Transcript Highlights:

• Well, workers' tax is workers' compensation.
• So again, what is workers' compensation?
• There are no out-of-pocket costs for injured workers in workers' comp systems.
• So, we are the Division of Workers' Comp. workers' compensation, we are the agency that's responsible
• workers comp now.

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 956 relating to iron workers.
• </c><00:05:44.720><c> first</c> to HB 956 relating to Iron Workers first to HB 956 relating to Iron Workers
• I represent Iron Workers Local 625 and the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund.
• Thank you for your time. for the Iron Workers Local 625 for the Iron Workers Local 625 stabilization<
• </c> safety of our workers iron worker is a safety of our workers iron worker is a highly<00:09:11.560

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. All right.
• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. All right.
• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. I'm Lesie Gilpin.
• I'm a nationally certified school social worker from Jessine County. Thank you. All right.
• workers at that time across the state.

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met for an information-gathering session and opened by clarifying that the subcommittee would not be voting on budget requests. Because there was no quorum at first, the committee did not take up approval amendments. The first presentation focused on a budget request to incentivize national certification for school social workers and school psychologists. Rep. Vanessa Gracal, along with Amy Oats and Leslie Gilpin, argued for a $500,000 annual appropriation to provide $2,000 salary supplements to nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists working primarily in their certification areas. They said the stipend would help recruit and retain professionals amid shortages, noted that current Kentucky certification numbers are low, and explained the rigorous certification and renewal requirements. In response to questions, they said there is currently no appropriation for this purpose in HB 500 and none they were aware of in HB 6 in 2024. The next topic was school facility funding needs, led by Rep. Bob McCool, Johnson County Superintendent Tom Cochran, Commissioner of Education Robert Fletcher, and other district representatives. They described the “gap funding” issue for school construction projects that had already started before COVID-era inflation sharply increased costs. Johnson County and Harrison County were highlighted as examples of districts that had already committed local funds, passed nickel taxes, and begun construction but now need additional state support to finish projects. Speakers emphasized that many projects were audited and approved, that the state has already funded about half of the gap, and that roughly $130 million more is being sought in HB 500 to complete the remaining work. They stressed that unfinished projects would leave districts with half-built schools and that completing them would bring long-term savings and better facilities for students. The committee then turned to testimony from KASA representatives on the impacts of HB 500 as introduced. The witnesses discussed the importance of school psychology and school social work certification, the benefits of advanced training for student services, and the need to recognize and support highly qualified staff. A member asked whether HB 500 or HB 6 included an appropriation for the certification stipend, and the witnesses answered no. The meeting also included a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting once a quorum was present, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Part-time workers are often not eligible, and there can be waiting periods for new workers to become
• Part-time workers are often not eligible, and there can be waiting periods for new workers to become
• So it’s playing a bigger role for lower-wage workers than for higher-wage workers in the folks that don
• So it’s playing a bigger role for lower-wage workers than for higher-wage workers in the folks that don
• workers on the equivalent of Covered California or who have workers who are uninsured.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the Department of Health Care Services’ proposed budget, including a $229.1 billion total-funds budget and projected Medi-Cal enrollment decline as redeterminations continue. Members focused heavily on the fiscal and programmatic effects of prior budget solutions and federal changes, especially the elimination of General Fund-supported Prop. 56 dental supplemental payments beginning July 1, 2026, the hospice utilization-management change, and the impact of reduced caseloads alongside rising health care costs. DHCS said it is still completing required access and rate-reduction analyses for the dental cuts and has been engaging stakeholders, but could not yet quantify the real-world effect on utilization or provider participation. The committee also reviewed the November 2025 Medi-Cal local assistance estimate, which shows higher General Fund spending despite lower enrollment, driven by managed care rate growth, Medicare cost growth, state-only claiming, and federal policy changes. The hearing then turned to provider taxes and federal H.R. 1 constraints, with extensive discussion of the MCO tax, the hospital quality assurance fee, and other health care-related taxes. DHCS explained that H.R. 1 phases down allowable tax levels and tightens “generally redistributive” rules, making the current MCO tax structure and the proposed higher hospital fee levels difficult or impossible to renew as originally designed. Staff and the LAO described the tradeoff between preserving Medi-Cal funding and avoiding higher costs on private providers and consumers. Members asked about options for preserving revenue, including possible amendments to Prop. 35 or returning to voters, and were told the department is still evaluating approaches while federal guidance remains in flux. The committee also reviewed hospital payment increases already implemented through state-directed payments, with DHCS noting that H.R. 1 will force those payments down to Medicare levels over time. Several budget change proposals were discussed and left open, including requests tied to the managed care final rule, managed care operations, hospital value strategy, long-term care payment transparency, and interoperability requirements. The committee also heard about a one-year trailer bill extension for skilled nursing facility financing, including continuation of the SNF workforce standards program, the SNF quality assurance fee, and annual rate growth, while the department develops a longer-term financing redesign for 2027-28. Members expressed skepticism about repeated rate reform efforts and questioned whether a one-year extension of the eliminated workforce quality incentive program should be restored during the transition. Finally, Covered California presented its budget and enrollment update, reporting that the expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credit is expected to reduce affordability significantly, with average premiums roughly doubling for many enrollees and as many as 400,000 Californians potentially losing marketplace coverage over time. The exchange said California’s $190 million subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees, but not enough to offset the federal loss, and it is also implementing a new gender-affirming care benefit and awaiting federal action on benchmark plan changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are the workers and families who have embodied the farm worker movement for generations.
• I come from a family of farmers and farm workers.
• My parents were immigrant farm workers from Mexico.
• Second, we do have the issue of farm workers.
• We won't even give farm workers a secret election.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the asbestos work that we do involves workers.
• worker reliability.
• worker representatives at the table.
• Worker-centered policymaking leads to better, fairer outcomes.
• It also gives the employer an out to pass the blame onto the worker.

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Sole worker. work It's very clear. Sole worker.
• or workers' rights means if any worker or workers' rights organization<01:14:26.200><c> would</c><01
• all workers.
• Colorado covers all workers. Maine covers all workers. Rhode Island covers all workers.
• ,</c><01:38:38.760><c> workers</c> businesses still need workers, workers businesses still need workers

Bills: HF4110 , HF2113 , HF4569 , HF4414

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that occurred for workers comp only. that occurred for workers comp only.
• workers' comp all along.
• When you're out on workers' comp, workers' comp is paying you wages.
• So you go on workers<02:27:22.720><c> comp,</c> workers comp, workers comp, your<02:27:24.479><c> employee
• </c><02:29:54.640><c> comp,</c><02:29:55.040><c> workers</c> When you're out on workers comp, workers

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And the full-time workers there, the union workers... ...my steel worker brothers and sisters on the
• benefits to striking workers just as any other worker.
• Our workers across this state.
• Federal workers are being laid off.
• Of the workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have seen that predictive AI looking at movements of a worker and predicting that the worker is tired
• You know, I think the intent is really centered around workers and protecting workers in the workplace
• Not everything is anti-worker, you know, as it relates; there are lots of pro-worker management out there
• Not everything is anti-worker, you know, as it relates, there are lots of pro-worker management out there
• We want this to be the tools that are really surveilling workers, that are affecting workers every day

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the main discussion focused on AB 1705, AB 1898, AB 2076, and AB 2564. AB 1705 would require pornographic websites and uploaders to certify consent and age before sexually explicit content is posted, including AI-generated nude images, and would allow civil actions by nonconsenting individuals or minors depicted in the material. Supporters, including child advocacy, women’s groups, district attorneys, and university women’s organizations, said it would help combat nonconsensual sexual imagery and revenge pornography; there was no opposition testimony, and the bill drew favorable comments from members. AB 1898 would require employers to give workers advance notice before using AI-powered tools to surveil or manage employees, including disclosure of the purpose, data collected, decisions affected, and general locations of use. Labor groups and privacy advocates supported the measure as a transparency and worker-protection bill, while business and industry groups opposed it, arguing the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements could expose proprietary or security-sensitive information, and the private right of action could lead to litigation and overbroad compliance burdens. Members raised cybersecurity and scope concerns, and the author said the bill had already been narrowed and would continue to be refined, but the committee ultimately took a roll call and advanced the bill on a vote, leaving it on call for absent members. AB 2076 would add nitrous oxide to the list of products subject to online age verification under the Parents’ Accountability and Child Protection Act and increase penalties for large sellers that fail to comply. The author and supporters, including a parent, a deputy district attorney, narcotics officers, Children Now, labor, and the Children’s Advocacy Institute, described rising youth access, health harms, and online sales loopholes. Some opposition groups said they appreciated the amendments but remained concerned about other provisions. Members questioned the bill’s gift-card restrictions and whether they would unnecessarily limit adult purchasing choices; the author and committee staff explained the restriction was aimed at anonymous purchases of the most dangerous items. The bill passed on a 7-0 vote and was left on call for absent members. AB 2564 would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” or using personal data to set individualized prices, while preserving certain transparent discounts and loyalty programs. The author and supporters from Consumer Reports, TechEquity, labor, and privacy groups argued the bill would prevent discriminatory pricing and protect consumers from opaque data-driven price manipulation. Retail, chamber, and industry opponents said the bill was too broad, could chill legitimate discounts and promotions, created compliance and litigation risks, and contained vague definitions. Members discussed the balance between consumer protection and business concerns, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on AB 2564.

Transcript Highlights:

• File 3238, which is the Workers File 3238, which is the Workers Compensation<00:18:25.039><c> Advisory
• Uh, the Workers Compensation 2025.
• </c> serves as the chair of the workers serves as the chair of the workers compensation<00:19:47.440>
• Workers' Compensation Advisory Council.
• Workers' Compensation Advisory Council.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is hourly workers across the state.
• licensed social workers, school social workers,<00:04:56.400><c> counselors,</c><00:04:56.880><c> nurses
• </c><00:04:57.280><c> and</c> workers, counselors, nurses and workers, counselors, nurses and psychologists
• </c> better opportunities to hourly workers. better opportunities to hourly workers.
• </c><00:29:59.120><c> in</c><00:29:59.440><c> every</c> workers are your constituents in every workers

Bills: HF1049

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Michael Lobb concluded by saying the bill is bad for all workers in Florida and that workers are the
• He said the bill hurts him and his fellow workers and asked the committee not to turn its back on workers
• Thank you. support Florida workers as you claim to.
• Navy and a public service worker.
• At a time when workers were being extremely abused, exploited, and Black workers were not allowed to

Bills: S0042 , S0688 , S0762 , S1168 , S1296 , S1298 , S1300 , S1318 , S1332 , S1376 , S1548 , S1570 , S1574 , S1632 , S1634 , S1750

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 42 on specific medical diagnosis and child protective investigations. A late-file strike-all amendment was adopted that made only stylistic changes to align with the House version. Supporters said the bill would help DCF and child protective teams better identify rare medical conditions and give parents a chance to defend against mistaken abuse findings. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1570, which restores a prior program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices and CARD centers, with nonrecurring funding included. Members then advanced several education, disability, and public services measures. CS for CSSB 182 created a teacher training and mentoring program for high-performing current and retired teachers to mentor teachers in D- and F-rated schools, and CS for CSSB 794 required background screening for employees in residential and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities while directing APD to study support coordination quality, workforce issues, and service gaps. Testimony on SB 794 strongly supported better training, lower caseloads, and more consistent support coordination. The committee also favorably reported CS for CS SB 1168 on background screenings, CS for CS SB 214 to allow rural special districts to pay verified invoices directly, CS for SB 1376 to create grants for genetic counseling education, and SB 1574 (Maddie’s Law) to add newborn screening for biliary atresia; the latter drew emotional support and testimony that early screening could save lives and reduce transplant costs. The committee heard and passed a number of other policy bills, including CS for CS for SB 1510, the DEP agency package, after environmental groups warned that one provision could delay basin management protections and allow more septic systems in impaired watersheds; the bill still passed favorably. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 598 on funeral and cemetery regulation, SB 688 to license naturopathic doctors, SB 1318 on scholarship account reversion rules, CS for CS for SB 682 on domestic violence injunctions and penalties, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local affordable housing update. Several bills were briefly postponed or taken up later in the meeting. In the latter portion of the meeting, the committee approved CS for C.S. for SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria, CS for C.S. SB 762 on assigning conflict capital cases across regional counsel offices, SB 1332 on career offender registration requirements, CS for CS for SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a child, and CS for SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The committee also debated CS for SB 1226 on Public Employee Relations Commission procedures and union certification rules, including a late-file amendment setting a 60% threshold and 25% quorum for recertification; the discussion focused heavily on constitutional concerns, union rights, and differences between first responders and other public employees. The transcript ends while that bill’s debate is still underway, with the committee having already taken numerous favorable votes throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill gives ride share workers.
• Minnesota's labor movement is proud to stand with these workers because we believe that every worker
• </c> proud to stand with these workers proud to stand with these workers because<00:21:21.919><c> we<
• </c> because we believe that every worker because we believe that every worker should<00:21:23.600><c
• </c> co-workers uh in solidarity like this. co-workers uh in solidarity like this.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pockets of the workers as we intended. pockets of the workers as we intended.
• </c><00:07:26.240><c> They</c> not paying workers as much. They not paying workers as much.
• </c> shared service rate go to workers. shared service rate go to workers.
• . workers. workers.
• . worker. worker. represent. represent. represent.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there's an increase in workers there's an increase in workers compensation<00:07:53.199><c> fund
• </c> change from base and workers change from base and workers compensation<00:09:18.000><c> fund</c>
• </c> workers compensation division operating. workers compensation division operating.
• ><c> workers</c> overtime, minimum wage, workers overtime, minimum wage, workers compensation,<00:25:
• </c><00:25:45.039><c> I</c> training nursing home workers. I training nursing home workers.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> workers from organizing into a union. workers from organizing into a union.
• It is a barrier designed to stop workers It is a barrier designed to stop workers from<01:49:27.480><
• Um, union<02:04:12.680><c> workers</c><02:04:13.080><c> do</c> union workers do union workers do good
• </c> autonomy is preserved and that workers autonomy is preserved and that workers are<02:08:35.160><
• We're talking about workers, and I appreciate the fact that we need to take care of the worker.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you support Florida workers, please do not make it harder for me and other workers like me.
• Workers are the heart and soul of Florida. Support Florida workers by not supporting this bill.
• Workers are their heart and soul of Florida. Support Florida workers by not supporting this bill.
• The workers of Florida. The workers of Florida need representation.
• Navy and a public service worker.

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with several measures that were amended and reported favorably, including a strike-all to SB 4 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, SB 1570 restoring a statewide missing-persons project for individuals with special needs, and SB 182 creating a teacher training and mentoring program for schools needing improvement. Members also advanced SB 794 on APD background screening and support coordination standards, SB 1168 on background screening for athletic coaches and related entities, and SB 214 to let rural special districts pay verified invoices directly for state- and federally funded work. Supporters emphasized improved child welfare investigations, help for families of vulnerable individuals, teacher retention, and better administrative efficiency; the APD bill drew especially strong testimony from waiver clients and providers about the importance of competent support coordinators and stable services. The committee also favorably reported SB 1376 on grants for genetic counseling education, SB 1574 requiring newborn screening for biliary atresia, SB 1510 as the DEP agency package with environmental, septic, water quality, solar, and permitting changes, and SB 598 updating funeral and cemetery licensing and consumer protections. SB 688, after a delete-all amendment, would create licensure for naturopathic doctors and a board of naturopathic medicine; it drew strong support from naturopathic advocates and sharp opposition from a critic who argued the bill would authorize diagnosis and treatment beyond appropriate limits. SB 1318 made a technical change to scholarship account reversion language, with senators clarifying that remaining funds would return to the scholarship funding organization for future use rather than to the state. Later, the committee approved SB 682 on domestic violence and protective injunctions, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local Act iteration expanding affordable housing options and limiting local barriers. It also reported favorably SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria after extensive debate about constitutional issues and modern gang activity, SB 762 allowing cross-jurisdiction assignment of capital cases among regional conflict counsel offices, SB 1332 strengthening career offender registration requirements, SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a minor, and SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The most contentious discussion came on SB 1226, which would overhaul Public Employee Relations Commission rules, require majority support for union certification, and impose new limits on union activities and dues-related practices; members debated constitutional concerns, differences between first responders and other public employees, and the bill’s impact on union representation and public-sector labor rights. Most bills were reported favorably by roll call, with SB 536 drawing several no votes and SB 1226 still under active debate at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Worker Unemployment Aid Appropriation. Worker Unemployment Aid Appropriation.
• I think they're basically summer worker UI expenses.
• I mean expenses for worker UI expenses.
• </c> the hourly workers unemployment benefit. the hourly workers unemployment benefit.
• </c> Whatever benefits those hourly workers Whatever benefits those hourly workers over<00:32:31.279>

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to protect workers here.
• We need to protect our workers.
• I want to protect workers here.
• We need to protect our workers.
• We need to protect our workers.

Bills: HF23 , HF1355

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932