony with a prayer, pledge, and moment of silence. The main floor action centered on H.R. 97, commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Assembly Member Schultz and numerous colleagues spoke in support, emphasizing historical recognition, solidarity with Armenian Californians, and opposition to denial. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 66 co-authors were added. Later, H.R. 99 recognizing California Agriculture Day also drew extensive support from members highlighting the state’s agricultural economy, farmworkers, and the need for continued investment in agriculture; it was adopted by voice vote after 65 co-authors were added. Several bills were also considered and passed: AB 1838 on contractor wage-and-hour disclosure for public works bids, AB 1562 authorizing counties to randomly select poll workers, AB 2297 standardizing restitution rules in diversion programs, AB 1659 improving school re-enrollment support for justice-impacted youth, AB 1974 creating an optional temporary firearm storage program for law enforcement, AB 2402 updating health studio fee rules, and AB 1607 extending the Maddy Emergency Medical Services Fund. AB 1607 drew sharp opposition over fee funding and broader policy concerns, but passed 66-1. The Assembly also adopted ACR 129 establishing a sister-state relationship with Lagos State, Nigeria, and considered a Senate joint resolution on tariffs, with members split over whether tariffs or state policies were the main driver of higher costs; the transcript ends during debate on that resolution.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

AGR Public Hearing - Wed Feb 12, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST

Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:
  • Next to testify is Hawaii Farm Bureau. Thank you. Hawaii Farm Bureau supports this measure.
  • </c> or quantity to farm Lots the farm Lots or quantity to farm Lots the farm Lots generally<00:38:48.040
  • </c> testify Hawaii Farm testify Hawaii Farm [Music] Hawaii Farm Bureau: Good afternoon, Chair, Vice
  • Farm Bureau. Hello, the Farm Bureau was down on testimony in support.
  • </c><02:00:19.800><c> bu</c> support Farm Bureau hello the farm bu support Farm Bureau hello the farm
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Corrections and Public Institutions Apr 8th, 2026

Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:
  • So it shoved the price downward out on the farm.
  • So it shoved the price downward out on the farm.
  • So Brazil sells more beef than we do in the United States, like of our own homegrown beef in the United
  • The United States.
  • He says, well, we better buy a farm then.
Summary: The committee first took up executive action on Senate Bill 890. Members explained that the House committee substitute combined provisions from related bills, changed the title to accommodate an amendment, and restored language that had been unintentionally repealed in section 217.550. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for SB 890 was voted do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 945 from Senator Carla May, which would raise the civil filing surcharge in the city of St. Louis from $15 to up to $20 to support the law library and related court services. Senator May and a representative of the Law Library Association of St. Louis testified that the surcharge had not been raised since 1996, that costs had increased, and that the increase would help maintain legal research resources and public access. Questions focused on whether the amount was sufficient and what other funding sources existed; there was no opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. The sponsor and supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that independent cattle producers are harmed by consolidation in the packing industry, and that voluntary labeling is inadequate. Opponents from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Pork Association argued that mandatory labeling adds regulatory burden, is not supported by consumer purchasing data, and should remain voluntary. The hearing included extensive testimony from cattle producers and consumers, but no vote on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Apr 10th, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Defense, and the United Secretary of Defense, and the United Secretary of Defense, and the United States
  • Tennessee Farm Bureau. Connie calling Tennessee Farm Bureau. Connie calling Tennessee Farm Bureau.
  • Tennessee Farm Tennessee Farm Bureau Tennessee Farm Bureau Tennessee Farm Bureau will then administer
  • with Farm Bureau, with the Tennessee Farm Bureau.
  • a subsidiary of United Healthcare United a subsidiary of United Healthcare United a subsidiary of United
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • farm workers.
  • Neither of these units focuses exclusively on farm workers.
  • and hour complaints were filed by farm workers.
  • Yeah, for the minimum wage retaliation unit, farm worker complaints were 1.3%. Oh, thank you. Okay.
  • So that's 2% of farm worker complaints were filed by farm workers.
Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but began without a quorum, so it could not adopt the previous minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and introduced new JLARC staff. The committee then heard a preliminary JLARC performance audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Auditors said overcrowding, staffing shortages, weak training, unreliable risk assessments, and uneven program access combine to create unsafe conditions and limit rehabilitation. They reported that about 74% of youth are in two large secure facilities, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessments are not valid for the population, and program offerings are tied more to facility location than individual need. JLARC made eight recommendations, including one to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF on retention, training, incident procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, individualized programming, and better data. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter agreed overcrowding is a major problem, said the agency would respond in detail later, and noted the department needs legislative help on staffing, pay, education, and program funding. Senators and representatives asked about JR-25, training adequacy, assessment validation, contraband, education access, and possible retaliation concerns, and JLARC staff and DCYF answered that the issues are interrelated and that a fuller agency response would come later. The committee next heard JLARC’s preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. JLARC concluded that L&I generally meets timelines for health and safety inspections but not for wage-and-hour or retaliation complaints, largely because complaint volume exceeds staff capacity and delays occur before assignment to investigators. Auditors said recent agency changes and 2026 legislation may help, including added staff, screening processes, workload reorganization, the ability to prioritize complaints, a later start date for the 60-day wage complaint clock, and authority to expand some investigations to similarly affected workers. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. L&I’s deputy policy director said the agency appreciates the report, is hiring additional investigators, and expects the new laws to substantially change how wage complaints are handled. Members asked for clarification on what counts as a wage complaint, the share of farm worker complaints, and how the new authority will work. JLARC then provided an update on the Department of Health’s strategic management plan for hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff summarized prior recommendations and noted that House Bill 2577 clarified hospital inspection timing. DOH officials described a detailed plan with measurable milestones for improving inspection compliance, verifying accreditation standards, expanding complaint forms into more languages, addressing language-access barriers, and seeking long-term funding for adverse event reporting and financial data reporting. DOH said acute care inspection compliance had risen from 28% to 61% and projected further increases through 2028, while also working on staffing, a new licensing system, and public reporting tools. Committee members praised the specificity of the plan but raised concerns about the long timeline for language access and whether hospitals should do more outreach as part of their community health assessments. After lunch, the committee began the 2026 tax preference performance reviews preliminary report. JLARC staff introduced the first three reviews, starting with the Main Street tax credit and program. Auditors said the preference appears to have met the legislature’s broad goal of increasing Main Street communities and businesses overall, though results vary by community. They reported that Main Street communities grew from 9 in 2005 to 40 in 2025, business counts in those communities rose overall, and donations and tax credits have remained high, with many local businesses donating to support their own downtowns. The committee then moved into the rest of the tax preference review presentation, with additional reports to follow later in the meeting.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Local Government Jan 28th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the United States.
  • people the opportunity to get out to farms, see what farms are doing.
  • I brought my children to so many farms as they're growing up Remlinger and we belong to a co-op farm.
  • My farm is a centennial farm here in Skagit Valley.
  • I interpret it as farm boutique hotels, farm restaurants, and concert venues.
Summary: The committee held public hearings on several local government bills, with most of the discussion focused on HB 2480, which would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones and limit local requirements for ground-floor retail or mixed-use conditions. The bill sponsor and supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, Governor’s Office, Commerce, builders, business groups, and housing advocates, argued it would unlock underused commercial land, reduce housing costs, and help address Washington’s housing shortage. Opponents and some cities said the bill could undermine local planning, walkable mixed-use centers, tax base, and neighborhood retail, and asked for more exemptions or narrower application. Several speakers supported the proposed substitute as a compromise, while others urged not to weaken the bill further. No vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 2223, which would create an exception to the conflict-of-interest rules for irrigation district directors whose spouses work for a district contract, modeled on an existing exception for public hospital district commissioners. The sponsor and the Washington State Water Resources Association said the change would help irrigation districts recruit and retain volunteer board members in rural areas while preserving disclosure and recusal requirements. The hearing was brief and no action was taken. HB 2530 would extend the deadline for forming a public facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028. Supporters from Olympia and Tumwater said the extension would give local governments more time to collaborate and pursue an aquatic center that has long been a community priority; one testifier said removing the deadline entirely would also be acceptable. The committee then heard HB 2459, which would expand authority to site certain schools outside urban growth areas and extend utilities to serve them. Supporters, especially representatives of the Tahoma School District and related groups, said the bill would let districts use land they already own to relieve overcrowding. Opponents, including Futurewise, argued it would weaken Growth Management Act planning and local multicounty policies and should remain a local process. Finally, HB 2129 on agritourism was briefly heard, with the sponsor describing it as a way to help farms stay viable and preserve rural character; the committee heard supportive comments about farm preservation and openness to a work group or amendments. No votes or final actions were taken on these bills during the hearing.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Mar 25th, 2026

Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Walls or neighboring units.
  • And so I stuck in a wall or a window unit.
  • That's where Napa County's farm worker housing centers come in.
  • now to 180,000 units as we have fallen behind even further.
  • now to 180,000 units as we have fallen behind even further.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Mar 28th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In the 1960s and '70s, Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers stood shoulder to shoulder with the Black
  • Even after the founding of the United Farm Workers Union, Cesar, his colleagues, and the union suffered
  • The United Farm Workers continues to fight to advance justice and make...
  • The United Farm Workers continues to fight to advance justice, and many of his colleagues, such as esteemed
  • He was speaking... ...empowering farm workers to know their true value.
Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, pledge, and a moment of silence for Marysville Police Officer Osmar Rodarte. Members then handled several procedural motions, including re-referring bills and moving items on the file, with AB 567 re-referred by a recorded vote of 42-17 and the remaining referral requests approved without objection. The chamber also heard a brief personal statement from Assembly Member Macedo thanking colleagues and staff for support during a health episode. On the floor, members presented and passed several measures. AB 310 by Assembly Member Alanis, requiring youth sports organizations to have AED access, emergency response plans, and coach training, passed 56-0. AB 437 by Assembly Member Lackey, expanding CIF reporting to include sports-related injuries and medical problems, passed 59-0. ACR 55 by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez, commemorating the 40th anniversary of ARC v. DDS and the Lanterman Act, received 62 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. The Assembly also adopted HR 28 recognizing Major League Baseball Opening Day 2025, with extended lighthearted remarks about the Dodgers, Giants, and Athletics, and HR 23 honoring Cesar Chavez Day, which drew broad support from caucus leaders and members speaking to Chavez’s labor and civil rights legacy. Both resolutions were adopted by voice vote after adding co-authors. The chamber then approved the second-day consent calendar, including ACR 39 on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month and ACR 53 on Women’s Equal Pay Day, and later adjourned in memory of Ralph Miller after tributes from Assembly Members Hart and Gibson. The House adjourned until Tuesday, April 1 at 1 p.m.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm from Full Belly Farm in Western Yolo County. We're a certified organic, diversified farm.
  • I'm from Full Belly Farm in Western Yolo County. We're a certified organic, diversified farm.
  • We're an organic farm growing...
  • farms in Placer County that have been farming for generations.
  • , CUSP, CNIP, and Farm to School.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 03/02/26

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:16:13.199><c> advocates,</c><00:16:14.000><c> farm</c> support for farm advocates, farm support
  • </c> farm income came from federal farm farm income came from federal farm program<01:20:43.760><c> supports
  • And so it's kind farm farm machinery on.
  • Minnesota farms are diverse, and responsible stewardship looks a little different from farm to farm.
  • </c><01:42:31.520><c> farms,</c> influence not just today's farm farms, influence not just today's farm
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Natural Resources and Environment Mar 25th, 2026

Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • Louisiana Farm Bureau.
  • One is a 27-acre farm near the bridge at Caminada Bay. The other is a 13-acre farm.
  • The farm near the bridge at Caminada Bay. The other is a 13-acre farm in Bay.
  • Mitch Jurisich: If we have, I think Farm Bureau, for one thing, you'd have to be a member of Farm Bureau
  • If we have, I think Farm Bureau, for one thing, you'd have to be a member of Farm Bureau from Jefferson
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 076 Mar 31st, 2026

Colorado Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • workers for decades and co-founded the United Farm Workers Movement and the United Farm Workers Union
  • workers for decades and co-founded the United Farm Workers Movement and the United Farm Workers Union
  • workers for decades and co-founded the United Farm Workers Movement and the United Farm Workers Union
  • And the United Farm Workers Union.
  • </c><00:33:27.080><c> Farm</c><00:33:27.320><c> Workers</c> I had said that the United Farm Workers I
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Labor & Workplace Standards

Transcript Highlights:
  • Washington farm workers or farmers? Yeah, farm workers. Washington farm workers or farmers?
  • Farms falling from more than 37,000 farms in 2012 to 32,000 and 2022.
  • And if the farms don't exist, how can we provide jobs for these farm workers as well?
  • And if the farms don't exist, how can we provide jobs for these farm workers as well?
  • farm, just essentially pricing... ...my husband's farm and my mother's farm, just essentially pricing
Bills: HB2355 , HB2151 , HB2372 , HB2472 , HB2409
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

Hearings to examine certain pending nominations. Apr 29th, 2025 at 02:00 pm

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture for Civil Rights.
  • Farming is the riskiest business there is.
  • The first was as a teenager in the United States Navy.
  • We lost 150,000 farms in the last four years. Our trade deficit has gone awful.
  • You see, my family has a family farm and we grew it to a great big farm, but with all that being said
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 14, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • I was born in Cuba on a farm.
  • I grew up on a farm in Fort Lauderdale out west, and I currently live on a farm in Palm Beach Gardens
  • But this industry was built on the backs of family farms and generational farms, and that is the way
  • So our efforts are focused on farming only.
  • He does a tremendous job with our Ag Law Unit.
Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process. Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales. Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm from Full Belly Farm in Western Yolo County. We're a certified organic, diversified farm.
  • I'm farming stone fruit and grapes in Dinuba, and I like the Farms Together stay on because we have a
  • farms in Placer County that have been farming for generations.
  • So that small farms like ours can continue their long-time farming traditions and continue to feed their
  • , CUSP, CNIP, and Farm to School.
Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of Department of Food and Agriculture budget proposals, beginning with ongoing funding and trailer bill language for the Farm to School program and related climate-smart agriculture work. CDFA described the program’s goals of linking California producers with schools, expanding access to local and nutritious food, and supporting underserved farmers through technical assistance and outreach. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal as presented because of the state’s budget condition and suggested that some activities might instead be supported through Proposition 98. Members questioned whether the program is reaching the schools and communities with the greatest need, how grants are scored, and whether the proposal’s goals are measurable enough to justify ongoing funding. The item was held open. The committee also discussed CDFA’s climate bond expenditure plan, which would allocate remaining Proposition 4 funds to existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, urban agriculture, fairground emergency response upgrades, and invasive species work, as well as new or developing programs including year-round certified farmers markets, mobile farmers markets, regional farm equipment sharing, and tribal food sovereignty. CDFA said the funds would be released in stages based on program readiness, with audits and performance metrics tied to each program. The LAO found the plan reasonable and consistent with bond requirements. Members asked about audit responsibility, performance tracking, and whether the bond programs should be front-loaded or spread over a longer period. A third CDFA item addressed the elimination of vacant positions under prior budget reductions. CDFA and the Department of Finance explained that the positions were selected because they had been vacant for long periods or were hard to fill, and that departments identified the positions based on their own operational knowledge. The LAO supported retaining the special-fund positions and suggested the General Fund positions be weighed on their merits. Members raised concerns about the impact on core functions such as audits, investigations, milk marketing, and grape pricing reports, and asked for follow-up on how the department determined which positions could be removed. The committee then heard a CDFA IT proposal to add funding and four positions for information technology operations; the LAO had no concerns, and members discussed cybersecurity, legacy systems, and future risks such as AI and quantum threats. The committee took public comment and then voted to approve items 9 through 13, which included CDFA dog importation certificates, livestock carcass disposal, Gambling Control Commission IT support and tribal grant funding, and an ABC district office relocation. The hearing then moved to the Department of Cannabis Control, which presented a request to strengthen enforcement against the illicit cannabis market by adding a North State field office in Redding and three non-sworn support positions. DCC said the illicit market remains far larger than the legal market, with a large backlog of cases and significant public safety and environmental concerns. Finance supported the targeted expansion, the LAO had no comment, and members asked about regional coverage, officer safety, and whether a larger, more transformational enforcement effort might be warranted in the future.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jun 11th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , and now so thankful that we get to have that here in the United States... ...in the United States and
  • And I think we are going to shock the world by the United States.
  • My family's farm, where we farm almonds and citrus, is called John Nevia Farms.
  • that someday my children too can be involved in farming.
  • So to the women in farming, thank you.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Culture, Recreation & Tourism Mar 6th, 2025

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • . in the United States that didn't have oyster farming, Texas was, so started that up.
  • Another part of that unit is our unit that supports record storage for state agencies.
  • We also have a very active imaging unit.
  • We have over 205, or we have 205 county farm.
  • . farm and ranch in the state.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Agriculture & Livestock Apr 1st, 2025

Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:
  • Of Texas Farm Bureau, how do we get younger people involved in farming or stay involved in the family
  • farm?
  • Is that something that Farm Bureau agrees with?
  • of agriculture and want to farm and ranch.
  • I think that's going to be a challenge for the United States Postal Service and FedEx or the United States
Bills: HB43 , HB3364 , HB3469 , HB3479 , HB43
Summary: The second bill, House Bill 3469, was introduced to address pest control regulations concerning nuisance birds. Representative Campos explained how the bill proposes non-lethal methods to deter these birds, such as the use of laser lights and sounds, which avoids conflict with both state and federal regulations. The committee heard impassioned testimonies from members of the public who shared firsthand experiences regarding the adverse effects of these birds on property and public health. The meeting concluded with both bills being left pending, reflecting a desire for further deliberation among the committee members.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • farm workers.
  • Neither of these units focuses exclusively on farm workers.
  • Yeah, for the minimum wage retaliation unit, farm worker complaints were 1.3%. Oh, thank you. Okay.
  • So that's 2% of farm worker complaints were filed by farm workers.
  • Going forward, the unit would be able to look into. complaint going forward the unit would be able to
Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.