Transcript Highlights:

• The training and assistance are designed to prepare both the potential deaf or deaf-blind employee and
• employees, or rather training employers, about how to work with the community.
• </c> particular um expertise in um training particular um expertise in um training employees<02:55:48.560
• employees or rather training employers employees or rather training employers about<02:55:50.840><c>
• ><c> and</c> The office is training employees and employers, and I'm not sure what that has to do with

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 702, which would change how extra or special duty pay for retired police officers is treated for retirement and work-limit purposes. Supporters argued the bill would let retirees work more special-duty hours, helping municipalities fill traffic-detail and similar assignments without added state cost, and said it would not prohibit retirees from working but would simply stop those hours from counting toward the return-to-work threshold. Opponents argued the change would be inconsistent with the retirement system’s 2011 reforms, could increase pension liabilities, and would treat the same compensation differently for active employees and retirees. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect current and future retirees, the role of municipalities, and whether the policy amounted to “policing for profit.” The subcommittee ultimately voted 3-2 to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL) on HB 702, sending it to the full committee with that recommendation. The committee then discussed House Bill 581, which would create a Group Three retirement plan for new state employees hired after the bill’s effective date. The chair outlined a housekeeping amendment to delay implementation, moving the effective date to January 1, 2026, and noted a sponsor amendment addressing health insurance group inclusion and medical and surgical benefits so those benefits would not be put at risk for the new group. Testimony and discussion focused on the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution, with supporters citing Michigan examples and arguing the bill would help recruit and retain employees while giving them more flexibility. Opponents said the change could weaken retirement security and increase unfunded liability, though supporters responded that the bill still requires employer contributions toward accrued liability and is intended to keep the state on track to pay off its unfunded liability by 2039. The transcript ends with continued discussion of the bill and no final vote shown on HB 581.

Transcript Highlights:

• I helped train the next generation of osteopathic physicians.
• to do, and others who are not trained to that degree.
• Now, again, as mentioned, this bill solves a very simple yet costly problem: a trained employee should
• not be prevented... ...solves a very simple yet costly problem: a trained employee should not be prevented
• Procedures routinely performed by livestock owners and their employees.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We only have two full-time employees right now, so it's really like the two of us.
• We haven't had a training in Oklahoma since 2012. So that is one of my goals.
• We haven't had a training in Oklahoma since 2012. So that is one of my goals.
• We would like to have licensing software, officials' trainings, as well.
• Okay, and what is the cost for the additional employee?

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, which regulates professional boxing, MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and newer combat sports such as slap fighting and bare-knuckle fighting. The director apologized for missing an earlier appearance and explained that the agency now operates as its own standalone agency rather than under the Health Department. She described the commission’s safety role, including licensing participants, requiring blood testing, and sending inspectors to events, while promoters pay for doctors, ambulances, referees, judges, and other event personnel. The commission said its main accomplishments included securing its own agency number, updating outdated statutory language, adding authority to regulate slap fighting and bare-knuckle events, and moving to credit-card payments. Major challenges discussed were staffing and modernization: the agency has only two full-time employees, 36 temporary inspectors, and still relies on Excel as its database. The director said the commission needs a new licensing system, training for officials, and more outreach to attract larger promotions. She noted that in fiscal year 2025 the commission licensed 1,287 participants, oversaw about 40 combat events plus weekly wrestling events, and reported combined event sales of more than $3.1 million. Members asked about event operations, referee certification, charitable-event fees, and how the commission could grow combat sports in Oklahoma. The director said the agency is seeking a recurring $500,000 annual appropriation, plus a $300,000 supplemental, to cover new standalone-agency costs, hire an additional employee, and begin purchasing licensing software. She explained that the supplemental would help fund immediate expenses and allow the agency to hire a current temp worker. The chair encouraged the agency to coordinate earlier with committee leadership next session and closed the meeting after a brief discussion of “chess boxing.”

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to train those employees because they're working with vulnerable adults.
• ><c> employees</c> checks you have to train those employees checks you have to train those employees
• He said students are employees and earn a livable wage while training to become an EMT.
• He said students are employees and earn a livable wage while training to become an EMT.
• He said students are employees and earn a livable wage while training to become an EMT.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• . training. training.
• </c> does not allow behind-the-wheel training does not allow behind-the-wheel training in<00:29:54.000
• </c><00:30:06.040><c> in</c> allow behind-the-wheel training in allow behind-the-wheel training in school
• </c><01:19:32.960><c> in</c> because we're adding an employee in because we're adding an employee in
• </c> employees and three that are not. employees and three that are not.

Bills: HF4062 , HF4063 , HF4065 , HF3926 , HF4216 , HF3176 , HF3728 , HF3988 , HF3865

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently employ over 900 full-time employees.
• Those involve appeals by employees, state-level employees, who have Career Service rights.
• It's very detailed and specific work that requires training.
• It's very detailed and specific work that requires training.
• It's very detailed and specific work that requires training.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appreciate with two full-time employees appreciate with two full-time employees how<00:10:29.519
• </c> for the employees salary progression. for the employees salary progression.
• doing employee pricing. one of we have three employees if it one of we have three employees if it comes
• pricing, you can't advertise employee pricing, you can't advertise employee pricing.<01:11:39.120><c>
• </c> we had training and very few attended. we had training and very few attended.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• THE EMPLOYEE COULD JUST QUIT. >> Sen. Davis: DID YOU JUST SAY THE EMPLOYEE WOULD JUST QUIT? >> Sen.
• Martin: THE EMPLOYEE COULD JUST QUIT. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIGN THIS.
• IT MEANS EMPLOYEES CAN'T WAIVE THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE FLORIDA MINIMUM WAGE.
• THIS IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THAT EMPLOYEE.
• RAISING AND TRAINING HORSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Board of Trustees is offering a one-time bonus of 3% to most union employees.
• Carlos Lopez with the California School Employees Association in support. Thank you.
• Doug Subers, on behalf of the California State University Employees Union, in strong support.
• Doug Subers, on behalf of the California State University Employees Union, in strong support.
• These employees would be prohibited from receiving raises, even if represented employees receive negotiated

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met for a policy hearing on several higher education bills. AB 1534 (Irwin) would create a California approval process for short-term workforce Pell Grant programs; supporters said it would expand access to job training with consumer protections, while a neutral witness urged more work on implementation. Members raised concerns about the bill’s $4,000 tuition cap, but the measure passed 5-1 with an urgency clause and was sent to Labor and Employment. AB 1831 (Irwin) would cap compensation for certain CSU administrators, bar raises in years when tuition rises, and repeal a 2025 executive pay resolution; the author said she would amend the bill to remove retroactive repeal, narrow the scope, and clarify that it applies to base salary and non-represented managers. CFA, students, and labor groups supported the bill as an accountability measure, while CSU opposed it, arguing the cap would hurt recruitment and retention. The committee approved the bill 4-1-3 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee also advanced AB 1555 (Hadwick), which would allow up to 200 students to qualify for in-state tuition at College of the Siskiyous under a cross-border regional arrangement; it passed unanimously to Appropriations. AB 1552 (Jackson), requiring the community colleges and CSU and requesting UC to report recommendations on civic engagement and democracy education, also passed to Appropriations after some members objected that such programs could be used for partisan activity. AB 1829, which expands CalWORKs student-parent support by allowing more direct aid and waiving a 25% work-study employer match at the colleges’ discretion, passed 8-1 and was re-referred to Human Services. The committee later added on consent items and adjourned after announcing its next hearing date.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're training people to run forklifts.
• We have 30,000 employees across our network; about 18% of our employees are veterans, so we also pay
• stop a train before a collision can occur.
• slow down and stop to prevent a train-to-train collision.
• This training deals with hazardous materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, as a highly compensated employee is my suggestion.
• He's not an athlete, not an employee. Correct. Okay.
• No, I'm not aware of a class of employees. Okay.
• For employees, that is my understanding.
• To have been given a general awareness training. Okay.

Bills: HB55 , HB608 , HB997 , HB1035 , HB1045 , HB1048 , HB1049 , HB1057 , HB1131 , HB1177 , HB1201

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> employees trained on grants policy employees trained on grants policy requirements<00:22:14.279>
• state's online employee training system by the end of this month.
• You mentioned that you have trained about 300 state employees.
• </c> trained about 300 state employees trained about 300 state employees Minnesota<00:41:54.839><c> has
• all of the time for their training all of the time for their employees<01:19:52.920><c> um</c><01:19

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Our employees are stressed out. They're doing more with less.
• We have about 300 employees, and we are an employee-owned company.
• opportunities for our employees.
• The assessment, the training.
• So, yes, there is training offered.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But we do know we are training our troopers, and you'll see here some information about the training
• So we're not using it a ton, but we are using it when we find it, and we train our employees so they'll
• And that's really comes to the training opportunities. And we have a lot of training.
• The State Patrol also has recently done tribal liaison training with our cadets and our new employees
• employees, where they go through a four-hour block of training about government-to-government relationships

Committee: Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from WSDOT on balancing uncertainty in capital program estimates and cash flow management. WSDOT explained the differences between design-bid-build and design-build delivery, its tiered risk-assessment process by project size, and how it uses base estimates, inflation, and risk modeling to set budgets. Staff said design-bid-build estimates are generally accurate within about 1% across the program, while design-build projects carry much wider uncertainty and are better communicated as ranges; they cited a P85 budget approach and noted that large, complex projects can be affected by market competition and long procurement timelines. Members asked about the Columbia River Bridge cost growth and about value engineering, and WSDOT said it uses value engineering but has limited scope to cut costs because of project requirements and policy mandates. Troy Swing also discussed cash flow, noting that a few large projects can significantly affect biennial funding needs, and said a risk pool would not reduce overall program risk but could help manage timing if paired with appropriation and cash-flow controls. The committee then received the final presentation in the WSDOT Project Delivery and Innovative Practices study from HKA Global. The consultant said WSDOT’s estimating practices are generally robust and recommended improving transparency by presenting budget authorizations as ranges or estimate classes, better tracking estimate growth over time, and adjusting advertisement timing to avoid competing lettings. The report also discussed surety bonding, suggesting the legislature consider restoring authority for reduced bonding on select large design-build projects or using phased bonding and alternative securities. On indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting, the consultant said current job order contract rules are restrictive and recommended legislative changes to make such tools more usable, especially for smaller tasks and to help use unspent funds more flexibly. The committee also heard a follow-up presentation on transit-oriented development policy recommendations tied to HB 1491. The Urban Institute’s Yona Freemark said Washington has been a national leader on TOD but that housing construction, especially in the Puget Sound, has slowed sharply since 2022. He said rising construction costs, high financing costs, and local tax and rent conditions are making many TOD projects infeasible, and recommended that the state fill infrastructure funding gaps around stations, revisit MFTE affordability requirements, consider minimum rather than average density requirements near transit, and create a statewide system to track TOD outcomes such as affordability, gentrification, and transit access. Members questioned the study’s developer interviews, the role of rent control and crime, property tax assumptions, and parking needs; the presenter said the study included five private developers, that rent control was not part of the study scope, and that parking was included in the model assumptions. Finally, the committee began a presentation on regulating emissions from ocean-going vessels at berth. Staff and consultants described California-style at-berth rules, which require shore power or equivalent emissions controls so ships can shut off diesel auxiliary engines while docked. The study is examining vessel traffic, emissions reductions, implementation costs, labor and operational needs, and possible effects on port competitiveness and cargo diversion. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Train Act creates an income tax credit to incentivize employers to loan qualified employees to service
• employees for the future.
• The Train Act creates an income tax credit to incentivize employers to loan qualified employees to service
• The Train Act creates an income tax credit to incentivize employers to loan qualified employees to service
• Call the roll, please. to to help us train employees for the to to help us train employees for the future

Bills: HB517 , HB98 , HB235 , HB236 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB565 , HB517 , HB98 , HB235 , HB236 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB565 , SB380

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: underground damage prevention, one-call notification system, utility locating, excavation safety, dig safe, call before you dig, utility lines, underground utilities, pipeline safety, gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, water utility, wastewater, cable television, locate request, premark, tolerance zone, positive response, contract locator

Transcript Highlights:

• program will allow that person to participate in their curriculum, competency examination, and training
• It permits a parent to sue the state or any governmental entity, subdivision, institution, employee,
• Madam Chair and members, HB 2481 sets training requirements and penalties for a school district that
• itself, and directs the school district to complete that training and intervention within 30 days.
• Madam Chair and members, HB 2379, school district governing board's training, has been amended by the

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of House bills with Senate amendments, with members generally indicating the sponsors intended to concur on most measures. Topics included public health and medical regulation (HB 2086 on face coverings/vaccinations, HB 2140 on gold and silver bullion investments, HB 2195 on nursing facility complaint timelines, HB 2189 on licensed health aides, HB 2932 on Access reimbursement and prior authorization, HB 2557 on medical records timing, and HB 2641 on PFAS firefighting foam), criminal justice and courts (HB 2673 creating an inmate mental health study committee, HB 2028 on community restitution for indigent homeless defendants, HB 2662 on expert testimony in parenting-time cases, HB 2440 on prisoner transition services, and HB 2594 on address confidentiality in family court), and education-related bills (HB 2830 on prenatal development instruction, HB 2249 on parents’ rights and social transitioning, HB 2481 on school district financial record compliance, HB 2482 on school construction job-order caps, HB 2895 on Native American language proficiency, HB 2423 on automatic advanced math enrollment, HB 2621 on special education and certificates of educational convenience, HB 2592 on AI rules, HB 2379 on school board training, and HB 2380 on out-of-state travel and public meeting materials). Other bills addressed transportation, development, housing, and local government issues, including HB 2909 on distracted driving, HB 2369 on photo enforcement citations, HB 2745 on legislative subpoenas, HB 2946 on development fees, HB 2999 on infrastructure finance districts, HB 2244 on eviction record sealing, HB 2342 on HOA shade structures, and HB 2752 on Commerce Authority trade offices. Several members raised concerns or asked questions on bills such as HB 2932, HB 2249, HB 2830, and HB 2028, but no formal votes were taken in the transcript; the meeting ended with adjournment after brief discussion of the final bills on Caucus Calendar 19, including HB 2248 on medical intervention requirements for businesses and schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• House 2 supports the recruitment and training pipeline, including the recruit training appropriation
• training as well as education.
• , for the basic training program and the annual in-service training program."
• Officials and employees.
• The employees who register for it are able to obtain the summary and do the training online now.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, we were training and working with their youth to At the same time, we were training
• So they're getting those on-the-job training hours while they're getting their training two nights a
• Why aren't you out there training your own workforce?'
• He said, you're hiring other people's trained workforce.
• It costs money to train.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met to discuss apprenticeship education and workforce development, with panelists from Santa Fe College, the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, ABC East Coast/ABC Institute, and Piper Fire Protection. Members heard that apprenticeships are growing in Florida, with panelists emphasizing that these programs offer paid, tuition-free training, progressive wage increases, and strong job placement in high-demand fields such as HVAC, electrical, fire protection, and construction. Panelists also described efforts to expand into new areas like accounting, cybersecurity, network infrastructure, and surgical technology, while stressing the importance of aligning programs with employer demand. A major topic was funding and reimbursement. Panelists said the current model is complicated and often leaves providers with only a portion of the funds appropriated for apprentices, with one provider saying reimbursement can be as low as 44% and others describing caps, contract delays, and inconsistent CareerSource support. They argued that more of the money should reach training providers, that small businesses need more support to participate, and that transparency and contract reform could help expand enrollment and improve program quality. Several also raised barriers such as instructor approval rules, paperwork, and facility costs. Members asked about admission criteria, program costs, employer incentives, outreach to high school students, and whether apprenticeships should have greater access to other funding sources. Panelists said the main requirements are being employed and willing to work and learn, and that outreach through schools, career fairs, community partnerships, and public awareness campaigns is essential. They also discussed articulation agreements that can provide college credit for apprenticeship training and suggested statewide credit recognition and possible direct funding to providers as policy improvements. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with the subcommittee adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Could we not do all the training on the ground?
• It's challenging not just for college employees, but also for school district employees and hospital
• Of them were pre-existing employees through TRIG.
• The GWO standards are going to be like a BTT, basic technical training, a BST, basic safety training,
• You've had to reduce the pay for several employees.

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It is only paid employees and only local government employees, so it's not applicable.
• So we have TDEM employees specifically that are first responders.
• Trainings be listed on the agency's website.
• So, y'all already have training programs?
• So that is another huge reason for this training. Ms.

Bills: HB35 , HB138 , HB754 , HB1314 , HB1612 , HB2254 , HB2510 , HB2789 , HB3560 , HB3597 , HB4224 , HB4273 , HB4643 , HB4783 , HB138

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services