Transcript Highlights:

• Molly, regarding the, so we know that Florida is progressing to the $15 an hour for minimum wage.
• The first is with the increase to minimum wage on the exit, that's already taken care of because School
• Molly, regarding the, so we know that Florida is progressing to the $15 an hour for minimum wage.
• Because we know that until the full impacts of the constitutional amendment for minimum wage is fully
• And I would just add that there are families that are this year with the minimum wage increases going

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and focused on School Readiness, specifically the new provider reimbursement rates and the School Readiness Plus program. The chair gave an overview of how School Readiness is funded and administered, noting that the Legislature now sets county-based reimbursement rates using market and cost data, and that School Readiness Plus was created to help families who would otherwise fall off the subsidy “cliff” at 85% of state median income by extending assistance up to 100% of state median income. Panelists from the Children’s Forum, the Association of Early Learning Coalitions, and the Division of Early Learning described the programs as major workforce and family-support tools that help parents stay employed and help providers recruit and retain qualified staff. Testimony emphasized that higher reimbursement rates increase parental choice, help providers cover rising child care costs, and support better staffing and lower turnover. The panel also said School Readiness Plus is easing the pressure on families to turn down raises or promotions for fear of losing child care assistance, though uptake is still early because the program only began in late 2024 and is only available to current School Readiness families at redetermination. The Division of Early Learning reported about 275 children enrolled in School Readiness Plus as of March 10, with expenditures of about $161,420 through January 2025, and said participation is increasing. Members asked about the federal-state funding split, wait lists, reverted funds, coalition accountability, county-based rate differences, and whether the entrance eligibility threshold should be raised or shifted to state median income. The panel said roughly 70% of School Readiness funding is federal, about 4% has typically reverted in recent years, and the wait list is around 12,000 children, with reasons including income ineligibility, lack of available seats, and funding limits. They argued that raising the entrance threshold would expand access but would require additional funding, and they also discussed the need to reduce workforce barriers such as in-person testing and training requirements. The meeting ended with no formal action beyond the presentation and member discussion, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At an average annual wage of $88,874, manufacturing workers' wages are 16% higher than the state's average
• wage.
• </c> provide high-wage careers. provide high-wage careers.
• average annual wage of $88,874, manufacturing<00:54:10.280><c> workers'</c><00:54:11.200><c> wages</
• The omnibus bill will also allow wage.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an hour from Uber, and they could get paid $20 an hour by Lyft, but if they would rather have their wage
• Senator Lakey continued: “On the tax side, if this person was employed by that firm, the wages paid and
• “The wages paid and the benefits paid are still a business expense, aren’t they?” Ms.
• So as an employer, if this was a regular employee, I paid them away…” The wages paid and the benefits
• “If this was a regular employee, I paid them a wage and I contributed to their benefit account, both

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee first approved the minutes from February 26, 2026 by voice vote. It then heard House Bill 738, which would allow an additional option for LLC organizers to list a commercial registered agent’s address instead of a residential/home address on the Secretary of State’s website, with the stated goal of improving privacy and safety for home-based businesses while preserving existing LLC formation options. Representative Dygert said the bill was developed with input from the Secretary of State’s office and that other states use similar approaches. After questions about the definition and use of commercial registered agents, the committee voted to send HB 738 to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 645, a proposal to create voluntary portable benefits accounts for independent contractors and other 1099 workers. Majority Leader Den Hartog and a supporting witness described the bill as a way for contractors and hiring entities to contribute to worker-owned accounts that could be used for benefits such as health, disability, life, retirement, income replacement, and unemployment insurance, with administration by approved third-party providers under Department of Insurance oversight. Supporters argued the bill would expand flexibility and access to benefits without changing worker classification, and noted similar laws in other states. Opponents, including the Idaho AFL-CIO, warned the bill could worsen worker misclassification, blur the line between employees and contractors, and create concerns about immigration verification, workers’ compensation, and tax treatment. Committee members raised repeated questions about whether the bill could affect the right-to-control test, workers’ compensation, federal classification rules, and whether the accounts might be used without health coverage. The sponsor and witness responded that the bill would not alter existing classification law, would not create an employer-employee relationship, and would remain subject to federal law. After closing debate, the committee approved HB 645 on a 5-4 roll call vote and sent it to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• They guarantee not just fair wages and safe working conditions, but also a structured pipeline for training
• PLAs), I have the opportunity to work on large-scale projects with proper safety protocols and fair wages
• Without these agreements, The promise of fair wages, job security, and safety could become uncertain,
• Addressing the claim that this is all about bringing union members from outside of Texas because the wages
• So that's mostly done by when we bring in these workers, lower wage workers.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be the garnishment going against the employee's wages, potentially, or assets.
• That's what future medicals and future wages is, right? That's my understanding.
• But we're not talking about the garnishment of wages here.
• We're not talking about the garnishment of wages here.
• That's for a garnishment of wages, though. Right. This is not for wages.

Bills: HB79 , HB437 , HB646 , HB1089 , HB1099 , SB173 , SB180 , SB260 , SB424 , SB476

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: carbon capture, damages, environmental liability, legal liability, site restoration, expert witness, expert testimony, witness fees, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, civil procedure, evidence law, Louisiana evidence code, Louisiana civil litigation, expert report, discovery, pretrial disclosure, litigation transparency, settlement, damages award

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional $19 an hour when prevailing wage was in effect.
• Prevailing wage statutes into a private business that is accepting a grant or a loan from the state,
• Senator Scott, I guess the question is about prevailing wage and why this would be inserted into the
• Nonetheless, these very typically are not minimum wage jobs.
• The one that I just referenced took that wage from $25 an hour up to $44 an hour.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have now been informed that Grace's caregiver wages may be reduced by 25%.
• This is not simply a wage issue, though. It is an access to care issue.
• When those increases came for this wage, all this wage increases, that is because we were in a DSP, that
• The current rates at least give them a living wage.
• Susan and... ...at least give them a living wage.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 25%, undermining labor law enforcement, delaying inspections, and leaving workers waiting years for wage
• At the Labor Commissioner's Office, tens of thousands of wage claims remain backlogged, often taking
• These programs connect workers to stable, living-wage jobs while meeting the needs of state employers
• These programs connect workers to stable living wage jobs while meeting the needs of state employers.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard three bills. SB 939 by Senator Laird, sponsored by CalPERS, would end new enrollment in the actuarial equivalent reduction option for service credit purchases starting in 2028 and require any unpaid balance at retirement to be paid within 90 days. The author said the change would reduce unintended consequences for members, employers, and CalPERS administration. There was no opposition, and the bill was approved on a unanimous vote and sent to Appropriations. SB 1038, also by Senator Laird and sponsored by CSEA, would expand CalPERS audit notification procedures so bargaining units receive notice when an employer is audited and receive relevant member information from final audit reports. Supporters said this would help unions protect members from benefit reductions or repayment demands caused by payroll or compensation errors, citing a Kern High School District audit example. Teamsters, the California Labor Federation, and AFSCME testified in support, with no opposition. The committee passed the bill unanimously and sent it to Appropriations. SB 1227 by Senator Drozdoff/Dorazo (as referenced in the transcript) would require the Department of Industrial Relations to work with unions on apprenticeship pathways into enforcement jobs, such as Cal/OSHA and Labor Commissioner classifications, to address staffing shortages and backlogs. The author and supporters from United Steelworkers, SEIU Local 1000, CSEA, the California Labor Federation, and others argued apprenticeship would create a pipeline of trained workers and improve labor law enforcement. The committee accepted amendments, voted the bill out on a unanimous vote, and re-referred it to the Committee on Labor and Employment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Occupational ... 2295 minimum wage. HB 2296, prohibited commerce. HB 2297, financial education.
• Commerce and Education: HB 2309, earned wage access; HB 2310, qualified market ...
• HB 2295, minimum wage. HB 2296, prohibited commerce. HB 2297, financial education.
• Commerce and Education: HB 2309, earned wage access; HB 2310, qualified market ...

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 247, Brian, incarcerated firefighters' wages due pass with author's amendments to set wages at $7.25
• With republicans not voting AB 1198, Haney, prevailing wage, two-year bill.
• AB 485 Ortega, unpaid wages enforcement, do pass, out with rehabilitation. Republicans not voting.
• AB 1138 Zubur, film tax credit due passes amended to equalize the independent film uplift for wages paid

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• paid to each employee to 1.1% of taxable wages.
• A lot of them have wage thresholds like House File 1768 does.
• So we didn't there wasn't have uh wage thresholds like House File have uh wage thresholds like House
• It keeps them from taking that promotion and so will suppress wages.
• It keeps them from taking that promotion and so will suppress wages.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And since 2022 in this market, minimum wage has increased 32%.
• And at Alderwood, the hourly Medicaid reimbursement is 17% below the current minimum wage.
• Minimum wage has nearly increased. 20 percent, and Medicaid rates are frozen.
• That funding directly supports wages, benefits, and essential staffing stability.
• The funding directly supported wages, benefits, and essential staffing stability.

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• , but when they are introduced to the trades and see that there is gainful employment and a living wage
• I support fair wages, but wages alone will not fix buildings, empty food trays, missing medical care,
• Raising the wage, like right now, it's $22 an hour.
• When you factor in... the wage, like right now it's $22 an hour.
• You're right, because the wages are not going to fix some of these other issues that we have.

Bills: S0054 , S0156 , S0296 , S0298

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 public safety budget, which totals about $8.2 billion within a $117.4 billion overall state budget. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget outlined funding and reductions across the public safety silo, including the Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, FDLE, Legal Affairs, the courts, and related entities. Agency heads then presented their requests, with FDLE seeking funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert system upgrades, alcohol testing equipment, officer mental health, criminal alien detection, and statutory staffing needs; DJJ requesting money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential contract rate increases, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requesting major funding for correctional officer pay increases, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications and security technology, offender information system modernization, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members discussed staffing shortages, prison conditions, immigration enforcement, public records burdens, mental health and substance use treatment, and the need for continued investment in corrections. A member of the public also testified about poor conditions in some prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and maintenance issues. The committee then considered and passed CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would clarify that a person may not resist a law enforcement officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties and would increase penalties in cases involving violence against officers. The bill sponsor described the case of Officer Jason Rayner and said the measure was intended to prevent defendants from using claims about unlawful detention or arrest to justify violence. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after support was noted from several law enforcement and municipal groups. Next, the committee passed CS/SB 54, which addresses use of substances affecting cognitive function. An amendment narrowed the medical-records language to records relevant to investigations of violent offenders and clarified privacy protections. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also passed CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from survivors and advocates emphasized the danger victims face when trying to leave abusive situations. Finally, the committee passed CS/SB 298, the public-records companion bill, which extends confidentiality protections for participants in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating violence victims as well. All three bills were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were specific laws called out in our study mandate, and they relate to those for wages and hours
• And it investigates complaints alleging violations of wage and hour laws, health and safety issues, and
• And it investigates complaints alleging violations of wage and hour laws, health and safety issues, and
• Violations of wage and hour laws, health and safety issues, and any instances of retaliation.
• First, what are L&I's processes for investigating and enforcing wage and hour, health and safety, and

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, in hybrid format. After roll call, the committee initially lacked a quorum and deferred approval of the July 15 minutes until Representative Berg arrived; the minutes were then adopted. Members also discussed the proposed 2026 JLARC meeting schedule, including possible changes to address crowded July meetings and the annual tax exemption review workload. Staff presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, noting that 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, with 91% reporting compliance, $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and no independent verification of the self-reported data. Several members questioned the value and usefulness of the report, and the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the statutory reporting requirement. The committee then heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found the office meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but recommended updating the statute to better match the office’s current capacity and focus and improving performance measures to reflect long-term privacy outcomes rather than outputs. Members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they provide general privacy training and consultation but not law-specific training unless requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without recommendation, after staff reported that boating revenues support both general government and boating activities and that no participating agencies submitted formal comments. Members asked about boater safety education and possible overlap among the six agencies involved; Parks staff said education has reached more than 500,000 boaters and that fatalities and incidents have declined. The committee also reviewed planned study questions for a JLARC review of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker laws, with members raising scope questions about the term “farm worker” versus “agricultural worker,” and for DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, which JLARC will review as DNR completes its recalculation. Finally, staff outlined the 2026 tax preference performance reviews covering seven preferences, and members asked about racial equity, environmental impacts, disclosure of beneficiary savings, and how the reviews will measure effectiveness; the meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• This could all be shifted to the worker, who then can't afford it because they need the wages.
• His medical bills would be paid, his wage-loss benefits would be paid while he's out of work.
• He would have to be responsible for his own medical bills, and he would get no wage-loss benefits to
• I wasn't trying to imply that that came out of the employee's wages.
• It doesn't come out of the employee's wages, is what I was getting at. Okay.

Committee: House Labor & Industrial Relations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted prior meeting minutes and voluntarily deferred three bills before taking up House Bill 232, which would shift the employment-certificate process for minors away from school boards and to Louisiana Works. Rep. Carlson said the bill is intended to reduce burdens on schools and make it easier for 16- and 17-year-olds to work, especially in the summer. A youth advisory council testified in support, describing the current process as cumbersome for students and families. The committee adopted amendments, including a change making the bill effective upon the governor’s signature, and then reported HB 232 favorably with amendments. The committee next considered House Bill 951, creating an Office of Talent Accelerator within Louisiana Works and a Business Workforce Committee to coordinate employer-facing workforce services. Rep. Bamberg and Secretary Susie Schowen described it as a centralized, regional, business-facing effort to respond more quickly to workforce needs tied to major economic development projects, while also supporting existing small and mid-sized businesses. Supporters, including Bollinger Shipyards and Leaders for a Better Louisiana, said similar models in Mississippi had helped expand training pipelines and better match employers with workers. The committee adopted a large amendment set and reported HB 951 with amendments. House Bill 923, a cleanup measure reorganizing Louisiana Works statutes and updating language after last year’s agency restructuring, was then adopted with technical amendments and reported with amendments. The committee also took up House Bill 301, which would create a voluntary portable-benefits framework for independent contractors and gig workers. Supporters said it would give contractors a way to negotiate benefits such as health care or retirement contributions, while opponents warned it could encourage misclassification, weaken workers’ compensation protections, and shift costs to workers and the state. After debate, the committee adopted amendments and reported HB 301 with a 6-5 vote. Finally, House Bill 185 was introduced as a workers’ compensation measure to expand the definition of independent contractor and restore tort immunity for employers in certain contract-labor situations. The sponsor said it was part of the Attorney General’s package and aimed at addressing a recent court decision; the bill was just beginning discussion when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Particularly in the tech sector, these are not just lost jobs, but careers which offer wages that allow
• Do they offer family-sustaining wages and worker voice?
• Do they offer family-sustaining wages and worker voice?
• A living wage, employer-paid health care, family leave, and retirement benefits.
• 25% higher than current average wages, and generating $16 billion in annual tax revenue.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wage theft occurs when employers do not pay their employees the full wages that they are legally entitled
• </c> workers with a focus on low-wage workers with a focus on low-wage non-union<05:07:53.680><c> workers
• wages that these in hard-earned wages wages that these workers<05:08:22.958><c> never</c><05:08:23.718
• ><c> see</c><05:08:24.718><c> wage</c><05:08:25.080><c> that</c><05:08:25.520><c> wage</c><05:08:25.798
• ><c> theft</c> workers never see wage that wage theft workers never see wage that wage theft can<05:08

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anything in the budget for those caregivers to get a better wage, to get a worthy wage?
• Um, is there anything in the budget for those caregivers to get a better wage, to get a worthy wage?
• And for all Arizonans, that investment certainty translates to more jobs, higher wages, and stronger
• They deserve wages that are worthy of the work they're doing, and they are not getting that.
• Can we please get a worthy wage for our caregivers?

Bills: HB4154 , HB4155 , HB4156 , HB4157 , HB4158 , HB4159 , HB4160 , HB4161 , HB4162 , HB4163 , HB4164 , HB4165 , HB4166 , HB4167 , HB4168 , HB4169 , SB1847 , SB1848 , SB1849 , SB1850 , SB1851 , SB1852 , SB1853 , SB1854 , SB1855 , SB1856 , SB1857 , SB1858 , SB1859 , SB1860 , SB1861 , SB1862

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: general appropriations act, budget, biennial budget, state spending, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, fiscal year 2027, state treasury, agency funding, operating budget, capital budget, public finance, state agencies, legislative budget, house appropriations, rules committee, HB4155, amusements, amusement industry, entertainment

Transcript Highlights:

• Lost wages are still paid. Future care is still covered.
• Dunbar. ...like medical bills and lost wages. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Dunbar.
• In fact, Cajun spent less than $10,000 in medical and had no lost wages on that explosion.
• Than $10,000 in medical and had no lost wages on that explosion.
• They still have lost wages, medical coverage, all of that. Isn't that correct?

Bills: HB37 , HB51 , HB173 , HB180 , HB192 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB485 , HB516 , HB521 , HB526 , HB638 , HB752 , HB817 , HB976 , HB1006 , HB1044

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: HB37, expropriation, eminent domain, property rights, foreign entity, foreign corporation, limited liability company, LLC, reciprocal expropriation agreement, Louisiana property law, land acquisition, utility infrastructure, public utilities, railroad, waterworks, sewerage, natural gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, carbon dioxide pipeline

Transcript Highlights:

• With higher wages earning higher reimbursement percentages, the grants With higher wages earning higher
• reimbursement percentages, the grants range from an 8% to 22% reimbursement on qualifying wages, but
• that while CAPEX matters and investment matters, if we're not growing the wages of our people, then
• perhaps we aren't doing the most good that we could with our wages.
• If we're not growing the wages of our people, then perhaps we aren't doing the most good that we could

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all