Transcript Highlights:

• And some of those durable skills are citizenship, showing up to class, going to work, going to...
• And we don't measure durable skills at all when you talk...
• And we don't measure durable skills at all when you're talking about an academic-only grade.
• So I do think you're preparing them with real hard skills. ...find another job, right?
• So I do think you're preparing them with real hard skills.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as you've heard, this is the labor budget and policy omnibus that has passed the Senate Labor Committee
• </c> this is the uh labor this is the uh labor uh uh uh budget<00:04:06.480><c> and</c><00:04:06.960>
• </c> passed uh the Senate Labor Committee. passed uh the Senate Labor Committee.
• </c><00:04:47.840><c> The</c> Labor and Industry in this bill. The Labor and Industry in this bill.
• </c> the um Department of Labor and Industry. the um Department of Labor and Industry.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to be ready for expected skills to be ready for kindergarten<00:03:17.560><c> and</c><00:03:17.720><
• </c> not have some of those specific skills not have some of those specific skills um<00:03:25.440><c
• or transferable skills that are so essential that young people learn.
• skills or transferable skills maybe soft skills or transferable skills that<00:07:20.840><c> are</c>
• </c> opportunities for their literacy skills opportunities for their literacy skills but<00:10:10.680

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a lot of labor men and women here with us today to help promote this bill.
• And we're doing nothing to change those environmental or labor standards with this bill.
• We're doing nothing to change those environmental or labor standards with this bill.
• </c> of Labor of Labor municipalities<00:07:38.039><c> um</c><00:07:38.280><c> trades</c><00:07:38.720
• </c> house file a those of us in the labor house file a those of us in the labor movement<00:12:59.199

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's me delivering the information and teaching students the critical thinking skills so that they can
• Thinking skills so that they can interpret that.
• School is one of the few environments designed for focused in-person learning, collaboration, and skill
• helps build strong learning habits, supports attention and engagement, and reinforces the social skills
• , and attitudes to develop positive self-identity, coping skills, manage emotions, and set goals.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• realize, you do, how much damage that had on them and their self-esteem, along with their social skills
• so that young people have the skills they need to navigate the world.
• If we have the skills, the mental health first aid, we’re able to do that, then we can build in that
• If we have the skills, the mental health first aid, we're able to do that, then we can build in that
• You can do skills without needing your phone. You can draw without needing a reference.

Summary: The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that youth distress, self-harm-related emergency visits, and difficulty obtaining care remain elevated, while workforce shortages and reliance on one-time funding continue to limit access. Assemblymember Lori Davies echoed concerns about unstable funding and said lawmakers need to hear directly from providers and families as they prepare for the budget and legislation. The chair framed the hearing as a chance to hear from county, school, provider, and student perspectives, especially in San Diego County, where needs are high and investments have not always matched demand. County and school officials described the current system and recent state initiatives, including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, school-linked fee schedules, payment reform, and the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. San Diego County Behavioral Health said it serves Medi-Cal youth with specialty mental health needs through a broad continuum of care, including outpatient clinics, school-based services, crisis response, residential treatment, and new crisis and residential facilities. San Diego County Office of Education and San Marcos Unified School District described efforts to expand school-based services and reimbursement through CYBHI, but said implementation is slowed by complex billing rules, insurance-data collection concerns from families, administrative burden, and uncertainty about sustaining staff positions funded by grants or soft money. School counselor testimony highlighted reduced stigma through campus outreach and clubs, but also noted that counselor-to-student ratios remain well above national standards and that budget cuts threaten supports. Provider testimony stressed that the system remains fragmented and that youth often move between emergency rooms, inpatient care, outpatient therapy, schools, and county programs without smooth handoffs. A child psychiatrist described crisis cases in which the main choices are brief hospitalization or discharge with limited follow-up, and argued for stronger warm handoffs, more outpatient and intensive outpatient options, better school-clinic coordination, and broader use of mobile crisis and 988. Rady Children’s Hospital and Aurora Behavioral Health described large increases in behavioral health demand, expansion of integrated care, and major barriers tied to low reimbursement rates, delayed payments, and administrative complexity. Across the panel, witnesses called for more stable funding, clearer reimbursement rules, better parent education on warning signs, and stronger collaboration among schools, counties, hospitals, and community providers to reduce stigma and improve timely care for youth.

Transcript Highlights:

• trades the importance of this in skilled trades the importance of this bill<00:04:21.880><c> is</c><
• </c> Student Success so students gain Student Success so students gain practical<00:05:04.199><c> skills
• ><00:05:04.800><c> with</c><00:05:05.000><c> Hands-On</c><00:05:05.520><c> industry</c> practical skills
• with Hands-On industry practical skills with Hands-On industry credentials<00:05:07.080><c> and</c><
• and go outside the their skills and go outside the Commonwealth<00:24:52.520><c> so</c><00:24:52.880

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 46, which would allow lottery winners of $1 million or more to remain anonymous. After brief discussion and a motion with a second, the committee approved the bill unanimously and sent it to the House floor. Members then heard House Bill 54, a workforce and education measure aimed at aligning dual credit and project-based learning with licensed construction trades and other high-demand careers. The sponsor and witness said the bill is intended to help students meet both education and on-the-job training requirements, address labor shortages, and speed entry into the trades. Several members raised concerns about possible abuse of internships, the need for input from unions and other trade groups, and the amount of authority left to the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction to write regulations. The sponsor said the bill does not replace current hands-on training requirements and expressed willingness to continue discussions. The committee passed the bill, with some members explaining their votes as conditional or in hopes of further amendments. The committee also approved House Bill 261, which would let retired CPAs provide certain uncompensated services, such as nonprofit work, while retaining their CPA designation, and would create a retirement-based CPE waiver for those limited services. A question from Representative Donworth focused on how retired CPAs would disclose their status to nonprofits; the board representative said retired status is noted in board records, but there is currently no separate requirement governing use of the CPA designation. The bill passed. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 262, which would remove restrictions on small CPA firm names after an owner dies or retires. The sponsor said Kentucky is an outlier because current law requires the remaining owner to change the firm name. The bill passed unanimously. After that, the chair turned the gavel over to the vice chair and began presenting House Bill 306, which would change engineering education requirements for licensure, especially to help Eastern Kentucky University fire protection engineering technology graduates qualify for licensure in Kentucky rather than leaving the state. The sponsor and witnesses explained that the bill would not change the rest of the PE licensure pathway, only the education component, and said most other states already allow this route. Members noted that engineers may have concerns and encouraged continued discussions before the bill advances further.

Transcript Highlights:

• Labor union.
• This bill, if passed, would allow a labor representative to vote on an employment contract, labor contract
• And that was a government, that was a management-labor initiative.
• And that was a government, that was a management labor initiative.
• The underlying statute says that the labor member shall member.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6066 would authorize counties, cities, towns, and WSDOT to designate crash prevention zones on roads with repeated serious or fatal collisions, require public hearings and engineering/traffic studies, increase enforcement, add a $73 penalty for certain infractions in signed zones, and dedicate those funds to zone-related safety work. The prime sponsor and Pasco officials cited repeated crashes on U.S. 395 and U.S. 12; supporters said the bill would help address dangerous corridors, while one member of the public argued it was unnecessary and duplicative. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6253, which would make labor-recommended seats on public transportation benefit area boards voting members while limiting participation in executive sessions on labor and personnel matters. Labor representatives and transit workers supported the change as giving frontline employees a meaningful voice, while Washington Policy Center opposed it, warning of conflicts of interest and reduced accountability. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6311, which would require continuous, accessible pedestrian passage during certain construction projects near hospitals, parks, and school zones, authorize inspections and stop-work orders, and direct WSDOT to adopt rules for reroutes and detours. Cities and counties said they support the safety goal but want more flexibility and less risk of added cost or liability; disability and transit advocates strongly supported the bill. Senate Bill 6262 would raise the transportation benefit district vehicle-fee exemption from 6,000 pounds to 9,000 pounds for certain trucks, allowing local districts to charge heavier vehicles a flat fee; Spokane, Spokane Valley, Port Orchard, and AWC supported it as a fairness and pavement-preservation measure, while several members of the public opposed it as another tax increase. Finally, Senate Bill 6335 would narrow and revise the statutory responsibilities of the State Transportation Commission, removing some planning and outreach duties while retaining toll, ferry fare, and other functions. Local governments, ports, and commission members opposed the bill, arguing the commission provides independent statewide planning, public input, and coordination; the sponsor said the goal was to eliminate duplication and focus the commission’s role. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Within our specifically our junior high and that's a lifetime skill.
• And so some of these skills are lifetime skills that they do learn such as swimming that impact the rest
• And so some of these a lifetime skill.
• And so some of these skills<02:37:16.280><c> are</c><02:37:16.520><c> lifetime</c><02:37:17.000><c> skills
• skills that they do skills are lifetime skills that they do learn<02:37:18.320><c> such</c><02:37:18.560

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:59:53.599><c> and</c> our teachers instructional skills and our teachers instructional skills
• </c><01:00:05.839><c> while</c> of teachers instructional skills while of teachers instructional skills
• It's about equipping them with problem-solving, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills that are
• </c><01:30:54.800><c> to</c> need to be equipped with the skills to need to be equipped with the skills
• Teachers in Minnesota want to expose more of our students to computer science skills and the benefits

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everyone, to Labor. Excuse me, Representative.
• And then how do they then push that back over to the labor organization?
• And then how do they shift that burden back over to the labor organization?
• and the Senate, excuse me, Senate Labor and the Senate floor.
• The laundry list, page one, line 11, go from labor to employer.

Summary: The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations met for its final meeting of the session and took up SB 312 by Senator Talbot, a bill concerning labor organizations, employee dues and fees, withdrawal from unions, collective bargaining agreements, and related notice and reporting requirements. The author explained the bill would require annual notice to employees of their right to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, allow dues deductions to be authorized and revoked electronically, and require stoppage of deductions at the nearest possible payroll period after notice. The committee first adopted a technical amendment set, then considered a larger amendment set that shifted the withdrawal request to the employer, required the employer to notify the labor organization, placed the burden of proving notice compliance on the labor organization, and made the labor organization responsible for certain administrative costs. Supporters said the bill protected employee choice and could reduce taxpayer-funded administrative burdens; opponents argued the amendments created confusion, unnecessary bureaucracy, and unclear invoicing and cost-shifting procedures. Testimony came from business and labor representatives on both sides. Jim Patterson of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry supported the cost-shifting language as a way to protect taxpayers and public employers. Matt Wood, Peter Robbins-Brown, and Larry Carter, representing labor groups, said they had worked for months to reach a simpler opt-in/opt-out framework and objected to the new amendments as adding complexity and uncertainty. Several members questioned why police, firefighters, and later mass transit employees were exempted; the author and others said those exclusions were tied to federal law or because those groups had not requested inclusion. After debate, the committee adopted the large amendment set and then adopted a separate technical amendment adding mass transit employees to the exemption list. On the bill itself, members continued debating whether the measure was necessary if unions already allow members to opt out and whether the bill should apply only to public employees such as teachers and school workers. The committee ultimately voted to report SB 312 with amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with several members voting no, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, we've got this contract laboral, with a while we'll get this contract laboral, with a wage and
• This farm does not have a lack of labor, and nevertheless, we try to achieve this contract labor through
• ... ...have a lack of labor, and nevertheless we try to achieve this contract labor through strike and
• voluntary labor groupings.
• We actually partner closely with the Division of Labor Standards, Office of Labor Standards, with the

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6045, which would place agricultural employees under the Public Employment Relations Commission for collective bargaining, including card-check or election certification, bargaining duties, and interest arbitration. Staff explained the bill’s scope, exclusions, enforcement provisions, and fiscal note, and members asked about the domestic-violence privilege language, the fiscal impact, and implementation timing. Public testimony was sharply divided: labor and farmworker advocates said the bill would correct a historic exclusion of agricultural workers and improve wages, safety, and dignity, while growers and industry groups argued it would raise costs, create coercive card-check concerns, and risk disruptions during short harvest windows. The sponsor closed by saying the bill was a starting point and that she would continue working with stakeholders. The committee then took up Senate Bill 6188, an agency-request bill on asbestos training rules. Staff said it would remove a limit on Labor and Industries’ rulemaking authority so the agency could adopt additional training and certification requirements beyond those specifically required by federal law; the fiscal note showed no fiscal impact. The sponsor and L&I said the change would let the state strengthen worker safety around asbestos removal, while the Building Industry Association opposed it, warning about divergence from federal standards and added costs. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 6053 on domestic workers, which would create statewide labor protections including minimum wage and overtime, written agreements, notice requirements, anti-discrimination protections, and enforcement by L&I and private actions. Testimony from domestic workers, advocates, and caregivers supported the bill as a needed extension of basic protections, while L&I noted implementation costs and technical amendments. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5852 on immigrant workers and I-9 audits. Staff described requirements for employers to notify workers within 72 hours of a federal inspection notice, provide copies of results and correction timelines, limit voluntary access to records without a warrant or subpoena, and prohibit retaliation, with enforcement by the Attorney General and private lawsuits. The Attorney General’s office and supporters said the bill would add due process and transparency and reduce fear during workplace raids, while business, hospitality, county, and small-business representatives argued it could conflict with federal law, create heavy compliance burdens, and expose employers to severe penalties and lawsuits. No votes were taken in the transcript; the committee heard testimony and closed hearings on the bills discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of different steps went into doing what I do, and the skills that we provide are different and
• I</c><01:09:50.880><c> do</c><01:09:51.120><c> and</c><01:09:51.359><c> the</c><01:09:51.600><c> skills
• </c> went into doing what I do and the skills went into doing what I do and the skills that<01:09:52.000
• I do have a bill on Labor Committee that I have to go present.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Human Services and Labor.
• I think the Assembly is happy to look at that, but in exchange we must have labor standards and labor
• dedicated recurring fund for the Department of Labor to enforce the labor law by utilizing monetary damages
• dedicated recurring fund for the Department of Labor to enforce the labor law by utilizing monetary damages
• the Department of Labor can continue to fight wage theft and labor law issues.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• skill those conferences generally<00:20:34.320><c> have</c><00:20:34.440><c> a</c><00:20:34.640><c>
• </c><00:20:53.400><c> at</c><00:20:53.600><c> these</c> Showcase their skills at these Showcase their
• </c> diversify the economy bring High skilled diversify the economy bring High skilled Workforce<01:06
• This bill will meet increasing demand for skilled professionals in this field.
• This bill will meet increasing demand for skilled professionals in this field.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll also talk about Arizona's labor market.
• We'll also talk about Arizona's labor market.
• It's adjusted for labor flows across industries and occupations.
• It's adjusted for labor flows across industries and occupations.
• then leaving the labor force.

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee received an update on the state revenue forecast and broader economic conditions. Staff said the April forecast was more cautious than January’s, citing greater uncertainty from the Iran conflict and other macroeconomic risks. Available general fund resources for the four-year period were revised down from $577 million in January to $378 million in April, with no change to expenditure estimates. George Hammond of the University of Arizona then presented on the national, state, and local economy, emphasizing risks from geopolitical conflict, tariffs, federal policy uncertainty, labor supply constraints, and elevated housing costs. He said Arizona job growth had been weak and driven mainly by health care, while inflation in Phoenix remained moderate but shelter and consumer commodity prices were still elevated. He also noted that population growth is increasingly dependent on net migration as natural increase slows. Panelists generally echoed the cautious outlook. Liz St. Clair said Arizona’s near-term revenue outlook still had some support from tourism and a strong spring season, but rising fuel costs and the duration of the Middle East conflict could pressure discretionary spending and revenues. Jim Rounds argued the economy was likely headed for a soft landing, though he warned that federal borrowing, inflation, workforce shortages, and energy reliability remain concerns; he also criticized leaving the Rainy Day Fund unused. Danny Court said the housing market remains under pressure on the ownership side, while rental supply and industrial demand have been relatively strong, and he noted sticky inflation and immigration declines as additional risks. Doug Walls explained that large employment benchmark revisions were affecting Arizona’s job numbers, and said the latest report showed slower but more balanced growth, though labor force declines and a higher unemployment rate were concerning. Lorenzo Romero added that business activity appears resilient in the low-hire, low-fire environment, but warned about debt burdens, uneven wage growth, and ongoing uncertainty. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• And before you even talk about how many jobs, what's the type of job, what skills are necessary, what
• We'll get into that Skills Corporation.
• Those are the kind of benefits that we offer through Bluegrass State Skills Corporation that we think
• What's the gap maybe to help put our Bluegrass State Skills funding in there so that we can make sure
• </c> Look at our state skills corporation. You know, that is, I think, an amazing program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The speaker outlined Kentucky’s economic development strategy and how the cabinet evaluates and awards incentives. He emphasized using national benchmarks such as Site Selection and Area Development magazines, focusing on real data, competitiveness, and performance-based incentives. He said the state is performing well nationally in investment rankings, and credited the legislature with providing tools that help attract and retain jobs, especially through speed to market, site readiness, transportation, and workforce coordination. A major portion of the remarks described the “anatomy” of an incentive package: first improving sites and infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads, and rail spurs; then using sales tax benefits for construction materials and equipment; then training support through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation; and finally the Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI) program, which reimburses qualifying expenses from incremental tax revenue. He said incentives are negotiated, data-driven, and targeted toward companies with strong wage levels, training plans, growth potential, and, in some cases, agricultural benefits or industry leadership. He also noted special treatment for heritage communities and said the state has expanded KBI beyond heavy manufacturing to include R&D, headquarters, and service businesses. The speaker also described compliance and oversight. Incentive agreements are written with job, wage, investment, and community-benefit terms, and companies must file regular reports and invoices. Cash incentives can be clawed back if commitments are not met, while tax credits are tied to actual investment and job creation. He said the Revenue Cabinet and Environment and Energy Cabinet play important monitoring roles, and that projects go through application review and preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority before final approval and payment. He closed by thanking legislators for their support and for allowing more flexible, capped, and data-driven incentive tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• and thrived there, forming close bonds with staff while gaining academic, self-care, and vocational skills
• Ben's limited language skills rendered him incapable of asking why his world had been turned upside down
• And only with her help did we learn that we can have both academic goals and life skills goals in Ethan's
• do they know them, all to get the sense of security and safety for my child who has minimal verbal skills
• . from bills. of security and safety for my child who has minimal verbal skills.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing focused primarily on special education-related bills, with testimony centered on two major themes: transition planning for students aging out of school-based services at age 22, and the fiscal strain special education costs place on districts. Committee members explained hearing procedures, noted the House was in formal session, and periodically stepped out for votes while staff recorded testimony. A separate bill on special education due process was also taken up briefly, along with a bill on special education finance and another on equitable access/data reporting. On House Bill 752 and Senate Bill 313, witnesses from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, self-advocates, and Senator Comerford described the “Turning 22” transition as a crisis point that often leaves families without adult placements, services, or clear communication. Testimony emphasized earlier planning, more accountability, better data collection, and a commission to improve coordination and residential placement. Several parents and advocates shared personal accounts of traumatic transitions, delayed placements, and the need for plans to begin at least a year before age 22. The committee later closed testimony on these bills after hearing from all signed-up speakers. House Bill 4217, on special education due process, drew support from Representative Sullivan-Almeida, parents, and advocates who argued that the burden of proof should shift from families to school districts. Testimony described costly legal battles, delays, and parents having to become experts in reading instruction or hire advocates and attorneys to secure services. Brody Dwyer, a 10-year-old student with dyslexia, and his mother described how evidence-based instruction helped him after years of struggle. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 546/Senate Bill 317, which would require DESE to publish cross-tabulated data on race, disability, gender, income, and other factors; advocates said this would better expose disparities and help address the school-to-prison pipeline. Finally, on House Bill 691/Senate Bill 430, school leaders, educators, and union representatives testified that special education costs are outpacing district budgets and that increasing circuit breaker reimbursement and creating a commission to study long-term sustainability would help prevent staffing cuts and service reductions. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee repeatedly closed testimony on individual bills as speakers finished and moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• we're asking to protect the entry-level pathway and allow on-the-job training like we do with all skilled
• </c> training like we do with all skilled training like we do with all skilled trades<00:26:35.120><c
• It requires the skills to pass the certification.
• It<00:32:25.560><c> requires</c><00:32:26.000><c> the</c><00:32:26.080><c> skills</c><00:32:26.480><c
• the skills to pass the certification. certification. certification.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• published just two years ago found that while 92, that's 92% of today's jobs required basic digital skills
• , one third of workers actually lack those skills.
• states, ah, including Ohio, Arizona, Georgia, ah, and Iowa and Colorado, are investing in digital skills
• We know that too many people that lack the high speed Internet connection, devices, and digital skills
• collaborating with local community leaders and organizations to improve Texans' digital literacy skills