Transcript Highlights:

• are going to change in here over time, but we're going to always work with three main themes we developed
• We had both retirees, active-duty officers, and enlisted personnel working with us to develop these themes
• This is when our advisory team helped us to develop the idea that service requires... ...develop that
• Community people who combine their efforts and a shared purpose—whether a uniform or a civilian—develop

Bills: SB67, HB295, SB104

Keywords: veterans affairs, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, State Board of Veterans Affairs, commissioner, Governor appointment, oversight board, veterans services, veterans benefits, state veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, Alabama Veterans Home Trust Fund, veteran service officers, district managers, assistant commissioners, county veterans offices, military veterans, disabled veterans, elderly veterans, veterans organizations, American Legion

Keywords: HI Senate YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu4fqyHhv28, 2026-07-02T01:22:43+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting of the Special Committee Senate State of Hawaii COVID-19 Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Agenda The special committee will convene to assess and advise the Senate regarding the State of Hawaii's COVID-19 plans and procedures to include, but not limited to: 1) Confirm the development of the state departmental plans and procedures; 2) Review and assess current state departmental plans and procedures; 3) Review and assess whether state departmental plans and procedures are properly and timely implemented to safeguard public health and safety; and 4) To communicate and disseminate information obtained therefrom. The special committee will be meeting with the following: 3:00 p.m. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency MG Kenneth Hara, Incident Commander Please note that there may be committee members or invited speakers participating remotely via video or teleconference. The meeting will be available for live viewing on Olelo Channel 49 on Oahu and will go out live for pick up by neighbor island public access channels. No public testimony will be accepted. If you require special assistance, please call 586-6800 or email your request to waysandmeans@capitol.hawaii.gov. -End of Agenda-, 912, senate, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• Denton County continues to be a leader in economic development, education, and community engagement.
• for first subcommittee on telecommunications and Broadband.
• The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• Consent for the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.
• and Tourism Officer for the Committee on Trade Workforce and Economic Development.

Transcript Highlights:

• Refer the committee to trade workforce. and economic development.
• Broadband network services by first responders or first subcommittee on telecommunications and broadband
• Relating to the reimbursement of infrastructure costs incurred by developer of certain housing developments
• and Tourism Officer for the Committee on Trade. workforce and economic development.
• AG 4866 by Vassiliou, ruling the review adoption modification land development.

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Representative Dave Pinto here calling to order the Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance
• Uh, sort of thin stone installation and we see it in broadband installation most surprisingly, which
• Uh, sort of thin stone installation and we see it in broadband installation most surprisingly, which
• a year plus that um were developed over a year plus of<00:52:29.560> everything<00:52:29.960>
• Thank you. work to develop recommendations for the work to develop recommendations for the legislature

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee met to discuss worker misclassification, beginning with approval of the March 4, 2026 minutes and a note that a late-posted bill would not be heard at this time. Chair Pinto opened the hearing by framing misclassification as timely and invited Lea Takapu of the Attorney General’s office to explain the issue. Takapu described misclassification as labeling workers as independent contractors when they are really employees, which can deprive workers of minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other protections while also reducing tax revenue. She said the Attorney General’s office and the MEAP partnership have been working on the issue and cited estimates that Minnesota workers lose billions annually and the state loses hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars in revenue, while noting that legitimate independent contracting is not the target. Members questioned how the committee could rely on estimates when the exact number of misclassified workers is unknown. Takapu responded that the figures were based on studies and complaint data, and that underground or undocumented work makes exact counts difficult. Chair Pinto noted the numbers were estimates and referenced a 2024 Legislative Auditor finding that Minnesota lacked an adequate, coordinated approach to proper worker classification, while saying progress had been made since then. Several industry witnesses then testified in support of stronger enforcement. Kevin Pranis of LiUNA said misclassification remains rampant in parts of construction, especially drywall, stucco, thin stone, and broadband installation, and argued it is tax, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation fraud that harms law-abiding contractors and taxpayers. Matt Wollers of Braxton and Sons said his company loses bids to competitors that misclassify workers, creating a labor-cost advantage of 30% or more, and asked for meaningful enforcement rather than new legislation, including regular unannounced jobsite visits. Jesse Madison of Purple Tally Productions said misclassification is anti-competition and described examples from live events and entertainment, urging front-end checks on workers’ compensation, unemployment coverage, and W-2 versus 1099 status before work begins. The next testifier, Ben Ballou of the Minnesota Nurses Association, began his remarks as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Requiring the Health Care Authority to develop reports on the direct care workforce.
• , introduced by Senators Muñoz and Hickey and Representative Dixon, an act relating to economic development
• of the Bioscience Development Act, authorizing investment in bioscience companies, establishing requirements
• 1999, Chapter 295, Section 6, as amended, increasing the amount from Service Fund allocated to the Broadband
• in New Mexico. and make recommendations to expedite forest restoration through economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• request unanimous consent to suspend the rules to withdraw S.J.R. 7, Cervantes, from the Economic Development
• backgrounds and academic accomplishments, these students were selected to participate in leadership development
• them is their professor, Anastasia Talasetsky, who should be congratulated for her dedication to developing
• As mayor, he spearheaded a public-private partnership to build a high-speed fiber optic broadband network

Summary: The Assembly convened in Sacramento with an initial quorum call, then established a quorum and proceeded with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine opening business. The chamber dispensed with reading the prior journal, deferred introductions and references of bills, and reported no Governor or Senate messages. Procedural motions were approved, including suspending rules to allow adjournment-in-memory remarks and guest access, and withdrawing S.J.R. 7 from committee and placing it on the third reading file. Members then recognized several guest groups, including Grace Valley Christian School, College of San Mateo student-athletes, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Agricultural Leadership Class, the Light of the World youth group, and exchange students from Germany and Tajikistan. There was no substantive floor debate on legislation; daily file and several file items were passed, retained, or continued without further action. The main floor activity centered on adjournment-in-memory tributes. Assemblymember Ortega honored former San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy for his public service, school and hospital advocacy, and civic leadership. Assemblymember Wilson honored Joseph R. Martinez, a Solano County agricultural leader and advocate for rural health care. The Assembly observed moments of silence for both individuals. The session concluded with announcements, including a reminder that FPPC Form 700 was due that day, notice of committee meetings, and an adjournment motion carrying the House until Thursday, March 5 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were there for every part of the development of the regulations and the oversight, have heard these
• A lot of these are informal, in-process, developing investigations, thousands of potential data sets
• We have here today, let's see, Yolanda with the Broadband Association and U.S.
• Telecom, the Broadband Association, representing the largest to the smallest telephone and broadband
• I'm with Cal Broadband in support. Good afternoon, Amir Johnson with AT&T in support.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum. The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.

Transcript Highlights:

• to balance this amount with all the other amounts needed to supplement like SNAP and workforce development
• and other programs. ...like SNAP and Workforce Development and other programs, the Rhodes Fund that
• I think all of that will apply as well for folks to be able to do anything in economic development that
• And I don't know about the broadband availability in those rural areas, but suffice it to say, I bet
• And I'm not sure there's nothing about broadband specific to this point. Oh, okay.

Bills: SB4, SB7, SB9, SB17

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, medical education, salaries, graduate education, clinician pay, health sciences, education funding, faculty salary, University of New Mexico, healthcare funding, general fund, state budget, New Mexico legislation, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, 996

Transcript Highlights:

• criminal history and rental decisions referred to the Committee on Trade Workforce and Economic Development
• Development Board programs for the Committee on Natural Resources, HB 4154 by Martinez relating to the
• F to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development, HB 4180 by Luther relating to imposing
• HB 4198 by Richardson relating to the standards for the school district library collection development
• HB 4208 by Lowe relating to including a fetal development instruction as part of the required health

Bills: HB145, SB29, SB37, SB64, HB279, HB292, SB35, SB40, SB43, SB48, SB96, SB143, HB132, SB20, SB21, SB101, SJR1, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM29, HM43, HM59, HM30, HM52, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB2, SB264, SB241

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening

Transcript Highlights:

• It should be noted that Wayland was able to get a vendor to develop the site... ...hours per each annual
• It should be noted that Wayland was able to get a vendor to develop the software to implement electronic
• Get that runway, allow for investments... ...and seeing as a positive development over the last five
• This is not just a matter of broadband access.
• There are many people who live in communities where there are broadband access, but they are not savvy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to open meeting law, municipal meetings, town meetings, and remote participation. Senator Rausch supported S. 2205 and S. 2206, and House companion H. 3382, saying they would make remote participation in public bodies permanent and streamline open meeting law and public records complaint processes to reduce burdens on local officials. Committee members and the senator discussed concerns about complaints being weaponized, the role of the Attorney General, and whether public testimony should be presumed allowed unless a chair limits it with justification. The senator said the bills do not change public records fees and are meant to improve process and transparency. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 3342 and S. 2197, which would modernize municipal meetings, town meetings, and local elections by allowing permanent remote or hybrid participation. Supporters included Wayland officials, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, MAPC, MACC, and others, who argued that hybrid and remote options increase participation, help parents, caregivers, people with disabilities, and residents with travel or work constraints, and have worked well during the pandemic-era extensions. Municipal officials emphasized that a mandate would be costly and difficult for smaller communities because of staffing, technology, room design, cybersecurity, and uneven internet access, especially in western Massachusetts. Committee members asked about equal access, funding, and whether local discretion should remain; the chair said the committee wants a permanent solution beyond emergency rules but must balance access with local capacity. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3328, which would allow remote participation to count toward quorum for statewide appointed bodies such as commissions on women and LGBTQ issues. Supporters argued this would improve regional equity and make it easier for people outside Greater Boston to serve, while committee members noted it is a separate issue from municipal meetings and may be easier to address than broader local-government changes. Another bill, H. 4351, was supported by Rep. Brandy Fluker Reed, who described it as creating an Office of Freedmen Affairs to address longstanding racial wealth disparities affecting descendants of enslaved Americans. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3299 from Common Cause and MASSPIRG in favor of guaranteed hybrid access for public meetings with public participation components, with advocates saying it would improve transparency, accessibility, and civic engagement.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it is available online, do I have broadband internet to be able to participate?"
• Well, let me just say this: I know that we need workers in Alabama and we are all for workforce development
• However, the kids know more about those signature programs for workforce development, and they don't

Bills: HB9, HB102, HB9

Keywords: three-cueing system, reading instruction, K-12 education, structured literacy, scientific strategies, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amanda Gualder, I'm with Cal Broadband in opposition. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning.
• Amanda Gawdor, I'm with Cal Broadband in opposition. Thank you. Good morning.
• Amanda Gualder, I'm with Cal Broadband in opposition. Thank you. Good morning.
• and used exclusively for non-commercial academic or government research, not just developed, but used
• Not just developed, but used exclusively for non-commercial academic or government research.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. AB 416 would allow emergency room physicians to initiate 5150 mental health holds, with supporters saying it would reduce emergency room bottlenecks and speed care for patients in crisis. County and behavioral health representatives opposed the bill, and some members raised broader concerns about the 5150 system and juvenile placements. The bill was ultimately approved on a do-pass as amended vote. AB 446, the Surveillance Pricing Act, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued it would prohibit businesses from using personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service, describing the practice as discriminatory and exploitative. Business and industry groups opposed the bill, warning that its language was too broad, could affect discounts and loyalty programs, and would create litigation risk through a private right of action. After discussion about enforcement and possible amendments, the bill passed on a do-pass motion. AB 632 would give local governments a faster way to collect penalties for serious code violations, including unsafe housing, fire hazards, and illegal cannabis activity, by allowing certain fines to become money judgments and clarifying lien authority. It had support from county and city groups and no opposition was voiced in the hearing; the bill passed as amended. ACA 7, a constitutional amendment intended to clarify and limit misuse of Section 31A, also moved forward after brief support testimony. The committee then took up AB 649, which would extend protections for businesses that proactively obtain certified access specialist inspections and fix accessibility violations; the author, a small business owner, and others testified in support, while disability rights groups moved to neutral after amendments. Members discussed the balance between access enforcement and reducing predatory litigation, and the bill was still under consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• and website development.
• and website development.
• When it's developed, so the application is not developed yet?
• So it was initially developed there.
• We've been very fortunate working with the Water Development Board over the years to assist them to develop

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have so much incredible economic development effort and activity going on there.
• And, of course, broadband is a huge issue out there as well. Those are issues with roads.
• for the website, but I noticed that there's $500,000 put aside for the ongoing planning, output development
• In the course of this development, we have realized that there are some items that the vendor we're working
• kind of just cleanup because it seems like a small amount of money, knowing how much it costs to develop

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Minnesota have developed University of Minnesota have developed new<00:04:07.319><
• <00:04:57.160> program is an uh an economic development program is an uh an economic development
• Facilities investment to develop Facilities investment to develop efficiency<00:13:39.480> will
• from the Workforce Development from the Workforce Development Fund<00:21:01.159> thank<00
• companies contribute to the development companies contribute to the development of<00:25:32.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill slashes rural broadband investments by 20%, rural business development grants by nearly 30%
• We strengthen rural development, implement broadband investments, and reinforce the integrity of critical
• Rural business development grants have been cut by 28%.
• Broadband access is rural communities.
• Rural business development about 44%.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Effective allocation, workforce development, supply chain, research and development, or other areas.
• and researched and workforce developed also.
• Energy-proving grounds serve as a way to accelerate their development and actually de-risk these developments
• It brings a chilling effect to commercial development by expanding criminal liability for developer owners
• But it's directed simply at the developer owner.

Bills: SB1468, SB1612, SB1789, SB2530, SB2571, SB2717, SB2967

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• Item 14 is broadband connectivity.
• Item 14 is broadband connectivity. Kelsey Vela: ...Item 14 is broadband connectivity.
• We got a COVID grant that allowed us to bring broadband to the unit, but this pushes broadband back into
• Are you seeing the development of the new housing developments you're talking about, where they're putting
• Chair: ...development of the new housing developments you're talking about, where they're putting them

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.