Transcript Highlights:

• If they have access to broadband, they can work Remotely.
• When companies evaluate Gallup and McKinley County, they ask four questions: Can I find workers?
• from restaurants, hospitality, small business owners, to our larger industries, struggle to find workers
• Larger industries mentioned above struggle to find workers.
• We are grateful to have the guest workers, but the transience of that nature tends to erode the community

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that this is a growing area in our state colleges and also in our school districts to produce the workers
• In many cases, for example in programs such as nursing and line worker, our starting salaries for our
• A registered nurse makes almost $65,000; a line worker almost $90,000; a public school teacher about
• lose them because of the salaries, or they can go to work in a place where they can make more, and remote
• Line worker actually yesterday increased and went well over 100.

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first session of the year, took roll, welcomed new member Senator Bracey Davis, and had members briefly describe their backgrounds and interest in higher education. Chair Harrell framed the committee’s focus on maintaining Florida’s top national ranking in higher education and workforce development, with an emphasis on funding decisions tied to student success, workforce needs, and the state college system. Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell presented the Department of Education’s workforce and Florida College System budget requests and data. He described requested increases for adult education, Florida College System program funding, workforce development, and several grant programs, including workforce capitalization, apprenticeship/teacher apprenticeship, Open Door, and CAPE industry certifications. He highlighted record enrollment and completion growth across Florida’s colleges and technical centers, major gains in career dual enrollment, and expansion in programs such as nursing, AI, cybersecurity, welding, HVAC, and manufacturing. Members asked about labor-market demand, the impact of artificial intelligence on future job training, teacher apprenticeship details, mission creep and duplication in CTE programs, student placement and wages after graduation, and articulation between technical college clock hours and college credit. South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins testified about challenges facing a rural college, including low local college-going rates, long travel distances, limited faculty recruitment due to salaries, and the need for more operational funding to expand capacity. He cited strong job placement and licensure outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography, and said the college is exploring AI tools to improve student services and reduce staffing pressure. Pinellas Technical College Executive Director Mark Hunter described strong dual enrollment, high job placement, employer partnerships, and a reported 400% return on investment, while also warning that many programs have waiting lists because of staffing and equipment constraints. He explained how technical college coursework is aligned with state college credit through content-based articulation agreements. The committee then opened the floor for public comment, but no additional business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Detectives and a social worker came to interview us. My husband was first, and then it was my turn.
• This change allows workers to engage families in a voluntary manner while also allowing for a child protection
• the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, or MAPE, which is a union of over 18,500 state workers
• We also believe that video cameras can protect child care workers in cases of injury, providing an objective
• Clients include individuals who are either unhoused, regularly sleep at homeless shelters, live in remote

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• I think remote work is great, but at the end of the day, being in person matters and getting to work
• I said this earlier, when we try to build a workforce, whether it was teacher pipelines or social worker
• And so, you know, there's a real push to have both the manufacturing, but also the remote capabilities
• I mean, the only thing we can't do with airplanes today is taxi them remotely.
• I mean, the only thing we can't do with airplanes today is taxi them remotely.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nearly 20% of construction workers are undocumented immigrants.
• Nearly 30% of direct care workers for long-term services are immigrants who care for our family members
• The cumulative impact of Operation Metro Surge on these immigrant workers and shoppers is massive.
• <00:07:51.919> Our workers and shoppers is massive. Our workers and shoppers is massive.
• The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that legal trade goes smoothly at the border, and he's got to limit the impact on supply chains and workers
• hundred and fifty agents every 24 hours that could then be shifted to other areas that were more remote
• Farm workers being arrested. They're now in detention. We've got to milk our cows.
• Goodness, we need farm workers.
• to come in, not guest worker, but a HB- Well, this firm did that.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection, Rodney Scott, border security, asylum, transparency, Hernandez Rojas, migrant treatment, public testimony

Summary: The meeting centered on the nomination of Rodney Scott to serve as the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Throughout the session, various senators expressed concerns regarding CBP's recent practices, including issues related to border security and the treatment of migrants. Questions were raised about Scott's involvement in previous incidents, particularly surrounding the controversial death of Mr. Hernandez Rojas while in custody, which sparked a heated discussion about accountability and transparency in current border policies. Senators emphasized the importance of balancing efficient border security with humane treatment of individuals seeking asylum.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our community members are farm workers, dairy workers, child caretakers, day laborers, and street vendors
• The findings were primarily focused on the eligibility worker rate.
• The raid targeted workers by focusing on exits off Route 99 where farm workers head to the fields, as
• Workers are being fired, including thousands of veterans without income.
• truck drivers, grocery store workers, and more.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Weber is participating remotely.
• We have one more testimony on remote, Mr. Nathan Thompson. Thompson, I'm sorry.
• We have one more testimony<01:04:24.280> on testimony on testimony on on<01:04:25.840> remote
• on remote, Mr. Nathan Johnson. on remote, Mr. Nathan Johnson.
• attendants, lumber yard workers, solar panel assemblers, and eye clinic technicians here in our community

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest require some sort of intervention by a financial worker.
• And we have workers with just METS.
• Workers need support now.
• Workers who tested the technology report saving 2 to 5 hours per week. workers tracked their time.
• the side or from county workers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's really typically designed for remote, isolated industrial applications, mission-critical infrastructure
• While these issues are remote in time, it is best to discuss the solution before it becomes a problem
• While these issues are remote in time, it is best to discuss the solution before it becomes a problem
• verbally, coming out of, like, for example, Alaska and I think northern Canada, is because of the remoteness
• But it also has left this legacy of workers dead and... ...of workers dead and sick.

Summary: The committee met to review advanced nuclear energy issues in North Dakota, beginning with approval of the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon presented an overview of the advanced reactor landscape, distinguishing light-water SMRs, advanced Gen 4 reactors, and microreactors. The presentation emphasized that light-water SMRs are the most near-term deployable and use familiar low-enriched uranium fuel, while many Gen 4 designs may require high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALU), which is not yet supported by a mature U.S. supply chain. Nucleon also noted that advanced reactors are being developed primarily for industrial heat applications, while microreactors are niche, higher-cost systems for remote or mission-critical uses. Committee members asked about fuel availability, safety, recycling, and whether large reactors such as AP-1000s were evaluated; the presenter said fuel development is proceeding in parallel but remains a bottleneck, and that siting and grid capacity often make SMRs more practical than gigawatt-scale plants in North Dakota. Representatives from the National Association of State Energy Officials described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, regional coordination, grants, tax incentives, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and pilot programs. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and said states are focusing on multi-state coordination, demand aggregation, regulatory coordination, waste management, workforce readiness, and community engagement. They also discussed affordability tools such as construction work in progress (CWIP), financing incentives, and consumer protections, citing examples from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Tennessee, and others. In response to questions, they explained that pilot programs often involve site-readiness and feasibility studies, and that the federal Nuclear Innovation Campus process is moving forward with multiple submissions while broader waste and recycling policy may require congressional action. The Public Service Commission said it would likely have a major role in any North Dakota nuclear project through certificate-of-public-convenience-and-necessity review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted gaps in current law for small reactors, co-located facilities, NRC coordination, and long-term site stewardship. The commissioner said the commission has no authority over a private, self-contained reactor not connected to the grid. The Department of Environmental Quality explained that the state regulates radioactive materials under its agreement-state authority, but NRC retains primacy over fission reactors; DEQ would likely assist with emergency planning and could have a larger role if fusion reactors emerge. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, requiring a dedicated radiological emergency preparedness program, training, drills, public outreach, and likely additional funding and staffing, with industry expected to bear much of the cost. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota’s water laws and prior-appropriation system are adequate for nuclear siting, that the Missouri River is the best likely source, and that no statutory or budget changes are currently needed from a water perspective. The committee recessed for lunch after these agency presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• and also the added $1 million provided for public health priorities, including obesity management, remote
• including um public health priorities including obesity<00:32:22.799> management,<00:32:23.360> remote
• <00:32:23.679> patient obesity management, remote patient obesity management, remote patient
• House Bill 1922, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist Examiner.
• House Bill 1922, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist Examiner.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 12 March, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee began by noting the plan to suspend the rules later that afternoon so several measures could be taken up on the floor, including bills that may be on final passage or contain reverse repealers. Members were reminded to clearly identify which bills were final passage measures so the chamber would know it might be the last opportunity to vote on them. The committee then moved through a series of appropriations bills. In the education and judicial budgets, Senator DeBar explained House Bills 1928, 1933, 1935, 1936, and 1937, covering the legislative operations budget, DFA buildings reappropriations, K-12 education, MPB, and the library commission. He described increases for teacher pay, special education supplements, testing contracts, ELC coaches, financial literacy, ESA funding, and other adjustments, along with reductions in some areas and a decline in student enrollment affecting the funding formula. The bills were adopted by title sufficient, do pass, with strike-all motions where applicable. Senator Wiggins presented House Bills 1924, 1926, 1927, 1930, and 1931, covering the Attorney General, Capital Postconviction Council, district attorneys and staff, the Office of State Public Defender, and the Supreme Court/AOC budget. He highlighted salary increases for agency attorneys, human trafficking funding, new district attorney positions from judicial redistricting, public defender support for family defenders and the rural legal services pilot, and major court-system items such as judicial salary increases, youth court intake, CCID courts, and the MyCIDS replacement system. Questions focused on the meaning of personal services, vacancy funding, and possible use of opioid settlement funds for AOC; the committee was told those issues could be handled through the reverse repealer or other vehicles. The bills were advanced, with the committee noting which ones contained reverse repealers and which were final action. Subcommittee 5 and 6 then handled human services, health, licensing, and transportation-related measures. House Bills 1906, 1909, 1912, and 1921 covered Child Protective Services, Human Services, Medicaid, and Rehabilitation Services, with explanations for new attorney positions, salary and vacancy funding, SNAP administration, Medicaid agency funding, and restoring positions in rehab services. House Bill 1908 for the Department of Health added money for Jackson water litigation and public health priorities such as obesity management, remote monitoring, cancer screenings, and maternal-infant health. House Bills 1913, 1914, 1915, 1917, and 1918 were taken up together for licensing boards, with most changes described as cloud services, PIN restoration, or vacancy funding; only the Board of Medical Licensure bill had a reverse repealer. Finally, Senator Thompson handled special fund and transportation bills, including the Port Authority, waterway and river districts, Yellow Creek, and MDOT. He noted overtime concerns at the Port Authority, special-fund increases for contractual services and capital improvements at the water districts, and MDOT increases for salaries, commodities, equipment, and the three-year highway plan. Senator Wiggins raised a question about utility relocation costs in transportation projects, saying some municipalities were being told to pay those costs themselves; Senator Thompson said he would follow up with MDOT.

Transcript Highlights:

• investigate, and track anyone the unit deemed a quote foreign influence operation, as well as anyone remotely
• In the bill, it was 150% of the workers' comp rate.
• I've treated workers' comp patients in the past, and they're more difficult patients.
• Versus a vocational worker.
• This includes consideration of the workers' compensation legislation and the exceedingly chauvinistic

Bills: SB1540, SB2225, SB2284, SB2382, SB2487, SB2514, SB2595, SB2876, SB2877, SB3031, SB2753, HB45

Keywords: election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, public safety, spirit beverages, alcoholic beverages, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, distribution, taxation, firearms, local regulation, archery equipment, weapons, voter registration, statewide list, county requirements, election integrity, computer services contracts, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, more than a century later, UTMB students are the next generation of healthcare workers and scientists
• revenues is paid through property taxes, more and more of that burden is placed on average, everyday workers
• HB 4251 by Reynolds, relating to the protection for certain essential workers and health care practitioners
• HB 4261 by Ward, relating to the licensing of certain social workers and imposing a fee, for the Committee
• Davis of Dallas relating to allowing a dual credit course to be offered through remote instruction under

Bills: HJR4, HJR6, HB195, HB 13, HB143, HB135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• So in FY26, we will continue The doors for early-career disabled workers.
• We represent 5,000 workers at the community colleges.
• I am a licensed independent clinical social worker.
• We even educate landlords, social workers, and real estate agencies.
• We heard from a lot of workers and families today, and we know that workers who are keeping our economy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I AM ALSO A SOCIAL WORKER. I RECEIVED MY MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK FROM FSU.
• IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BALANCE BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I LOVE THAT YOU SAID YOU ARE A SOCIAL WORKER
• PUBLIC AND DOORS FROM BEHIND THAT ARE ACCESSED BY THE JUDGES AND THERE WAS NOT THE PRESENT ABILITY TO REMOTELY

Transcript Highlights:

• organizations that would qualify, which from my perspective, if you consider the number of local workers
• Noi, members of the committee, Kakon Kimal, United Public Workers.
• Hawaii already has local professionals, including accountants and specialists that work remotely all
• that we can do remotely, and we have<03:03:08.960> very<03:03:09.200> few<03:03:09.439
• ,<03:03:42.800> the while hiring few local workers, the while hiring few local workers, the

Bills: HB1977, HB1764, HB1934, HB2533, HB1790, HB2181, HB1870, HB2140, HB2468, HB2358, HB1588, HB1688, HB1986, HB2030, HB2195, HB1949, HB1695, HB1950, HB2094, HB2115, HB2297, HB2336, HB2416, HB2049

Keywords: maternal health, infant health, mobile application, Medicaid, healthcare access, state programs, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, libraries, education, reading programs, early childhood, nonprofit, community engagement, teacher retention, Hawaiian language education, special needs schools

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. >> Raric. >> Okay, they're ready for
• But in my community, two workers while they were on the job at Target, two young men, two young workers
• Target, two young men, two young workers were violently assaulted by ICE agents.
• The workers were backing away.
• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's frustrating for workers. It's time-consuming for workers.
• It does in place for our county workers.
• I'm sure you've heard stories from the workers.
• I'm sure you've heard stories from the workers.
• I'm sure heard stories from the workers.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 334, a bill to modernize Minnesota’s county-administered human services technology systems, including those used for Medicaid, SNAP, and related programs. The author described the current systems as outdated “green screen” platforms from the late 1980s and early 1990s that are cumbersome for county workers, slow service delivery, and make it harder to retain staff. The bill would create an integration layer over legacy systems, establish a long-term technology modernization fund with about $90 million in spending over time and a $50 million cap, and place MNIT in charge of holding and disbursing funds. It also creates governance structures, including an interagency group with county representation and a legislative working group, and includes a $15 million fund for the Office of the Inspector General’s technology needs. Several members spoke in strong support, emphasizing that modernization would improve efficiency, help counties serve residents better, and strengthen fraud detection and data sharing. Representatives from Winona, Washington, Olmsted, Stearns, Hennepin, and others cited local experiences with hacked county systems, obsolete software, and the difficulty of recruiting workers to outdated systems. One member urged that the effort be made enterprise-wide and suggested adding the Office of Legislative Auditor to oversight. Another noted the bill’s potential to improve identity verification tools and support broader agency collaboration. No amendments were offered. After third reading and debate, the clerk called the roll and the House passed the bill with 134 ayes and 0 nays; the title was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:21:03.600> Um, reduce speeding and protect workers.
• Um, reduce speeding and protect workers.
• <01:23:06.159> in If we want to retain skilled workers in If we want to retain skilled workers
• :23:24.960> to<01:23:25.120> the workers deserve protection equal to the workers deserve
• I'm opportunity to participate remotely.

Bills: HF3429, HF3418, HF3431, HF1597

Keywords: intelligent speed assistance, transportation, speeding offenses, public safety, license restrictions, speed control, pedestrian safety, traffic safety, roadway improvements, nonmotorized transportation, crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, complete streets, Vision Zero, Toward Zero Deaths, MnDOT, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, local road authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the ability of a publisher to remotely disable a product for which a consumer has paid $60, $70,
• established a pilot project authorizing Superior Courts in 13 counties to study the potential use of remote
• Michelle Caldwell: In addition, AB 2783 continues a much-needed remote reporter pilot program necessary
• for testing the viability of remote reporting statewide in California courts.
• Sam Appell with UAW Region 6, representing 100,000 workers in manufacturing, higher education, state

Keywords: 987, senate, all