Video & Transcript : 'job mobility' :
Page 315 of 500
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Status of Persons with Disabilities May 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a wonderful opportunity to put someone in a job and train them on the job and work toward their
- It's a wonderful opportunity to put someone in a job and train them on the job and work towards their
- The on-the-job training The on-the-job training is also reinforced with classroom hours.
- But I would also suggest the community colleges and their job fairs or any job fairs, because we run
- But I would also suggest the community colleges and their job fairs or any job fairs, because we run
Summary:
The Workforce Support Subcommittee met to discuss how registered apprenticeships could help address workforce shortages in disability services, human services, and other high-need fields. Co-chairs and staff introduced the session as a practical overview of apprenticeship pathways, with a focus on how employers, intermediaries, and training providers can work together to build programs. The discussion emphasized that apprenticeships can be used not only in the trades, but also in health care, early childhood education, medical interpreting, and other occupations facing recruitment and retention problems.
Amara Ramon of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards explained the structure of registered apprenticeships in Massachusetts, including employer-led on-the-job training, related technical instruction, wage progression, credentialing, and state support through templates, compliance oversight, and grants. Melissa Sebeli described her role as an intermediary at the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, saying intermediaries help employers design, register, and manage programs, recruit apprentices, and keep programs compliant. She said the model offers employers a pipeline of workers, retention benefits, tax credits, and flexibility to tailor training to local needs. Lisa Morris described a new apprenticeship for medical interpreters, built from an existing training program and employer demand for experience, with a pre-apprenticeship, 2,000 hours of work-based learning, and related technical instruction tied to certification requirements.
Members and attendees asked about where apprentices come from, how employers recruit, how wages are set, and whether state agencies or workforce boards can serve as intermediaries. Speakers said recruitment can come from career centers, youth programs, incumbent workers, community colleges, job fairs, ESL centers, and community-based organizations. They also discussed accommodations and modified curricula for people with intellectual, developmental, and neurodiverse disabilities, citing Bridgewater State’s Excel program as an example. No votes were taken; the meeting concluded with encouragement for organizations to contact the presenters or Division of Apprenticeship Standards to explore apprenticeship options and with notice that materials and the recording would be posted online.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 4th, 2026 at 08:32 am
House Taxation & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- If what we're trying to do is create jobs, if this is a job creator, and it's not a net loss to the tax
- If we bring in jobs that are very high paying jobs Especially, potentially, the tax base to the community
- Starting off, it's gonna be 250 to. 300 full-time jobs, but it could be a different CapEx versus job
- Number to get a lot of jobs with it.
- or the rural jobs.
Committee:
House House Taxation & Revenue
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- If what we're trying to do is create jobs, if this is a job creator and it's not a net loss to the tax
- That if we bring in jobs that are... ...that if we bring in jobs that are very high-paying jobs, especially
- Because if we did this overall universes of jobs, we would lose money. ...over all the universes of jobs
- jobs.
- What are the jobs created? What's the capital expenditure? How does that impact... Jobs created?
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on the committee substitute for House Bill 27, which would modernize New Mexico’s research and development tax credit. Sponsors said the bill would allow the credit to be stacked with industrial revenue bonds for qualifying facilities, exclude data centers and national laboratories, permit up to $50 million in transferable credits per year for 2026-2028, and extend the carry-forward period to seven years. Supporters from business, construction, labor, and economic development groups argued the changes would improve cash flow for startups, help attract and retain high-wage jobs, and encourage commercialization of New Mexico-developed technology in sectors such as advanced energy, aerospace, fusion, and advanced manufacturing. Several witnesses emphasized that the bill was intended to keep commercialization and capital investment in New Mexico rather than losing them to other states.
Committee members raised concerns about tax policy, fiscal impact, and whether the bill would truly lead to commercialization. Questions focused on the transferability provision, the $50 million annual cap, who could buy credits, whether data centers should be excluded, how the bill interacts with IRBs and other incentives, and whether the labs could benefit. Some members supported the bill’s goals but worried it was too narrowly tailored or could create winners and losers. The sponsors and administration witnesses responded that the bill was designed to tie R&D to physical infrastructure, provide capital to early-stage companies, and protect the general fund with caps and time limits. They also said the bill would not apply to national labs and would not change existing rural-area doubling provisions.
After extensive discussion and no opposition testimony, the committee did not advance the bill. Representative Cadena moved to table the committee substitute for House Bill 27, Representative Parra made the second, and the motion passed without opposition, so the bill was tabled.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 27th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Workplace Standards
Transcript Highlights:
- Guards face harassment for doing the job by the book.
- No job is worth someone getting hurt or killed.
- We are willing and able to do this job.
- We see a lot of those jobs that are paying only $20 an hour are not full-time jobs anyway.
- You don't finish the job on time.
Committee:
House Labor & Workplace Standards
Keywords:
plumbing contractor, plumber, license suspension, credential suspension, administrative penalty, infractions, repeat violator, consumer protection, residential plumbing, construction licensing, Washington Department of Labor and Industries, advisory board of plumbers, plumbing certificate fund, code enforcement, professional licensing, trade regulation, security, regulation, employment standards, security guards
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 28, 2026 - 09:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- These jobs would be particularly advertised and put out there as unique work-based training jobs.
- This isn't really competing with those jobs.
- Not only is it our job to make money as a company, it's also our job to look after our employees, to
- There's plenty of jobs out there that will pay more.
- There's plenty of jobs out there that will pay more.
Summary:
The committee first took up HB 455, a local bill for the City of Lake Wales that would allow open containers in a downtown arts district. The sponsor said the city had invested heavily in the area and wanted to support business growth. An amendment clarified that the allowance was intended for cups, not bottles taken from restaurants, and the bill was then adopted favorably without opposition.
Members then heard HB 1049 on building permit requirements, which would remove permits for certain work under $7,500 and for battery or backup power systems, while also preempting local governments from adding extra permitting rules. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying modular homes on RV lots, and another addressing contractor “splitting” of projects to avoid the threshold and requiring five years of record retention. County and local-government groups raised concerns about inspections and permitting, while several business and advocacy groups supported the bill. It passed favorably.
HB 1175, dealing with safety design standards for office surgery suites, was presented as a measure directing the Florida Building Commission and State Fire Marshal to establish new standards to improve safety and efficiency. There was no amendment or public testimony, and it passed favorably. The committee then spent extensive time on HB 221, which would let workers waive the state minimum wage for certain work-based learning, internship, or pre-apprenticeship positions for up to nine months, later narrowed by amendment to 252 days, or 126 days for minors with parental consent, and defining the program as structured learning. Supporters framed it as a way to expand apprenticeships and help small businesses offer training opportunities; opponents argued it would create free or subminimum labor, invite abuse and coercion, and raise constitutional concerns. Despite strong opposition testimony from labor, civil rights, and policy groups, the bill passed favorably after debate.
The committee also heard HB 4035, a Palm Beach County local bill requiring applicants for a certificate of competency to pass the licensing exam before applying to the Construction Industry Licensing Board. The sponsor said it would streamline and modernize the process, and members discussed it briefly in support. The transcript ends before the final action on that bill is fully shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 03/26/25
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Good job. Thank you. And very year. Good job. Thank you.
- You did a great job.”
- We have 53,000 job openings.
- We have 53,000 job openings.
- We have 53,000 job openings.
Committee:
Senate Jobs and Economic Development
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Oklahoma Workforce Commission Jun 29th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- That tells us the supply is not there for that job.
- The second one is the median job posting stays open on the job posting dashboards and the LinkedIn's
- The fourth one is with the number of nurses divided by the job postings, the ratio is 0.34.
- It will be another supplement to the job demand and the skill demand dashboard.
- Ashley's done an amazing job.
Summary:
The meeting opened with routine business: confirmation of Open Meetings Act compliance, roll call, approval of the prior minutes, and no public comment. The main presentation was a detailed update on OK WIRE and a new workforce-gap validation model. Staff described moving from a simple job-posting approach to a four-factor method using wage growth, time-to-fill, occupation growth relative to the state average, and the ratio of postings to existing jobs. Examples were given for registered nurses, industrial occupations, software developers, and accountants to show how the model would identify validated workforce shortages or areas needing only monitoring. The team said the new dashboard would be added to the existing OK WIRE system, include links to training programs, and be completed by the end of August without additional cost under the current vendor contract.
An agency report followed, covering the work of 929 Strategies on a 30-60-90 day plan, office relocation, contract terminations, grant administration, and budget cleanup. Staff said they had moved out of Film Row, were temporarily in Denver Davidson, and would move into permanent space in the Jim Thorpe building in October. They also discussed the rapid response grant, ARPA grant spending, and a planned data tool to support layoffs response and rural health workforce planning, including work with the Healthcare Workforce Training Commission and health partners. The board then voted to enter executive session under the cited Oklahoma statutes to discuss employee evaluations, possible salary increases, and confidential legal/operational matters. After returning, the board thanked staff for their budget work, decided not to hold the July 9 meeting, and adjourned, planning to resume discussion at the August meeting.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Guards face harassment for doing the job by the book.
- No job is worth someone getting hurt or killed.
- We are willing and able to do this job.
- We see a lot of those jobs that are paying only $20 an hour are not full-time jobs anyway.
- You don't finish the job on time.
Summary:
The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on three bills. HB 2524 would create a State Security Guards Industry Standards Board within L&I to set minimum standards for security guard pay, leave, benefits, and training, funded in part by a $25 transfer from security licensing fees. The bill’s sponsor and labor supporters said it would professionalize the industry, improve safety, and address high turnover and inadequate training. Security workers described unsafe conditions, retaliation, and being expected to handle crises without enough support. Opponents from business and security companies argued the bill duplicates existing licensing and training rules, would raise costs, and gives too much authority to an unelected board; L&I said it had administrative concerns about timing and fee handling. The hearing on HB 2524 was then closed.
HB 2513 would change plumbing license suspension rules by keeping the current three-infractions-in-three-years standard for residential work, while creating a five-infractions-in-five-years standard for non-residential plumbing violations. The sponsor and supporters from mechanical contractors and labor said repeat violators undermine safety and fair competition, and that the bill gives L&I a stronger enforcement tool against bad actors in commercial work. Several plumbing contractor groups opposed the bill as written, focusing on a new subsection they said was vague and could create an undefined corrective process or overly broad discretion for L&I; they asked that the subsection be removed or the bill be delayed for more stakeholder work. L&I requested an effective date of January 1, 2027 to allow time for rulemaking.
HB 2611 would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours starting January 1, 2028, and would also change paid sick leave accrual from one hour per 40 hours worked to one hour per 32 hours worked. The sponsor and labor supporters said a shorter workweek would improve work-life balance, reduce burnout and turnover, and could increase productivity, citing examples from San Juan County and other places. Business, hospitality, grocery, construction, agriculture, and janitorial representatives opposed the bill, saying it would raise labor costs, reduce hours and flexibility, complicate scheduling, and hurt industries with thin margins or seasonal demands. The committee heard no votes or final action on HB 2611 before closing the hearing and ending business for the day.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Aug 15th, 2025
Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact
Transcript Highlights:
- And then most of these jobs are in low-wage industries. Or in jobs that pay low wages.
- jobs.
- Jobs or training jobs don't deserve the kind of same compensations as others.
- So for me personally, I had to work two jobs to get myself through college because one of the jobs I
- you're still trying to find that second job that will help your career. and the job that will help pay
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And we all know that that's not an easy job.
- If it's a file sub-bid job, same thing: everyone gets charged to the job that works on it, whether they're
- In my opinion, when we bid a job, whether it's a sub-bid job or any project, material, switchgear is
- It's just a very different job.
- It's just a very different job.
Summary:
The hearing focused on several labor-related bills, especially proposals to give legislative employees the right to organize and collectively bargain, close a prevailing wage loophole for off-site prefabrication work, and strengthen enforcement against wage theft. Committee chairs opened the hearing by explaining the hybrid format and asking witnesses to keep testimony brief. Multiple legislators testified in support of the legislative staff union bill, saying staff deserve the same bargaining rights as other public employees and that unionization would improve pay, benefits, retention, and workplace dignity. Witnesses also discussed how the bill would likely be structured, with separate House and Senate bargaining arrangements or locals, and emphasized that it would only create the option to unionize, not require it.
A second major topic was the prevailing wage bill addressing off-site fabrication and prefabrication in construction. Union leaders, contractors, and workers described how more work is being shifted from job sites into shops, especially in sheet metal, HVAC, electrical, and pipefitting work, and argued that the law should treat that work the same as on-site construction when it is part of a public project. They said the current loophole lets some contractors underbid by paying lower wages off-site, while responsible contractors already pay prevailing wages in their shops. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers, preserve apprenticeship and training standards, improve safety and quality, and make enforcement easier through certified payroll and clearer definitions.
The committee also heard testimony on wage theft legislation. Representative Dan Donahue, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, AFL-CIO representatives, and carpenters’ union witnesses described wage theft, misclassification, labor brokers, and tax fraud as widespread problems that hurt workers, honest contractors, and public revenues. They supported giving the Attorney General stronger enforcement tools, adding contractor accountability up the subcontracting chain, and protecting workers from retaliation and from delays that can cause claims to expire. A separate witness supported a bill to extend the statute of limitations for Wage Act cases while AG investigations are pending, and another supported changes to help hospital workers enforce timely payment rights. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports on the bills.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Announcement to Allow Rideshare Drivers the Right to Form a Union - 02/25/25
Transcript Highlights:
- come forward with the announcement of a historic step towards rideshare drivers winning a voice at the job
- as a security officer, where we want higher pay and better benefits and more respect on the job.
- as a security officer, where we want higher pay and better benefits and more respect on the job.
- as a security officer, where we want higher pay and better benefits and more respect on the job.
- as a security officer, where we want higher pay and better benefits and more respect on the job.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
HF3030, the 'Minnesota Miners Relief Act,' heard in committee 4/2/25
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> move which is supporting them with jobs move which is supporting them with jobs not<00:03:24.799
- We need other jobs. I'm going to call it tailings jobs.
- And it's not just the 600 jobs; it's the 3-to-1 service industry jobs that go along with it, so we're
- service industry jobs that go along 3:1 service industry jobs that go along with<00:20:55.919><c> it<
- And these are high-paying jobs.
Summary:
House File 3030 was taken up for discussion and amended with the A1 author’s amendment before moving forward. The bill was presented as an Iron Range package with three parts: a 26-week unemployment insurance extension for workers laid off by Cleveland-Cliffs, and two mining-related provisions dealing with safe storage of reactive mine waste and a site-specific sulfite standard. The authors said the bill was intended both to help laid-off workers immediately and to support the long-term future of mining jobs in the region.
Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of the unemployment extension and the broader goal of preserving Iron Range jobs and communities. Representatives of affected workers, union leaders, a county commissioner, a tribal elder, and RAMS all described the layoffs as potentially long-term and warned of broader economic harm to families, local businesses, schools, and the region if mining jobs continue to decline. Several testifiers emphasized that mining is central to the Iron Range economy and argued that the bill would give workers time and hope while also helping keep people in the region.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency testified that it generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the environmental rulemaking language in Article 2, Section 2. MPCA said the provision would amount to a new major rulemaking, would require significant time and resources, and should be reviewed by the Environment, Natural Resources, Finance and Policy Committee. During member questions, one legislator said there was strong support for the UI extension in Article 1 but expressed concern about the environmental issues in Article 2 and asked why those provisions were not being reviewed by the environment committee. The meeting ended with public testimony closed and member questions beginning; no final vote was taken in the portion provided.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Investment (10-23-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> that makes our public construction jobs that makes our public construction jobs too<00:05:33.680
- </c> air, water, safe work environments, job air, water, safe work environments, job creation. creation
- </c> of the jobs we're on are very dangerous. of the jobs we're on are very dangerous.
- This job was a demolition portion of a job at Murray State University.
- </c> ride to and from the job site in vans. ride to and from the job site in vans.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:04
Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:29
Approval of Minutes: 00:01:50
Kentucky Buy American Act: 00:02:08
Earn As You Learn: KY Building Trades Apprenticeship: 00:30:42
Worker Misclassification in the Construction Industry: 01:02:00
Investing in KY’s Future Workforce Through the Good Business Initiative: 01:20:44
Adjournment: 01:28:28, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met on October 23, 2025, approved the September minutes, and heard testimony on a proposed “Kentucky by America” procurement preference bill. Representative Patrick Flannery described the concept as giving preference in public construction and public works contracts to iron, steel, aluminum, and other manufactured goods made in the United States, while emphasizing he wanted to avoid excessive taxpayer costs and was open to changes. Chad Connley of the United Steelworkers and Dustin Reinsteller of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO supported the idea, arguing it would strengthen domestic manufacturing, keep tax dollars in the local economy, and support jobs; Connley said the bill would include waivers for items not made domestically and noted Kentucky has opted out of the GPA trade agreement. Mike Buckington of Metals Innovation Initiative, testifying virtually, also supported the concept and said Kentucky’s metals sector has seen significant investment and can supply most construction needs, while stressing supply-chain reliability and national security concerns.
Members generally expressed support but raised questions about implementation. Representative Branscum asked who would grant waivers and how contractors would know the rules during bidding; Flannery said he was open to revising the language and process. Representative Gentry supported the concept but said the bill would likely need editing to avoid harming businesses or markets. Senator Nun suggested aligning the bill’s definition of a U.S. good with industry country-of-origin standards to make compliance easier. Representative KC Carney asked for data on the impact of similar laws in other states, and Connley said he could provide numbers later but did not have them on hand. Senator Boswell supported the concept and asked about the cost threshold for waivers; Connley said the federal standard is a 25% cost increase, while the prior Kentucky version used 10%, and that the threshold is a key detail.
The committee then shifted to an informational presentation on building trade apprenticeships. Eric Elie of the Kentucky State Pipe Trades Association, Nick Brown of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 502, and retired IBEW training director Steve Willinghurst explained how union apprenticeship programs work. Brown described earn-while-you-learn training, with apprentices placed on jobs by signatory contractors and attending classes two nights a week for five years. He outlined the work of plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and HVACR technicians, emphasizing that these trades support construction, industrial facilities, distilleries, and other critical infrastructure. No votes or formal actions were taken on the policy topics beyond approval of the prior minutes.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Leadership Division Mar 18th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, spring job fairs. We just kicked off our spring job fair season.
- We had our fifth annual virtual job fair.
- It was a five-hour event, and we had 634 job seekers from 29 states and 11 countries attend this job
- It could be at their job site. It could be at home. And same goes for the job seeker.
- It could be at their job site. It could be at home. And same goes for the job seeker.
Summary:
The Leadership Division of the Budget Section approved the prior meeting minutes and then received an update from Senator Jonathan Sickler on the Cash Management Board’s interim work under House Bill 1278. He said the board has reviewed state cash, investments, and liquidity across agencies and concluded the state’s overall mix of long-term and short-term assets is appropriate, with about $35 billion in total liquid assets and investments and roughly 89% in longer-term investments. He highlighted process improvements already underway, including replacing more than 500 six-month CDs with a special-rate savings account to reduce administrative work, and said the board sees opportunities to improve forecasting, automation, and statewide coordination. Members asked about whether the CD change would increase returns, how the Legacy Fund transfer for the homestead tax relief bill affected earnings, and whether more state cash could be consolidated or better managed through BND; Sickler and BND staff said those issues are being studied and may lead to legislation for the 2027 session.
Representative Nathan Toman then updated the committee on the Task Force on Government Efficiency. He said the group has focused less on cutting dollars and more on defining metrics and asking how the legislature knows whether programs are working. The task force is pushing a standard set of questions for new or expanding programs—who is affected, expected outcomes, alternatives, how success will be measured, and full funding—and OMB has agreed to require those answers in future budget requests. Members discussed possible use of dashboards, program evaluators, AI tools, and possible rule or statutory changes to require performance measurement. Toman said the task force will continue meeting with agencies such as the courts, university system, auditor, HHS, Commerce, and ITD to identify workflow bottlenecks and potential efficiencies.
Phil Davis of Job Service North Dakota gave a workforce update, reporting that North Dakota’s unemployment rate is 2.5% and labor force participation is about 68.7%, both well above national performance. He described Job Service’s 15 workforce programs, including H-2A housing inspections for foreign agricultural workers, the job placement partnership program with DOCR, WOTC, and other federal and state workforce efforts. Davis said the agency served more than 11,000 individuals in 2025, operates nine workforce centers, and tracks outcomes through quarterly and annual reporting. In response to questions, he said job openings data reflect only positions in the system and may understate actual hiring needs, that child care and other assistance programs could be better tied to employment outcomes, and that the DOCR partnership has shown strong results with lower recidivism and higher earnings. He also said the H-2A inspection workload is growing quickly and additional staffing or less frequent federal inspection requirements could help.
Allen Knutson then presented S&P Global’s updated revenue forecast. He said oil prices have risen sharply since the prior month’s outlook, improving the state’s near-term revenue picture, though the economy remains volatile and agriculture is facing weaker commodity prices. Based on the updated forecast, total major tax revenues for the current biennium are projected to be about $89 million above the legislative forecast, and the next biennium could be about $500 million higher, though that estimate is preliminary and may change. He also walked through an alternate oil-price scenario showing significantly higher oil and gas collections and a larger Strategic Investment Fund balance if prices remain elevated. Members asked whether another forecast should be requested once oil markets stabilize and about tribal allocation changes in the alternative scenario; Knutson said additional updates are possible through OMB and future forecast cycles.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- If they don’t meet whatever their job, how many jobs they’re supposed to produce, income levels... ..
- .over their job, how many jobs they’re supposed to produce, income levels, all of that, those clawbacks
- Because if this is the way that jobs are actually created, then why aren't all jobs created this way?
- What I want to tell you is if you could have those 4,000 jobs, if that's the number, or even 100 jobs
- in your community, you decide what that price tag is for your community and employing your job. jobs
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House/Senate DFL Press Conference 4/10/25
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> just jobs right we just calling it jobs just jobs right we just calling it jobs because<00:03:04.840
- They play a very important role in our state. jobs throughout the state of Minnesota jobs throughout
- ><00:41:24.319><c> work</c> connections to job um to jobs we work connections to job um to jobs we work
- </c> every everybody who's looking for a job every everybody who's looking for a job who<01:04:27.520
- </c> the office of combative Sports our job the office of combative Sports our job is<01:37:23.239><c
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: DFL Leaders Speak on 2026 Bonding Priorities - 04/28/26
Transcript Highlights:
- Second, the jobs.
- It's not just jobs at the union level, which of course we are very highly in support of, but it is jobs
- It's not just jobs community.
- When a jobs in the whole community.
- jobs. 4,000 construction jobs many lost jobs. 4,000 construction jobs lost<00:10:13.520><c> from</c>
Summary:
Senate leaders and supporters held a press availability focused on passing a state capital investment, or bonding, bill this session. Chair Sandy Pappas said the state has received more than $7 billion in project requests and is pushing for a $1.4 billion bonding package to address infrastructure needs such as clean water, state parks and trails, college and university repairs, sewer capacity for housing growth, and other public facilities. She and other speakers stressed that delaying projects raises costs and that they do not expect a special session, making action before adjournment especially important.
Testimony from labor and legislative leaders emphasized the economic benefits of bonding. Anthony Wilkie of SMART Local 10 said public bonding projects create work hours for skilled trades and cited Fraser Hall at the University of Minnesota as an example of a project that employed union members. Senator Nick Frentz argued that bonding supports jobs, especially in greater Minnesota, and highlighted water infrastructure needs, including communities facing manganese contamination and high water rates if they must finance treatment plants alone. Senator Ann Johnson Stewart pointed to PFAS-related water treatment costs in Minnetonka Beach and said she would support higher education and water projects.
Majority Leader Erin Murphy said the Senate is working toward the $1.4 billion target, noting the state’s AAA bond rating and the need to keep borrowing costs low. She also said the recent Metro Surge period led to about 4,000 lost construction jobs, strengthening the case for a bill this year. In response to questions, Pappas said negotiations with Senator Housley and House leaders were underway but still early, with no final target set yet; she said staff are preparing project lists and language, and that some items, such as HCMC, may move separately. No formal vote was taken in the exchange, but the speakers expressed optimism about reaching a bipartisan agreement before session end.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- for 30 years or 25 years at jobs.
- So, her job, she has a PhD.
- This isn't an easy job for DRS and it's not an easy job for our partners in the developmental disability
- You know, the jobs that sometimes are offered are jobs that aren't that they're not going to be happy
- I think that could be a different job description for those people finding jobs for your daughter or
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- These businesses create the jobs.
- How much money am I, are taxpayers, investing per job? And did we actually get those jobs?
- So those people were getting jobs. They were getting jobs by businesses that had moved here.
- Those people were getting jobs.
- It is because jobs are here. Jobs are here. Arizona is number five in job growth.