Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to our first Labor and Commerce Committee of the 2026 legislative session.
• So Senator Saldaña, I am proud to be the chair here of the Labor and Commerce Committee.
• do work with our labor market information team.
• I'm Marlon Yanez, staff to the Labor and Commerce Committee.
• Tammy Fellon, on behalf of the Department of Labor and Industries.

Bills: SB6014, SB5972, SB5869, SB5874

Keywords: pregnancy accommodations, pregnant workers, workplace accommodations, reasonable accommodation, undue hardship, lactation, breastfeeding, express milk, maternity leave, childbirth, pregnancy discrimination, employment law, labor and industries, L&I, confidential records, public records exemption, health care certification, workplace standards, employee rights, employer obligations

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee opened its first meeting of the 2026 session with member introductions and a brief overview of committee procedures, including the schedule for future meetings and the expectation that members attend in person when possible. The committee then received an informational presentation from the Employment Security Department on its structure and major programs, including paid family and medical leave, WA Cares, unemployment insurance, workforce services, and agricultural workforce services. Members asked about program eligibility, fraud prevention, call-center capacity, and the solvency of the unemployment trust fund; ESD said WA Cares is in a limited pilot phase, the UI trust fund currently covers about seven months of benefits, and the department would follow up with more detailed information on several issues. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5292, which would replace the current paid family and medical leave rate-setting formula with a forward-looking actuarial model and a four-month reserve target beginning in 2030. Supporters, including labor and employer representatives, said the bill would improve stability and align rates with projected costs, while opponents argued it would lead to higher payroll taxes and questioned the program’s growth and affordability. The sponsor said the bill was intended to stabilize funding and keep the measure narrow, and the hearing closed without a vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6014 on pregnancy-related accommodations, which would clarify that employers may not require a doctor’s note for certain basic accommodations and would create a public records exemption for sensitive complaint and investigation records; the sponsor and a public-interest witness said the bill restores the intended privacy protections and removes unnecessary barriers for pregnant and postpartum workers. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 5972, which would extend interest arbitration rights to all correctional officers in jails, regardless of county population. The sponsor and labor witnesses said the current population threshold creates inequities between similarly situated workers and weakens bargaining over safety and staffing, while the bill was framed as a consistency and public safety measure. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5869, which would make permanent and expand a notice requirement for hazards identified at construction sites from residential construction to all building construction sites; construction industry witnesses and L&I supported the change, saying timely notice helps correct hazards quickly, and L&I said it already notifies workers on site and has been able to contact employers within 10 days in most cases. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5874, which would allow ESD to waive penalties for minor errors in quarterly unemployment reports, especially errors tied to new occupational classification reporting requirements; the sponsor said the current penalty structure is overly harsh for small administrative mistakes, and ESD said penalties had risen sharply and the agency was still evaluating the issue. The committee waived the five-day notice rule for two bills, took no final votes on the bills heard, and adjourned after completing public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we have before us the omnibus jobs, labor, and economic development budget bill, Senate File 1832
• Um, the target for the workforce, labor, and economic development committee was a reduction of $50 million

Bills: SF1832, HF2440

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, labor market, employment, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are convening the House Committee on Labor at 9:00 a.m. today, April 16th, in Conference Room 309.
• As a kid who learned life-saving skills from experienced lifeguards, I believe that lifeguards should
• I'm reconvening the House Committee on Labor for decision-making. First, we have SCR 56.

Bills: HCR112

Keywords: HCR112, House Concurrent Resolution, DHRD, Department of Human Resources Development, civil service, classification system, compensation system, salary study, pay scale, job classification, position classification, state workforce, vacancy rate, hard-to-fill positions, labor shortage, recruitment, retention, public employees, state agencies, labor organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:49.440><c> and</c> forth with Department of Labor and forth with Department of Labor and Industry
• ,</c><01:01:33.480><c> that</c> In a fair labor market, that In a fair labor market, that vulnerability
• </c> jurisdiction of the Department of Labor jurisdiction of the Department of Labor and<01:14:37.080
• Job readiness skills: at least 20% of programming must provide job readiness skills, job search placement
• </c> Department of Labor. Department of Labor.

Bills: HF3878, HF4131, HF3796, HF4097

Keywords: airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, consumer rights, automated decision systems, Minnesota Statutes, suitable seating, employee seating, workplace seating, occupational safety, workplace safety, labor standards, employer requirements, chair, stool

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll call the meeting to order, the Labor and Commerce Committee, February 2nd.
• When we invest in workforce development, we should invest in a whole person, not just a skill set, but
• I mean, you’re required to get someone through Labor and Industries to do the recording.
• I mean, you’re required to get someone through Labor and Industries to do the recording.
• It was because it depends on skills, right?

Bills: SB6053, SB6134, SB6147, SB6106, SB6045, SB6135, SB6128, SB6282, SB6068, SB6303, SB6290

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6282, which would require building and construction apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training beginning in 2027. The sponsor and labor supporters said construction workers face elevated suicide and substance use risks and that the bill would help reduce stigma, improve peer support, and connect workers to resources. Testifiers from electrical workers, bricklayers, and building trades strongly supported the measure, describing it as an important first step and noting planned amendments to extend similar information through continuing education for journey-level workers. No vote was taken on this bill in the portion provided. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6135, which would require interest arbitration panels for most uniform personnel in cities, counties, and other local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. County and city associations supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and said it would align local arbitration with existing state law. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, arguing it would weaken collective bargaining rights and let employers use financial hardship to delay or reduce fair contracts. The public hearing closed with a reported tally of 5 in favor and 22 opposed, and the bill was not advanced in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 6053 on domestic workers and then voted the bill do pass to Rules. It also passed Senate Bill 6134, which requires notice to striking workers about possible unemployment overpayment if they later receive retroactive wages. Senate Bill 6147 on grocery store closures in food deserts was sent to Ways and Means after members discussed the definition of “food desert” and concerns about the six-month notice requirement; the sponsor said the bill was still being refined. Senate Bill 6106, excluding Indian tribes from the Stable Act employer definition and protecting employee contact information from disclosure, also passed to Rules. For Senate Bill 6045 on agricultural employees and PERC jurisdiction, the committee adopted a Schoesler amendment requiring multilingual signage, then passed the amended bill to Ways and Means. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 6128 about using an L&I-approved third-party app to record independent medical exams, with supporters citing security and consistency and opponents saying it would burden injured workers and was unnecessary; and on Senate Bill 6068, which would expand contractor liability for unpaid construction wages, with workers and labor groups supporting stronger enforcement and contractors opposing broader liability. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, where testimony was split between sustainability and industry supporters and public health opponents concerned about child poisonings and packaging changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee meeting for today, Friday, January 16th.
• We can’t pursue that treatment because it’s not covered by Labor and Industries.
• , Tammy Fellin from the Department of Labor and Industries as well, and that's it.
• For example, the Department of Labor is called out.
• Edgar Franks from Families United for Immigrant and Labor Rights.

Bills: HB2091, HB2105, HB2218, HB2107, HB2137, HB2243, HB2264

Keywords: public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, immigrant worker protections, immigrant rights, worker protections, I-9 audit, Form I-9, employment eligibility verification, workplace raid, federal immigration inspection, employer notice, anti-retaliation, retaliation, Attorney General enforcement, private right of action, labor law, workplace rights

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on several bills, deferring action on HB 2091 and HB 2243 and advancing HB 2264. HB 2264 would allow workers who voluntarily participate in an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan to receive unemployment insurance benefits if their separation results from the plan. Supporters said it would remove confusing language and help laid-off workers access benefits; a member noted similar confusion from past layoffs. The committee voted 9-0 to report HB 2264 out of committee with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2091, which would extend existing collective bargaining information-sharing requirements to state agencies and certain other public employers covered by the Personnel System Reform Act. The bill would require those employers to provide unions with employee contact and job information, including personal email addresses, so unions can communicate with represented workers. The prime sponsor and union witnesses said the change would close a gap left by prior legislation and improve communication; there was no opposition testimony in the excerpt, and action on the bill was deferred. The bulk of the meeting focused on HB 2218, a workers’ compensation bill that would expand provider choice, require notice to injured workers about their right to choose providers, limit employer steering, allow deviation from treatment guidelines when medically appropriate, speed utilization review, expand continued treatment and reopening options for certain claims, and require written notice and appeal rights when providers are removed from the network. Supporters, including labor, injured-worker advocates, firefighters, and physicians, said the current system delays care and over-relies on rigid guidelines; opponents from business groups and the Department of Labor and Industries warned the bill would weaken evidence-based standards, increase costs, and create vague new penalties. No vote was taken on HB 2218 in the excerpt. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 2105, as proposed substitute, which would require employers to notify workers after an ICE Form I-9 inspection notice, share inspection results, post worker-rights notices, and limit voluntary disclosure of worker records without a subpoena or warrant, with enforcement by the Attorney General and private lawsuits. Supporters framed the bill as a due-process and worker-protection measure for immigrant workers and mixed-status families, while business and county representatives argued the notice and record-sharing requirements, short timelines, and penalties were too burdensome and could conflict with federal enforcement or discourage hiring. No final action on HB 2105 was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• is made up of nine members: three commissioners, or commissioner designees, from the Department of Labor
• </c><00:02:07.680><c> and</c> from the Department of Labor and from the Department of Labor and Industry
• </c> providers who compete in the same labor providers who compete in the same labor market<01:03:34.400
• </c> re-referred to the committee on labor re-referred to the committee on labor and<01:46:41.599><c>
• Workforce labor and economic and Workforce labor and economic development<01:46:43.920><c> finance</c

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I will move that House File 500 be re-referred to the Committee on Labor and Economic Development Finance
• In this case, the problem we all face is a significant workforce shortage in skilled nursing facilities
• The problem we all face is a significant workforce shortage in skilled nursing facilities, and who better
• 30:46.240><c> between</c><00:30:46.559><c> management</c><00:30:47.120><c> and</c><00:30:47.279><c> labor
• </c> discrepancy between management and labor discrepancy between management and labor and<00:30:47.919

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 500, which would require the legislature to fund the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s standards before they could take effect. An author’s DE2 amendment was adopted first; the amendment was described as pausing the board’s standards unless the legislature estimates and fully pays the cost for each nursing home. The bill author argued that mandates without money create serious consequences for seniors and providers, and said the measure would keep budget authority with the legislature rather than an appointed board. Supporters, including nursing home operators and the Long-Term Care Imperative, said the board’s holiday pay and minimum wage standards would create large unfunded costs, citing estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for individual facilities and more than $200 million statewide. They argued that some facilities could face debt, reserve depletion, or reduced access to care if the standards are not funded. Opponents, including SEIU workers and union leaders, said the board has improved staffing, recruitment, morale, and worker safety, and that caregivers deserve higher wages and holiday pay. They argued the bill would weaken the board’s ability to address chronic understaffing and would shift focus away from worker protections. Members also debated whether nursing home reimbursement rates have already risen enough to cover wages and whether the problem lies with how funds are used by providers. After public testimony closed, several members spoke in opposition and support. A roll call was requested, and the committee voted 9-7 to re-refer House File 500, as amended, to the Committee on Labor and Workforce and Economic Development Finance and Policy.

Bills: HB1997, HB2343, HB2566, HB2493

Keywords: students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded. House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.

Bills: HB2271, HB2324, HB2387, HB2116, HB1682, HB2468, HB2091

Keywords: HB2271, Hawaii budget, emergency appropriation, public employment cost items, collective bargaining, labor grievances, temporary hazard pay, state employees, bargaining unit 1, bargaining unit 10, BU-1, BU-10, Department of Education, University of Hawaii, general fund, revolving funds, interdepartmental transfers, settlement agreement, arbitration award, court order

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, happy Friday, and we will start our Labor and Commerce Committee.
• So if I was laboring through that, I apologize. Neil. I know. We were being worried.
• This bill establishes labor protections for domestic workers.
• We thank our colleagues both at the agency and in labor for helping us work it through.
• I am here on behalf of the Washington State Labor Council testifying in favor.

Bills: HB1347, HB2091, HB2264

Keywords: education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, unemployment insurance, benefits, employment, layoffs, workforce reduction, 904, all

Bills: HB2028, HB1859, HB1851, HB1660, HB1890, HB1892, HB1893, HB2122, HB2012, HB1770, HB2121, HB1979, HB1650, HB1982, HB218

Keywords: Labor Day, construction workers, tax credit, economic development, state law, employer support, workforce development, employment, career counseling, local economy, high-demand jobs, taxation, apprenticeship, income tax credit, qualified apprenticeship program, HB1660, Hawaii, county labor standards, counties, contractors

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy Tuesday, and you are in the Labor and Commerce Committee.
• After family members appeal a denial, Labor and Industry almost always approves the claim.
• I'm the research director of the SHARP program at the Department of Labor and Industries.
• You know, I've been through a lot of issues with Labor and Industries.
• Members of the committee, Tammy Fellon, with the Department of Labor and Industries.

Bills: SB5379, SB6106, SB6147, SB6180, SB5927, SB6287

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the presumption that heart problems in covered firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of firefighters who died of heart disease testified in support, saying the current law creates delays and burdens for grieving families; counties, cities, and self-insurers opposed the bill, citing the large fiscal impact, lack of scientific support for removing the qualifiers, and concerns about expanding presumptions without further review. An L&I researcher explained the existing time limits and said the advisory committee’s prior review did not support the change, though he noted some states have broader presumptions. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement employees. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid below comparable agencies, making arbitration important for retention and fairness. The bill was heard and left for later action. Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery establishment closures in food deserts, would require six months’ notice before closure, good-faith meetings to explore alternatives, and enforcement authority for the Attorney General and others. Supporters, including Tacoma officials, grocery workers, and community advocates, said the Fred Meyer closure in South Tacoma showed the need for more notice and community planning; grocers and industry groups opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome, arguing closures are driven by broader business and safety issues. The hearing closed without a vote. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt Indian tribes from the state WARN-style layoff notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted to ESD confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification that protects personal data; the committee noted no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 5927 would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3 percent starting in 2026. The sponsor and business/self-insurer witnesses said the cap would help address volatility and long-term unfunded liabilities; labor and injured-worker advocates opposed it, saying it would erode wage replacement for injured workers and survivors. L&I explained that it had been studying possible COLA reforms, including a 3 percent cap and a rolling-average approach, but withdrew its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would ban harmful additives and synthetic alkaloids, require labeling, set a 21+ age limit, and allow local governments to adopt stricter rules. The sponsor and poison center testimony supported regulation of concentrated 7-OH products, while industry and advocacy witnesses supported age limits and labeling but raised concerns about private lawsuits, local patchwork regulation, and the need for a state licensing framework. The committee adjourned after completing testimony on the day’s bills.

Bills: SB 324, SB 1978, SB 2139, SB 2401, SB 2587, SB 2610, SB 2858, SB 3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, Sunset Review, government accountability, Texas Lottery Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Ethics Commission, government agencies, regulatory review

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to your Friday meeting of Labor and Commerce.
• Tammy Fellin with the Department of Labor and Industries.
• We also do, when we get a request from an employer group or a worker, a labor group, we will sit down
• Tammy Fellon with the Department of Labor and Industries. I have lots of friends with me today.
• For the record, my name is Brenda Heilman, and I'm speaking on behalf of Labor and Industries.

Bills: SB5847, SB6067, SB6136, SB6014, SB5972, SB5869, SB5874, SB6058, SB6039, SB5944, SB6188

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, injured workers, medical provider network, occupational health, occupational medicine, medical care access, L&I, Department of Labor and Industries, self-insured employers, state fund claims, utilization review, provider credentialing, provider network, treatment guidelines, evidence-based medicine, claims management, claims managers, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require L&I to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and business groups said the bill would improve transparency about how reserves and investment earnings are used to hold down rates, while L&I said the information is already developed internally and the bill would mainly require publication. The bill drew broad pro testimony from hospitality, retail, business, and construction groups; no one testified in opposition. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills, adopting substitutes and passing multiple measures, including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the medical provider network in certain circumstances, limiting employer steering, requiring faster utilization review, and allowing providers to deviate from L&I treatment guidelines when medically appropriate. Supporters, including labor representatives, injured-worker attorneys, and construction workers, argued the bill would reduce delays, restore individualized medical decision-making, and better reflect the Murray decision. L&I said it supports reducing delays but warned the bill would make major, untested changes to the medical provider network and treatment-guideline system. Business and self-insured employer groups opposed the bill, saying the current guidelines preserve balance, and raising concerns about vague language, penalties, and the 15-mile provider rule. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve access and medical independence, and public testimony was then closed. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss benefits so the employer-paid health insurance portion is covered at 100% rather than the current 60% to 75% level. The sponsor and labor witnesses said injured workers should not lose health coverage because of a workplace injury and argued the bill would help families maintain care and encourage kept-on-salary or light-duty options. Opponents from self-insured employers, NFIB, and retail groups said the bill does not guarantee the added benefit will actually be used for health insurance, could be diverted to attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs and rate pressure. L&I said the bill would require IT changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs, while the sponsor and supporters said the policy would better protect injured workers’ health and financial stability. The chair closed public testimony after the final panel and ended the session.

Bills: HB134, SB217, SB180, HB157, HB92, HB335

Keywords: vehicle registration, disability access, fines, law enforcement, public accommodation, bond financing, municipal bonds, county debt, local government debt, debt service schedule, bond disclosure, public finance, bond underwriter, county commission, city council, refunding bonds, swap agreements, interest rate swaps, derivatives, fiscal transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of Labor and Industry. of Labor and Industry.
• </c><00:20:41.120><c> and</c> sure how the Department of Labor and sure how the Department of Labor and
• This is particularly acute in industries that depend on consistent production schedules and skilled labor
• ><c> simply</c><00:59:14.200><c> can't</c> today's labor market, we simply can't today's labor market
• Minimum labor both union and non-union.

Bills: HF4110, HF2113, HF4569, HF4414

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> government institutions and labor government institutions and labor organizations.<01:06:15.359>
• They they collective labor agreement.
• </c> employee paychecks to private labor employee paychecks to private labor organizations<01:38:58.159
• </c> or other charges directly to their labor or other charges directly to their labor organization.
• </c> association, company, firm, or labor association, company, firm, or labor organization<01:53:01.760

Bills: HB0083, HB0102, HB0178

Keywords: subpoena, legislative authority, penalty, compliance, law enforcement, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, public employment, labor organization, dues withdrawal, collective bargaining, public funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not as many technologies and different equipment kind of overrode the labor cost.
• I mean, are there a lot of operators that set up facilities for the migrant labor work?
• There are, but again, technology is... is decreasing the demand for migrant labor.
• A crime of being in the country illegally to do farm labor. I'm very concerned.
• You've got to go through the Department of Labor.

Bills: SB243, SB1586, SB1891, SB1959, SB2159, SB2568

Keywords: migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards, retaliation, worker complaint, language access, Spanish-language outreach, H-2A visa, temporary agricultural workers, unlicensed housing, rural housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. Today is Friday, February 20th, 2026.
• Senate Bill 6188 is agency request legislation from the Department of Labor and Industries.
• The Department of Labor and Industries adopts rules for asbestos certification.
• The Department of Labor and Industry adopts rules for asbestos certification.
• Tammy Fellon, on behalf of the Department of Labor and Industries.

Bills: SB6136, SB6188, SB5944

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency, actuarial rates, contingency reserves, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, risk classifications, employer premiums, insurance regulation, rate setting, premium increase limits, workers' compensation advisory committee, retrospective rating, state insurance fund, accident and medical aid funds, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training