Transcript Highlights:

• We can streamline the hiring process and reduce unnecessary delays, ensuring that we have sufficient
• systems we can streamline the hiring systems we can streamline the hiring process<00:37:44.079><
• <00:39:53.480> that currently we have two new hires that currently we have two new hires that
• as they go through a rigorous process as they go through a rigorous process process<01:09:55.719
• I think we heard they hired 30 staff.

Bills: HF198, HF269, HF185, HF303, HF305, HF189

Keywords: HF198, shared time pupils, shared-time enrollment, nonpublic school, private school, public school, career and technical education, CTE, secondary credit, school funding, state aid, education finance, Minnesota Statutes 126C.01, compulsory attendance, school district, education policy, HF269, Spicer, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a public process.
• process um we you know we we also have process um we you know we we also have to<00:46:14.640> gauge
• , and I was pushed, you know, constantly to get that process going with hiring staff.
• They also will do all of our processing, so they process all of the mail, all of the payments.
• They also will do all of our processing, so they process all of the mail, all of the payments.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from Charlotte Harding of the Conservation Land Stewardship Program, who explained that the office protects the state’s interests in conservation lands by monitoring conservation easements and related stewardship obligations. She described the program’s funding sources: a land conservation endowment held at the State Treasury and administered by the Council on Resources and Development, plus transfers from Fish and Game for easements not covered by the endowment. Members discussed how the endowment is funded when new easements are created, the program’s staffing, the loss of a state vehicle, and the need to increase in-state travel so staff can use personal vehicles for field monitoring. Harding said the office has two full-time positions and a seasonal employee, that the work is mostly monitoring rather than hands-on land management, and that enforcement issues are referred to the grantee agencies or, if needed, to the Council on Resources and Development. She also noted that the office works directly with landowners to resolve smaller issues and that stewardship has become a greater focus in the conservation community because ongoing oversight requires funding. Members asked about examples of properties under the program, including LCIP lands such as Musquash Headwaters, Hidden Valley Boy Scout Camp, and Nash Stream, and the committee did not take a motion before moving on. The committee then heard from Paul Breen and Susie Anzelone of the Pease Development Authority regarding the Division of Ports and Harbors operating budget. They explained that the authority provides finance, legal, environmental, and engineering support to the division, which operates New Hampshire’s only deep-water berth at Market Street, as well as facilities in Hampton, Rye, the Portsmouth Fish Pier, and navigational waters in the Piscataqua and Great Bay. They described the authority’s history after the closure of Pease Air Force Base, the transfer of roughly 2,400 acres, and the creation of a self-sustaining enterprise fund tied to airport and port operations. They emphasized that the division does not draw on the general fund because revenues from wharfage, dockage, parking, registration, and mooring fees cover operating costs, with any surplus retained for capital improvements and replacement. Members questioned several budget lines, including a sharp increase in overtime and workers’ compensation. Breen said overtime is driven largely by security needs at the deep-water port and fluctuates with vessel traffic, such as salt shipments, while workers’ comp is a DAS-set cost and not something the division controls. He said the budget is conservative and that if revenues fall short, capital projects would be the first items scaled back. The discussion also covered fee-setting, with Breen saying rates are reviewed against the local market and infrastructure constraints, and that some smaller facility fees had recently been increased after being stagnant for years.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was going down the line with Senator Perry and your thought process.
• Medical school is a vetting process all the way through with... Tests, testing, and retesting.
• But I will argue that we're not improving our review process and the onsite instruction for a certain
• health authorities from considering race, ethnicity, or similar factors in hiring and promotions.
• I'm simply stating that we want them to hire the most qualified. We can agree to disagree.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• This is who hired me.
• This is who hired me. This is pays me. This is who hired me.
• how that process worked. how that process worked.
• And Representative, yes, we did go through a request for proposal process and hired an external research
• We have our wage claim process and our inform and educate process, which are our more informal processes

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would be hopeful to have more opportunity to hire more staff.
• So we It's been a lot of internal processes and changes that we've made.
• And also, I am curious about the attorneys that have been hired.
• We begin... ...process, we updated our protective intake policy.
• “Proper storage process for that.” “Yeah, okay.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a FY27 budget session on Health and Human Services held in Mattapan, hosted by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Opening remarks from Senator Lydia Edwards, Representative Brandy Fluker-Reed, Representative Russell Holmes, and Boston Public Library President David Leonard emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing in Mattapan, the importance of community access, and the role of libraries as human services institutions. Committee members and attendees introduced themselves before agency testimony began. MassAbility testified first, describing its mission to support people with disabilities through employment, independent living, and disability determination services. The agency highlighted federal funding uncertainty, a modest FY27 budget reduction, and a proposed reworking of its home care program, which it said is outdated and should better target those most in need. Members questioned the home care cut, staffing reductions, and federal coordination. MassAbility also shared a participant story about recovery and community support to illustrate the impact of its services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing then presented its FY27 request, focusing on interpreter and captioning access, workforce development, emergency communication, aging-related hearing loss, and transition services for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. Members asked about interpreter shortages, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL education, and community training; the commission said it is expanding mentorship and referral systems but still faces staffing and vendor challenges. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind followed with a $30.8 million request, describing services for nearly 9,000 consumers, peer support groups, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 services, while noting federal funding uncertainty and a 7% budget cut. Members raised concerns about maintaining services with fewer resources, and the commissioner said the agency had trimmed overhead and could manage the proposal. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the segment, outlining expanded legal, housing, workforce, citizenship, and financial literacy supports for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, legal defense initiatives, and the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative. Members discussed the effects of federal policy changes, the loss of refugee resettlement funding, and the need for state support to fill gaps. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the hearing consisted of agency presentations and committee questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Processing facility or a processing Processing facility or a processing facility<00:30:10.919>
• refer as well as some processing refer as well as some processing equipment<00:34:24.760> and
• Overall, we have a track record of obviously less offshore hires than local hires, but to your point,
• <00:48:25.079> than obviously um less offshore hires than obviously um less offshore hires
• is very different from the this process is very different from the process<01:41:46.560> you<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that process and are in the room and are part of the preparatory process, it is connected in my opinion
• Any process. It is connected in my opinion process.
• Whoever's hiring individuals must comply.
• Whoever's hiring individuals must comply.
• <01:32:14.600> them likely that a business would hire them likely that a business would hire

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to get them through the process.
• And now it's a digital process to start, but then it's a manual process having to ship evidence back
• and handling those cases to a digitized process, but it is costing funds to do that.
• Last year, we processed almost 80,000 injunctions statewide.
• Last year, we processed almost 60,000 cases of these specific case types.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding. FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed. The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• In that same process, Mr.
• Process.
• attorneys, hiring surveyors, hiring accountants, and things like that.
• Do you go through that same process?
• We hire students, college students, high school students, and we also hire interns and return-to-work

Transcript Highlights:

• CYFD has done some hiring.
• We're in the process.
• and go through the licensing process again.
• This was a very involved process.
• We do know we just finished our RFP process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tiffany, you said that it changed it from to an internal process.
• What is going to change about the process here within the manual?
• So, we have sent administrators to help with the hiring process to get the interviews done.
• It's the first opportunity at hire date, and we're very excited about it. They'll get some...
• processing these cases.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging, Children, and Youth first approved the February 11 minutes and then reviewed a DCFS policy manual update from Director Tiffany Wright. The rule changes were described as largely terminology and compliance updates to align with new laws, an executive order, and current practice, including moving internal procedures out of the public manual and into DCFS’s internal procedure manual. Members asked whether the changes altered practice or just wording, and Wright said they were mainly procedural and vernacular updates, such as changing terms like “protection plan” to “immediate safety plan” and “safety factor” to “safety threat.” The committee then reviewed and accepted the rule without objection. Wright also presented DCFS performance data for the third quarter of FY 2026, including hotline reports, investigations, foster care, in-home services, permanency, and adoption measures. She noted staffing shortages in some counties, lower timeliness in completing maltreatment reports, and efforts to support those areas with central office staff and daily calls. Members asked about neglect trends, sexual abuse/exploitation categories, behavioral issues, and workforce recruitment and retention. Wright said DCFS is expanding hiring support, outreach, retention efforts, trauma support through UAMS, and a new staff training model beginning July 1. She also presented the biannual overturned investigations report, which tracks hotline calls, true findings, appeals, and reversals by county, and answered questions about comparing it with prior years. Major Jeff Drew of the Crimes Against Children Division presented the 2025 annual report, saying the hotline received 67,987 calls and 37,986 were accepted for investigation, with 6,539 CACD investigations assigned and a 28% substantiation rate. He described hotline operator training, including a four-week program with policy review, scenarios, recorded calls, live call monitoring, and evidence-chain and decision-making instruction. He said the starting salary for hotline operators is $43,888 plus benefits and would check on comparisons with other states. Elizabeth Pooley of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas reported that the state’s 29 CACs and 64 multidisciplinary teams served 13,568 children and families in 2025, up about 3,000 from the prior year, and hosted 259 trainings. Members asked about funding, and she said state funding is the same for each center at roughly $70,000 to $75,000, supplemented by federal and community support, with work underway on Arkansas-specific best practices. The meeting ended after a brief unrelated question about Meals on Wheels and a Project Zero adoption event announcement.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, are you wanting to hire someone?
• <01:09:46.159> Is<01:09:46.400> that this is also to hire someone.
• So we wanted to hire pathway net rising.
• Bri and so through our MOA able to hire Bri and so through our MOA process<01:12:18.719> with
• <01:17:47.199> more I guess why do you need to hire more I guess why do you need to hire more

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the October 13 minutes and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and agreements, including a deferred list from the September 2025 agenda. Members questioned several agencies about the purpose, cost, and duration of the items before them, with repeated motions to consider the contracts reviewed without objection passing by roll call. The Office of Energy Policy and Energy and Environment Cabinet presented a solar-and-battery program. Members asked about panel and battery lifespan, warranty coverage, who would pay for replacement or disposal, and whether the program made sense in Kentucky. The agency said panels and batteries generally last 25 to 30 years, warranties would cover replacement during the warranty period, EPA guidance would govern disposal, and federal funds would cover program expenses. Officials estimated the program could reduce participating homeowners’ utility bills by about 70%, with a minimum required savings of 20%. The Department for Community Based Services explained a new vendor contract for SSI initial and redetermination work for children in out-of-home care, saying the work is federally required, the department lacks in-house capacity, and the contract replaced a prior vendor after an RFP protest and rebid. The Department of Highways described umbrella traffic engineering contracts for smaller highway safety projects, noting they are used for spot improvements and are nearing full utilization. The Kentucky Historical Society said its contract funded a temporary exhibit tied to 250th anniversary programming, and the Board of Medical Licensure discussed an amended audit contract, explaining that annual audits were adopted after an auditor’s recommendation and that the board is funded by state allocation plus fees and fines. The Department for Natural Resources/Abandoned Mine Lands gave the most extensive presentation, describing a $5 million engineering services contract as part of a much larger workload increase driven by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, with projects prioritized by citizen complaints and safety impacts; the agency said the contract supports design and oversight for community-scale mine reclamation projects that exceed in-house capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are really intentional about the way that we recruit and hire students.
• programs, and an 11th program is in the approval process.
• But the other three did include hiring licensed mental health professionals.
• that when hiring managers were given recommendations by AI models with racial biases, those hiring managers
• We began, as I said, with selecting the vendor, went through a very rigorous process.

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've hired, really proud that we've hired an MMIP drone operator.
• We're in the process of, again, filling an investigator.
• So we do have ideas about improving process.
• Just curious about your... ...internal processes.
• Just curious about your internal processes.

Summary: The hearing focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) grant program under the Board of State and Community Corrections and related Department of Justice efforts. BSCC reported that it now administers 36 MMIP grants across three cohorts, with awards ranging from $436,000 to $1 million, plus five collaborative grants at $2 million each, totaling $35.4 million awarded to federally recognized tribes. Testimony from tribal leaders and grantees described how the funding supports prevention, family advocacy, domestic violence services, law enforcement coordination, youth programming, culturally grounded healing, and new tribal public safety positions such as investigators, social workers, and drone operators. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that the crisis is longstanding, tied to generational trauma, and that the grant has helped build trust and infrastructure in tribal communities. Several witnesses and committee members urged continued and preferably ongoing funding, noting that demand now exceeds available one-time money. BSCC and tribal representatives described outreach efforts that increased participation from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two and more applicants than funding in cohort three. Tribes also raised implementation concerns, especially the burden of quarterly narrative reporting, limited staff capacity, and the need for flexible administration. BSCC said it uses steering committees, separate small- and large-project categories, orientations, monitoring visits, and technical assistance to support grantees. Tribal leaders and advocates stressed that the program should remain accessible without requiring a waiver of tribal sovereignty. The second major topic was DOJ’s update on AB 3099, the Tribal Assistance Program, and the tribal police pilot under AB 134. DOJ officials said the Office of Native American Affairs and the Division of Law Enforcement have been conducting outreach, trainings, listening sessions, and coordination with tribal, local, state, and federal partners to address Public Law 280 jurisdictional issues, improve reporting and data, and support Feather Alert and MMIP-related resources. DOJ said the AB 3099 report is in internal review and that the tribal police pilot is moving forward with the Yurok Tribe as a participant, with a July 1, 2026 start date. DOJ and tribal witnesses said the pilot’s main barriers are cost and, for some tribes, the waiver of sovereign immunity. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with broad support for expanding and sustaining MMIP-related funding and infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• of rushing the process relating to the passage of paid family medical leave.
• There was a microsimulation process that was going through in 2022.
• uh and I think allegations of process uh and I think allegations of rushing<00:19:44.039> process
• It’s an ongoing process.”
• It’s an ongoing process.” Representative Pinto said, “Why would we possibly vote this out today?

Bills: HF11

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want you to be able to hire a babysitter.
• And we want you to be able to hire a babysitter.
• Because if you hire a babysitter, you're going to have to get a receipt from them.
• So you would hire your cousin or your—there's a lot of this family member stuff going on.
• So you would hire your cousin or your family member.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for Senate Bill 304, which would address child protective investigations involving children with certain genetic or medical conditions that can mimic signs of abuse. Senator Sharif and several family members and advocates described cases in which children were removed after injuries were initially misread as abuse, and argued the bill would give parents more opportunity to obtain qualified medical opinions. The committee adopted a substitute amendment that removed language imposing analysis duties on certain medical professionals, then passed the bill favorably after testimony in support from the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and several affected families. The committee then considered SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings for terrorism victims, SB 96 on relief for Jacob Rogers, SB 382 on affordable housing rent agreements, SB 4 and SB 6 on claims bills for Patricia Armini and Jose Correa, SB 1142 on release of conservation easements, SB 658 on waiver or release of liens, SB 28 and SB 30 on claims involving South Broward Hospital District and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, SB 24 on relief for Mandy Penny Lemon, SB 72 on campaign funds for child care expenses, and SB 1622 on recreational customary use of beaches. Most of these bills were explained by their sponsors as narrow relief or technical measures, and the committee heard a mix of support and opposition from claimants, local governments, industry groups, and advocacy organizations. Several bills drew substantive debate. On SB 382, members discussed rent stability and whether the bill should better address lease language and future rent increases; the amendment and bill were both reported favorably. On SB 1142, members raised concerns about environmental and drainage impacts and whether releases of conservation easements should be mandatory or discretionary, but the bill still passed favorably. On SB 72, members questioned the scope of allowable campaign child care expenses and the need for stronger guardrails against abuse; the bill nevertheless passed favorably. On SB 1622, testimony sharply divided between supporters of restoring public beach access and opponents defending private property rights; debate continued when the transcript ended, so no final vote on that bill is reflected here.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's where NMDOT was brought into the process in DHSCM to make this possible.
• And it's just a kind of a clunky process, honestly.
• Lastly, we're finding that there's a really tight bottleneck in that Process.
• That speaks to the lengthy process of relocating a lot of those.
• They got hired on to do the thinning and the mastication.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to acknowledge them for being here and being part of this process and to all our stakeholders
• We also recommend a statewide internship tax credit to encourage small businesses to hire students in
• I'm glad you said that because... ...processing to get on that list.
• You hire someone from the community, we would have given you, I think it was $500 to $1,000.
• You hire someone from the community, we give you a $1,000 to $500 tax break for hiring that individual

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact held an informational hearing in Paramount as part of its “Pocketbook Tour,” focused on affordability, cost pressures, and household impacts in Los Angeles County. The first panel centered on workers and learners, with testimony from the UCLA Labor Center and the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board. Speakers described how rising living costs, tuition, and low wages force many students to work long hours, often in unrelated, low-wage jobs, while struggling with food, rent, bills, anxiety, and limited financial aid. Recommendations included expanding state-funded work study, creating a statewide internship tax credit for small businesses, improving financial aid formulas to reflect regional cost of living, increasing flexibility for students, and strengthening worker-rights education and career pathways. The second panel focused on microbusinesses and small business affordability. Testimony from microenterprise advocates, the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network, and local business owners described rising commercial rents, labor costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, insurance, utilities, and disaster-related pressures as major threats to small businesses. Witnesses emphasized that small businesses are central to local economies and asked the state to expand technical assistance, low-interest financing, disaster support, supply-chain development, and community-based outreach. They also urged more intentional support for microbusinesses and home-based entrepreneurs, including networks that connect them to resources and help them build collective buying power. Committee members asked about possible state actions, including tax credits for hiring local workers or interns, support for trades and apprenticeships, and ways to partner more closely with SBDCs and chambers of commerce. Public comment echoed the hearing themes, with speakers highlighting student hardship, nonprofit mental health funding, renewable energy jobs and internships, and the need for state support for clean-energy incentives. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with closing remarks and adjournment at 11:05 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• By moving these disputes to PERB, SB 1166 creates a fair and streamlined process for both workers and
• Actions like these undermine the collective bargaining process and create unnecessary conflict.
• Existing law ensures that teachers receive due process, including a hearing and the ability to appeal
• Without equivalent due process protections, investigations against them involving egregious misconduct
• We're also making sure that the due process rights are enshrined as well.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several bills, beginning with SB 1166 by Senator Arreguín, which would allow AC Transit and its employees to use the Public Employment Relations Board to resolve unfair labor practice charges instead of the courts. The author and union supporters said PERB would provide a faster, fairer, and more specialized process, while no opposition testified. The committee members expressed support, and SB 1166 was approved on a due pass motion and re-referred to Appropriations. The committee also took up consent items SB 1024, SB 1207, and SB 1444, which were moved on consent and placed on hold for absent members. Later, SB 1083 by Senator Perez was heard; it would refine last year’s school misconduct database law by adding an administrative law judge review process for classified employees, requiring stronger employer notification and record-sharing procedures, and extending vetting requirements to certain contracted workers. Supporters, including classified employees and labor groups, argued the bill adds due process and fairness while preserving student safety. Opponents, including school administrators, school districts, and liability organizations, argued it could create gaps in misconduct records, increase liability, and weaken protections for students. After discussion, the author said he was continuing to work with opponents on amendments and emphasized the bill’s goal of balancing due process with child safety, referencing his own experience with grooming as a student. SB 1083 was passed on a due pass motion and re-referred to the Committee on Education. The chair then announced that all bills had passed and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since as part of this process we know that we're going to have to go through the BCP process or we're
• So there's no reason why that can't come forward as part of the budget process or the policy process
• , why... ...still don't really understand why this process, why sort of the traditional process of a
• of the regulatory process.
• One is the department's still in the process that's before the regulatory process.

Summary: The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees. The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved. Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.