Transcript Highlights:

• , they have policies on employees, particularly former employees, that are underperforming, only generating
• The question has become, for the employees that have retired, former employees that have retired or moved
• order to fund the retirement on that employee and on other employees as well.
• It says former employee, right?
• and other bank employees.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• because those employees are paid by their parish.
• because those employees are paid by their parish.
• Municipal Employee Retire. All right. I'll have staff read in.
• And yes, this is a cleanup bill. ...of the Municipal Employees Retirement System.
• I find the 30% of the male employees to handle the strip search.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> benefit payments to Injured employees benefit payments to Injured employees and<00:16:25.279><c>
• </c> changes so employers and the employees changes so employers and the employees who<00:21:54.159><
• than 500 employees nationwide.
• as employees and treating employees as employees and rather<01:20:12.120><c> treating</c><01:20:12.440
• then</c><01:20:52.520><c> as</c> their employees as employees um then as their employees as employees

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> where we're talking to the employee, where we're talking to the employee, we're<01:07:21.000><c
• </c><01:08:36.759><c> Exempt</c> employees. They get their salary. Exempt employees.
• </c><01:09:58.720><c> ski</c><01:09:58.960><c> resorts</c> employees at ski resorts employees at ski
• They are very employee friendly.
• They are very employee friendly. They are very employee friendly. friendly. friendly.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. hazardous duty employees to be covered hazardous duty employees to be covered under<00:14:
• </c> contribution rates that the CS employee contribution rates that the CS employee employers<00:20:
• </c> employees back in 2017. employees back in 2017.
• And this is to make our state employees aical with what we did for our county employee system.
• And this is to make our state employees equal with what we did for our county employee system.

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore a few minutes lost at the end of the meeting Representative Tackett-Lafferty: 00:22 • Line of Duty Disability Benefits Representative Grossberg: 26:32 • Loss of TRS Credit Due to Religious Holiday Observance Representative Blanton: 32:01 • Educational Contracts and Membership Dates in KERS Representative Tipton and Representative Blanton: 40:55 • Apply SB 10 Changes from 2025 to KERS/SPRS Senator Higdon: 46:08 • PPOB Reporting on Line of Duty Benefits • TRS Annual Leave Impact on TRS • PPOB Membership • Use of Sick Leave for Religious Holidays Adjournment: 56:03, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty on a bill to extend minimum line-of-duty hazardous duty retirement benefits to certain CERS and KERS non-hazardous members who are injured in the line of duty and cannot return to that work. She used a video and examples from Eastern Kentucky first responders, including a deputy who lost a leg and an emergency management director who lost an eye, to argue that some injured officers and responders fall through the cracks because their employers did not elect hazardous-duty coverage. She said the proposal would provide 25% of pay to the disabled officer, plus 10% for dependent children and minimal health benefits, and noted estimated actuarial costs of about $2.9 million for CERS and $0.542 million for KERS, funded through small employer-rate increases. Members asked how far back the bill would reach, how many people might qualify, and whether the benefit would apply only to active employees or also to past injuries. Laferty said the bill would include a five-year window for recent situations and could potentially cover a total of 3,333 positions statewide that could be certified as hazardous, though benefits would only apply if the person was injured in the line of duty and disabled from returning to that work. Questions also focused on whether a non-hazardous employee could qualify if injured in a hazardous situation; Laferty said yes, if the position could be certified as hazardous, but only for the bill’s minimum benefits. Rep. Josh Calloway and others noted that local governments choose whether to pay the higher hazardous-duty contribution rates, which they said often drives the coverage decision. The committee then heard Rep. Daniel Gberg present a separate bill revising school leave rules so teachers and school employees may use accumulated sick leave to observe religious holidays not on the school calendar, with a required personal statement and advance notice. He said the change would address a longstanding inconsistency for teachers who observe non-Christian holidays and currently may have to choose between unpaid leave or improperly using sick days, and he said prior concerns about retirement service credit and maternity leave were reduced by other policy changes. The discussion ended without a vote, with members indicating they had the relevant materials and that the bill would be revisited later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each employee would receive $2,000. three.
• Each employee would receive a $2,000 bonus.
• Okay, so we still have employees furloughed? We still have employees furloughed.
• we still have employees furlough 56 out of this whole division is 56 employees out of the entire division
• employees that are part of the older individuals with blind group that Yeah, there’s five employees

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of information already required for other public employees.
• Most employees do not ignore their union.
• Then the employer or employee offers to be one of those employees, and the employer takes the final action
• to rescind their offer to be one of those employees in the layoff.
• to rescind their offer to be one of those employees in the layoff.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1347, which would streamline cannabis testing lab accreditation by requiring the Liquor and Cannabis Board to accept Department of Agriculture accreditation as the basis for initial certification under certain conditions and to reduce duplication between agencies. The prime sponsor and several industry witnesses said the bill is intended to clarify authority, improve efficiency, and preserve consumer safety, while LCB said it had no policy objection but wanted implementation concerns addressed. Several witnesses supported the concept but said an amendment was needed to clearly assign accreditation authority to WSDA and avoid overlapping requirements. The committee also heard and later took action on several bills. House Bill 2229 would update the Professional Engineers Registration Act by changing board membership rules, increasing pro tem members, and revising registration and exam provisions; the sponsor and board director said it modernizes qualifications without changing licensure standards. House Bill 2091 would require more complete employee contact information to be shared with exclusive bargaining representatives under the Personnel System Reform Act; union witnesses supported it and a policy witness opposed it as a privacy intrusion. Second Substitute House Bill 1128 would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board to make recommendations on child care worker standards; supporters said it addresses workforce shortages and retention, while providers and associations argued it duplicates existing work and could lead to unfunded mandates. In executive action, the committee voted do pass on Substitute House Bills 2492, 2107, 2151, 2355, and Gross Substitute House Bill 2471, and sent them to Rules. It also voted do pass on Second Substitute House Bill 2105 and referred it to Ways and Means. Other bills heard included House Bill 1701 on shared liquor license premises, where a small business owner supported more flexible shared-space arrangements and LCB suggested amendments to prevent undue influence; House Bill 2264 on unemployment benefits for employer-initiated layoffs, which was supported as a clarification to protect workers who opt into reduction-in-force programs; Substitute House Bill 2472 on fire sprinkler work enforcement, supported by labor and industry witnesses; and Second Substitute House Bill 2345, which would adjust paid family and medical leave premium allocations to address IRS tax guidance, with broad support from labor, business, and the agency.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2567 would permit public employees to seek temporary restraining orders on behalf of employees
• Allows employees to request a written description of their quota and employee work speed data.
• ><00:09:21.600><c> provide</c> certain warehouse employees to provide certain warehouse employees to
• </c><00:09:27.360><c> Protects</c> and employee workspe data. Protects and employee workspe data.
• of their quota and employee description of their quota and employee worksp<00:09:37.600><c> speed</c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several labor-related bills. SB 2567 would allow public employers to seek temporary restraining orders against harassment of employees; the Judiciary, DHS, DOE, and others supported it, with some asking that coverage be broadened to all public employees. The Judiciary said it would not oppose expanding the bill’s scope. The chair deferred decision-making on SB 2567 to February 13, 2026, to allow further discussion with the Judiciary and Attorney General’s Office. SB 2386 would expand pay-transparency requirements for job listings and lower the small-employer exemption threshold from 50 to 25 employees. Testifiers largely supported the measure, citing transparency and retention benefits, while one opposition was noted. The committee voted to pass SB 2386 with amendments, including changing the effective date to January 1, 2077. SB 2389, the Warehouse Workers Protection Act, drew support from labor advocates but concerns from DLIR and the Attorney General’s Office about enforcement and a prosecutorial provision; after questions about quota tracking and recordkeeping, the chair deferred the bill. SB 2663 would require employers to respond in writing to workers’ compensation treatment plans within seven days and establish related penalties. DLIR opposed the bill as drafted, citing fairness and existing statutory conflicts, while injured workers and labor representatives supported it and described long delays in treatment approvals. The committee voted to pass SB 2663 with amendments, including directing fines to the special compensation fund, clarifying enforcement, and setting the effective date to January 1, 2077. SB 2555 would allow retirees to work in succession-planning positions without losing retirement benefits; ERS supported the intent but suggested an annual reporting requirement and noted existing rehire mechanisms. The committee voted to pass SB 2555 with amendments, including an annual report requirement and the same January 1, 2077 effective date. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there have actually, um, there have been surveys of employees, um, and somewhere around 20% of employees
• We just want to make sure that if an employee chooses to do that, that's fine.
• um and somewhere around uh 20% employees um and somewhere around uh 20% of<00:03:41.239><c> employees
• </c><00:04:15.360><c> to</c> encouraging their employees to encouraging their employees to participate
• </c><00:04:25.479><c> are</c> holding town houss where employees are holding town houss where employees

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative asked about the number of employees.
• and attract employees.
• There has to be at least one non-related employee.
• So this is the entity that takes care of essentially employee scheduling, employee training, all of that
• And then employee decisions still lay on the franchisee.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 126-0. Members then offered several points of personal privilege and introductions, including recognition of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, a tribute and moment of silence for the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, and greetings to various visiting groups such as manufacturers, FFA students, university graduate students, and the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps for an America 250 event. The chamber then moved through first reading of several bills and took up multiple measures for perfection and printing. House Bill 2596, dealing with multiple employer self-insured health plans for small businesses, received supportive testimony from members who said it would help small employers recruit and retain workers and modernize outdated law; it was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1644, establishing a franchise-specific joint employer standard, drew extensive debate over liability, franchisor control, and whether it would protect small franchise businesses without limiting legitimate claims; it was also adopted and ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2423, updating consumer credit licensing fees for the fee-funded Division of Finance, was presented as a way to keep the agency self-funded and maintain consumer protection staffing, and it too was ordered perfected and printed. The House also considered House Bill 2641, which would regulate intoxicating hemp products and align state law with federal changes set to take effect on November 12, 2026. The bill’s sponsor said it was intended to protect children, provide clarity, and create a coordinated enforcement framework, while opponents argued it was unconstitutional because it would effectively reclassify hemp products under the marijuana framework in Article 14 of the Missouri Constitution and could harm lawful hemp businesses. An amendment and a technical amendment were adopted, and the bill was then adopted and perfected and printed as amended. The House later announced committee meetings and other notices before voting to recess until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> retaly action whenever an employee retaly action whenever an employee asserts<00:13:56.399><c> any
• </c><00:14:05.040><c> the</c> mothers and lactating employees the mothers and lactating employees the
• And this particular use of employees.
• </c><00:19:34.320><c> and</c> uh which is when an employee and uh which is when an employee and employer
• </c> or excuse me, the uh employee notice. or excuse me, the uh employee notice.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate the opportunity to share stories and provide education for all BCH employees.
• So one of the inclusivity for employees with disabilities.
• , in this conversation and in this work for advocating for employees at the hospital.
• Employees may have some internal ableism as well.
• We’re lucky with the community we have, even employees and patients’ families.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities subcommittee on Disability Employment approved the prior meeting minutes, welcomed new commission member Victoria Gill, and heard an opening quote on leadership before moving to presentations and planning. The main presentation was from Kristen Grip and Katie McCarthy of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Disability Alliance employee-led group, which described its mission to build an inclusive workplace through education, community-building, and advocacy. They discussed monthly disability-awareness programming, intersectional events, accommodation and accessibility efforts, internal ableism, universal design, and BCH’s recognition in the 2025 Disability Equality Index. They also described their own lived experience and emphasized that employees with disabilities should lead disability-related workplace efforts. Committee members asked how to start a disability employee resource group and what external partnerships might help. The presenters said BCH’s HR diversity team helped launch the group over about a year, and members noted related resources, including a Work Without Limits guide and possible connections with Spalding Rehabilitation and other hospitals. The committee also discussed BCH’s continued support for disability inclusion work despite broader political pressure, and members praised the hospital’s efforts and offered to share additional contacts and resources. The subcommittee then turned to possible collaboration with SEED, the State Exchange on Employment and Disability, on Massachusetts as a model employer and benefit cliff analysis work. Members agreed SEED could help with policy framing, comparative data, stakeholder education, and youth disability employment efforts, and they approved inviting SEED to brief the subcommittee in January or February. The group also discussed possible links to CAPE-Youth, Commonwealth HR and DEI offices, and a future partnership with the Office of the Veterans Advocate. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• retiree with Texas State Employees Union.
• State agencies are losing the competition to recruit and retain talented employees.
• So a $10,000 across the board for full-time employees, including university employees, which were left
• the Texas State Employees Union.
• Uh, it was a failure that we didn't take care of our state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of employees within the department. of employees within the department.
• </c> employees uh to the state of Hawaii. employees uh to the state of Hawaii.
• . employees. employees.
• </c> safety, it was employee satisfaction. safety, it was employee satisfaction.
• , to clarify the employee is a full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal employee.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor met on February 19, 2026, and heard a series of bills largely focused on public employment, staffing, and professional licensing. Early measures included HB 2276 and HB 2472, both relating to Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries, which were supported by trust fund representatives and received no opposition or questions. The committee also heard HB 1714 HD1 on housing, where the Hawaii Public Housing Authority testified with comments and the Deputy Attorney General raised concerns about the scope of autonomy, civil service, collective bargaining, and a possible separation-of-powers issue involving legislative approval of long-term contracts. The committee then considered several personnel and civil service bills. HB 2325 HD1, relating to civil service exempt positions at DLNR, drew support from DLNR and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, but HGEA opposed it and urged the department to seek other recruitment and retention solutions while keeping employees in civil service. HB 1541, relating to Department of Health positions, was supported by DOH on the grounds that the positions serve vulnerable populations and require specialized expertise, while HGEA opposed. HB 2140 HD1, relating to essential permanent positions, received support from OPSD, HGEA, and the Chamber of Commerce, with written comments from the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. HB 2315 HD1, relating to state employment benefits, was strongly supported by DOH, UPW, and HGEA as a recruitment and retention incentive; members questioned the pilot program, and DOH explained it would allow employees to cash out vacation leave earlier than current policy allows. The committee also heard HB 2295 on government contracting, with DOE support not present and IBEW 1186 in opposition. HB 1720, relating to professional engineers, drew strong support from the City and County of Honolulu’s planning department, which argued the bill would help with affordable housing review and only affect eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, but strong opposition from engineering industry and licensing board representatives, who warned it would lower licensing standards and harm reciprocity; members questioned both sides about plan review experience and licensure requirements. HB 2367, relating to employment earnings and pay transparency, received strong support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, AAUW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and others, who said transparency helps small businesses and retention, while written opposition came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and NFIB. Finally, HB 1935, relating to personal information, drew comments from the Attorney General and the Campaign Spending Commission about implementation burdens and disclosure requirements, with UPW supporting the home-address redaction portion but opposing the broader disclosure process; additional written testimony was noted from OIP, the League of Women Voters, Public Press Law Center, HGEA, and DCCA.

Transcript Highlights:

• or municipal employees and so on.
• So at its core, this legislation is not about limiting employee rights.
• I am also a former employee of the Twin Falls School District.
• you, to withdraw union dues from employees' paycheck.
• If employees want to join the union, that's their right.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They insure their own employees, and they use those earnings.
• have an interest because they're former employees.
• But when an employee is no longer... ...on that active employee, but when an employee is no longer employed
• policies that do follow the employee, where the benefits do follow the employee post-employment, is removing
• they name the employee that the employees know.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They can framework for employees.
• I've got 250 employees.
• unless the employee by the employee unless the employee voluntarily<01:05:41.760><c> and</c><01:05:42.000
• so the employee knows full well.
• ,</c><01:13:33.679><c> employees</c><01:13:34.159><c> that</c> against um new employees, employees that

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• employees and their families, but also all of higher ed.
• Generally the same number of employees.
• It's funded with a hundred percent of employees.
• In 2021, we shifted all new employees. to a cash balance plan.
• I'm providing you actual number of employees that we cover. the actual number of employees that are hired

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• employee.
• employee.
• The bond board ensures all state employees, so they provide coverage for state employees.
• Was this a single point-of-contact employee?
• other employees who handled bookings?

Summary: The committee first approved prior meeting minutes by motion and voice vote. It then took up audit reports, with several reports without findings filed without objection. The main discussion centered on the FY24 Department of Human Services audit, which contained three findings: alleged fraud involving disaster SNAP and Medicaid benefits, a delayed notification of a nearly $610,000 altered state warrant, and asset-control issues including missing or misidentified equipment and improper sales tax paid on vehicle purchases. DHS representatives said some fraud cases had been resolved with restitution, others were pending or dismissed, and they described corrective steps such as updating internal notification procedures and asset controls. Committee members questioned the missing assets, the notification delay, and the sales tax issue, and the report was deferred to the next meeting so DHS could return with written policy changes. The committee also reviewed the FY24 Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism audit, which had two findings: loss of nearly $3,500 in museum receipts and cash-control exceptions involving $100 missing from a park camping drawer and an $80 overage at War Memorial Stadium. Agency officials said the museum loss was believed to be theft, that controls had since been strengthened with a point-of-sale and reservation system, and that the stadium issue reflected the unique mix of cash and bank balances used for events. Members asked about the investigation, reimbursement through the bond board, and whether the employee’s final paycheck could be withheld. The chair later relayed that the prosecutor’s office said the Parks and Tourism investigation remained open and that additional information had been requested from the agency, so the report was also deferred to the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair... security card and ID of employees so security card and ID of employees so it's<00:27:52.159>
• then public employees?
• They're not Department employees.
• If you don't, it's the employees.
• If you don't, it's the employees.

Keywords: 1189, house, all