Video & Transcript : 'postal workers' :
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NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 06/04/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- workers they represent.
- just the workers whose jobs are highly visible, not just the workers with the loudest voices, all workers
- AS CHAIR OF SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE PROTECTING WORKERS MEANS PROTECTING ALL WORKERS.
- WORKERS.
- And few workers embody the work of service and care more than domestic workers.
Summary:
The Senate met on June 3, 2026, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through a long list of discharge motions and substitutions to place many bills on the third reading calendar. The chamber also adopted Resolution J.2314 honoring the New York chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with remarks emphasizing domestic workers’ role in care work, labor organizing, and protections such as paid sick leave and family leave. Another adopted resolution, J.2298, mourned labor and social justice advocate Minerva Solla, with senators highlighting her work with 1199, the Young Lords, Puerto Rican solidarity efforts, and women’s organizing. A third resolution recognized Olympic curler Daniel Casper for representing the United States at the 2026 Winter Games.
The Senate then confirmed a large slate of judicial and executive nominations. It accepted the Judiciary Committee report and confirmed four interim Supreme Court justices, seven Court of Claims judges, and 21 reappointments/extensions by a vote of 44-12. The Finance Committee report was also accepted, and the Senate confirmed a broad set of appointments to state boards and authorities, including the MTA, State Commission of Correction, Power Authority, NYSERDA, Financial Control Board, public health councils, SUNY and Cornell boards, gaming and bridge authorities, and others. One notable confirmation was Alexander Dockery to the State Commission of Correction; supporters called it the first time a formerly incarcerated person had been confirmed to that commission, while Senator Murray criticized the practice of voting on large nomination blocks rather than individually.
The chamber then took up and passed many bills, mostly by wide margins, covering labor, health, education, transportation, public service, criminal justice, municipal, tax, insurance, and environmental topics. Several members explained their votes on major measures: Senator Ramos supported a bill modernizing temporary disability benefits and another protecting construction workers from lost pay when jobs are canceled; Senator Baskin spoke about a correction bill tied to the death of India Cummings; Senator Skoufis described a family-court custody bill intended to prioritize child safety; Senator Mayer backed a proposal to reimburse parents of medically fragile children for providing care; and Senator Hinchey defended a bill requiring employers to report AI-related job impacts, while Senator Borrello opposed it as burdensome. Most bills were passed, some were laid aside, and the session concluded with multiple roll-call votes and confirmations before adjournment-related business.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, so real quickly, this bill basically adds utility workers to the criminal...
- Yeah, so real quickly, this bill basically adds utility workers to the criminal...
- And I asked about utility workers. Why do we have to add utility workers?
- I don't think a utility worker would be in a bar on official...
- And I asked about utility workers. Why do we have to add utility workers?
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jun 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- This remaining gap could allow a city or a district to potentially exclude specific classes of workers
- This remaining gap could allow a city or a district to potentially exclude specific classes of workers
- retirement system or CalPERS, and some do not, and we think that's just a bad outcome for public workers
- SJR 2 outlines a comprehensive vision of fairness, dignity, and opportunity for classified workers.
- California cannot allow our classified workers to be treated as an afterthought.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several retirement and school employment measures. SB 301 by Sen. Grayson would prevent CERL-covered cities and districts from amending retirement contracts to exclude certain employee groups, closing a loophole similar to one previously addressed for CalPERS. The bill was supported by California Professional Firefighters and received no opposition. SB 443 by Sen. Rubio would clarify that employees transferring into a joint powers authority can retain CalPERS classic status even when the JPA expands later; the city of La Verne, a flood management agency, and AFSCME supported the bill, and it also drew no opposition. Both bills were moved out of committee on unanimous votes and sent to Appropriations, with the consent calendar items SB 521, SB 581, and SB 853 also approved.
The committee then heard SB 494 by Sen. Cortese, which would give classified school employees the right to have disciplinary appeals heard by an administrative law judge rather than by the school board. Supporters, including CSEA, AFSCME, and CFT, argued the bill would create parity with teachers and community college faculty and provide a fairer appeal process. Opponents, including the California School Boards Association, county superintendents, school business officials, and community college groups, argued it would remove local control, impose a one-size-fits-all process, and shift costs to districts. The bill was passed out of committee and referred to the Committee on Higher Education.
The committee also considered SJR 2 by Sen. Cortese, a resolution urging Congress and the President to enact federal protections for classified school employees, including better wages, benefits, safety, and workplace rights. Support came from CFT, CSEA, and other labor groups, with no opposition. The resolution was adopted and moved forward. At the end of the hearing, the committee reopened the roll to add votes, and all listed measures ultimately passed unanimously or near-unanimously before the meeting adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Transcript Highlights:
- My social worker assured me that if they placed me somewhere, I would feel safe.
- When I was a social worker in California in 2007, When I was a social worker in California in 2007, we
- When I was a social worker in California in 2007, When I was a social worker in California in 2007, we
- Most workers are spending hours per day moving children from one placement to the next.
- We need those caseloads reduced by one-third, to 10 per worker.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing on a series of child welfare bills focused on DCF, foster care, mandated reporting, educational records, and family support. Chair Kennedy and Chair Livingstone opened with accessibility and testimony rules, then heard testimony on bills including S.127 on expanding mandated reporters, S.107/H.235 on a Foster Children’s Bill of Rights, S.106/H.228 on transferring foster care review from DCF to the Office of the Child Advocate, H.258/S.125 on an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records, H.205 on kinship foster care background checks, H.246/H.266 on minimizing trauma in care and protection cases, and S.159 on support for families after sudden unexpected infant death.
Supporters of the mandated reporter bill, led by Sen. Feeney and Foxborough advocates, described a local model that trains all adults who work with children and argued the state should scale that approach statewide to improve recognition and reporting of abuse. Testimony on the foster care bills emphasized the need for clearer rights, better notice to children and attorneys, stronger remedies, and independent oversight. Advocates, youth with lived experience, and legal organizations described placement instability, delayed notifications, abuse in care, poor educational continuity, and the need for rights around safety, family contact, culture, language, and access to records. Several witnesses urged that the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights include enforceable court remedies, not just reporting requirements.
On the oversight bill, supporters argued DCF should not review its own foster care system and pointed to poor outcomes, high placement instability, and recent investigative reporting as evidence for moving review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate. On the electronic backpack bill, testimony focused on the need for real-time data sharing and a centralized system so schools can receive foster students’ records quickly and support continuity. On the trauma-minimization bill, Rep. Miskin framed the proposal as a set of practical changes to reduce harm during removals and court involvement. On the SUID bill, Sen. Lovely said families should be given information about available grief and support resources after an infant death. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Transcript Highlights:
- So just for a little background, I am a social worker.
- So just for a little background, I am a social worker.
- They have to get a new shelter worker, they have to get a new housing worker, they have been using the
- social workers at the Department of Children and Families, and about 1,500 social workers working in
- worker.
Summary:
The committee held a hybrid hearing on a range of bills affecting children, families, disability rights, homelessness, and social services. Early testimony focused on H.215, which would support children experiencing homelessness by speeding access to child care vouchers and early intervention screenings. Boston officials, Horizons for Homeless Children, Head Start, pediatric and early education advocates, and families described delays in child care and early intervention, the developmental risks of homelessness, and the need for automatic referrals and faster access to services. Testimony also supported H.216, which would improve emergency housing assistance by restoring presumptive eligibility, reducing documentation barriers, extending shelter stays from six to nine months, and creating an ombudsperson; providers and legal advocates said current rules leave families sleeping in cars or outside and create unnecessary administrative hurdles.
The committee also heard strong support for H.210, which would repeal the “Learn Fair” school attendance sanction that cuts cash assistance to families when children miss school. Advocates from legal aid, education, and anti-poverty organizations argued the policy is punitive, burdensome, and ineffective, disproportionately affecting low-income, disabled, and Hispanic/Latino families. Several speakers said chronic absenteeism should be addressed through supports such as family outreach, wraparound services, and school engagement rather than benefit cuts. Legislators and school officials from Salem also testified that their districts reduced absenteeism through supportive strategies, not sanctions.
Additional testimony addressed children’s vision bills H.202 and H.166, with optometrists and researchers urging better screening, data systems, and treatment access to close achievement gaps caused by untreated vision problems. Senator Lovely also presented S.2714, proposing a study of discrimination in public accommodations for people with service animals. Later, testimony on H.279 supported changing social work licensure rules to remove exam requirements that speakers said disproportionately exclude multilingual candidates and candidates of color. The hearing also included testimony on bills related to the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock devices, with disability rights advocates opposing continued use of the devices and urging the committee to reject licensing or authorization for them. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, we have someone from the Texas Division of Workers' Compensation here as a resource witness,
- All of those different sectors could benefit from these basic skills and entry-level workers.
- As you know, the workers' compensation system can be rigorous and brutal for anyone trying to navigate
- The bill creates a blend of employment law and workers' compensation law.
- If you go, you have a right to the appeals panel of the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Committee:
House S/C on Workforce
Keywords:
peace officers, firefighters, employment protection, worker's compensation, job security, maximum medical improvement, government employment, firefighter cancer benefits, emergency medical technicians, compensation claims, cancer exposures, firefighting hazards, workforce training, rural development, grant program, job-specific training, Texas Workforce Commission, child care, single-parent, subsidized
NY
Transcript Highlights:
- really looking forward to working with all of you this year to set forth an agenda that truly helps workers
- Workers deserve transparency and employers deserve clarity.
- Thank you, Senator... ...for purposes of workers' compensation. Move the bill.
- Protecting workers, also advancing the cause of labor.
- Protecting workers, also advancing the cause of labor.
Committee:
Senate Labor
Summary:
The Labor Committee held its first meeting of the 26th legislative session, with Chair Senator Jessica Ramos outlining a worker-focused agenda centered on stability, fair hiring, clear benefits, and stronger systems for workers facing injury or family needs. She emphasized that the committee’s goal is to reduce worker crises by improving the rules before people need help. Senators Nathalia Fernandez, Christopher Ryan, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Mario Mattera, Robert Jackson, Shelley Mayer, and ranking member Steve Rhoads participated.
Six bills were considered. Senate Bill 172A, by Senator Ramos, would increase short-term disability benefits and was reported to Finance. Senate Bill 496, by Senator Fernandez, would require employers to inform employees about certain contract provisions and was reported to the calendar. Senate Bill 2076, by Senator Mayer, would require notice of initial unemployment benefit determinations and was also reported to the calendar. Senate Bill 4518, by Senator Ramos, would address communications between a claimant’s attorney or representative and an injured worker’s treating provider or medical consultant, and was reported to the calendar.
The committee also advanced Senate Bill 4816, by Senator Ryan, which would add Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as occupational diseases for workers’ compensation purposes, and Senate Bill 5990B, by Senator Ramos, which would require employers to disclose benefits and other compensation such as bonuses, stock options, and commissions. All bills were moved by voice vote without opposition noted. Senator Rhoads briefly commented that protecting workers and advancing labor issues should be approached in a bipartisan way. The meeting then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Workers in California are not unionized.
- Today, worker data is powering the AI economy.
- workers.
- Workers need the provisions in this bill.
- that assists workers is not always clear.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on privacy, accessibility, labor, and public safety. AB 1798 by Assemblymember Wilson would bar life and disability insurers from using non-diagnostic genetic information, including direct-to-consumer test results, in underwriting. Supporters argued the bill would protect privacy and encourage genetic testing, while insurers opposed it as unnecessary and said genetic data should be treated like other predictive health information. The bill passed the committee on a 7-0 vote and was held open for absent members.
AB 2190 by Assemblymember Wallace would create website accessibility standards based on WCAG guidelines and add affirmative defenses intended to reduce serial litigation while improving access for people with disabilities. Disability advocates supported the measure as a needed civil-rights update, while business groups warned it could increase liability and create unclear compliance obligations. The bill passed 9-0 and was sent to Appropriations.
AB 2721 by Assemblymember Carrillo would require hotels to post notice when they know or should know that U.S. Customs and Border Protection or ICE are using the premises, with supporters saying workers and guests deserve transparency and safety. Hotel and business groups opposed it, citing privacy, liability, and concerns about interfering with federal operations. The committee voted 6-2 to pass the bill to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2027 by Assemblymember Ward would restrict employers from using worker data to train AI systems that replace workers and limit sharing of worker data for automation; labor groups supported it and business and public-sector groups opposed it as too broad. The bill passed 7-2 to Appropriations, with the roll left open. The committee also heard AB 1837 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, which would extend and tighten privacy rules for transit agencies’ use of forward-facing cameras to enforce bus-lane violations; supporters said the cameras improve transit flow and safety, and the bill was presented with amendments, though no final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a licensed clinical social worker at the National Union of Healthcare Workers and proud co-sponsor
- And today we are asking that these workers, these workers who are now facing a different kind of emergency
- Are we ...these workers for?
- , and other property service workers across California.
- I'm an airport worker and support. Thank you.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 936 on nitrous oxide sales. Senator Blakespear and supporters, including Orange and Humboldt County supervisors and public safety, medical, waste, and local government groups, argued the bill would curb youth misuse, impaired driving, and hazardous waste by prohibiting retail sale of nitrous oxide canisters larger than eight grams while preserving legitimate uses. There was no lead opposition testimony, though members raised questions about enforcement and existing regulatory agencies. The committee ultimately moved the bill on a due pass basis to Senate Appropriations, with broad support and no recorded opposition at the time of the vote.
Members also heard SB 1312 on abandoned cemeteries and SB 1340 on small business contracting transparency. SB 1312 would use the existing cemetery workgroup process to develop recommendations for addressing abandoned cemeteries, with the author and the Cemetery and Mortuary Association describing vandalism, theft, and inadequate endowment funds as ongoing problems. SB 1340 would require state agencies to report more detailed small business contracting information, including actual payments, to the Office of the Small Business Advocate; the Controller’s office supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and help small businesses compete for state work. Both bills were moved forward on due pass motions to Senate Appropriations.
The committee also considered SB 903 on artificial intelligence in mental health care, SB 1271 on midwifery preceptor data, and SB 1327 on EV charger accuracy oversight. SB 903 drew strong support from mental health and professional groups that said AI should not replace licensed clinicians, while medical and technology groups opposed it unless amended, warning the definitions were too broad and could hinder beneficial tools and research; the author said the bill was meant to keep a human clinician in the loop and allow administrative uses with consent. SB 1271 was supported by midwives and birth workers who said California needs better data on preceptor capacity to expand training and address maternity care deserts; it advanced to Senate Health. SB 1327 would shift EV charger accuracy oversight from CDFA’s weights and measures division to the California Energy Commission; supporters said this would modernize and standardize enforcement, while county sealers and others opposed the shift as unnecessary, costly, and potentially weakening consumer protections. SB 1327 passed on a divided vote to Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications. Several bills were held on call after votes, and the committee established quorum before taking formal actions.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Apr 21st, 2026
Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact
Transcript Highlights:
- the United Auto Workers National Union.
- So in California, we represent about 100,000 workers.
- Those workers include manufacturing workers, thousands of manufacturing workers across a variety of supply
- We also represent thousands of workers in higher education and thousands of workers in state sciences
- That coalition represents about 65,000 utility workers, electrical workers here in California.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I just want to make sure there's engagement with worker organizations.
- For the workers' comp system, the Adjudication Management System.
- I'm a member of the California Coalition for Workers, for California workers, and I'm here in support
- Moving on to workers' compensation, it's kind of a two-part issue.
- The goal here is to help CDCR get workers back to work more quickly.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Utilities and Energy Committee and Natural Resources Committee and Transportation Committee Aug 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Catherine Vieira, Houston, United Steel Workers District 12, on behalf of our 30,000 workers in oil,
- And so when those workers, when you had 350 of our workers that lost their jobs in Contra Costa County
- And our local, we have refineries, we have extraction workers, we have pipeline workers, and we have
- logistics workers.
- Our workers are the community. So I need to let that be known. Our workers are the community.
Summary:
The joint informational hearing focused on California’s transportation fuels sector, especially the risk of refinery closures, fuel supply stability, and how the state should manage a long transition to cleaner transportation. Committee chairs and agency leaders said California’s fuel market is becoming more fragile as demand declines, refinery capacity shrinks faster than demand, and the state relies more on imports and a smaller number of critical pipelines. Professor Emily Grubert framed the issue as a managed transition problem in which the public already bears much of the risk and should also capture benefits from any state intervention.
CARB Chair Leanne Randolph reviewed California’s climate and air-quality framework, including AB 32, the low-carbon fuel standard, clean vehicle rules, and the state’s at-berth regulation for port vessels. She said these programs are intended to reduce fossil fuel demand while protecting public health, and she noted that California remains in litigation over federal attempts to block some waivers. CEC Vice Chair Sivagunda described the administration’s market-stabilization work, saying the state is trying to preserve fuel supply and investor confidence during a “mid-transition” period. He said the CEC’s recommendations fall into three broad areas: stabilizing the existing fuel system, aligning regulatory tools such as a possible pause on the CEC’s margin cap, and planning for worker and community impacts.
Department of Conservation Director Jennifer Lucasey outlined the administration’s petroleum market stabilization proposal, centered on returning California crude production to a 125 million-barrel annual stabilization target to support pipeline throughput and domestic supply. The proposal would codify the ban on hydraulic fracturing, validate Kern County’s oil and gas permitting ordinance, create a temporary CEQA exemption for new wells in existing fields paired with a two-for-one plug-and-abandon requirement, and strengthen spill prevention and pipeline safety rules. Several members questioned the CEQA exemption, tribal consultation, environmental review, and whether the proposal would adequately protect communities and workers. Mayor Steve Young of Benicia testified that a Valero refinery closure would sharply reduce city revenue and jobs, while also creating redevelopment and remediation challenges; he said the city wants a cleaner future but needs time and support to manage the economic loss. No formal vote was taken at the hearing, though CEC officials said a vote on a margin-cap pause was expected at an upcoming business meeting.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:07:38.879><c> misclassification</c> enforcement of worker misclassification enforcement of worker
- When employers misclassify their workers as independent contractors, they deny those workers all of the
- </c> uncertainty Rises that's bad for workers uncertainty Rises that's bad for workers bad<00:52:06.079
- </c><00:52:57.480><c> and</c> certainty for businesses and workers and certainty for businesses and workers
- </c><01:31:07.920><c> teachers</c> stiens for the journey worker teachers stiens for the journey worker
Committee:
Senate Labor
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee Aug 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Workers' comp rate for the gin in California for the workers: $29 per $100 of payroll.
- Our workers' comp rates are twice what they are in other states.
- We get access to farm workers in the fields.
- We have to take care of our farm workers.
- They're investing back in their farm workers and their staff.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Debating the Earned Sick and Safe Time Law / Northland Senators Share Their Priorities and Successes May 11th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This week on Senate Spotlight, protecting workers or supporting small businesses.
- jobs, that's even more harmful to the worker than before.
- jobs, that's even more harmful to the worker than before.
- Well, I went and met with the steel workers that were laid off.
- </c> true to you, you met with these workers true to you, you met with these workers who<00:04:34.240
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (03/18/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><03:21:10.720><c> comp</c> we started a self-funded workers comp we started a self-funded workers
- </c> have by statute experience in workers have by statute experience in workers compensation.<03:31:
- </c> that the landscape of workers that the landscape of workers compensation<03:39:39.439><c> law</c
- So they had experience in the realm of workers' compensation by adjusting workers' compensation claims
- So they had experience in the realm of workers' compensation by adjusting workers' compensation claims
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> done to Minnesota's workers and economy. done to Minnesota's workers and economy.
- </c> Many workers did not lose their jobs. Many workers did not lose their jobs.
- <c> small</c><00:07:08.600><c> small</c> Workers have lost wages, small small Workers have lost wages
- </c> these workers, too. these workers, too.
- </c> We were not going to let our workers We were not going to let our workers bear<00:54:23.960><c>
Committee:
House Ways and Means
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance. (3-24-26)
Banking & Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> fee</c><00:34:31.520><c> schedule</c> The current workers' comp fee schedule The current workers
- </c> workers' comp fee schedule. workers' comp fee schedule.
- </c> through through the through the workers through through the through the workers comp<00:44:58.080
- ><c> passed</c> Workers comp fee schedule, passed Workers comp fee schedule, passed Senate.
- Uh the car workers' comp fee schedule.
Committee:
Senate Banking & Insurance
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Strong businesses mean strong workers. Strong workers mean strong communities.
- I have talked to many retail and grocery workers over my career.
- There are many of those workers, non-union.
- Other union workers I talked to are making minimum wage.
- Nearly 20% of all California workers were enrolled in Medi-Cal in 2023.
Committee:
House Health
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Jan 12th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- And over 70% of farmers and farm workers responded and said that, And over 70% of farmers and farm workers
- And then to go further, farmers and farm workers only make up about 2% of our population.
- So us, So further, farmers and farm workers only make up about 2% of our population.
- So this service is free to all farmers and farm workers in Washington State.
- The service is free to all farmers and farm workers in Washington State.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources