Video & Transcript Research : 'employees'
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ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Industry, Business and Labor Apr 8th, 2025 at 02:45 pm
Industry, Business and Labor
Transcript Highlights:
- State employees are different than private employees. It's just the way it is.
- Not every employee. Some employees that are utilizing the services.
- Employees that are utilizing the services will pay more.
- I happen to be an employee that's in the current high deductible And it depends on which employee you
- are state employees?
Bills:
SB2160
Keywords:
health insurance, public employees, uniform group insurance, retirement, state employees, 908, all
Summary:
The committee resumed work on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the Public Employees Retirement System health plan from grandfathered to non-grandfathered status under the Affordable Care Act. PERS officials Rebecca Frickie and Derek Holbein explained that the bill would allow more flexibility in plan design, including higher deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums, while also adding enhanced preventive benefits. They clarified that ACA “essential health benefits” apply to individual and small-group markets, not to PERS as a large employer, and that the bill’s projected cost increases were based on actuarial estimates and prior bid scenarios from Sanford and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Members debated whether the bill would actually save money or simply shift costs to employees. Supporters argued that non-grandfathered status would create more levers to manage medical inflation and could produce net premium savings through plan redesign, citing prior bid comparisons showing potential reductions of 1% to 8% depending on the option. Opponents, including Representative Schauer and North Dakota United president Nick Archelette, questioned how the state would pay for the estimated $25 million to $30 million in added benefits and warned that employees could face higher out-of-pocket costs amid already strained household budgets. Frickie said the legislature would control funding decisions and that current law requiring the state to pay full family premiums could be changed only by statute.
The committee also discussed reserve funding, with members noting that a $4.3 million reserve draw in the bill was intended to cover the final months of the biennium and could be modified. After testimony and discussion, Vice Chair Johnson moved a do-pass recommendation and referral to Appropriations. The motion passed 10-3-1, with Representatives Ostlie, Schatz, and Schauer voting no. Representative Gump agreed to carry the bill.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 2/27/25
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The Minnesota Chamber, which represents over 6,300 businesses with over 500,000 employees... testimony
- 00:05:30.039>
with <00:05:30.199>over <00:05:30.520>500,000 <00:05:31.360>employees - Cook continued: The Minnesota Chamber, which represents over 6,300 businesses with over 500,000 employees
- critically important to businesses since they have long-lasting impacts on companies of all sizes, their employees
Keywords:
redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, HF412, Minnesota legislature, education committee, K-12 education, school observation, teacher observation, administrator observation, legislative transparency, legislator accountability, House rules, Senate rules, Legislative Reference Library, public reporting, education finance, education policy
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- impacted on both ends—employer, the cities and counties, and beyond that employers, but also the employees—so
- impacted on both ends—employer, the cities and counties, and beyond that employers, but also the employees—so
- employers but counties and beyond that employers but also<00:09:14.800>
the <00:09:15.120>employees - > so<00:09:15.839>
that <00:09:16.080>the <00:09:16.240>people also the employees - so that the people also the employees so that the people obviously<00:09:17.440>
that <00:09:17.760
Keywords:
pension, retirement, omnibus pension, MSRS, PERA, TRA, public employees retirement, state employees retirement, correctional employees, police and fire retirement, State Patrol retirement, teachers retirement, firefighter relief association, volunteer firefighter, state aid, postretirement adjustment, COLA, annuity, disability benefit, duty disability
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Fewer staff are doing more, increasing risk to employees, inmates, and the public.
- Chairman, Senator Alston, I don't represent the private prison employees.
- We represent ACA state employees only. The private prisons, in my understanding, have a contract.
- But the pay is fairly equitable between the state and the private sector employees. Thank you.
- would be dedicated to those employees, and that's how it historically has been done.
Keywords:
Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, appropriation, state budget
Summary:
The Public Safety Committee met to introduce staff and pages, then heard several bills. SB 1010 would designate Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway and require signage; an amendment to rename it the Freedom of Speech Highway failed, and the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote after testimony both supporting the honor and objecting that it could affect existing freeway names, including the Ed Pastor Freeway. SB 1077 would impose felony penalties for using an interactive computer service to facilitate prostitution, pandering, or child sex trafficking, and to require age verification for harmful sexual material; it passed 5-2 after a brief clarification about the law-enforcement defense. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include acts or threats causing property damage and add riot to racketeering and conspiracy provisions; one public commenter opposed it as overbroad and anti-protest, but the bill still passed 4-3.
The committee also heard SB 1058, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, which would bar government firearm registries and restrict merchant category codes tied to firearm purchases. A firearms industry representative said the bill protects financial privacy, and it passed 4-3. SB 1035 would appropriate funds for a 5% salary increase for correctional officers and department civilians; the sponsor and correctional employee representatives said raises are needed for retention, while others argued the increase should also cover private prison employees to preserve parity. The committee adopted a Payne amendment extending the raise to private prison workers under contract with the department, and the amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then adjourned.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee Feb 5th, 2026
Agriculture and Forestry
Keywords:
environmental regulation, federal standards, scientific evidence, water quality, administrative law, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Association of professional employees Association of professional employees mape<00:04:20.400>
- Classified employees in state government are protected from retaliation if the employee, in good faith
- Classified employees in state government are protected from retaliation if the employee, in good faith
- just dealing with a concern employees just dealing with a concern employees have<00:09:37.519>
- fact what I hear from agency employees fact what I hear from agency employees is<00:10:30.760>
Keywords:
whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, Senate Bill 169 increases the annual amount of longevity payment awards to state employees by
- Senate Bill 1204 provides Oklahoma teachers and school employees 3 days of bereavement leave following
- resident care specialists for the Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs to become members of Oklahoma Public Employees
Keywords:
longevity pay, state employees, Oklahoma government, salary increase, emergency declaration, capital planning, funding allocation, state budget, infrastructure, emergency measures, income tax credit, qualified project, economic development, infrastructure funding, small population areas, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/21/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- It was largely, almost all of the employees, were men.
- It wouldn’t be across the board, because what is a qualified employee?
- If you're a taxpayer, you want the best public employees for your money.
- If you're a public employee, you want to feel that you earned and deserved your job.
- If you're a taxpayer, you want the best public employees for your money.
Keywords:
merit-based hiring, public employees, non-discrimination, employment practices, Arizona Revised Statutes, optometrists, eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, healthcare, vision care, 1182, all
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 1023, which would require optometrists to conduct eye exams according to the standard of care in the community at a recommended one-year interval, while allowing eyeglass prescriptions to be extended up to two years or shortened based on risk factors. The sponsor described it as a compromise between a longer prescription period and existing practice, and the Arizona Optometric Association supported the bill as codifying best practice and clarifying the standard. The committee moved the bill and gave SB 1023 a do pass recommendation on a 7-0 vote.
The committee then took up Senate Bill 1013, a merit-based public hiring bill that would prohibit state and local public employers from using policies or practices that base hiring on race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin, while preserving compliance with anti-discrimination laws. An amendment was offered to clarify that the bill would not limit voluntary veterans’ preference employment policies, and the committee adopted that amendment. Supporters argued the bill would ensure public jobs are awarded based on qualifications and protect taxpayers; opponents argued it could undermine diversity efforts and that the veterans language was unnecessary or awkwardly drafted.
After testimony from supporters and debate over the amendment and the bill’s effect on diversity, veterans’ preferences, and prior criminal history in hiring, the committee voted on SB 1013 as amended. The bill received a due pass as amended recommendation on a 4-3 vote, and the committee then adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Fraud Committee Meeting - 2025-05-05
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We have investigated and prosecuted public employees before. Does that answer your question?
- Public is essentially state-run services, government employees, whether they're at the state level or
- It sounds like that may have been a state employee you're describing, and so, you know, that's something
- Robust training for employees in agencies who are managing grants.
- Employees don't necessarily know all of them and haven't necessarily been trained on all of them.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee May 1st, 2025
Finance and Taxation General Fund
Keywords:
state employees, meal allowance, per diem, travel expenses, Alabama law, HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Press Conference: Texas State Employees Pay Raise Jan 27th, 2025 at 11:01 am
Transcript Highlights:
- , and from Joan Barish, who's a retiree with Texas State Employees Union.
- So a $10,000 across the board for full-time employees, including university employees, which were left
- the Texas State Employees Union.
- What is the eligibility for state employees for retirement?
- It was a failure that we didn't take care of our state employees.
Keywords:
Texas state employees, retirees, compensation, House Bill 343, House Bill 247, Senator Sarah Eckhardt, Representative John Busey, cost of living, workforce, legislative session
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on critical issues facing Texas state employees and retirees, highlighting the need for increased compensation and improved benefits. Senator Sarah Eckhardt and Representative John Busey presented new legislation aimed at addressing these longstanding problems, including proposed House Bills 343 and 247, which seek a $10,000 across-the-board pay increase for state employees. Senator Eckhardt emphasized the growing wage gap between public sector jobs and private sector offerings, which has led to high turnover rates and the loss of institutional knowledge. Public testimonies underscored the urgency of the issue as retirees shared their struggles with stagnant pensions amidst rising living costs.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 5/5/25
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Wilka, we have investigated and prosecuted public employees before.
- So turning to Representative Ric. public employees before. So, does that public employees before.
- state-run services, government employees state-run services, government employees um<00:56:28.160
- It sounds like that may have been a state employee you’re describing.
- And so, you employee you're describing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- He said it would clarify the status of these essential employees.
- the status of these essential employees. the status of these essential employees.
- <01:07:36.640>
ensures managers as essential employees ensures managers as essential employees - So, if that's not a definition of an essential employee, I don't... You do.
- So, if that's not a definition of an essential employee, I don't...
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Committee Meeting - 2026-04-16
State Government Finance and Policy
Bills:
HF4074
Keywords:
retirement, pension, public employees, MSRS, PERA, TRA, St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, police and fire, correctional employees, probation officers, telecommunicators, dispatchers, 911 operators, public safety answering point, PSAP, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, paid on-call firefighters, fire relief association, state aid
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Delivery of Government Efficiency Apr 2nd, 2025
Delivery of Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the Legislative and Political Director for the Texas State Employees Union. union.
- TSU represents over 8,000 state employees with members in every agency.
- For legislative... employees. I believe I'd have to look at whether or not I would imagine.
- , school district employees, and local government employees will be required to complete.
- And in that process, I had worked my way up as a government employee to achieve that role.
Bills:
HB512, HB2248, HB2679, HB2832, HB3112, HB3368, HB3490, HB3512, HB3623, HB3666, HB3700, HB3711, HB3770, HB3963
Keywords:
grievance procedures, state agency, employee rights, workplace regulations, employment law, employees, employment actions, appeal, state employees, workplace rights, disciplinary actions, employment conditions, employment disputes, job protections, public information, transparency, government accountability, information access, notification requirements, federal funding
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- to have the same access to care as other employees in certified networks.
- Many thousands of employees after I'm dead and gone.
- , multinational employers that have thousands of employees.
- Point out is with the 50 employee thing, Ms.
- This bill is a rare win-win for both Texas employers and employees.
Keywords:
workers' compensation, municipal construction, bidding requirements, small municipalities, contracting policies, first responders, PTSD, mental health, emergency services, medical expenses, injury claims, insurance carriers, opportunity youth, workforce development, employment, education, federal funds, employment discrimination, immunity waiver, public employees
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Jan 21st, 2026
Ways and Means General Fund
Transcript Highlights:
- Circuit clerks authorized to participate in supernumerary program and employees retirement system based
- superary authorized to participate in superary program<00:12:49.279>
and <00:12:49.440>employees - <00:12:50.000>
retirement <00:12:50.560>system program and employees retirement system - program and employees retirement system based<00:12:51.360>
on <00:12:51.680>separate <
Keywords:
elder abuse, financial exploitation, inheritance, joint tenancy, conviction effects, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, HB255, Employees' Retirement System of Alabama, ERSA, State Police Tier II Plan, annual leave
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/03/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- This is 5% pay raises for Department of Corrections employees.
- We only represent state DOC officers and employees.
- their report was the cost of the public employees’ pensions, which is quite high.
- So the less risky inmates... ...by state employees.
- It is right that we adopt the perspective that we're employees.
Bills:
SB1001, SB1035, SB1056, SB1065, SB1138, SB1161, SB1204, SB1207, SB1248, SB1274, SB1284, SCM1002, SCM1006, SCR1020
Keywords:
appropriation, economic security, blind individuals, older adults, state funding, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, state budget, private prisons
Summary:
The committee approved the January 27, 2026 minutes and held SB 1138 for further changes. It then heard SB 1035, which appropriates about $34 million from the General Fund for a 5% pay increase for Arizona Department of Corrections sworn officers and civilian employees, with an amendment extending the raise to private prison employees under contract. Supporters said DOC pay is not competitive and vacancies are high; opponents questioned paying private prison staff and raised concerns about private prison incentives. The committee adopted the amendment and gave SB 1035 a do pass recommendation on a 6-3 vote.
The committee also approved two memorials to rename highways: SCM 1002 for L.F. Quinn Memorial Highway and SCM 1006 for PFC Michael Nolan Memorial Highway. Both measures drew emotional testimony about the honorees’ public service and military sacrifice, and both received do pass recommendations, with SCM 1002 passing 9-1 and SCM 1006 passing 9-1 after members discussed tribal jurisdiction and agreed to follow up with a letter to the tribe.
SB 1065, which would appropriate $3.64 million for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Military Veterans Fund, was supported by the sponsor and researchers who said the treatment can help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, pain, and related conditions. Some members objected that the FDA has not approved HBOT for many of the claimed uses and questioned prior unspent funding, but the bill still received a do pass recommendation on a 6-4 vote. SB 1248, which clarifies funding and attendance-count rules for county jail and juvenile detention education programs, also passed unanimously.
Later, the committee approved SB 1204, a $5.5 million General Fund appropriation to design and analyze improvements to the U.S. 60/Loop 303 interchange, after testimony from local officials and residents about severe congestion, crashes, and public safety delays; it passed 8-1. SB 1207, a $150,000 study on financing mechanisms for development-related infrastructure along the same corridor, also passed 7-1. Finally, SB 1001, which restores $1 million for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, passed 9-0 after testimony from blind seniors and advocates about long waitlists and the program’s role in preserving independence. The committee then began SB 1274, a police foundation specialty license plate bill, with sponsor and foundation testimony describing wellness, remembrance, and youth programs funded by plate revenues, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that measure.
HI
Keywords:
reimbursement, public employees, travel costs, Hawaii statutes, government funding, workforce development, internship, internal recruitment, employment, qualifications, civil service, artificial intelligence, data governance, open data portal, Hawaii, chief data officer, chatbot, public services, data transparency, 910
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Public Pension Oversight Board (1-16-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- So it's for any employees who receive what we call an across-the-board raise during that period.
- to be impacted by this. >> I would agree for your state employees now, the county employees could be
- to be impacted by this. >> I would agree for your state employees now, the county employees could be
- would be very rare for those employees would be very rare for those employees prior<00:09:02.240
- employees now, the county um employees employees now, the county um employees could<00:09:11.440
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00
Attendance Roll Call: 00:11
Legislative Proposal:
Representative Blanton: 01:12
• House Bill 220
Approval of Minutes: 10:07
Legislative Proposal:
Senator Nunn: 10:24
• Sick Leave Flexibility for School District Employees
Adjournment: 34:35, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first took up Representative John Blanton’s bill on pension spiking and Kentucky Public Pension Authority administration. Blanton said the measure would make a prior court-related pension-spiking fix retroactive to July 1, 2022, so employees who retired between that date and the court ruling would be treated the same as those covered by the earlier legislation. KPPPA staff said they did not think the bill would go beyond the Court of Appeals ruling, but noted it could prompt requests from people who retired before July 1, 2022. Members asked about how many retirees might be affected, whether the language was narrow enough, and whether the bill could open the door to additional claims; Blanton estimated roughly 1,000 retirees would need review, with fewer actually impacted. No vote was taken on the bill in the excerpt.
The committee then heard Senator Matt Nunn and Scott County Schools Superintendent Billy Parker present a proposal allowing school districts to offer teachers and other employees a voluntary payout for unused sick days. Supporters said the idea could improve attendance, reduce substitute costs and classroom disruptions, help retain younger teachers, and potentially lower long-term retirement-related costs because the payout would not count toward pension compensation. They emphasized the program would be optional for districts and employees, would require teachers to keep at least 15 sick days in reserve, and would be district-funded rather than a state cost. Members raised questions about budget impact, tax treatment, pension effects, and whether the incentive would actually change behavior; the bill sponsor and witnesses said the payout would be taxed like other compensation and would not affect TRS or CERS benefits. One member requested reporting on how the program would be used, and the sponsor said he would be open to adding that. The sponsor also noted a later committee-substitute change would allow use of accumulated sick leave for observance of religious holidays not otherwise on the school calendar, with a personal statement from the employee.