Video & Transcript : 'skilled labor' :
Page 243 of 500
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- :34:55.760><c> So,</c><00:34:56.000><c> we</c><00:34:56.240><c> are</c><00:34:56.320><c> very</c> skilled
- So, we are very skilled trades.
- But I also think that improving the education of Wyoming citizens for workforce skills and knowledge
- want them to complete their education and obtain their degree, but not lose sight of the advanced skills
- ... um but not lose sight of also the um but not lose sight of also the advanced<00:40:09.520><c> skills
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary & Secondary Education & Workforce Development (2-3-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- status, which is completing two courses out of the four-course sequence; CTE dual credit; technical skills
- 00:02:31.520><c> with</c><00:02:31.680><c> the</c><00:02:31.920><c> practical</c><00:02:32.400><c> skills
- </c> students with the practical skills students with the practical skills needed<00:02:33.040><c> for
- status, which is completing two courses out of the four-course sequence; CTE dual credit; technical skills
- </c><00:03:30.959><c> including</c> dual credit, technical skills including dual credit, technical skills
Summary:
The subcommittee met without a quorum and first heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials on career and technical education funding. KDE explained that House Bill 499 created a CTE funding formula using 60% weighted full-time equivalent enrollment and 40% incentives, but House Bill 6’s budget language excluded area technology centers (ATCs) from that supplemental funding. KDE requested approval of an additional budget request of $14,789,352 in each fiscal year 2027 and 2028 to include ATCs in the formula and hold local districts harmless. Officials said ATCs serve students from 117 of Kentucky’s 171 districts and argued the change would reduce funding disparities and better reflect the return on investment from CTE programs, citing growth in dual credit and work-based learning participation.
Members asked whether the issue would need to be revisited each budget cycle. KDE responded that the problem could be fixed by removing the notwithstanding language from the budget bill, which they said would allow ATCs to be included under the existing statute. Representative Klein supported the request, saying the current clause could lead to stagnation and that the committee should help the program continue to grow. No vote was taken on the CTE item during the portion of the meeting provided.
The committee then heard a presentation from PreK for All on expanding preschool access in Kentucky. Advocates said the state’s preschool program has been funded since 1990 and currently serves about 14,200 children at roughly $84 million per year, but that many working families still fall into a coverage gap. They proposed expanding eligibility to 250% of the federal poverty line, which they said would add about 9,600 children at a cost of $40 million in year two, after a planning year. The proposal also included regulatory flexibility for classrooms and partnerships with private child care providers and nonprofits, with speakers emphasizing child care deserts in some counties and citing research that early learning improves kindergarten readiness and later outcomes. No action or vote was taken on the preschool proposal in the transcript provided.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Will the Committee on Labor and Technology please come to order? This is our 3:00 p.m. agenda.
- Uh, I'm Jade Butay, uh, Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
- Yes, good afternoon, Senator Elefante and members of the Labor and Technology Committee.
- Uh, they are technically employees of the Department of Labor.
- Labor and Technology Committee agenda.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several measures. HB 2271 HD2, making emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, drew support from state agencies and other entities, including HPHA, the University of Hawaiʻi, DLNR, OYS, DAGS, DOH, DOA/Biosecurity, and the Behavioral Health Administration; no opposition was noted. HB 2324 HD2, relating to the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Law, was supported by DLIR, which said the bill removes a duplicative Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board requirement and aligns whistleblower investigation timelines with federal standards. HB 2387 HD1, relating to workers’ compensation medical benefits, also received support from DLIR and the State Fire Council, with the chair noting 40 supporters and no opposition or comments.
HB 2116 HD2, relating to grants, was presented as a response to federal SNAP-related eligibility changes. Supporters included the Office of Community Services, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and several other organizations. Testimony said the bill would help nonprofits provide volunteer opportunities that could count toward an 80-hour monthly work requirement and help vulnerable residents avoid losing benefits; witnesses cited potential impacts on older adults and households with dependent children. HB 1682 HD1, relating to the disclosure of intimate images, drew strong support from advocates, the Uniform Law Commission, the Commission to Promote Uniform Laws, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and others. Testifiers emphasized the harms of non-consensual image sharing, the need for civil remedies, confidentiality protections, and the bill’s alignment with a uniform act already enacted in other states.
HB 2468 HD1, relating to internship programs, received support from the University of Hawaiʻi, DLIR, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and others. Testimony focused on the Hālau Mua internship program, workforce development, and the need to clarify sponsor contracts, background checks, and onboarding; committee members asked about a former intern now working in an 89-day hire position and how to streamline hiring into civil service roles. HB 2091 HD2, relating to petitions to restrain and enjoin harassment of DOE employees, was supported by DOE, the Attorney General’s office, UPW, and others; the AG’s office requested a data-driven appropriation amount, and members discussed a $300,000 figure for the full two-year pilot. The chair also asked for confirmation of prior cost figures for HB 2116 before moving toward decision-making.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Labor, and Elections. Report number one. Labor, and Elections. Report number one.
- </c> labor and elections report number two. labor and elections report number two.
- Government, Labor, and Elections. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
- </c> >> Government, Labor, and Elections. >> Government, Labor, and Elections.
- of Labor and 1 p.m. for bill hearings. hearings. hearings.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (9-17-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And so exist outside of the labor force.
- From to join or rejoin the labor market.
- </c> that compares Kucky's labor that compares Kucky's labor participation<00:53:08.960><c> rate</c><
- </c> showing up in our in our labor force. showing up in our in our labor force.
- And so and fell out of the labor market.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Major Tax Provisions in H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21) 00:02:45
Kentucky’s Workforce 00:33:35, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and heard a brief member introduction before taking up an overview of major tax provisions in HR1, referred to by the presenters as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Representatives from the Kentucky Society of CPAs explained new federal deductions for tips, overtime, and car loan interest; a new tax-favored “Trump account” for children; expanded bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing for businesses; changes to R&D expensing; and a new limit on wagering loss deductions. Members asked several clarifying questions about the duration of the provisions, W-2 and 1099 reporting changes, and how overtime deductions would work. The presenters emphasized that tips and overtime remain subject to payroll taxes and that many of the business provisions are permanent, while the individual deductions are temporary through 2028 or otherwise phased in over time.
The discussion then shifted to individual and nonprofit provisions, including the increase in the state and local tax itemized deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 with income-based phaseouts, the temporary senior deduction, and a new deduction for car loan interest with income limits and vehicle qualifications. On charitable giving, the presenters described a permanent nonitemizer deduction, new floors for individual and corporate charitable deductions, and a new scholarship-granting organization credit that would allow donors to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal credit up to $1,700, beginning in 2027. Members focused heavily on the SGO provision, asking about state implementation, oversight, whether churches would qualify, and whether the credit could support both public and private education. The presenters said the state would need to establish the mechanism and that additional federal guidance is still pending.
After the tax presentation, the committee heard from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on workforce issues, with a focus on child care and housing as barriers to labor force participation. Chamber representatives said they were not proposing large new government programs, but rather targeted policy recommendations for the 2026 session. They described Kentucky’s long-term decline in workforce participation since 2000, attributing much of it to demographic change, an aging population, and fewer younger workers entering the labor force. The presentation continued into a broader discussion of workforce trends and the need for practical policy responses, but no votes or formal actions were taken on these informational items.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits Jul 15th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- To be certified, prospective aides would need to complete 75 hours of training, pass a hands-on skills
- applicant needs to complete 75 hours of training, pass a written knowledge test, and pass a hands-on skills
- eliminates the delay between training and testing by having the training programs administer the skills
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states.
The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification.
Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Aging and Independence Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Aging and Independence
Transcript Highlights:
- Nurses' knowledge, expertise, and critical thinking skills will lead to boards making more effective
- Today's nurses have advanced skills in all aspects of quality care, patient safety, and health care administration
- After returning to the same facility, but in their skilled nursing area, my dad, who could barely manage
Summary:
The Committee on Aging and Independence heard testimony on a package of long-term care and elder care bills focused on building on the state’s 2024 long-term care reform law (Chapter 197). Richard Moore of Dignity Alliance urged favorable action on the bills as a “long-term care 2.0” effort, arguing they would strengthen the workforce, protect residents’ rights, improve clinical quality, and increase transparency and sustainability in nursing homes and other facilities. He also raised concerns about staffing funds not reaching direct care workers and suggested further oversight of how appropriated money is spent.
Patricia Crispy of the American Nurses Association testified in support of House Bill 766, which would require at least one registered nurse with full voting rights on the board of directors or trustees of every acute care hospital and nursing home. She and the bill’s sponsor, Representative Vanado, said nurses’ clinical expertise and 24/7 presence make them valuable contributors to governance and patient safety. Committee members asked whether the bill would cover assisted living and how many facilities already have nurse board members; the witness said she would provide more data and clarify the assisted living question.
Senator Lovely testified on two bills: Senate 479, which would expand transparency and accountability in long-term care by tightening fire safety, smoking, hearing-loss, and ownership disclosure requirements, adding advocacy groups to an advisory committee, and increasing penalties; and Senate 480/House 795, which would require single-occupancy rooms in nursing homes unless residents consent to share, to improve privacy and reduce infection spread. Deborah De Benedictus also testified in support of House 759, describing her father’s experience in assisted living and arguing for the use of cameras in elder care facilities to monitor care and deter neglect. The committee discussed privacy concerns, notification rules, and the need for honest staffing and care practices, and then adjourned without taking any recorded votes or formal actions in the transcript.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- when we created this program last year, that the intent was so that members who have transferable skills
- Because many of them might not want to pursue higher education, but then would be able to take that skill
- Those skills and their civilian life. Thank you for the question.
Bills:
HB2947, HB3257, HB3264, HB3834, HB3940, HB3944, HB3979, HB4003, HB4118, HB4326, HB4346, HB4421
Keywords:
behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, veterans, disability benefits, federal law, Oklahoma Statutes, military service, criminal justice, minimum sentences, parole eligibility, violent crimes, Oklahoma statutes, HB3834, Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act, ibogaine, ibogaine-based therapeutics, ibogaine analogs
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- interested in caring for, and that the department looks to place children in foster homes when the family’s skill
- So we really are looking at placing children in foster homes when the family skill, experience, or training
- Representative Tanner said, “So there, the family skill, experience, or training meets the needs of the
Summary:
The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the January 26 and 27 minutes and introduced RS 3-2-884, a bill to protect Social Security survivor benefits for children in foster care from being used by the state to offset other costs. Representative Tanner said the measure would codify protections already being pursued administratively and noted that other states have taken similar action. Members asked whether the funds could go into ABLE accounts, and Tanner said the goal was simply to keep the money intact for the child.
The committee then heard and acted on foster care licensing rules (docket 16-602-2-2501), including both a temporary rule extension through July 1, 2026 and approval of the pending rule. Department of Health and Welfare staff said the rule implements prior legislation extending foster care to age 23 and adding kin-specific licensure, and it updates background-check and licensing standards so the department can deny placement or revoke a license based on conduct shown by a preponderance of the evidence even if there was no conviction. Members asked about the removal of language on the reasonable and prudent parent standard, corporal punishment, behavior management, and whether the rules would exclude otherwise suitable foster parents; staff said the standard is now in statute and that home studies and supervisory review provide safeguards. Some members expressed concern about discipline language, while others said the rules were intended to better protect children.
The committee also approved a repeal of the state rules for Emergency Assistance for Families and Children (docket 16-613-13-23-2501), with the department explaining that the program is governed almost entirely by federal law and regulation and that the state rules were largely duplicative. After the rule actions, members discussed budget issues and were told the committee would not meet the next day and would likely reconvene the following week.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We're seeing more complex civil matters that require skilled attorneys and greater involvement by the
- A skilled neutral mediator can help them step back and focus on what matters most: the best interests
- A skilled neutral mediator can help them step back and focus on what matters most, the best interests
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, approved the prior day’s journal, and then received the annual State of the Judiciary address from Idaho Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan. The Chief Justice described the courts’ workload and fiscal restraint, noting large increases in civil caseloads, continued heavy criminal and juvenile dockets, and the importance of treatment courts, mediation, self-help services, remote hearings, and court assistance officers. He also discussed modernization efforts in court technology, courthouse construction and security concerns, cybersecurity threats, civic education initiatives, and five judiciary priorities for the next three years: improving operations, strengthening public trust, ensuring safety, building workforce capacity, and using technology and data effectively.
After the address was ordered spread upon the journal, the Senate returned to business. Senate Joint Resolution 102, proposing a constitutional amendment related to state trust lands, was introduced and referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee for printing. The Governor’s appointments of Estella Zamora to the Idaho Commission on Human Rights and Janet Lawler to the Commission of Pardons and Parole were received and referred to the appropriate committees. Two bills were introduced on first reading and referred for printing: Senate Bill 1224 on slow-moving vehicles and Senate Bill 1225 on presidential searches for state institutions of higher education.
During miscellaneous business, senators announced that the next day’s floor time would shift to 11 a.m. for America 250-related activities, with a chairman’s lunch at noon. The Senate then adjourned until 11 a.m. the following day.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- I think we need a career path for DLAs, because as DLAs advance in their skills and gain more experience
- I think part of why I think the tiers are important is if a DLA advances in their skills, that gets really
- Qualifications, but the pay is just not matching up with the skill sets, with the experience, with the
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- that as they leave the institution, what they're leaving with is not only, if you will, the athletic skills
- Industries of New Mexico serves New Mexico residents who are searching for employment or workforce skills
- For outstanding service and commitment to its mission of providing skills training, job development,
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Moving to Item B4, Department of Labor and Licensing.
- I'm the Chief Legal Counsel for the Department of Labor. Thank you, Mr.
- I'm the Chief Legal Counsel for the Department of Labor and Licensing.
- Lacey Kirchner, Department of Labor and Licensing, attorney. Good morning.
- Department of Labor child labor laws as well as state child labor laws.
Summary:
The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed several agency rules and most were approved without objection. The Department of Agriculture repealed rules tied to the now-repealed Arkansas Catfish Processors Fair Practice Act. The Department of Human Services updated Medicaid policy to clarify child support enforcement treatment for pregnant women, remove the word “forcible” from rape/incest good-cause language, and eliminate a 90-day waiting period for ARKids B after loss of group coverage; members highlighted the significance of the language change and asked for a quick-reference eligibility chart. DHS Medical Services also received approval for a CMS cell and gene therapy model rule for sickle cell drugs and a technical Medicaid-assisted medication-assisted treatment update that was described as cost-neutral and non-substantive.
The Department of Labor and Licensing presented several rules implementing recent acts and internal cleanup changes. These included procedures for local construction plan disputes under Act 591, Contractors Licensing Board amendments raising the restricted commercial license threshold from $750,000 to $1.5 million and allowing deferral of owner-complaint investigations during civil litigation, and a similar residential contractors change. The HVACR Licensing Board presented broader revisions under Act 746, including grammar and cleanup changes, elimination of the Class C license with transfer of existing holders to Class B, expansion of allowable work limits, a change to continuing education from four hours annually to eight hours per three-year code cycle, and clarification on training, child labor, and licensing issues. Several members questioned the practical impact of the HVAC changes, but the rule was approved.
The committee also granted the Department of Inspector General’s request for exclusion from rulemaking reporting under Act 473, concluding that no rule was necessary because the act already defines the key terms and review process for foreign-adversary cultural exchange agreements. In addition, the Arkansas State Library’s report recommending continuation of its existing rules was accepted. During the status updates on outstanding 2023-session rulemaking, Education explained delays were due to overlapping 2025 amendments and the large volume of rules, while members expressed concern about the length of time since enactment; staff noted only a small number of 2023 rules remain outstanding. The meeting ended after written 2025-session updates were received with no further questions.
NY
Transcript Highlights:
- well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to the third meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Labor
- An act to amend the labor law in relation to liquidated damages for labor law violations.
- An act to amend the labor law in relation to requiring the Commissioner of Labor to prepare an annual
- An act directing the New York State Department of Labor to establish a voluntary training and certification
- Please join us at our fourth meeting of the Labor Committee.
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Labor met for its third meeting of the 26th Legislative Session and considered six bills. The agenda included workers’ compensation, labor law, minimum wage reporting, and employer training measures. Senators present included Ferdinandis, Jackson, Mayer, Zellner, and Mattera, with Senator Mayer’s bill on direct deposit for workers’ compensation payments opening the meeting.
The committee advanced SB 4467, which would allow certain workers’ compensation payments to be made by direct deposit; SB 4473, which concerns liquidated damages for labor law violations; SB 4514A, which would require an annual Department of Labor report on cost of living, poverty rates, and the effectiveness of the state minimum wage; SB 4832, which would require additional annual reporting by the Workers’ Compensation Board; and SB 6912, which would define mental health practitioners with diagnostic authority under workers’ compensation law. It also advanced SB 4593, which would create a voluntary Department of Labor training and certification program for employers called the Neurodiversity Training Pledge.
For each bill, a motion was made and the committee voted to report the measure forward, generally by voice vote with no opposition noted in the transcript. Most bills were reported to the calendar, while SB 4593 was reported to the Finance Committee. The chair closed by thanking members for an effective meeting and inviting them to the next Labor Committee meeting.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 107 May 1st, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> arrangement in Colorado with the Labor arrangement in Colorado with the Labor Peace<01:54:55.520
- </c> uh business and labor. uh business and labor.
- </c> business and labor. business and labor.
- This isn't a labor conditions.
- </c> Business, Labor, and Technology Business, Labor, and Technology Committee<03:11:38.600><c> will<
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
Tourism and Gaming Working Group (TGWG) - Wed Apr 15, 2026 @ 11:30 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Things like distinguishing games of skill from games of chance and sweepstakes games from gambling.
- to illegal gaming, especially<00:40:15.680><c> with</c><00:40:15.840><c> the</c><00:40:15.920><c> skill
- with the skill games versus other<00:40:17.600><c> games</c><00:40:17.920><c> as</c><00:40:18.080><c
- And then, on the so-called skill game machine debate, that attracts physical crime, right?
- And then, on the so-called skill game machine debate, that attracts physical crime, right?
Keywords:
traffic violations, demerit point system, driver license points, traffic safety, hit and run, reckless driving, repeat offenders, recidivism, Department of Transportation, DOT, task force, traffic enforcement, road safety, vehicle code, license suspension, county police, Hawaii transportation, SCR132, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Makakilo Drive Extension
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- State of Massachusetts' labor market.
- I think about labor. I'm just curious. ...emphasizes over others.
- I think about labor.
- into older age cohorts with lower labor force participation rates.
- Cohorts with lower labor force participation rates.
Summary:
The Senate and House Ways and Means chairs opened the FY 2027 consensus revenue hearing by emphasizing the need for a balanced, fiscally responsible budget amid federal funding cuts, health care cost pressures, and uncertainty around the federal tax law changes referred to as OB3. They also noted the state’s current revenue performance is slightly above benchmark and paid tribute to the late Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorkowitz echoed the call for caution, saying Massachusetts has protected core services while building reserves and that the FY27 budget process begins with a careful revenue estimate.
Department of Revenue Commissioner Jeff Snyder, along with DOR staff, presented FY26 and FY27 tax forecasts and identified major drivers and risks: OB3’s negative impact on state revenue, surtax collections, labor market conditions, capital gains, and corporate/business excise taxes. DOR estimated OB3 would reduce FY26 revenue by about $664 million and FY27 by about $282 million, while surtax and capital gains were expected to remain strong in FY26 but soften in FY27. Members questioned the outlook for surtax, capital gains, and the potential fiscal effect of a ballot question reducing the income tax rate from 5% to 4%; DOR said that proposal could cost roughly $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion annually, with a smaller but still significant impact in FY27 because of phase-in timing.
Treasurer Deb Goldberg testified next on the stabilization fund, lottery, PRIM, unclaimed property, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. She reported the rainy day fund at about $8.1 billion, said the lottery was on track for $1.5 billion in FY26 net profit and projected $1.25 billion in FY27, and highlighted that iLottery is expected to launch in summer 2026 with revenue beginning in FY27 and dedicated to child care initiatives. She also described strong PRIM performance and record unclaimed property returns, while members asked about the child care use of iLottery revenue, multilingual outreach, and the economic impact of expanded liquor licensing.
Mass Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate and Tufts’ Evan Horowitz then offered differing revenue outlooks and policy warnings. Howgate projected modest growth, cautioned against overusing reserves for ongoing obligations, and urged caution on federal tax conformity changes and health care spending pressures. Horowitz projected higher FY26 and FY27 revenues than other witnesses, warned that the surtax and capital gains make the tax system more volatile, and said a 4% income tax ballot question could reduce FY27 revenues by roughly $800 million to $1 billion. He also flagged the rent control ballot question as a potential risk to municipal finance and suggested the state consider giving a permanent home to the independent revenue model used by Alan Clayton-Matthews.
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- Reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
- Reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
- Reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce. Delegate from Alexandria, Delegate Herring.
- Reported from the Committee on Labor and Commerce. Delegate from Arlington, Delegate Lopez.
- Legislation, again, report committee on labor and commerce with an amendment. Nature substitute.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (01/20/2026)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> want to go to the Department of Labor want to go to the Department of Labor for<00:47:06.880><c>
- You'd have to ask the labor department. years of labor relations, I've seen um years of labor relations
- </c> the New Hampshire Department of Labor. the New Hampshire Department of Labor.
- For the esteemed labor committee.
- </c> flexibility for both labor and industry. flexibility for both labor and industry.
Summary:
The committee began with procedural announcements about report turnaround, amendment submission methods during split operations, a possible January 29 session, the governor’s State of the State on February 5, parking, cafeteria opening, and the plan to finish work by February 10. It then moved into executive session on HB 1123, which would require certain companies to post salary ranges on public job listings. Representative Granger moved ITL, arguing the bill would interfere with negotiations, especially for higher-level jobs, and raise compelled-speech concerns. Supporters, including Representatives Schultz, Sullivan, Cahill, Staub, and others, said salary ranges help applicants avoid wasted time and travel, improve transparency, and are already a common workplace disclosure. The committee voted 10-9 to ITL HB 1123.
The committee next took up HB 177, concerning a definition of remote work in labor law. Representative Murphy moved ITL, saying the bill could burden employers, create vague obligations, duplicate existing protections, and potentially require intrusive compliance measures. Representative Sullivan described a proposed amendment that would narrow the bill to a definition of remote work and remove broader requirements, but the committee ultimately voted 11-9 to ITL HB 177. Members also noted that the amendment had not been fully circulated in time and that the issue might merit further review.
Finally, the committee opened HB 1352, a workers’ compensation bill focused on repricing and payment practices. The sponsor withdrew an initial ITL motion and moved OTP after amendment review. Members discussed concerns raised at the hearing about delayed payments, third-party administrators, and the need for better accountability. Representative McKenzie’s amendment would define good faith, create a voluntary three-year dispute-resolution pilot, restore fines to prior levels, and add reporting/accountability requirements for carriers that miss the 30-day payment deadline. Several members supported the amendment as a way to help small businesses and providers, while others said repricing needed broader study through the workers’ compensation advisory council. The Department of Labor explained that the amendment would require carriers and related payers to report missed determinations to the department and would increase oversight of payment timeliness.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee Aug 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- They face an unreliable water supply, a shrinking labor force, rising production costs, volatile markets
- We are also dealing with the high cost of land, the high cost of labor.
- Labor.
- These include groundwater, labor, pesticide, energy, transportation, and other mandates.
- We do know we have an aging labor force, and what are we doing for them?
Summary:
The joint Senate and Assembly Agriculture informational hearing focused on the state of agricultural production in California, with members and witnesses emphasizing the sector’s economic importance and the pressures it faces from water scarcity, climate extremes, labor shortages, rising input and energy costs, pests, and regulatory burdens. Chairs and members also expressed disappointment that prior climate-related funding decisions did not include agriculture and said the hearing was intended to identify practical solutions and future legislative priorities.
CDFA and DWR officials described California agriculture as a roughly $61 billion industry producing more than 400 commodities, but also noted farm bankruptcies, vineyard and orchard removals, and the effects of SGMA, drought, floods, and subsidence. DWR said climate change will intensify hydrologic variability and that groundwater sustainability, recharge, flood capture, and infrastructure modernization are critical. Members asked about lessons from the 2023 floods, readiness for El Niño, and where limited Prop. 4 and GGRF dollars should go; officials pointed to better forecasting, recharge projects, conveyance, basin characterization, and technical assistance. CDFA highlighted pest response, especially glassy-winged sharpshooter, and a regulatory alignment study identifying food safety and water quality as major compliance burdens.
The second panel, on water, climate, and resource sustainability, largely reinforced those themes. PPIC and UC Merced researchers said SGMA-driven groundwater reductions will be the biggest long-term constraint, potentially requiring hundreds of thousands of acres to come out of production and causing major GDP and job losses unless recharge, trading, infrastructure, and crop-transition strategies are expanded. They recommended more flexible recharge rules, better accounting, subsidence mitigation, and support for SGMA-ready crops and land repurposing. An energy consumer representative warned that electricity and natural gas costs are rising sharply and that state programs supporting agricultural energy and biomass solutions have been reduced or eliminated, while a farmworker foundation representative emphasized health care access, food security, immigration-related fear, and workforce development for farmworkers. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing concluded with members signaling interest in future legislation, funding, and follow-up discussions.