Transcript Highlights:

• I want to point out that legislation like this supports families. It supports particular families.
• We support HB 11. Committee.
• But many temporary workers... workers are not just working for three months.
• There are specific setups, work-at-worker arrangements that are leased workers.
• And so I hope those who are most concerned about our lowest paid workers will also stand up in support

Transcript Highlights:

• support the A15 amendment. Thank you. support the A15 amendment. Thank you.
• They are fully supported. their own. They are fully supported.
• And the full-time workers there, the union workers there, my steel worker brothers and sisters on the
• . resort for workers.
• So, we're protecting the businesses that are playing by the rules, that are supporting their workers

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• so employees that are out on workers so employees that are out on workers comp<00:06:04.120>
• effort obviously we're here in support effort obviously we're here in support of<00:28:17.960>
• It was to allow workers to be able to support their families.
• to allow workers to be able to support to allow workers to be able to support their their their
• <01:43:11.159> that supportive yeah I would support that supportive yeah I would support that

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's on the worker.
• and so uh we want to be um workers and so uh we want to be um supporting<00:55:37.319> people
• These grants would support these organizations in training nursing home workers regarding the provisions
• It's a $1 million support.
• It's a $1 million support.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Any additional witnesses in support? Anybody want to add on in support of the bill? Good morning.
• The NASW California chapter mobilized over 2,000 social workers across the state to address support,
• So I am here to support this bill, and I hope that you all support it as well. Thank you so much.
• Any additional witnesses in support? Anyone who wants to add on in support? Take your time.
• Any primary witnesses in support? Seeing none, any witnesses want to add on in support?

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard a long agenda of licensing, health care, and workforce bills. Measures discussed included AB 957, which would prohibit tobacco sales in licensed pharmacies; AB 447, which would allow patients to take home certain unopened medications started in emergency rooms; AB 427, joining the Social Work Licensure Compact; AB 667, allowing interpreters for certain licensing exams; AB 742, prioritizing descendants of slaves in licensing review; AB 873, changing infection-control training timing for dental assistants; AB 360, requiring a report on menopause education for physicians; and AB 1175, modernizing CPA licensure requirements and mobility. Testimony generally emphasized public health, access to care, workforce shortages, language access, and economic opportunity, while opposition or concerns focused on implementation, worker protections, compact authority, and constitutional issues in AB 742. Several bills drew broad support from sponsors, professional associations, and advocacy groups. AB 957 was backed by cancer and pharmacy advocates and pharmacists who said pharmacies should not sell tobacco; AB 447 was supported by emergency medicine and hospital representatives as a way to reduce waste and help patients leave with needed medication; AB 427 drew support from social work and mental health groups but concerns from AFSCME about standards and displacement; AB 667 was supported by immigrant-rights and community groups, with questions about whether translated exams would be preferable to interpreters; AB 360 received extensive support from women’s health advocates and medical groups, and opposition from CMA and ACOG was removed after amendments; and AB 1175 was supported by the Board of Accountancy and CPA groups as a way to expand the pipeline and improve mobility. The committee took votes after quorum was established. AB 360, AB 427, AB 447, AB 667, AB 873, AB 1175, and AB 742 were all approved and sent to their next committees, with AB 742 going to Judiciary and AB 1175 to Appropriations. AB 957 was initially held on call, then later passed after additional votes were recorded. The consent calendar bills AB 375, AB 1107, and AB 1496 were also approved. Most measures passed on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with some members not voting on certain items during the roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another critical step is supporting worker training and transition programs.
• <00:10:15.000> worker<00:10:15.399> training<00:10:15.720> and supporting worker
• We must be proactive in supporting workers through upskilling and transition programs.
• AI should be used as a tool to support health care workers, not to exploit them.
• AI should be used as a tool to support health care workers, not to exploit them.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill and we all need to be supporting bill and we all need to be supporting this<00:04:23.120>
• With that, members, I ask for your support. Thank you. With that, members, I ask for your support.
• So I urge members' support.
• Please support it. Support the commission. Vote green. Thank you.
• I urge member support. All Mr. Speaker. I urge member support.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First, workers are hurt.
• When you broadly exempt these professions, these workers lose a host of benefits, including workers'
• Workers' compensation is a vital program protecting these workers, and waiving it simply so businesses
• Second, the businesses these workers work for will now be exempt from paying into a host of pro-worker
• Workers' compensation is a vital program protecting these workers, and waiving it simply so businesses

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• organizations to support them in training nursing home workers.
• organizations to support them in training nursing home workers.
• > them<00:25:42.960> in worker organizations to support them in worker organizations to
• support them in training<00:25:43.520> nursing<00:25:43.919> home<00:25:44.159> workers
• Um, we want to express our support for the provisions updating break laws to ensure workers get the breaks

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding will support voter education and training programs for election officials and poll workers
• more than 18 million workers and their families.
• happier and happier workers might be more productive.
• I have a co-worker whose husband just died of pneumonia.
• For many workers, this order represents a step backwards.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem support I support your goal.
• resort for workers. resort for workers.
• All of those things hurt workers. All of those things hurt workers.
• So, we're protecting the businesses that are playing by the rules, that are supporting their workers
• All of those things hurt workers. PFML. All of those things hurt workers.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in support.
• I have air methods in<00:26:03.919> support. in support. in support.
• and Frank Ser in support. and Frank Ser in support.
• supports STR 16 and request that the resolution be amended to include the Hawaii Community Health Worker
• Havaii Community Health Worker Havaii Community Health Worker Association<00:32:14.480> supports

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health met on April 11, 2025, and heard testimony on a series of Senate concurrent and Senate resolution measures focused on health system oversight, workforce standards, and access to care. Topics included an auditor study on mandated insurance coverage for intravenous ketamine therapy for depression (SCR 8 SD1), a working group on prior authorization reform (STR 10 SD2), a task force on minimum professional standards for community health worker training (STR 16 SD1), a pharmacy benefit manager reform working group (SCR 69 SD1), a pharmacy reimbursement working group (STR 70 SD1), an aeromedical services working group (STR 86 SD1), a catchment-water feasibility study for business use (STR 118 SD1), an auditor study on mandatory coverage for continuous glucose monitors (STR 120 SD1), and a resolution encouraging reduced use of disposable surgical equipment and more sustainable health care practices (STR 194 SD1). Testimony was generally supportive across the measures, with several agencies and organizations noting the need to address complex health policy issues and improve access, transparency, and sustainability. For STR 16 SD1, community health worker advocates strongly supported the resolution but asked for amendments to include the Hawaii Community Health Worker Association on the task force and to require that at least half of the task force members be community health workers. For the PBM-related measures, SHPDA said it was willing to convene the work group and described the issue as complex, while the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association asked that PBMs be included in the working group. For STR 10 SD2, SHPDA supported the effort to reduce prior authorization burdens and said the process is a "black box" that needs reform; the chair later noted the administration’s commitment to the issue. For STR 86 SD1, the Department of Health supported the aeromed working group, and the chair proposed a House Draft 1 with technical changes and added representation from independent provider operators. In decision making, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on all measures considered. SCR 8 SD1 was passed as is. STR 10 SD2 was deferred. STR 16 SD1, STR 70 SD1, STR 118 SD1, STR 120 SD1, and STR 194 SD1 were passed as is. SCR 69 SD1 was passed with amendments, and STR 86 SD1 was passed with amendments. The meeting concluded with adjournment after all votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Support.
• The Hawaii State AFL-CIO can support United Public Workers.
• protections for our workers.
• protections for our workers.
• protections for our workers.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor-related measures. SB 183 would allow arbitration to resolve disputes over state and county contributions to the EUTF benefits trust fund; labor groups supported it, and the committee advanced it with amendments. SB 185, concerning indebtedness to the state, drew support from unions and discussion with DAGS about tiered repayment options for lower-paid employees; DAGS said the system could be programmed to accommodate the bill, and the measure was also advanced with amendments. SB 458 would expand the definition of employer for wage-payment laws to include the state and counties when no comparable public-employee provision exists; HSTA testified in support, citing repeated delayed pay for teachers, while DAGS and county representatives raised operational concerns. The committee deferred SB 458 for further administrative work. SB 425, on qualified community rehabilitation programs and the aggregate contract cap, was advanced with technical amendments after UPW said employers were splitting contracts to exceed the statutory threshold. The committee also considered SB 1287, which would apply unfair and deceptive practices law to tipped food and beverage establishments and require tip-pool signage with wage-division contact information. The Attorney General’s office recommended a savings clause to avoid retroactive application issues, and the committee passed the bill with amendments. SB 1660 would require hospitality employers to adopt anti-harassment measures, training, panic buttons, and anti-retaliation protections; the Commission on the Status of Women and worker advocates supported it, while DLIR noted existing complaint systems and the need for rulemaking. The committee adopted amendments incorporating sexual assault hotline information, panic-button guidance, and employer flexibility on translation languages, then passed the bill with amendments. SB 631, relating to the Department of Human Resources Development, was deferred, with the chair noting a prior law already allows departments to screen and select applicants from initial pools.

Transcript Highlights:

• support of Senate File 3407, the Workers support of Senate File 3407, the Workers Compensation<00
• an employee for purposes of workers an employee for purposes of workers compensation<00:03:37.120
• Sections five and 8 injured worker.
• > compensation above which workers compensation above which workers compensation benefits<00:04
• chapter 79 and relates to workers chapter 79 and relates to workers compensation<00:04:39.919>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means more workers get the support they need when they need it most.
• get the support they need when they need it most.
• and family the support and respect they deserve.
• Tax the rich, give a break to workers.
• We should be combating workers' compensation fraud.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate all your help and support and happy to answer any questions.
• I appreciate all your help and support and happy to answer any questions. Great.
• I appreciate all your help and support and happy to answer any questions. Great.
• Um, and the impact that it has on workers, taxpayers, and public programs.
• Um, and the impact that it has on workers, taxpayers, and public programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Domestic Workers Alliance.
• We believe that worker centers and their services, which provide critical local support with local and
• support.
• Support and uplift our immigrant and Latino communities, but that's, yeah, but continue to support them
• They supported health, rental assistance, and food benefits, and when we supported and strengthened the

Summary: The Select Committee on Latina Inequities met at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar, hosted by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and joined by Assemblymember Mia Bonta. Rodriguez opened by framing the committee’s work around the economic status of Latinas and the effects of federal policies on the economy and social safety net, while the college president welcomed the committee and described campus services for undocumented and housing-insecure students. Rodriguez also emphasized the local impact of immigration enforcement in the San Fernando Valley and said the hearing would focus on Latinas’ economic conditions, immigration enforcement impacts on the workforce and safety, and H.R. 1’s effects on the safety net. The first panel featured HOPE’s Maria Morales and Dr. Elsa Macias, who presented findings from HOPE’s National Economic Status of Latinas report. They said Latinas are a major and growing part of California’s population and workforce, but face persistent inequities, including a large wage gap, higher unemployment, high uninsured rates, student debt, and affordability pressures around child care, housing, and education. They also discussed entrepreneurship, noting both the growth of Latina-owned businesses and barriers such as limited access to capital, technical assistance, and retirement and health coverage. In response to committee questions, they said higher education can still offer a strong return on investment, but only if students can complete degrees without being overwhelmed by debt and care costs; they also pointed to policy solutions such as SB 642, mentorship, financial literacy, CalSavers access, and support for community development financial institutions. The second panel focused on immigration enforcement and Latina safety in the workforce. Luis Nolasco of the ACLU described arrests tied to apparent ethnicity and Spanish-speaking, the chilling effect on families, and the loss of wages, school attendance, and mobility. Dr. Amada Armenta said immigration enforcement harms California’s economy, public health, and mixed-status families, and noted that undocumented workers are concentrated in agriculture, construction, and child care. SEIU’s Jen Baca Beltran said raids and school-based enforcement traumatize children and families and highlighted the need for Know Your Rights trainings. Megan Ortiz of IDEPSCA described repeated Border Patrol raids on day labor centers, injuries to staff, and the need to protect worker centers, domestic workers, and street vendors. Inclusive Action’s Shannon Camacho said raids have forced many informal workers to stop working, prompted emergency cash assistance and rent relief efforts, and strengthened advocacy for vendor protections and CDFI support. CHIRLA’s Jeanette Zanipatine said the rapid response network has expanded, documented widespread arrests and detention conditions, and is providing direct support and legal referrals; committee members asked about detention, maternal health, and what the state can do, and panelists urged stronger oversight, more legal representation, and protections for pregnant and detained people.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say that having been here in 2021 when we voted on the bill to support farm workers to now in
• > a<01:49:35.560> worker,<01:49:36.520> who we support without saying a worker,
• And I want to ask, what are all those supports for farm workers?
• Using Colorado workers on Colorado soil, supporting Colorado's economy.
• workers on Colorado soil, supporting<02:52:51.360> Colorado's<02:52:51.880> economy.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with 58 members present and seven excused, establishing a quorum, and approved the April 15, 2026 journal as corrected. The chamber then moved through announcements recognizing visiting railroad workers, LIUNA Local 720, Colorado West Christian Schools, Religious Freedom Day, and several school and community groups, along with birthday acknowledgments and committee schedule notices. The House also adopted a motion to remove House Bill 1245 from special orders and returned it to the general orders second reading calendar, and set House Bills 1290, 1312, and 1321 as special orders. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 18, recognizing Nowruz and expressing support for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people, including the Women, Life, Freedom movement. Supporters described Nowruz as a holiday of renewal and resilience and tied the resolution to solidarity with Iranian communities. Representative Zokaie also spoke at length about the personal impact of war on Iranian families and urged a vote. The resolution passed 59-2 with four excused. The chamber then considered several bills in committee report. House Bill 1290, concerning assault and clarifying sentencing, was amended in Judiciary to remove the medical professional provision and passed after testimony emphasizing strangulation as a serious warning sign in domestic violence cases; it then passed the House. House Bill 1312, dealing with peace officer participation, POST Board composition, academy training, and related grants, was amended for clarity and passed the Judiciary report and then the bill. House Bill 1321, modifying the School Security Disbursement Program, had the Education Committee report defeated, but amendments were adopted to broaden eligible service providers and adjust funding language; the bill then passed as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:22.959> again<00:03:23.280> a misclassified workers again a misclassified workers
• The report stated that the effects of worker misclassification are wide-reaching, impacting workers,
• We want workers to have their due.
• <00:43:37.599> to want to deal with we want workers to want to deal with we want workers to
• the laws we have and and that workers the laws we have and and that workers are<01:01:40.359>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have Gracie Flores, Hawaii Community Health Worker Association in support.
• Next, we have Gracie Flores, Hawaii Community Health Worker Association in support.
• I support the Hawaii Community Health Workers Association's recommendations that the task force include
• I support the Hawaii Community Health Workers Association's recommendations that the task force include
• BA Mcccleintoch in support. Melissa Chong in support.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard SR 12/SCR 16, which asks the Department of Health to convene a task force to identify minimum professional standards for community health worker training programs. The Department of Health supported the measure and said it could take on the work with current resources. Testimony from Papa Ola Lokahi, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Community Health Worker Association, and community health workers strongly supported the resolution but urged broader task force representation, including community health workers themselves, Papa Ola Lokahi, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Community Health Worker Alliance, and community-based rural nonprofit organizations. Several testifiers also asked that community health workers make up at least half of the task force. The department indicated it had no objection to adding the requested groups, and members discussed those proposed amendments. The committee then took up SR 141/SCR 172, which requests a Department of Health working group on demolition waste reduction. Energy Justice Network and other supporters urged amendments, including use of the internationally recognized zero-waste definition and hierarchy. The committee also heard SR 165/SCR 205, which would direct the Department of Health to adopt rules setting maximum decibel levels for concerts or events at private venues in primarily residential areas. The department said it was already working on noise issues and wanted a community noise working group to address nuisances beyond current statutory categories, but members questioned the lack of specific standards, the absence of a defined working group membership, and whether the proposal would lead to broader restrictions on events. Testimony and discussion focused on concerns about noise impacts, enforcement, and the balance between community complaints and long-standing local events. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided. The hearing then moved on to SR 174/SCR 194, which would ask the Department of Health to reduce the use of disposable surgical equipment and adopt sustainable practices, but discussion of that measure was not included in the transcript excerpt.