Transcript Highlights:

• She is a former employee. She no longer works for UALR.
• Leverne Owens was the other employee, but she is deceased.
• So we have lost employees in prosecutors' offices for that.
• So right now they're either county employees or grant employees.
• Even if they're grant employees, they're county employees, but the pay is either through the county,

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING

Summary: The committee first adopted prior minutes and then heard several standing committee audit reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports scheduled for the month, one outstanding committee-requested report, and a request to gather information on a possible special report for February. The city/county/local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of turn-back funds for 17 entities, 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities filing reports, and action on the town of Daisy requiring repayment of misused street funds. The education report filed three higher education audit reports and deferred one Northwest Arkansas Community College report. The state agencies report filed four reports and deferred audits of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for more information on corrective actions. The committee then received a special audit review of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Auditors said the program received $10 million in desegregation funding and a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, and saw 116 students graduate. The review found many scholarship eligibility exceptions, including awards above the maximum and to students who did not meet GPA, enrollment-hour, or full-time requirements, and numerous disbursement documentation and authorization problems. Committee members sharply questioned the program’s oversight, the role of former staff, the use of funds for travel and cultural activities, and whether any improper spending should be referred for criminal review. UALR representatives said the program was overseen as a sponsored program, that some controls were later strengthened, and that Philander Smith only verified enrollment rather than eligibility. The committee voted to table the report until the next meeting and asked staff to gather the federal court order and additional information. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 criminal charges filed, 39 still under review, 3 dismissed, 5 pending in court, and 96 not charged; convictions in 20 cases led to fines, restitution, audit costs, and some bond trust fund payments. Prosecutor representatives explained that many referrals do not become criminal cases because of intent, timing, or other legal limits, and said they generally seek restitution even when charges are not filed. Members asked for more standardized reporting, including whether restitution was recovered and why cases were not prosecuted, and discussed possible training and a checklist for future reports. The committee then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12-13.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, there are offshoots that do mobile clinics, and they will send their technicians out to administer
• So, for example, if this were an employee issue, the Americans with Disabilities Act provides remedies
• if<02:32:15.360><c> this</c><02:32:15.680><c> were</c><02:32:15.800><c> an</c><02:32:15.920><c> employee
• </c><02:32:16.600><c> issue,</c><02:32:17.600><c> the</c> if this were an employee issue, the if this
• were an employee issue, the Americans<02:32:18.640><c> with</c><02:32:18.800><c> Disabilities</c><02

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill authorizes the use of the shared leave program for employees who are victims of hate crimes
• and for employees whose absences are due to immigration enforcement actions against the employee or the
• The bill adds WOTEC employees and officers that perform network and system security duties to the state
• crimes and for employees whose absences due to immigration enforcement actions against the employee
• The bill adds WOTEC employees and officers that perform network and system security duties to the state

Summary: The State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee met on February 24, 2026, for what was described as its last regular meeting of the session. The committee reviewed a large slate of bills and gubernatorial appointments, with staff briefing measures on voting rights, voter registration challenges, military justice victims’ rights, terminology changes from “alien” to “non-citizen,” shared leave for hate-crime and immigration-enforcement-related absences, civil service coverage for Washington Technology Solutions security staff, language-access services, small works roster limits, deceased candidates on ballots, postgraduate degree requirements, foreign national participation in elections, public records exemptions, and personal information protections. Several amendments were discussed, including changes to voting-rights language, county-residency requirements for voter-registration challengers, and a proposal on foreign national certifications; a satirical amendment to the terminology bill referencing “extraterrestrial” was also presented and later withdrawn. After caucus, the committee moved into executive session and took action on four gubernatorial appointments, recommending confirmation for Megan Matthews, Reedy Mukapade, Kiana Daniels, and Gauri Shratria, all subject to signatures. The committee then voted out the bills, generally on unanimous voice votes, sending most to the Rules Committee and several fiscal measures to Ways and Means. Amendments were adopted on HB 1710, HB 1750, HB 1916, and HB 2123, while the amendment to HB 2632 was withdrawn. HB 2574 and HB 2637 were noted as not being moved that day. The chair and members closed by thanking staff for their work and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:27.200><c> employer</c> isn't necessarily an employee employer isn't necessarily an employee
• It also can occur in third-party interactions, and this can be employee to employee, employee to constituent
• It also can occur in third-party interactions, and this can be employee to employee, employee to constituent
• to employee,<00:45:35.520><c> employee</c><00:45:35.920><c> to</c><00:45:36.240><c> constituent,</c>
• employee, employee to constituent, employee, employee to constituent, lobbyist,<00:45:38.000><c> vendor

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• out of the orders of the day: An act establishing a sick leave bank for Akita Gagendra Patel, an employee
• Third reading of the bill: An act establishing a sick leave bank for Akita Gagendra Patel, an employee
• Third reading of the bill: An act establishing a sick leave bank for Akita Gagendra Patel, an employee
• An act establishing a sick leave bank for Gregory Baker, an employee of the Suffolk County Sheriff's
• before the Senate for final passage: an act establishing a sick leave bank for Gregory Baker, an employee

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two congratulatory resolutions recognizing IBEW Local 103’s 125th anniversary and the Town of Tewksbury’s 375th anniversary. It then took up several local and private bills, including a revised charter bill for the City of Somerville and a sick leave bank bill for a Department of Corrections employee, both of which were advanced to engrossment. The chamber also suspended various joint rules to refer several House and Senate petitions to the appropriate committees. During the session, Senator Carr delivered a personal privilege statement reflecting on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and urging unity, compassion, and resolve in the face of division and violence. Later, the Committee on Ways and Means reported favorably on bills updating Nikki’s Law and the MassHealth day habilitation program, allowing fentanyl test strips, and regulating affordable car rentals; the Senate suspended the rules to consider these matters forthwith and ordered the first two to third reading, while adopting a Ways and Means amendment and advancing the car rental bill as amended. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to the Cambridge and Medford charter bills, adopted emergency preambles for two sick leave bank bills, and passed several measures to be enacted, including sick leave bank bills, the Cambridge and Medford charter bills, and a charter bill for the City of Saugus. The chamber adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m., approved a motion to adjourn in memory of the victims of September 11, and observed a moment of silence before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Senate Bill 134 allows a retired member of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System..
• $23 million. ...employees retire early.
• So the OPRS would remain fully funded if 2% of the employees go back, which is the point of the bill:
• So, Representative, is there any particular area or group of state employees that you think this will
• Many of the county employees. County employees, thank you. Are there any other questions?

Summary: The House Finance Committee met for its only meeting in the second half of the 60th legislative session, with the chair briefly turning the gavel over to the vice chair and later thanking members as his final committee meeting. The committee considered several Senate bills, including SB 1832, which adds a checkbox on driver’s licenses and hunting permits for donations to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs; SB 44, extending a sales tax exemption from the person hiring the contractor to the contractor purchasing materials; and SB 134, reducing the required waiting period for certain Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System retirees to be rehired from 12 months to 6 months. Members also heard SB 1378 and SB 1400, both described as recommendation bills tied to tax policy, including updates to the Quality Jobs Act and consolidation of aircraft maintenance/manufacturing sales tax exemptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a former state employee, I think that state employees are the ones interacting with the people every
• As a state employee, I was accountable to everyone I interacted with, and I wanted them to have a good
• experience, despite the fact that we aren't paying state employees... ...everyone I interacted with,
• Despite the fact that we aren't paying state employees what they should be getting paid, when it comes
• So these are the fees that are helping to keep that agency going, to pay state employees.

Bills: SB1142 , SCR1028

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: scholarships, tax credit, education funding, nonprofit organizations, Arizona Revised Statutes, constitutional amendment, state revenue, tax policy, legislative approval, two-thirds vote, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The only thing this does is allow the next level of employees, school employees, to step up and say,
• Okay, so I was asking that because what's your youngest age employee in the pre-K?
• Because you can hire very young employees for pre-K.
• What's your youngest age employee in the pre-K?
• Because you can hire very young employees for pre-K.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and first went into executive session on House Bill 2774, the Jeff Knight bill concerning gas-powered leaf blowers. An amendment was adopted to exempt the city of Clayton, Missouri, allowing it to ban gas-powered leaf blowers if it chooses. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass by 12 yeas and 0 nays. The committee next took up House Bill 2176 by Representative Perkins and voted it do pass by 8 yeas and 4 nays. After that, the committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1730, sponsored by Representative Koslow, which would treat Missouri-made firearm suppressors that remain in-state as outside federal Commerce Clause oversight. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would protect hearing, reduce federal burdens, and not increase crime; members raised concerns about concealment and public safety, but no opposition testimony was offered and the hearing closed. The final public hearing was on House Bill 2504 by Representative Elliott, which would expand who may be designated as school protection officers to include additional school personnel, such as classified staff, if they volunteer, complete required training, and are approved through local school board and state processes. Supporters, including a school superintendent, security trainer, law enforcement officer, and public advocate, said the bill would improve response times in rural districts that cannot afford school resource officers and emphasized the extensive training and vetting already required. Opponents or skeptical members questioned whether adding more armed personnel in schools was the right response to school violence, but no formal opposition testimony was presented before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• These reports must contain the names of all covered employees, wages, number of hours worked, and applicable
• My name is Nicole Gomez with the Washington Federation of State Employees, representing about 55,000
• Katie Durkin from the Washington Federation of State Employees. Please proceed when you're ready.
• This bill expands interest arbitration to correctional employees of city or county jails.
• I think we can all agree that the work that all of our public safety employees, including corrections

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several labor-related bills. On Substitute Senate Bill 5874, staff and Senator McEwen described a proposal to let the Employment Security Department waive penalties for minor quarterly reporting errors by employers, especially inadvertent electronic filing issues involving occupational codes and job titles. No one testified in opposition, and the public hearing was closed. The committee then heard extensive testimony on Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical providers, allow medically appropriate departures from L&I treatment rules, prohibit employers from requiring treatment from a specific provider, and set timelines for utilization review. Supporters, including workers’ advocates and union representatives, said the bill would improve access to care and reduce delays, while business groups opposed it as weakening the provider network and raised concerns about costs and claim duration. L&I said it could implement the bill with a technical fix and noted that the fiscal note was still being updated. A previously adopted claims-manager staffing amendment was discussed but not included in the version heard. On Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5061, the committee heard testimony on requiring public works contracts to update prevailing wage rates annually rather than freezing them at bid time. Labor groups supported the bill as protecting workers from wage erosion on long projects, while contractor groups opposed it unless amended to allow change orders for wage increases above 5 percent, citing unpredictable jumps in prevailing wage rates and added risk for small contractors. L&I requested a delayed effective date to July 1, 2028 because of IT changes. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 5944, which would make missed or canceled appointment payments bargained economic compensation for language access providers, and on Substitute Senate Bill 5972, which would extend interest arbitration rights to correctional employees in city and county jails regardless of county population. Labor groups supported both bills; counties and a city representative opposed 5972 over cost concerns and asked for fiscal safeguards. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6302, which would require L&I to investigate possible misclassification when three or more independent contractors are used for the same type of finishing work on a public works project. Labor and contractor groups both supported the amended version, saying it targets misclassification without banning legitimate independent contractors. The hearing ended after testimony, with no votes or final committee actions taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The only thing this does is allows the next level of employees, school employees, to step up and say,
• Okay, so I was asking that because what's your youngest age employee in the pre-K?
• Because you can hire very young employees for pre-K.
• Because you can hire very young, What's your youngest age employee in the pre-K?
• Because you can hire very young employees for pre-K.

Committee: House General Laws

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I asked the question, where in a patient's room doesn't employee need privacy?
• Cameras can also, this is one thing I haven't heard yet, is that it does advocate for the employee.
• And my mother went against the employee. So the question was asked, how does the first...
• Cameras can also, this is one thing I haven't heard yet, is that it does advocate for the employee.
• And my mother went against the employee. So the question was asked, how does the first... employee.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard HB 103, which would require hospitals and surgical centers to adopt policies using surgical smoke evacuation systems during procedures. Representative Woodson and several nurses and health care advocates testified that surgical smoke contains harmful chemicals and pathogens, poses respiratory risks to operating room staff and patients, and that the bill is needed to protect nurses and address workforce shortages. Members from both parties voiced support, and the bill was reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. The committee then took up HB 223, as amended, which would allow residents of nursing home or assisted living rooms to use fixed cameras, with guardrails on consent, non-rotatable placement, and prohibitions on posting footage online. The sponsor said the measure is intended to help families monitor loved ones and deter abuse or neglect, while supporters from AARP and some caregivers described cameras as tools for accountability and peace of mind. Facility and industry representatives raised concerns about privacy, dignity, roommate consent, and the potential impact on personal care conversations and resident autonomy. After questions and debate, members discussed how consent would work, who could access recordings, and how the bill would handle roommate changes and misuse of footage. The sponsor said the bill would continue to be refined in later committees. HB 223 was reported favorably as amended by a 16-2 vote, with Representatives Campbell and Franklin voting no. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:42.239><c> and</c> contributions from both employees and contributions from both employees
• </c> For example, if we have an employee For example, if we have an employee utilizing<00:23:46.880><
• :24:26.080><c> with</c><00:24:26.320><c> state</c> employees will work directly with state employees
• </c><00:43:16.400><c> for</c> employer and the employee for employer and the employee for intermittent
• </c> employee and an employer. And Mr. employee and an employer. And Mr.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:24.520><c> in</c> the Suitable Seating for Employees in the Suitable Seating for Employees
• He said that when he travels and talks to business people and employees around the state, he does not
• He said that when he travels and talks to business people and employees around the state, he does not
• He said that when he travels and talks to business people and employees around the state, he does not
• In fact, we asked some of the employees<00:20:25.800><c> at</c><00:20:25.960><c> the</c> employees at

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all know last year DES had to lay off 500 employees.
• The headline reads: State of Arizona transitions 500 employees into other positions.
• Right now, the biggest covered employees come from the Department of Corrections.
• However, 26% of the state's employees are in our covered status.
• I just wanted to make sure this applies to all state employees, not just first responders.

Committee: House Government

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so this is our Municipal Employees' Retirement System.
• So Municipal Employees' Retirement System, forgive me, municipal employees retirement system, they have
• They will actually be enrolled in the Parochial Employees' Retirement System.
• I think we have about 428 active employees. I did a quick look.
• I think we have about 428 active employees in this valuation from Lafayette.

Summary: The Public Retirement System Actuarial Committee met on February 23, 2026, approved the December 18, 2025 minutes, and heard actuarial valuation reports and experience studies for several retirement systems. Presenters repeatedly noted strong investment performance, payroll growth, and generally improving funded ratios across the systems, with most plans showing lower minimum recommended employer contribution rates for fiscal 2027. The committee also received explanations of funding deposit accounts, frozen unfunded liabilities in some plans, and how recent legislative changes, including the move to five-year DROP periods in some systems, affected costs and assumptions. For the Clerk of Court, District Attorney, Firefighters, Municipal Employees (Plans A and B), Municipal Police, Registrars of Voters, and Sheriffs systems, the committee reviewed 2025 actuarial evaluations and, where applicable, 2025 experience studies. The actuarial reviewers reported no significant deficiencies and said the valuations were completed in accordance with applicable actuarial standards, generally accepted actuarial practice, and state statutes. The experience studies generally led to modest assumption changes, with some cost decreases from salary, mortality, withdrawal, and asset experience, while some plans saw offsetting increases from retirement or post-DROP behavior. The committee asked a brief question about mortality assumptions and was told the studies use separate male/female and safety/non-safety tables adjusted for Louisiana experience. The committee adopted each valuation and experience study without objection. Key fiscal 2027 minimum recommended employer contribution rates included 14.75% for Clerk of Court, 3.0% for District Attorneys, 25.5% for Firefighters, 20.75% for MERS Plan A, 8.75% for MERS Plan B, 26.5% for Municipal Police, 0% for Registrars of Voters with a $207,683 allocation to the Member Supplemental Savings Fund, and 7.75% for Sheriffs. The committee also recognized DROP crediting rates where applicable and adjourned after completing all agenda items.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't expect anyone, whether they're employees, students, or simply entering a public building, to
• During this turmoil, some impacted employees chose to take a job at the foundation.
• As both union members and education employees, our jobs in higher education are under attack.
• And in my experience, we are all public employees.
• As UML employees, we also have personal ties to the university, the students, staff, and faculty.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several bills. Senator Mike Moore supported S. 2185, which would delay implementation of the heavy-duty omnibus/advanced clean truck requirements while requiring the Commonwealth to purchase or lease electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2025; he argued the delay is needed because infrastructure, grid capacity, vehicle availability, and costs are not yet ready. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2156/H. 3318, which would require free menstrual products in public buildings, with advocates and students describing period poverty and the need to treat menstrual products like other basic restroom supplies. Senator John Keenan testified for S. 2158, a bill to let municipal light plants protect proprietary and competitively sensitive information from public disclosure while keeping board meetings and minutes open, saying it would help level the playing field against larger competitors. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2125/H. 3384, the language access and inclusion bill. Testimony from the AAPI Commission, Mass Speaks coalition members, Mass Appleseed, MLRI, ATASK, MAPC, the Boston Bar Association, Mass Advocates for Children, and others described barriers faced by limited-English-proficient residents in accessing MassHealth, DCF, courts, domestic violence services, schools, and other state services. Witnesses cited untranslated documents, inadequate interpretation, delays, and the burden placed on bilingual staff and children; several also pointed to recent federal moves toward English-only policy as making state action more urgent. Committee members asked questions about implementation, interpreter availability, and the role of technology and remote participation, and the chair noted the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and intended to be again. The committee also heard testimony on time-zone legislation. Dr. Karin Johnson, representing sleep medicine interests, supported H. 3405 for permanent standard time and opposed S. 2157 for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and health, while permanent daylight saving time would worsen morning darkness and sleep disruption. Members questioned the strength of the scientific evidence and discussed school start times, geography, and whether Massachusetts should align with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and testimony continued on additional bills as the session progressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the average length that an employee is staying. In Tier 3, in 2024, it was three years.
• That's the average length that an employee is staying. In Tier 3, in 2024, it was three years.
• It's going to be, I think, five, you know, five from the state, seven from the employee.
• They give a retention bonus based on longevity to employees, so we believe that the money could come
• assistance unit mr. chair mr. clear have you run any Employee Assistance Unit.

Committee: House House Public Safety & Law Enforcement Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several public safety and corrections measures. SB 1161 would prevent $750,000 appropriated to DPS for Yuma County’s Amberly’s Place Family Advocacy Center from lapsing; testimony emphasized that the bill preserves existing funding for crisis response and victim services. The committee also advanced SB 1215, which clarifies the cancer list tied to the occupational disease presumption for firefighters and peace officers and adds retroactivity to June 30, 2021. SB 1270, aimed at retention for Tier 3 corrections employees, would allow optional employer supplemental contributions to defined contribution accounts at specified service intervals, with an amendment capping annual contributions at $5,000 and requiring employer policies; members discussed retention, vesting, and whether the incentive could simply be taken and left after the waiting period. Both SB 1161 and SB 1215 received due pass recommendations, as did SB 1270 after one no vote and several members noting the need for better retention tools. The committee then considered SB 1400, which authorizes law enforcement wellness and crisis response programs and sets confidentiality rules for information shared in those programs. Supporters said the bill would expand access to peer and professional support while preserving public records and misconduct investigation access, but members raised concerns that the privilege language could be too broad for licensed therapists; the sponsor indicated openness to an amendment, and the bill was advanced with members reserving the right to change their votes if the language is not tightened. SB 1538, as a strike-everything amendment, would require workers’ compensation coverage for PTSD treatment for firefighters and peace officers and could include one course of MDMA treatment if federal approval and DEA rescheduling occur by the stated deadline. Supporters described promising clinical trial results and argued the bill is a conditional authorization, while counties opposed the mandate and raised cost concerns; after debate over whether the bill is permissive or mandatory, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and gave the bill a due pass recommendation. The committee also passed SB 1537, which renames the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund as the Public Safety De-escalation and Life Safety Fund and repeals the advisory commission. Supporters said the new name better reflects the fund’s use for de-escalation and less-lethal equipment, while some members opposed the change and preferred the money be used for raises. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1580, which would appropriate funds for fire incident management support hardware and software and, under a chairman’s amendment, redirect money from the Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund to additional public safety technology and retention/recruitment purposes; testimony focused on regional data-sharing systems and the need for accountability and clarity on how the funds would be spent.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for state employees for state employees so<00:37:28.480><c> that</c><00:37:28.800><c> they</c><00
• Um, and we're also—it's limited to classified employees, and so we're expanding it to all state employees
• I'm particularly for our state employees who are not in the classified service.
• I'm particularly for our state employees who are not in the classified service.
• > protection</c><00:41:44.600><c> when</c> that employees receive protection when that employees receive

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of how this translates to individual employees, this provides each of the employees up to $500
• I have been signed, I am my previous employees or employers.
• We urge you to side with our employees and their employees and oppose this misguided legislation, which
• For our members, their employees, and their employees’ families, and personally, my family as well, I
• For our members, their employees, and their employees’ families, and personally, my family as well, I

Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Keywords: higher education, Nevada System of Higher Education, operational expenses, instructional expenses, public funding, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel, civics education, Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, funding, youth programs, civic involvement, Southern Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas Valley, regional planning, economic resiliency

Transcript Highlights:

• entry-level employees.
• entry-level employees.
• entry-level employees.
• entry-level employees.
• There are back-of-the-house employees. We have more long-term employees.

Keywords: 1183, house