Transcript Highlights:

• minimum wage for a reason.
• minimum wage for a reason.
• FFN providers get the minimum wage.
• Not even a minimum wage.
• We are here to represent and support increasing wages for FFN to at least minimum wage, to bring this

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its sixth public hearing and took testimony on a large slate of bills, with the chair moving H. 542/S. 341 on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care to the top of the agenda so young constituents would not have to wait. Witnesses from labor, community organizations, and FFN providers strongly supported the bill, saying FFN care fills critical gaps for families working nonstandard hours, especially in low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC communities. Testimony emphasized that FFN providers are currently underpaid, often receive only about $24 per child per day, and should be guaranteed at least the state minimum wage. Witnesses also backed changes to the voucher system to allow families to combine formal and FFN care more flexibly, and they supported creating an FFN advisory council. Committee members asked about the difference between FFN and center-based care, registration requirements, fingerprinting/background checks, EEC’s ongoing study group, and the fiscal impact; witnesses said the current annual cost is about $1.8 million and could rise to about $6 million if all current FFN providers were paid minimum wage, still under 1% of the EEC budget. The committee then closed testimony on that bill. The committee next heard testimony on several preschool and universal pre-K bills, including H. 707 on public preschool facilities, H. 687/S. 339 on universal pre-K and mixed delivery, and related bills such as H. 606, H. 523, H. 618, H. 522, H. 510, and H. 615, many of which were later closed without additional witnesses. A Lowell school official testified that space and facilities funding are major barriers to expanding preschool and that the city has hundreds of children on voucher waitlists. Other witnesses and organizations, including the Early Care and Education Consortium and AFT Massachusetts, supported mixed-delivery universal pre-K and warned that public-school expansion should not undermine community-based providers, whose preschool tuition helps subsidize infant and toddler care. Several witnesses also urged stronger standards for preschool teachers, better staffing ratios, and more integrated special education and support services. The committee accepted written testimony on some bills and closed testimony on the others when no one else came forward. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 541/S. 373, which would ban school exclusion in pre-K through third grade. Advocates from Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Mass Appleseed, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, AFT Massachusetts, and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee argued that suspensions and expulsions at young ages harm learning, worsen inequities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They cited data showing disproportionate impacts on Black and Latinx students, students with disabilities, and low-income children, and described personal stories of children whose behavior improved when schools kept them in class and addressed underlying needs. Committee members asked for updated data on the number of students and districts affected, and witnesses said they would provide more detailed written information. After testimony on this and a few other bills, including S. 372, S. 357, and H. 275/S. 133, the committee closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But meaningful vote to say that all people deserve the dignity of a minimum wage.
• A minimum wage should be just that: a minimum standard for everyone. And this is our last...
• A piece of this work, I believe, is saying that in Minnesota, a minimum wage is the minimum that everyone
• to be paid a sub-minimum wage makes me feel subhuman."
• When you put people into a sub-minimum wage box, they stay stuck in that box.

Transcript Highlights:

• minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
• the minimum wage.
• When we speak about the 150% of the minimum wage, which is $18 an hour, based on the current $12 minimum
• They selected the median wage of $18, which is 150% of the minimum wage, recognizing, based on multiple
• We aim to ensure that workers' wages are at least 150% of the New Mexico minimum wage, which is $18 an

Transcript Highlights:

• As such, this bill, like laws on minimum wage, has a provision to include guardrails to ensure that pay
• As such, this bill, like laws on minimum wage, has a provision to include guardrails to ensure that pay
• A sustainable statewide minimum wage would allow ESPs to focus fully on the students they serve, bringing
• By establishing a minimum wage that is indexed to inflation, these bills will make both of these things
• These bills would establish a minimum wage for all paras and educators.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with most testimony focused on two main topics: improving access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for students with disabilities, and raising educator pay statewide. On the AAC bills (House 514/Senate 418), parents, advocates, and attorneys described how AAC devices and communication books help nonverbal or minimally verbal children communicate, participate in class, and reduce frustration and behavioral issues. Testimony emphasized that while districts are generally required to provide devices, many teachers and school staff lack training to use them effectively; the bill would direct DESE to update licensure and training requirements so newly licensed teachers are prepared to support AAC users. Committee members asked about current teacher-prep practices, implementation, and whether DESE could act without legislation, and witnesses said the proposal was intended as a long-term solution and had previously received some support and compromise language. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House 733/Senate 370, which would set a statewide minimum salary of $70,000 for teachers and $55,000 for education support professionals (ESPs/paras), with inflation adjustments and a phase-in structure that would shift costs over time from the state to municipalities. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, MTA leaders, and school employees from several districts, argued that current pay is not a living wage, contributes to staffing shortages and turnover, and forces many educators to work multiple jobs or rely on public assistance. They said the bill would help recruit and retain staff and better reflect the importance of the work. Committee members raised questions about how the state would fund the mandate, how it would interact with Chapter 70 school aid and local budgets, whether other states have similar mechanisms, and whether the proposal could create disincentives for districts already paying above the floor. Witnesses pointed to the Student Opportunity Act, the Fair Share Amendment, and the need for a broader school funding formula review as possible parts of the solution. The committee also briefly heard and discussed Senate Bill 435/House Bill 736, which would require de-escalation training for school bus operators, with the training paid for by employers. The sponsor and a parent advocate said the bill was prompted by a school bus incident involving a child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and would improve safety and reduce reliance on law enforcement. Members asked whether the bill should also cover bus monitors and other transportation staff, and whether private contractors and public operators currently provide similar training. At the end of the hearing, the chairs closed testimony on the full list of bills and adjourned the hearing without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• minimum wage, which is good in that regard.
• minimum wage, which is good in that regard.
• minimum wage, I want everyone to understand that the report actually says that our current wages are
• minimum wage, no one to understand that the reports, it actually says that our current wages is not
• than the minimum wage for fast food workers in the state of California—a lower wage than health care

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the final three-party budget agreement and related trailer bills, with the Department of Finance outlining the major budget bill and omnibus measures. Finance described a package built around balancing the state budget amid economic uncertainty, preserving core health and safety-net programs, and making significant ongoing reductions in some state programs. The budget bill included major items such as shifting $1 billion from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for Cal Fire, funding universal transitional kindergarten, deferring some UC and CSU funding, supporting foster care and homelessness programs, providing Proposition 36 implementation funding, and achieving Medi-Cal savings through changes to benefits and eligibility. The committee also heard that votes on the budget bills were expected later in the week and the following Monday. Finance then walked through the trailer bills, including health, human services, early learning, education, resources, energy, transportation, labor, housing, tax, public safety, courts, general government, cannabis, and energy-related measures. Notable provisions included a Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for certain adults, new premiums and benefit changes for some immigrants, child care COLA changes, education funding for literacy, teacher support, universal meals, and community college student support, as well as resource and climate measures affecting Cal Fire staffing and energy permitting. The housing trailer bill drew the most discussion, with provisions on CEQA streamlining, a vehicle miles traveled mitigation banking program, a renters’ credit trigger, and a six-year moratorium on new residential building standards. Members also discussed a film tax credit expansion, cannabis enforcement funding, a tribal police pilot program, and changes to tax policy, including military retirement income exclusions and wildfire settlement payment exclusions. Committee members largely praised the staff and the budget process, but several raised concerns and asked detailed questions, especially about the housing trailer bill’s new wage standards, tribal consultation provisions, and possible effects on prevailing wage protections. Finance explained that the housing language was intended to set wage floors for market-rate projects receiving CEQA streamlining, with different county-based tiers and a notwithstanding clause preserving existing prevailing wage laws. Members also questioned the size and timing of funding for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Clean Cars for All, Proposition 36, and the film tax credit expansion. Other members highlighted support for public safety, veterans’ tax relief, child care providers, housing production, and higher education, while some expressed concern that the budget’s policy changes were being negotiated too quickly or without enough stakeholder input.

Transcript Highlights:

• > are the minimum wage and I think wages are the minimum wage and I think wages are driven<01:
• The minimum wage has always hurt wage.
• The last time it was minimum wage.
• <01:15:18.480> Thank try to raise the minimum wage. Thank try to raise the minimum wage.
• to having a low minimum wage, but drive to having a low minimum wage, but drive to McDonald's.<01

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:25.760> also minimum minimum wage but you also minimum minimum wage but you also mentioned
• <00:58:05.040> wage the purposes of the minimum wage the purposes of the minimum wage statute
• <00:59:45.599> wage purposes of the state's minimum wage purposes of the state's minimum wage
• Minimum wage, and minimum wage as well.
• has adopted the federal minimum wage. has adopted the federal minimum wage.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened its labor hearing on SB 655 and outlined the day’s schedule, including a later working session on SB 416 and an executive session planned for 2:30 p.m. Senator Dan Innis introduced SB 655, describing it as a technical bill affecting employee leasing companies/professional employer organizations (PEOs), workers’ compensation coverage, and a Senate-added minimum wage exemption for minor league baseball players covered by a collective bargaining agreement. He said the PEO change would let either the PEO or the client business hold workers’ comp coverage, while still requiring coverage, and argued it would align New Hampshire with most other states and reduce barriers for small businesses and multi-state employers. He also said the baseball provision would clarify wage treatment for minor league players and support the Manchester team. Justin Warell of Insperity testified in support of the PEO portion, explaining that PEOs provide HR, payroll, benefits administration, and workers’ compensation administration through a co-employment model. He said the bill would preserve mandatory coverage while allowing flexibility for the client or PEO to maintain the policy, which could help clients who already have preferred coverage or who face cost or administrative issues in multiple states. He noted that most clients would still remain under the PEO’s policy and said Insperity would submit written comments. Committee members asked about how the arrangement would work, whether the client or PEO would pay, and whether the bill would affect liability insurance packaging; Warell said the employer still bears the cost and that the bill mainly gives larger clients an option. One member asked him to remain available for possible follow-up after hearing from the labor department. Stephen Gonzalez of Major League Baseball testified in support of the minor league baseball exemption. He said MLB and the MLB Players Association negotiated a collective bargaining agreement that already provides players with salary, housing, meals, per diems, health and retirement benefits, disability continuation, tuition assistance, and signing bonuses. He argued that treating players as hourly workers creates impractical time-tracking problems because players do work-related activities on their own time, and said the bill would recognize them as salaried workers and avoid litigation over what counts as hours worked. Committee members questioned why the exemption was needed if players are already salaried and whether MLB could simply amend its CBA; Gonzalez said the bill would help prevent wage-and-hour lawsuits and noted that similar exemptions have been enacted in other states. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the chair indicated the bill would be considered for executive action later that afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:25.760> also minimum minimum wage but you also minimum minimum wage but you also mentioned
• <00:59:45.599> wage purposes of the state's minimum wage purposes of the state's minimum wage
• the minimum wage for New Hampshire? the minimum wage for New Hampshire?
• Minimum wage, and minimum wage as well.
• has adopted the federal minimum wage. has adopted the federal minimum wage.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We really need to look at an enhanced care minimum wage. This is a model that is proven.
• Creating a $25 minimum wage for care workers isn't just the right thing to do, it's essential.
• wage, sorry, enhanced care minimum wage, similar to what we're proposing.
• AFL-CIO, to testify on Senate Bill 877, An Act to Promote an Enhanced Care Worker Minimum Wage.
• We hope you'll support our $25 minimum wage.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing focused largely on senior long-term care issues, family caregiving, post-acute care access, and direct care workforce pay. Testimony strongly supported bills to raise the personal needs allowance for nursing home and rest home residents (including H. 1411, S. 482, and related bills), with speakers from Mass Senior Action, Dignity Alliance, nursing home residents, providers, and former state officials arguing that the current $72.80 monthly allowance has been unchanged since 2008 and is inadequate for basic items like clothing, toiletries, haircuts, and transportation. Witnesses also backed bills to increase MassHealth asset and income limits for seniors and to stop counting life insurance as cash, describing the current rules as outdated and harmful to low-income elders. The committee also heard testimony on bills allowing family members, including spouses and guardians, to be paid caregivers (H. 1394/S. 886), with supporters saying this would help families keep loved ones at home and reduce reliance on costly institutional care. Another set of bills (H. 1412/S. 903) drew support from a physician who said clearer MassHealth communication and improved post-acute care determination processes would help reduce delays and backlogs for patients awaiting skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or other post-acute placement. Several speakers emphasized that better home- and community-based care can prevent hospital readmissions and support independence. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 877, which would establish an enhanced care worker minimum wage of $25 per hour, indexed to inflation, for certain home care and human services workers. Union representatives and direct care workers from SEIU Local 509, 1199 SEIU, and the AFL-CIO described severe staffing shortages, burnout, low wages, and high turnover across home care, mental health, disability services, and crisis response. They argued that higher pay is necessary to recruit and retain workers and to stabilize services for vulnerable residents. Committee members asked about costs, comparisons with other states, and whether non-wage incentives could help, but witnesses repeatedly said wages were the central issue. The hearing concluded after all registered testimony was heard, with the committee noting it would continue accepting written testimony and then adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I noticed that my counties have the highest minimum wage, which is good in that regard, but I wanted
• So, can you just walk us through what these new minimum wage requirements would be? Certainly.
• In my 37 years, I have never seen a minimum wage adopted for the purposes of suppressing wages, not lifting
• than the minimum wage for fast food workers in the state of California—a lower wage than health care
• We have serious concerns with the minimum wage for housing construction provisions. AB 130.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:20.960> wage could plug in a potential minimum wage could plug in a potential minimum
• <00:20:58.960> wages come up with these minimum wages come up with these minimum wages when
• :22:01.440> and um plug in potential minimum wages and um plug in potential minimum wages and
• <00:31:38.559> way with the minimum wage, which I any way with the minimum wage, which I any
• forward like the minimum wage or others. forward like the minimum wage or others.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would codify that minimum wage.
• For one adult, the minimum living wage $20.10 an hour.
• When the minimum wage was established, and I forgot the year, if you had advanced that minimum wage to
• Minimum wage increase across the board for the state, which has been my mission.
• I'm encouraged by all the talk of raising minimum wages.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, we made progress toward fair wages, but big rideshare companies continue to do the bare minimum
• Last year, we made progress toward fair wages, but big rideshare companies continue to do the bare minimum
• Last year, we made progress toward fair wages, but big rideshare companies continue to do the bare minimum
• wage of the drivers for them to get the right minimum wage that they're supposed to get.
• wage of the drivers for them to get the right minimum wage that they're supposed to get.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or minimum wage and should be subminimum or minimum wage and should be paid<00:07:06.240> that
• wage at a minimum that is the subminimum wage at a minimum and<00:07:16.360> then<00:07:16.520
• for another the minimum wage bill but it for another the minimum wage bill but it does<00:07:37.440
• <00:10:16.760> wage state to uh ditch the sub minimum wage state to uh ditch the sub minimum
• <00:10:56.120> let pay the minimum wage at least and let pay the minimum wage at least and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:24.480> wage At the current state of minimum wage At the current state of minimum wage
• minimum wage that includes everyone minimum wage that includes everyone regardless<00:48:09.359>
• This is it's a minimum wage question.
• pay the workers at least minimum wage. pay the workers at least minimum wage.
• c><00:59:45.920> of<00:59:46.079> the minimum wage because a lot of the minimum wage because

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• $8 an hour, 47% less than the state minimum wage of $15 an hour.
• an hour, 47% less than the state minimum wage of $15 an hour.
• They include the right to be paid state minimum wage and overtime wages, have paid time off, and work
• Farm workers' minimum wage was set at $8 an hour, 53% of the minimum wage.
• the general state minimum wage, effectively eliminating the separate farm wage.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• OKAY, TAB FOR CS FOR CS FOR SB 676 MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS.
• THAN MINIMUM WAGE.
• FORCED TO PAY SOMEONE LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE.
• EVERYBODY HEARD ON TV AND ON THE RADIO WAS THAT THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE IS NOT A LIVING MINIMUM WAGE
• IN 2020 MORE THAN 60% OF FLORIDIANS VOTED FOR A $15 MINIMUM WAGE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• employees earn well over the minimum employees earn well over the minimum wage,<00:05:07.520>
• It's tough to work these minimum wage jobs.
• It's tough to work these minimum wage jobs.
• It's tough to work these minimum wage jobs.
• It's tough to work these minimum wage jobs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 3524 and House File 3525 and laid both over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill, with no amendments adopted and no vote taken at this stage. HF 3524 would conform Minnesota law to the federal overtime tax deduction, and HF 3525 would conform to the federal tip-income deduction. The author argued both bills would help workers keep more of their earnings, simplify tax filing, support labor-force participation, and provide relief to workers in hospitality, trades, health care, and other industries. The committee heard testimony in support from a restaurant owner, Sandra Weiss of the Finnish Beastro in St. Paul, who said the bills would help tipped workers keep more of their income and would support hospitality businesses. She described her staff as roughly half men and half women, including students and long-term employees, and said front-of-house tipped workers and back-of-house workers face different pay levels. She also said Minnesota’s tip rules and lack of a tip credit create challenges for the industry. During questioning, members discussed wage disparities, the makeup of her workforce, and the practical effects of the proposals. Opposition testimony came from Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project and Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota, both of whom argued the bills are regressive, poorly targeted, and costly. They said the deductions would mainly benefit higher earners, violate horizontal equity by treating similar incomes differently, and could encourage compensation restructuring. They also warned the combined cost would exceed $500 million over the 2028-29 biennium and could pressure funding for health care, education, and other public services. Mark Havenman of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence similarly criticized the bills on tax fairness and administrative grounds, noting the federal tip deduction framework is still under development and could create enforcement issues. Nonpartisan staff provided revenue estimates showing HF 3524 would reduce general fund revenue by about $365.9 million in fiscal 2027 and HF 3525 by about $126 million in fiscal 2027, with smaller ongoing impacts in later years. Members also raised questions about how the bills would be paid for and what income would qualify under the overtime deduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• A minimum wage should be just that: a minimum standard for everyone.
• <00:49:00.319> do more than minimum wage that they can do more than minimum wage that they
• pay the workers at least minimum wage. pay the workers at least minimum wage.
• c><00:59:00.400> of<00:59:00.559> the minimum wage because a lot of the minimum wage because
• being paid sub minimum wage and ask them being paid sub minimum wage and ask them what<00:59:59.680

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, the Wage Payment Act, the Minimum Wage Act, and the
• I would understand that minimum wage complaint to me that they're not getting paid minimum wage, but
• I understand that a minimum wage complaint means they're not getting paid minimum wage, but what really
• Yeah, so a wage complaint is under the Wage Payment Act and the Minimum Wage Act.
• paid minimum wage, would that fall into this category as well?

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.