Transcript Highlights:

• AB 17, AB 2772 is the sunset bill for the California Council for Interior Design Certification.
• And with me today is Rose Weeby with the council. I vote.
• ' compensation and insurance framework.
• Jason Schmeltzer, on behalf of the California Coalition on Workers' Compensation, Prism, and the rest
• of the coalition on the workers' compensation issue, removing our opposition.

Bills: SB342 , SB1303 , SB1347

Committee: House Business and Professions

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 1347, which clarifies that stock albuterol may be authorized in all public schools, including preschools. The bill was presented as a technical cleanup to existing law and received support from the California Society for Respiratory Care and the American Academy of Pediatrics. There was no opposition, and the committee approved it on a due pass vote. The committee then considered AB 2772, the sunset bill for the California Council for Interior Design Certification. Supporters said it would extend the council’s sunset date and recognize its quasi-public status by applying transparency and accountability requirements. Opposition came from the International Interior Design Association, which argued the council had not complied with open meeting laws and objected to expanded authority to levy civil penalties. The committee nevertheless concurred in the Senate amendments and passed the bill. SB 1303, the sunset bill for the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine, was heard next after major amendments removed disputed scope-of-practice language. The board and its supporters emphasized consumer protection, title clarity, and enforcement against unlicensed activity, while several medical and professional groups that had opposed earlier versions said they were removing opposition or moving to neutral. The committee passed the bill as amended. Finally, SB 342, the Contractors Licensure Fairness Act, was presented as a measure to allow contractors to recover payment for work performed while licensed, even if there was a lapse in licensure during a long project, rather than forfeiting the entire contract value. Supporters said this would prevent unfair windfalls and reduce litigation; opponents, including Los Angeles Unified School District and local government groups, argued it would reward contractors who fail to maintain licenses and weaken consumer and public protections. The committee approved SB 342 as amended. The meeting also included extended thanks and farewell remarks for committee consultant Bill Lewis, who was retiring after many years of service.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think most of you know that DEHRD manages all the workers' compensation claims centrally for all
• And it gives workers' compensation the ability to question the situation with facts.
• </c> this possible and it gives workers this possible and it gives workers compensation<00:31:21.559>
• What is the longest workers' compensation claim we have for state? What division?
• In workers' compensation, someone can have a claim open indefinitely because the law supports it.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 13 relates to creating the Texas Interpretability Council and a grant program administered
• by the council.
• Yeah, so the council would... Set out the rules for this, but essentially, yes.
• That's what this council will be dealing with, is critical...
• ...Advisory Commission for the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency.

Bills: HJR4 , HJR6 , HB195 , HB 13 , HB143 , HB135

Transcript Highlights:

• the commission people who care deeply, are deeply committed, knowledgeable, and I must say, great workers
• And although they're not commissioners, I believe that through an advisory board, they can, in fact,
• So we are looking to develop an advisory board, and later in the meeting, I'm going to ask Oswanda Hart
• The Developmental Disabilities Council will be there.
• So as we have talked about what this advisory board could be in very broad terms, we're looking for a

Summary: The Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly meeting virtually and in person at the State House. The commission approved the March minutes and elected its officers by unanimous roll call vote: Denise Garlick as chair, Chris White as vice chair, Carl Richardson as treasurer, and Osmondahar as secretary. The meeting also welcomed several new commissioners, including Rep. Jay Livingstone, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. John Marzi, and Leo Sarkisian, with brief introductions from the new legislative members. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the commission’s current work and the broader policy environment affecting people with disabilities. Commissioners and subcommittee leaders raised concerns about federal threats to Medicaid/MassHealth, Section 504 accessibility protections, DEI-related rollbacks, immigration policy impacts on the direct care workforce, and the loss of funding for youth employment and vocational rehabilitation programs. Members also discussed ableist language in public discourse and the need for stronger advocacy and communication in response to these developments. Subcommittee reports highlighted recent activity on disability employment, workforce supports, and long-term services and supports/health equity. Presentations included veterans with disabilities, employment programming for young adults with disabilities, immigration and labor protections, MassHealth’s PCA working group, and a health equity roundtable. The commission also discussed future plans to create an advisory board, develop successor and mentoring planning, and launch regional “meeting the moment” listening sessions across the Commonwealth to strengthen outreach and leadership development. The meeting ended with an open invitation for commissioners to share urgent information with staff for broader distribution and a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 956 relating to iron workers.
• </c><00:05:44.720><c> first</c> to HB 956 relating to Iron Workers first to HB 956 relating to Iron Workers
• I represent Iron Workers Local 625 and the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund.
• </c> safety of our workers iron worker is a safety of our workers iron worker is a highly<00:09:11.560
• </c><00:56:08.359><c> uh</c><00:56:08.680><c> Jen</c> Council District 2 council member uh Jen Council

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• so that you have workers with the expertise.
• council.
• Council.
• Um, it's really not a good place for the substitute Care Advisory council.
• council.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So anything that I take to my citizens utility advisory board to my city council, you know, we've edited
• But that's something that we think we should be able to work out with our advisory boards in our council
• As you may be aware, the filed bill was a non-legislative. legislative council draft.
• However, the committee substitute is now a legislative council draft.
• CERO air monitor workers in Burnett County and 58 quarries.

Bills: HB1520 , HB1525 , HB1530 , HB1535 , HB2068 , HB2091 , HB2347 , HB2372 , HB2805 , HB2815 , HB2867 , HB3154 , HB3482 , HB3483 , HB3663 , HB3781 , HB3901 , HB3915 , HB4135 , HB4153 , HB4158 , HB4329 , HB4331

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• You've seen yourselves passing bills to compensate those wrongfully incarcerated.
• And the case of some of the direct care workers there.
• The plan is to be developed and connect to the action with a technical advisory group, which is to be
• We want to establish that advisory council that's going to really give input into any changes.
• These are adjusted slightly to compensate for compliance with state and federal training requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• SIBTF decision by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
• workers' compensation system.
• ' Compensation; and Judge Page Levy, Chief Judge, Division of Workers' Compensation.
• ' Compensation, and Judge Page Levy, Chief Judge Division of Workers' Compensation.
• So any regular workers' compensation case...

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard presentations on the Department of Industrial Relations’ labor-related budget items, with the main focus on proposed trailer bill language to reform the Subsequent Injury Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) and a related budget change proposal for staffing. DIR said SIBTF has grown far beyond its original purpose, citing the 2020 Todd decision, expanded eligibility based on chronic or asymptomatic conditions, and a backlog that has grown to more than 30,000 pending cases. The administration argued the reforms would restore guardrails, reduce liabilities and employer assessments, and speed processing for severely injured workers; the LAO said the proposal was largely consistent with its prior recommendations. Members raised concerns about using trailer bill language for major policy changes, the retroactive application to open cases, and the impact on workers already in the queue, while supporters from employer groups and public agencies backed the proposal as necessary to control costs and restore sustainability. Public comment was split, with injured-worker advocates opposing the retroactive changes and business/public employer representatives supporting the reforms. The committee then heard the SIBTF workload request, which would phase in 177 positions over five years at a cost of $36.5 million, including staff for the Division of Workers’ Compensation, the Office of the Director Legal Unit, and administrative support. DIR said the additional staffing is intended to address very high caseloads and reduce processing times, but emphasized that the request assumes the reform package is adopted; LAO agreed the staffing increase made sense if paired with reforms. Members asked about vacancy rates, current staffing, and whether the workload request would become the new normal, and DIR said it would monitor caseload trends and adjust future requests as needed. Finally, the committee received an update on the California Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP), which DIR described as a partnership with community-based organizations to educate workers and help employers comply with labor laws. DIR reported that CWOP has reached 1.75 million workers and employers and made 8 million touchpoints since 2020, with the current round awarding $50.7 million to 87 partners for a two-year period through June 2027. Members and public commenters highlighted the program’s role in reaching immigrant, farmworker, janitorial, nail salon, and other vulnerable communities, and several speakers urged continued funding at $30 million per year for five years. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SIBTF decision by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
• workers' compensation system.
• ' Compensation; and Judge Page Levy, Chief Judge, Division of Workers' Compensation.
• So any regular workers' compensation... ...workers' compensation case, it focuses on what happened at
• So when we talk about workers' compensation, of course, having workers who are safe while they do their

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1760, opioid settlement fund and advisory council bring forward sections creating.
• council bring forward and advisory council bring forward sections<02:54:00.080><c> creating.
• So, the advisory council gives us a list of recommendations, and you got a lot of expertise on that council
• So, the advisory council &gt;&gt; All right.
• So, the advisory council gives<03:03:33.240><c> us</c><03:03:33.360><c> a</c><03:03:33.400><c> list</

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think we're all familiar workers.
• </c> has the workforce development council. has the workforce development council.
• It's not a designed it's an advisory.
• Senator, director, um, as I look at the Workforce Development Council, it is advisory from the governor's
• </c> because of the educational workers because of the educational workers position<00:31:51.360><c>

Bills: SB3179 , SB2872 , SB2391 , SB3282 , SB2836 , SB2181

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The joint committee first heard SB 3179, which would require the Department of Education and charter schools to report harassment incidents involving educational workers and adopt procedures for handling them. DOE supported the bill, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying amendments to limit the measure to harassment directed at workers because of their position, to limit DOE legal assistance to temporary restraining order actions, and to clarify whether the harassment must come from outside the school system. Members also discussed whether the bill should cover non-DOE individuals on campus, whether investigations could be handled in-house, and whether training should be embedded in existing workday or school-year training rather than added as a separate requirement. The committee later voted to pass the bill with amendments as SD1. The committee then took up SB 2872, which would require retired teachers or administrators rehired into shortage or hard-to-fill positions to be paid the entry-level salary for that position. DOE supported the bill, and the Attorney General requested clarifying language about its effective date and that it would not affect already matured rights and duties. The Employees’ Retirement System administration emphasized that the bill should retain a 12-month break in service to preserve the pension system’s tax-exempt status and noted the importance of consistent classification of eligible positions. Members expressed support for using retired educators to help fill staffing gaps, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard SB 2391, which would provide annual step increases for public school teachers under bargaining unit 5, subject to funding. The Attorney General said the bill could conflict with collective bargaining procedures and Chapter 89, while DOE said unit 5 includes more than teachers and asked that the benefit be considered for other bargaining units as well, with funding provided if enacted. HSTA strongly supported the measure, arguing that annual step movement is already recognized in the collective bargaining agreement as a recruiting and retention tool. Testimony totals were noted as 16 in support, two in opposition, and three comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 3282, which would establish a statewide framework for the federal workforce Pell Grant program to fund short-term workforce education and training. The Attorney General suggested clarifying that the matter is one of statewide concern because UH is involved. UH and the Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, and DLIR testified that it is coordinating with DOE, the Workforce Development Council, and national groups on implementation. Members questioned whether the Workforce Development Council or DLIR should handle rulemaking and administration, and DLIR said the council is advisory while the department has grant administration expertise. The committee then moved into decision-making after discussion of possible amendments and implementation concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a fiscal analyst with the Office of Senate Council Research and Fiscal Analysis.
• </c> the um office of the Senate Council the um office of the Senate Council Research<00:01:13.680><c
• Obviously, they recruit a lot of workers to many employers in the state.
• </c> [clears throat] I don't know if council [clears throat] I don't know if council would<00:35:04.240
• group, convened by the Construction Codes Advisory Council, recommended against including plan review

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• So registered as Mark Levin, Policy Counsel for Council on Criminal Justice. Is that correct?
• I'm Mark Levin with the Council on Criminal Justice. It's a pleasure to be here.
• , like a youth advisory council within... the facility so that young people can bring to the attention
• Brandon Caffey: The TJJD Governing Board, Advisory Council, and Juvenile Justice Experts are best suited
• Linda Garcia: of lost work time, workers' compensation claims, and staff that are unable to work due

Bills: HB31 , HB3360

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Another change that was made was to the definition of compensation, of average compensation, right?
• So their response is this is extending the existing workers' compensation claim confidentiality protection
• </c> extending the existing work workers extending the existing work workers compensation<02:00:25.000
• So I'm just trying to understand: workers' comp money that's collected from workers for workers' comp
• from workers for workers come collected from workers for workers come some<03:32:46.199><c> of</c><03

Summary: The committee met to continue work on House Bill 2, with the chair saying the goal was to finish the bill as given by the governor, though additional amendments were expected. Members first discussed the bail section and agreed to hold it for later because a separate House bail bill was expected on Thursday and could have significant county cost impacts. They also generally accepted the proposed reorganization of positions between Fish and Game, DNCR, and the Department of Environmental Services, but noted the need to review effective dates and funding details, including a possible double appropriation of $275,000 for a scientist position already funded in HB 1. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on environmental review and native plant-related sections moving functions from DNCR to DES. Members discussed changing the rulemaking timeline from 180 days to 90 days, and clarifying that “begin” means the public hearing stage. They also reviewed how fee revenue would shift between agencies in HB 1 so the budget impact would be net zero. The committee indicated it would prepare amendments reflecting these changes and revisit them at a later vote. The longest discussion concerned the boathouse provisions. Members debated whether the new definitions and construction standards were appropriate in a budget bill, with one member arguing they should be in a separate bill, while others said the provisions were urgent because of a lawsuit and the lack of clear guardrails. Concerns included the February 20, 2025 effective date, which some thought might be retroactive, the detailed limits on what may be stored in a boathouse, and a fee increase that some felt could discourage homeowners from seeking permits. The committee also questioned whether the fee structure should be tiered for smaller projects and whether permit-by-notification projects should be exempted. No final votes were taken on these sections during the discussion; instead, members agreed to seek legal and policy answers and to return with amendments and public hearing input before voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee, let me start by acknowledging Senator Reyes' career in workers' compensation and enforcing
• PEOs, when used by a staffing agency, are the responsible entity for workers' compensation, payroll,
• I'm a board member of a workers' compensation insurance program specific to staffing agencies, and I
• So once you're registered, you have to be able to show that you do have workers' compensation insurance
• So if the goal of this bill is making sure that folks have proper workers' compensation, we just think

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• has served in numerous national leadership roles, including as a founding member of the National Council
• for Suicide Prevention, member of the National Lifeline Advisory Committee, and the executive committee
• Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and as past chair of the board of directors of the National Health Council
• Makes their executives richer because of their compensation plans. All at the expense of patients.
• And not only that, the president issued an executive order that removed the surgeon general's advisory

Transcript Highlights:

• has a child welfare system inclusive of the Office of the Child Advocate and the Substitute Care Advisory
• Council, which has citizen review boards.
• How risk modeling Can assist case workers reduce fatalities and near fatalities and can actually reduce
• We want to build a better relationship with them to continue to advocate to hire social workers.
• So I have a worker texting me from Kayenta like crazy, so I mean You know my feelings.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• As requested by the advisory council, the bill extends SEESAC's membership to include members of the
• As requested by the advisory council, the bill extends SEESAC's membership to include members of the
• </c><00:35:23.440><c> As</c><00:35:23.760><c> requested</c> advisory council or SEESAC.
• As requested advisory council or SEESAC.
• 00:35:25.680><c> the</c><00:35:25.839><c> bill</c> by the advisory council, the bill by the advisory

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• They deserve to be recognized and fairly compensated for that responsibility.
• Currently, we have an emergency compensation provision.
• not to the members of the committee or the councils.

Bills: HB65 , HB67 , HB73 , HB205 , HB225 , HB339 , HB550

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs