Transcript Highlights:

• </c> also receive an impartial employer also receive an impartial employer contribution<00:55:36.720>
• </c> course load, eligibility for employer course load, eligibility for employer sponsored<00:57:31.680
• </c><01:01:45.839><c> and,</c> bargaining units and the employer and, bargaining units and the employer
• </c><01:08:51.440><c> Employment</c><01:08:52.000><c> ends</c><01:08:52.319><c> with</c> “Employment
• </c> assurance reflects actual employment assurance reflects actual employment conditions<01:13:54.880

Bills: HF4479, HF4368, HF4889

Keywords: higher education, public university, college campus, postsecondary institution, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota, town hall, town hall meeting, elected official, legislator, public forum, constituent meeting, campus access, free meeting space, parking fees, civic engagement, public outreach, chapter 135A, HF4368, Minnesota State

Transcript Highlights:

• In March of 2026, 6 months later, the property owner receives a bonus from their employer or for tax
• tax conformity bill moving the Trump accounts and removing the law that excludes up to $2,500 for employer
• excludes from gross income up to 2500 excludes from gross income up to 2500 for<00:24:36.400><c> employer
• contributions</c><00:24:37.279><c> to</c><00:24:37.440><c> the</c><00:24:37.600><c> Trump</c> for employer
• contributions to the Trump for employer contributions to the Trump accounts.<00:24:38.799><c> And</c

Bills: HF238, HF3381, HF3754, HF1049

Keywords: microenterprise home kitchen operation, cottage food, home-based food business, home kitchen license, homemade food, prepared food, food entrepreneur, small food business, cottage food law, food safety training, ServSafe, food handler license, agriculture department, Minnesota food law, residential kitchen, local zoning, consumer labeling, allergen labeling, unpasteurized juice, time/temperature control for safety food

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, it is currently an unfair practice for an employer to fail or refuse to make reasonable
• but an employer is prohibited from claiming undue hardship for certain accommodations.
• This transparency benefits everyone: employers, workers, policymakers, and the department itself.
• “We’d have to look at your employer in that case.
• to smaller employers, smaller cities, smaller counties when it comes to this kind of thing.

Bills: SB6136, SB6188, SB5944

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency, actuarial rates, contingency reserves, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, risk classifications, employer premiums, insurance regulation, rate setting, premium increase limits, workers' compensation advisory committee, retrospective rating, state insurance fund, accident and medical aid funds, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several Labor and Industries-related bills. SB 6039 would allow L&I to send notices electronically, with an opt-out option for recipients; the sponsor and L&I described it as a simple modernization and transparency measure. SB 6136 would require L&I to publish actuarially indicated workers’ compensation rates and explain when rate increases are capped below those levels; the sponsor said it would show when reserve funds are used to hold rates down and improve transparency. SB 6188 would expand L&I’s authority to set asbestos certification rules beyond only those specifically required to match federal law; the sponsor and L&I said it was needed to strengthen worker safety and training standards, while a business group raised concern about diverging from federal rules. SB 6014 would make technical fixes to pregnancy and postpartum workplace accommodation law, including a public records exemption for complainants and participants in investigations and a correction to a cross-reference so basic accommodations remain protected without a doctor’s note requirement; a supportive witness said it restored the intended standard and protected privacy. SB 6058 would give L&I discretion to investigate wage complaints under the Wage Payment Act and allow penalties for willful violations when the department initiates an investigation; L&I supported the bill and requested an amendment already adopted in the House companion to reduce costs and avoid conflict with another wage recovery bill. The committee then took executive action on five bills. E2SSB 5061, requiring annual prevailing wage adjustments in public works contracts, was amended to allow a change order only when the wage increase exceeds 5% and to delay the effective date to July 1, 2028; the committee adopted the effective-date amendment but rejected the change-order amendment, then passed the bill 7-2. SSB 5874, allowing ESD to waive penalties for minor unemployment insurance reporting errors, passed 9-0. SB 5944, making missed-appointment payments part of bargained compensation for language access providers, also passed 9-0. SSB 5972, expanding binding interest arbitration for correctional officers in city and county jails regardless of county size, had two proposed amendments to limit the binding effect and require consideration of employer finances; both were rejected, and the bill passed 8-1. ESSB 6302, requiring L&I to investigate possible misclassification when three or more independent contractors perform finishing work on a public works project, passed 9-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, what this does is create a competitive awards program for employers to get training for their
• And this piece is providing grants to employers to upskill existing employees.
• We have certainly been hearing it as we've been going around the state from employers.
• Employers absolutely love it up there.
• And when we talk about this as we go around the state with the employment community here in Louisiana

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and first considered Chairman Beaulieu’s House Bill 646, a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year. After adopting a set of amendments creating the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund and making conforming changes, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The companion bill, House Bill 824, which establishes the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change, was also amended and reported favorably as amended. Supporters framed both measures as a way to keep spending within recurring revenues and create a path toward reducing or eliminating the state income tax. The committee then reported favorably as amended House Bill 1157, creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to help finance infrastructure-related projects, with testimony that it would leverage private and federal dollars and initially focus on rail, port, road, and bridge projects. House Bill 316, which provides a framework for student literacy reforms for grades four through eight, was presented as having no new cost because the Department of Education said the work was already covered by existing resources; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549, creating the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide employer-based training grants, also received support from business groups and was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor; it was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology through a $2 driver’s license fee, generated significant concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the proposed technologies and training, the committee deferred the bill voluntarily to work on alternatives, including a possible sunset and other funding options. Finally, House Bill 752, which would change the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> standards that have guided employer standards that have guided employer behavior<01:11:38.560><c
• </c><01:19:08.719><c> give</c> approaches require employers to give approaches require employers to give
• The employer provides a transitional employment period during which they offer their employees the opportunity
• The employer provides a transitional employment period during which they offer their employees the opportunity
• The employer provides a transitional employment period during which they offer their employees the opportunity

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:31:54.360><c> to</c> [clears throat] kind of employment to [clears throat] kind of employment
• Uh, if sponsor would be the employer.
• Only the sponsor as employer. Sponsor can be an employer in that capacity.
• </c> an another carpentry employer. an another carpentry employer.
• <00:54:07.120><c> employment</c> practitioners of uh employment practitioners of uh employment anti-discrimination

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Transcript Highlights:

• chance to live on campus, be a part of a college community, and work towards our education and employment
• The Paths program gave me the one-on-one support I needed and taught me the employment skills required
• in gaining the skills and experiences necessary... ...to transition into competitive, integrated employment
• programs like these and the opportunities they deserve to pursue higher education and meaningful employment
• I need my son to be able to live independently, and I need him to have gainful employment afterwards.

Bills: SB750, SB2995, SB1716, SB2430, SB203, SB1679, SB2683, SB1414

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, public institutions, laboratory fees, education code, financial aid, education, student support, scholarships, nontraditional education, student enrollment, financial assistance, Texas students, foreign adversaries, trade secrets, research integrity, security measures, international agreements, student privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Health insurance costs continue to rise for individuals, businesses, and employers.
• To the employer as well, the employee as well, not just the employer. Absolutely.
• Our organization is in the trenches with these employees and employers, the employers that I work with
• Small employers are not able to afford to cover their employees anymore.
• So to the extent they drive up costs for the employer.

Bills: HB138, HB335, HB388, HB138

Keywords: health impact analysis, cost analysis, coverage mandates, health insurance, legislative analysis, health care data, education, funding, classroom resources, teacher support, student outcomes, health benefits, provider dentists, payment reimbursement, insurance code, noncontracting, dental care, reimbursement, health benefit plans, noncontracting providers

Transcript Highlights:

• employers because they could they would not have to pay claims within 45 days.
• Again, I think that this could provide a lot of good transparency on what man. could cost for employers
• This also is a case when maybe you have coverage under your employer and under your spouse's employer

Bills: HB138, HB335, HB388, HB138

Keywords: health impact analysis, cost analysis, coverage mandates, health insurance, legislative analysis, health care data, education, funding, classroom resources, teacher support, student outcomes, health benefits, provider dentists, payment reimbursement, insurance code, noncontracting, dental care, reimbursement, health benefit plans, noncontracting providers

Transcript Highlights:

• Our employers failed to pay us time and a half on that day.
• Our employers failed to pay us time and a half on that day.
• These aren't easy fields, and how are you going to respond to your employer, other employers, who may
• </c><01:02:42.240><c> other</c><01:02:42.480><c> employers</c> respond to your employer other employers
• respond to your employer other employers who<01:02:43.079><c> may</c><01:02:43.359><c> not</c><01:02

Bills: HF339, HF1272, HF2121, HF2122, HF1216, HF1003, HF2319

Keywords: HF339, Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, nursing homes, long-term care, elder care, workforce standards, certified worker organizations, labor funding, general fund appropriation, worker grants, Minnesota labor law, nursing home staffing, caregiver workforce, section 181.214, HF1272, nursing home, boarding care home, nursing home workers, labor standards, Medicaid-certified facility

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1254 relates to the regulation of professional employer services.
• Generally, it would reconcile the definition of professional employer organization. ...PEO license holders
• It also would provide that if a PEO fails to renew its license on time, its status as an employer of

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Bills: SB 53, SB53, SB125, SB315, SB379, SB457, SB541, SB599, SB896, SB921, SB963, SB1038, SB1084, SB1330, SB1461

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, mental health, court proceedings, notice requirements, legal filings, electronic documents, autologous blood donation, direct blood donation, blood bank, hospital, Health and Safety Code, physician order, preoperative blood donation, patient blood reserve, transfusion, surgery

Transcript Highlights:

• And this piece is providing grants to employers to upskill existing employees.
• We have certainly been hearing it as we've been going around the state from employers.
• We have certainly been hearing it as we've been going around the state from employers.
• Employers absolutely love it up there.
• And when we talk about this as we go around the state with the employment community here in Louisiana

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Transcript Highlights:

• . so that you're not just to employers. so that you're not just doing<00:12:46.079><c> Americanore</c
• </c> direction of some of those employers direction of some of those employers that<00:12:53.680><c>
• </c><00:34:38.320><c> across</c> our employees, our employers across our employees, our employers across
• receive support in getting access to employment.
• </c> helped participants move into employment helped participants move into employment at<00:56:01.440

Bills: HF4598, HF4884, HF3732

Keywords: workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, correctional officer, security counselor, public safety dispatcher, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Transcript Highlights:

• A 2021 Mercer study of over 450 employers found that 97% of employers offering fertility coverage, including
• </c><00:08:57.040><c> found</c> Mercer study of over 450 employers found Mercer study of over 450 employers
• ><c> offering</c><00:08:59.600><c> fertility</c> that 97% of employers offering fertility that 97% of
• employers offering fertility coverage,<00:09:00.800><c> including</c><00:09:01.120><c> IVF,</c><00:09
• Our employer-sponsored insurance covered only a fraction of the amount that it cost.

Bills: HF4609, HF4401

Keywords: infertility, fertility treatment, fertility preservation, IVF, assisted reproductive technology, ART, oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, egg freezing, sperm freezing, reproductive health, maternity coverage, health insurance mandate, health plan benefits, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, family planning, oncology fertility preservation, chemotherapy

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill allows employees to take their own money, allocate it to an employer-sponsored flexible

Bills: HF495, HF4321, HF3902, HF4161, HF3755

Keywords: day care, tax subtraction, child care costs, licensed child care, dependent care assistance, HF4321, dependent care assistance programs, gross income exclusion, federal conformity, Internal Revenue Code, individual income tax, Minnesota tax law, tax conformity, child care assistance, employer-provided dependent care, taxable income, state income tax, retroactive tax change, family care benefits, housing tax credit

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, Senate Bill 1254 relates to the regulation of professional employer services.
• Generally, it would reconcile the definition of professional employer organizations, or PEOs, and license
• It also would provide that if a PEO fails to renew its license on time, its status as an employer of

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays. The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process. Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the lower paid in our system, and they're being forced to travel to outside parishes to get employment
• judge, whenever he retires and he goes on some of these boards that, you know, are just like another employer
• there's a shortage, but one of the problems I have is with the two-year rule, you know, of post-employment
• there are multiple, the employees for Louisiana School for the Deaf, sexual assault examiners, employment
• House Bill 238 by Representative Zerang provides relative to exceptions for the employment of a former

Bills: HB177, HB210, HB238, HB258, HB307, HB359, HB398, HB661, HB705, HB752, HB858

Keywords: court reporter, official court reporter, courts, judicial system, ethics, post-employment restrictions, cooling-off period, two-year waiting period, rehiring, reemployment, contractual services, former public employee, public employer, Louisiana ethics law, R.S. 42:1121, Act 532, lobbying, public service, statewide officials, compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1270 authorizes an employer of corrections employees to make a supplemental contribution incentive
• As you've heard, this bill allows corp employers to provide supplemental contributions.
• It's completely optional to the employer, to Tier 3 corp members.
• And there are no future obligations for the employer to add additional contributions.
• I mean, almost every employer lets you change the election amount every year. Mr.

Bills: SB1161, SB1215, SB1270, SB1400, SB1537, SB1538, SB1580, SB1584, SB1627

Keywords: appropriation, public safety, Yuma County, funding exemption, family advocacy center, firefighters, occupational disease, workers compensation, cancer presumption, police officers, hazardous duty, SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive

Transcript Highlights:

• creates, is meant to help us get everyone rowing in the same direction and make sure students and employers
• Today, work-based learning opportunities, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and employer-sponsored
• Internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and employer-sponsored training exist across multiple agencies
• multiple systems: LDOE, Louisiana Works, Regents, LCTCS, economic development partners, and private employers
• They built a system that includes a statewide matching platform connecting students and employers, regional

Bills: HCR97, HR168, SCR33, SB112, SB346, SB347, SB353, SB488, SB504, SB507, SB518

Keywords: hunting education, firearm safety, outdoor recreation, curriculum, youth education, conservation, collegiate athletics, funding, name image likeness, revenue sharing, NCAA compliance, student-athlete support, financial sustainability, work-based learning, task force, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, cooperative education, co-op