Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1786 addresses credentials of value based on wages earned and the exceptional needs of the
• focus on reporting post-secondary outcomes, including employment status. industry, occupation, and wages
• In 2023, I'll work with the state leadership and Chairman Huffman to secure a substantial increase in
• In addition to adding those other professionals and increasing the amounts.
• This bill responds to increasing conflicts between state policy and private accrediting entities.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to find ways to protect gig flexibility while increasing worker access to portable benefits like
• Poll after poll shows the overwhelming majority of Americans want to increase the absurdly low $7.25
• an hour minimum wage to a living wage.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the cost of operation is only increasing.
• The last paragraph of this bill has it increasing with CPI, but even with the $3 increase and CPI, the
• Right, but it is going to increase annually.
• It could, you know, if there is an annual increase in inflation. Thank you.
• The wages at this time since 1989. So with that, I'll take any questions.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over 25 years, they estimate it would take about $14 million in increased spending from the trust fund
• This would also be increased annually at the discretion of the Department of Retirement Systems.
• Employers are already under increasing cost pressures.
• Employers are already under increasing cost pressures.
• The result is patients facing increased. are not intended to provide primary care services.

Bills: SB5834, SB5835, SB5883, SB5905, SB6151, SB6163, SB6177, SB6173

Keywords: Washington retirement systems, retirement trust funds, interest earnings, public employee retirement system, teachers retirement system, state patrol retirement system, judicial retirement system, judges retirement system, school employees retirement system, public safety employees retirement system, law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system, PERS, TRS, LERS, legal expenses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, fraud prevention, overpayment recovery, trust fund protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Unemployment is low, wages continue to rise, and we are outperforming our neighbors in so many different
• in general funds 21% spending increase in general funds over<00:18:07.440><c> a</c><00:18:07.640><c>
• This budget continues the increases from the last budget, and it ensures that our education system has
• from the last bium and it increases from the last bium and it ensures<00:25:31.840><c> that</c><00:25
• Oklahoma passed it, and all it did was lower wages.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Losses to wage theft far their labor.
• </c><03:00:21.920><c> exploitation</c> crimes, wage theft involves exploitation crimes, wage theft involves
• So, um, in wage theft money.
• And so have to go without their wages.
• </c><03:02:52.000><c> or</c> receive less than minimum wage or receive less than minimum wage or they're

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• turn the page towards conference tournaments and soon to be the round of 64, which I hope doesn't increase
• Next on the agenda: Senate Bill 15, an act relating to minimum wage exceptions.
• Senate Bill 15, an act relating to minimum wage exceptions. Senator Amanda Bledsoe: Good morning.
• I was curious what the minimum salary or minimum wage under this collective bargaining agreement would
• What is the minimum salary or minimum wage under this collective bargaining agreement, which I assume

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:24 SB 3 Discussion 01:06 SB 3 Vote 04:51 SB 15 Discussion 07:14 SB 15 Vote 14:42 SB 103 Discussion 15:39 SB 103 Vote 33:53 SB 201 Discussion 35:44 SB 201 Vote 39:47, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met with a quorum and first considered Senate Bill 3, relating to student athletes and NIL. Senator Max Wise said the bill would modernize Kentucky’s NIL framework so universities remain competitive and student-athletes can benefit, noting the state’s earlier NIL law and the need to act before a pending national settlement. Several members supported the bill but expressed concern that NIL has changed college athletics and could eventually affect high school sports. The committee reported Senate Bill 3 favorably. The committee then took up Senate Bill 15, relating to minimum wage exceptions for minor league baseball players. Senator Amanda Bledsoe and MLB representative Josh Allen explained that the bill would align Kentucky law with the players’ collective bargaining agreement, treating the players as salaried rather than hourly workers and addressing overtime issues. Members discussed the minimum weekly salaries at Single-A and Triple-A, along with housing, meals, and health benefits under the agreement. The committee adopted a committee substitute, passed a title amendment, and reported Senate Bill 15 favorably. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 103, which concerns the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and services for people with disabilities. Senator Danny Carroll and provider advocates said the bill would add regulatory oversight, require reporting to the legislature and governor, and give preference to in-state services when available, while preserving access to out-of-state services when needed. Testimony focused on Kentucky’s low employment ranking for people with disabilities, unused federal funds, provider funding concerns, and an OVR order of selection that would limit services to the most severe cases. The committee adopted a committee substitute and reported Senate Bill 103 favorably after supportive comments from members about the program’s impact on employment and quality of life.

Transcript Highlights:

• And is a seasonal worker. are anticipating both increased are anticipating both increased programmatic
• </c> would also mean, you know, increased would also mean, you know, increased medical<00:20:06.640><
• uncompensated</c> provision would increase uncompensated provision would increase uncompensated care
• </c> corresponding rate increase if approved. corresponding rate increase if approved.
• Um this healthcare rate increases.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So you see it has increased in this year. Thank you. So, okay. Let's move ahead then.
• , a 5% increase in Idaho's class of 2024 going on to post-secondary education.
• That program started in November of 2020, and there is a... we look at what the wage increase is for
• Idahoans. is a... we look at what the wage increase is for Idahoans a year post-training, and on average
• , 39% wage increase for adults going through the Launch program.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the agency’s statutory role, funding sources, staffing, and FY27 requests, including an ongoing transfer within the In Demand Careers Fund to increase trustee and benefit payments for Idaho Launch grants, a proposal to consolidate the STEM Action Center into the council, and requests for reappropriation authority for several grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training, semiconductor, and child care grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the proposed STEM merger would transfer remaining dedicated-fund balances to the Workforce Development Training Fund. Members asked about the effect of a $10 million cash transfer on Launch awards, repayment of grants by students who do not meet requirements, and the use of employer training funds; Sechrist said wording such as “up to $10 million” would avoid reducing awards and that the agency is still exploring debt collection options. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s vocational rehabilitation and independent living services, its dedicated funds, and FY27 requests for additional appropriation to spend Social Security reimbursement revenue and for replacement vehicles from the adaptive aids fund. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support clients’ employment and independence, and that the requested increases would help cover needed vehicles and offset other costs. She also said holdbacks would have a modest effect on services, including reduced site restoration funding and some cuts to client services and travel. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described the agency’s preservation mission, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY27 requests, including $450,000 for the second year of moving state records and collections into a new archives addition, plus IT hardware and reappropriation authority. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the collections move, and the agency’s role in America 250 activities. Members asked about archaeological review travel, the agency’s long tenure, and the use of miscellaneous revenue; Gallimore agreed to provide travel records and thanked the committee for its support. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill increases fees for the California State Athletic Commission.
• And as a matter of fact, because of the wage increases that are calculated in the decrease in funding
• for these organizations... ...wage increases that are calculated in the decrease in funding for these
• What is net-zero Prop. 36 shift increase implementation capacity mean?
• Prop 36 shift increase implementation capacity mean.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Disrupting this medically necessary care will result in negative health outcomes, including increased
• Disrupting this medically necessary care will result in negative health outcomes, including increased
• Disrupting this medically necessary care will result in negative health outcomes, including increased
• Disrupting this medically necessary care will result in negative health outcomes, including increased
• As educators, we can't even discuss minimum wage here in this body.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:04 SB 02: 00:01:37 Discussion in Opposition to SB 02: 00:09:49 SB 84: 00:22:19 SB 111: 00:30:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Mike Wilson, which would prohibit incarcerated people from receiving cross-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, while allowing a tapering period if stopping an existing treatment would cause physical harm. Wilson said the bill was needed to prevent the Department of Corrections from providing such care by memo or policy rather than statute, and he argued the care was elective and not medically necessary. Senators Thomas, Neal, Nemes, Styers, and others questioned whether any gender-affirming surgeries had actually occurred in Kentucky, whether the hormone treatments were physician-prescribed, and whether the bill would override medical judgment; Wilson said the department reported no surgeries, that 67 incarcerated people were receiving cross-sex hormone therapy, and that he would only support treatment if it fit the bill’s narrow medical-harm exception. Public testimony on SB 2 was strongly opposed. Chris Hartman of the Fairness Campaign said the bill would deny medically necessary care, violate the Eighth Amendment, and target a very small and vulnerable incarcerated population. Dr. Jack Skilles testified that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and supported by major medical organizations, warning that denying it could worsen mental health and lead to suicidality. Hannah Callahan, a transgender woman, described being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated and said the interruption caused severe physical and mental harm, including suicidal thoughts. Emma Curtis, Lexington’s Fourth District councilwoman, also urged a no vote, framing the issue as a matter of compassion and religious duty. The committee then voted on SB 2. Senator Neal explained his no vote by saying he was not medically trained and deferred to doctors; Senator Nemes said he wanted clarification that the bill would not stop ongoing treatment; and Senator Styers argued the bill was a poor priority and noted there was no fiscal note and that only 67 people were affected. Senator Wheeler moved the bill, Senator Reed seconded, and the committee reported Senate Bill 2 favorably. Afterward, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 84, sponsored by Senator Steve Rawlings, which would limit judicial deference to state agency interpretations and require courts, not agencies, to interpret ambiguous laws, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright decision overturning Chevron deference.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're not getting general damages or even lost wages.
• I think people yelling 'increased, increased cost' as a threat is kind of empty because they could raise
• They said they were passing it as a consequence of increased transportation companies increasing hazards
• Representative Glorioso also asked about whether we should increase that amount.
• Representative Gloria also asked about, should we increase that amount?

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to help things visually, starting with living wages.
• There's also an increase in behaviors.
• So when we talk about students who have increased behavior needs, increased...
• So when we talk about students who have increased behavior needs, increased So when we talk about students
• who have increased behavior needs, increased disabilities-related needs, we look at what setting they're

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The operating account has some language on preserve or increase, or both, greenhouse gas sequestration
• It increases the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee assessed on commercial motor vehicles from
• It directs the RTA to award MATOC in accordance with apprenticeship, utilization, and prevailing wage
• House Bill 2722 increases the maximum weight of certain vehicles that are subject to a transportation
• Some people are concerned about an increase in fees.

Bills: HB2092, HB2114, HB2172, HB2251, HB2374, HB2410, HB2552, HB2588, HB2718, HB2722, HB2727

Keywords: passenger rail, transportation, committee, advisory, infrastructure, defective license plates, vehicle registration, Department of Licensing, state regulations, route jurisdiction, abandonment, local governance, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• According to UC Berkeley's Haas Energy Institute, electricity bills have increased nearly 40% over the
• At a time when inflation and state-specific costs continue to outpace wage growth, this bill offers a
• We need to increase that. And I thank you, Mr.
• This is not a tax increase. SB 1078 allows the county to go to the voters.
• But I'm also looking at the increased costs of benefits.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, in 2023, the state increased K-12 general education funding substantially for 2026-27.
• </c> result in future property tax increases. result in future property tax increases.
• </c><00:04:52.320><c> K-12</c> Uh, in 2023, the state increased K-12 Uh, in 2023, the state increased
• 18% if you see an 8% increase on your property taxes, you could get up to $2,000.
• :21:34.040><c> theft</c><00:21:34.400><c> and</c> crack down on wage theft and crack down on wage theft

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4906, adopted the H4906A1 amendment, and heard a staff explanation that the bill would create a one-time property tax refund in calendar year 2026 for residential homesteads and the house/garage/1-acre portion of agricultural homesteads. As amended, the bill would appropriate $4 billion in fiscal year 2027, distribute payments based on 2026 property tax due, include a clawback for delinquent taxpayers, and coordinate with existing property tax refund programs so recipients would not receive more than they paid in taxes. House Research also discussed a disagreement with the Department of Revenue over whether the refund would be taxable federally, with House Research suggesting it would likely be treated as a non-taxable recovery of prior taxes. Public testimony was largely opposed. Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota argued the proposal was too large, would create a deficit and force future service cuts, and would disproportionately benefit higher-income homeowners. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project said the bill would create a major budget hole, threaten funding for health care, food support, schools, and other services, and exclude renters and lower-income Minnesotans. Members echoed those concerns, citing impacts on public safety, rural EMS, hospitals, education funding, and equity, while noting that renters and many seniors would receive nothing. Representative Howard questioned whether the bill was a cautious use of state resources, and Representative Norris said it missed the mark for struggling renters. Chair Davids defended the concept as a way to put money back in people’s pockets and said the proposal was scalable and intended to start a discussion. Representative Wiener strongly supported the bill, saying many homeowners and farmers in his district are not wealthy and need relief from property taxes; he said the bill should be even bigger. No vote on final passage was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, and the committee moved on after testimony and member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• the tax credit increase.
• with the tax credit increase.
• First, an increase in 120-hour ITA detentions. Second, increased ITA court activity.
• HCA, in their fiscal note, assumes a 5% increase in the number of ITA hearings and a 2% increase in the
• community placements, increased court workload, and increased appeals.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's increasing on taxes. When you tried to tax RT, we got frisky.
• that are offered, which are usually just a few dollars above minimum wage.
• that are offered, which are usually just a few dollars above minimum wage.
• Most independent operators do not support an increase in the license cap.
• I also wanted to throw in my displeasure about the increase to six dispensaries.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis held a hearing on a package of cannabis bills focused on equity funding, delivery expansion, advertising restrictions, medical use, first responders, and ownership limits. Testimony strongly supported S. 87/H. 184 to direct a larger share of cannabis revenue into the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and related equity programs, with speakers arguing the current funding is insufficient and that automatic transfers would better support businesses and communities harmed by the war on drugs. Several witnesses also backed H. 145/S. 89 to allow licensed cannabis delivery into municipalities that ban retail sales and to hotels, saying current rules unfairly limit social equity delivery operators and consumer access. There was also support for H. 176 on medical cannabis eligibility and S. 76 on cannabis use by first responders, while H. 177/H. 178 on new taxes drew opposition from several business owners who said the industry is already heavily burdened and overtaxed. A major point of debate was S. 94/H. 157, which would prohibit billboard advertising for non-prescription marijuana. Public health advocates, parents, and neuroscientists argued that cannabis billboards normalize use, are seen by youth, and are difficult to regulate effectively under the current 85% adult-audience standard. They urged a public health approach similar to tobacco restrictions. In contrast, several industry witnesses opposed further advertising limits, saying cannabis businesses already face strict marketing rules, billboards are privately owned, and additional restrictions would hurt small operators and raise First Amendment concerns. Some witnesses also criticized the proposed increase in ownership caps and consolidation provisions in the broader cannabis bill, warning they would favor large multistate companies over small and social equity businesses. Committee members asked questions about billboard ownership, enforcement of the current advertising rules, and the legal basis for restricting sign content. Witnesses and members also discussed the Cannabis Control Commission’s role, the difficulty of enforcing audience-composition standards, and whether delivery should be treated more like alcohol. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And over 25 years, they estimate it would take about $14 million in increased spending from the trust
• Under this bill, the plan 2 amount would be increased from $50 to $250, so that would align with how
• And this would also be increased annually at the discretion of the Department of Retirement Systems.
• Employers are already under increasing cost pressures.
• The result is patients facing increased. are not intended to provide primary care services.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, hearing several bills related to retirement systems, school employee health coverage, port district pensions, environmental fee accounts, developmental disability services, legislative budget transparency, and a new Apple Health employer assessment. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing certain retirement trust fund earnings to pay broader administrative expenses, and SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members from $50 to $250. Both bills were presented by Department of Retirement Systems staff and supported by the department, with questions focused on the scope of the administrative-expense language in SB 5834 and the technical nature of SB 5835. The committee then entered executive session and moved three bills without recommendation to the Rules Committee: Substitute SB 5249, allowing kit homes as emergency housing; Substitute SB 5053, allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district; and Substitute SB 5203, directing state agencies to develop a wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. After returning to public hearing, members heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the bill would reduce coverage gaps and improve recruitment and retention, while school district officials and administrators argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase costs, and add administrative burden. No action was taken on the bill. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port district employees from PERS if they are covered by the federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a collectively bargained defined benefit pension plan. Port representatives, labor stakeholders, and the Department of Retirement Systems described it as a narrow technical fix to avoid duplicate pension coverage and retroactive liabilities, and the bill drew support. SB 6151 would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue tied to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported the measure as a way to reinvest fees in the programs that generate them. SB 6163 would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be budgeted at maintenance level; advocates said it would stabilize services and prevent waitlists, and no opposition was heard. The final two bills were SB 6177, which would require LEAP’s budget website to display additional budget detail such as carry-forward data, program and subprogram expenditures, and balance sheets for all public accounts, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on larger private employers with workers enrolled in Medicaid expansion coverage. SB 6177 was framed as a transparency measure, while SB 6173 drew extensive testimony both in support and opposition: supporters said it would help offset expected Medicaid losses after federal work requirements take effect and stabilize the health safety net, while opponents argued it would be an unfunded tax, create administrative and legal complications, and could discourage hiring or reduce hours. The committee heard no final votes on the public hearing bills, and staff reminded members that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Test scores will not increase.
• Increase in state funds because of special ed funds.
• , it's an actual increase.
• Today, because of her tenure, my mom finally makes a living wage.
• Increases. Now they are.