Video & Transcript : 'referral agents' :

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/09/2026 - House Public Safety & Law Enforcement

Public Safety & Law Enforcement

Transcript Highlights:
  • , victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crimes... ...become a referral pipeline to
  • So this argument, I think, is pretty straightforward in that the agency's mandatory referral was the
  • Arizona deserves leaders that fund health care, not untrained, masked agents.
  • It essentially turns every law enforcement officer into a federal immigration enforcement agent.
  • It essentially turns every law enforcement officer into a federal immigration enforcement agent.
Bills: SB1032 , SB1055 , SB1107
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Aug 25th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Footage from the same incident also shows federal agents entering a CHP parking lot, sparking activist
  • I am updating a re-referral that was announced yesterday, members, 77.2 re-referral.
  • individual agents and brokers, extending timelines, striking certain onerous disclosure requirements
  • clarifying responsibilities for individual agents and brokers, extending timelines, striking certain
  • or onerous disclosure requirements, applying certain disclosure requirements for agents and brokers
Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and heard a prayer and pledge before moving through a long concurrence calendar and later Senate bill items. Early procedural actions included rereferrals of several bills to committees, approval of journal dispensation and adjournment-memory requests, and multiple unanimous-consent motions. The chamber also took up a brief moment of silence honoring Dolly Parton before returning to business after caucus recesses and a vote change on AB 1775. On concurrence, members acted on a wide range of Assembly bills covering housing, health, education, environmental regulation, elections, corrections, wildfire relief, tribal issues, alcohol regulation, and consumer protections. Many were described as technical, clarifying, or support measures and passed overwhelmingly or unanimously, including bills on behavioral health licensing, common course numbering, medical supervision sunsets, tribal child welfare, wildfire mortgage relief, Prop 65 oversight, water quality, and tied-house alcohol rules. A few measures drew some opposition, such as AB 1645, AB 1775, and AB 2348, but still concurred. The Assembly also adopted an urgency measure on AB 2663 to extend the Cocktails to Go program in time for New Year’s Eve. The chamber then considered numerous Senate bills. These included SB 608 on youth sexual health and contraceptive access, SB 633 on recycled plastic verification, SB 675 restructuring the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, SB 747 on civil rights accountability against government officials, SB 772 on housing infrastructure grants, SB 891 and SB 1379 on missing and murdered Indigenous people and custody-death transparency, SB 1077 on CalFresh shutdown contingency planning, SB 1105 on limits for joint law-enforcement operations, SB 1114 on protecting sensitive state data, SB 1125 on water rate assistance, SB 1208 on returning stolen cryptocurrency to victims, SB 1213 on zero-emission vehicle pricing transparency, SB 1237 on pay data enforcement, SB 1276 on child sexual exploitation and AI-generated content, SB 1322 on tribal housing grants, SB 1388 on affordable housing insurance, SB 1393 on fisheries management, SB 329 on drug treatment facility complaint timelines, SB 758 on nitrous oxide sales restrictions, SB 828 on fireworks licensing disclosures, SB 909 on public works enforcement fees, and SB 920 on gambling fee transparency. Most passed with strong margins; some drew notable opposition, including SB 675, SB 747’s urgency vote, SB 1105, SB 1114, SB 1125, SB 1237, SB 1379, and SB 1388. The transcript ends amid debate on SB 920, with Assembly Member DeMaio raising budget concerns before the record cuts off.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • a few weeks ago, Carlos Yvonne Mendoza Hernandez was shot seven times by ICE agents.
  • Carlos Yvonne Mendoza Hernandez was shot seven times by ICE agents.
  • Federal immigration agents are active in every California county.
  • I don't see why there would be an agent.
  • It goes after those enforcement agents who took the bonuses again, who are...
Committee: House Public Safety
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill would create a streamlined referral process for Care Court.
  • intend to stop a judicial warrant to be executed by an ICE agent or anyone else.
  • In person, ICE agents referred to them as collateral.
  • DHS agents and local police showed up to his home to interrogate him.
  • And hopefully our law enforcement agents are.
Committee: House Judiciary
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Mar 7th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The following bills on first reading and referral to committee.
  • HB 38 by Busey relating to the improvements of the Texas information referral network referred the subcommittee
  • for the subcommittee on workers' HB 1067 by Bojani relating to the compensation paid to the sales agents
  • increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of assault committed against certain employees or agents
  • HB 1188 by Emanuel, relating to the referral of certain students receiving special education services
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill would create a streamlined referral process for Care Court.
  • intend to stop a judicial warrant to be executed by an ICE agent or anyone else.
  • In person, ICE agents referred to them as collateral.
  • DHS agents and local police showed up to his home to interrogate him.
  • The reality is ICE agents are on these parking lots more than they are other places.
Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on civil rights, housing, public safety, and administrative process. Early items included SB 46, which would authorize the Secretary of State to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice presidential candidates from California ballots; SB 1078, requiring notice to the Civil Rights Department when court filings involve civil rights violations; SB 989, expanding access to Care Court by letting first responders refer cases through county behavioral health agencies; SB 998, clarifying and expanding discrimination prevention coordinators in the new Office of Civil Rights; SB 1146, requiring disclosure for AI-generated health advertisements and giving physicians a limited private right of action; SB 1164, a California Voting Rights Act expansion responding to federal voting-rights rulings; SB 1256, a housing bill aimed at limiting repeated litigation over the Harmony Grove Village South project; SB 1267, addressing HOA liability and indemnification for EV charger installations; and SB 1425, authorizing an encroachment permit program for high-speed rail right-of-way management. The committee also later heard SB 873, restricting ICE arrests near courthouses, and SB 1160, requiring eviction data reporting by zip code. Most bills drew support from sponsors, advocacy groups, labor organizations, or local officials, while opposition centered on concerns about county workload, due process, fire safety, civil liberties, or the scope of the policy changes. Members generally expressed support for the bills while noting unresolved issues and the need for amendments or further stakeholder work, especially on SB 1164, SB 1256, SB 1267, SB 1425, and SB 1160. The Judicial Council opposed SB 1160 because of the burden of adding zip-code reporting to court systems, while the author and supporters argued the data would help target eviction-prevention efforts. SB 873 drew strong support from public defenders, immigrant-rights groups, and court-related stakeholders, with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department opposing. SB 989 drew support from firefighters and family advocates, while Disability Rights California opposed, arguing Care Court is too costly and diverts resources from community-based services. SB 1164 received broad civil-rights and voting-rights support, with cities opposing unless amended over definitions, cure periods, and litigation risk. SB 1256 drew support from housing and labor interests and opposition from local residents and environmental groups concerned about fire safety and evacuation. SB 1267 was supported by the HOA and utility stakeholders after amendments addressing liability concerns. After quorum was established, the committee voted to pass a consent calendar and then approved the listed bills, sending them to the appropriate committees or to Appropriations, including SB 46, SB 873, SB 989, SB 998, SB 1078, SB 1146, SB 1164, SB 1256, SB 1267, and SB 1425. The transcript ends with SB 1160 still under discussion, with members indicating support for the bill’s goals but acknowledging the Judicial Council’s implementation concerns and the need for further work.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • or home with documentation that the referral agency is not on the adult protective services registry
  • or home with documentation that the referral agency is not on the adult protective services registry
  • agents.
  • There are several Passers agents that have been very patient in waiting in the audience.
  • There are several passers agents that have been very patient in waiting in the audience.
Summary: The committee first considered the reappointment of Troy L. Campbell to the Arizona State Liquor Board. Campbell described his nearly 10 years of service, his role as chair since 2019, and his focus on fairness, public safety, and applying the law consistently. He answered questions about the board’s workload and authority, noting it hears roughly 40 to 50 cases a year and does not issue fines. With no public testimony, the committee voted 6-0 to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard several liquor and consumer-related bills. SB 1478, an annual liquor-policy cleanup bill, made technical changes to liquor statutes, including conforming the definition of cider to federal tax law and clarifying other terminology. The bill drew support from industry stakeholders and neutral testimony from the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. SB 1108 would require Swedish rounding of cash transactions when pennies are unavailable, with signage and enforcement provisions; an amendment removed an individual-item exemption and clarified tax calculations, and the bill passed as amended with support from business groups. SB 1205 would regulate private-property vehicle booting by setting signage, notice, fee, and recordkeeping requirements and making violations a misdemeanor; members raised concerns about appeals and signage on non-parking property, but the committee adopted a technical amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee also took up SB 1241, which would allow private permitting providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections for single-trade residential projects without municipal or county approval. Supporters argued it would reduce delays and costs for homeowners and help cities focus on higher-priority work, while cities and counties opposed the bill on public-safety and local-control grounds, warning about private incentives and inspection quality. After adopting an amendment granting immunity to municipalities that rely on private providers, the committee recommended the bill do pass as amended by a 5-2 vote, with some members explaining their votes and asking for further stakeholder work. Finally, the committee heard SB 1366, which creates a Public Property Towing and Impound Practices Study Committee to review towing fees, standards, insurance, background checks, and related DPS policies, and to report recommendations by the end of 2026. Supporters said the study would help address inconsistent standards and consumer concerns before permanent changes are made. Some members objected that the study committee did not include minority-party appointments, but the sponsor said that could be addressed later. The committee adopted a strike-everything amendment and recommended the bill do pass as amended. The committee then began SB 1431, a housing-design bill limiting municipal design standards and restrictions on certain shared features, but the transcript cuts off during extended debate and no final action on that bill is shown.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's unbelievable the work that our DPS special agents did on this case.
  • They're seeing the work that these special agents are doing.
  • This graph calls out the turnover rates of probationary agents and regular agents.
  • referrals while the other populations are projected for the average populations.
  • Chair: ...for formal referral projections, they are projected for the total number of referrals while
Bills: SB 1
Committee: Senate Finance
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Mar 25th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Garin moves to defer the reading of referral bills to the end of today's business.
  • subcommittees scheduled to meet or reconvene today upon final adjournment or recess or during bill referral
  • Members, the Speaker's desk is clear except for bill referrals.
  • The chair hears none and the House stands adjourned pending the reading and referral of bills.
  • The following bills and resolutions on first reading and referral to committee.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • My concerns are about putting it on the ballot, yet another ballot referral.
  • So maybe we can define agent or maybe we can remove agent and let it just be employee.
  • Define agent or maybe we can remove agent and let it just be employee. Those are our two concerns.
  • And then the agent piece, if you don't.
  • So I don't want to see another ballot referral.
Summary: The committee heard and acted on several bills dealing with elections, juvenile representation, paternity, and campaign finance. SB 1489 would require paid petition circulators to disclose their name, residence, and paid status, wear a badge, register in some local petition efforts, and subject local initiatives to stricter compliance and fiscal disclosure rules. Supporters said it would standardize rules and improve transparency; opponents, including the ACLU, argued it would chill core political speech and compel identification. The bill received a do-pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote. SB 1609, an emergency measure restricting political party names from using terms like “independent” or “unaffiliated,” drew support from county election officials who said it would reduce voter confusion, and opposition from the Arizona Independent Party, which called it retroactive and anti-competitive. The committee adopted an amendment and then passed the bill 7-0. SCR 1040, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 subject to voter approval, was supported as reflecting longer life expectancy and retaining experienced judges, but opposed by some who favored age limits; it passed 5-2. The committee then took up SB 1234, which would change juvenile court representation by requiring a guardian ad litem in dependency and termination cases and allowing, rather than requiring, separate child counsel in some circumstances. Sponsor Senator Werner said the bill was part of a broader child-safety package and was informed by cases involving children who died after alleged system failures. Child welfare attorneys and advocates opposed the bill, warning it would weaken attorney-client privilege and take away children’s independent voice, while DCS said the bill was intended to clarify the GAL role and could work alongside child counsel. The committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 5-2. SB 1661, allowing child support obligations to be terminated when genetic testing shows a presumed father is not the biological father, received broad support from the sponsor, a fathers’ advocacy group, and a family representative, and passed 6-0. Later, the committee considered election-administration and campaign-finance measures. SB 1392 would give governing bodies canvassing elections access to election-material locations to observe procedures and review records, while protecting privacy and security; county officials supported access but raised concerns about the term “agent,” and the bill passed 4-3. SB 1634 would require ADOT to provide county recorders with applicants’ handwritten signatures collected during voter registration; county officials said it would improve signature verification, and the bill passed 5-2 after some members noted amendment concerns. SB 1743 would redact donors’ employer street addresses and residence addresses from campaign finance reports; supporters framed it as a privacy measure, while opponents said employer information is important for transparency and identifying influence. It passed 5-2. SB 1099, a strike-everything amendment defining defamation standards for public and private figures, was presented as narrowing and clarifying defamation law and passed 4-3. After a recess, the committee heard SB 1535, which would make paying for sexual conduct a prostitution offense and add a $200 assessment to fund anti-human-trafficking services. Survivors, law enforcement, and neighborhood advocates supported stronger penalties aimed at buyers and demand reduction, while criminal-defense and victim-advocacy groups said the bill needed a rebuttable-presumption amendment to better protect trafficking victims. The transcript cuts off before the committee’s final action on SB 1535.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jun 9th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • If you are a public official, police officer, agent— If you are a public official, police officer, agent
  • So when we look at what's happening in the country today, when we have ICE agents, Border Patrol agents
  • I heard someone yell to one of the agents, "Get him. He's Mexican."
  • I heard someone yell to one of the agents, "Get him. He's Mexican."
  • And federal agents are not; the federal rulings on the Bane Act further exacerbate that.
Committee: House Judiciary
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:17:02.000><c> We</c> referrals of cases come to us. We referrals of cases come to us.
  • Now, what BES will do is when they get a referral in, or BAS will do when they get a referral in, is
  • We can take referrals.
  • Can make referrals to our unit. And of the referrals that we get, the majority are SNAP cases.
  • to make those referrals to us.
Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jun 9th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • A claim number or referral number.
  • So when we look at what's happening in the country today, when we have ICE agents, Border Patrol agents
  • be able to hold agents accountable, just like you would be able to hold to hold those agents accountable
  • I heard someone just yell, one of the agents, "Get him, he's Mexican."
  • I think, you know, we've seen accountability of actions of federal agents.
Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on domestic violence protections, pay equity enforcement, Jewish demographic data collection, court transparency, auto glass insurance practices, pet policy disclosure for renters, and civil rights accountability for federal officers. SB 99 would require courts and law enforcement to better recognize military protective orders in domestic violence cases; supporters from the Department of Defense and military organizations said it would close jurisdictional gaps for military families, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1237 would increase penalties for repeat noncompliance with California pay data reporting laws; supporters said stronger enforcement is needed to address persistent wage gaps, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1387 would allow Jewish identity to be reported as an ethnic category in state demographic data; supporters said better data would improve policy and anti-discrimination efforts, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary or divisive, and it passed to Privacy. SB 932 would require assignees filing civil actions to identify the original party in the case caption; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it passed to Judiciary/Appropriations on call. The committee also took up SB 98, which would regulate auto glass insurance claims by restricting assignment of benefits, requiring clearer estimates and invoices, and limiting inducements to consumers. The sponsor and NICB said the bill would curb fraud and unsafe repairs, while independent glass shops and industry groups argued it could reduce consumer choice and favor insurer-aligned networks; the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies before collecting application fees and provide refunds if nondisclosure materially affected an applicant’s decision; supporters said it would save renters time and money, while rental housing representatives objected to a provision limiting eviction based solely on failure to sign a pet addendum. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 747, the No Kings Act, would create a California cause of action allowing people to sue federal officers for constitutional violations using standards similar to Section 1983. Senator Wiener and a witness who said he was unlawfully detained by Border Patrol argued the bill is needed because federal officers currently lack comparable accountability after the Supreme Court narrowed Bivens remedies. Law enforcement groups opposed the bill, warning that the qualified immunity language is unclear, could create a separate California standard, and might expose officers and governments to retroactive litigation; members discussed possible amendments on qualified immunity and retroactivity, and the bill was moved forward with an urgency amendment while negotiations continued.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • He's also described states as federal agents for the purpose of counting votes.
  • They say because we are doing it as ICE agents, it is okay.
  • If there's only one road that goes to the polling place in a community and federal agents block that
  • Marshal or FBI agents, et cetera.
  • Are they going to arrest the federal agents, or what's going to be in play?
Summary: The subcommittee heard a bill aimed at protecting New Mexico elections from outside interference and codifying emergency election procedures. The sponsor argued New Mexico already ranks first nationally in election administration, but said the bill was needed in response to threats of federal interference, including possible deployment of federal agents at polling places. The bill would create state prohibitions on stationing troops or armed federal personnel at polling places, interfering with election workers or voters, or changing voter qualifications or election rules contrary to state law. It would also create civil enforcement authority for the Attorney General, Secretary of State, county clerks, or affected voters, with injunctions and civil penalties, and make violations a fourth-degree felony. A second major section would allow emergency changes to polling locations and voting procedures during declared disasters such as wildfires or floods without first obtaining a court order, including use of mobile voting units and secure online ballot return options for some voters. The Secretary of State’s office said these procedures were already largely in rule and that the fiscal impact would be minimal, with existing voter education materials and law enforcement guides covering implementation. The office also said the bill would extend who may request law enforcement assistance and strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language and a new offense for intentionally obstructing access to a polling place. Committee members raised concerns about definitions, possible effects on military personnel, police, federal officers, county clerks, tribal jurisdictions, and polling places on federal property, as well as the scope of civil penalties and how intent would be proven. Several members questioned whether the bill was rushed, whether all analyses had been received, and whether the emergency provisions could disadvantage rural communities if notice requirements could not be met during disasters. The sponsor and Secretary of State representative responded that the bill would not prevent qualified voters, including military members, from voting, that local police were treated differently from federal personnel, and that courts would determine intent and appropriate defendants. No vote was taken; the chair said the hearing was being held as a subcommittee and would reconvene later, likely the next day, for a vote.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jul 8th, 2025

Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • No, the single referral. Oh, it's a single referral? Okay. Is it— it goes to Appropriations, right?
  • immigrant communities have revived fears of dangerous, inhumane actions by immigration enforcement agents
  • ICE agents are acting with unconditional authority, disregarding traditional safe havens.
  • Just this weekend, as you may have heard, ICE agents came to Glendale Memorial Hospital after a person
  • Immigration agents have also been present at Riverside, Los Angeles, and in Glendale.
Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on AI, health privacy, digital assets, and cannabis enforcement. SB 69 by Senator McNerney would create an AI-focused team within the Department of Justice to build expertise on civil rights, public safety, and consumer protection issues tied to AI; supporters said California needs in-house technical and legal capacity, and the bill drew no opposition. SB 81 by Senator Arreguín would codify hospital and health-facility protections limiting immigration enforcement access and disclosure of patient citizenship status absent a judicial warrant; nurses, immigrant-rights groups, hospitals, labor, and many local and advocacy organizations supported it, while no opposition was heard. SB 97 by Senator Grayson would update California’s digital financial assets law with technical clarifications developed with DFPI, industry, and consumer groups; it was described as a consensus bill with no opposition. SB 243 by Senator Padilla would regulate AI companion chatbots by requiring disclosures, limits on addictive engagement, and crisis-response protocols for self-harm or suicidal ideation, with a private right of action; the bill was strongly supported by the mother of a teen who died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, while TechNet, CalChamber, CCIA, EFF, and CJAC opposed it over scope, definitions, First Amendment concerns, and cost. SB 378 by Senator Wiener would let consumers seek civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products; supporters argued it would protect public health and the legal cannabis market, while hemp and tech groups warned it could sweep in lawful hemp products and needed narrower definitions. After quorum was established, the committee voted all five bills out: SB 69 passed 14-0, SB 81 passed 11-3, SB 97 passed 13-0, SB 243 passed 11-1, and SB 378 passed 13-0.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Committee, February 13, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> um person agent um that type of thing. um person agent um that type of thing.
  • authority as an ICE agent arresting authority as an ICE agent under<00:52:53.680><c> the</c><00:52:54.079
  • ,</c> they're the operating federal agent, they're the operating federal agent, they're<00:53:26.480>
  • </c><01:01:15.440><c> and</c> and involved federal agents and and involved federal agents and thankfully
  • This is a re-referral. House Bill 87. This is a re-referral.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • If you look at the bottom there, total active training agents — training agents are employers under group
  • Those are the training agents.
  • And we make extensive referrals to outside services.
  • We need training agents.
  • So apprentice utilization and training agents.
Summary: The work session focused first on Washington’s apprenticeship system, especially building trades programs and support services. Labor and Industries staff explained how registered apprenticeship works in the state, including the role of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, the requirements for paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction, and the difference between apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship. Panelists emphasized that apprenticeship is tied to actual jobs and training agents, and that many waitlists reflect a shortage of job openings and employer participation rather than a lack of interest. They also discussed youth apprenticeship, the growth of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and the use of Career Bridge and L&I’s database to help people find programs. Representatives asked whether the state should expand apprenticeship programs and how people can find openings. Speakers said more programs alone would not solve the backlog without more employers signing on as training agents and more apprenticeship utilization on projects. The panel also highlighted the Constructed Career Initiative, a grant-funded navigation and support program that helps people enter and stay in building trades apprenticeships through outreach, case management, and wraparound aid such as transportation, tools, and work clothes. A related nonprofit, Build Up, described similar support services, including prison-based boot and PPE programs and assistance for reentry participants. The panel said these services are especially important because apprentices often face unstable income, housing, food, and transportation barriers. The panel also discussed House Bill 2084 and the new Construction Training Pathway Oversight Committee, which is examining construction training in correctional facilities and how to create clearer pathways from prison-based training to apprenticeship, college, or work. Speakers said the committee is still in its early stages and will report to the legislature. The session ended with committee members thanking the panel and noting the importance of support services and referral networks for apprentices. The meeting then resumed at Renton Technical College, where college leaders and faculty discussed serving non-traditional students. The college reported strong enrollment growth, a median student age of 30, a diverse student body, and high job placement rates, while also noting significant budget cuts and program reductions from the prior year. Health care and early childhood education programs were highlighted, including efforts to expand access through hybrid scheduling, evening and Saturday classes, Spanish-language offerings, and in-person wraparound support for admissions, financial aid, and registration. Faculty said these changes were driven by student data and were aimed at helping working parents, English learners, and other non-traditional students complete credentials and enter family-wage careers.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Sep 24th, 2025 at 10:45 am

Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Transcript Highlights:
  • So if you look at the bottom there, total active training agents — training agents are employers under
  • So total active training agents, training agents are employers under group programs.
  • Those are the training agents.
  • We need training agents. We need them.
  • So apprentice utilization and training agents.
Summary: The work session focused first on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship in Washington, with Labor and Industries explaining the registered apprenticeship system, the role of the state apprenticeship council, minimum training and classroom requirements, and the use of the ARTS database and navigators to help people find programs. Members asked whether the system was saturated and how people learn about openings; presenters said apprenticeship is tied to actual jobs and training agents, and that navigators and centralized tools like Career Bridge are important because L&I does not track hiring openings. The panel also described pre-apprenticeship requirements, youth apprenticeship, and statewide growth in apprentices, training agents, and prep programs, while noting strong earnings and employment outcomes for completers. Representatives from the building trades emphasized that the multi-employer union apprenticeship model is labor-management governed, privately funded through employer and worker contributions, and supported by recruitment, retention, and diversity efforts. They argued that the main constraint is not a lack of apprenticeship capacity but a shortage of jobs and training-agent employers willing to take apprentices, and said public policy tools such as apprenticeship utilization requirements, project labor agreements, and construction-related public investments can help create demand. They also presented data showing many workers on out-of-work lists and many apprenticeship seekers on waitlists, and said support services are needed because apprentices often face unstable wages, transportation costs, tools, and benefit cliffs. Nicole Miller described the Constructed Career initiative, a grant-funded pilot that provides outreach, navigation, case management, and wraparound supports for building trades apprenticeship seekers and first-year apprentices. She said the program has enrolled nearly 1,200 participants, with about 775 currently in apprenticeship, and reported high retention among participants; common supports include transportation, tools, work clothes, and help with barriers such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, and reentry from incarceration. Megan Pearson then described Build Up, a newer nonprofit offering similar statewide support services, including a prison-based boot and PPE program and assistance with insurance, licensing, and other barriers, funded through a mix of public and private sources. Aaron Frazier closed the apprenticeship portion by describing a new oversight committee created by legislation to examine construction training in correctional facilities and improve pathways from prison-based training to apprenticeship, college, or work. The second half of the meeting shifted to Renton Technical College, where college leaders highlighted strong enrollment growth, a median student age of 30, a diverse and largely nontraditional student body, and recent budget cuts that forced program and staffing reductions. Health and human services leaders described short-term and longer-term health programs and noted rising enrollment and completion. Early childhood education faculty then explained how they rebuilt a low-enrollment program by moving to hybrid evening and Saturday offerings, adding Spanish-language instruction, and creating in-person, step-by-step support sessions for application, financial aid, and registration. A committee member raised the issue of English literacy for Spanish-speaking students, and the presenters said the program does not directly teach English reading and writing but is working to support students as they transition into the workforce.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 3/10/26

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • It We They We get referrals with it.
  • In addition, we have our referrals have steadily gone up.
  • </c> referrals. Last year, we had over 200. referrals. Last year, we had over 200.
  • We're already over 200 referrals year.
  • And so, increased number of referrals.
Bills: HF2354 , HF3621 , HF3429 , HF3483
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Under that logic, I believe you would argue that real estate agents are practicing law.
  • Della Santos—we filed a criminal referral to the Department of Justice on these very issues.
  • We've already filed a criminal referral on this. We know this is the case. This is a mess.
  • It dies and the criminal referral stands. All right. So what are we doing?
  • Why are you needing to do this as a ballot referral? Mr.