Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment number 22, the Senator from Essex has filed an amendment which the clerk will read.
• Amendment number 26, filed by the Senator from Plymouth and Norfolk, Mr.
• Amendment number 40, filed by the Senator from Essex and Middlesex, Senator Tarr.
• Amendment number 41, filed by the same senator, which the clerk will read.
• But I do want to thank A colleague from Cambridge and from Winchester for filing this.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated. The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously. Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're moving on to our consideration of the Daily File.
• We have items 1 through 13 under the second reading file.
• Senator Grove, file item 17. Thank you, Madam President.
• Senator Grove moves across file item 20.
• File. Item Item 20.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the June 8–11, 2026 journals, and adopted floor amendments. It also referred several bills to Rules and approved motions affecting Budget and Fiscal Review Committee procedure, including second-reading treatment for budget measures and suspension of Joint Rule 62A to allow budget hearings on short notice. Both motions passed on roll call after some protest votes. The chamber then considered several appointments to the Delta Stewardship Council and the Board of State and Community Corrections. Senators discussed the Delta, water policy, and the proposed Delta Tunnel, but the confirmations of Julie Lee, Ann Patterson, and Sheriff Christopher Clark all passed. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 17, authored by Senator Choi, honoring Republic of Korea veterans who served alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam and urging Congress and the President to clarify that states may extend burial and memorial benefits in state veterans’ cemeteries. The main floor debate centered on Assembly Bill 109, the 2026 Budget Act. Supporters highlighted a $355.9 billion budget with $253 billion General Fund spending, $36.5 billion in reserves, a reduced structural deficit, and investments in child care, Medi-Cal, hospitals, housing, IHSS, education, transit, and other services. Opponents criticized the budget as relying on future tax increases, leaving a structural deficit, and failing to do enough on affordability, public safety, Prop. 36, unemployment insurance debt, and gas prices. After extensive debate, AB 109 passed 28–9, and the Senate later approved a consent calendar of six Assembly bills. The session ended with adjournments in memory of Hajan Lee, Doris Fisher, and James Leslie Barbie, and the Senate adjourned until June 18, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please proceed with House File 3425. >> Thank you, uh, Chair Frasier, uh, Chair Tolson, and members of
• Uh, before us in House File 3425, it's a simple bill, um, but it's an incredibly important bill.
• </c><00:05:03.600><c> 3425</c> recommend this uh that House File 3425 recommend this uh that House File
• </c> members support of House File 3425. members support of House File 3425.
• </c> will renew my motion that House File will renew my motion that House File 3425<00:19:19.200><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Concurrent file items one and two, we're going to pass and retain reconsideration file items three through
• Back to the Assembly third reading file. We're going to pass return file item six.
• Members, rounding out our business on the daily file, we have already dispensed with file item.
• Members, rounding out our business on the daily file, we have already dispensed with file item number
• eight in the Assembly Third Reading File.

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum call at the start, then proceeded with Black History Month observances, including a libation ceremony, the Pledge of Allegiance, and remarks emphasizing remembrance, ancestry, and the importance of honoring Black history. The chamber also handled routine procedural matters, including dispensing with the journal, re-referring certain Senate budget items to the Budget Committee, and allowing guest introductions and other unanimous-consent requests. The main floor action was on Assembly Concurrent Resolution 134, recognizing Black History Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting the historical contributions of Black Americans, the ongoing effects of slavery and segregation, the need to protect voting rights and education, and the importance of solidarity across communities. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 74 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 132, declaring February 28 as Rare Disease Day. Members shared personal stories about ALS and other rare diseases, described barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and insurance coverage, and called for more research and support. The resolution received broad bipartisan support, with 71 co-authors added before adoption by voice vote. The chamber then recognized a series of Black History Month Unsung Heroes honorees, including community leaders, health professionals, advocates, and public servants, and later heard additional guest introductions. The meeting concluded with adjournments in memory of Peyton Trilling and John Jackson, followed by announcements and adjournment until February 26 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the consent calendar, file item 2, AB 375, Wen.
• Moving to file item number six, AB 742. That bill is out.
• Start with file item number one, AB 360, Papan. Start with file item number one, AB 360, Papan.
• File item number three, AB 427, Jackson. Bains, aye. File item number four, AB 447, Mark Gonzalez.
• File item number seven, AB 873, Alanis. On AB 873, Alanis, Bains, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, health care, and workforce bills. Measures discussed included AB 957, which would prohibit tobacco sales in licensed pharmacies; AB 447, which would allow patients to take home certain unopened medications started in emergency rooms; AB 427, joining the Social Work Licensure Compact; AB 667, allowing interpreters for certain licensing exams; AB 742, prioritizing descendants of slaves in licensing review; AB 873, changing infection-control training timing for dental assistants; AB 360, requiring a report on menopause education for physicians; and AB 1175, modernizing CPA licensure requirements and mobility. Testimony generally emphasized public health, access to care, workforce shortages, language access, and economic opportunity, while opposition or concerns focused on implementation, worker protections, compact authority, and constitutional issues in AB 742. Several bills drew broad support from sponsors, professional associations, and advocacy groups. AB 957 was backed by cancer and pharmacy advocates and pharmacists who said pharmacies should not sell tobacco; AB 447 was supported by emergency medicine and hospital representatives as a way to reduce waste and help patients leave with needed medication; AB 427 drew support from social work and mental health groups but concerns from AFSCME about standards and displacement; AB 667 was supported by immigrant-rights and community groups, with questions about whether translated exams would be preferable to interpreters; AB 360 received extensive support from women’s health advocates and medical groups, and opposition from CMA and ACOG was removed after amendments; and AB 1175 was supported by the Board of Accountancy and CPA groups as a way to expand the pipeline and improve mobility. The committee took votes after quorum was established. AB 360, AB 427, AB 447, AB 667, AB 873, AB 1175, and AB 742 were all approved and sent to their next committees, with AB 742 going to Judiciary and AB 1175 to Appropriations. AB 957 was initially held on call, then later passed after additional votes were recorded. The consent calendar bills AB 375, AB 1107, and AB 1496 were also approved. Most measures passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with some members not voting on certain items during the roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• , resulting in rate shock when utilities eventually do file.
• Then, when we file that application, we're limited to a 20% increase under the bill.
• In a lot of these large Class A filings, there are many protests.
• Each utility is required to file an annual report to review their finances.
• Unfortunately, with hundreds of them,... ...required to file that report.

Bills: HB29 , HB685 , HB1633 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB1918 , HB2010 , HB2500 , HB2608 , HB2626 , HB29

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair does move House File 1379 be referred to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.
• But members, again, House File 1379 is an important bill to me.
• </c><00:16:13.279><c> that</c> ability to have this tool on file that ability to have this tool on file
• Thank you. motion that house file 1379 as amended motion that house file 1379 as amended be<00:19:41.480
• </c> nay the motion prevails and house file nay the motion prevails and house file 1379<00:19:55.600>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• After acquiring the needed signatures and filing those signatures with the Secretary of the Commonwealth
• , the measures are then filed with the legislature.
• The first two petitions were filed with the DLR's predecessor agency, the Labor Relations Commission.
• Whitner continues] The first petition was filed in 1978, and it sought to represent all employees of
• The third and most recent petition was filed with the DLR in 2015, as it is currently comprised.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 2522 / H. 5909, which would amend state labor law to treat the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) as a public employer and allow its employees to seek collective bargaining rights. The chair explained the Article 48 initiative process, noted that no opponents or members of the public had signed up to testify, and said written testimony would be accepted through March 20. The hearing focused on whether CPCS staff should be brought within the public-sector bargaining framework and how that would interact with the agency’s statutory duties. Expert testimony began with an NCSL analyst, who gave a national overview of public employee bargaining rights and examples of public defender unions in other states and localities, including Colorado, New York City, Indianapolis, Cook County, Maryland, and Illinois. Department of Labor Relations officials then reviewed prior failed organizing efforts at CPCS and its predecessor, explaining that earlier petitions were dismissed because the agency was not considered a public employer under existing law. They said passage of the initiative would not automatically unionize employees, but would allow a union to petition for an election or written majority authorization, with normal unit-appropriateness and supervisory/confidential employee issues still to be resolved. CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti testified that the agency supports providing information to the legislature but is not taking a position for or against unionization. He described CPCS’s statutory responsibilities, size, and current efforts to expand staffing after recent indigent-defense crises, and said any new bargaining framework would need to operate alongside the agency’s obligations to provide counsel. Proponents from SEIU Local 888 and allied labor groups argued that CPCS employees have long been denied the same collective bargaining rights as other public workers, and that a union would provide just-cause protections, a voice on staffing and working conditions, and better support for recruitment and retention. CPCS attorneys and staff testified in favor of the measure, citing heavy caseloads, rapid expansion, inadequate supervision and office support, and the need for representation in disciplinary and workplace disputes. Committee members asked about bargaining-unit composition, the role of the DLR, the effect of unionization on attorneys’ ethical duties, and the use and cost of paid signature gathering. The hearing ended with no votes taken and no opposition testimony presented.

Transcript Highlights:

• during the 26, ...19th, 2026, or Senate Bill 2518 filed during the 2026 regular session relating to
• The Secretary will now read the bills filed within the call. Great job, Madam Secretary.
• The Secretary will now read the bills filed within the call.
• All of the bills are identical to the bills filed during regular session.
• For House bills that have a Senate companion bill, an amendment will be filed that takes the substance

Summary: The Florida Senate convened in special session for budget conference work, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moments of silence honoring Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to budget and related conforming legislation, including appropriations, implementing bills, collective bargaining/state employees, retirement, law enforcement radio system, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, correctional facilities, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup, fuel taxes, and taxation. Senators also heard Chair Hooper outline the process for moving identical Senate bills and House companion bills into conference posture. The Senate then took up and passed several Senate bills and House companion bills, generally by 32-0 votes, after adopting delete-all/insert-nothing amendments to place the Senate language onto the House vehicles. Bills addressed fuel taxes and Inland Protection Trust Fund distributions, the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, judicial certification, K-12 education conforming changes, retirement, higher education, health care, collective bargaining/state employees, government administration, correctional facilities financing and capital improvements, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, and taxation. In debate on the tax bill, Leader Berman urged consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax to provide relief at the pump, but the House-passed tax bill did not pass as received, and the Senate requested conference instead. The chamber also processed the main budget measures: Senate Bill 2500E and House Bill 5001E for the General Appropriations Act, and Senate Bill 2502E and House Bill 5003E for the implementing bill. After substituting the House bills and adopting conforming amendments, the Senate passed them and requested conference. For the remaining House bills, the Senate either passed them as amended and then acceded to or requested conference on the House request. The session concluded with a motion to waive rules for publishing the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session, an announcement that the Special Order Calendar Group would not meet on May 12 or 13, and adjournment upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other Senate business.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you'd want to move forward, the Chair will move House File 3217 to be laid over today.
• Welcome, Representative Kresha, and proceed with your bill, House File 3217. Thank you, Mr.
• As amended, your House File is ready to go as amended. Thank you, Mr.
• I'm testifying in favor of House File 3217 on behalf of the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota, which
• </c> testifying in in favor of House File testifying in in favor of House File 3217<00:02:44.800><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative West, you know, we had a conversation in J-CAB about tax filings.
• I think you'll find the 2025 filing was filed just before we had our J-CAB meeting. We have...
• I think you'll find the 2025 filing was filed just before we had our J-CAB meeting.
• I can't find their latest tax filings.
• Those are, if you want to file legislation on those... That's not part of this bill.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Ag Code to update the livestock brand. registration process by establishing this electronic filing
• Since then, several TAWC members have filed SIC applications and now have experience with the PUC's SIC
• It's 30 days post-filing, however, recent trends suggest that commission staff often needs extensions
• systems to electronic filing systems, the clerk suddenly had a new electronic filing system and declare
• it substantively or administratively messed up. and I once had a filing kicked back because it didn't

Bills: SB 384 , SB 503 , SB 565 , SB 616 , SB 740

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: hunting license, fishing license, donation, operation game thief fund, wildlife conservation, livestock, electronic registry, marks and brands, Texas Animal Health Commission, animal identification, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water and Agriculture and Rural Affairs convened under the leadership of Chairman Kelly Hancock, who opened the meeting with a prayer in remembrance of Chairman Perry, who was absent due to a personal loss. The session focused on the discussions surrounding SB384, which aims to support the longstanding initiative known as Operation Game Thief. Senator Flores presented the bill, emphasizing its essential role in the fight against poaching through public support. The operation has a successful track record of convictions but is currently dependent on donations and merchandise sales for funding. The committee aimed to vote on multiple bills during this session, contingent on achieving a quorum. Notably, discussions also revolved around fiscal notes on two bills that were set aside for later consideration, indicating the committee's intention to carefully manage their legislative decisions. The meeting showcased a productive atmosphere, with committee members actively engaged in the review and potential advancement of key legislative measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's legal files.
• You can file another one. You can file it again.
• You can file another one. You can file it again.
• You can file another one. You can file it again.
• You can file another one. You can file it again.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met to hear the Legislative Budget Assistant Office’s performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. Auditors said the commission was inefficient and ineffective in investigating discrimination complaints and closing cases in a timely manner during fiscal years 2020 through 2023. The report contained 25 observations; the commission fully concurred with 24 and concurred in part with one. Auditors highlighted major problems with case processing delays, inaccurate case data, lack of a case management system, weak strategic planning and risk assessment, outdated and disorganized policies, confidentiality issues, expired administrative rules, fee-setting practices, incomplete financial-interest filings, and failure to complete required reports and reconciliations. Two recommendations, involving complaint screening and conciliation, may require legislative action. Several observations focused on the commission’s intake and investigation practices. Auditors said complaints may have been screened out before docketing, potentially preventing commissioner review required by statute, and that the investigation process lacked clear rules and guidance. They also found investigators were assigned non-investigative tasks, training was inadequate, interview requirements were unclear, supervisory duties were burdensome, and confidential information was not always protected by encrypted email. The audit recommended clearer administrative rules, better internal controls, more focused staffing, a supervisory investigator position, and improved training and documentation. Commission representatives said they had already made progress on several items since the audit began, including posting overdue biennial reports and moving toward a case management system expected to go live in June. They said they were working with EEOC counterparts and legal counsel, but emphasized staffing shortages and high turnover, noting the commission currently had nine people working out of 15 authorized positions, with three investigator vacancies and a vacant paralegal position. Committee members thanked the auditors and commission staff, discussed the history of the audit request, and raised concerns about how long the recommended corrective actions might take. The committee took no vote or formal action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyone wishing to testify on House File 1865?
• </c><00:09:33.720><c> 1865</c> renews his motion that house file 1865 renews his motion that house file
• </c> before the committee house file before the committee house file 2014<00:13:48.320><c> anyone</c>
• </c> will go to the members for house file will go to the members for house file 2028<00:16:23.360><c
• </c><00:36:46.079><c> to</c> HOA policies that people are filing to HOA policies that people are filing

Bills: HF1865 , HF2014 , HF2028

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: mortgage, qualified mortgage, QM, points and fees, conventional loan, consumer lending, home loan, residential real estate, lender fees, service charge, finance charge, closing costs, Minnesota Statutes 47.20, housing finance, borrower protections, cooperative apartment loan, contract for deed, real estate lending, foreclosure, notice requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• I request the withdrawal of file item 164, AB 739, on behalf of Assembly Member Jackson, and file item
• At the request of the author, please remove file item A13, AB 112 from the inactive file.
• At the request of the author, please place file item 176, AB 1273 on the inactive file, sir.
• Members, we are going to move on to consideration of the daily file, the second reading file.
• Also remove file item number 6, AB 2793, Assembly Jail Committee, as well, from the inactive file.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session honoring Sister Michelle Gorman, the Senate chaplain, on her final day after 11 years of service. Members from both parties praised her prayers, compassion, humor, and steady presence, and several noted her long career in education and religious service. The chamber also welcomed delegations from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and the Japanese Business Association of Southern California, as well as a delegation from Morelia, Mexico, in connection with Sacramento’s sister-city relationship. The Senate then handled several procedural items, including Assembly messages and motions to remove or withdraw certain bills from consent or committee. The chamber adopted a motion to move Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures to third reading, and later approved author’s and floor amendments. The main floor action was on ACA 20, the Save for California Futures Act, which would expand the state Rainy Day Fund target from 10% to 20% of general fund taxes, change how reserve deposits count under the Gann limit, and extend and broaden debt repayment provisions, including federal unemployment insurance debt. Supporters argued it would strengthen fiscal stability and reduce volatility; opponents said it was too complicated, still allowed too much borrowing, and did not sufficiently prioritize paying down existing debt. The measure passed 29-2. The Senate also took up SB 623, a compromise measure addressing transportation network company accident cases and medical lien practices. The bill would cap certain lien-based medical charges, restrict attorney referrals and kickbacks tied to lien providers, require more standardized billing, and add rideshare safety requirements such as background checks and additional disqualifying offenses; it passed 36-0. The chamber then considered SB 417, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, an $11.25 billion housing bond with $10 billion in general obligation bonds and $1.25 billion for veterans home loan assistance. Supporters said it would fund shovel-ready affordable housing, preservation, homeownership, youth housing, infrastructure, and veterans’ housing; opponents criticized it as a “bait-and-switch” that used veterans to justify broader housing debt and argued the state should focus on existing programs and private financing. Despite the opposition, the measure passed 29-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• : Senate File 284.
• Conference Committee report on House<00:00:51.520><c> file</c><00:00:51.840><c> number</c> House file
• </c> undersigned conferees for house file undersigned conferees for house file number number number 2432
• </c><00:01:31.119><c> number</c> committee on house file number committee on house file number 2432<00
• report on House File report on House File 2432<00:12:26.560><c> say</c><00:12:26.880><c> I.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we will start with House File 2988.
• </c> So, Chair Youakim moves House File 2988. So, Chair Youakim moves House File 2988.
• House File 4906.
• So um file.
• Now, I have a person as a resource on House File 4777. And so, I will move House File 4777.

Bills: HF4906 , HF3971 , HF4777 , HF2109 , HF2988

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: property tax, tax refund, taxpayer relief, Minnesota taxation, one-time payment, taxation, property valuation, Tax Court, evidentiary standards, Minnesota Statutes, disparity reduction, aid payments, local government, funding, Fillmore County, education funding, managed forest land, classification, forest management plan, agricultural land

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> House Bill 130 mirror Senate File 0101. House Bill 130 mirror Senate File 0101.
• I'm going to file my suit." It's just not clear.
• I'm going to file my suit." It's just not clear.
• </c> lawsuits with a pen and a paper and file lawsuits with a pen and a paper and file them.<01:27:36.159
• It's just not going to file my suit.

Bills: HB0130 , HB0147

Committee: Senate Revenue

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, property tax, homeowner exemption, Wyoming, voter initiative, tax legislation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Senate File 1494 is a morning.
• Senate File I think Senate File 23:22<00:35:01.119><c> leverages</c><00:35:01.839><c> the</c><00:35:
• Senate File 2152 is laid over for possible inclusion. Senator Mann, you have Senate File 1574.
• </c> Senator Mann, you have Senate File 1574. Senator Mann, you have Senate File 1574.
• </c> Senate File 2413. Senate File 2413.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At a high level, L&I enforcement begins when a worker files a complaint with L&I.
• In 2025, workers filed approximately 9,000 wage complaints.
• And so then the worker would file a complaint if they were receiving or not.
• So that's 2% of farm worker complaints were filed by farm workers.
• So all complaints are filed by workers, but they were in other industries. Okay. Thank you.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.