Transcript Highlights:

• to better prioritize policy changes, which is especially important this year given the projected budget
• chance to improve public safety, reduce recidivism, reduce the prison populations, and we're in a budget
• likely to be more effective than the tax credit and which can be enhanced if necessary through the budget
• I'm sorry, but we did it through the budget.
• Land Trust and a member of the CCLT, and I'm here to request your support. Thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation convened with a quorum, reviewed housekeeping rules for testimony and position letters, and reminded the public that bills with revenue impacts over $150,000 would be sent to the suspense file rather than voted on immediately. The chair noted that no bills on the agenda would be eligible for a vote that day because they would automatically be referred to suspense. The committee then heard several tax-related measures, with testimony generally split between bill authors/supporters emphasizing affordability, public safety, or conservation, and opponents arguing the proposals were inefficient tax expenditures better handled through existing programs or direct budget funding. AB 1565 proposed a $5,000 tax credit for small businesses that hire formerly incarcerated people within a year of release and keep them employed for at least six months. Supporters said the bill would reduce recidivism, help small businesses manage hiring risk, and save the state money by avoiding incarceration costs; one witness described personal experience overcoming a felony record. The California Tax Reform Association opposed the measure, arguing employment tax credits are ineffective and that existing programs are more targeted. Members from both parties expressed support, but the bill was referred to suspense. The committee also heard AB 1596, which would create a five-year sales tax holiday for infant car seats; AB 1668, which would extend a welfare tax exemption for land trust-held open space; AB 1690, which would expand the Young Child Tax Credit to families with older children; AB 1698, which would create a tax credit for small restaurants that comply with food handler certification requirements; and AB 1620, which would allow a deduction for homeowners’ insurance premiums on primary residences. Supporters framed these bills as relief for families, small businesses, and land conservation efforts, while opponents repeatedly argued the tax code should not be used to subsidize these costs and that existing programs or market solutions were preferable. Each bill was ultimately referred to the suspense file, and the committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• to better prioritize policy changes, which is especially important this year given the projected budget
• chance to improve public safety, reduce recidivism, reduce the prison populations, and we're in a budget
• likely to be more effective than the tax credit and which can be enhanced if necessary through the budget
• I'm sorry, but we did it through the budget, and, oh my gosh, it was an uphill battle, but it's been
• Land Trust and a member of the CCLT, and I'm here to request your support. Thank you.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, $3.2 million is being requested, which is the same as prior funding of that $3 million goes towards
• The project budgets are reviewed quarterly between the management team and the program finance manager
• </c><00:44:43.720><c> are</c> to review the project budgets are to review the project budgets are reviewed
• So, the last time we were fortunate to request and to receive an increase in funding was because Mayo
• and to receive were fortunate to request and to receive an<00:58:20.799><c> increase</c><00:58:21.559

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education.
• Thank you, and I apologize for not using my request to speak button here.
• We noticed, if you go back and look at the budget presentation, the State Department of Education noted
• So, for example, I have a say in the education budget just like you have a say in the education budget
• , and I'm pretty sure that every publicly funded district, that budget comes from the budget that all

Summary: The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education met after an extended recess and first laid over House Bills 3244, 4146, 4158, and later 3718 for a future hearing. The committee also noted that its Wednesday meeting would be held at 4:30 p.m. in Room 4S5. Several bills were then heard and advanced, with PCS substitutes adopted without objection where noted. House Bill 4478, by Rep. Deck, raised the student activity fund deposit threshold from $100 to $500 and required all such deposits to be made by the end of the business week; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3671, by Rep. Provenzano, allowed experienced teachers to carry career teacher status to a new district for evaluation purposes only, not for contract or tenure decisions; after a question about tenure, it passed 7-0. House Bill 3051, by Rep. Stewart, streamlined and modernized the Tulsa Reconciliation Scholarship to make it easier for eligible students to access while preserving the program’s historic purpose; it passed 6-1. House Bill 3671 also drew questions about whether the bill would affect tenure, and the author said it would not. House Bill 3051 prompted questions about eligibility and whether there was any ranking system; the author said the scholarship remained equally available under current law. House Bill 3710, by Rep. Pogemiller, created a bipartisan district realignment commission to study school-district consolidation or reorganization every 10 years, considering financial efficiency, academic outcomes, enrollment, location, and proximity to other schools; supporters argued it would start a needed conversation about district structure and administrative costs, while opponents raised concerns about forced consolidation and local control. After extensive debate, it passed 5-4.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're dealing with budget still tonight. June 26th. In June? Yeah.
• The budget will be done and we have to vote on it.
• We're, you know, we're talking about a June 26th vote in the budget.
• “I believe the statute says quarterly or at the request of this body.
• We’ll be beyond the budget trying to figure out what our next move is.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• HR 59 HCR65 requesting the land use HR 59 HCR65 requesting the land use commission<00:25:19.840><c> to
• </c> support OHA um drafted and requested support OHA um drafted and requested that<01:06:30.240><c>
• Um, we are going to insert in the committee report the budget request for line item BED 144 for $36,000
• Um and I understand it is requests.
• </c><01:39:21.440><c> the</c> I would like to request the I would like to request the reconsideration

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Water and Land met on March 25, 2025, and first announced it had deleted HCR 3 and HCR 4567 from the agenda pending similar Senate measures. It then heard HR 35/HCR 40, which urges DLNR and other state agencies to work with community groups to co-steward community forests on public lands. DLNR’s urban and community forester testified in strong support, and several organizations and individuals submitted support; there were no questions or opposition noted. The committee next heard HCR 64, asking OPSD to convene a working group on establishing and placing an Office of Resilience and Recovery. OPSD and the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Resilience supported the resolution and suggested friendly amendments, including replacing county civil defense representatives with mayors or their designees and allowing subject-matter experts to serve. Members questioned the office’s role, funding, and relationship to other resilience and emergency management offices, and the witness explained it was created after the Maui wildfires to coordinate long-term recovery, with special-project funding and a focus distinct from response and mental health functions. The committee also heard HR 59/HCR 65 on coordinating concurrent reviews of general plan, district boundary, and zoning amendments during land reclassification. OPSD testified with comments and warned that the proposal could facilitate spot zoning if individual landowners could use the concurrent process, recommending it be limited to county-initiated actions. A related discussion followed on HR 118/HCR 122, which would create a collaborative working group on surveying and protecting iwi kūpuna and related coastal erosion issues; DNR, OHA, and others supported it with suggested additions, and testimony emphasized cultural sensitivity and community-specific decision-making. Members asked about burial practices and a recent court ruling, and witnesses said the working group could help guide broader policy and communication. Finally, the committee heard HR 145/HCR 151, requesting DLNR to report on its lease enforcement process and procedures. DLNR said it was recruiting staff to conduct lease inspections but had difficulty filling positions due to compensation, and explained that new or extended leases can include inspection requirements, while retroactive cost-shifting would raise contractual issues. Members asked for information on lease renewal timelines and whether inspection provisions were being added to renewals; DLNR said those decisions are made in public sunshine meetings and agreed to provide additional information. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, property, uh, purchaser may request a tax certificate from the tax collector for a
• Members, I'd be happy to answer any questions and would request the right to close.
• We requested this change after speaking with the comptroller's office.
• The requested language in HB 2408 is important to the viability of our efforts.
• I respectfully request the opportunity to close. Very good. Ms. Chair recognizes Chair Button.

Bills: HB249

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: real property, ad valorem tax, tax appraisal, property value limitation, real estate taxation, property ownership

Transcript Highlights:

• When it says unless the victim requests otherwise, there was a thought that that only related to the
• <00:04:18.880><c> otherwise,</c> requests otherwise, requests otherwise, uh<00:04:20.519><c> there</c
• Unless the victim requests &gt;&gt; It does.
• Unless the victim requests otherwise<00:04:49.000><c> is</c><00:04:49.160><c> hanging</c><00:04:49.440
• We're in a budget session. We've not heard about it to my knowledge.

Committee: Senate Families & Children

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I requested by the executive committee.
• It's not a Zoom screen request in this bill. Just verbal.
• It's not a Zoom screen request in this bill. Just verbal.
• </c><02:40:14.560><c> Um</c> request in this bill. Just verbal. Um request in this bill.
• </c><02:54:39.120><c> a</c> as the chair I can rec I can request a as the chair I can rec I can request

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not the budgeting process.
• So again, as those numbers change, Bruce and I would just request.
• And we had that in the budget at one point last session.
• Is there anything to meet when we meet with the budget section or anything?
• Before budget, I think there's some couple meetings before and after that as well, the budget section

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the request of the sponsor, Senate Bill 84 will be removed from the consent calendar and placed on
• We don't have the funds in the budget to do that. I do, though, think it's important.
• Being on the budget committee shouldn't mean that more roads and bridges get built in Greenwood Village
• </c><00:42:12.319><c> shouldn't</c> Being on the budget committee shouldn't Being on the budget committee
• You know, uh we have a our state budget.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As long as we get this budget approved and we make sure we have some of these funds left over for some
• Medicaid controls the budget. The budget is controlled by Medicaid.
• The budget is controlled by Medicaid.
• And that's controlling and becoming metastatic to our budget.
• I can't imagine requesting information that I need to make a decision and not being able to get it.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, we requested these units to become reliability must-run units, meaning we'd take them out
• When utilities request rate increases, they often lead to increased costs for consumers.
• We have another rather large appropriations request this cycle that I... **Mr.
• And what triggers the rejection or disapproval of their request?
• We have another rather large appropriations request this cycle that I think...

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Medicaid expansion would cause a vast expansion of our Medicaid budget.
• It's not contemplated in the budget.
• He learned the budget process better than almost any of us will ever hope to know.
• Then we got to the budget time. He said, 'Did you submit your request?' I said, 'Yeah.'
• Then we got to the budget time. He said, did you submit your request? I said, yeah.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several introductions and memorials, including a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with several bills substituted with House companions and adopted by voice vote or recorded vote. Early measures included a tax conformity bill tied to federal Internal Revenue Code changes, which passed 34-0, and a Medicaid/public assistance bill that drew extensive debate over work requirements, fraud reduction, behavioral health services, and SNAP/EBT reforms. Amendments offered by Senators Berman and Osgood to condition or soften the work and photo-ID provisions were rejected, and the underlying bill was placed on the third-reading calendar after lengthy questioning about implementation, exemptions, and eligibility effects. The Senate also passed bills on computer science education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry public-records exemption and registry update, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the legal-tender sunset for gold and silver, public-records protections for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, and local government budget transparency/spending measures. Most of these measures were adopted after minor amendments or technical substitutions, with votes generally ranging from 31-3 to 34-0. The chamber also recognized the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage. Later, the Senate approved a digital voyeurism bill expanding the reasonable-expectation-of-privacy definition to include private fenced yards, and an insurance customer representative licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework and later qualify for licensure. The final major item was a medical freedom bill that would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption to immunization mandates, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition; two amendments clarifying anti-kickback rules and requiring vaccine information to include risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy were adopted, while questions from Senators Smith and Massullo focused on public-health impacts and the content of the required materials. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Madam Chair, the budget target for the higher education bill was $100 million.
• </c> governor's budget, the governor's governor's budget, the governor's proposed<00:31:03.200><c> budget
• And uh the request throughout our city.
• And uh the request the<01:45:57.280><c> changes</c><01:45:57.520><c> we're</c><01:45:57.760><c> requesting
• </c><01:46:32.400><c> the</c> resources, but we are requesting the resources, but we are requesting the

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House wanted to have the budget amount divided by the enrollment.
• The House wanted to have the budget amount divided by the enrollment.
• The House wanted to have the budget amount divided by the enrollment.
• </c> uh budget is um produced? uh budget is um produced?
• I think that's a reasonable request. Senator Alcher, any thoughts?

Keywords: 9:30am HB 557 11am HB 71, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first discussed House Bill 557, which concerns information on the school budget ballot. The main issue was how to define and calculate the “average cost per pupil.” House members favored a simple calculation dividing the operating budget by enrollment, arguing that it is clearer to the public and matches how taxpayers think about school costs. Senate members preferred the existing RSA-based definition for consistency across statutes and noted that the current definition was about to take effect. Members also debated whether the ballot language should specify the figure as being for the “preceding year,” and some House members ultimately agreed to that clarification while one member did not. After discussion, the Senate declined to move off its position on the calculation method, but agreed to a compromise amendment adding “for the preceding year” to the Senate language so it would align with the rest of the ballot information. The committee then agreed to draft the report with that amendment. The committee then turned to House Bill 71, dealing with restrictions on using public school and higher education facilities to shelter certain migrants, along with a Senate-added provision requiring DHHS contracts to comply with the patient bill of rights. Members generally said they supported the base policy of the bill, but Representative Noble raised a drafting concern about a repeal section that appeared to undo the new contract requirement; the group discussed removing that repeal language and adjusting effective dates. The committee also reviewed Senate-added language creating a donation fund for a proposed accessible pier at Hampton Beach. Supporters said the project would be privately funded through donations, with the state park division managing the fund and any remaining balance eventually transferring to an existing state park donations account if the pier is not built. Members questioned maintenance costs, fundraising responsibility, and whether the account was necessary, but the Senate explained the fund was intended to provide a mechanism for private fundraising and future maintenance support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We make a difference here, that it's noticeable and, and then it gets done, uh, budgeted full-time.
• I'll talk to you at your leisure and when you want to about our budget request.
• Chair and Representative, uh, in our last budget request, we did ask for money for a pilot project to
• No, we're asking for a flat budget. And the poor guy was literally hanging onto the table.
• Learn everything from budgeting to IAAA to a lot of different things quickly.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• a supplement rather than a replacement for the SB TAP funding proposed in the governor's proposed budget
• and the Senate and Assembly budget bills.
• We just voted to support TAP in our budget Senate Sub 4 committee because we know how important small
• Therefore, the Dental Board of California respectfully requests your aye vote on AB 1760.
• For these reasons, we remain opposed to the bill and respectfully request a no vote. Thank you.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then took up a series of bills on business, professions, health, cannabis, and consumer protection. AB 72, creating an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone in Riverside County, drew questions about whether the state should target one region over others, but supporters argued it would help bring EV manufacturing and related jobs to the Inland Empire. The bill passed on a 8-1 vote to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. AB 685, which would create the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Fund to support technical assistance and capital infusion programs, drew broad support from small business networks and chambers, but some groups raised concerns that the June amendments could affect eligibility and that the funding should be clearly supplemental rather than replacing existing support. The author said discussions were ongoing, and the bill passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 173, a resolution, on a 7-0 vote, and AB 1760, a Dental Practice Act cleanup bill sponsored by the Dental Board, on a 10-0 vote. AB 1637, which would limit changes to physician-authored medical records and make unauthorized alterations a misdemeanor, was supported by physicians and labor groups who said it would protect patient safety and professional accountability; it passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. AB 1785, allowing online sales of pseudoephedrine products with existing age and quantity safeguards, passed 10-0. AB 1973, expanding the ability of advanced practice clinicians to perform procedural abortions within their training, drew strong support from reproductive health providers and strong opposition from anti-abortion witnesses who raised safety concerns; after questions about training and oversight, it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. The committee then considered AB 2025, requiring disclosure when rental listings use digitally altered or AI-staged images. Supporters said it would prevent renters from being misled, while the California Apartment Association said it was working with the author on implementation; the bill passed 8-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. AB 2697, allowing drive-through cannabis sales with local approval and security requirements, was supported by cannabis businesses and operators as a way to improve access and compete with the illicit market, while narcotics officers opposed it over ID verification and public safety concerns; it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. Finally, AB 2249, responding to a state audit on cannabis packaging attractive to children by defining prohibited imagery and creating a public rubric and pre-review process, received support from the cannabis operators association and the state auditor’s office, while small independent farmers raised concerns that some categorical bans could sweep too broadly. The transcript cuts off during that bill’s opposition testimony, and no final action on AB 2249 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The life insurer would be required to obtain and, upon request, demonstrate proof of delivery for each
• This bill was a request by the insurance commissioner, who has been able to see the harm to consumers
• Madam Chair, I request that you move this bill out of committee with a due pass recommendation for the
• I'm to understand that there's currently legislation before this body at the request of the Insurance
• The request legislation... Happy to start, and Robin, I invite you to add if I missed anything.

Bills: HB2428 , HB2399 , HB2087

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: life insurance, policy lapse, policy cancellation, nonpayment of premium, premium grace period, lapse notice, termination notice, third-party notice, third-party designee, beneficiary protection, consumer protection, insurance regulation, insurer notice requirements, policyholder, beneficiary, Washington RCW, insurance code, unintentional lapse, coverage continuation, premium delinquency

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2406 is agency request legislation from the Department of Labor and Industries.
• Members of the committee, House Bill 2478 is also a request legislation from L&I.
• House Bill 2478 is an L&I request bill.
• Later, the administration also relieved the chair of the NLRB of their duties, proposed budget cuts to
• We are very aware of the fiscal constraints in our current budget.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several Labor and Workplace Standards bills. HB 2492 would require building and construction apprenticeship programs, beginning in 2027, to include two hours of behavioral health and wellness training covering topics such as suicide prevention, substance use disorder, recognizing distress, peer support, and connecting to resources. The prime sponsor and many labor, apprenticeship, and contractor witnesses supported the bill, describing high suicide and overdose rates in construction and sharing personal stories about losses and struggles in the trades. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 2405, a Department of Labor and Industries request bill creating a pilot to allow earlier treatment for PTSD claims in workers’ compensation, including up to 11 treatment sessions before claim adjudication and limited follow-up treatment after closure. L&I and NFIB supported the measure as a way to speed treatment and reduce barriers, while one legal advocate supported it but raised technical concerns about pre-claim treatment and urged more focus on workplace prevention; another witness cautioned against emphasizing psychiatric drug treatment. The bill was heard only; no action was taken. HB 2406 would expand L&I’s ability to send notices electronically, with opt-in/opt-out provisions and some changes to timing rules for workers’ compensation and WISHA notices. L&I supported the bill as a modernization measure, while labor and workers’ advocates opposed changes affecting workers’ compensation notices, arguing that email should not become the default for vulnerable workers who may miss deadlines. HB 2478 would give L&I discretion, rather than a mandate, to investigate wage complaints and allow penalties when the department initiates an investigation; L&I supported it as a more efficient enforcement tool, and the committee discussed how complaints would still be handled and communicated. Finally, HB 2471 would create a state collective bargaining framework for private-sector workers if federal labor law or the NLRB no longer covers them. Supporters said it would preserve organizing and dispute-resolution rights if federal protections fail, while agricultural employers and NFIB opposed it, arguing it would inappropriately apply to agriculture and small businesses, could disrupt perishable harvests, and should rely on secret-ballot elections rather than card check. No votes were taken on any of the bills in the hearing.