Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we've tried to increase our consulting time every year.
• I'm not sure about the wage. I can tell you the jobs; I'm not sure about the wage.
• As you move forward, the wage is important as well, right?
• I'm not sure about the wage. I can tell you the jobs, that I'm not sure about the wage.
• As you forward, you know, the wage is important as well, right?

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism convened with several members present and Senators DiCeglie and McClain excused. The committee first heard a presentation from Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, who described the network’s statewide small-business assistance, including startup support, export and contracting help, disaster recovery, and rural outreach. He highlighted reported 2023 impacts such as $3.9 billion in sales generated, $575.9 million in government contracts, $346.2 million in capital, and support for 2,009 new businesses, including 130 manufacturing firms over the past two years. Members asked about comparisons with SCORE and about measuring rural success, with the chair suggesting jobs and wages in rural areas would be useful metrics; Britton said he could provide job data but was unsure about wage information. The committee then took up SB 320 by Senator Gates, which creates a five-year demonstration project for an alternative licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers. The bill would allow a “first-step” probationary license based on industry certification, apprenticeship, recommendation from a licensed Florida surveyor, and passage of the Department of Agriculture exam within the five-year period, without requiring a four-year degree. Senators asked about the labor shortage, education requirements, foreign workers, and moral character standards. Gates said the shortage is chronic and worsening, the bill has no degree requirement, and anyone meeting the qualifications could proceed regardless of visa status. The committee voted to report SB 320 favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 316 by Senator Berman, which authorizes series limited liability companies in Florida and sets rules for how Florida and foreign series LLCs may operate and transact business in the state. Berman explained that the bill is intended to let businesses isolate liabilities across separate series while providing clearer rules for Florida citizens and businesses dealing with such entities. There were no substantive questions, one appearance form in support, and the committee voted to report SB 316 favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you increase funding to K-12.
• That 14 percent increase is largely a result of FAST.
• Um, high wage in this case, we just look at median wage data and high wages above the median.
• Look, um, you know, not high wages, not.
• That's just a frame of when they were doing their self-sufficient wage.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two million facing premium increases. Two million.
• Two million facing premium increases. Two million.
• taxes its high-wage earners.
• The highest minimum wage in the United States of America, working with you at $25 an hour.
• It hasn't been raised in nearly two decades, the federal minimum wage.

Summary: The joint convention convened to receive Governor Gavin Newsom’s final State of the State address, with legislative leaders introducing the Governor and welcoming constitutional officers, judges, and other guests. The proceedings opened with a moment of silence honoring Renee Nicole Good and other immigrants affected by detention and due process concerns. After introductory remarks from the Speaker, Senate President pro Tem Monique Limón, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Governor Newsom delivered a wide-ranging address reflecting on his administration and California’s response to recent crises. The Governor highlighted California’s economic performance, tax structure, minimum wage increases, education funding, child care and school meal investments, housing reforms, apprenticeships, infrastructure projects, clean energy progress, and efforts on homelessness, mental health, and public safety. He also discussed state action on artificial intelligence regulation, climate resilience, insurance reform, and wildfire recovery, while sharply criticizing the federal government and President Trump on immigration, health care, food aid, disaster response, and other issues. He announced that his upcoming budget would include major education spending, a five-year extension of the CalCompete tax credit, additional community school funding, a rebuilding fund for fire survivors, and other policy proposals. At the close of the address, the Legislature formally ordered the Governor’s State of the State speech printed in the journal as a special appendix. The joint convention then adjourned sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two million facing premium increases. Two million.
• Two million facing premium increases. Two million.
• taxes its high-wage earners.
• The highest minimum wage in the United States of America, working with you at $25 an hour.
• It hasn't been raised in nearly two decades, the federal minimum wage.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Relations to issue an order of wage Relations to issue an order of wage payment<01:23:04.679><c>
• wage and hour<01:23:09.120><c> law.
• of</c><01:24:10.719><c> payment</c> That's the order wage of payment That's the order wage of payment
• So thank you very much again, Chair and members of this committee. $934,000 in lost wages through wage
• </c><01:26:21.920><c> are</c> walk off and quit and those wages are walk off and quit and those wages

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several housing, landlord-tenant, and condominium-related measures. Senate Bill 62, relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, would allow HPHA-owned parcels and related areas such as parking lots to be closed to the public with posted signage; HPHA strongly supported the bill, saying it would help reduce loitering, drinking, and other problems, and no further testimony was offered. Senate Bill 822, relating to the landlord tenant code, would create a three-year working group in the Department of the Attorney General to study and improve the residential landlord-tenant code. The Judiciary supported the measure but said the scope should be narrowed; the Attorney General opposed leading the group and suggested another agency should do so; Hawaii Realtors and the Hawaii Worker Center supported the concept and suggested moving the chairmanship to the Judiciary and including Legal Aid participation. The Judiciary said it could chair the group if the bill were narrowed to matters within the court’s purview. Senate Bill 38, relating to housing, would limit counties from imposing stricter conditions, AMI requirements, or fee-waiver reductions on certain affordable housing proposals if those changes would increase project costs. HHFDC supported the bill, saying county changes after state approval create uncertainty for developers, while the Hawaii State Association of Counties opposed it as an intrusion on local authority and a restriction on county safety and infrastructure conditions. Members asked about whether existing county review periods were sufficient, and the county association said the main concern was the bill’s language limiting counties from making cost-increasing conditions. Senate Bill 146, relating to condominiums, would revise alternative dispute resolution procedures for condo disputes, including evaluative mediation and binding arbitration. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission said it took no position overall but supported a $150 mediation fee and asked for a similar arbitration fee; Community Associations Institute supported the bill with suggested amendments; however, most testimony was strongly opposed by condominium owners and advocates, who said the bill had been changed to the detriment of owners and would increase costs and reduce protections. The committee noted 44 testimonies on the bill, with 2 in support, 37 in opposition, and 2 with comments. Senate Bill 253, relating to condominium reserves, would require a detailed budget summary to stand on its own, remove a good-faith defense for certain noncompliant budgets, and clarify standing and the association’s burden regarding substantial compliance. Hawaii Realtors and Community Associations Institute supported the measure as improving transparency and giving owners and buyers a clearer picture of association finances. Greg Msakian also supported it, arguing it would help owners and describing problems he experienced with budget committee exclusion and budget noncompliance in his own association. The discussion ended while testimony on the bill was still underway, with additional witnesses expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• This can help increase awareness. Thank you. ...into the dual enrollment options across our state.
• So we pay an hourly wage of about $24 to $25 an hour. ...training.
• So we pay an hourly wage of about $24 to $25 an hour while we're paying for their school.
• We've seen an increased 33% in diversity hiring. Wow.
• It just says, here's the high-demand, high-wage jobs.

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection. The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Western does not request state funding above and beyond general government wage increases for locally
• Western does not request state funding above and beyond general government wage increases for locally
• There's about an 18% increase in the pipeline for this year.
• Generally, we find that arbitrators award larger general wage increase percentages than is agreed upon
• A mandatory subject of bargaining is wages, hours, or working conditions.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen increasing incentives throughout the country.
• This includes qualified wages, non-qualified non-wages, non-qualified spend.
• This is a livable wage industry.
• So please, please increase this incentive. Thank you.
• As Californians, please support the tax increase.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would expect an increase in costs. There to be an increase in costs.
• providers, no increased utilization, and no increased costs, that would be considered a failure by this
• Or you said we couldn't disenroll, but we had an increase? Increase in enrollment.
• You can have increases in productivity while you don't have increased... ...in employment, and that does
• And so, if we don't have an increase and we have a death increase—people are dying at a greater rate

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's been a rapid increase in those revenues in recent years.
• We know that workers lose about $2 billion in wages to wage theft every year.
• To pay the salary increases that are in the budget now.
• Our general salary increases will have. We love this state.
• not be cut at all and only our wages.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You make a minimum wage at groomer.
• It's an increasing these agreements.
• work</c><00:06:51.520><c> where</c> low-wage uh workers, low-wage work where low-wage uh workers, low-wage
• In low wages and bad working conditions.
• </c> in a big company, especially a low-wage in a big company, especially a low-wage worker,<00:21:18.799

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE WORKFORCE TRAINING SERVICES WE LEAD OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT
• REMOVE BARRIERS AND INCREASE COLLABORATION AND ALIGNMENT WITH FLORIDA'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.
• JOBSEEKERS SERVED BY THE NETWORK EXPERIENCE AND ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE OF $15,500 WHICH IS A POWERFUL STEP
• ENHANCED TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENHANCED INTEGRATION.
• JUST A QUESTION, WOULD YOU GET TO REPORT THAT AS SOMEONE WITH INCREASED WAGES?

Transcript Highlights:

• Those will be tax increases.
• Those will be tax increases.
• Almost more than a 20% increase.
• increasing wages.
• state employee wages right now.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayers and pledges, and several procedural announcements, including permission for cameras, a relaxed dress code for guests, and excusing a few senators. Members also recognized numerous guests and honorary lieutenant governors, and discussed a planned bolo tie contest tied to New Mexico tradition and state history. The chamber then moved to business, including the confirmation of Anna Silva as Secretary of the General Services Department. The confirmation drew broad support from senators on both sides, who praised Silva’s long career in state government, her management experience, and her work on major projects such as the executive office building, procurement reforms, and facilities management. After debate, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm her appointment. Silva’s family and guests were recognized from the floor after the vote. The Senate then took up House Bill 2 and 3, the state budget. Senator Muñoz presented the Senate Finance version as a balanced budget with about $11.1 billion in spending, 27% reserves, recurring investments in health care, early childhood, public safety, education, roads, housing, and economic development, and targeted nonrecurring spending for items such as water, universities, and innovation sectors. Supporters emphasized affordability, teacher health insurance parity, medical residency funding, rural and community investments, and public safety funding. Critics raised concerns about the size of the budget, the late availability and complexity of the bill, the removal of a proposed 1% pay raise for state employees, and whether spending priorities and education dollars were being allocated effectively. No final vote on the budget was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the wages of course will outdated.
• So, this was an wage and hour division.
• ><c> for</c><01:10:20.960><c> the</c><01:10:21.199><c> state</c> increase in revenue for the state increase
• The contractor paid the back wages and The contractor paid the back wages and duct<01:14:24.800><c> deducted
• </c><01:15:55.679><c> and</c> questions concerning Kucky's wage and questions concerning Kucky's wage

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• demand for manpower and workforce is increasing in New Mexico.
• What that 60 cents is going to do is increase the cost of construction.
• will not be able to recover this increase.
• In the FIR alone, it also states that this will increase the cost of projects.
• and 25 apprentices at a lower wage.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund. The sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the section that would have imposed a 1% gross receipts tax on electricity sales. After a recap of the bill’s remaining provisions, including a $400 million seed amount and future transfers from motor vehicle excise tax revenue, the committee heard brief support from Associated Contractors of New Mexico and the Asphalt Pavement Association and no opposition. The amended bill then passed on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard HB 270, a public works/apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to approved apprenticeship and training programs or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, while eliminating an exemption for certain road, highway, utility, and maintenance work. Supporters, including union carpenters, electrical workers, the building trades council, and apprenticeship advocates, argued the bill would expand training, help address labor shortages, and provide a return on public investment. Opponents from utility contractors, highway contractors, and Associated Contractors of New Mexico said they already operate federally approved in-house training programs, warned the bill would raise project costs, and argued some trades have no accessible approved programs. Members questioned how the bill would interact with existing in-house programs, whether rural contractors and nonunion firms would be affected, and whether the state-approved fund and federal highway training requirements could conflict. A proposed amendment to exempt projects of $50 million or less was introduced but tabled. After extensive debate, the committee voted 6-5 to pass HB 270. The meeting also included discussion of a prior procedural error in which HB 270 had been heard before being properly assigned, which the chair said rendered that earlier action void. At the end of the meeting, the committee received a brief New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 presentation on district projects, budget, and construction status.

Transcript Highlights:

• Protect public safety and increase transparency in the scrap and metal industry.
• have been served civil wage and penalty assessments, what we call CUAPAs, that lead to final wage judgments
• New tariffs and a tax increase, those on the brink won't survive.
• And now we face a tax increase from $15 billion. to 19% in the past few years.
• The increase in taxes will mean another layoff. Another job lost.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California already requires apprenticeship and the payment of prevailing wage.
• California already requires apprenticeship and the payment of prevailing wage.
• Also, I had to shorten my business hours, which means lower wages or hours for my employees.
• So there's a lot of... ...which means lower wages or hours for my employees.
• So the economic experts say you're wrong; it will not increase gas prices.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 635, House File 2187 increase.
• the county share of care, the increase the county share of care, the increase<00:16:28.800><c> the</
• </c> property rate increases. property rate increases.
• We would just ask that that increase be contingent on if rates are increased.
• Those were not rate increases.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge you to maintain the previous increased proposal.
• Since 2022, inflation has increased by over 11%, and wages and supplies have increased by much more than
• Trying to run a small-margin business with these cost increases and without a revenue increase is unsustainable
• And since 2022 in this market, minimum wage has increased 32%.
• Minimum wage has nearly increased 20%, and Medicaid rates are frozen.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee continued its public hearing on House Bill 2289, the fiscal biennial supplemental operating budget appropriations bill. The chair and vice chair explained the hearing process, limited testimony to one minute per person, and then heard extensive public comment from a wide range of advocates, local officials, service providers, and residents. No committee vote was taken during the hearing. Much of the testimony focused on opposition to proposed budget shifts involving Climate Commitment Act revenue, especially the proposed diversion of $569 million to other uses, including the Working Families Tax Credit. Environmental, public health, and local government witnesses argued those funds should remain dedicated to climate pollution reduction, wildfire resilience, clean transportation, natural climate solutions, and affordability programs. Several speakers also urged full funding for wildfire response and forest health, including the HB 1168 commitment, and opposed transfers from the Public Works Assistance Account. Other major topics included Medicaid and long-term care rates, with nursing home and assisted living providers warning that freezing or delaying rate rebasing would worsen staffing shortages and threaten access to care. Public health and health care advocates opposed cuts to foundational public health services, Apple Health expansion, and pharmacy benefit changes, while oral health advocates asked to preserve Medicaid dental funding and support Dentist Link. Testimony also supported or opposed funding for K-12 programs such as special education, the Ninth Grade Success Initiative, and homeless student stability; early learning and child care subsidies; disability services; public defense; housing and homelessness prevention; food assistance; higher education; and immigrant legal services. The committee concluded the hearing and adjourned after public testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• By 2027, increase exits from unsheltered homelessness into shelter or housing from 42% to 72%.
• It could be interpreted as endorsing significantly increased funding for homeless programs that have
• requirements, any kind of wage or labor standard.
• It is prevailing wage requirements, any kind of wage or labor standard, threatens worker safety, undermines
• So with this bill, you would be placing a prevailing wage requirement on private funded.

Keywords: 987, senate, all