Transcript Highlights:

• With me today, I have Morgan Snyder from Restore the Delta and Jennifer Pierre from State Water Contractors
• I'm the general manager for the State Water Contractors.
• We have enviros versus contractors, Republicans, Democrats, I mean, senators and assembly members.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Todd Blunstein for the Southern California Contractors Association, as well as the Southern California
• Association of Scaffold Contractors, in support.
• Good morning, Matt Easley, on behalf of Associated General Contractors of California, happy to be in

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 16, 2025, and heard five measures focused on election administration, voter participation, judicial retention elections, charitable solicitation by officials, and local transportation tax initiatives. The chair noted the committee’s rules for limited witness testimony and accepted written testimony through the legislative portal. Several authors presented their bills in person or through a committee member due to scheduling conflicts. SB 3 by Senator Cervantes would tighten and clarify the ballot signature-cure process, including requiring standardized forms from election officials and adding a reminder on vote-by-mail envelopes about signature matching. Supporters said the bill would reduce rejected ballots and make the process more reliable; there was no opposition. The committee voted do pass as amended and re-refer to Appropriations. SB 316 by Senator Reyes, presented by Assembly Member Pellerin, would expand high school voter registration and pre-registration outreach to students, with testimony from students, education groups, disability advocates, and civic organizations in support. One member opposed on the grounds that it could be an unfunded mandate for schools. The bill passed 4-1. ACA 8 by Assembly Member Pellerin would change appellate and Supreme Court judicial retention elections so justices would appear on the ballot only if voters file a petition requesting it. Supporters, including the Secretary of State, the League of Women Voters, and the California Judges Association, said it would reduce ballot length, voter fatigue, and costs while preserving accountability. One member raised concern about the future petition threshold and the possibility it could be set too high, and voted no. The measure passed 4-2. SB 760 by Senator Allen would narrow behested payment reporting requirements for public appeals to charities, especially in disaster response, while preserving disclosure where officials, family members, or staff have conflicts of interest. Good-government groups supported the bill as a balance between transparency and encouraging charitable appeals; it passed unanimously on the recorded vote. SB 512 by Senator Perez would clarify that voters in transportation districts may use citizen initiatives to propose transportation sales taxes where the district already has taxing authority. Supporters argued it aligns Elections Code with Proposition 218 and recent case law, while opponents from business and real estate groups objected to the measure’s implications for tax approval rules. The committee approved the bill 5-2. After calling absent members, the committee cleared the calendar and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will provide amnesty to employers who have misclassified these drivers as independent contractors
• across the United States, and it's worked really well to transition workers, previously independent contractors
• and the Department of Fish and Wildlife are utilizing a statute for design-build projects so that contractors

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced several bills focused on worker protections, training access, wage enforcement, outreach, and workplace safety. SB 513 would require employees to have access to their training and certification records; supporters, including laid-off refinery workers and labor organizations, said employers sometimes withhold records during layoffs, while committee members called the practice unacceptable. The bill passed 5-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. SB 809 addressed misclassification of construction truck owner-drivers by offering employers amnesty if they reclassify workers as employees and adopt a two-check payment system; labor and construction trades groups supported it, and it passed 5-0 to Judiciary. SB 578 would codify the California Workplace Outreach Program, which funds trusted community organizations to educate workers about their rights. Supporters described the program as a proven way to reach low-wage, immigrant, and hard-to-reach workers, especially amid wage theft, retaliation, and immigration enforcement concerns. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 261 would strengthen collection of wage theft judgments by creating a public list of nonpaying employers and adding penalties after six months of nonpayment; county enforcement officials and labor advocates said it would help workers recover unpaid wages. It passed 6-0 to Judiciary. The committee also approved SB 369, which would require skilled and trained workforce standards for Salton Sea restoration projects, with supporters saying the work is hazardous and should use trained labor; it passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 20 sought to address silicosis in stone countertop fabrication by requiring training and certification protections for workers; supporters said the disease has caused deaths among mostly Latino workers, while industry groups supported the bill with amendments and requested implementation resources. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of four additional bills and adjourned after all listed measures were moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<05:54:01.040> impounding<05:54:01.840> tow<05:54:02.160> companies, contractors
• , impounding tow companies, contractors, impounding tow companies, private<05:54:02.958> collectors
• It also pays for training for DPW crews and private contractors in how to more efficiently use road salt
• <06:12:38.320> by<06:12:38.558> the benefit to private contractors by the benefit to
• private contractors by the addition<06:12:39.040> of<06:12:39.120> a<06:12:39.360>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we talk about this organization, this is the organization that's the contractor that administers
• So this bill would require the contractor used to manage the tax credit program and the voucher program
• <01:10:30.640> for retained by the contractor for retained by the contractor for administrative
• <01:13:52.480> sounds description of the contractor sounds description of the contractor sounds
• that takes 10% off the top contractor that takes 10% off the top for<01:13:56.880> their<01:13

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on HB 402, a bill dealing with whether Education Freedom Account (EFA) payments should be described in state law as not constituting taxable income. The bill sponsor argued that the current statute is misleading because New Hampshire should not imply a federal tax result, and said the bill would remove that language and could also be amended to clarify that families should consult tax advisors. He emphasized that the measure was not intended to impose a state tax on EFAs, but to avoid giving inaccurate advice about possible federal tax liability. Testimony was divided. A retired representative and a tax preparer both opposed the bill, saying EFA payments are already treated consistently with IRS rules and that the bill would create confusion, administrative burden, and possible tax consequences for low- and moderate-income families. They argued the bill is a solution in search of a problem and warned that requiring 1099s could add costs for the scholarship organization and recipients. A tax attorney supported the bill’s repeal of the state language, saying New Hampshire should not put tax advice into statute and that the current wording is inaccurate because federal law, not state law, controls taxability. He cited IRS Section 117 and Publication 970, explaining that only some scholarship-like payments are tax-free and that many EFA-eligible expenses may not qualify for federal exemption. Members asked questions about what would be misleading, whether the bill was trying to tax EFAs, and the cost of issuing 1099s. The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly said the bill was not a state tax on voucher payments, but a clarification about federal tax treatment. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those of you who are not aware, prosecutors are not independent contractors.
• not in the I think, you know, for those you are not aware, the prosecutors are not independent contractors
• I also want to state that district public defenders have always been independent contractors.
• They have always been independent contractors.
• And I was an independent contractor, and I learned a lot from that job. As far as Mr.

Summary: The committee first handled several housekeeping items, voluntarily deferring HB 123, HB 255, and HB 994 without objection. It then took up SCR 3 by Senator Brock Myers, which would delay and revise implementation of a state police rule affecting criminal history background checks for licensed ambulance personnel and certain health care workers. After adopting Amendment Set 434 to remove a provision involving parish and local law enforcement checks, the committee reported SCR 3 as amended favorably. The committee also heard HB 978 by Rep. Lecombe, which as amended raises the population threshold for municipalities required to remit certain special costs to the District Indigent Defender Fund from under 5,000 to under 9,000; with support from the town of Addis and related stakeholders, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 967 by Rep. Moore, which sought to remove language limiting parole eligibility for certain pre-July 2, 1973 life-sentenced offenders to those who had pleaded guilty, thereby allowing a small group of elderly inmates convicted at trial to seek parole consideration. Supporters argued the bill would only create an opportunity for review, not release, and cited rehabilitation and fairness concerns; opponents, including district attorneys and corrections officials, argued the 2022 law already addressed the intended group and that the current bill would reopen cases involving serious violent crimes. After extended debate, the motion to report HB 967 favorably failed on an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 1107 by Rep. Melerine, a bill on determining intellectual disability in capital cases. The bill, as amended, raised the burden of proof to clear and convincing evidence, set an IQ threshold framework, required expert reports and Daubert-type reliability review, and limited the article to post-conviction capital cases. The Attorney General’s office and district attorneys supported the bill as a way to create clearer procedures and speed resolution of Atkins claims, while criminal defense lawyers, disability advocates, clergy, and medical experts opposed it as inconsistent with current clinical standards and potentially unconstitutional, warning that rigid IQ cutoffs and presumptions could wrongly expose people with intellectual disabilities to execution. The transcript ends during closing remarks on HB 1107, with no final committee vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why I started off with contractor.
• That's why I started off with contractor.
• That's why I started off with contractor.
• That's why I started off with contractor.
• That's why I started off with contractor.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 33, Senate Bill 279 by Senator Chambliss, regarding the general contractor licensing board.
• On page 33, Senate Bill 279 by Senator Chambliss, regarding the general contractor licensing board.
• regarding the general contractor regarding the general contractor licensing<00:33:12.159> board
• On page 33 of the calendar, Senate Bill number 279 by Senator Chambliss regarding the general contractor
• Adopted. the general contractor licensing board. the general contractor licensing board.

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• independent sugar cane farmers, repeals the general excise tax exemptions for amounts received by contractors
• <00:57:08.799> of<00:57:08.960> the amounts received by contractors of the amounts
• received by contractors of the patient<00:57:09.920> centered<00:57:10.359> Community<00
• <00:58:24.920> of<00:58:25.200> patient pertaining to uh contractors of patient pertaining
• to uh contractors of patient centered<00:58:26.640> Community<00:58:27.079> Care<00:58

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1294 HD2, which would create a workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture to address agricultural workforce housing shortages. The Department of Agriculture supported the bill’s intent but emphasized that the first step should be a study to determine actual housing demand, noting many farmers have very low incomes and may not be able to support housing costs. A DHHL representative said the department supports the measure as a first step but does not currently plan to expand housing on its agricultural lands; members also discussed the distinction between agricultural and pastoral leases and asked for follow-up information on lease numbers and ranchers growing feed. Testimony on HB 1294 was overwhelmingly supportive, with farm and farmers’ organizations saying housing is critical to sustaining agriculture and should be located near farm operations when possible. Members questioned how housing eligibility would be enforced and whether federal housing funds could be used. The committee reported 38 testimonies in support, none opposed, and two comments, then voted to pass HB 1294 HD2 with amendments, including a date defect to July 1, 2050; the motion carried with five in favor and the recommendations were adopted. The committee then took up HB 428 HD1, establishing the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to address food shortages and requiring reports before the 2026 regular session. The Department of Agriculture urged the bill’s continuation and appropriations, citing rescinded federal grant programs and a planned $1.1 million application to support food banks and kalo production. Food banks, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and other groups strongly supported the measure, describing rising demand for charitable food assistance, especially for fresh produce and protein, and noting that many families are struggling despite working multiple jobs. Witnesses also described school pantry and backpack programs, food rescue partnerships with retailers, and the need for more stable state support; one witness asked for at least $5 million in funding for farm families. Committee members asked about food insecurity levels, food safety, abuse of food assistance, and how the program would connect farmers with schools and food banks. Food bank representatives said they already work with DOE school pantry programs and inspect all donated food for safety, and they suggested a grant or escrow-style payment model could help farmers by reducing reimbursement delays. The transcript does not show a final vote on HB 428 before the excerpt ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• and<00:54:40.160> through<00:54:40.359> ourselves<00:54:40.839> so contractor
• and through ourselves so contractor and through ourselves so we're<00:54:41.160> all<00:54:41.960
• be so we use really skilled up to be so we use National<00:54:54.319> um<00:54:54.520> contractors
• to<00:54:55.240> bring<00:54:55.400> in<00:54:55.559> from National um contractors
• to bring in from National um contractors to bring in from out<00:54:56.000> state<00:54:56.359

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard testimony on several bills, with much of the discussion focused on Enterprise Zones and related economic development measures. On SB 125, the committee heard support from DBEDT, the Department of Taxation, the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and the Farmers Union. Members questioned how the bill would affect job-creation requirements and learned that existing companies and new companies are treated differently under the program, with existing companies generally subject to a 15% annual employment increase and new companies to a 10% increase, while the bill would extend the program period from seven to nine years. DBEDT also said the program has been effective, citing 1,162 jobs created or maintained at a cost of about $1.2 million, and noted that agriculture, manufacturing, and wholesaling are the main sectors involved. The committee then took up SB 729, also relating to Enterprise Zones, which would expand eligibility to better accommodate local manufacturers and value-added businesses that sell directly to retail rather than only wholesale. Testifiers from the Holua Collaborative and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the measure, saying it would help small manufacturers and agricultural producers add value and adapt to internet-era sales patterns. A committee discussion clarified that the bill would add value-added processing as an allowable activity within the zones, and DBEDT explained that the current rules were written for a wholesale-dominated market. The Attorney General’s office also testified, raising a supremacy clause concern and recommending language changes to avoid conflict with federal law. On SB 129, relating to labeling requirements for fish, the Attorney General and the Department of Agriculture both raised concerns about federal preemption and enforcement. The AG explained that federal law governs fish labeling but includes an exception for processed fish, and recommended narrowing the bill to processed fish and defining that term to fit the federal carve-out. The Hawaii Longline Association supported the bill but suggested excluding canned tuna while including products such as poke, sashimi, and sushi. The Department of Agriculture said it does not currently enforce this kind of labeling requirement and would need to determine whether another agency should handle enforcement. The committee also heard SB 581, which would establish an aerospace and aeronautics development program within DBEDT. Testimony was generally supportive, but members pressed for a fiscal estimate, and the bill’s sponsor said a prior version of the office had operated on about $400,000 annually with a small staff. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We hired a contractor to help us obtain that right-of-way.
• /c> working with a contractor working with a contractor um<02:40:16.880> to<02:40:17.240> write
• c><02:55:46.120> no we tell contractors, "Sorry, no we tell contractors, "Sorry, no construc-<
• contractor contractor mess<03:17:45.680> that<03:17:45.840> we<03:17:45.920> got
• Contractors coming out here and know.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an option to conduct a request for proposal process to select the most advantageous concessions contractor
• So we work with the contractors, engineers, and all that stuff.
• I haven't heard anything from any local contractors, engineers, architects, or anything, but maybe if
• they're listening Contractors, engineers, architects, or anything, but maybe if they're listening to

Summary: The task force approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, striking language about contracting with a security vendor. Members then reviewed a draft bill on concessions procurement (LC 27.0161), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, update language for vending and merchandising machines, and clarify where concession proceeds are deposited. OMB explained the bill and said it was open to further changes, including language to address artificial fragmentation, clarify which government entities are covered, and possibly set contract-length limits. Members raised questions about whether the bill would apply to school districts, park districts, airports, and other political subdivisions, and about whether concession agreements could direct proceeds to nonprofits or other secondary recipients; OMB said the statute is intended to require proceeds to go to the government entity’s operating fund or general fund. OMB also reported on other survey suggestions. It said a proposed general authority for agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is best limited to high-volume agencies. On legal notices, OMB said it had made progress with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernizing online notices, improving ADA compliance, and discussing rate and definition changes. On click-through agreements, OMB and the Attorney General’s office concluded no statutory change was needed after revising internal guidance; the $20,000 threshold was described as a practical cutoff for adhesive, nonnegotiable software terms. OMB also said issues raised by the Center for Distance Education on alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures had been resolved through policy clarification. The University System gave a brief update on its collaboration with OMB and said it was continuing to review concessions, surplus property, and capital project statutes with all institutions involved. The task force then discussed a draft bill on requirements for new or expanded spending, intended to require agencies to identify program purpose, needs, alternatives, success measures, and budget details, and to report on outcomes over time. Members and staff debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how much should be real-time versus periodic, and whether the bill should include full implementation costs for pilot programs. Legislative Council staff said the new program evaluation division is still being built out, that staffing remains limited, and that the office plans to continue working with OMB and the executive branch to refine the proposal before the next meeting. No final action was taken on the draft bills beyond directing further work and follow-up for the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• transcripts that accurately reflect the record of the court. ...The court transcribers are independent contractors
• They were all laid off, I believe, in 2018 and became independent contractors.
• They were both an employee and a contractor.
• We are independent contractors, small business owners, who face insurmountable financial strain.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held its inaugural hearing of the session, led by Chair Michael Day and co-chair Senator Lydia Edwards, and reviewed a large slate of bills and constitutional amendments. The chair laid out hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, priority for in-person witnesses, and deadlines for reporting constitutional amendments and House bills. The committee heard testimony on 29 proposals, with many witnesses and advocates speaking in support of measures they said would clarify the law, improve access to justice, or address public safety and fairness concerns. Several bills drew extensive testimony. Supporters of H.1686/S.1254 urged creation of a commission to study intentional misrepresentation of service animals, citing disruptive and dangerous encounters with fake service dogs and the need to protect legitimate service-dog teams. H.1649/S.1168 on court transcriber fees received strong support from transcribers and CPCS, who said rates have been frozen at $3 per page since 1988 and should be raised to $4.50, with an automatic CPI adjustment; they also described the work as time-consuming and essential to the justice system. H.1768/S.1037 on indigency was backed by CPCS, which said the bill would update eligibility rules, reduce unnecessary six-month reassessments, and eliminate the $150 counsel fee for indigent adults. H.1723/S.1193 to remove the charitable immunity cap was supported by legislators and attorneys who argued the current $20,000/$100,000 caps leave seriously injured people undercompensated and make Massachusetts an outlier. The committee also heard testimony on S.1046 regarding adoptions, with multiple adoptive parents, attorneys, and agency representatives describing recent probate court interpretations that have disrupted out-of-state surrender and finalization practices. Witnesses said the bill would restore predictability and allow birth parents outside Massachusetts to use either their home-state law or Massachusetts law, while preserving ICPC safeguards. Senator Feingold testified on H.1748/S.1109, “Conrad’s Law,” to criminalize coercing someone into suicide, arguing Massachusetts should join most other states in creating a specific offense rather than relying on involuntary manslaughter charges. Representative Donahue supported H.66 to remove “so help me God” from the constitutional oath of office. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee simply heard testimony and thanked witnesses, with chairs indicating they would continue reviewing the bills and written submissions.

Transcript Highlights:

• if you're going to reduce lanes, then 60 days prior to that contract being let or bid out to any contractor
• potential different ideas. contract being let or bid out to any contract being let or bid out to any contractor
• 50.480> would<00:11:50.640> have<00:11:50.720> to<00:11:50.880> provide contractor
• , they would have to provide contractor, they would have to provide notice<00:11:51.680> along

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also directed the finance authority to use the water project funds to hire technical assistance contractors
• among other things, allows small systems to apply to the finance authority, and we send out our contractor
• We have contractors on staff.
• We have hired 11 different contractors that do community facilitation.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative, the Environment Department could work with an internationally recognized EPD contractor
• procure lower carbon materials and wanted to take advantage of the rebate, they could work with their contractor
• And wanted to take advantage of the rebate, they could work with their contractor or material buyers
• to take advantage of the rebate, but it would go directly to the contractors or the producers.

Bills: HB253, HB153, HB255, HB287, HB371, SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: distance learning, virtual instruction, public education, student enrollment, school funding, education standards, pandemic education response, low-carbon construction, construction materials, rebate, environmental product declaration, EPD, embodied carbon, carbon intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonization, industrial incentives, clean manufacturing, cement, concrete

Transcript Highlights:

• pricing agreements and so forth, and feel strongly that that will actually open this up to more contractors
• agreement that should take some of the difficulties out of participating in the program from a contractor
• And part of what the discussion around that has been that the contractors need to have some...
• The discussion around that has been that the contractors need to have some level of assurance and reliability

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think taking too long to procure a contractor could also cause the increase in construction.
• It was kind of caught in A perfect storm of high demand and not enough contractors, I think it was bid
• So this is a known cost to complete the project since it is under construction and has a general Contractor
• They have a number of contractors that provide a lot of technical assistance to communities in planning

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• When we went out to RFP to get contractors to help us. with this process, we received five total, and
• We have a wonderful project manager who is helping coordinate all of this contractor work and tribal
• Right now, those three contractors have orders for eight of our divisions.
• The consultation process, getting the contractors on board, and starting the inventory work, the additional

Transcript Highlights:

• But that would be to partner with another contractor to help the departments do it, not just to do a
• But while that administration has provided a high level of what ideas they're considering or the contractors
• Also, it doesn't envision reporting back to the legislature on the work of the contractor. and we find
• would the legislature be notified of any programmatic changes at the prisons and then why is the contractor

Keywords: 988, house, all