Transcript Highlights:

• The estimated cost to increase all employees—excuse me, Madam Chairman—so they're taking the new employees
• There's two new employees up to $300,000.
• Maybe just for staff: Are the existing employees, medical examiners, already above $300,000?
• They are non-employees as of yet. They're trying to recruit these people to the state.
• Those two are non-employees as of yet. They're trying to recruit these people to the state.

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met and took several budget-related items out of order. It first approved a revised Auditor’s Office letter and amendment that reduced requested salary and match increases to 10 percent for operations and UCP, and then approved a revised Lieutenant Governor’s Office request that kept positions at line-item maximums while revising regular salary and match appropriations to a total increase of $99,876. Both items passed without objection. The committee then considered a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one Governor senior advisor position, reducing authorized positions from 59 to 58 and cutting regular salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the change was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s conduct, transparency, and refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Members debated the relevance of the amendment to current duties, whether the governor could still hire the individual in another role, and whether a Board of Corrections member could speak. After discussion, the committee rejected the amendment on a roll call vote. Under regular business, the committee approved an OPM request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can recruit two medical examiners, with pay up to $300,000 for those positions. Members also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school, including clinic, lab, communications, mental health, and administrative roles. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We cover all state employees retired state employees and all employees of public higher education institutions
• for public employees. Thank you for that question.
• and retaining state employees.
• The state does, Survey of Employee Engagement.
• We often move employees around the state. in those instances and we've had a number of employees out

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that's the lion share of the employees that's the lion share of the employees in<00:58:00.960><c
• </c><01:45:57.760><c> to</c> requirement for a state employee to requirement for a state employee to
• ><c> to</c><01:48:05.360><c> purchase</c> retired state employee to purchase retired state employee to
• </c><01:50:26.960><c> Section</c> unrepresentative employees. Section unrepresentative employees.
• Um the state employee group CIP.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One in four VTA employees commute more than an hour each way.
• In a survey of our employees, 90% indicated an interest in an employee housing program.
• This effort has broad support from our employees and employee unions.
• And on behalf of VTA employees, we hope to have your support today.
• "So the units will be open both to the public and to VTA employees, with a preference to VTA employees

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills. AB 2002 would clarify and extend the REAP 1.0 regional housing planning grant program, with the author and regional planning groups arguing it provides needed technical assistance for housing elements and RHNA compliance; the California Building Industry Association opposed unless amended over concerns about local constraints. The committee discussed accepted amendments on regulations, suballocation to subregions, and spending deadlines, and then passed the bill on a do pass as amended motion to Senate Appropriations. AB 1684 would prohibit HOAs from restricting homeowners’ ability to install or replace cooling systems, with supporters citing heat safety and opponents focusing on building integrity, electrical capacity, permits, and common-area placement; the committee adopted amendments on licensed electrical contractors, disclosure, and permit requirements, and passed the bill to Senate Judiciary. AB 1710 would extend SB 330-style vesting protections to state and regional agencies so housing projects are not subject to later regulatory changes, with supporters emphasizing predictability and opponents warning it could conflict with later state, regional, and federal requirements, especially for water and environmental rules; the bill was passed as amended to Senate Local Government. The committee also heard AB 2263, which would authorize the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to provide employee housing on its land with a preference for VTA workers while keeping units open to the public and compliant with fair housing law. VTA said the bill would help employees facing long commutes and high housing costs, and the committee discussed financing through transit-oriented development partnerships and existing land holdings; the bill was passed as amended to Senate Appropriations. AB 2270 would require the state tax credit committee to account for rural realities when scoring farmworker housing projects for low-income housing tax credits; supporters said current amenity-based scoring disadvantages rural farmworker developments, and the bill was passed as amended to Senate Appropriations. Later, AB 2118 would refine AB 2011 by limiting local objective standards that can block mixed-use and affordable housing projects, with supporters saying cities still use loopholes to delay projects; the committee discussed possible state mandate reimbursement issues and passed the bill to Local Government. Finally, AB 2050 would require HOA reserve funding based on reserve studies, add notice and safeguards for reserve transfers, and phase in funding over six years; supporters argued it would prevent large special assessments and protect homeowners, while opponents said enforcement remains weak and the bill could still burden owners. The committee did not take a final recorded vote on AB 2050 in the portion provided, but members discussed the need for stronger enforcement and the balance between reserve funding and affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• 50 employees, and seasonal workers.
• And because of that, they have to pay $300 per employee per quarter to the state.
• You have to do 30 hours to consider it full-time and have 50 employees or more.
• won't pay for that employee.
• coverage for their full-time employees.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the Department of Health Care Services’ proposed budget, including a $229.1 billion total-funds budget and projected Medi-Cal enrollment decline as redeterminations continue. Members focused heavily on the fiscal and programmatic effects of prior budget solutions and federal changes, especially the elimination of General Fund-supported Prop. 56 dental supplemental payments beginning July 1, 2026, the hospice utilization-management change, and the impact of reduced caseloads alongside rising health care costs. DHCS said it is still completing required access and rate-reduction analyses for the dental cuts and has been engaging stakeholders, but could not yet quantify the real-world effect on utilization or provider participation. The committee also reviewed the November 2025 Medi-Cal local assistance estimate, which shows higher General Fund spending despite lower enrollment, driven by managed care rate growth, Medicare cost growth, state-only claiming, and federal policy changes. The hearing then turned to provider taxes and federal H.R. 1 constraints, with extensive discussion of the MCO tax, the hospital quality assurance fee, and other health care-related taxes. DHCS explained that H.R. 1 phases down allowable tax levels and tightens “generally redistributive” rules, making the current MCO tax structure and the proposed higher hospital fee levels difficult or impossible to renew as originally designed. Staff and the LAO described the tradeoff between preserving Medi-Cal funding and avoiding higher costs on private providers and consumers. Members asked about options for preserving revenue, including possible amendments to Prop. 35 or returning to voters, and were told the department is still evaluating approaches while federal guidance remains in flux. The committee also reviewed hospital payment increases already implemented through state-directed payments, with DHCS noting that H.R. 1 will force those payments down to Medicare levels over time. Several budget change proposals were discussed and left open, including requests tied to the managed care final rule, managed care operations, hospital value strategy, long-term care payment transparency, and interoperability requirements. The committee also heard about a one-year trailer bill extension for skilled nursing facility financing, including continuation of the SNF workforce standards program, the SNF quality assurance fee, and annual rate growth, while the department develops a longer-term financing redesign for 2027-28. Members expressed skepticism about repeated rate reform efforts and questioned whether a one-year extension of the eliminated workforce quality incentive program should be restored during the transition. Finally, Covered California presented its budget and enrollment update, reporting that the expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credit is expected to reduce affordability significantly, with average premiums roughly doubling for many enrollees and as many as 400,000 Californians potentially losing marketplace coverage over time. The exchange said California’s $190 million subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees, but not enough to offset the federal loss, and it is also implementing a new gender-affirming care benefit and awaiting federal action on benchmark plan changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bid preference scale is based on employee ownership percentage.
• This is where employee ownership changes everything.
• employees at their non-ESOP counterparts.
• It strengthens employee access. It requires annual compliance audits.
• It strengthens employee access. It requires annual compliance audits.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees get covered by the protections and the coverage of it.
• Employees get covered by the protections and the coverage of it.
• That exempted all state employees, all political subdivision employees.
• That exempted all state employees, all political subdivision employees. I went hide a bit.
• So what you're saying is, we don't want this to apply to state employees.

Bills: HB2211 , HB2229 , HB2389 , HB2403 , HB2445 , HB2502 , HB2620 , HB2813 , HB2872 , HB2889 , HB2960 , HB4028 , HCR2007

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently have 42 our employees.
• </c> have 226 guardian at lightam employees have 226 guardian at lightam employees and<01:05:53.359><
• </c> volunteers, but past employees. volunteers, but past employees.
• So those volunteers and employees.
• </c> were to employees. were to employees.

Bills: HF2825

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: expungement, criminal justice, background check, security industry, private detective, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're the city employees. You don't have any further city employees. No.
• And you said there was one other employee.
• , but to increase private sector employees.
• So we manage, we negotiate. ...but to increase private sector employees.
• We have no full-time employees. 300, I think, is our population."

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:51:50.000><c> since</c><02:51:50.479><c> 1971</c> employees since 1971 employees since 1971 in<02
• ,</c> of limiting the number of employees, of limiting the number of employees, but<02:52:58.880><c>
• So I think it is in the doing employees.
• </c> and number of employees in section two. and number of employees in section two.
• </c> provide salary increases to employees provide salary increases to employees outside<03:06:00.240

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• More than 75% of CSU spending is employee compensation.
• So 85% of our spending is on employees and student aid.
• I'm not sure I have the trends in breakdown of employees.
• The Chancellor's Office has about 700 staff out of 63,000 employees, so about 1% of total employees.
• We also, in our priorities, include employee compensation.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the law currently stands, a safety-sensitive employee is defined as an employee that holds a position
• The law excludes safety-sensitive employees.
• So you can still and have to test your employees.
• What are you looking for in an employee that comes to work high?
• actions against employees who are qualified patients.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization measure aimed at exempting certain medications and treatments for seriously mentally ill adults from repeat insurance prior authorization, while also extending prior authorization approvals to three years for chronic maintenance drugs. The sponsor described the bill as the latest in a series of bipartisan prior-authorization reforms and accepted an amendment from the Health Care Authority and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to apply the bill to adults only and to cover PBMs in the interagency purchasing collaborative. Supporters, including NAMI New Mexico and state health officials, argued the bill would reduce barriers to needed care, especially for mental health treatment. Opponents from health plans, PBMs, and insurers warned the bill was too broad, lacked clear definitions for serious mental illness and chronic conditions, created patient-safety concerns, and should have a shorter reauthorization period and later implementation date. After committee discussion, the sponsor agreed to work on a committee substitute, and the bill was rolled over for a later meeting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 53, the Chispa data privacy bill, which would impose broad limits on the collection, sale, and use of personal data, require opt-in consent for many uses, strengthen rights to access, correct, and delete data, and create enforcement mechanisms including a private right of action. Supporters from advocacy, women’s, behavioral health, reproductive health, and civil rights groups said the bill was needed to protect sensitive health and location data, prevent surveillance and criminalization, and give New Mexicans real control over their information. Business, technology, insurance, and hospital representatives opposed the bill, arguing it was more restrictive than other states’ privacy laws, would burden small businesses and health-related services, create compliance uncertainty, and risk limiting digital services and innovation. After extensive questioning about data breaches, opt-in consent, nonprofit exemptions, and the bill’s impact on businesses and health care access, a motion to table failed 5-4, and the committee then passed SB 53 on a 5-4 vote. The committee next heard Senate Bill 86, which updates the state’s harassment-by-telephone law to cover electronic communications such as social media, messaging apps, and email. The sponsor and a Las Cruces police chief said the change would modernize an outdated 1967 statute and help law enforcement address harassment and domestic violence through current technology. The bill drew support from the governor’s public safety advisor and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and members asked a few clarifying questions about the wording. The committee approved SB 86 unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 96, on regulated childcare zoning requirements, using a committee substitute. The sponsor and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the bill would reduce confusing zoning and fire-code barriers to opening or expanding child care homes and centers, helping address a statewide shortage of child care slots and supporting working families. The discussion began with the committee substitute and an explanation that the measure is intended to streamline local requirements and expand child care supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, we already allow employees under certain circumstances to cash in comp time, providing we have the
• </c> reasons one we already allow employees reasons one we already allow employees under<00:08:46.880
• So private sector employees, they're covered under the existing prepaid health care law, which caps employee
• </c> correct so um private sector employees correct so um private sector employees they're<00:41:45.760
• So private sector employees, they're covered under the existing prepaid health care law, which caps employee

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Board of Trustees is offering a one-time bonus of 3% to most union employees.
• Good afternoon, Carlos Lopez with the California School Employees Association in support.
• Good afternoon, Carlos Lopez with the California School Employees Association in support.
• These employees would be prohibited from receiving raises, even if represented employees receive negotiated
• So it wouldn't apply to any of the employees that they mentioned.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The employee is responsible for that.
• They can dismiss the employee and move on. No harm, no foul.
• This is for all existing employees.
• And 17, those employees that we continue to hire.
• And it says, E-Verify you, may I verify an existing employee with E-Verify?

Summary: The House convened with 63 members present, approved the journal, and received Senate and governor messages, including enrolled House Bills 533, 502, 555 and several Senate bills for first reading. Standing committee reports advanced a number of bills, including House Bills 713, 723, 664, 667, 716, 650, and 717, and introduced a large slate of new House and Senate bills covering health care, taxation, education, public safety, alcohol regulation, tribal water rights, and other topics. In Committee of the Whole, members amended and advanced several bills. House Bill 570 on reckless driving was amended to clarify language about children and construction zones and reported back with amendments and without recommendation. House Bill 561 on flags was amended to add the Basque autonomous community flag and to prohibit certain political, religious, or ideological flags on government property; it was also reported back with amendments and without recommendation. House Bills 692, 575, and 562 were each amended with mostly clarifying changes and reported back with amendments and without recommendation. House Bills 530, 627, 598, and 673 were held in committee with progress reported and leave to sit again. The House then considered House Bill 704, which would require employers to use E-Verify to screen new hires for work authorization. Debate focused on immigration enforcement, labor shortages, agriculture, constitutional concerns, and whether the bill would burden businesses or displace workers. After extended debate, the House passed HB 704 by a vote of 43-26 with one absent and excused. House Bill 700, a related E-Verify measure with criminal penalties and broader application, also drew extensive debate on constitutionality, existing employees, labor impacts, and immigration policy; it passed 36-33 with one abstention and one excused. The House then adopted committee reports, held the remaining third-reading bills until Monday, received administrative rules letters, made announcements, and adjourned until March 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the employee was injured at work, right? I mean, that's...
• The employee knows where they stand.
• And it's going to leave these employees without any care from anybody.
• It's going to leave employees without coverage. And that's my concern.
• For the employee, I have concerns about it.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for February 3, 2026 by roll call vote, 131-1. Members then spent much of the morning introducing special guests, including a page for the day, Missouri State University Citizen Scholars, JAG program students, school counselors, elementary students observing online, interns, and a tribute honoring Josephine Baker’s life and legacy. The chamber then moved to first reading of several bills and to perfection of multiple House Committee Substitutes. The most substantial debate centered on a composite anti-trafficking bill, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2273, 1946, 1814, and 2551. Supporters said it would strengthen Missouri’s response to trafficking, grooming, sextortion, and child sexual abuse material by updating terminology, creating a permanent Attorney General’s statewide council, expanding training for professionals, extending the civil statute of limitations for trafficking claims, increasing penalties, and allowing expungement for victims. Members cited testimony from survivors and advocates and emphasized the need for coordinated enforcement and education. The House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members also debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1694 and related bills, a package aimed at curbing abusive website-accessibility lawsuits against Missouri businesses. Supporters described “sue-and-settle” tactics targeting small businesses with little notice and high settlement demands, while opponents of the abusive practice argued the bill preserves legitimate ADA claims and gives businesses a chance to cure problems. The House adopted the substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2375 on workers’ compensation, which supporters said would clarify the “prevailing factor” standard, address preexisting-condition claims, adjust treatment and appeal rules, and reduce costs; opponents warned it could make it harder for injured workers to obtain care and create disputes between insurers. The House adopted the substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. The chamber then moved to announcements and recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The employees, all of those who have invested their children in the school.
• The employees and all the rest of us are employees.
• The employees and all the rest of us are employees.
• Is it the school employee, or are we really identifying the school nurse?
• And employees being released from liability.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 considered a series of education-related bills, many of them after adopting amendments. SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School was amended to remove virtual preschool provisions and then passed favorably, with the sponsor describing it as a clarifying bill about FLVS operations, revenue sources, reporting, and student access. SB 1374, on school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct, was also approved; it requires faster district action and reporting when instructional personnel are arrested for certain offenses and clarifies that self-reports are not admissions of guilt. SB 1402, on student enrollment and dropout retrieval programs, was amended and passed to broaden eligibility for dropout retrieval services and allow certain virtual providers to receive a school improvement rating instead of a school grade. SB 364, moving the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Education to Florida Memorial University, was amended and reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 772 on diabetes management in schools, which would allow districts to obtain and store glucagon for emergency use by trained school staff or nurses, with liability protections included. SB 1102 on school readiness programs for children with disabilities passed after testimony that it would expand identification of disabilities, require more training for providers, and direct special-needs funding toward better-supported classrooms. SB 1382, also on school readiness, was approved and would change the definition of economically disadvantaged families, adjust priority tiers, and update the waitlist and forecasting process for child care assistance. The most debated measure was SB 140, which was substantially rewritten by delete-all amendment to create “job engine charter schools,” allow municipalities to seek charter schools aimed at attracting industry, authorize parent votes for conversion of existing public schools, and set requirements for district five-year property plans and surplus property use, including affordable housing and charter school purposes. Supporters argued it could aid economic development and repurpose underused property, while opponents raised concerns about privatization, reduced stakeholder input, unclear voting procedures, and loss of district control over property. Despite extensive debate and multiple public speakers against it, the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 430, a merged AED and cardiac emergency response bill requiring public schools to have a cardiac emergency plan, trained staff, and an operational AED in a publicized location, with reimbursement provisions and liability protections; it passed after supporters emphasized life-saving benefits and manageable training costs. The committee adjourned after recording additional members’ votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• These reports must contain the names of all covered employees, wages, number of hours worked, and applicable
• My name is Nicole Gomez with the Washington Federation of State Employees, representing about 55,000
• And the employees.
• Katie Durkin from the Washington Federation of State Employees. Please proceed when you're ready.
• This bill expands interest arbitration to correctional employees of city or county jails.

Bills: SB5944

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: language access, collective bargaining, labor relations, employment rights, worker protections, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He was a career Forest Service employee.
• as possible. employees through um an educational employees through um an educational program<00:36:24.599
• must be people with disabilities, and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.
• must be people with disabilities, and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.
• must be people with disabilities, and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.

Bills: HF1439 , HF1004 , HF498 , HF1326

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF1439, Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation, Carts to Careers, workforce development fund, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, grocery industry, food industry, food retail, retail workforce, job training, career pathways, scholarships, certifications, workforce pipeline, one-time appropriation, industry training, labor shortage, youth employment, apprenticeship

Transcript Highlights:

• The estimated cost to increase all employees—excuse me, Madam Chairman—so they're taking the new employees
• There are two new employees, up to $300,000.
• Maybe just for staff: Are the existing employees, medical examiners, already above $300,000?
• They are non-employees as of yet. They're trying to recruit these people to the state.
• They're non-employees as of yet. They're trying to recruit these people to the state.

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee took up several budget and personnel items, first approving revised requests from the Auditor’s Office and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The Auditor’s request lowered its salary-and-match increases to 10 percent, with operations and UCP amounts reduced to $245,490 and $109,711. The Lieutenant Governor’s revised request kept positions at line-item maximums and sought $99,876 in regular salary and match appropriations, or 17.43 percent. Both items were approved without objection. The main discussion centered on a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one senior advisor position, reduce authorized positions from 59 to 58, and cut salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the reduction was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s handling of corrections-related matters, including the Franklin County land purchase, transparency issues, and his refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Several members questioned the relevance of the testimony and noted the Governor could still hire him in another role if she chose. After discussion, a roll call vote was taken and the amendment failed. The committee then approved two routine items: OPM’s request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can offer up to $300,000 to recruit two medical examiners, and Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school. Both requests were approved, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.