Transcript Highlights:

• This request is required by Arkansas Code 21-5-226.
• the overtime because we had a discussion this morning and yesterday about DHS and their shortage of labor
• “And there is a shortage of labor and people working overtime.
• We've had discussions about how they shut down the labor part up at Boonville because they didn't have

Summary: The committee first considered a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism request to swap three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager for Blanchard Springs State Park. Members were told the change would be funded by conservation tax special revenues, would not increase total positions, and had OPM’s support. The item was reviewed and approved without objection. Members then approved two special compensation plans: one from the Department of Commerce for lump-sum bonuses of up to $5,000 for employees involved in the unemployment insurance system migration to a cloud-based platform, and one from the Department of Veterans Affairs for $2,000 recruitment bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the Fayetteville and North Little Rock State Veterans Homes. The Department of Health also received approval to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board, with the agency noting the position was already authorized and would not increase total staffing. The committee spent substantial time on a Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and related workforce operations. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the layoffs were driven by over-obligated federal funds, lack of fiscal planning, and a need to realign operations; he said the RIF would be permanent and that 56 employees remained furloughed, with 17 positions slated for elimination. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the board and governor, and whether the cuts disproportionately affected African American employees; Commerce was asked to provide racial composition data for the workforce and the RIF. The committee also reviewed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Members asked about overtime levels at DHS, Corrections, and Transportation, and whether higher staffing levels and the new pay plan were reducing overtime. OPM said overtime was being monitored, that direct-care positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, and that the state had hired more than 1,200 employees at DHS since the new system went live. No further action was taken on the report items, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This request is required by Arkansas Code 215-226.
• overtime because we had a discussion this morning and yesterday about DHS and there’s a shortage of labor
• We've had discussions about, you know, they shut down the labor part up at Boonville because they didn't
• We've had discussions about, you know, they shut down the labor part up at Boonville because they didn't

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you could change the bills instead of being looking at unions as being pejorative as union labor
• really combining with nonunion labor and doing things and moving the ball forward with the state.
• may put us in a situation where we wind up in court because they may run afoul of some of the union labor
• language it says it says that shall recognize force no courts So, recognize or enforce any religious code

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like there's Texas out there. Good luck beating Texas. >> Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Like there's Texas out competition.
• <00:38:35.280> Texas.
• Good luck beating Texas. there. Good luck beating Texas.
• special needs but he wasn't coded special needs but he wasn't getting<02:48:35.439> all<02:48

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other states that don't have sales taxes, I think, like Delaware, Oregon, Texas, Alaska, and there
• No one's going to be able to pull off the top of the head, oh, you're coming from Dallas, Texas, buying
• I mean, it sounds like you're asking to change the tax code.
• I mean, do you know how many millions of pages the tax code is already?
• I think the solution is we need to change the tax code if that's what you want to do, but I'm glad we

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 135, introduced by Representative Michael Harrington. He said the bill would codify a portion of the New Hampshire Constitution to bar New Hampshire businesses from being required to collect sales or use taxes for other states unless Congress mandates it, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision created an onerous compliance burden for businesses. He described the patchwork of state and local sales tax rules, thresholds, and product exemptions as extremely complex and said the bill was intended to push the issue back toward Congress and the courts. Members questioned whether the bill’s reference to a “foreign government” would apply to other U.S. states, whether the proposal would conflict with the Supremacy Clause, and whether it would create standing for businesses to challenge Wayfair. Harrington responded that “foreign government” meant any government other than New Hampshire, that he believed the state could challenge the decision in court by passing a law contrary to Wayfair, and that businesses were already being harmed by compliance costs. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill was an unfunded mandate or simply a private compliance burden, and Harrington argued that the state itself would not be collecting the taxes, but businesses would still face recordkeeping and administrative costs. Sam Garland of the Department of Justice then testified. He said the department was not taking a formal position on the bill, but offered technical comments. Garland acknowledged that Wayfair created significant compliance burdens and noted that states have become somewhat more uniform, with all states now having a $100,000 economic nexus threshold, though not all use the 200-transaction threshold and local tax variation remains substantial. He said the department’s concerns were legal, describing the issue as uncharted constitutional territory involving both vertical and horizontal federalism. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 11, we come to House Bill 238, relating to labor and employment, payment of wages, minimum wage
• House Bill 460 was a technical fix to better align the code on ESO procurement.
• They actually restore the language to Virginia Code section 15.2-2279 that the bill proposed to strike
• and ensures that private contractors working on public works are not fraud offenders of important labor
• permanent injunctive relief, enjoining the administration, enforcement, and imposition of Virginia Code

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, we're going to start with the Early Childhood Education Budget, which is Agency Code 611
• You can see in the first P code, lines 1 through 12, both recommendations put about 4 million into home
• So back way back then, we had our codes to call each other She would not answer that phone unless she
• got the code, and you know, I won't give it away, but Mr.
• As you know, we have a crisis labor with medical and law enforcement personnel.

Bills: SB2

Keywords: SB 2, State Highway Project Bonds, highway funding, transportation bonds, state road fund, motor vehicle fees, vehicle registration fees, electric vehicle fee, EV surcharge, plug-in hybrid fee, weight distance tax, road construction, infrastructure financing, Department of Transportation, State Transportation Commission, bonding authority, county road funds, municipal road funds, transportation improvement program, state highways

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, we're going to start with the Early Child Education Budget, which is Agency Code 611,
• You can see in the first P code lines one through 12, both recommendations put about $4 million into
• So, way back then, we had our codes to call each other.
• She would not answer that phone unless she got the code. I won't give it away, but, Mr.
• As you know, we have a crisis in labor with medical and law enforcement personnel.

Bills: SB2

Transcript Highlights:

• and all these pillars are current commitments that are now codified as part of the Public Utilities Code
• So the public utilities code is codified in CompSoft. It comes from assembly bills, Senate bills.
• As the CPUC, we have the responsibility to implement what is statutory code on public utilities code.
• Several of the companies that I represent work very deeply. successfully with labor workforce.
• One of the companies in this state that has very deep relationships with labor has embedded in their

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen twice in Michigan, once in Texas, once in Virginia. The homeland is under attack.
• Act 50 United States Code 1622D Act 50 United States Code 1622D provides<04:12:02.479> for<04:
• Act 50 United States Code 1622D provides Act 50 United States Code 1622D provides for<04:17:45.199>
• I'm grateful to my friend from Texas, Mr. VC, for working on both of these bills with me.
• , I'm grateful to my friend from Texas, I'm grateful to my friend from Texas, Mr.<06:01:17.120>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > long<00:10:23.760> they're<00:10:23.920> on<00:10:24.079> the call t-codes
• that's post-COVID expenses is you've got, you know, buses are a lot more expensive than they were, labor
• that's post-COVID expenses is you've got, you know, buses are a lot more expensive than they were, labor
• We also collect for executive agencies in state government, like the Labor Cabinet. >> Any executive
• like the labor cabinet like uh<00:47:57.200> who<00:47:57.359> else uh who else uh who

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 History of SEEK 00:02:15 Summary of On-Behalf Payments 00:12:40 Discussion on Collection of University Debt Department of Revenue 00:32:40 Northern Kentucky University 00:57:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the September 17 meeting, and heard a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education staff on SEEK school funding and KDE on-behalf payments. KDE explained recent SEEK changes, including the guaranteed base per-pupil amount, attendance-based calculations, second-month and January growth, the 2022 change funding kindergarten at 100% instead of 50%, and the existing add-ons for at-risk students, exceptional children, limited English learners, home/hospital instruction, and transportation. Staff also reviewed tier one funding, noting the 2024 increase from 15% to 17.5% and explaining that eligibility depends on local tax effort and property wealth. They also described Senate Bill 6 from the 2025 session as a reporting proposal to include on-behalf costs in education spending totals. KDE staff then outlined on-behalf payments made for districts, including roughly $458 million for Teachers Retirement System contributions, $942 million for health insurance, about $12 million for technology costs, and additional SFCC debt service outside KDE’s appropriation, for a total of about $1.5 billion. Members asked how a future Senate Bill 6 would affect local contributions and whether folding on-behalf payments into SEEK would shift costs among districts. KDE and Senator Gibbons clarified that the bill was intended only as a reporting mechanism and would not change local contribution or district payments; it would simply present a broader total of state education investment. The discussion also noted that Kentucky’s reported SEEK amount alone does not capture all state education spending. Members raised questions about home and hospital instruction data, saying local concerns suggest growth in some communities even if statewide numbers appear stable. KDE said the statewide figure has been relatively consistent but offered to provide district-level trend data. Co-Chair Petrie also asked about the accuracy of SEEK projections and on-behalf calculations, referencing prior concerns from the Office of Education Accountability. KDE responded that it works with the state budget director’s office in a consensus forecasting process and has been reviewing demographic and property-assessment data, including exceptional child counts, to improve forecast accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• This motion is the fire code repealer bill, Senate File 1578, which repeals outdated fire code statutory
• language that has been superseded by the state fire code.
• So it's the local fire chief, the local fire code official who has responsibility to ensure that every
• So it's the local fire chief, the local fire code official who has responsibility to ensure that every
• Do you wait for, um, you know, someone like DLI, the Department of Labor and Industry, or DED, which

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Anti-Asian violence and discriminatory housing and labor practices persisted.
• They will now do all of the labor that we excluded Chinese Californians from.
• Their labor, resilience...
• Well, Brian, the labor movement is built upon people like yourself.
• Well, Brian, the labor movement is built upon people like yourself.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• implemented similar policies and whether or not there's actually a cost benefit of this because of code
• And whether or not there's actually a cost benefit of this because of code change updates.
• the dark line represents... and whether or not there's actually a cost benefit of this because of code
• show that, you know, some school districts, while they may have lower costs for prevailing wages and labor
• show that, you know, some school districts, while they may have lower costs for prevailing wages and labor

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard presentations from the Department of Commerce, the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), and a consultant on the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) study. Commerce officials described their agency’s role in housing, energy, local government, broadband, and other capital programs, and reported on a $5 million pilot under Senate Bill 5200 that used trusted community messengers and technical assistance to help historically excluded organizations prepare for capital funding. They said 18 organizations received direct support and 79 smaller projects were also funded, but emphasized that statutory match rules, reimbursement-based payments, site-control requirements, insurance and audit costs, and extensive contracting rules remain major barriers. Commerce outlined efforts to expand outreach, digital modernization, internal contracting improvements, tribal MOUs, and innovation centers, and members asked about small business support, housing program placement, and outreach to Eastern Washington and communities of color. RCO described its grant programs for recreation, conservation, education, and salmon/orca recovery, and reviewed equity work done before and after a 2021-23 proviso. The agency had already created a small-communities carve-out in youth athletic facilities, piloted stipends for advisory committee members, and reduced match requirements where allowed. Under the proviso, RCO completed an equity review and a planning program that funded 54 projects across 34 counties, with many applicants being new or long-absent grantees. Staff said the review led to changes in scoring criteria, clearer application guidance, more objective data measures, expanded technical assistance, and targeted community engagement. Members asked about application burden, project sizes, outreach, and how the agency is broadening participation and representation on advisory committees. The final presentation summarized a planning study on SCAP, which examined rising construction costs, fragmented grant programs, local funding barriers, and uneven district capacity. The report recommended nine major changes, including stronger planning support, a new minor-modernization category, a mechanism to use unused funds more quickly, an education-specification prototype, a SCAP enhancement program for low-capacity districts, acceptance of non-SCAP funds, phased modernization, streamlined D-form and reimbursement processes, and revisions to the SCAP formula to better account for grade-band differences, enrollment projections, and regional cost factors. Additional recommendations included ongoing monitoring and evaluation, facilities-impact reviews, matching SCAP increases to construction-cost inflation, earlier locking of funding estimates, flexible program spaces, and updated statewide building-condition assessments. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Rule 77.2, I am re-referring Item 22, AB 406, by Assembly Member Shiavo, to the Committee on Labor
• SB 680 closes a troubling loophole that exists in the California Penal Code.
• Proposition 218 acknowledges the power of the people to effect local taxes, California's Elections Code
• SB 512 addresses the discrepancy that exists by aligning the state's Elections Code with the provisions
• This labor of love led to the construction of new trails, new campgrounds, and the preservation of trail

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then handled a long consent and concurrence calendar. Early procedural actions included moving several bills to the inactive file, waiving the floor amendment deadline for certain measures, rescinding prior action on SB 733, and approving a motion to withdraw AB 710 from committee to the third reading file by a 42-12 vote. The chamber also re-referred AB 406 to Labor and Employment and later AB 754 to Housing, while taking up numerous Senate and Assembly measures out of order to accommodate authors and guests. The body adopted several resolutions recognizing October 2025 as California Promotoras Month (HR 58), National Fried Rice Day and National Rice Month (HR 71), Direct Support Professional Recognition Week (HR 70), and All California Day (HR 67). Members also concurred in Senate amendments on a wide range of bills covering insurance, horses, emergency vehicles, health facilities, restitution, education, tribal regalia at graduation, behavioral health, air pollution, energy, dams, greenhouse gases, foster youth, court interpreters, tenancy language access, patient privacy notices, discrimination in school facility rentals, hospital visitation rights, diversion, agriculture, insurance studies, electricity, and environmental stewardship. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew recorded noes. Several higher-profile policy bills drew debate. SB 694 on veteran claim assistance generated the most extensive discussion, with supporters arguing it would stop predatory, unaccredited companies from charging veterans for VA claims help, and opponents warning it could reduce veterans’ choices and should be paired with broader fixes to county VSO access; the bill ultimately passed 46-0. Other notable actions included concurrence on SB 576 limiting loud streaming ads, SB 512 on transportation tax initiatives, and SB 785 creating a tax credit for durable medical equipment for children with complex medical needs. The Assembly also concurred in SB 250 on Medi-Cal provider directories, SB 831 on the Geological Survey, SB 788 on CPA regulation, SB 456 on muralist licensing, SB 72 on the California Water Plan, SB 76 on used-car fee protections, SB 246 on rural health workforce support, SB 484 on coastal affordable housing, SB 680 on sex offender registration, SB 695 on climate-resilient highway projects, and SB 783 on outdoor advertising. Votes were overwhelmingly favorable across the board, with the chamber repeatedly adopting Senate amendments and resolutions by voice vote or recorded roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is real good about stealing heroes.
• I went to a large university in Texas, and of course, we were diverse, but we were 45,000 people.
• this should be relatively brief, but First one will be the adopted rule in New Mexico Administrative code

Transcript Highlights:

• this would continue to require federal and state level compliance with things like fire and building codes
• Building Code Commission.
• Is this the most recent building code as far as the 2006 edition that the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code
• I'm not sure what year the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission is on currently.
• Different municipalities have to adhere to different building codes.

Bills: SB1519, SB1775, SB1900, SB1948, SB2080

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Transcript Highlights:

• OKAY, THERE IS A LATE FILE AMENDMENT WITH THE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 327-7698.
• ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY THE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 327698 IS ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• BAR CODE 517760 BY SENATOR GRALL, ANY OBJECTIONS TO TAKING UP THE AMENDMENT?
• SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT BAR CODE 7160 IS ADOPTED. BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• SEEING NO OBJECTIONS WE WILL TAKE UP AMENDMENT BAR CODE NUMBER 537706. PRES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida's been leading the way on that as well with a few other states, Texas and Georgia, and we have
• that routes directly to a public safety answering point, and allows a victim to create a numerical code
• You would have a special code to put in, and the police would know to immediately come, and they would
• I want to talk about the bill with getting a code for a phone so that there be no doubt.
• I'm asking you to help these women with a code on the phone so that they can get the help that they need

Summary: The committee received a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-2027 public safety budget, which totals $8.2 billion for the public safety silo and includes funding for the Departments of Law Enforcement, Juvenile Justice, and Corrections, along with courts and legal affairs. The Governor’s Office highlighted recurring reductions and vacancy eliminations, while agency heads outlined their major requests: FDLE sought funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert-system upgrades, alcohol testing modernization, officer wellness, criminal intelligence, and immigration-related intelligence work; DJJ requested money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential services, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requested major increases for officer pay, additional staff, facility construction and maintenance, communications upgrades, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members questioned FDLE about immigration enforcement and public records burdens, and DOC about staffing, capacity, mental health services, contraband, housing, and whether prison beds were being used for immigration detainees. Public testimony also urged better prison conditions and basic necessities for incarcerated people. The committee then took up and reported favorably CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would strengthen penalties and clarify that a person may not resist an officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties. An amendment conforming the bill to House language was adopted, and the bill passed with Senator Smith voting no. The committee also adopted an amendment and reported favorably CS/SB 54, which concerns use of substances affecting cognitive function and limits certain medical-record disclosures to information relevant to investigations of violent offenders; Senator Smith voted no on that measure as well. Next, the committee considered Senator Berman’s bills on domestic and dating violence. CS/SB 296 would direct a study of a secure web-based alert platform for victims, including a discreet phone-number/code system and geolocation support, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims. The bill drew emotional support testimony from survivors and advocates describing the dangers victims face when trying to leave abusive situations, and it was reported favorably. Its companion, CS/SB 298, would extend public-records protections in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating-violence victims; it was also reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also defines reclaimed water in the code, and I will move the adoption of...
• The bill also defines reclaimed water in the code, and I will move the adoption of the conference report
• changed after the process that it normally goes through, does the definition of hemp in the Virginia code
• which is Title 30-13, which was a holdover from the pre-1971 Constitution that didn't belong in the code
• that construction contractors on public works contracts have not repeated violations of important labor

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 2, 976, house, all