Transcript Highlights:

• In cases where taxpayers prevail, the county is required to pay interest on overpaid taxes, which now
• These policies have led to the migration of high-wage jobs, vendor spending, and related economic activity
• We've lost more than 4,400 jobs, more than $507 million in wages. City of Burbank.
• We've lost more than 4,400 jobs, more than $507 million in wages.
• We've lost more than 4,400 jobs, more than $507 million in wages.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Study by the North Star Prosperity Project is estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in lost wages
• c><00:02:08.479><c> dollars</c><00:02:08.920><c> in</c><00:02:09.000><c> lost</c><00:02:09.280><c> wages
• </c> millions of dollars in lost wages. millions of dollars in lost wages.
• residents just in the city of Minneapolis in immediate need of food assistance. $47 million in lost wages
• With a vote of six ayes, seven nays, the motion does not prevail, and the bill is not re-referred to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• it's addressed that way, would full endowment funding from the state stabilize tribal rural library wages
• Would you be able to do so at a living wage if that were the case? Madam Chair.
• Librarians not earning a living wage, and especially library directors who manage facilities, develop
• And paying someone a living wage is absolutely something that has to occur across the board anyway.
• wages, addressing our need for electricity, LIDA allowances, et cetera.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs to other electric ratepayers; and the use of project labor agreements and compliance with prevailing
• wage requirements.
• costs to other electric ratepayers, and the use of project labor agreements and compliance with prevailing
• wage requirements.
• economic opportunity and a stable pipeline of high-road green careers that provide family-sustaining wages

Summary: The committee heard SB 872, which would direct $150 million annually each for Central Valley subsidence repairs and Delta levee work. Senator McNerney and supporters from Restore the Delta, the State Water Contractors, and many water agencies, labor groups, environmental organizations, and local governments argued the bill is urgent to protect water delivery for 27 million Californians, safeguard levees and state assets, and address climate-related flood risks. There was no opposition testimony, and members asked about the bill’s focus on state-owned conveyance; the author said the distinction reflects the separate state and federal water projects. The bill was held while the committee lacked a quorum, with no vote taken at that point. The committee then heard SB 981, which would require CARB to include cost-of-living impacts in its existing regulatory analysis for major rules. Senator Niello and supporters from agriculture, manufacturing, business, propane, restaurants, and commercial property groups said the bill would improve transparency about how regulations affect gasoline, electricity, food, housing, and business costs. Opponents, including Coalition for Clean Air and the Union of Concerned Scientists, argued it would add delay, cost, and redundant analysis to CARB rulemaking and could not reliably measure the effects the bill seeks to capture. Committee members raised concerns that CARB already estimates costs, that the bill is burdensome and narrow, and that it does not fully account for benefits or the role of other agencies. No vote was recorded in the transcript. SB 887, by Senator Padilla, would require data center projects to undergo CEQA review while creating a streamlined path for projects meeting strong environmental, labor, and community-benefit criteria, including zero-carbon electricity, on-site storage, recycled water or water-efficient cooling, and full cost responsibility for grid upgrades. Supporters said data centers are rapidly expanding, can strain energy and water resources, and should be held to clear standards while still allowing beneficial development; labor and environmental groups backed the measure. Opponents from the Data Center Coalition, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and business groups said the bill is overly prescriptive, discriminatory toward one industry, and could drive investment and jobs out of state. After discussion, the committee established a quorum and voted 3-1 to pass SB 887 as amended to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee, with the bill kept on call. The committee also heard SB 1008, which would renew a CEQA exemption for the closure of at-grade rail crossings ordered by the California Public Utilities Commission. Senator Ochoa Bogh and Union Pacific testified that the measure would help the state act quickly on rail safety by removing redundant environmental review for crossing closures, while still requiring collaboration with local jurisdictions and the PUC. There was support from railroad and business representatives and no opposition. The committee voted 4-0 to pass SB 1008 to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee, and the bill was kept on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs to other electric ratepayers, and the use of project labor agreements and compliance with prevailing
• wage requirements.
• costs to other electric ratepayers, and the use of project labor agreements and compliance with prevailing
• wage requirements.
• economic opportunity and a stable pipeline of high-road green careers that provide family-sustaining wages

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails.
• The motion prevails.
• The secretary will give House prevails.
• The motion prevails.
• </c> wage and overtime requirements. wage and overtime requirements.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that workers lose about $2 billion in wages to wage theft every year.
• Just pose that question because we have such a crisis in wage theft in the state, and we want to make
• wage databases and building.
• And so I'm here to please don't take our wages away. Thank you. Hi, Carrie Riplinger.
• not be cut at all and only our wages.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The DOC is also required to make certain deductions from an inmate's wages, gratuities, and worker comp
• As you heard from the great staff presentation, wages and family contributions go into an account that
• in the prison setting, that makes it hard for people to provide essential products, especially when wages
• Yes, and that's where the language in subsection 1, if I recall, still prevails.
• ... ...because to the public, this could appear as if the agency is waging a campaign to challenge the

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2508, concerning the Office of Independent Investigations (OII), would expand OII’s jurisdiction over deadly-force and related use-of-force incidents, require broader notification and records access from law enforcement and emergency responders, and exempt certain OII investigative records from public disclosure. Rep. Deborah Entenman and OII staff supported the bill as a way to improve independent, transparent investigations, while committee members raised questions about when cases are considered “closed” and how to protect against repeated or harassing investigations. OII representatives said formal reviews are referred to prosecutors, administrative closures are not, and the bill would clarify existing public records protections. Law enforcement and public-interest witnesses were split, with some supporting the expansion and others objecting to added secrecy provisions and questioning safeguards and oversight. House Bill 2539, as amended by a proposed substitute, would raise the Department of Corrections inmate indigency cap from $25 to $100 so incarcerated people can retain more money for hygiene and basic necessities before deductions are taken. Rep. Chappala Street said the change would help people buy essential items and reduce conflict, while incarcerated witnesses and advocates testified that current deductions leave too little for basic needs and place burdens on families. A committee member questioned whether DOC already provides those items, and Street and supporters responded that provided items are often low quality or insufficient. No vote was taken. House Bill 2490 would expand extraordinary medical placement for incarcerated people with serious, chronic, or terminal conditions, extending the expected life-expectancy threshold from six months to approximately 18 months and adding clearer DOC review criteria and appeal rights. The prime sponsor and supporters argued the bill would improve humane care, reduce costs, and allow more people to receive treatment in the community when they no longer pose a public-safety risk. DOC said the revised language would reduce legal concerns and allow more time to develop safe placement plans, while opponents of the current system said EMP is underused and people die waiting for decisions. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2387, which would tie certain sheriff decertification actions to recall procedures and preserve an elected sheriff’s office unless voters remove them. Supporters, including the sponsor and several sheriffs, said the bill protects voter control and local accountability; opponents, including civil rights and immigrant-rights groups, argued it weakens certification standards, creates unequal accountability for sheriffs, and improperly uses recall-like consequences through statute rather than constitutional process. The chair indicated the committee intended to act on House Bill 2508 the following Monday, February 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the floor, we are joined by representatives of two of the wineries that were tasted and that prevailed
• Nonprofits are the third-largest employers by wages among the key industries in California.
• Nonprofits are the third-largest employers by wages among the key industries in California.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered a Memorial Day prayer, and welcomed a third-grade class from Sacred Heart Parish School to the chamber. Members then handled several procedural motions, including suspending a joint rule to allow budget subcommittees to meet during blackout period and removing certain bills from inactive or consent files. The chamber confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments, including Nicholas Mueller to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, Arthur Krantz to the Public Employment Relations Board, Chris Ferguson to the California Student Aid Commission, and Brian Haynes to the same commission. The Senate also adopted several resolutions, including SR 102 recognizing National Safe Boating Week, SCR 172 proclaiming Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, SCR 177 declaring World No Tobacco Day, SR 107 for Lupus Awareness Month, and SR 115 marking the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris in California wine history. On third reading, the Senate passed a series of bills on topics including beverage container recycling fees (SB 1341), school employee misconduct procedures (SB 1083), wildfire preparedness for water suppliers (SB 1153), insurance cost-sharing accounting (SB 1199), nonprofit government liaison services (SB 1240), energy coordination and fuel supply planning (SB 1337), language access in elections (SB 1360), gaming fee transparency (SB 920), mental health evaluation in Care Court-related cases (SB 1016), reckless driving penalties (SB 1198), greenhouse gas reporting for subsidized medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (SB 1213), the Go Green financing program (SB 1265), repossession transport interference (SB 1338), and wildlife coexistence (SB 1135). Most measures passed on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 920 passed 28-1, SB 1265 passed 26-5, and SB 1135 passed with two no votes. The session concluded with a Veterans Caucus adjournment-in-memory ceremony honoring 82 fallen service members, followed by adjournment until the next scheduled floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails, and the minutes are adopted.
• I'm really more interested in whether we underestimated the amount of staff needed, the wages that were
• afford to hire qualified staff and instead feel like the only people who are willing to work for our wages
• This is not good because it will directly affect teacher wages and benefits going backward. Ms.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• the hiring process in terms of the contract with people you hire, in terms of making sure there's prevailing
• wage on these jobs and that sort of thing?
• In Missouri, an employee working a minimum-wage job at $13.75 an hour would have to work 52 hours each
• And by the way, it's $15 now, the minimum wage. It was $13.75 last year. Excuse me for that year.
• So someone who's earning a minimum wage would not be able to afford these houses. Is that correct?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bit about the hiring process in terms of the contract with people you hire, making sure there's prevailing
• wage on these jobs and that sort of thing?
• In Missouri, an employee working a minimum-wage job at $13.75 an hour would have to work 52 hours each
• And by the way, it's $15 now, the minimum wage. It was $13.75 last year. Excuse me for that year.
• So someone who's earning a minimum wage would not be able to afford these houses. Is that correct?

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development met in executive session and first approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2151 by a vote of 11-0. The substitute removed CPI language so the measure would not allow a year-over-year increase, and the committee then voted the bill do pass. The committee then heard House Bill 2474, which would add progressive design-build as another procurement option for municipalities and other local political subdivisions. The sponsor and supporters said it would give local governments more flexibility, speed, and cost control on major projects by allowing a collaborative, multi-stage process before final pricing is set; no one testified in opposition, and the hearing was closed without a vote. The committee next heard House Bill 2693, a port authority bill that the sponsor described as clarifying port authority creation, districts, operations, and partnerships while preserving limits on state liability. Testimony from Port KC and the Missouri Port Authority Association focused on public safety needs, including authority for port rangers with arrest powers in Kansas City’s port district, board appointment and removal provisions, and the need to keep ports competitive for development. Questions also touched on labor standards, housing authority funding, and whether the bill affected data centers; the hearing ended without opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1716, which would create a Department of Economic Development grant program for rural workforce housing through nonprofit regional partners. The sponsor and Northeast Missouri witnesses said the program is already working in northeast Missouri through a revolving fund, with homes built and sold at cost to help attract and retain workers such as teachers, nurses, and tradespeople; supporters from housing, business, utility, and economic development groups backed the bill, while one witness opposed government involvement in housing. Committee members questioned eligibility, nonprofit-only administration, local contractor use, affordability, and whether the program could crowd out private builders. The sponsor said an amendment would be needed before a vote, and the committee adjourned after the hearing without taking final action on HB 1716 or HB 2693.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. If you're testifying, please make sure to limit your testimony to two minutes.
• credits, a tool that's already helping Texas attract investment, drive innovation, and support high-wage

Bills: SB263, SB467, SB850, SB1030, SB1352, SB1453, SB2064, SB2206, SB2779, SJR84

Keywords: SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction, margin tax, Texas Tax Code, depreciation, amortization, broadcast rights

Transcript Highlights:

• There be 11 ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
• There being 12 hours and 0 days, the motion prevails.
• They've been loving eyes and one day the emotion prevails.
• There'll be 12 hours and 0 days, the motion prevails.
• Living 12 hours, 0 nays, the motion prevails. me. 5 3250. Darby though, yeah.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> collectors, wage garnishment, etc. collectors, wage garnishment, etc.
• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted.
• </c><02:11:15.840><c> Motion</c><02:11:16.280><c> prevails.</c> Opposed. No. Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted.
• Motion prevails. The amendment is adopted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails.
• Motion prevails.
• &gt;&gt; Motion<02:54:13.120><c> prevails.</c> &gt;&gt; Motion prevails. &gt;&gt; Motion prevails.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> because we don't pay the prevailing because we don't pay the prevailing wage.<01:54:57.040><c> If
• ,</c> pay prevailing wage for these trades, pay prevailing wage for these trades, but<02:35:08.319><c
• But maybe if we pay what the others are paying, prevailing wage, we could hire these people.
• But maybe if we pay what the others are paying, prevailing wage, we could hire these people.
• But maybe if we pay what the others are paying, prevailing wage, we could hire these people.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• preferential rates for the purchase of firm renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing
• wage requirements, requires the PUC to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for
• <02:24:55.840><c> wage</c><02:24:56.160><c> requirements</c><02:24:56.840><c> requires</c> prevailing
• wage requirements requires prevailing wage requirements requires the<02:24:57.680><c> Pu</c><02:24:58.680
• wages and use of registered apprenticeships.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard testimony on Senate Bill 897, which would create a Wildlife Liability Trust Fund within DCCA for administrative purposes. The chair opened by noting the hearing had to end by noon because of floor session, and that written testimony would be considered if not all witnesses could speak. Testimony included support from DCCA, the Attorney General’s office, the Public Utilities Commission, Charter Communications, Ulupono Initiative, AES Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Clearway Energy Group, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaiian Telcom, and IBW Local 1260, with opposition or concerns from the Hawaii Association for Justice and some others. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill and asked for amendments, saying the fund would help address wildfire liability, protect customers and the economy, and support restoration of investment-grade credit; it also proposed a larger shareholder contribution and said the bill was part of a broader effort to raise settlement funds and improve grid safety and resiliency. Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would actually lower costs for ratepayers and improve credit ratings. DCCA said there was a nexus between limiting liability, creating a sufficiently large wildfire fund, and transparent mitigation requirements, but acknowledged there was no guarantee of a credit-rating improvement or precise estimate of rate impacts. Members questioned Hawaiian Electric about the assumptions in its cost comparisons, the 30-year securitization structure, and whether funding could be shifted later to shareholders after credit was restored. Hawaiian Electric responded that the bill assumes the fund is paid through securitization, that removing that presumption could undermine the credit-rating benefit, and that its models suggest credit-spread savings could offset the customer charge over time; it also said it would follow up with additional analysis. The company and Ulupono both described the measure as a difficult but potentially necessary way to socialize wildfire risk and avoid a larger crisis later. The Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the bill’s liability caps and raised concerns about consumer rights, oversight discretion, statute-of-limitations changes, and evidence rules. Hawaiian Telcom suggested amendments to clarify compliance with FCC pole-attachment agreements. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and members indicated they wanted more analysis before being comfortable with the bill’s long-term ratepayer impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• The good news is that the will of the people has prevailed.
• I introduced a resolution uh prevailed.
• </c><02:30:55.359><c> an</c> to the debt to continue waging an to the debt to continue waging an endless
• By the way, wages are up.
• </c><03:08:23.120><c> the</c> Trump's choice choice to wage the Trump's choice choice to wage the illegal

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• they are fixing these gas leaks, they would have to do so under the state's bid laws and pay the prevailing
• wage if they are not doing that work with their own workforce.
• ensure that the workers who are doing this work are properly trained and properly paid by using the prevailing
• wage order to make sure that the work is being done in a way that's going to be safe and also provide

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.