Transcript Highlights:

• challenge, public safety and workforce challenge, public safety and workforce demands.<00:03:28.720
• It saves Kentucky money, it prevents crime, and it fills jobs and workforce needs.
• It saves Kentucky money, it prevents crime, and it fills jobs and workforce needs.
• We will enhance Kentucky's workforce and we will create taxpayers instead of prisoners.
• We will enhance Kucky's workforce workforce workforce and<00:10:55.040> we<00:10:55.279> will

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met for its sixth regular-session meeting and first took up House Bill 5, as substituted by committee amendment, which would authorize KCTCS to partner with the Department of Corrections to create a vocational training campus at North Point Training Center. The sponsor and witnesses described the bill as a prison education and re-entry initiative aimed at reducing recidivism, saving taxpayer money, and meeting workforce needs, citing Michigan’s vocational village model as evidence that prison-based training can lower reoffending. Testimony emphasized that the program would include high-demand vocational fields, credentials, eligibility and security safeguards, data collection, annual reporting, and re-entry documentation such as certificates of employability and employment protections. Several members voiced support, including comments that the bill builds on existing second-chance and employability efforts. One member asked whether post-release employment outcomes could also be tracked, and the sponsor said that would be encouraged and discussed as a possible friendly amendment. After discussion, the committee voted 19-1 to adopt the committee substitute and pass House Bill 5. The committee then began consideration of House Bill 468, which would update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to conform the state definition of disability to the 2008 federal ADA amendments and clarify the meaning of “qualified individual with a disability.” The bill sponsor said it would remove the Kentucky Human Rights Commission’s adjudicative authority over employment and public accommodations cases, while leaving investigative powers intact and preserving housing-related adjudication, with the goal of placing those disputes in court and preserving jury-trial rights. In response to questions, the sponsor said a local mandate analysis found the court impact would be minimal to moderate, and cited commission data showing relatively few hearings. The transcript cuts off during continued discussion of HB 468.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:10.399> by increased our Workforce by increased our Workforce by 10.5%<00:14:12.160
• <00:15:27.399> Development<00:15:27.920> Division Workforce Development Division Workforce
• <00:18:56.280> Development Workforce Development Workforce Development divisions<00:18:58.559>
• increase the budget for the Workforce increase the budget for the Workforce Development Development
• foundation and the Hawaii Workforce foundation and the Hawaii Workforce pipeline<06:37:21.240>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• use of the workforce we already have. use of the workforce we already have.
• <05:05:11.280> Committee, Workforce Committee, Workforce Committee, I'm<05:05:12.480> grateful
• great member of the Education Workforce great member of the Education Workforce Committee,<05:20
• affordable, strengthen workforce affordable, strengthen workforce pipelines,<05:20:29.400> and
• <05:21:04.800> shortages workforce shortages workforce shortages in<05:21:06.640> critical<

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and from partners in state government about critical challenges in health care, civil rights, and workforce
• The Disability Employment Subcommittee deepened outreach to employers and co-hosted with the Workforce
• The Workforce Support Subcommittee advanced our understanding of the statewide staffing crisis through
• The Disability Employment Subcommittee deepened outreach to employers and co-hosted with the Workforce
• The Workforce Support Subcommittee advanced our understanding of the statewide staffing crisis through

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met virtually to review and gather feedback on its annual report covering July 2024 through June 2025. The chair summarized the report’s main themes: five public meetings on employment data, benefit cliffs, developmental services priorities, health care, civil rights, and workforce stability; active work by the Disability Employment, Workforce Support, and new Long-Term Services and Supports/Health Equity subcommittees; and the second annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration with more than 300 participants. Commissioners praised the report and suggested improvements, including shortening it with an appendix, adding charts/graphs, including dates and raw data alongside percentages, and producing a more visual slide deck or presentation version after submission. Commissioners also discussed the need for clearer outcome-focused goals and strategic planning, especially given limited staff capacity. The chair responded that the annual report is a statutory requirement and that a separate strategic planning effort is underway through the executive board. She said the team would continue refining the report, incorporate feedback, and prepare both a text version and a more visual hard-copy version with photos and alternative text. The report was described as due to appointing authorities by October 30, and the commission planned to continue collaborating on presentation materials. Before adjourning, members briefly discussed the 2025 Paul Spooner Generational Leadership Summit, which was described as successful but still in need of funding for future years. The chair also previewed the commission’s first community event on November 4, a hybrid community listening session and resource fair, with about 170 registered participants and roughly 35 in-person organizations. The meeting ended with a motion and second to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• This robust plan builds in professional learning, resource development, workforce supports, including
• These reforms would stabilize the workforce, improve care and accessibility, and ensure families can
• as the state is working on getting new rates implemented that truly cover the cost of care, the workforce
• There's no workforce pipeline of new providers on the horizon.
• Now there's no workforce pipeline of new providers on the horizon.

Summary: The committee took up issue number seven, Child Care Rate Reform Transition Plan, and heard a presentation from the LAO on an eight-part transition plan for the period before implementation of the alternative methodology-based child care rate system. The plan would provide interim rate increases to existing regional market rates and standard reimbursement rates beginning January 1 of the budget year, keep the higher of SRR or ARMR as the single rate, annualize cost-of-care supplements, update hold-harmless language, eliminate the private market cap, authorize one-time systems transition funding with JLBC approval, and require annual reporting on parent co-pays. Members asked about the timeline and public/legislative feedback process, and administration staff said they were working toward the July 1, 2025 deadline while continuing stakeholder engagement through the rate and quality advisory process. Public comment was overwhelmingly focused on child care and early learning funding. Providers, county offices, advocacy groups, and education organizations urged the Legislature to move quickly on the alternative rate methodology, provide interim relief through a cost-of-living adjustment, reimburse based on enrollment rather than attendance, and preserve health and retirement benefits and workforce stability. Many speakers also pressed for funding to expand the promised 200,000 child care slots, warning that waitlists remain long and providers are under financial strain. Several commenters supported maintaining or extending grants and technical assistance for transitional kindergarten, inclusive early education, and mixed-delivery early learning programs. A separate set of comments addressed the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program, with Sacramento County education officials and others urging a statewide plan that would extend support to the 20 counties not currently receiving grants, especially rural areas. Other speakers raised concerns about facilities and staffing impacts from TK expansion, the need for consistent eligibility rules across subsidized programs, and the importance of statewide systems-level funding. The chair thanked the LAO, administration, and public commenters, said the item would remain open until after the May Revision, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce<00:31:56.120> challenges<00:31:56.760> are<00:31:56.880> real, Workforce
• cultural responsive workforce cultural responsive workforce development,<00:59:39.600> including
• shortage; we have a workforce alignment problem.
• First, continue and expand culturally responsive workforce training.
• <01:02:30.720> online while modernizing workforce and online while modernizing workforce and online

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hospitals since launching 18 months ago, hospitals are required to reinvest this funding in health care workforce
• We have a number of hospitals that have engaged with local education to develop workforce.
• Stable health care infrastructure is essential to workforce recruitment, business retention, and rural
• And then is it also feasible these could turn into affordable housing projects or workforce housing?
• Projects or workforce housing? Mr. Chairman, Senator, absolutely.

Bills: SB101, SB58, SB55

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB58, metropolitan redevelopment, redevelopment property, property tax exemption, payments in lieu of taxes, PILOT, municipal redevelopment, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 528 focuses on strengthening Florida's manufacturing sector through organizational and workforce
• It also creates the Florida Manufacturers Workforce Development Grant Program to support training and
• workforce development initiatives for manufacturers in coordination with the National Institute of Standards
• This bill addresses a growing workforce issue in Florida's surveying and mapping profession, which in
• Workforce pressures are continuing to build as a significant portion of our surveyors approach retirement

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and reported favorably several bills. SB 386, by Sen. Trumbull, would create consumer rights and manufacturer obligations for defective farm equipment, modeled on lemon-law concepts, and passed without opposition. SB 528, also by Sen. Trumbull, would strengthen Florida’s manufacturing sector through Department of Commerce responsibilities, a chief manufacturing officer role, workforce grants, and reporting requirements; it drew questions about whether it differed from last year’s bill and was supported by several appearance forms before passing favorably. SB 806, a right-to-repair bill for portable wireless devices and agricultural equipment, drew the most testimony: supporters said it would expand consumer choice and repair access, while dealers and industry representatives argued existing manufacturer agreements already provide access and warned the bill could disrupt dealer/manufacturer relationships and future technology; it nevertheless passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 696 on trademark registration, which would modernize the trademark classification system, allow online applications, and clarify document verification procedures, and SB 930, which creates a 15-member Florida Retirement Savings Task Force to study retirement coverage gaps and recommend policy options without imposing employer mandates. SB 826, by Sen. Leak, would address reward cards that function like gift cards but expire, while excluding loyalty programs; the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association raised concerns about unintended consequences and the need for tighter definitions, but the bill was reported favorably after the sponsor said the language would be refined. SB 874 would expand professional licensure reciprocity for experienced out-of-state surveyors and mappers to address workforce shortages, and it also passed favorably. After a pause, the committee took up CS/SB 838 on electronic payments of retail installment contracts. Sen. Yarbrough said the bill clarifies that reasonable convenience fees for optional electronic payments are permissible, provided they are disclosed and a fee-free option remains available, to reduce ambiguity and litigation. Members questioned whether the bill could authorize or expand fees and whether the “reasonable” standard was sufficiently clear; the sponsor said the fees are tied to processor costs and are not intended as revenue. An amendment adding the word “retail” was adopted, and the committee substitute was reported favorably. Several members later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on bills they had missed, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Olympics Minnesota, and I want to see others like me have the chance to be part of the Minnesota workforce
• Olympics Minnesota, and I want to see others like me have the chance to be part of the Minnesota workforce
• Olympics Minnesota, and I want to see others like me have the chance to be part of the Minnesota workforce
• Olympics Minnesota, and I want to see others like me have the chance to be part of the Minnesota workforce
• Olympics Minnesota, and I want to see others like me have the chance to be part of the Minnesota workforce

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> a healthcare workforce initiative a healthcare workforce initiative requesting<01:02:05.680> $3.7
• <01:02:12.240> shortages health care work workforce shortages health care work workforce shortages
• <01:24:58.320> development with encouraging workforce development with encouraging workforce
• However, our workforce with the doctors.
• Um, we workforce people with the DOE.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We face a persistent need for a skilled workforce in key sectors.
• Direct workforce training allows students to acquire technical certifications, both in the competencies
• And that's why manufacturing was always part of now two administrations' workforce labor blueprints.
• believe very strongly in the formal recognition and investment of these pathways and giving our workforce
• And we are pushing them into the workforce system, and I appreciate your time today.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills related to advertising, economic development, tourism, digital advertising, delivery taxes, and alcohol taxation. The first panel supported H. 3249, which would create a high school trade partnership program linking public schools with private employers, especially in manufacturing, and would offer employers a tax credit for participation. Representative Soder, Uxbridge High School leaders, and others argued the bill would strengthen career pathways, build a skilled workforce, and keep students and jobs in Massachusetts. The committee then heard testimony on H. 3031 and S. 2003 to modernize the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund by dedicating an additional share of hotel occupancy tax revenue to tourism promotion. Tourism and hospitality representatives from Cape Cod, Southwick Zoo, and Indian Ranch said the proposal would not raise taxes but would reinvest existing visitor-generated revenue into marketing that supports jobs, local businesses, and municipal tax receipts. A tech-industry coalition opposed several digital advertising tax bills and a delivery tax bill, warning they would raise costs, create uncertainty, and burden consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers. The largest portion of the hearing focused on S. 2029, which would raise the alcohol excise tax by 10 cents per drink and dedicate the revenue to public health programs. Public health experts, advocates, a student prevention leader, and representatives from Jane Doe, Inc. argued the tax would reduce alcohol-related harms, address decades of inflation-driven erosion in the tax, and generate substantial new funding for prevention, treatment, domestic violence services, and community schools. Committee members asked questions about the current tax structure, inflation, and how the proposal compares with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we are serious about workforce development, we must also be serious about entrepreneurship development
• This request directly advances workforce This request directly advances workforce development,<00
• And I believe we're in the business of solutions for entrepreneurs in our workforce and our economic
• uh solutions for entrepreneurs<00:17:24.559> in<00:17:24.799> our<00:17:24.959> workforce
• in our workforce and our economic<00:17:26.160> development.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 2581 was presented as a request for a $1 million state investment in Fortis Capital, a Minnesota nonprofit economic development lender. The bill was described as supporting entrepreneurship and wealth-building by expanding access to capital for businesses that are underserved by traditional lending, especially in rural areas, communities of color, immigrant communities, and low-wealth areas. Testifiers argued that conventional underwriting standards leave viable businesses without financing and that Fortis provides flexible gap financing to help deals close, complementing rather than replacing banks and CDFIs. Brian Smith, co-founder and CEO of Fortis Capital, said the organization was established in 2019 and has deployed 37 loans totaling over $4 million since 2021, leveraging an additional $29.5 million through partnerships. He said Fortis seeks to increase lending capacity, reduce risk in innovative capital structures, expand statewide partnerships, and accelerate small business growth and job creation. In response to questions, he said Fortis typically charges about 6.12% on average, has had two defaults, and operates as a revolving loan fund. He also explained that Fortis already participates in some Department of Employment and Economic Development programs, but is not eligible for certain grant programs because those grants go directly to borrowers. Committee members asked how the proposal fits with existing state economic development efforts and whether competitive grant programs exist for this kind of work. A DED representative said he would need more detail to compare the proposal to agency programs, though he mentioned the emerging entrepreneur loan program as a possible fit. Members also discussed broader concerns about direct appropriations versus competitive grants. No public testimony was offered. Chair Frasier closed by saying the bill addresses a real need and laid House File 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They could go try to find jobs elsewhere, but then we lose that skilled workforce that could reopen these
• And it's not that easy to get that workforce back in a place like Eveleth or Virginia up on the Iron
• that could reopen these mines workforce that could reopen these mines eventually.<00:08:25.120> And
• And it's not that easy to get<00:08:26.240> that<00:08:26.479> workforce<00:08:26.960><
• back in a place like get that workforce back in a place like Elely<00:08:28.560> or<00:08:28.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE'S A PLACE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH AUTISM IN THE WORKFORCE.
• CHAIRMAN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS DIRECTED TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE CREDENTIAL ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS
• ACQUIRED SPECIFIC JOB SCHOOL SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS THAT MEET EMPLOYER NEEDS IMPORTANTLY INCLUDING WORKFORCE
• BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL YOU THINK PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE
• BE A PART OF A PROGRAM WITH TRAINING AGAIN, ACADEMIC TRAINING FOR BEING AN ESE IS DIFFERENT THAN WORKFORCE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• library in partnership with um Workforce library in partnership with um Workforce Development<00
• and three is Workforce and three is Workforce housing<00:28:44.360> so<00:28:45.360> the
• schools and 5 million for Workforce schools and 5 million for Workforce housing<00:30:18.159>
• Workforce Workforce housing<00:35:03.680> this<00:35:03.800> one<00:35:04.160> though
• Workforce Workforce housing<00:36:42.200> and<00:36:42.400> that<00:36:42.560> pretty

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education held an informational/budget briefing with presentations from the State Library System, the School Facilities Authority, and the Department of Education. The chair opened the meeting by outlining the order of presentations and noting that members would hold questions until after all three agencies had testified. The discussion focused on each agency’s priorities for the upcoming biennium and their budget requests. State Librarian Stacy Aldridge described library usage and services, emphasizing strong demand for physical and digital materials, internet and Wi-Fi access, programs, Kanopy streaming, and PressReader. She highlighted digital literacy classes, RFID self-check and smart shelving improvements, and the role of libraries as community hubs. The library’s budget request included an additional $1.2 million for security guards, $48.484 million for FY 26-27 to support popup libraries during temporary closures and other needs, $500,000 for repair and maintenance, $2 million for Kap planning and design, and $25 million each year for lump-sum capital funding. Mallerie Fujitani said the lump-sum funding is needed to keep roughly 50 projects moving and to avoid delays in construction. School Facilities Authority Executive Director Ricky Fujitani explained the agency’s startup history and its programs for preschools, Central Maui schools, and workforce housing. He said the authority is using standardized, prefabricated, programmatic approaches to speed delivery and improve maintainability, citing prior preschool renovations as a successful model. He reported that of $389 million appropriated, $106 million was released, with $81 million for preschools, $20 million for Central Maui schools, and $5 million for workforce housing; he also noted the workforce housing program was reduced after Maui fire-related reallocations. He said the pilot workforce housing site at Mililani High School has been awarded and pointed to University of Hawaiʻi student housing projects as a model. Superintendent Hayashi then began the Department of Education presentation, introducing DOE leadership and outlining the department’s mission to support academic achievement, character development, and student well-being. He noted the department serves more than 152,000 students in 258 public schools and employs over 42,000 people, with nearly 54% of students facing significant challenges. He framed the budget request around the department’s strategic plan to prepare graduates for college, careers, or military service. The transcript ends during the DOE presentation, before any committee votes or formal actions are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• care continues to grow rapidly, even as access becomes more constrained due to funding limitations, workforce
• shortages, and the everyday demand Due to funding limitations, workforce shortages, and the everyday
• already heard this afternoon about access barriers, long waiting lists, low reimbursement rates, workforce
• This structure not only improves patient outcomes, but also creates a career ladder and workforce expansion
• You might ask why pass these bills in an atmosphere of cost concerns and workforce crises?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery held a public hearing on 14 bills focused on insurance, parity, opioids, behavioral health access, and mental health system reform. Chair Mindy Domb and Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would accept written testimony. The hearing featured testimony from legislators, providers, advocates, and behavioral health organizations, with most speakers urging favorable reports on the bills they addressed. A major topic was psychiatric collaborative care, including H. 222/S. 1390, which would raise reimbursement for collaborative care codes to at least Medicare levels and allow billing outside the MassHealth primary care subcapitation model. Supporters said the model improves access, outcomes, and cost savings by embedding behavioral health in primary care, and several witnesses described successful implementation in practices and schools. Committee members asked questions about how the model works, what specialties use it, barriers to adoption, and whether copays, deductibles, and subcapitation rules should be changed. Witnesses also supported related innovation legislation, including H. 2224, which would create a mental health innovation fund and support nontraditional trauma-healing approaches. Other bills discussed included H. 2212, which would require prescribers to discuss opioid and pain-medication risks, alternatives, and addiction/overdose concerns with patients or guardians; H. 2232 and H. 2233, which would address equitable payment and equitable access for behavioral health providers serving MassHealth patients; and S. 1406, which would add opioid maintenance treatment information to MassPAT and allow patient-authorized access to that information. Witnesses also strongly backed S. 1399, which would set targets to increase behavioral health spending within the overall health care cost benchmark, arguing that Massachusetts underinvests in behavioral health and that greater investment could reduce emergency, hospitalization, homelessness, and criminal justice costs. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be easier for us because managing a workforce, whether you're having to fill shifts, is really
• even speaking about hundreds of nurses across this state, the fact is you lose control over that workforce
• This legislation makes a thoughtful and balanced approach to addressing workforce shortages.
• This potential certification represents a systemic and thoughtful approach to public safety and workforce
• I'm also a approach to public safety and workforce development.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several retirement and workforce-related bills. House Bill 2980 would place county correctional nurses and certain medical staff into Group 4 retirement. Representative Trino, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, and nurse manager Leanne Cameron argued that correctional nurses work in dangerous, high-stress settings with frequent contact with incarcerated people, high rates of mental illness and substance use in the jail population, and significant workplace violence, and that the change would help recruitment and retention with limited statewide fiscal impact. The committee also heard Senate Bill 210, which would create a commission to study additional regular compensation and annual expenses for members of the General Court. Senator John Keenan said Massachusetts has high leadership stipends compared with other states and argued the current structure can affect independence and public trust. Representative O'Day testified on House Bill 2928 to extend Group 2 retirement to additional Department of Children and Families social workers, and SEIU 509 witnesses described frequent transport of children, crisis response, threats, assaults, and other high-risk duties that they said match Group 2 work. Additional testimony supported House Bill 2943 for DDS service coordinators and supervisors, with witnesses describing home visits in unsafe conditions, transport of vulnerable individuals, direct care during staffing crises, and exposure to violence. House Bill 2899 drew support from the Association of Social Work Boards for social work field placement grants, incentives for supervisors, and expanded retirement benefits for DCF social workers. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2613, a local retirement bill for Salem police officer Kathleen Roachville, who described a severe line-of-duty injury during an arrest involving a combative person in a mental health crisis. Finally, Susan Smith Campbell testified for reclassifying certain DYS administrative officers into Group 2 because of their direct involvement in restraints, assaults, and crisis management. After testimony concluded, the committee adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 722, Avila Farías, reentry housing and workforce development: hold in committee.
• AB 1235, Rogers, CSU workforce requirement: two-year bill.
• AB 1370, Rogers, CSU workforce requirement: two-year bill.
• AB 836, Stephanie, Midway Free Workforce Study: do pass on an A roll call.
• AB 231, TAWA, Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit: holding committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just so you all know, these dollars are used to hire and retain critical public health workforce, such
• I also just want to take us back to during COVID; we lost a lot of our public health workforce during
• There was an excessive amount of harassment, burnout, and strain on the workforce.
• The public health workforce is not built overnight.
• But I also want to appreciate just what that means to the workforce, as was reflected on earlier so well

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• defines a telephone call for purposes of regulating telephone solicitations for the Committee on Workforce
• SB 856 by Flores relates to the use of skills development certificates for the Subcommittee on Workforce
• SB 856 by Flores relates to the use of skills development certificates for the Subcommittee on Workforce
• defines a telephone call for purposes of regulating telephone solicitations for the Committee on Workforce
• SB 856 by Flores relates to the use of skills development certainties for the Subcommittee on Workforce

Bills: HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, SB14, HB 12, HB1522, HB422, HB675, HB204, HB748, HB912, HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, HCR123, HCR124, HR57, HR87, HR111, HR228, HR230, HR322, HR624, HR625, HR626, HR627, HR628, HR630, HR631, HR634, HR635, HR636, HR637, HR638, HR639, HR640, HR645, HR646, HR648, HR649, HR651, HR652, HR653, HR654, HR664, HR665, HR668, HR675, HR676, HR678, HR679, HR680, HR683, HR686, HR688, HR689, HR694, HR695, HR697, HR698, HR699, HR472, HR622, HR632, HR633, HR643, HR655, HR657, HR660, HR661, HR662, HR663, HR667, HR670, HR674, HR681, HR682, HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365