Transcript Highlights:

• Contractor is still responsible for complying with it.
• Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire. Commercial Contractors. You're welcome. Thank you.
• We don't get any of that as a contractor.
• Um, furthermore, if you if contractor.
• Yeah, most contractors, when I hire a contractor, I ask them for a certificate of insurance.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1140 requires the governing board or body of a local education agency to ensure that contractors who
• Fortunately, we don't have some example yet of a door being propped open by a third-party contractor,
• schools established after May 1, 2027 to request access to the statewide data system, relocate contractor
• schools established after May 1, 2027 to request access to the statewide data system, relocate contractor
• Clarify that the state's statewide data system for contractor names in the same manner as LEAs clarify

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in doing so, they also undermine the many honest, hardworking contractors across our state.
• , then if needed, bringing in the Department of Justice to help mediate. contractor than, if needed,
• And importantly, it creates consequences when contractors refuse to engage in good faith.
• We ran a piece of legislation about six years ago to Delaware contractor registration, which means all
• contractors doing work in Delaware need to be on that registration list.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Representative Munson, the good thing is we got the contractor to come back and start working
• The good thing is we got the contractor to come back and start working on that project, and we're fixing
• If the contractor doesn't agree to it, then we go to arbitration, and the arbitrators may say it was
• I mean, we are always willing to have a conversation with the contractors to see if he won't, you know
• I mean, we are always willing to have a conversation with the contractors to see if he won't, you know

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, Representative Munson, the good thing is we got the contractor to come back and start working
• The good thing is we got the contractor to come back and start working on that project, and we're fixing
• If the contractor doesn't agree to it, then we go to arbitration, and the arbitrators may say it was
• I mean, we are always willing to have a conversation with the contractors to see if he won't, you know
• I mean, we are always willing to have a conversation with the contractors to see if he won't, you know

Summary: The Budget Section approved the March 18 minutes and received an OMB update showing the general fund is still ahead of the budgeted starting point, but revenues through May are now about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls. OMB also reported the budget stabilization fund is above its cap, meaning a transfer to the general fund is expected, and reviewed oil price/production assumptions, noting continued volatility. Members asked about the income tax netting process, the sales tax decline, oil price discounts/premiums, natural gas taxation, and when the executive branch would present its revenue forecast. The committee then acted on several Emergency Commission requests. It approved, as a group, requests for federal mine reclamation funds for the Public Service Commission, an additional criminal investigator FTE and funding for the Attorney General’s office, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. It separately approved DPI request 2164 for $500,000 to support the food vendor program after debate over whether the program’s savings were known and whether the money was simply a pass-through. OMB also reported on federal grants, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, FTE pool usage, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting the settlement funds had been deposited and that a deficiency appropriation may be needed later to cover remaining accrued interest. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus presented on the primary residence credit program, saying participation has grown sharply and that the current biennium will likely need about $431 million, roughly $22 million above the appropriation. He explained how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran benefits, how the 3% property tax cap works, and why county valuations and mill rates vary. The committee also received a Legacy Fund/Budget Stabilization Fund report showing strong returns, and DOT Director Ron Henke received approval for two Flex Fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. Henke also explained remaining Highway 85 funding and said the department is exploring uses for leftover state dollars. Finally, the Department of Mineral Resources reported on abandoned well plugging and site restoration, noting North Dakota remains in relatively strong shape compared with other states, and DPI began a presentation on gap funding tied to the 3% levy cap, reporting 24 districts received $1.8 million in the first year and projecting higher future needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• there's generally multiple vendors on each category of roofs, or maybe there's multiple general contractors
• There are a lot of other contractors who would like to have the opportunity to bid on those investments
• A public school teacher, principal, administrator, volunteer, or contractor of a public school, and a
• faculty member, administrator, contractor, or volunteer of a higher education institution may not teach
• ... ...member, administrator, contractor, or volunteer of a higher education institution may not teach

Bills: HB2040, HB2142, HB2255, HB2379, HB2482, HB2575, HB2600, HB2764, HB4033, HCR2015

Keywords: public education, adoption, sex education, parental rights, student health information, school safety, resource officers, mental health, training, infrastructure improvements, Arizona Teachers Academy, teacher preparation, education funding, public schools, scholarships, teacher certification, community colleges, school district, governing board, training requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 565 seeks to amend portions of the Acts of Assembly of 2025 relating to the Virginia Contractor
• of Professional Occupational Regulation on or after June 6, 2024, for recovery from the Virginia Contractor
• Transaction Recovery Fund and whose claim was thereafter approved by the Board of Contractors.
• Transaction Recovery Fund and whose claim was thereafter approved by the Board of Contractors.
• Transaction Recovery Fund and whose claim was thereafter approved by the Board of Contractors.

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're hiring third-party contractors to oversee individuals' care.
• Um, so we want to bring force counties to bring those third-party contractors back in-house and actually
• So they're hiring thirdparty contractors So they're hiring thirdparty contractors to<00:14:00.880
• /c><00:14:28.480> back<00:14:28.720> inhouse<00:14:29.360> and third party contractors
• back inhouse and third party contractors back inhouse and actually<00:14:29.920> do<00:14:30.079

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House DFL leaders held a press availability outlining a broad anti-fraud agenda focused on state programs, especially Medicaid-related services, but also unemployment and tax fraud. They said the package is intended to strengthen accountability, improve oversight, and prevent fraud before it occurs, while arguing that fraud harms vulnerable Minnesotans such as children with autism, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless people. They also tied the problem to long-term privatization of public services, arguing that outsourcing creates more layers and opportunities for fraud, and cited examples like county case management and managed care arrangements. Specific proposals discussed included strengthening the attorney general’s Medicaid fraud control unit, creating or expanding inspector general functions, requiring more in-person site visits, using electronic visit verification, improving background checks and fingerprinting, and upgrading outdated IT systems. Members said some bills would be relatively low-cost while others would require funding, and that bills without fiscal notes might move separately while others could be folded into budget discussions. They also said the House DFL had already taken steps in prior sessions, including creating a fraud unit at the BCA and adding DHS staff for site visits. The discussion also covered the Office of Inspector General bill, with DFL members saying they support placing the office in the executive branch and that the governor should make the final appointment for constitutional reasons. They said Republicans had blocked amendments they viewed as adding fraud-prevention authority to the OIG bill, and that the governor’s staff had not been involved in working groups. On a separate bill involving disclosure requirements, they said the committee version was improved but still flawed because it could interfere with investigations; they said it would next go to the Children and Families Committee. No votes were taken in the exchange, and members said they were still early in session and hoped for more constructive negotiations later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't tell you enough how important the web contractors are so we can webcast this to the world.
• We are in discussions with over 30 prospects, which now include large defense contractors.
• The way the master plan came out with our contractors is more of a multiple choice.
• By having that person, along with a contractor who works with him, we've moved much faster.
• Defense contractors. One of them is thinking of having a long-term presence at the spaceport.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to be sure, we believe we have the capacity to do more, and so do our contractors.
• We borrowed expertise from other states that have conducted similar assessments, brought in contractors
• These contractors are moving to Texas and Arizona.
• These contractors are from all over the place, and you're competing.
• If you're competing with all these contractors, how would that affect your ability to bring in a contractor

Transcript Highlights:

• We do the same thing on the terminal side with developing relationships with other marine contractors
• As we bring more potential shipyards or contractors into the fold, it improves our ability to make a
• And when you talk to highway contractors or you talk to shipbuilders, they want to deliver a high-quality
• The contractor is required to maintain two lanes of access all throughout construction.
• We're giving the contractor up to nine days of four-hour closures midday.

Summary: The committee met to hear an update from Washington State Ferries on capital projects and workforce issues, beginning with a briefing on the agency’s long-term fleet and terminal needs. WSF officials described the history of underinvestment after the late 1990s, the current fleet reduction from 25 to 21 vessels, and the need to keep older boats in service while moving toward a 26-vessel long-range fleet and hybrid-electric operations. They said the agency is transitioning to a new vessel procurement strategy, with Eastern Shipbuilding selected to build up to three 160-car hybrid-electric ferries, and outlined a schedule that includes contract execution, about a year of design work, steel cutting in fall 2026, and several years of construction. Members raised concerns about the higher cost of electrified vessels, the length of the schedule, the adequacy of liquidated damages and incentives, the risks of building in Florida and transporting vessels to Washington, and whether the contract sufficiently protects the state from cost overruns and design problems. The committee also received an update on the Wenatchee conversion, which officials said is days away from entering service as the first large hybrid-electric ferry conversion. WSF explained that the conversion combined required midlife preservation work with propulsion upgrades and battery installation, and that the project took longer and cost more than originally expected because it was a prototype with significant lessons learned. Officials said the Tacoma and Puyallup conversions would follow later, but those decisions were being delayed until after the World Cup to avoid service disruptions. Members asked about the cost-effectiveness of the conversion, the expected fuel and emissions reductions, and what happens to engine crews during long conversion periods; WSF said crews were embedded in the project and that the conversions should reduce diesel use substantially once terminal charging is available. The meeting then shifted to workforce development, with Siegel consultants reviewing their 2021 and 2024 studies of ferry staffing, overtime, recruitment, and workplace culture. They said the earlier problems stemmed from seasonal staffing practices, low winter hours, limited career progression, a narrow maritime recruiting pipeline, and a culture that made retention difficult. Since then, they reported major improvements: staffing has increased from about 1,500 to 1,900, turnover has fallen, captain and engineer shortages have eased, and recruitment has broadened beyond the traditional maritime pool, including more women and other underrepresented workers. They credited new programs such as guaranteed hours, paid pilotage, AB-to-mate pathways, and the “Turning of the Tide” culture campaign, while noting remaining issues with communication, HR access, accountability, and quality of life. Members generally acknowledged the progress but asked whether staffing levels are now sufficient and how interchangeable crews are across vessels and routes. Finally, terminal engineering staff began a presentation on capital terminal work, starting with the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. They described the terminal’s age, low elevation, vulnerability to sea level rise and earthquakes, and the need for replacement piles, beams, and improved vehicle circulation. The agency said it has completed a planning and environmental linkage study, is moving into NEPA/state environmental review, and has been working with the community to balance the needs of Southworth and Vashon riders with neighborhood concerns in Fauntleroy. The preferred alternative is a larger offshore dock footprint that would improve capacity and reliability while reducing impacts to eelgrass habitat. The meeting ended before the terminal discussion was complete.

Transcript Highlights:

• including certified public accountants, real estate brokers and salespersons, engineers, architects, contractors
• Now remember, sometimes you hire the wrong plumber or the wrong contractor.
• Now remember, sometimes you hire the wrong plumber or the wrong contractor.
• That is, and thank you for raising that, Tara, is that is the reason why we didn't include contractors
• We can make sure that we certainly don't incentivize or have conflicts with contractors who are doing

Summary: The committee on Regulated Industries convened with a quorum and began a panel discussion focused on condominium milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies (SIRS), with members framing the topic as part of Florida’s post-Surfside condo safety reforms. The chair and panelists reviewed how the state got here, emphasizing that the problems predated Surfside and were driven by long-term deferred maintenance, underfunded reserves, and aging buildings. Panelists included representatives from Florida Realtors, engineering and reserve-study firms, a CPA, a community association attorney, and Broward County’s building safety official, all of whom described their roles in inspections, reserve planning, and code enforcement. Testimony centered on what inspectors are finding in the field. Panelists said the most common problems are not subsidence but wear-and-tear and maintenance failures, especially in stairways, balconies, roofs, parapet walls, waterproofing, and corrosion. They described examples of buildings with hidden deterioration, hurricane-exposed damage, and associations that were underfunded despite prior inspection regimes in Miami-Dade and Broward. Dr. Barbosa explained that Miami-Dade’s recertification program began in the 1970s and Broward’s in 2005, with current timelines generally requiring notice, a first milestone review, and then time to begin substantial repairs; she said the program has improved compliance but that SIRS has added confusion. Members also raised concerns about the cost and implementation of SIRS, including whether reports are being used to generate unnecessary work, whether contractors or firms have conflicts of interest, and whether the law’s use of “fully funded” is being misunderstood. Panelists said the statutory reserve requirement is better understood as baseline funding, not having all money in the bank immediately, and suggested clearer definitions and possibly changing the terminology to “adequately funded.” They also discussed the need to separate required structural items from optional or cosmetic items in reserve reports, improve transparency for buyers and lenders, and ensure associations provide documents through websites and other portals. No votes were taken. The committee used the meeting as an information-gathering session and signaled that more panels and discussion would follow, with members and witnesses agreeing that the state may need further clarification, education, and possible statutory adjustments to reduce confusion while preserving building safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are hiring contractors.
• Well, it's the employees versus contractors. Sure.
• We also have to hire contractors because we need more.
• The projects themselves are private contractors with the state.
• The panel attorneys are private contractors, or independent contractors.

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's part of our oversight for our contractor. We look at all the surveys.
• We have a survey out now that bypassed our contractor and went straight to the riders to kind of get
• That's part of our oversight for<00:28:45.520> our<00:28:45.679> contractor.
• We look at all the for our contractor.
• So those that we have on our staff, our contractors that work on it are all in their 70s.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys. The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis. Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we talked with folks both in local governments and the private contractors, you know, individuals
• Are they independent contractors? Are they nonprofits?
• Are they independent contractors? Are they nonprofits?
• are they are they nonprofits contractors are they are they nonprofits are<00:57:12.720> they<
• It seems like there's, as a contractor, more and more and more, it just keeps piling up to the point

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Capital Investment Committee met on January 23 and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The main presentation was from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on its evaluation of Minnesota’s Sustainable Building guidelines, also referred to as B3. The auditors said the guidelines apply to certain new buildings and major renovations funded with general obligation bonds and are intended to improve energy efficiency, occupant health, and environmental quality. They described the program as involving the Departments of Administration and Commerce, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Building Research, and project teams, but found widespread confusion over who is responsible for administering and enforcing the program. The auditors reported that oversight and accountability are limited, compliance is not clearly tracked, and there is no agency assigned to ensure projects follow the guidelines or to require compliance data. They said many projects in a review of 2020 bonding projects had not begun tracking compliance, and that up-to-date data were often missing. They also found the law’s stated program objectives are outdated because the referenced energy-code provision was repealed in 2009, and that measurable goals have not been established for most of the guideline categories. The office recommended that the legislature designate a responsible agency, clarify duties in statute, require compliance monitoring and data collection, update the program’s stated goals, and direct systematic evaluation of cost and sustainability outcomes. Members asked about consequences for noncompliance, funding, and whether cost impacts should be studied first. The auditor said the requirements are legal obligations, but no real enforcement consequences have been used so far, and any consequences discussed have been mostly theoretical. She said the Departments of Administration and Commerce were receiving about $1 million combined to support the contract with the Center for Sustainable Building Research, while other state agencies were not receiving dedicated funding for oversight. In response to questions about costs, she said the overall effect of the guidelines on project costs and sustainability is still unknown, but that the legislature could direct an analysis of cost impacts before taking further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• With me in support is Jennifer Pierre on behalf of the State Water Contractors. You can begin.
• I'm the general manager for the State Water Contractors.
• Todd Blumstein for the Southern California Contractors Association in support. Thank you.
• Although the financial analysis determines that it would be a net financial benefit for State Water Contractor
• this opens the door for other water rights holders, many more senior than DWR and the State Water Contractors

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AS LONG AS WE DON'T DO DRIP IRRIGATION THESE CAN BE DESIGNED BY CONTRACTORS AND PUT INTO USE IN THE STATE
• THAT MAINTENANCE ENTITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED CONTRACTOR.
• SOMETIMES IT'S GOING TO THE CONTRACTOR.
• WE DON'T KNOW IF PUTTING THIS AND BECAUSE A LOT OF THIS REQUIRES CONTRACTORS.
• WE WORK WITH OUR CONTRACTORS TO TRY TO GET HOMEOWNERS TO BE PART OF THIS DATA AND RESEARCH.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on my conversations with a number of town leaders, as our winters become milder, the contractors
• Landscapers and contractors that supplemented their work in the so-called off-season by doing these kinds
• say, if we could put these two things together, as unpalatable as the storm may be, because the contractor
• It would have a provision that allows that if there are no contractors who bid that work and have those
• The contractor has taken ownership of it.'

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several procurement-related bills. Senator Lovely and steel industry witnesses supported S. 2167/H. 3411, which would require preference for U.S. manufacturers on public construction projects using steel and other materials. They argued that Canadian and other foreign fabricators underbid Massachusetts firms because of exchange rates, subsidies, and different labor-cost structures, causing local job losses and economic leakage. Committee members asked about tariffs, market share, and whether the bill should be folded into broader municipal legislation; the witnesses said public work should stay in Massachusetts and that the bill would help preserve local industry and jobs. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2107, a bill to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in state and municipal contracting. Work Inc. testified that a preference for contractors employing people with disabilities would expand competitive employment, reduce reliance on public assistance, and generate net savings for taxpayers. Members asked about the estimated savings and whether recent federal changes to benefits would affect the numbers; the witness said the figures may need updating but that the underlying employment opportunity remains important. Another bill, H. 3339/S. 2187, would prohibit state and municipal contracts for new artificial turf fields containing zinc, plastic, or intentionally added PFAS. Sponsors and supporters cited health risks, heat retention, injuries, and PFAS contamination, while committee members discussed local bans, disposal problems, and whether indoor facilities or alternative materials could be used. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro testified in favor of H. 12 and H. 13, which would update Chapter 30B procurement thresholds and allow municipalities to bundle snow hauling and removal with plowing contracts. He said the changes would give local governments more flexibility, reduce confusion between school and municipal procurement rules, and make snow contracts more attractive to vendors. Members questioned whether quasi-public agencies and state entities should also be subject to 30B, and Shapiro said many public entities have their own procedures but that transparency and fairness should apply across the board. The committee also heard support for S. 2150, a software licensing bill aimed at preventing vendor lock-in by ensuring state agencies can run purchased software in the infrastructure that best fits their needs; the witness said restrictive licensing can drive up costs and create cybersecurity and modernization problems, and that similar laws have already passed in several other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• The the dollar contractor, right?
• between government entity and contractor between government entity and contractor subcontractor.
• So, we are contractor or subcontractor.
• I'm not opposed to the contractor.
• I'm not opposed to the contractor.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Contractors Association of Minnesota. Contractors Association of Minnesota.
• I think this is a bigger issue than out-of-state contractors.
• It’s also in-state contractors driving these claims.
• It's also instate contractors.
• <01:21:22.400> I contractors driving these claims. I contractors driving these claims.

Keywords: 1183, house