Transcript Highlights:

• I understood that there was a private contract that was the cabinet issued to conduct those care source
• private contract that was the cabinet issued<01:21:21.440><c> to</c><01:21:21.840><c> conduct</c><01
• Um their contract has we've selected.
• Um their contract has we've started<01:51:13.360><c> work</c><01:51:13.520><c> with</c><01:51:13.760>
• And I think you had asked for the contract amount. Now remember, this is a contract for all of HR1.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board’s fourth meeting focused primarily on a presentation from University of Kentucky and University of Louisville health leaders about the state university directed payment program. Mark Birdwhistle and Ken Marshall described the program as a long-running, value-based Medicaid arrangement that began in 2019, uses university-provided matching funds rather than provider taxes, and ties a portion of payments to quality outcomes. They said the program has improved measures such as tobacco cessation, diabetes control, depression screening, and cancer screening, while supporting access to specialty care, medical education, and workforce training. They also emphasized that Kentucky’s model is nationally notable and has helped improve health rankings and generate cost savings. A major topic was the federal reconciliation bill signed July 4, which the presenters said will reduce directed payments by 10% annually for 10 years beginning in 2028. UL Health estimated a first-year loss of about $75 million and a cumulative loss of about $600 million over the decade; UK estimated about $100 million in the first year, for a combined first-year impact of roughly $175 million. Both speakers warned the cuts could affect access to care, training capacity, and the sustainability of Kentucky’s value-based model, though they expressed hope that congressional action could alter or delay the changes. They also noted that 340B drug pricing changes could further strain already thin operating margins, but did not provide exact figures during the meeting. Committee members responded positively to the program’s reported outcomes and the institutions’ role in Kentucky health care. Senator Berg praised the quality of care and shared a personal example of being advised to stay at UofL for breast cancer treatment. Representative Moer highlighted Kentucky’s strong cancer-control score and asked for more explanation of the value-based payment structure; the presenters said the system is built around ongoing measurement, accountability, and collaboration with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the amended August 27 minutes by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:40.240><c> increases</c> appropriations from contract increases appropriations from contract
• Um, our organization, 60% of our funds come from federal contracts and federal funds.
• Um, our organization, 60% of our funds come from federal contracts and federal funds.
• Um, our organization, 60% of our funds come from federal contracts and federal funds.
• </c><00:48:21.040><c> programs</c> funds in our state contracted programs funds in our state contracted

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:17.560><c> that</c><00:08:17.680><c> you</c><00:08:17.840><c> currently</c> existing contracts
• that you currently existing contracts that you currently have<00:08:18.720><c> sure</c><00:08:19.240
• Currently, we also allocate $800,000 per year for FCI program contracts, and we support this measure,
• that we and we support this contracts that we and we support this measure<00:13:00.120><c> would</c>
• Elementary with a contract of the Executive Office on Early Learning.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 627, which concerns Department of Education school safety funding and staffing. DOE said the bill would restore two positions and related funding that had been removed from the governor’s budget: a targeted violence prevention and threat assessment program manager and a security technology manager. DOE described ongoing work on school vulnerability assessments, fire suppression measures, security camera research, panic buttons, and active shooter prevention training. Testifiers from DOE, the Department of Law Enforcement, fire services, HSTA, and an individual witness all supported the bill, with the individual citing a past school shooting experience as a reason to increase school resource officers and safety measures. Members asked about the positions’ duties, how the request differed from existing security funding, and the status of active shooter training; DOE said it would provide more information on training statistics. The committee then took up HB 249, relating to Executive Office on Early Learning family child interaction learning programs. The Early Learning Board, EOEL, Commit to Kids, Early Childhood Action Strategies, Partners in Development Foundation, and others testified in support. EOEL said it currently spends about $800,000 annually on FCI program contracts and supports expanding state funding for FCIL programs, including infant and early childhood mental health, if the appropriation covers the broader scope. Testifiers emphasized that FCIL programs are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and help families and children, with one provider sharing a long-term example of a parent and child benefiting from the program. Members asked how many programs are supported, whether FCIL exists on all islands, and whether the request was in the governor’s budget; EOEL said the expansion was requested by the office but not included in the governor’s budget. HB 429, concerning pre-K expansion, drew broad support from the Lieutenant Governor, EOEL, HSTA, and community groups. Supporters said the Ready Keiki initiative has already opened more than 50 classrooms and would add another 50 over the next two years, including Hawaiian immersion classrooms. EOEL said it currently administers 72 public pre-K classrooms across 74 campuses and that the bill’s funding was included in the governor’s budget request. Testimony stressed kindergarten readiness, affordability for working families, equity across islands, and inclusion classrooms. Members asked about national quality benchmarks, with EOEL stating Hawaii meets 10 of 10 benchmarks and that only five states had done so at the time referenced. The Lieutenant Governor also described construction and delivery efforts, including refurbishing existing classrooms, modular options, possible use of state buildings, and even collaboration with libraries to expand child care access. Finally, the committee heard HB 439 on J-1 teacher licensure. DOE supported the bill, while the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposed it, arguing licensure standards are not place-based and should remain rigorous and uniform for all educators. The Attorney General’s office offered technical comments, including replacing “educators” with “teacher” and clarifying the bill’s language on issuance and renewal conditions. Several organizations and individuals testified in support, including school, cultural, business, and educator groups. One witness, a teacher from the Philippines, said J-1 educators are highly qualified and described the rigor of teacher preparation in the Philippines. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, like you said, it's for equipment, CIP, and contracts.
• So, like you said, it's for equipment, CIP, and contracts.
• 00:59:19.119><c> equipment</c><00:59:19.680><c> CIP</c><00:59:20.359><c> and</c><00:59:20.640><c> contracts
• </c> it's for equipment CIP and contracts it's for equipment CIP and contracts then<00:59:21.640><c>
• </c> of the dashboard the overall Contracting of the dashboard the overall Contracting making<01:10:16.480

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or maybe they don't even contract with an insurer.
• Or maybe they don't even contract with an insurer.
• ,</c> they have to have people in contracts, they have to have people in contracts, so<00:53:47.240><
• Chairman, from time to time I engage in discussions with providers related to the contracting.
• ><c> through</c><03:34:23.840><c> private</c> a state contract through private a state contract through

Committee: Joint Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:44.160><c> is</c><00:04:44.320><c> handled</c><00:04:44.639><c> with</c><00:04:44.800><c> contracts
• </c><00:04:45.360><c> and</c> law, it is handled with contracts and law, it is handled with contracts
• and lawyers for cannot pay for contracts and lawyers for other<00:04:53.280><c> people.
• This model would essentially create a new entity, or we would contract with a new entity, that would
• with a new entity or we would contract with a new entity<01:26:37.840><c> that</c><01:26:38.159><c>

Bills: HF4609 , HF4401

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: infertility, fertility treatment, fertility preservation, IVF, assisted reproductive technology, ART, oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer, egg freezing, sperm freezing, reproductive health, maternity coverage, health insurance mandate, health plan benefits, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, family planning, oncology fertility preservation, chemotherapy

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1185, Calvert County contracts for infrastructure or asset management contract duration, favorable
• House Bill 1155, Calvert County Procurement Long-Term Contracts for Infrastructure and Asset Management
• for</c><00:46:02.520><c> Infrastructure</c><00:46:03.480><c> and</c><00:46:03.760><c> Asset</c> Contracts
• Um, the bill as it came in required them to contract with an independent evaluator.
• </c><01:28:50.880><c> with</c> came in required them to contract with came in required them to contract

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 60 clarifies in the definition of public schools that it included intermediate schools and tribal contract
• included intermediate schools<00:38:00.120><c> and</c><00:38:00.240><c> tribal</c><00:38:00.640><c> contract
• </c> schools and tribal contract schools. schools and tribal contract schools.
• schools and expansions, strengthen procurement standards, and increase transparency and guardrails in contracts
• </c> Connecticut's recent contract-based Connecticut's recent contract-based framework. framework. framework

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have executed and secured contracts for the technical and financial analysis.
• We anticipate contracts will be fully executed by April 15, 2026.
• </c><01:25:14.719><c> We</c><01:25:15.040><c> anticipate</c> executing contracts.
• We anticipate executing contracts.
• 01:25:16.960><c> executed</c><01:25:17.440><c> by</c> contracts will be fully executed by contracts will

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So unless that number of grants and contracts goes down, the administrative costs and the staff needed
• that we are administering each contracts that we are administering each year.<00:44:55.680><c> And</
• So unless that number of grants and contracts<00:45:07.839><c> goes</c><00:45:08.160><c> down,</c><00
• :45:08.960><c> the</c><00:45:09.200><c> administrative</c> contracts goes down, the administrative contracts
• Um, so I've been in active negotiations with hospitals when I did labor contracts, and it always seems

Bills: HF1925

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: nurse licensure, multistate license, healthcare, public safety, interstate compact, nursing regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So they contract with private commercial insurers to administer Medicaid benefits and pay providers.
• </c> redetermination or can you contract redetermination or can you contract something<00:47:11.520><
• Now that said, um, you know, states, sorry, excuse me, states often contract with, um, third-party vendors
• to assist in eligibility determinations or they may have information system contracts that are used
• </c> may have information system contracts may have information system contracts that<00:47:44.079><c

Keywords: 00:00:22 - Call to Order and Roll Call 00:03:00 – Approval of June 25, 2025 Minutes 00:03:22 - Update on Federal Changes to the Medicaid Program 01:03:44 - State Directed Payments, Provider Taxes, and the Rural Health Transformation Fund: How Medicaid Changes Could Impact Kentucky Hospitals 01:29:42 – Public Comments 01:45:25 – Announcements 01:46:19 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on July 30, 2025, approved the June 25 minutes, and received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1. The presentation outlined more than 20 Medicaid-related provisions, emphasizing that the largest federal savings come from work/community engagement requirements, changes to provider taxes, limits on state-directed payments, more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion populations, and related eligibility/enrollment changes. She said the fiscal effects are backloaded, with most reductions occurring in the later years of the 10-year window, and noted potential significant impacts on hospital payments and state financing. She also described new funding opportunities, including a $50 billion rural health transformation fund and a new home and community-based services waiver with associated grants. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on Kentucky’s pending community engagement 1115 waiver and how it would interact with the new federal requirements. Board members asked whether the waiver had been approved, what the cabinet’s contingency plan would be if CMS does not approve it, and what the timeline is for compliance. Cabinet representatives said the waiver has not yet been approved by CMS, remains under public comment, and that the state will wait for CMS guidance before moving forward; if needed, the state would amend the waiver or submit a new one. They said the work requirement must be in place by January 1, 2027, with a possible extension to 2028. Castanza also explained that expansion adults with incomes between 100% and 138% of the federal poverty level would face new cost-sharing requirements beginning October 1, 2028, and that eligibility redeterminations would move from annual to every six months starting January 1, 2027. She then walked through provider tax changes, including a moratorium on new provider taxes beginning October 1, 2026, and a phased reduction in the hold-harmless threshold for existing taxes beginning January 1, 2028, with exemptions for nursing facilities and ICF/IID providers. Board members questioned the timing and likely impact on Kentucky, and Castanza responded that the effect would depend on each tax’s current rate and would phase in over time.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was already a disaster case management contract open for the western Kentucky tornadoes that we
• And do you have the ability for part-time hiring or contracting within your network? Yes.
• We have the contract in the purchase area with that.
• We have the<01:30:23.760><c> contract</c><01:30:24.080><c> in</c><01:30:24.320><c> the</c><01:30:24.480
• in the in the purchase area the contract in the in the purchase area with<01:30:26.239><c> that.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force met with a quorum, adopted the minutes from the previous meeting, and heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University’s Disaster Science Operations Center. WKU described its multidisciplinary disaster science effort, including meteorology, emergency management, the Kentucky State Climate Center, the Kentucky Mesonet, and the Disaster Science Operations Center, which was created in 2021 and serves as an operational hub for forecasting, emergency planning, crisis management, training, and decision support. Speakers emphasized applied learning, student field work, partnerships with industry and event venues, and a five-year NSF/UK-led research project focused on weather hazards, disaster preparedness, and building a statewide disaster database to improve mitigation and resilience. Members asked about flooding, the relationship to EKU’s program, Tennessee’s capabilities, and the timeline and goals for the research project; WKU said the data collection is underway and that the evidence suggests tornado risk is shifting east and occurring more at night. A WKU graduate student also described the value of hands-on storm-chasing and operational forecasting experience, saying it helped prepare her for work in forecasting and emergency management. Members asked about her motivation for joining the program and about the practical realities of storm chasing. The discussion also touched on whether Kentucky’s tornado risk is shifting east; WKU said the evidence from tornado observations and other studies points in that direction, with added concern about nighttime events and communicating warnings to vulnerable communities. The task force then heard from Amy Shaquinn of the Mayfield Graves County Long-Term Recovery Group, who outlined the county-level recovery process after the 2021 tornadoes. She said Kentucky ranks among the top states for federally declared disasters, has seen a high number of tornadoes in recent years, and also faces major flood risk and earthquake concerns along the New Madrid fault. Shaquinn stressed the distinction between immediate response and long-term recovery, explaining that response covers rescue, cleanup, temporary housing, and short-term assistance, while recovery is the longer effort to restore survivors to safe, sanitary, and secure housing through local long-term recovery groups. She said community-led recovery is essential and that preparedness and mitigation follow once immediate recovery needs are addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• mineral investment and directed the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to use timber sale contracts
• mineral investment and directed the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to use timber sale contracts
• mineral investment and directed the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to use timber sale contracts
• At the same time, when Elon Musk and his federal contracts are $8 million a day, if you are trying to
• AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN ELON MUSK AND HIS FEDERAL CONTRACTS ARE $8 MILLION A DAY.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But once those projects start actually moving toward completion and getting their construction contract
• But once those projects start actually moving toward completion and getting their construction contract
• The Minnesota Department of Health developed a contract with 18 engineering firms to assist water systems
• I mentioned earlier the 18 engineering firms under contract with the Minnesota Department of Health to
• that would provide a guarantee contract that would provide a guarantee uh<01:21:48.880><c> starting<

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this convention was held in Tennessee, the corporate headquarters of CoreCivic, that we are contracting
• The second is, even though some years ago, this is a 2016 article, we're continuing to contract with
• I mean, we have not explored what the options are for contracting this would be.
• I mean, we have not explored what the options are for contracting this would be.
• are for Contracting this would be<01:40:22.040><c> and</c><01:40:22.719><c> okay</c><01:40:22.960><c

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on March 21, 2025, and heard several resolutions related to corrections, emergency preparedness, and wildfire risk. Early items included HCR 62/HR 57 on flying the National League of Families POW/MIA flag year-round at the state Capitol, for which no one testified, and HCR 154/HR 49, which would request a comprehensive forensic audit of DCR and DAGS spending tied to planning and building a new jail to replace the Ahu Community Correctional Center. The ACLU strongly supported the audit, arguing that the state has spent millions on jail planning over many years without clear accounting, that a new jail is unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible, and that public-private partnership arrangements could reduce transparency. Committee members questioned the use of the term “forensic,” the age of some cited allegations, and whether the auditor could instead conduct another type of audit; the ACLU said it was open to other audit language and offered to help compile background materials. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard HCR 63, asking DCR to provide separate clinical counseling services for correctional staff, with one supporter, and HCR 23, which asks DCR to include circuit and district court facilities in planning the new Ahu Community Correctional Center and to establish a release procedure that avoids releasing detainees into residential communities or public spaces. DCR Director Johnson said the department supported the intent of HCR 23 and had discussed it with the Chief Justice and court administrator, adding that one multi-purpose courtroom could handle both district and circuit proceedings. The chair then moved on without further discussion. A major portion of the meeting focused on HCR 37, which asks HEMA to work with other agencies on outreach and preparedness for kūpuna. Testifiers from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, AARP Hawaii, and the Hawaii Council of Community Associations supported the measure, citing the vulnerability of older adults and people with disabilities during disasters, lessons from the Lahaina fires, and the need for clear evacuation plans, siren reliability, and better coordination with care homes and condominium associations. Several speakers described local preparedness efforts and concerns about gaps in communication and implementation. The committee also discussed HCR 69/HR 62 on creating a vegetation management working group to reduce wildfire risk; the Division of Consumer Advocacy supported it, with testimony describing dangerous incidents involving vines and bamboo contacting electrical lines and causing sparking and a utility pole fire. The meeting ended with testimony and questions continuing on that topic, and no final committee action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some artists, some speakers have specific rules in their contracts about what can and can't be brought
• But some particular contracts kind of preclude us from allowing a water bottle to come in.
• But some particular contracts kind of preclude us from allowing a water bottle to come in.
• contracts kind of preclude us from allowing<00:51:15.440><c> a</c><00:51:15.599><c> water</c><00:51:
• Carlson said, Live Nation has an exclusive contract for water with Liquid Death.

Bills: HF1392 , HF2233 , HF695 , HF2228 , HF1289

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: consumer protection, restitution, attorney general, consumer enforcement, unclaimed funds, victim compensation, settlement funds, special revenue fund, general fund, restitution account, consumer fraud, state treasury, eligible consumers, distribution of funds, tax subtraction, income tax, refund, unpaid compensation, Minnesota Department of Revenue, consumer redress

Transcript Highlights:

• They do budgeting, and they also make sure that the contracts get executed for the state, for all of
• get executed for the state for contracts get executed for the state for the<01:00:05.640><c> for</c>
• We are all state employees, and we do have some contracted services through our medical team.
• companies that do contract, and they're paying quite a bit more than we are.
• contract and they're companies that do contract and they're paying<02:44:13.319><c> quite</c><02:44:

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• where you have a building authority, there's additional resources that are able to help with the contract
• Zuniga, Synergy Contracting, and Joe Albanese, Commodore Builders. And you are welcome. Thank you.
• Zuniga, Synergy Contracting, and Joe Albanese, Commodore Builders. And you are welcome. Thank you.
• Zuniga, founder and CEO of Synergy Contracting. We're based out of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
• Zuniga, founder and CEO of Synergy Contracting.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its second public hearing of the 194th General Court on capital investments in higher education, focusing primarily on H.54, the Bright Act, along with H.1426/S.949 on green and healthy public colleges and universities and deferred maintenance, and H.1424 on capital investment in Gateway Cities. Chairs and administration officials framed the hearing as a response to aging campus infrastructure, climate goals, workforce needs, and federal pressures on higher education, and explained that testimony would be taken from pre-registered speakers in person and virtually. University of Massachusetts leaders strongly supported the Bright Act, describing large deferred maintenance backlogs, aging buildings, and the need to decarbonize campuses while modernizing research and teaching facilities. UMass officials said the bill would help keep tuition and fees lower by reducing the need for campuses to finance capital work themselves, and argued that the investments would improve competitiveness, support research, and create construction jobs. Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Tuttweiler, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Gorzkowicz also backed the bill, saying it would leverage Fair Share surtax revenues for a proposed $2.5 billion in campus investments plus additional targeted grants, and that it would support affordability, economic growth, and climate resilience. Committee members asked about the balance between deferred maintenance and decarbonization, the role of grant programs versus direct spending, the impact on tuition and fees, and how the plan would help campuses respond to federal cuts such as NIH and NSF funding. Administration officials said the proposal was designed to be phased in quickly, with some projects ready to start immediately and others taking longer, and that the grant programs would be structured to include all campuses equitably. They also said the plan would build on an existing financing model similar to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and could help campuses avoid future tuition increases tied to capital costs. Additional testimony came from MassBay Community College, where President David Podell and recent nursing graduate Deanna Cavazos described the benefits of a new Framingham campus building and said community colleges need modern labs, better planning capacity, and deferred maintenance support to serve the enrollment growth from MassReconnect and MassEducate. State university leaders, including President Mary Grant, President Linda Thompson, and President John Keenan, said their campuses face outdated classrooms, insufficient electrical capacity, and aging facilities, and urged passage of the Bright Act as a long-overdue investment in student success and workforce preparation.

Transcript Highlights:

• not rise to a pattern that would suggest that there is some sort of informal agreement absent a contract
• NOT RISE TO A PATTERN THAT WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF INFORMAL AGREEMENT ABSENT A CONTRACT
• But he was then transferred to the jail and held under their contract as an ICE detainee.
• BUT HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE JAIL, AND HELD UNDER THEIR CONTRACT AS AN ICE DETAINEE.
• New York State's contract with ICE for enforcement and detention directly contributed to the death of

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approval of the prior day’s journal, and several motions to restore previously passed bills to the third-reading calendar. Senate Print 2436A, an amendment to the Administrative Code of New York City, and Senate Print 7160, an amendment to the Elder Law, were both reconsidered and restored to the calendar by roll call. Amendments were also received on Senate Print 9960, which retained its place on the third-reading calendar. The chamber then paused to honor Madeline Wilson on her 100th birthday and Marilyn D. Mosley through previously adopted resolutions, with family members and guests recognized on the floor. The Senate also welcomed Columbia Kicks Cancer, a student-run East Greenbush fundraising team that raised more than $239,000 for blood cancer research and care. The Finance Committee reported Senate Print 9005C, a budget bill amending Chapter 268 of the Laws of 1996, directly to third reading, and the Senate accepted the report and the message of necessity. The bill was then taken up on the controversial calendar, leading to extended debate on Part LL, which focused on limits on state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including 287(g) agreements, informal cooperation, masking rules for law enforcement, sensitive locations such as polling places, and the creation of an Office of Immigration Trust within the Attorney General’s office. Supporters argued the bill would keep state and municipal employees focused on their own duties, protect constitutional rights, and prevent New York resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement; they also said it would not bar all cooperation or prevent local police from responding to crime. Opponents argued it would hinder public safety, restrict law enforcement cooperation, and interfere with local discretion, while some raised concerns about constitutional issues and the practical effects on sheriffs, county jails, and police agencies. The debate also included a separate provision creating a civil cause of action for constitutional-rights violations by federal, state, or local officials, which supporters described as an accountability measure. Members further discussed the masking section, with supporters saying it applied broadly to officials and was intended to withstand constitutional scrutiny, while opponents cited a recent Ninth Circuit ruling striking down a similar California law. The Office of Immigration Trust and its complaint/referral process were also examined, including the role of the Governor and the State Education Department in reviewing alleged violations. No final vote on the controversial calendar bill was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just found out this week that Textron has gotten a $450 million defense contract to build tanks, which
• It's kind of, oh, wow, it's a $450 million defense contract. But it's a big deal for us.
• or agreements, to prohibit non-compete contracts, agreements, or provisions for interns and apprentices
• Amendment number four prohibits a non-compete contract, agreement, or provision from restricting an intern
• So if you're a 17-year-old high school senior, you can't sign a contract, so you can't work.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, which would change the workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule appeals process by allowing additional medical evidence submitted in court to be sent back to the medical director for review and a new opinion. The Attorney General’s office explained the bill, noting a 30-day deadline for the medical director to act before the case returns to court. The bill drew support from injured workers and several business and labor groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments and then reported the bill favorably without objection. House Bill 353, which would establish a state minimum wage starting at $12 in 2027, rising to $15 in 2029 and then indexed to inflation, prompted extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the sponsor, Invest in Louisiana, the Workplace Justice Project, 10,000 Women Louisiana, and the AFL-CIO, argued that Louisiana’s wages have lagged behind living costs, that many workers remain in poverty despite working, and that higher wages would help families and local economies. Opponents, including NFIB and several members, argued that the market is already setting wages above the federal minimum in many jobs, that a mandate would raise costs, compress pay scales, reduce hours or jobs, and hurt small businesses. After discussion, the committee voted on the bill and it failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported Senate Bill 383 favorably with amendments. That bill expands the incumbent worker training program by increasing funding flexibility, shortening the business eligibility period from three years to two, and allowing unobligated funds to roll over. Members and the Louisiana Works secretary discussed workforce training, outreach, and how to connect workers to existing training programs and high-demand jobs. The committee also reported Senate Bill 382 favorably, which repeals the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, and began hearing House Bill 422, the “Behind-the-Counter Safety Act,” aimed at workplace violence protections for retail and food service workers, including signage, reporting, and enhanced penalties; the sponsor explained it was intended to address attacks on frontline workers and to give businesses a tool to warn against violence.