Transcript Highlights:

• statute changes, deleting sections that allow for longer temporary and emergency appointments of employees
• recommended, and the DE2 would change the name of the commissioner's plan to the Non-Represented Employees
• temporary and emergency<00:03:41.280><c> appointments</c><00:03:41.879><c> of</c><00:03:42.040><c> employees
• </c><00:03:42.519><c> in</c> emergency appointments of employees in emergency appointments of employees
• </c><00:03:55.239><c> Compensation</c> non-represented employees Compensation non-represented employees

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee considered House File 1837 and first adopted the A6 amendment to the DE2. Staff explained that the A6 made several technical and policy changes, including fixes to compensation council language, grants management changes drawn from prior legislation and the governor’s fraud package, clarifying revisions to state contracting language, revival of the 2025 compensation council so it could address judicial salaries in 2026, changes requested by Minnesota Management and Budget to personnel management statutes, and a conforming change renaming the commissioner’s plan to the Non-Represented Employees Compensation Plan. After discussion, the committee adopted the DE2 as amended to House File 1837. Members and the chair described the bill as a bipartisan policy package reflecting work from both sides of the aisle. No opposition was recorded on the final motion. The committee then voted to re-refer House File 1837, as amended, to the General Register. The motion carried by voice vote, and the bill was reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, also testimony in support from NFIB and the Hawaii Government Employees Association.
• also testimony in support from the University of Hawaii system, NFIB, and the Hawaii Government Employees
• c> Association</c><00:21:47.679><c> that's</c><00:21:47.840><c> all</c><00:21:48.000><c> the</c> employees
• Association that's all the employees Association that's all the written<00:21:48.400><c> testimony</
• </c><00:22:40.960><c> Association</c> Hawaii government employees Association Hawaii government employees

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But to say that my amendment of having a commission of state employees coming together to talk about
• But to say that my amendment of having a commission of state employees coming together to talk about
• But to say that my amendment of having a commission of state employees coming together to talk about
• The folks who will be statewide employees will also be within, focused 100% on MDE issues.
• </c> inspector general staff become employees inspector general staff become employees of<01:19:45.679

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> employing more than 23,000 employees employing more than 23,000 employees with<00:54:11.200><c>
• <02:33:01.439><c> critical</c> displace employees and disrupt critical displace employees and disrupt
• He was a special government employee. DOGE employees continue to remain today.
• </c> employee would be allowed to have. employee would be allowed to have.
• Uh hundreds of federal employees.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 5, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The CalHR Benefits Division administers benefits for state employees and retirees.
• Today I will discuss our dental benefits program, which covers over 600,000 employees, retirees, and
• The CalHR Benefits Division administers benefits for state employees and retirees.
• There will be a total of eight different plan options for employees and retirees to choose from.
• But I think it is good information for the state's employees to have.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to hear new audit requests and receive a status update from the State Auditor. The auditor reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, noted that all 2025-approved audits are underway, said the first 2026 audit is focused on DMV license revocations, and described several statutory and high-risk audits already in progress. The committee also approved a consent calendar of four audit requests: UC library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. The committee then considered Assembly Member DeMaio’s audit request on SANDAG road project management. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to examine whether transportation funds, including voter-approved and restricted revenues, were used for allowable purposes and whether past management failures warranted outside review. SANDAG’s CEO and CFO said the agency already undergoes extensive oversight and audits, that funds are tracked by multiple “colors of money,” and that internal controls have improved. Several members questioned whether the issues were already addressed in public records or existing audits, and the request failed on a roll call vote. Next, Senator Valadares presented an audit of the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration, arguing that more transparency is needed on outcomes, recidivism data, and oversight of grantees. The BSCC said it already has oversight mechanisms, that the State Controller conducts biennial audits, and that program data shows positive outcomes. The committee approved the audit unanimously. Senator Cortese then presented an audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and Delta Dental contract, citing long-standing benefit caps, provider network concerns, and retiree out-of-pocket costs. CalHR said its network remains strong, that it recently completed an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier starting in 2027, and that contracts include performance guarantees. Members from both parties expressed concern about access and competition, and the audit was approved unanimously. The committee then completed add-on votes on the consent calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly thank the Senator for bringing this to the committee for state retirees and state employees
• The CalHR Benefits Division administers benefits for state employees and retirees.
• The CalHR Benefits Division administers benefits for state employees and retirees.
• There will be a total of eight different plan options for employees and retirees to choose from.
• But I think it is good information for the state's employees to have.

Committee: House Joint Legislative Audit

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 500 employees who are doing nothing but re-evaluations for Medicaid.
• And it frustrates me that we're not looking at ways to reduce, go from 500 employees to 300 employees
• And the only way we find that out is to take some of our employees that are within the department and
• and $14,220 for part-time employees.
• Somebody brought up the cost of state insurance for employees.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and then introduced RS 33180, the Prior Authorization Reform Act, sponsored by Representative Wheeler. Wheeler said the bill would set enforceable standards for insurer prior authorization, including public disclosure of criteria, electronic processes, decision timelines, specialty-appropriate reviews, and protections against retroactive denials. Members raised questions about whether the bill’s physician language could exclude advanced practice providers, and Wheeler said that language may need to be revisited before a full hearing. The bulk of the meeting was a wide-ranging budget discussion ahead of Health and Welfare’s budget presentation. Members debated possible Medicaid and department savings, including trimming optional services, reducing provider reimbursement cuts, using reserves, delaying or renegotiating contracts, expanding audits, and improving department efficiency. Several members argued against cutting disability, home- and community-based, and other vulnerable-population services, while others supported looking at Medicaid expansion, ResHab, and administrative overhead as places to find savings. There was also discussion of hospital rate reductions, work requirements, improper payments, and the use of Millennium Fund dollars. Representative Kaler presented specific ideas for the youth safety and permanency budget, including repealing the extended foster care expansion if participation remains low, reducing FTEs, and moderating benefit increases. Other members emphasized the need for evidence-based budgeting and stronger oversight of contracts and program integrity. No budget votes were taken; the committee mainly gathered ideas and directed members to provide more detailed numbers before the Health and Welfare budget hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have basically on line 389 is to implement and oversee an employee child care tuition assistance
• care tuition an employee child care tuition assistance<00:02:50.239><c> partnership</c><00:02:51.040
• These employees are open jobs right now.
• </c><00:10:11.120><c> Indexing</c><00:10:11.760><c> also</c> find enough employees.
• Indexing also find enough employees.

Committee: Joint Economic and Workforce Development

Keywords: Economic and Workforce Development - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 9:45 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The prohibition on those employees within the office of egg policy being able to apply for grants or
• loans was extended onto the members, employees there within the Department of Agriculture.
• The employees there of the Department of Agriculture will be able to apply for loans and grants there
• The employees there of the Department of Agriculture will be able to apply for loans and grants there
• Yates, aye. to Merit employees correct in the Merit to Merit employees correct in the Merit system<00

Keywords: 00:00 – Introduction 00:45 – Attendance Roll Call 02:09 – House Bill 216 03:15 – Roll Call Vote 04:06 – Senate Bill 122 05:42 – Roll Call Vote 08:43 – House Bill 391 17:25 – Roll Call Vote, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. The committee first considered House Bill 216, which would correct a conflict created when an office was moved into the Department of Agriculture by restoring grant and loan eligibility for Department of Agriculture employees while keeping the prohibition in place for employees of the office of policy. The bill was approved unanimously and sent on to the Senate floor. The committee then revisited Senate Bill 122 after concerns from the prior meeting. Members adopted a committee substitute that clarified local governments may regulate the covered businesses but not ban them outright, and that fines and fees go back to the local authorities doing the regulating. During final consideration, Senator Deneen, Senator Reed, and Senator Richardson voted no, citing concerns about enforcement, inspection, and potential bad actors, while Senator Webb supported the bill as a needed regulatory scheme. The motion passed and the bill advanced. House Bill 391, dealing with Kentucky honey production, was also approved. Representative Jason Nemes and industry witnesses said the bill would raise the threshold for requiring a certified honey house from 150 gallons to 500 gallons, add language requiring “pure and unadulterated” Kentucky-produced honey, and support local beekeepers without creating additional public health risk. Members discussed whether the limit should be removed entirely, the cost of honey houses, and concerns about imported or adulterated honey. The committee passed the bill to the Senate floor. Senator Yates later registered a no vote on Senate Bill 122 and yes votes on House Bill 216 and Senate Bill 171, though Senate Bill 171 was passed over for further work and not heard that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or charter was already paying for more of their employees' premiums before.
• Or are they really bus district, for instance, bus district employees or bus company employees and not
• district employees?
• So, again, creating that 80-20 employee share for all public school employees.
• Not every employee has to receive that training.

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and how well BHA trained their employees and how well BHA trained their employees to<00:04:03.760
• :20.959><c> that</c><00:15:21.199><c> they</c> Many employees who indicated that they Many employees
• </c> lot of money at this as the employees lot of money at this as the employees that<00:30:15.919><c
• </c> hired state employees to do that work. hired state employees to do that work.
• </c> on the organization, not the employee. on the organization, not the employee.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• feel, have felt that there's not a lot of clear direction and engagement provided to the staff, the employees
• The members of the committee aren't employees of the joint committee; only the employees work for the
• sure she could give us many—of when it would be applicable, but already in statute right now, her employees
• it than that, but I just have a question, I guess, on whether it is appropriate for nonpartisan employees
• But if we need to add some section saying all employees of the joint committee shall be nonpartisan,

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rather than having an employee trying to meet the criteria and looking for jobs—maybe the job that's
• My vision is not to fight against UI, but to give employees the opportunity not to file for it from the
• I understand that's not perfect, and there are scenarios where schools or employees may not fit a job
• They're the only employees in the state that work more than three months who weren't allowed to apply
• Districts said they thought 100% of their employees would. The fiscal notes said... deeds had 50%.

Bills: HF1049

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: school library aid, education finance, school districts, charter schools, funding eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• And last clarifying itself, reports are not admissions of guilt and cannot be used against the employee
• All this bill says is that the charter school can prioritize enrollment for the children of employees
• It's important in this bill provides that the that the students who are the children of employees of
• School employees will be responsible for storage and maintenance of the glucagon at the school.
• Is it the school employee are? We're really identify the school nurse.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• whether DHHS is aware that this policy is not being enforced and not being done with contractors or employees
• </c><00:46:40.079><c> So</c><00:46:40.319><c> So</c><00:46:40.480><c> if</c> employees within the agency
• So So if employees within the agency.
• </c><04:11:19.120><c> left</c><04:11:19.439><c> for</c> freeze if there if employees left for freeze
• if there if employees left for some<04:11:19.920><c> reason</c><04:11:20.640><c> there</c><04:11:20.920

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in Division 3 work session on HB 2 and began by noting a delayed start to allow the Legislative Budget Assistant to finish a large packet of updated amendments and revisions. The chair said the goal for the day was to move as many items as possible, with any cleanup deferred to a Friday follow-up. Members also discussed the process for handling public and department testimony on selected items before votes. Several early amendments were taken up and voted on. The committee unanimously recommended items dealing with repealing the liquor transfer to the alcohol fund and redirecting liquor-related revenue to the general fund, and it also approved an amendment revising Granite Advantage funding so there would be no automatic transfer from the liquor fund, instead using a general fund appropriation. Members then approved repealing the foster grandparent program by a 5-4 vote, and later approved an amendment requiring DHS contractors to comply with the patients’ bill of rights by a 9-0 vote. The committee also approved incorporating House Bill 94 on Medicaid coverage of circumcision by a 5-4 vote, while deferring the Wick Farmers Market Nutrition Program repeal for more discussion. The committee spent substantial time on the youth risk behavior survey amendment. Supporters said the change was intended to clarify opt-out procedures and ensure parents, guardians, and students are clearly notified that they may opt out without negative consequences. Some members raised privacy concerns and said the language could add administrative burden, but the amendment was ultimately recommended to Finance by a recorded vote of 8-1. Another amendment on civil rights and contractor standards for DHHS was discussed but not voted on after concerns were raised about vague enforcement language and possible penalties. The committee also struck amendment 1026 as redundant, with members noting related work in existing law and Senate Bill 134, and then moved on to other items, including a revised equity/access-related amendment that was postponed for later discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• As service providers, the needs of our customers and families, as well as our employees, are our top
• Let's set high standards to protect customers and our employees.
• , guaranteed overtime pay, conduct proper reporting, and do background checks on employees.
• Customers and our employees, let's expose the bad actors that abuse the system for their own gain.
• , guaranteed overtime pay, conduct proper reporting, and doing background checks on employees.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging and Independence held a hearing on several bills, led by Chair Tom Stanley and Senate Chair Patricia Jehlen. The committee first heard testimony on H. 765/S. 487, an act relative to councils on aging, which would update outdated statutory language and allow directors of councils on aging to make staffing decisions when a council is structured as an advisory body. Representative Donahue and Betsy Connell of the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging said the change reflects how most councils now operate and would resolve conflicts like the one that arose in Sherborn. Members asked about whether the bill would affect town managers, volunteer roles, and whether the language should more clearly exempt informal volunteer help; supporters said the bill is aimed at municipal staffing structures, not unpaid volunteer assistance. The committee then took extensive testimony on H. 789/S. 470, an act to improve Massachusetts home care, which would create a statewide licensure system for non-medical home care agencies and entities. Julie Watt, Jay Krillovich, Betsy Krimmins, Lisa Gargoni, Tim Foley, and several providers and advocates supported the bill, arguing that licensure would establish baseline standards for background checks, training, service plans, insurance, complaint procedures, and labor-law compliance, while helping consumers identify legitimate providers and reducing fraud and abuse. Several witnesses described problems with unlicensed or poorly supervised providers, and family members and dementia advocates emphasized the need for dementia-specific training and better oversight for vulnerable clients. Tim Foley also raised concerns about private equity’s growing role in home care and said stronger regulation is needed to protect consumers and workers. Committee members focused on practical questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach informal paid helpers, volunteers, or people doing occasional household tasks, and what agency would enforce the rules. Supporters said the bill is intended to cover entities advertising home care services, not unpaid volunteer help, though they acknowledged regulators would need to work out details. John Sneeth of Tribute Home Care offered a more cautious view, saying licensure should not unduly burden smaller providers or reduce competition, and that enforcement would be key. The hearing also included testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and family caregivers, who strongly supported the bill’s dementia-training provisions and described how trained caregivers improved safety and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. At the end of the hearing, the committee also heard support for H. 778/S. 473, regarding the Commission on LGBTQ Aging, with Lisa Krinsky urging funding for a full-time director and continued support for the commission’s strategic plan. After public testimony concluded, the committee adjourned the hearing by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• before a school conducts its own investigation, and it also protects the confidentiality of the employee
• It conducts its own investigation, and it also protects confidentiality of the employee.
• Bremerton School District, that they made clear that personal religious expression by public employees
• Senate Bill 1204 will provide three days of bereavement leave for education employees for the loss of
• a spouse or child, for education employees for the loss of a spouse or child, including miscarriage.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee considered a long agenda of education-related bills, with most measures receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Early actions included passage of SB 843, which allows certain rural schools with low average daily membership to hire teachers related to board members in the second degree, and SB 1733, which requires schools to report child sexual abuse allegations to law enforcement within 24 hours before conducting their own investigation. The committee also advanced SB 1476, a Commissioners of the Land Office cleanup bill that makes land exchange approvals permissive, updates terminology, and expands permanent school fund investment options to include private equity and private credit; members questioned CLO staff about appraisals, notices, ethics, and audits before voting it out 11-0. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 1237, the Teacher Bill of Rights, which would codify various teacher protections involving religious expression, discipline, planning time, workplace safety, and due process. Senators raised extensive questions about religious symbols, prayer, Bible use, classroom discipline, and whether some provisions were already in law; the author said the bill was intended to protect teachers and improve recruitment and retention. Despite concerns that some language was vague or duplicative, the bill passed 7-4. The committee also passed SB 1410 to codify the Ag in the Classroom program after deleting a section that would have increased a license plate fee, and SB 1894, which would remove the five-year cap on professional development hours for certain teacher training, though the title was struck for further work. Later, the committee approved SB 1272 to raise the income cap for the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant, SB 1204 to provide three days of bereavement leave for education employees after the loss of a spouse or child, including miscarriage, and SB 1721 to extend the sunset of the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education. It also passed SB 1725 on higher-education expressive activity and free speech training, SB 1735 giving CareerTech sole authority over its accreditation, SB 1337 establishing paid paternity leave for education employees, SB 1339 codifying funding for the 2023 teacher pay raise for off-formula districts, SB 1461 extending the OETA sunset to 2031, and SB 1975 centralizing notice of AP testing locations. Several bills drew brief discussion about fiscal impact, local control, and retention benefits, and the committee adjourned after noting one agenda item had been laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• It shall read uh any<00:33:38.640><c> employee</c><00:33:39.039><c> who</c><00:33:39.200><c> is</c><00
• who is a member of an any employee who is a member of an appropriate<00:33:40.640><c> bargaining</c>
• So, Senate Bill 336, House Draft 1, relating to defense of state employees.
• </c> 1, relative defense of state employees. 1, relative defense of state employees.
• </c><00:35:20.560><c> performing</c> certain public uh employees performing certain public uh employees

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the bill they are specifically not employees of the university.
• The problem is, when a student athlete engages in things that make them appear to be an employee, at
• some point the law finds them to be an employee of the university.
• of the university. what will be left to distinguish that person from an employee?
• The cascading effect of those things can be to create an employee-employer relationship. between that

Bills: HJR5 , HB39 , HB 102 , HB 126 , HB290 , HB300 , HB1330 , HB2110 , HB2143 , HCR64 , HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• It will provide state-covered insurance for employees who are undergoing medical treatment for cancer
• While employee contributions have remained largely unchanged for the past decade, employer...
• Employee contributions have remained largely unchanged.
• I heard it also from other employees. Very much. May I ask a clarifying question? Please.
• or UF employee, throwing him 18 feet in the air onto the concrete.

Summary: The Budget Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills. HB 677, relating to state-covered fertility preservation for employees undergoing cancer treatment, was introduced as coverage for egg and sperm preservation for up to three years, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $813,000. After brief questions and no public testimony or amendments, the bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS/HB 59, which would reform Florida’s wrongful incarceration compensation process by extending the filing deadline from 90 days to two years, removing the clean-hands requirement, and allowing exonerees to choose between the state compensation process and a civil lawsuit; it was supported by the City of Flagler Beach and passed unanimously. CS/HB 1313, which recreates the Resilient Florida Trust Fund in the Department of Environmental Protection before its scheduled termination in 2025, also passed unanimously after supportive testimony from advocacy groups. The committee received a lengthy presentation from the Department of Management Services on the State Group Insurance Program and the recent Revenue Estimating Conference. The presentation covered enrollment, revenues and expenditures, rising medical and pharmacy costs, emergency room utilization, GLP-1 drug spending, and options for tighter formulary and utilization management. Members asked about ER cost growth, GLP-1 coverage and copays, PBM oversight and potential conflicts, avoidable ER visits, cancer screening claims, dental and vision costs, specialty drug biosimilars, and possible savings from more restrictive pharmacy models. DMS said it would follow up on several questions and noted ongoing work on cancer coordination, preventive screening, biomarker testing, and a proposed member-facing benefits platform. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 301, which would raise sovereign immunity caps from $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident to $1 million and $3 million, align limitations periods with private claims, and allow government entities to settle above the caps without a claims bill. Local governments, school-related entities, and county and city associations opposed the bill, warning of major fiscal impacts, higher insurance costs, and pressure on services; several speakers urged smaller increases or a tiered approach. Proponents, including families affected by catastrophic injury or death, argued the current caps are too low and the claims bill process is inefficient and unfair. After debate, the bill passed on a recorded vote, with some members voting no, and was reported favorably.