Transcript Highlights:

• And data is showing that an increasing number of those are pregnant women.
• King called for an end to wars being waged abroad, as well as wars being... Dr.
• King called for an end to wars being waged abroad, as well as wars being waged here at home against innocent
• King called for an end to wars being waged abroad, as well as wars being waged here at home against innocent
• It is not enough to say we must not wage war.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not like an election campaign where the candidates wage their campaigns and the one with the most
• The hypocrisy of the far right when it comes to... ...build in some of our lowest wage markets.
• inspire us to... ...in a brief quote that will hopefully inspire us to continue to fight for fair wages
• He continued to have a service. union rights, family security, wages, and benefits.
• When he won contracts for his men and women's membership, sometimes they got over 600% of decent wages

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, pledge, and a moment of silence for Marysville Police Officer Osmar Rodarte. Members then handled several procedural motions, including re-referring bills and moving items on the file, with AB 567 re-referred by a recorded vote of 42-17 and the remaining referral requests approved without objection. The chamber also heard a brief personal statement from Assembly Member Macedo thanking colleagues and staff for support during a health episode. On the floor, members presented and passed several measures. AB 310 by Assembly Member Alanis, requiring youth sports organizations to have AED access, emergency response plans, and coach training, passed 56-0. AB 437 by Assembly Member Lackey, expanding CIF reporting to include sports-related injuries and medical problems, passed 59-0. ACR 55 by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez, commemorating the 40th anniversary of ARC v. DDS and the Lanterman Act, received 62 co-authors and was adopted by voice vote. The Assembly also adopted HR 28 recognizing Major League Baseball Opening Day 2025, with extended lighthearted remarks about the Dodgers, Giants, and Athletics, and HR 23 honoring Cesar Chavez Day, which drew broad support from caucus leaders and members speaking to Chavez’s labor and civil rights legacy. Both resolutions were adopted by voice vote after adding co-authors. The chamber then approved the second-day consent calendar, including ACR 39 on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month and ACR 53 on Women’s Equal Pay Day, and later adjourned in memory of Ralph Miller after tributes from Assembly Members Hart and Gibson. The House adjourned until Tuesday, April 1 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• wages similar to folks doing similar work in other boards.
• </c><00:11:01.200><c> and</c> wages up to be competitive uh wages and wages up to be competitive uh wages
• ><c> doing</c><00:11:03.519><c> similar</c> wages similar to folks doing similar wages similar to folks
• But I am not going to oppose the increase to $4 million.
• I think the increase to 4 million.

Bills: HF3874, HF962

Keywords: judicial funding, Chief Justice security, fiscal year 2028, court system, judicial branch, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, they want and deserve competitive wages, and recent increases to Chapter 257 begin to address that
• and show the Commonwealth's commitment to wage progression, despite a challenging budget outlook.
• Are we moving the needle on increasing our diverse workforce to mirror our growing diverse population
• Are we moving the needle on increasing our diverse workforce to mirror our growing diverse population
• And especially as the acuity of the people we're serving continues to increase.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to approve the April and May minutes, welcome a new member, and hear an update from Gina Frey of EOHHS on statewide health and human services workforce development efforts. Frey described cross-secretariat initiatives under the Workforce Skills Cabinet, including MA Repay loan repayment awards, expanded community college and tuition supports, ESOL/work-readiness programming for immigrants, and efforts to build career pathways and reduce attrition in nursing, behavioral health, direct care, and primary care. She also reviewed a $46 million ARPA-funded home and community-based services grant program that supported 82 grantees, led to hiring 8,752 new staff, over 1,000 interns, 2,000 new certifications, and a drop in vacancy rates from 22% to 12%. Members raised concerns about the impact of immigration policy changes on the direct care workforce, including losses of trained workers in provider agencies, and asked whether any exemption or other relief efforts were underway. Frey said EOHHS is tracking the issue closely but did not identify a specific exemption effort. The discussion also touched on Medicaid and related program changes, with Frey noting the administration is focused on understanding potential impacts to eligibility and work requirements. Rep. Howard asked about initiatives for direct support professionals and wraparound supports, and Frey said those efforts are often led by individual agencies such as MassAbility and DDS, with EOHHS coordinating across them. The latter part of the meeting shifted to planning FY26 subcommittee goals and possible events. Members discussed using the Health Policy Commission’s Behavioral Health Workforce Center and possibly asking for a study comparing compensation in DDS and related direct care roles against health care and education jobs. They also discussed a possible cross-state public event on immigration’s impact on the workforce, especially for people with disabilities and direct support services, and agreed to continue refining goals and event ideas by email and at the next meeting. Frey provided a website link and contact information for Amy Doyle at the Health Policy Commission to facilitate future presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several bills that have been out about increasing car insurance minimums as well.
• You know, I think the main point is that increasing this or imposing this as a requirement on policies
• like for us to get government jobs, we have to provide certified payroll and I'm not pay prevailing wage
• I'm not... ...certified payroll and I'm not pay prevailing wage.
• But in terms of affordability, your testimony is that this bill would likely increase the premiums for

Summary: The Insurance Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2250, sponsored by Rep. Jacqueline Zimmerman, which would require insurers to cover full siding replacement when storm damage affects only part of a home and matching siding is not reasonably available. Zimmerman said the bill would codify existing Missouri case law, address homeowner complaints after hailstorms, and make clear that insurers must restore a reasonably uniform appearance. Committee members generally expressed support for the goal, while also discussing possible scope changes, such as limiting coverage to street-facing elevations, and possible disclosure requirements to better explain policy coverage to consumers. The Missouri Insurance Coalition testified in opposition, saying the bill could increase premiums for all homeowners and that consumers should be able to choose more affordable policies with less coverage. Coalition witnesses said matching siding issues are often cosmetic, that carriers already offer different policy options and riders, and that requiring full wrap coverage could create upward pressure on rates. They also noted that severe weather has made these disputes more common and said the Department of Commerce and Insurance and brokers can help consumers understand their policies. Committee members debated whether partial repairs truly make homeowners whole, and several compared the issue to blending paint on cars or matching repairs after hail damage. After the HB 2250 hearing ended, the committee established a quorum and moved into executive session on House Bill 3328. The committee adopted a House committee substitute that renamed the program the Stronger Home program, removed IBHS certification in favor of a non-biased third-party testing lab, and removed an adjuster cap. The committee then voted 9-0 to report the House committee substitute for HB 3328 do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's the amendments that you... ...in determining the prevailing wage.
• , meaning price increases, we completely agree.
• Price increases based on personal data should not be occurring.
• in a way to increase prices, that is the violative action.
• Prohibit price increases. All our concerns would go away. As written, Mr.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This doesn't million in wages lost.
• From lost wages, missed rent payments, and a sharp increase in families falling behind, and community
• From lost wages, missed rent payments, and a sharp increase in families falling behind, and community
• From lost wages, missed rent payments, and a sharp increase in families falling behind, and community
• From lost wages, missed rent payments, and a sharp increase in families falling behind, and community

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that number, I'm sure, has increased. that number, I'm sure, has increased.
• And then the high wage. What can jobs. And then the high wage.
• But we also have a wage theft bill that says if you have a pattern of stealing somebody's wages and not
• But we also have a wage theft bill that says if you have a pattern of stealing somebody's wages and not
• We wrote the wage not. They're not.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're looking to ensure that these wages are higher than the average wages in the area, and that... .
• ..the average wages in the area and that there's a positive return on investment in the state.
• Yes, and again, you'll see that the annual program cap increases by 3 million up until... ...up until

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So when you think in terms of livable wages and people feeling like I can't afford it, because when you
• and people feeling like I can't wages and people feeling like I can't afford<00:15:15.440><c> it</c>
• of housing at all levels of affordability and market rate within walking distance of 1,000 living-wage
• of housing at all levels of affordability and market rate within walking distance of 1,000 living-wage
• <00:23:58.159><c> jobs</c> wage jobs wage jobs housing<00:23:59.480><c> unit</c><00:23:59.880><c> production

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From the Washington-based income, there are three deductions and one income increase that are applied
• , and the B&O annual filing threshold is increased to $250,000.
• the next deficit, and became the justification for the next tax increase.
• My wages haven't kept up, and neither has anyone else's.
• So we’re asking for increased dedication to those needs.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> adequately benefit from uh the wages adequately benefit from uh the wages that<00:02:57.200><c>
• AI is much more than rapidly increasing.
• These are all jobs where we're seeing generative AI capacity increase.
• It can actually mean increased job satisfaction.
• ,</c><01:31:04.480><c> strong</c> limits on algorithmic wages, strong limits on algorithmic wages, strong

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Increasing expenses costs for everyone.
• And so that the teachers can earn wages on par with K-12 teachers.
• Low wages increase the already high staff turnover that the field is prone to. >> [cough and clears throat
• The Great Start compensation grants have allowed providers to increase wages and benefits in the field
• "You can't do increase minimum wage. That'll just get passed down to consumers.

Bills: HF4561, HF4343

Keywords: homeless prevention aid, homelessness, housing stability, rental assistance, family homelessness, unaccompanied youth, housing navigation, legal representation, family outreach, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aid, general fund appropriation, unspent funds, aid redistribution, sunset repeal, Minnesota property tax aid, services for persons experiencing homelessness, sales tax, use tax

Transcript Highlights:

• This project has increased our struggle for adequate staffing because we cannot compete with META wages
• It's my hope that funding this year will be increased and that in that increase, NSECD students receive
• It's my hope that funding this year will be increased and that in that increase, NSECD students receive
• That funding increases as it did in the SSP program to allow for reasonable tuition increases, which
• are just going to increase.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is a slight increase in benefits, but it eliminates that administrative burden that was necessary
• members, as amended by the Commerce Committee, House Bill 2309 prescribes requirements for earned wage
• You're going to see it increase again.
• By prioritizing wage garnishment over arrest, this bill keeps people working, keeps families together
• By prioritizing wage garnishment over arrest, this bill keeps people working, keeps families together

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of bills, mostly in health, education, commerce, federalism, and government. In health, members discussed radiology technology updates (HB 2050), a tribal Medicaid waiver/drawdown measure with no state cost (HB 2177), an emergency medicine study committee (HB 2183), fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements (HB 2184), a physician assistant licensure compact (HB 2190), dementia care telemonitoring funding (HB 2202), SNAP error-rate reduction and fraud/eligibility oversight bills (HB 2206, HB 2442, HB 2797), child welfare protections like credit freezes and recorded interviews (HB 2321, HB 2322), and podiatric licensure compacts (HB 2438). Several of these were described as consent-calendar items, while HB 2206 and the SNAP-related measures drew discussion about fraud reduction, administrative burden, and work requirements. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendors and local permits (HB 2118), earned wage access services with fee caps and disclosure rules (HB 2309), CPA licensure changes (HB 2476), cash acceptance for retail purchases under $100 (HB 2555), drone delivery and unmanned aircraft guardrails (HB 2875), timeshare salesperson licensing (HB 2877), and a prohibition on state-mandated social credit scoring in lending decisions (HB 2903). The tax and retirement-related items included 529 plan conformity and Roth IRA transfer rules (HB 2477), annual tax conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (HB 2785), ASRS technical and disability-related changes (HB 2089, HB 2090, HB 2092), and a bill on employee health insurance definitions (HB 2089). The Arizona Commerce Authority bill (HB 2754) would add legislative members to the board and shift more control over trade offices and Arizona Competes Fund spending to the legislature. The education section focused heavily on school governance and finance. Bills included patriotic youth group presentations in schools (HB 2312), school board term limits (HB 2318), mandatory training for governing board members (HB 2379), independent municipal advisors for bond elections (HB 2320), restrictions on districts buying operating charter/private school sites to game enrollment formulas (HB 2376), conflict-of-interest limits for school facilities board architects and engineers (HB 2378), public meeting and travel transparency rules for districts (HB 2380), limits on long-term school property leases and reporting requirements (HB 2384), tighter bidding rules for school construction job orders using Building Renewal Grant funds (HB 2482), and a voluntary computer science proficiency seal (HB 2764). Sponsors repeatedly framed these as transparency, accountability, and anti-abuse measures, while some opposition centered on local flexibility, housing use, and existing training providers. In federalism and government, the committee heard bills to give counties more time to mail sample ballots (HB 2006), require courts to identify veterans at first appearance for possible veterans court referral (HB 2226), study veterans’ awareness of benefits (HB 2406), broaden military leave protections (HB 2663), require SAVE verification for voter registration and certain state services (HB 2806), require U.S.-sourced voting machine components by 2029 (HB 2901), affirm the Electoral College (HB 2902), and establish due process protections for justice of the peace courts against outside administrative action (HB 2976). Government committee items included a later deadline for library trustees’ annual reports (HB 2129), a two-year limit on certain adult protective services reports to the Attorney General (HB 2228), and an exemption for public and semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules (HB 2439). Several bills were reported as consent-calendar items, and a number of sponsors noted committee votes, fiscal neutrality, or favorable testimony in support of the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• the increase in the minimum<01:22:12.560><c> wage.
• increase.
• </c><01:22:40.800><c> I'm</c><01:22:41.040><c> not</c> that $2 minimum wage increase.
• I'm not that $2 minimum wage increase.
• increase, right?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> items really in in our budget are wages items really in in our budget are wages and<00:37:02.680
• But I've seen a lot of the increase in your refunds, which seem to be accelerating, so the increase in
• </c><05:25:01.320><c> you'll</c> also had a significant increase you'll also had a significant increase
• we can find them. for wages that are turned over to us and for wages that are turned over to us and
• </c> who's filing what we would call a wage who's filing what we would call a wage and<05:53:48.878><

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:

• They've had to increased costs. Some people have had to replace swamp coolers.
• If we adopt this increased percentage earmark for the fairs?
• It would never reward the fairs with increased dollars for that.
• None of you opposed the gas tax or car tax increase. In fact, you supported it.
• Fair wages and insurance—make sure that they have medical insurance.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its first regular hearing of the 2025-26 session, adopted its proposed committee rules on a 5-0 vote, and reinstated a suspense file for bills with fiscal impacts over the committee threshold. The chair explained that only AB 418 would be eligible for an immediate vote, while several other measures would be held for suspense consideration because of budget constraints. AB 330 was pulled by the author. AB 418 by Wilson, which would create a clearer process and administrative remedy for county Chapter 8 tax sales, received support from county tax collectors and housing and taxpayer groups. Supporters said the bill would add transparency, due process, and a noticed public hearing for negotiated sales of tax-defaulted properties, while helping counties dispose of low-value or problematic properties more efficiently. The committee voted 6-0 to send AB 418 to Appropriations. Several other bills were heard and then referred to suspense: AB 27 by Chau, which would exclude Chiquita Canyon landfill relief payments from gross income and protect recipients’ eligibility for public benefits, drew strong support from affected residents and environmental advocates; AB 258 by Conley would increase funding for California fairs, with supporters emphasizing fairs’ emergency-response role; AB 397 by Gonzalez would expand the California Young Child Tax Credit into a broader child tax credit for older children; and AB 398 by Aaron would set a $300 minimum refundable Cal EITC benefit. The committee also heard AB 231 by Tye, which would offer a tax credit to microbusinesses that hire formerly incarcerated people, and it too was referred to suspense after supportive testimony from reentry and small-business advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also potential support for drivers, increased pay, better benefits.
• I also appreciate that your secondary focus is increasing benefits for drivers, increasing benefits for
• Then the only way we cover those is by increasing assessments or special assessments.
• So just to be clear, my costs did not increase because I proposed to install an EV charger.
• Just to be clear, my costs did not increase because I proposed to install an EV charger.

Summary: The committee heard several insurance-related bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would lower uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for rideshare companies from the current $1 million level to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, with added transparency and data-reporting provisions. Uber, Lyft, and several business groups supported the bill as a way to reduce fares and improve affordability, while consumer attorneys, labor groups, and others opposed it as a major cut in protection for injured passengers and drivers. Committee members raised concerns about whether savings would actually reach riders and drivers, but the bill was approved on a do-pass vote to the next committee, with one member not voting. SB 487 by Senator Grayson would change how settlement or judgment proceeds are distributed when peace officers or firefighters are injured by a third party, ensuring they receive at least two-thirds of the at-fault party’s liability insurance limits in certain cases. Supporters, including public safety unions and an injured deputy sheriff, said current law can leave injured first responders with little or no recovery after employer reimbursement, while opponents representing cities, counties, and public agencies argued the bill would reduce recovery of taxpayer-funded workers’ compensation costs and lacked sufficient data. The committee members who spoke largely supported the bill, and it passed on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with one member not voting. SB 616 by Senator Rubio would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to develop statewide wildfire mitigation recommendations and a post-catastrophe reporting process. The Department of Insurance, local governments, consumer groups, and fire-related organizations supported the measure as a way to improve wildfire resilience and insurance availability, while water agencies opposed provisions touching water infrastructure and warned of litigation and ratepayer impacts. The bill advanced on a do-pass vote to Appropriations, with some members not voting and one member voting no. The committee also heard SB 547 by Senator Perez, coauthored by Senator Rubio, which would extend wildfire-related insurance cancellation/nonrenewal moratoriums to commercial properties; insurers removed their opposition after amendments, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a do-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 3% increase does not cover these rising costs.
• Adult learners want to work, improve their skills, and earn better wages.
• With this route, we have increased our attendance rate and decreased our chronic absences.
• With this route, we have increased our attendance rate and decreased our chronic absences.
• </c> bus with this F route we have increased bus with this F route we have increased our<01:07:57.319

Keywords: 1187, senate, all