Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to go ahead and call the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee to order.
• Chair and members of the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, I am here today to present
• As this committee specifically, there's in many ways no greater charge of a union and labor than to look
• members of the committee, Carter Bundy, speaking for the 36,000 members of the New Mexico Federation of Labor

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee began by rolling House Bill 132 at the sponsor’s request because amendment language was still being worked on. The committee then proceeded without quorum as a subcommittee until additional members arrived. House Bill 285, as amended, was heard first. The bill was described as a cleanup measure to clarify New Mexico’s disabled veterans property tax exemption, including that it applies to a veteran’s primary residence and how it works for properties with multiple owners. Testimony from New Mexico counties, the Tax and Revenue Department, and the Department of Veterans Services supported the bill, saying it would reduce confusion for assessors and help veterans access the exemption. One member raised broader concerns about housing insecurity among unhoused and renting veterans and asked for interim data on how many veterans would actually benefit, but the committee noted those issues were outside the bill’s scope. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 285 as amended with a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 128, which updates the state’s occupational disease and disablement law for firefighters by expanding the list of covered cancers and related conditions, aligning the state law with newer research and recent federal changes, and standardizing the employment period to five years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill reflects current science, removes outdated age limits for some cancers, and makes it easier for firefighters to receive workers’ compensation without having to prove causation case by case. Firefighters and union representatives gave emotional testimony about personal cancer diagnoses and the burden of fighting insurers while undergoing treatment. The Workers’ Compensation Administration, labor groups, and trial lawyers all supported the measure. Committee members asked about the federal model, the five-year threshold, the impact on rural jurisdictions, and why women’s cancers were not previously included; witnesses explained that the changes reflect updated data and the underrepresentation of women in the fire service. Dr. Dan Wu, speaking online, said firefighter cancer is an epidemic and argued the science supports the bill. The committee then adopted the motion and passed HB 128 with a do pass recommendation before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• House costs in general are going to be pretty static, other than a labor component.
• Really taxing labor.
• costs that are exempt in the state of New Mexico, aside from that development, materials, development labor—Wade
• mentioned those—and then construction materials and construction labor.

Transcript Highlights:

• And item number 7, SB 854 by the Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement.
• this is item number two, SB 230 by Senator Laird, and item number seven, SB 854 by the Committee on Labor
• this is item number two, SB 230 by Senator Laird, and item number seven, SB 854 by the Committee on Labor
• calendar, item number two, SB 230 by Senator Laird, and item number seven, SB 854 by the Committee on Labor

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met to hear several bills related to insurance coverage, wildfire risk, workers’ compensation, and paid family leave. SB 8 by Senator Ashby would extend workers’ compensation and disability protections to Sacramento County park rangers, with testimony emphasizing that they perform law-enforcement-like duties and should receive the same protections as comparable officers. SB 429 by Senator Cortese would create a public wildfire catastrophe model and related wildfire safety program, with support from the Department of Insurance and consumer advocates who said public access to modeling data would improve transparency and help evaluate private insurance risk models. The committee also heard SB 525 by Senator Jones, which would require the FAIR Plan to offer coverage options for manufactured and mobile home owners, including replacement cost coverage. Supporters said the bill would help lower-income residents obtain meaningful insurance protection, while no opposition testified. SB 495 by Senator Allen, as amended, would require insurers to provide a larger contents-coverage advance after a total loss during a declared emergency without requiring an immediate itemized inventory, extend proof-of-loss deadlines, and require insurers to provide catastrophe modeling and reinsurance data to the Department of Insurance. Several insurers withdrew opposition after amendments, and the Department of Insurance and United Policyholders supported the measure. SB 590 by Senator Durazo would expand paid family leave to cover care for designated persons or chosen family members, with strong support from AARP, labor, civil rights, caregiving, and health organizations, and testimony from a parent describing the need to care for a non-legal family member during surgery recovery. The committee also took up consent items SB 230 and SB 854. After roll calls, SB 8, SB 429, SB 495, SB 525, and SB 590 all received do-pass votes, with SB 429 sent to the Committee on Emergency Management, SB 495 to Judiciary, and SB 525 and SB 590 to Appropriations. The consent calendar bills were also approved, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Flox, California Federation of Labor Unions, in support. Thank you.
• county representatives of California and strong support thank you Sarah flocks California Federation of Labor
• Unions in support thank you Sarah Flox, California Federation of Labor Unions in support.
• It initially listed someone who was harmed by purchasing one of these products, a parent, a labor union

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• authority in subsection on page three, line 17 to 19, because they're already, well, the Department of Labor
• <00:22:06.960> the<00:22:07.360> department<00:22:07.679> of<00:22:07.840> labor
• <00:22:08.080> and um well the the department of labor and um well the the department of labor

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary decision-making meeting on April 1, 2025 considered several measures previously heard in committee and took action on each. HB 228 HD1 SD1, relating to license plates, was recommended to pass with amendments defining the terms “cover” and “shield”; it was adopted with votes of aye from the chair, vice chair, Senator McKelvie, and Senator Richards, and a no from Senator Awa. HB 125 HD1, relating to firearms and secure storage notice requirements, was recommended to pass unamended and was adopted, though Senator McKelvie noted reservations and Senator OA did not vote. The committees also noted they would wait for a full complement on some JDC votes before finalizing all actions. HB 1194 HD2 SD1, relating to midwives, drew the most discussion and testimony. The recommendation was to pass with amendments, including DCCA-proposed changes and a revised effective date; members discussed concerns about regulation, the role of unlicensed birth attendants, and whether the bill could criminalize people present at births. The chair explained the intent was not to criminalize invited, uncompensated birth attendants who do not use the title “midwife,” while also clarifying limits on practicing midwifery without a license. The measure passed with reservations from Senator McKelvie and a no vote from Senator Awa. HB 348 HD1 SD1, relating to single-use plastics, was recommended to pass unamended and was adopted without objection. HB 874 SD1, concerning trust accounts for minors in theatrical employment, was recommended to pass with amendments accepting the Attorney General’s suggestion to remove rulemaking authority; it passed in both committees without opposition. After the CPN portion adjourned, JDC also took up HB 125 and HB 1194, adopting the same recommendations and passing both measures, with the midwifery bill again reflecting the committee’s intent to preserve invited, unpaid attendance at births while restricting unlicensed practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• the project a year ago is going to be an order of magnitude greater because of those material costs, labor
• costs, because of labor shortages, what have you.
• Every input, whether it be materials inputs, land, which is a huge problem, and rising in costs and labor
• So many people in our business started as laborers on job sites and now own multimillion dollar companies

Transcript Highlights:

• Labor costs and labor shortages also contribute to the issue. So time is the number one factor.
• affordability—every input, whether it be materials, land—which is a huge problem rising in cost—and labor
• So many people in our business started as a... as laborers on job sites and now on multi-million dollar

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Often our members don't have any staff whatsoever, relying on the labor of the elected officials themselves
• 26.880> the have any staff whatsoever relying on the have any staff whatsoever relying on the labor
• 27.479> of<00:04:27.639> the<00:04:27.759> elected<00:04:28.360> officials labor
• of the elected officials labor of the elected officials themselves<00:04:29.919> now<00:04:30.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• contributes to the cost, whether it be the materials, whether it be the permits, whether it be the labor
• whether<00:08:10.319> it<00:08:10.440> be<00:08:10.599> the<00:08:10.800> labor
• c><00:08:11.199> that<00:08:11.360> goes<00:08:11.599> into whether it be the labor
• that goes into whether it be the labor that goes into it<00:08:12.560> all<00:08:12.759> of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Eric Lucero testified about Minnesota’s housing affordability challenges, arguing that rising interest rates, insurance costs, property taxes, and construction expenses are being passed on to renters and homeowners. He said the core problem is supply and demand: demand has risen while supply has not kept pace, in part because fewer homeowners are selling or downsizing. Lucero said the legislature should look for ways to reduce costs without creating major new state expenses, especially in a budget year with a projected deficit. Lucero highlighted several policy ideas and bills. He said he has introduced a bill to exempt sales tax on building materials, which he argued would lower the final cost of new homes. He also said he is interested in reducing permit costs and examining other factors that affect construction costs, including materials and labor. On insurance and property taxes, he suggested lawmakers should consider reforms or relief measures, while noting that interest rates are largely beyond state control. The discussion also focused on homeowners associations and common interest communities. Lucero said he has been part of a bipartisan work group for about six months that reviewed public testimony and expert input, and that the group has now issued recommendations. He said he and other legislators plan to turn those recommendations into one or more bipartisan bills aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and reducing costs for homeowners. He closed by saying housing affordability affects everyone and that he believes there is momentum this year for reforms that support homeownership and generational wealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we do that accurately right now with labor shortages the way we have, and the lack of people choosing
• That's just a result of labor issues, the cost of inputs, and everything else.
• It's a function of our economy, labor costs, and everything else.

Bills: SB7

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two very tireless advocates for our labor unions, Gino Squa and Cody Sula.
• I rise in opposition. advocates for our labor unions, Gino advocates for our labor unions, Gino Squa<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on top of that, over half of the young men in our care have also been labor trafficked.
• The labor trafficking problem is huge.
• So labor trafficking in the daytime and sex traffic at night, big problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.
• It's really the vast majority of that is labor cost.
• And it's really mostly labor.
• It's really the vast majority of that is labor cost.
• And it's really mostly labor.

Bills: HB0004

Keywords: medical assistance, birthing centers, healthcare, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
• Moreover, we obviously are not concerned with the need for accounting or additional labor for payroll
• need for accounting or additional labor need for accounting or additional labor for<00:16:00.240
• I believe that the Department of Labor said, well, you can do the accrual first, and then you can do
• I believe that the Department of Labor said, well, you can do the accrual first, and then you can do

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 1325 and adopted the author’s A2 amendment before hearing testimony. Representative Schultz presented the bill as a set of bipartisan changes to make Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law more workable for small businesses, public employers, and taxpayers, arguing the current law is an unfunded mandate that increases costs and property taxes. The bill’s supporters said it would add flexibility, including changes affecting coverage for certain workers, employer size thresholds, front-loading, weather-related exceptions, and a delay on penalties. Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach of the Department of Labor and Industry opposed the bill, saying it would exclude about 800,000 workers, or roughly 30% of the workforce, from earned sick and safe time protections and create confusion and enforcement problems. She also objected to the proposed penalty delay, saying the department already uses compliance assistance and needs penalty authority for serious violations. The Minnesota Chamber supported modifications to the mandate, saying businesses—especially small ones—have struggled with compliance and that the law has had unintended effects on PTO policies and leave use. The League of Minnesota Cities supported parts of the bill, especially changes affecting more generous city leave policies and weather-event exemptions, saying current language creates confusion and can interfere with emergency staffing. Opponents from Education Minnesota, SEIU Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, and a nurse from Unity Hospital argued the bill would strip protections from part-time workers, minors, and workers with family caregiving needs, and would weaken a law they said has helped workers avoid discipline or lost wages when sick. Supporters from counties and an HR consultant emphasized administrative burdens, emergency staffing needs during weather events, and the difficulty of applying ESS rules to existing leave policies. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the bill was laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means cities with prevailing wage ordinances or labor standards policies like Richfield, Bloomington
• <00:15:22.800> standards<00:15:23.160> policies ordinances or labor standards policies
• noted, would allow those local governments that have their own local prevailing wage ordinances or labor
• <00:21:24.120> standards<00:21:24.600> to<00:21:24.720> opt ordinances or labor
• standards to opt ordinances or labor standards to opt into<00:21:25.160> the<00:21:25.240>

Bills: HF4364, HF4821, HF4543, HF3945

Keywords: Central and Eastern European Affairs, ethnic council, advisory council, Minnesota state government, immigrant communities, refugees, humanitarian parolees, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Russia

Summary: The committee first approved the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held an informal hearing on House File 4364, which would establish a Central and Eastern European Ethnic Council in Minnesota. Representative Jordan and testifiers Mykola Mager and Julia Miller described the large Central and Eastern European community in Minnesota, its contributions to the state, and the need for a formal advisory body to help address barriers to government services, support refugees, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and cultural understanding. Members expressed general support and noted the bill’s importance, but no formal action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then took up House File 4543, a bill to create a centralized payroll reporting portal for prevailing wage projects. Representative Frazier said the bill would reduce administrative burden on project owners, improve transparency and accountability, and help prevent wage theft, misclassification, tax fraud, and insurance fraud. Testifiers from county, city, and contractor groups largely supported the idea of streamlining reporting, but contractor representatives raised concerns about employee data privacy, public access to sensitive payroll information, duplication of existing systems, interoperability with contractor software, and the need for stakeholder engagement. Members echoed both support and caution, and the bill was laid over as amended rather than advanced. Finally, the committee considered House File 4821, described by Chair Klevorn as addressing the “penny problem” and a related change to high-deductible insurance plans. The bill would authorize state agencies to round cash transactions because of the penny shortage and would change MMB’s obligation to offer certain high-deductible health plans from “must” to “may,” producing modest administrative savings. Members questioned the drafting of the rounding language and asked about cash transactions at state agencies and the handling of cannabis tax payments. The chair noted the bill had missed the deadline and would be caught by the chief clerk’s office; the discussion ended with the bill being laid over as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• reputation for not wanting to work any more than we need to, and so we just wanted to punt all the labor
• Why is there no labor income? The increase of $25 for the dependent tax credit.
• So ultimately, we're talking about certainty. ...labor force participation rate.
• Savings, and so it does seem a little confusing that this bill would differentiate between labor income
• Why wouldn't we similarly focus on labor income?

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The joint House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees met to hear identical conformity bills, HB 2153 and SB 1106, which would align Arizona tax law with the federal Internal Revenue Code as of Jan. 1, 2026, including some retroactive provisions for tax year 2025. Staff explained that the bills would exclude three federal provisions: the higher federal SALT deduction, the new senior deduction as written in H.R. 1, and the deduction for interest on new car loans. They would instead include a $6,000 retirement-income deduction for taxpayers age 60 and older, a $6,000 Roth IRA contribution deduction, a higher dependent tax credit, and a deduction for child and dependent care expenses above the federal credit. JLBC estimated the package would reduce general fund income tax revenue by about $441.3 million in FY 2026. Members also discussed that the Department of Revenue’s forms had been issued assuming full conformity, and staff and supporters argued the bills were needed quickly to avoid confusion and amended returns during filing season. Committee members and sponsors largely framed the bills as tax relief and a way to provide certainty for taxpayers and preparers. Supporters said the package would help families, seniors, and workers, and noted that the Arizona version was negotiated to keep the overall tax relief roughly comparable to full conformity while shifting benefits away from the SALT deduction and toward child credits, retirement income, and child care. The sponsors also criticized the governor’s executive action and urged prompt passage so taxpayers would know how to file. Opponents argued the bills would reduce state revenue, worsen the budget outlook, and disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers and corporations. Several witnesses and members also raised concerns about the child care deduction, the retirement-income deduction, and the business expensing provisions, while supporters responded that the bill was designed to help working families and encourage saving and investment. Public testimony was mixed. The Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club supported the bills, emphasizing early conformity, filing certainty, and reduced confusion for taxpayers and software providers. Opponents included Save Our Schools Arizona, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Opportunity Arizona, and several individuals, who argued the package would deepen budget problems and favor the wealthy. One witness objected to a federal school-choice-related provision she said was being tied to the bill, though committee members said the measure before them was a tax conformity bill and not a school finance bill. The hearing included extended debate over the fiscal impact, the governor’s prior requests for some of the same tax changes, and whether taxpayers would need to file amended returns if the legislature later changed course. The transcript ends during testimony from NFIB, with no final committee vote or action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This labor market alignment is important, but in the K-12 context, it's not everything, right?
• So there's oftentimes a need to pay a lot of attention to what labor market alignment looks like, both
• The labor market shows that digital arts and media is always the most enrolled program at your local
• And that's what we need in the skilled labor force, right?
• But I do think labor markets are very fluid, dynamic systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• ensure students are earning credentials that provide them a return on investment and are valued in the labor
• Community colleges, including Kilgore College, routinely review labor market data, meet with employer
• To verified labor market needs in Texas and based on US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and these are
• In direct response to labor market needs, Sam Houston State, for example, launched two new colleges,
• Labor market needs that our industry and corporations and communities need. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Law enforcement labor organizations would put together a list of six nominees that would go to the Attorney
• critical incident leave; H. 2702, an act to protect correctional officers; H. 2718, an act relative to labor
• critical incident leave; H. 2702, an act to protect correctional officers; H. 2718, an act relative to labor
• I'm the Labor Relations Manager for the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, and I'm accompanied here today
• I'm the co-director and co-founder of an anti-trafficking and labor rights organization that serves the

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of public safety bills, with strong support from law enforcement, advocates, and other stakeholders. Several measures focused on police and correctional officer wellness and protections, including bills on critical incident leave and post-incident support for officers, a bill to improve POST Commission representation, and a bill to protect correctional officers from assaults and exposure to synthetic drugs like K2. Witnesses described traumatic incidents, rising assaults in prisons, staffing shortages, and the need for confidentiality in peer-support debriefings. Committee members asked questions about assault classifications, K2 smuggling, tablet-related contraband, and whether counseling records would remain confidential. No votes were taken during the hearing. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to canine-related bills. Testimony supported creating a fund for retired police dogs and expanding emergency care training for working dogs injured in the line of duty. Speakers described police dogs as partners who locate suspects, missing persons, drugs, and weapons, and said retirement and medical costs are currently borne by handlers or nonprofits. The committee also heard testimony in favor of a purple alert system for missing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with advocates citing wandering risks, drowning dangers, and data from other states showing faster recovery times. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to expand the definition of sexual assault by an officer to cover situations beyond formal custody, including investigations and other encounters where police have coercive power. Advocates for sex workers and anti-trafficking organizations said the change would close a loophole, protect vulnerable people, and address documented abuses. In addition, testimony was taken on a bill to protect Massachusetts residents from federal surveillance through fusion centers, with critics calling for stronger oversight of BRIC and related databases. Representative Jeff Turco also testified on bills to change POST Commission membership, arguing for more law enforcement representation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Food costs are up, labor costs are up, utilities are up, insurance is up, and nearly every transaction
• Labor costs: $38,000. Merchant processing fees in one month...
• Independent restaurants already operate on extremely thin margins while facing rising labor, food, insurance
• Every major cost—labor, insurance, food, rent, utilities—continues to go up, and layered quietly on top
• For mom-and-pop shops, this is not relief if the savings are swallowed by the labor needed to comply.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.