Transcript Highlights:

• Robin Krumholt, representing injured workers. Shannon Lindsay, representing injured workers.
• Shannon Lindsay from Injured Workers; Joseph Jolassant from Injured Workers.
• from Injured Workers.
• Workers. injured workers.
• Robin Crumholt from injured workers. Trey Mustian from injured workers.

Bills: HB282, HB293, HB390, HB456, HB460, HB561, HB819, HB1023, HB1047, HB1101

Keywords: employment discrimination, criminal history, rehabilitation, hiring process, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, workplace equality, labor rights, domestic abuse, unpaid leave, employee rights, workplace protection, mental health, survivor support, workers' compensation, employment benefits, claims process, fraud prevention, legal petition

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a way to speed up our workers' compensation system on the front end so our injured first responders
• injured worker specifically claims a condition. ...So that has always posed me some problems in interpreting
• Oftentimes it's very difficult to pick out which one's an injured worker. ...is pursuing or which ones
• Because we want workers to be able to come forward and get help if they're injured, just like your son
• employee, or an ISD or a state worker, they get injured, their boss doesn't like it, and then they lose

Bills: HB875, HB1667, HB2369, HB3844, HB4415, HB4479, HB4483, HB4676, HB5118, HB5400, HB5545

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> injured worker. Thank you. injured worker. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:09:40.959><c> you.
• </c> extended if the employer and injured extended if the employer and injured worker<00:10:54.240><c
• ,</c><00:15:12.880><c> then</c> injured worker and the counselor, then injured worker and the counselor
• To balance cost control injured workers.
• </c> direct injured workers to use these direct injured workers to use these medications<00:20:44.320

Bills: HB1946, HB1515, HB1514, HB1648, HB1644, HB1619, HB1571, HB1810, HB2475, HB1645, HB2301, HB1889, HB1840

Keywords: time shares, registration, renewal, real estate, Hawaii, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, workers' compensation, functional capacity examination, occupational therapy, physical therapy, employer responsibilities, injured workers, medical stabilization, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, healthcare providers

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 26, 2026, and heard several bills, mostly in the areas of workers’ compensation and consumer protection. HB 1946 HD1 on timeshare registration renewal drew support from DCCA’s timeshare program and major industry groups including Hilton Grand Vacations, the American Resort Development Association, and Marriott Vacations Worldwide, with no opposition noted. HB 1515 HD1, which would allow an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination without employer permission, was supported by DLIR and the Department of Human Resources Development and had no other in-person testimony; the bill was then moved on without questions. The committee spent substantial time on HB 1514 HD1, which would streamline workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation by clarifying provider selection and requiring vocational plans within 90 days. DLIR supported the intent but asked for amendments, saying the 90-day deadline was too rigid given case-by-case complexity, limited staffing, and the need for coordination among injured workers, employers, and counselors; members discussed possible extensions and whether a 120-day timeline or other flexibility would be better. Testimony on the bill included one individual in support and seven in opposition. HB 1648 HD1, concerning workers’ compensation and physician dispensing of non-prescription drugs, drew support from DHRD and comments from DLIR and industry witnesses. DLIR said the bill should be narrowed so it does not restrict medically necessary over-the-counter medications or oral guidance from providers, while Aloha Billing Company and Solera Integrated Medical Solutions urged tighter limits on physician dispensing and raised concerns about pricing abuse through average wholesale price. Members discussed clarifying the bill’s language so it targets written prescriptions rather than oral advice. HB 1644 HD1, requiring a standardized disclosure form for residential solar contracts, received support from the Hawaii Solar Energy Association and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative, while DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection supported the consumer-protection goal but proposed stronger remedies, including a three-day cancellation right, voidability for missing disclosures, and possible lender liability; members questioned how those remedies should apply to lenders, and no vote was taken on the measures in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has to do with workers' compensation in our state.
• Who are they charging our workers at? So if we have an insurance...
• These workers' comp issues.
• Employers for workers' compensation... so I can't speak to that.
• This tax, it's over 2%, was for workers' compensation.

Bills: SB458, SB819, SB1238, SB1642, SB1643, SB1644, SB1791, SB1810, SB1824, SB1825, SB758, SB1455, SB1706

Keywords: insurance appraisal, property insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, residential property, disputed loss, loss valuation, appraisal clause, appraiser, umpire, Texas Department of Insurance, TDI, insurance dispute resolution, claims adjustment, total loss, windstorm insurance, FAIR Plan, surplus lines insurance, policyholder, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> providers that can diagnose workers providers that can diagnose workers compensation<00:23:58.640
• Who wouldn't even stand up for their workers, their citizen workers.
• </c><01:12:59.199><c> um</c> cases um stand up for their workers um cases um stand up for their workers
• their uh two workers who their citizen<01:13:12.960><c> workers.
• </c><01:16:02.480><c> in</c> been 8,000 more paid workers in been 8,000 more paid workers in Minnesota

Bills: HF4862, HF4598

Keywords: apprenticeship, education, teacher training, grant program, labor and industry, workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, also expecting to consider a bill regarding the workforce, workers compensation advisory committee
• And so we want to be prepared for it and help workers to be prepared also.
• </c><00:04:10.720><c> to</c> prepared for it and uh help workers to prepared for it and uh help workers
• to adapt their skills, make use of this, or assist workers who are dislocated by the technology.
• Workers comp work. Oh, the workers comp bill we talked about earlier too.

Bills: HF4598, HF4884, HF3732

Keywords: workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, correctional officer, security counselor, public safety dispatcher, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Transcript Highlights:

• He was injured at the Academy providing training.
• He was injured at the Academy providing training for new recruits.
• This disagreement and confusion resulted in Firefighter Spinelli receiving only workers' compensation
• I am before you today to speak in strong support of House Bill 5429, an act providing injured on-duty
• Nick Spinelli was injured on April 7, 2026, while conducting firefighter training as a support staff

Bills: S3051, H5380, H5384, H5389, H5420, H5428, H5427, H5429, H5435

Keywords: retirement benefits, police officer, surviving spouse, pension, public service, police chief, deputy police chief, civil service exemption, local governance, Medford, H5384, Craig Riley, Haverhill, firefighter, fire department, civil service, civil service examination, maximum age requirement, age waiver, age exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> former president of Walker Worker Union. former president of Walker Worker Union.
• </c><01:20:48.880><c> Um</c> advantage of our workers. Um advantage of our workers.
• I mean, we know that workers.
• </c> cameras that actually spy on workers. cameras that actually spy on workers.
• </c> violation on a worker that didn't occur. violation on a worker that didn't occur.

Bills: HF3878, HF4131, HF3796, HF4097

Keywords: airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, consumer rights, automated decision systems, Minnesota Statutes, suitable seating, employee seating, workplace seating, occupational safety, workplace safety, labor standards, employer requirements, chair, stool

Bills: HB1166, HB389, HB644, HB1509, HB1692, HB1842, HB1878, HB1926, HB1949, HB2116, HB2581

Keywords: HB1166, automated speed enforcement, speed cameras, traffic enforcement, road safety, traffic safety, Department of Transportation, state highway fund, special fund, appropriation, fiscal year 2026-2027, camera enforcement, speeding citations, automated traffic enforcement, highway safety, HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS

Transcript Highlights:

• Even if it didn't have rabies, if one got injured, you had to euthanize it.
• It's about getting injured or orphaned animals the injured or orphaned animals the care they need and
• They would be forced to kill RSD species if injured.
• to handle that and provide for that injured bird or whatever animal it is.
• They want to help wildlife, especially those who have been injured.

Bills: HB448, HB448

Keywords: wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, good samaritan, injured animals, orphaned animals, debilitated wildlife, wild birds, wild animals, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, permit exemption, animal rescue, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, veterinary licensing, animal cruelty, wildlife care, rehabilitation act, non-federally protected species, endangered species

Transcript Highlights:

• However, school social workers were inadvertently left off of that list.
• I'm also a proud 28-year school social worker in a public school.
• School social workers have waited long enough.
• As school social workers, we wear many hats every single day.
• These are real experiences school social workers face daily.

Bills: SB231

Keywords: school social workers, salary supplement, LCSW, mental health, education funding, Delaware Code, certification, professional standards

Summary: The House Administration Committee met and first considered Senate Bill 231, which would extend the existing 6% salary supplement for school-based mental health professionals with advanced credentials to school social workers who hold licensed clinical social worker credentials and have passed the national exam. The bill sponsor and multiple witnesses described school social workers as essential to student mental health, crisis response, attendance, and family support, and argued the measure corrects an oversight and inequity in the current salary supplement structure. Public testimony was uniformly supportive, and the committee voted to release the bill. The committee then heard Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 212, a constitutional amendment to protect the rights to hunt, fish, and trap. Supporters, including sportsmen’s groups and individual residents, said the amendment would preserve longstanding traditions, support wildlife management, and guard against future threats to hunting and trapping. An opposing witness argued there was no current threat in Delaware and said the Constitution should not be used to protect trapping or elevate hunting and trapping over other wildlife management approaches. Despite the opposition, the committee voted to release the substitute bill. Finally, the committee took up Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 284, the First State Emergency Response Act, which would create a 25-foot buffer around first responders at emergency scenes after warning, with misdemeanor penalties for knowingly entering or remaining in the zone to interfere with duties. Supporters said the bill would protect police, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics from interference, while opponents from the ACLU and the Office of Defense Services raised concerns about vague terms, potential First Amendment impacts, enforcement clarity, and jurisdictional issues. Committee members also questioned how the buffer would be marked and enforced. The sponsor and staff said they would continue working on the language, and the committee voted to release the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a patient advocate as well as an advocate for the providers who treat injured workers.
• I went through some legal issues that we're seeing happening in the workers' comp industry.
• I went through some legal issues that we're seeing happening in the workers' comp industry.
• '</c><00:29:48.160><c> compensation</c> entirety of the workers' compensation entirety of the workers
• The speaker said workers’ compensation is always going to be a contentious fight.

Bills: HCR92, HCR46, HCR172, HCR147, HCR112, HCR100, HR84, HR42, HR139, HR104, HR92

Keywords: automated external defibrillator, AED, cardiac arrest, state buildings, health education, public health, lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, Hawaii, workers' compensation, auditor, procurement audit, compliance, Department of Human Resources Development, transparency, accountability, medical care

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm bringing to you today in the aftermath of us changing from a judicial to a commission system on workers
• We had this workers' comp advisory commission in place, and it is agreed by all involved today that it

Bills: SB1303, SB1343, SB1435, SB1438, SB1444, SB1641, SB1765, SB1916, SB2067

Keywords: workers' compensation, workers comp, Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission, Administrative Workers' Compensation Act, self-insurance guaranty fund, multiple injury trust fund, physician advisory committee, advisory council on workers' compensation, workers' compensation court, insurance, employer liability, self-insured employer, fund transfer, records transfer, agency reorganization, statutory cleanup, technical corrections, Title 85A, SB1343, Vision Plan Contractual Requirements Act

Transcript Highlights:

• , including low-income workers.
• workers under the bill into the definition of attending provider, thereby allowing an injured worker
• The underlying bill is opening up the provider network and opening up opportunities for injured workers
• workers, because we had a gap that we were not meeting. ...workers because we had a gap that we were
• This, I hope, will get us closer to closing that gap, making sure that our injured workers who pay into

Bills: SB6134, SB6136, SB6188

Keywords: unemployment insurance, UI benefits, striking workers, strike, labor dispute, retroactive wages, overpayment assessment, overpayment recovery, Employment Security Department, ESD, claimant notice, benefit recoupment, Washington unemployment law, worker notice, federal unemployment tax credit, state unemployment fund, workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several labor-related bills. Senate Bill 6197 would change plumbing license suspension standards from three violations in three years to five violations in five years, remove the requirement that the Advisory Board of Plumbers recommend suspension, and require L&I enforcement updates; the sponsor and industry witnesses said the revised version was stakeholder-supported, though some wanted clarification about how prior infractions would be treated. Senate Bill 6134 would require the Employment Security Department to notify striking workers applying for unemployment benefits that they may later owe overpayments if they receive retroactive wages; testimony generally supported the bill as a safeguard. Senate Bill 5292 would replace the PFML program’s statutory look-back premium formula with a forward-looking actuarial rate-setting method while keeping the 1.2% cap; labor, business, and advisory board witnesses supported it, while one policy witness supported the rate-setting change but opposed the added four-month reserve requirement. Senate Bill 6106 would amend the state WARN-style layoff notice law to exempt tribes and protect employee names and addresses from public disclosure; ESD and business supported the privacy and tribal-government changes, while agricultural witnesses asked for a separate seasonal agriculture fix. The committee also heard testimony on SB 6197 from plumbing industry groups, with support for stronger enforcement but disagreement over retroactive treatment of infractions. In executive session, the committee acted on six bills. It adopted amendments and reported out Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5847, which expands access to medical care in workers’ compensation, including allowing some out-of-network attending providers and authorizing additional claims managers; the bill passed 7-2. Substitute Senate Bill 6014, a cleanup bill correcting a date typo and protecting sensitive L&I records from public disclosure, passed unanimously. Substitute Senate Bill 6039, allowing L&I to use electronic communications while preserving a non-electronic option, also passed unanimously. Engrossed Senate Bill 6058, giving L&I discretion to prioritize wage complaints, passed unanimously after a clarifying amendment. Senate Bill 6136, requiring publication of actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates and disclosure when rates are set below those levels, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 6188, which would expand L&I’s asbestos rulemaking authority, passed 6-3 after the committee rejected an amendment that would have restored current-law limits and tied rules to the EPA model plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3228 is the workers' comp advisory council recommendations.
• The reason for the waiver is, as is typical, the workers' comp advisory did not adopt recommendations

Bills: HF3228, HF475

Keywords: workers' compensation, insurance programs, employee protection, Minnesota statutes, safety regulations, statue replacement, Hubert H. Humphrey, national commemoration, civil rights, Minnesota history, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• crawfish industry as agricultural labor services for the purposes of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker
• crawfish industry as agricultural labor services for the purposes of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker
• as far as the crawfish, all of our crawfish processors were having trouble getting in their H-2B workers

Bills: HCR77

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and considered only one item, House Concurrent Resolution 77. The resolution urges Congress, the President, and federal agencies to take action to allow crawfish industry job duties to be treated as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes and to support an H-2B-certified seasonal employer designation. Chairwoman Butler explained that the measure was prompted by problems with H-2A/H-2B worker availability and denials that have affected crawfish processors and other agricultural businesses in Louisiana. Several members spoke in support. Representative Coates said he wanted to co-author the resolution, Representative Henry described similar problems in his district and thanked the chair for advancing the issue, and Representative Schamerhorn also supported the resolution while noting concerns about reliance on foreign labor and stating that employers cover travel, background checks, housing, and wages averaging about $18 per hour. Representative Omaday moved to report HCR 77 favorably, and the committee approved the motion without objection. After the favorable report, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• crawfish industry as agricultural labor services for the purposes of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker
• crawfish industry as agricultural labor services for the purposes of the H-2A temporary agricultural worker
• as far as the crawfish, all of our crawfish processors were having trouble getting in their H-2B workers

Bills: HCR77

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration, 965, house, all

Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage