Transcript Highlights:

• Outcomes include number of students participating in the program and the skills, credentials, and security
• Outcomes include the number of students participating in the program, the skills, credentials, and security

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered three bills. First, SB 214 by Senator McLean, described as a targeted rural access bill, would allow special districts in rural communities and areas of opportunity to receive certain state and federal financial assistance payments by invoice rather than reimbursement. An amendment expanding the benefit to independent special districts in those rural areas, including water and wastewater projects, was adopted, and the bill then passed favorably. Support was noted from representatives of water and sewer cooperatives, a water and sewer district, Resiliency Florida, and the Florida Association of Special Districts. The committee then took up CS for SB 1266 by Senator Kalata on cybersecurity internships and workforce readiness. The bill was substantially revised by a delete-all amendment creating a cybersecurity experiential learning opportunity and clearance readiness program within the Department of Commerce, working with Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida and participating institutions to provide certification and clearance-related training. A proposed amendment to the amendment was withdrawn, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS for SB 694 by Senator Bracey Davis, which would provide compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for wrongful convictions and related harms. Senator Bracey Davis and a supporter testified about the history of the case, prior legislative apologies, pardons, and exonerations, and the need for compensation as a final step. Members spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• learning, so you have facility visits, guest speakers, presentations, career fairs, interview training, skill
• I believe that it's important that our students are in school learning new skills and socializing with

Bills: HB 1209, HB4746

Keywords: school funding, instructional days, education, public schools, school performance, four-day school week, performance rating, school governance, school calendar, education funding, emergency closures, school district, school operations, Texas education, public school accountability, academic distinction designation, postsecondary readiness, career and technical education, CTE, P-TECH

Transcript Highlights:

• and to local governments that are paying $10,000,000 to $20,000 more per year for those same job skills
• For the skills that they bring to the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, which provides hands-on introductory outdoor skills development opportunities.
• program, which provides hands-on introductory outdoor skills development opportunities.
• It represents hours of labor that Minnesotans work, and then we get their payroll taxes.
• It represents hours of labor that Minnesotans work, and then we get their payroll taxes.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does appear to be very confusing and labor intensive. So I'll support retain. Anyone represent?
• </c> very confusing and labor intensive. very confusing and labor intensive.
• This would just allow us to establish a temporary labor grade so that if you created, let's just say
• I can't recall we ever rejected what our consultant tells us the labor grade should be.
• I can't recall we ever rejected what our consultant tells us the labor grade should be.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns. Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note. The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:21:13.120><c> and</c> idea of of putting it in with labor and idea of of putting it in with labor
• So, if this goes over to labor, that three and a half million savings, wouldn't labor be picking up some
• </c> cases in involved you know really labor cases in involved you know really labor or<02:24:19.600>
• , wouldn't labor be picking up savings, wouldn't labor be picking up some<02:25:20.640><c> expenses</
• He continued that, ultimately, labor creates funds for the general fund.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee worked through several HB 2 budget amendments, focusing first on energy-related transfers and then on judicial funding. For the energy item, members discussed moving remaining money from the renewable energy fund into the general fund for the biennium, with later-year amounts going to the general fund rather than ratepayers. They noted the proposal was based on prior House Bill 111 language, that the exact amount was still being worked out with the Department of Energy, and that some language about “incentive payments” was being removed or clarified. Amendment 1211H was moved and adopted on a 5-4 vote. The committee then considered amendment 1040 on the governor’s scholarship fund, which would eliminate the program and sweep uncommitted funds. Members supporting the program argued it helps New Hampshire students afford in-state college and should be reworked rather than repealed; opponents said the remaining balance was limited and the program should be ended. Amendment 1040 was defeated 4-5. The committee then turned to a judicial council request tied to a Franklin Pierce criminal justice clinic that had previously used ARPA funds. Supporters said the clinic cleared 323 cases in nine months, provided training for future attorneys, and could reduce more expensive assigned-counsel costs by helping the public defender system handle cases more efficiently. The amendment would add $100,000 to the judicial council line for that purpose. There was some confusion over the line item and whether the request should be attributed to the judicial branch or judicial council, which was corrected during discussion. Members also discussed a larger issue: the judicial council’s budget request appeared lower than intended because of a possible clerical error in how prior-year funding was calculated, especially after the last budget combined HB 1 and HB 2 funding. The committee compared the public defender line and assigned counsel line, noting that if public defender funding is cut, more cases would shift to assigned counsel, which is more expensive. No final vote on the judicial council amendment is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially the revenues that were set in 2019, because of inflationary pressures, because of labor
• So essentially the revenues that were set in 2019, because of inflationary pressures, because of labor
• So essentially the revenues that were set in 2019, because of inflationary pressures, because of labor
• So essentially the revenues that were set in 2019, because of inflationary pressures, because of labor
• So essentially the revenues that were set in 2019, because of inflationary pressures, because of labor

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation addresses patient safety for pregnant individuals experiencing possible labor symptoms
• They’re covered under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and several other things that
• constituent, Mercedes Wells, a Black woman who was discharged from a local hospital while in active labor
• maternal and child health champions and family advocates questioned how a birthing person in active labor
• Who could be pending active labor? Are you codifying that? Whatever is in line 39 is in the bill.

Bills: SB274, SB301, SB249

Keywords: healthcare, life-sustaining treatment, patient preferences, POLST, advance directive, medical orders, hospital discharge, pregnancy, patient care, discharge planning, healthcare policy, substance use, harm reduction, syringe services, needle exchange, overdose prevention, naloxone, opioid antagonist, drug paraphernalia, syringe

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several measures related to health care, public health, and patient protections. House Concurrent Resolution 148, urging a statewide educational strategy on menopause, was presented as a workplace awareness measure and received supportive comments from members before being released. Senate Bill 274, updating Delaware’s MOST program to POLST and clarifying capacity determinations and documentation for end-of-life orders, also drew supportive testimony from medical and nursing groups and was released. House Bill 458, limiting local backflow preventer requirements for certain low-hazard buildings, was presented as a cost-relief measure for homeowners and small businesses; DHSS expressed concerns but said it was willing to work on amendments and a sunset provision, and the bill was released. Senate Joint Resolution 18, designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day and ordering flags at half-staff, was released after brief supportive remarks. The committee then considered Senate Bill 339, a technical correction to the advance health care directive form clarifying that an agent’s authority for voluntary mental health admission cannot exceed 72 hours, consistent with existing law. Members asked detailed questions about how the 72-hour limit works and whether it applies to voluntary directives; the sponsor and a Disability Rights Delaware witness explained that the bill only aligns the form with current statute and does not expand authority. The bill was released. House Bill 301, requiring hospitals to create discharge plans for pregnant patients discharged while showing signs of labor, prompted extensive discussion. The sponsor and supporters said it would improve safety, transportation planning, and aftercare, while some members noted Delaware hospitals already do much of this work and questioned whether codifying it was necessary; supporters emphasized maternal mortality disparities and the need for guardrails. The bill was released. Senate Bill 196, creating ownership disclosure requirements for long-term care facilities and resident notice rules after ownership transfers, was presented as a transparency measure for seniors and families and was released after supportive testimony from the Delaware Nurses Association and elder-care advocates. Senate Bill 320, expanding pharmacists’ independent prescriptive authority for certain non-controlled medications and allowing opioid use disorder medications under standing order, with added malpractice reporting requirements in Senate Amendment 2, was supported by pharmacists and nurse practitioners as an access-to-care measure and was released. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 161, establishing a unified licensing and oversight framework for adult behavioral health providers under DSAM, was presented as a patient-protection measure; providers supported the goal but cautioned that regulations must be workable, and the substitute was released. Senate Joint Resolution 19, directing DHSS to study strategies to reduce health care costs, was released with a note reflecting concerns about broadening the analysis to include additional cost drivers and alternatives. Finally, Senate Bill 249 with Senate Amendment 2, modernizing harm-reduction programs and paraphernalia laws, generated the most extended debate: supporters framed it as life-saving public health policy, while opponents raised concerns about needle litter, community impacts, and whether the approach facilitates addiction. Despite the objections, the bill was released.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's facing a real threat from illegal labor, hiring practices with off-the-books hiring and cash pay
• Contractors and companies who followed really established federal and state labor laws are losing out
• Speaker, this legislation protects law-abiding contractors and laborers.
• It came through some great compromise from labor and the home builders, subcontractors.
• I think I told this story last year, but whenever we have companies that bring labor in from, say, down

Summary: The chamber first established a quorum, then moved through House Bills for Perfection. The first major measure discussed was House Bill 305, which would set policies for reconsideration of library materials in public and school libraries, require appeals processes, and prohibit tracking or retaining personalized user data, especially for minors. Supporters framed it as a local-control and parental-rights bill that largely codifies existing library practices, while some members raised concerns about the privacy language and whether materials should be removed during reconsideration. After discussion, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members then took up House Bills 2366 and 2511, a bipartisan construction-industry bill aimed at combating illegal labor and off-the-books hiring. The bill would give the Attorney General more investigative authority, including subpoena power, require complaints to be made by affidavit, and impose stronger penalties on violators. Supporters said it would protect law-abiding contractors and workers and level the playing field, while some members asked about possible overreach and whether the bill could be used against businesses unfairly. The substitute was adopted and the bills were ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2409 followed, proposing child care tax credits for contributions to providers, employer assistance, and provider expansion; it was presented as a response to Missouri’s child care shortage and workforce challenges. Members from both parties largely supported it as an economic and family policy, though one member noted the bill’s fiscal cost and contrasted it with recent budget cuts to child care subsidies. The House adopted the substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. The chamber also considered House Bill 1885, which makes changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission by adjusting membership qualifications and conflict-of-interest rules to make appointments easier while adding recusal procedures. Members said the changes would help fill vacancies and bring in knowledgeable members, and the bill was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2658 addressed telephony laws, expanding the no-call list to any phone subscriber, adding anti-spoofing provisions, and creating penalties for caller ID spoofing; an amendment adding misdemeanor penalties for spoofing was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. House Bill 1919 would require more employers to file certain tax withholding documents electronically, aligning state practice with IRS rules; it passed with support and was ordered perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 1871, an omnibus elections bill, proposed several election administration changes, including electronic receipt of notices, shifting filing deadlines away from holidays, expanding testing windows for voting equipment, protecting the confidentiality of the permanently disabled voter list, requiring tax compliance for certain local candidates, and tightening write-in candidate rules. A key amendment removed an expansion of no-excuse absentee voting to keep the fiscal note at zero; that amendment was debated at length and then adopted before the bill moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• specifically bans non-compete agreements between employers and non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor
• Standards Act, which are typically Labor Standards Act, which are typically the<00:22:56.640><c> lowest
• .<00:25:46.880><c> This</c><00:25:47.200><c> section</c><00:25:47.679><c> applies</c> Labor.
• This section applies Labor.
• ,</c><00:27:44.559><c> OnLogic,</c> Vermont Department of Labor, OnLogic, Vermont Department of Labor

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And here we're showing that the native-born labor force has grown only 6% since 1990.
• That's this gray line here, where the foreign-born labor growth... ...foreign-born labor growth, foreign-born
• labor force.
• Where the foreign-born labor growth, foreign-born labor force, has grown significantly, labor force growth
• know, population growth is a major concern for many reasons, for congressional apportionment, for labor

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion. Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations. Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, next up, Mark Schneider with General Counsel, Law Enforcement Labor Services.
• Schneider with General Counsel Law Schneider with General Counsel Law Enforcement<00:04:57.040><c> Labor
• I am general counsel of Law Enforcement Labor Services.
• There are also bargaining rights and grievance rights and rights under the Public Employment Labor Relations
• The Public Employment Labor Relations Act that relate to discipline within the agency.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our ninth meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Labor for the 2026 legislative session.
• Next is Senate Bill 5623 by Senator Ryan, member_21252: an act to amend the labor law in relation to
• Next is Senate Bill 9141 by Senator Ramos, member_7054: an act to amend the labor law in relation to
• everybody watching us at home, it's... ...it's Senate Bill 10057 by Senator Roberts: an act to amend the labor

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Labor met for its ninth meeting of the 2026 session, chaired by Senator Jessica Ramos, with several members present including Senators Jackson, Zellner, Mattera, Rhoads, Ryan, Scarcella-Spanton, and Mayer. The committee considered five bills covering workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits for employees of certain educational institutions, creation of an Office of Special Investigation for work-related matters, establishment of a wage data clearinghouse, and a requirement that employers obtain written acknowledgements of sexual harassment prevention policies and programs in English and an employee’s primary language. Each bill was moved by committee members and approved without recorded opposition. Senate Bills 3948, 5623, 7999, and 9141 were reported to Finance, while Senate Bill 10057 was reported to the calendar. No testimony or substantive debate was included in the transcript beyond brief bill descriptions and motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would allow, instead of a pen-and-paper process with clipboards, which is very labor-intensive, very
• It would allow, instead of a pen-and-paper process with clipboards, which is very labor-intensive, very
• Opposition letters from very powerful, very well-funded special interest groups, the labor unions, and
• Madam Chair, Member, Sarah Flock, California Federation of Labor Unions, in opposition. Thank you.
• Madam Chair, members, Sarah Flox, California Federation of Labor Unions.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this would cause a lot of concern with me about entering into 5-year labor contracts that maybe
• years to see what, uh, how much costs have increased, but you know, a lot of what drives us is, is the labor
• So, you know, if we, you know, if we're looking at the labor market and labor costs are going up 3.5,
• So certainly labor costs and what's happening with labor costs is a huge factor, um.
• You know, it's a $10 million increase in our budget and then with labor cost increases, it's going to

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the motion is to re-refer to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee.
• Can you commit and say that this bill will come back to us after going to Labor?
• continue to point out that it's going to Labor.
• Can you commit and say that this bill will come back to us after going to Labor?
• continue to point out that it's going to Labor.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, Committee on Labor and Technology. We have a 3:10 p.m. agenda.
• Okay, up first we have the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director. Good afternoon.
• Bhai, Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
• c><00:30:18.640><c> and</c><00:30:18.960><c> and</c><00:30:19.120><c> Industrial</c> Department of Labor
• and and Industrial Department of Labor and and Industrial relations<00:30:20.360><c> however</c><00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor-related measures. SB 183 would allow arbitration to resolve disputes over state and county contributions to the EUTF benefits trust fund; labor groups supported it, and the committee advanced it with amendments. SB 185, concerning indebtedness to the state, drew support from unions and discussion with DAGS about tiered repayment options for lower-paid employees; DAGS said the system could be programmed to accommodate the bill, and the measure was also advanced with amendments. SB 458 would expand the definition of employer for wage-payment laws to include the state and counties when no comparable public-employee provision exists; HSTA testified in support, citing repeated delayed pay for teachers, while DAGS and county representatives raised operational concerns. The committee deferred SB 458 for further administrative work. SB 425, on qualified community rehabilitation programs and the aggregate contract cap, was advanced with technical amendments after UPW said employers were splitting contracts to exceed the statutory threshold. The committee also considered SB 1287, which would apply unfair and deceptive practices law to tipped food and beverage establishments and require tip-pool signage with wage-division contact information. The Attorney General’s office recommended a savings clause to avoid retroactive application issues, and the committee passed the bill with amendments. SB 1660 would require hospitality employers to adopt anti-harassment measures, training, panic buttons, and anti-retaliation protections; the Commission on the Status of Women and worker advocates supported it, while DLIR noted existing complaint systems and the need for rulemaking. The committee adopted amendments incorporating sexual assault hotline information, panic-button guidance, and employer flexibility on translation languages, then passed the bill with amendments. SB 631, relating to the Department of Human Resources Development, was deferred, with the chair noting a prior law already allows departments to screen and select applicants from initial pools.

Transcript Highlights:

• For<00:18:21.200><c> our</c><00:18:21.360><c> labor</c><00:18:21.679><c> partners</c><00:18:22.000><c
• > who</c><00:18:22.240><c> want</c><00:18:22.480><c> clear</c> For our labor partners who want clear
• For our labor partners who want clear timelines<00:18:23.360><c> and</c><00:18:23.600><c> fair</c><00
• diverse industries, labor, public sector representatives,<00:30:56.640><c> and</c><00:30:56.799><c>
• We have strong labor protections, high environmental standards, and a workforce second to none.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lots of pressure on the labor should be.
• They're still by the labor market.
• Our labor market year-over-year.
• Wage and salary civilian labor force.
• </c> in the labor market. That's right. in the labor market. That's right.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of fact, the American labor movement...
• As a matter of fact, the American labor movement's raison d'être, the reason for our existence, is to
• E-Verify is ineffective at reducing undocumented workers in the labor force.
• We know there's a labor shortage in our state, especially for jobs... ...workers right now.
• We know there's a labor shortage in our state, especially for jobs that a lot of folks don't want to

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 197, which would require all private employers in Florida, regardless of size, to use E-Verify for new hires and eliminate the current exemption for businesses with fewer than 25 employees. The sponsor said the system is free, uses information already collected on I-9 forms, and helps employers confirm work authorization; supporters argued it simply enforces existing law and closes a gap in current requirements. Opponents, including labor and policy groups, said the bill would burden small businesses, could produce errors, and should be addressed through comprehensive federal immigration reform rather than state mandates. Members also raised concerns about implementation, enforcement, and potential impacts on workers and employers in industries such as agriculture, hospitality, and small business. The committee voted along party lines to report HB 197 favorably. The committee then received an update from the Florida Gaming Control Commission, beginning with new Executive Director Alana Zimmer and then Director of Gaming Enforcement Carl Harold. Zimmer outlined the commission’s structure, staffing, legal slot and card room locations, and the Seminole gaming compact, noting that changes in state law or court rulings could affect compact revenue. Members asked for additional information on salaries, commission vacancies, and how veterans’ organizations can determine whether gaming machines are legal. Harold described the commission’s enforcement work against illegal casinos, saying they are widespread, often exploit vulnerable patrons, and can be tied to organized crime, weapons, drugs, and other offenses. Harold reported thousands of complaints, more than 4,000 illegal slot machines seized, over 100 illegal casinos raided, millions in proceeds recovered, and numerous arrests and joint operations with other agencies. He said the main barriers are weak misdemeanor penalties and limited staffing, and requested two additional enforcement squads, one in southwest Florida and one in Jacksonville. Members questioned the cost of the request, storage of seized machines, coordination with local law enforcement, and how the public can report illegal gambling. The commission said it works with local agencies, has many MOUs, and directs the public to its website and law enforcement hotline for reporting.