Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:58.519><c> and</c><00:14:58.720><c> all</c> tax on tips and tax on overtimes and all tax on
• tips and tax on overtimes and all the<00:14:59.279><c> new</c><00:15:00.120><c> blue</c><00:15:00.519
• their utilities or paying rent.
• their utilities or paying rent.
• and Eddy County and all rural veterans who shouldn't have to choose between buying textbooks and paying

Bills: HR758 , HR856 , HR153 , HR872 , HB1515

Keywords: fencing, youth development, underserved communities, athletics, Peter Westbrook, scholarships, academic achievement, SNAP, nutrition assistance, contingency funds, government shutdown, hunger prevention, vulnerable populations, federal funding, condolences, aviation safety, transportation disaster, victims support, first responders, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Transcript Highlights:

• pay.
• Same work, less pay. This is not just a gap.
• Pay, whether you're a woman or a man.
• The pay gap is not an accident. It is a policy failure across the board.
• Equal Pay Day is what happens when discrimination shows up in our paycheck.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several guest introductions, including a Canadian diplomatic delegation visiting for Canada Day at the Capitol and the undefeated Under-11 San Juan Spirits soccer team. The chamber also recognized guests connected to later resolutions, including families and advocates tied to profound autism and farm worker issues, as well as arts education leaders. The Senate adopted SR 89, recognizing March 17, 2026 as Profound Autism Day, after remarks emphasizing the need for greater awareness, research inclusion, and lifelong services for people with profound autism and their caregivers. Members also adopted SCR 147, proclaiming March 26 as Arts Education Month, with support focused on the value of arts education for creativity, engagement, and student success. Both resolutions passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The chamber then took up AB 2156, an urgency measure renaming Cesar Chavez Day as Farm Worker Day and proclaiming March 31 as Farm Worker Day. Supporters from multiple caucuses and regions spoke about the history of farm labor, the contributions and sacrifices of farm workers, and the need to honor the broader movement and its diverse participants; some speakers also referenced recent allegations and the desire to center survivors and workers rather than one individual. The bill passed with 37 ayes and 0 noes, including the urgency clause. The Senate also adopted a consent calendar of several items without objection, then adjourned in memory of Caitlin Mardell Mallet and Roxanne Miller. The session concluded with announcements of a committee meeting and a one-week spring recess, with the next floor session scheduled for April 6, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are things like overtime pay, minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and then most importantly
• Those are things like overtime pay, minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and then most importantly
• Those are things like overtime pay, minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and then most importantly
• Those are things like overtime pay, minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and then most importantly
• </c><00:03:59.040><c> wage,</c><00:03:59.599><c> earn</c> overtime pay, uh, minimum wage, earn overtime

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We pay that person to work, and then we pay the person to be off.
• that person to work and then uh we pay that person to work and then uh we<00:21:04.840><c> pay</c><00
• </c> unions in order for the city to only pay unions in order for the city to only pay the<01:03:20.640
• She's going to pay three times as much.
• </c> agreement on the allocation of the pay agreement on the allocation of the pay uh<01:42:02.800><c

Bills: HF1976

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• By misclassifying their workers, employers avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, unemployment, other taxes
• I still can't pay you, right?"
• I still can't pay you, right?"
• </c> to pay rent, to buy groceries, to pay to pay rent, to buy groceries, to pay their<01:36:14.320><
• </c> businesses are are continually paying. businesses are are continually paying.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, that includes a 5,887,497,000 increase for the teacher pay raise for CTE instructors.
• overtime call back and standby to $135,000.
• </c><00:36:54.560><c> Once</c> increase that $135,000 in overtime.
• Once increase that $135,000 in overtime.
• Um, we also increased their instructor pay and just moved them up a little bit on their instructor pays

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• They're already paying in, and when they're off, they get 60% of their salary.
• To be honest, we are just running a lot of overtime, frankly.
• We are running a lot of overtime, which may be a problem, I don't know.
• I mean, people sometimes accept a job from us at a reduction of pay.
• Chairman, you're only going to pay for a few of them, correct? That's the $390,000.

Bills: HF627 , HF474 , HF361 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So, right now, all the gas companies have to pay surety bonds to the Corporation Commission.
• It says Oklahoma oil and gas companies pay surety bonds to the Corporation Commission, and they are not
• paying surety bonds to the Department of Wildlife.

Bills: HB1937 , HB2153 , HB3674 , HB2978 , HB3885 , HB3671 , HB3261 , HB3021 , HB3029 , HB4274 , HB3701 , HB3076 , HB2299 , HB3852 , HB3244 , HB3345 , HB3114 , HB3764 , HB4144 , HB3304 , HB2939 , HB4227 , HB3262 , HB2941 , HB3498 , HB4343 , HB4425 , HB3386 , HB3087 , HB3062 , HB3431 , HB4141 , HB3581 , HB4237 , HB2960 , HB3645 , HB3648 , HB3974 , HB3045 , SCR18 , HCR1024 , SJR39 , SJR49 , HB4486 , SB1130 , SB1131 , SB1132 , SB1133 , SB1134 , SB1142 , HB1823 , HB4476 , HB3378 , HB3880 , HB3031 , HB3369 , HB3429 , HB3657 , HB4215 , HB3624 , HB1170

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Transcript Highlights:

• Norwood here, Osborne here, Pay here, Patzkowski, Patzkowski, Pfeifer, Pogamier, Provenzano, Provenzano
• losing from the federal, but also recognizing that we have serious needs in our state that we need to pay
• About the vote, chairs are paying to close.

Bills: HB3057 , HB3130 , HB4113 , HB3310 , HB3314 , HB3985 , HB4486 , HB3040 , HB3407 , HB4343 , HB2981 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB3767 , HB3982 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3323 , HB4126 , HB4130 , HB4170 , HB3345 , HB2941 , HB3062 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB2977 , HB3304 , HB3299 , HB3297 , HB4260 , HB3906 , HB3648 , HB3319 , HB2933 , HB3544 , HB1322 , HB4104 , HB4105 , HB4106 , HB4107 , HB4108 , HB3974 , HB3134 , HB3055 , HB3115 , HB3471 , HB3497 , HB3500 , HB3505 , HB3755 , HB4202 , HB4226 , HB4236 , HB4139 , HB4144 , HB4422 , HB4423 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3673 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB2445

Keywords: government reporting, information technology, child welfare, environmental policy, state agency compliance, gender transition, minors, health services, punitive damages, parental rights, health care providers, voter registration, voter eligibility, felony disenfranchisement, restoration of voting rights, formerly incarcerated, reentry, parole, probation, supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, no tax on overtime. And overtime is a big deal in this state, you know, it is.
• Uh no tax<00:52:26.640><c> on</c><00:52:26.880><c> overtime.
• a</c><00:52:28.800><c> big</c> tax on overtime.
• And overtime is a big tax on overtime.
• </c> There is other revenue by which to pay There is other revenue by which to pay association<02:24:

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:32:46.240><c> pay</c> We denied funding for overtime pay We denied funding for overtime pay and
• He noted that they pay their fees, are governed by their own money, and that the request to pay overtime
• You reduce that request to pay overtime. You reduce that by<02:35:48.080><c> 15,000.
• So what we're talking about is a $15,000 overtime pay budget request.
• This case overtime pay budget request.

Transcript Highlights:

• In contrast, Buc-ee's pays $20.86 an hour.
• The pay is double at Buc-ee's and the work is so much easier.
• Prevention pays off.
• This has entailed a lot of overtime expenses and burnout.
• Prevention pays off.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Usually we're paying officers an overtime rate to work there, and overtime can run anywhere from $1 to
• They ended up paying the St.
• </c> larger some smaller usually we're paying larger some smaller usually we're paying officers<00:39
• overtime rate to work there an<00:39:30.440><c> overtime</c><00:39:30.880><c> can</c><00:39:31.000><
• And so what are we paying for college research?

Bills: HF1354 , HF1901 , HF2124 , HF2130 , HF2260 , HF2099 , HF104 , HF134 , HF1769

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, school safety, active shooter, active shooter drill, violence prevention, threat reporting, anonymous tip line, See It, Say It, Send It, Minnesota Fusion Center, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, officer-involved death, missing person, endangered missing person, criminal background check, national background check, FBI fingerprint check, adult entertainment license, massage license, correctional facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• don't have to pay that fee anymore.
• </c><03:23:17.040><c> off</c> um to a point where we were paying off um to a point where we were paying
• And we're letting them add their vacation pay and their sick pay.
• them add their vacation pay and their them add their vacation pay and their sick<03:35:38.479><c> pay
• It's, you pay what you owe this tax. If you come in and pay it, we'll give you a discount.

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through the HB 1 detail change sheet. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre reported stronger-than-expected lottery performance, raising the current-year return estimate to $27 million and the next biennium estimate to $200 million, with the increase attributed to improved scratch ticket sales and sports betting not hurting revenue as much as expected. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher estimates, including the impact of $50 scratch tickets and whether the figures accounted for future conversion from historical horse racing (HHR) machines to video lottery terminals (VLTs). McIntyre and committee members discussed machine counts, per-day revenue assumptions, and the likelihood that VLT conversion would increase revenues over time, though the timing and pace of conversion remained an open question. The committee also discussed several gaming-related policy items in HB 2, including changes to kino hours and local option games of chance, and noted that the Senate and House differed on how gaming revenues would be allocated between charities, education, and general funds. Members emphasized that revenue projections should remain conservative because operators, not the state, would control the pace of machine conversion. Representative Sweeney noted that operators could earn more per machine under the VLT model, and McIntyre said the new facilities and expansions were largely concentrated near the Massachusetts border. The committee then moved to the HB 1 detail change sheet. It agreed to Senate position on the Department of Safety’s road toll bureau and international registration program changes, which were described as a zero-cost realignment of positions, and held the Department of Corrections section for later discussion. On the judicial side, members approved a technical footnote fix, but held a new contract counsel item for involuntary mental health admissions and deferred discussion of the public defender program increase. The committee also noted no change for the PE development authority, moved safety rest area funding from HB 2 into HB 1 with no additional cost, and flagged the tourism development fund and other judicial items as issues that may depend on overall available revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• The new law, federal law, is going to make states pay more for the benefit.
• Now states are going to have to pay more for this benefit, and so that's why I stand in opposition.
• And so they are paying into the system. They are working. They are just not making enough money.
• No tax on overtime. No tax on car interest.
• You may still have to pay your accountant.

Transcript Highlights:

• With regards to the overtime, I'm not sure if the department has any plans to kind of curb the overtime
• have all of these incentive pay right now, like bonuses.
• Yeah, and the pay, but it's also the environment.
• The overtime percent was 96% to sin. That was only for 25.
• Just maybe we attract by paying higher.

Transcript Highlights:

• are articles that have lots of attorneys. was there's also a decision made for a 6% across the board pay
• So I know the work group approved. approved the 6% pay raise for the non-attorney and non-judicial staff
• UTMB nurse pay parity was adopted at $526,000.
• The main components of the Article 3 working group prioritization set, as you know, teacher pay has been
• to work on different bills related to support our public school teachers, this includes the largest pay

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• Imagine paying for a full vehicle charge, for example, and then departing only to find your battery half
• They ensure that when consumers pay enforcement across all 58 counties in every corner of the state.
• They ensure that when consumers pay for a product, whether it's gasoline, groceries, or electricity,
• No funding at the state taxpayer level would pay for the visas.
• So I do recognize, though, that the pay is not the greatest.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote. Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:03:16.320><c> And</c> their mortgage companies pay it. And their mortgage companies pay it.
• They pay zero mills, so they get a reduction in their assessment rate and they pay zero mills of the
• They pay zero mills. So they get there. They pay zero mills.
• </c> no relief. you're you're still paying no relief. you're you're still paying your<02:58:07.439><c
• </c><03:04:22.560><c> taxes,</c> know, if you don't want to pay taxes, know, if you don't want to pay

Committee: Joint Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Because, again, corporations do not pay all their taxes whenever they need to pay.
• They pay whenever they want, how much they want.
• Because, again, some corporations may not pay all of it. I get that. Okay, never mind.
• government requires them to pay overtime significantly to the existing staff that's willing to work
• It is amazing when I tell people that we're still paying our share of Hurricane Katrina.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee began a series of House Appropriations budget hearings focused on the fiscal year 2026-2027 executive budget, the preamble, and the executive department. Staff presented revenue and spending trends showing projected declines in revenues alongside increasing expenditures, with members emphasizing the need for a standstill budget and additional efficiencies. The House Fiscal Division also reviewed the FY25 surplus and FY26 excess, the constitutional uses of surplus funds, and the overall FY27 budget structure, including the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending. The commissioner of administration described the administration’s use of one-time money, efficiency reviews, and budget reductions, while members asked about revenue forecasts, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication, corporate tax changes, and the impact of federal policy changes on state costs, especially SNAP and Medicaid administration. The committee then moved through several executive department agencies. The Division of Administration presentation covered its budget, vacancies, debt service, and reductions tied to statewide adjustments and efficiency measures. GOSEP’s functions were described as transferred into the Department of Military Affairs under Act 262 of 2025, and military officials outlined the new combined structure, emergency response duties, overseas deployments, youth programs, and concerns about future federal funding. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reviewed its largely dedicated funding and explained that large apparent balances reflect long-term project planning and multi-year capital work. The Office of the State Inspector General presented a budget increase for consulting services tied to the governor’s DOGE-style efficiency initiative, and the inspector general said the effort had identified nearly $1 billion in savings across the executive branch, largely through eligibility reviews in Medicaid and SNAP and implementation of prior audit recommendations. Members raised questions throughout about how budget figures were calculated, why some totals appeared to rise while state general fund support fell, and how federal changes would affect state agencies. There were also questions about the transition of GOSEP into Military Affairs, the status of school safety centers, and whether the new structure would change local emergency responsibilities. No formal votes or amendments were taken during the portion provided; the meeting consisted of presentations, explanations, and member questions.