Transcript Highlights:

• </c> creating economic development and jobs. creating economic development and jobs.
• ,</c> Minnesota saw masses massive losses, Minnesota saw masses massive losses, workforce<00:08:17.880
• They kept them, but were too jobs.
• The economic distress is 290 jobs.
• </c> jobs represented in these applications. jobs represented in these applications.

Bills: HF4477

Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• Swift restitution doesn't heal that loss, but it is the right thing to do.
• their families by providing guidance that heart disease can be assumed to come from working these jobs
• Traumatic scenes that no person should be exposed to multiple times a day, but this is the job that we
• Obviously, our job is much different. That's why we're called park rangers, not police officers.
• Jared did a fantastic job of describing it.

Bills: SB5379, SB6106, SB6147, SB6180, SB5927, SB6287

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the presumption that heart problems in covered firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of firefighters who died of heart disease testified in support, saying the current law creates delays and burdens for grieving families; counties, cities, and self-insurers opposed the bill, citing the large fiscal impact, lack of scientific support for removing the qualifiers, and concerns about expanding presumptions without further review. An L&I researcher explained the existing time limits and said the advisory committee’s prior review did not support the change, though he noted some states have broader presumptions. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement employees. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid below comparable agencies, making arbitration important for retention and fairness. The bill was heard and left for later action. Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery establishment closures in food deserts, would require six months’ notice before closure, good-faith meetings to explore alternatives, and enforcement authority for the Attorney General and others. Supporters, including Tacoma officials, grocery workers, and community advocates, said the Fred Meyer closure in South Tacoma showed the need for more notice and community planning; grocers and industry groups opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome, arguing closures are driven by broader business and safety issues. The hearing closed without a vote. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt Indian tribes from the state WARN-style layoff notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted to ESD confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification that protects personal data; the committee noted no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 5927 would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3 percent starting in 2026. The sponsor and business/self-insurer witnesses said the cap would help address volatility and long-term unfunded liabilities; labor and injured-worker advocates opposed it, saying it would erode wage replacement for injured workers and survivors. L&I explained that it had been studying possible COLA reforms, including a 3 percent cap and a rolling-average approach, but withdrew its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would ban harmful additives and synthetic alkaloids, require labeling, set a 21+ age limit, and allow local governments to adopt stricter rules. The sponsor and poison center testimony supported regulation of concentrated 7-OH products, while industry and advocacy witnesses supported age limits and labeling but raised concerns about private lawsuits, local patchwork regulation, and the need for a state licensing framework. The committee adjourned after completing testimony on the day’s bills.

Bills: SB2601

Keywords: landowner compensation, border crime, agriculture damage, law enforcement, crop loss

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security met with a quorum and heard only one bill, Senate Bill 2601 by Senator Blanco, laid out by Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo. The bill was presented as a committee substitute to revise the Landowner’s Compensation Program created last session under SB 1133. The changes would expand eligibility to include land lessees with the landowner’s permission, cover damage to the land itself as well as structures and real property, add continuous smuggling of persons as a qualifying border crime, prohibit insurers from using claims under the program in rate calculations, and require law enforcement to provide requested border crime reports to the Attorney General within 14 days. Public testimony was unanimously supportive. Charles Maley of the South Texans Property Rights Association said the program has been beneficial and that the bill helps clean up implementation issues, including clarifying compensation for debris and pollutants left on land. Stephen Diebel of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association also supported the bill, saying it would help address fence damage, destroyed infrastructure, and other harms along the border, and that lessees who manage properties day to day should be eligible for direct compensation when they have the landowner’s permission. Members discussed border-related property damage, including vehicles crashing through fences, broken sheds, livestock escaping, and resulting highway hazards. Senator Hinojosa asked about how conflicts between landowners and lessees would be handled, and testimony indicated documentation of lease authority would be required. After public testimony closed, the committee adopted the committee substitute without objection and voted to report SB 2601 favorably to the full Senate by a 5-0 vote, recommending it as local and uncontested.

Bills: SB2601

Keywords: landowner compensation, border crime, agriculture damage, law enforcement, crop loss, 1185, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security met with a quorum and heard one bill, Senate Bill 2601 by Senator Blanco, laid out by Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo. The bill amends the Landowner’s Compensation Program, which was created last session and is administered by the Office of the Attorney General, to expand eligibility to land lessees, cover damage to the land itself as well as structures and real property, add continuous smuggling of persons as a covered border crime, prohibit insurers from using claims under the program in rate calculations, and require law enforcement to provide border crime reports to the Attorney General within 14 days. The committee substitute also makes the bill a legislative council draft. Public testimony was unanimously supportive. Representatives of the South Texans Property Rights Association and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association said the program has helped landowners but needed cleanup and broader access, especially for lessees who manage property day to day and may otherwise not receive compensation. Testimony also emphasized ongoing problems with fence damage, debris, pollutants, and other border-related property damage. Members asked about implementation, including how conflicts between landowners and lessees would be handled; the response was that documentation of authority and lease responsibilities would be required. After public testimony closed, the committee adopted the committee substitute without objection. Senator Hinojosa then moved that SB 2601 be reported favorably to the full Senate with the committee substitute, and the motion passed on a 5-0 vote. The bill was also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar, with no objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't really seem like the right tool for the job.
• </c> to a competitor or walking off the job to a competitor or walking off the job and<00:34:49.960><
• </c> with safety standards will the job with safety standards will the job become<01:09:35.359><c> safe
• </c> with he was paid $16 an hour for a job with he was paid $16 an hour for a job that<01:09:50.839>
• He told him to go back down there and finish the job.

Bills: HF1355, HF1469, HF1768

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF1469, Minnesota, workforce development, job training, job skills training, reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, ex-offenders, inmates, recently released inmates, felony conviction, felony-level offense, corrections, prison release

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the bill prohibiting an assignment agreement whereby any post-loss insurance benefit is transferred
• This is the bill prohibiting an assignment agreement, whereby any post-loss insurance benefit is transferred
• Megan, Charlie, great job on all this IT stuff and pulling up our reports.

Bills: SB6178, SB5831

Keywords: SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• value derived from a model used for the purpose of predicting a property's future wildfire-related loss
• And the losses on these ATMs are particularly high.
• The median reported loss using a crypto ATM was about $10,000.
• The median reported loss using a crypto ATM was about $10,000 in 2024.
• Would that be a helpful thing for customers to limit their losses?

Bills: SB6178, SB5831

Keywords: SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Substitute Senate Bill 6091 and open the public hearing on Senate Bill 6178, prohibiting the post-loss
• And these are what's called post-loss assignment of benefits.
• that many homeowners want to do if they want to be providing those direct payments in the event of a loss
• One would be both scenarios there's a covered loss, the insured contacts a contractor.
• The purpose must service years of accumulated losses in acquisition debt.

Bills: SB5831, SB6178

Keywords: mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling

Bills: SB2816

Keywords: enterprise zones, economic development, innovation enterprise, job creation, Hawaii, 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard House Bill 2195, HD1, which would replace the existing transit accommodations tax on cruise ships with a per-passenger infrastructure fee collected by the Department of Transportation and deposited into a new cruise ship special fund. Testimony included support from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and comments from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii warning that the bill should remain narrowly tied to harbor-related uses to avoid potential Tonnage Clause issues. The Department of Transportation testified that cruise-related harbor work includes pier repairs, dredging, terminal upgrades, and shore power, and said a dedicated revenue stream would help prioritize cruise infrastructure needs. The Attorney General’s office said it had submitted written comments but did not address questions about the litigation or constitutional background. Members questioned whether the new special fund was necessary when the existing harbor special fund already finances similar improvements. DOT said the funds overlap and suggested the bill could be amended to use the harbor special fund with a separate cruise subaccount, while still preserving a dedicated revenue stream and separate accounting. DOT also said it currently collects port entry, dockage, and per-head passenger fees from cruise ships and that existing cruise-related expenditures from the harbor special fund have not been challenged. The chair ultimately recommended moving HB 2195 forward as introduced, while continuing discussions about the fund structure and awaiting further clarity from the Attorney General and DOT. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass HB 2195, HD1, as is. They also voted to pass House Bill 916, HD1, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, which would allow certain state low-income housing tax credits to offset state transient accommodations taxes in the same county and make Act 129 of 2016 permanent. Both the Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Economic Development and Technology adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass HB 916, HD1, unamended. The hearing was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rural job creation grants, which was last funded in 2000.
• The rural job creation grants, which was last funded in 2000.
• Uh, the rural job creation grants, which was last funded in 2000.
• Um this them took economic losses.
• Um, our fabulous pages, Cayenne and Riley, did a great job this year.

Bills: HF3732

Keywords: workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, economic development, grants, job creation, 1183, house

Bills: SB22

Keywords: Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance met, established a quorum, and took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 22. Senator Huffman moved that the committee report the original Senate Bill 22 as not passed, adopt the committee substitute in its place, and recommend the substitute for passage and printing. The motion was approved on a roll call vote of 11 ayes and no nays. No substantive testimony or debate was included in the transcript excerpt. The committee concluded its business and recessed subject to the call of the chair, with the substitute bill to be reported back to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was a game-changer.
• You know you just said the loss of 50 jobs.
• losses as a result.
• Thank you for being our job generators.
• We create the jobs that pay the taxes.

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Bills: SB297, HB562

Keywords: water resources, division chief, state governance, Alabama law, exempt service, State Auditor, property investigations, loss and theft, state property, property inventory control, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> difficult for them to find a job etc. difficult for them to find a job etc. have<00:40:35.359><c
• So we may be events is loss of Medicaid.
• Thank you for allowing me to testify. hard for me to keep my job and stay hard for me to keep my job
• </c><02:12:41.119><c> medications</c> across various weight loss medications across various weight loss
• This relating to drugs for weight loss.

Bills: HB2488, HB2456

Keywords: disability, communication access, deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, healthcare, sign language interpreters, auxiliary aids, weight loss, GLP-1 drugs, obesity, Medicaid, healthcare costs, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• , there were 178,000 open jobs.
• So even if every single person on unemployment received a job, We measure trade in jobs.
• One thing to keep in mind for Arizona: in Q1 of 2024, there were 178,000 open jobs.
• received a job, you would still have over 70,000 open jobs.
• And then there's a breakdown of how many of those jobs are available.

Bills: HB2754

Keywords: Arizona Commerce Authority, business development, economic growth, small business support, job creation, Board of Directors, e-verify, grant administration, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And basically, William did a great job of explaining it.
• But one I just wanted to describe to you is that there was a consumer that had a water loss.
• The insurance company denied, ultimately denied the loss.
• Okay, and it does result in a permanent loss of control over the insurance claim, and that has caused
• After a house fire or some other major loss, damage to the house, a contractor will come and say, hey

Bills: SB5831, SB6031, SB6178, SB5928, SB5919

Keywords: mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime prevention, penalties, SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured

Summary: The Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee heard a tribal gaming compact amendment for the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Washington State Gambling Commission. Testifiers said the amended, restated compact consolidates six prior amendments, updates appendices, and adds new provisions for electronic table games and high-limit room options. The tribe and commission described the agreement as a clarification and modernization of the compact that supports tribal regulation, economic development, and public protection. No questions were raised, and the compact was presented as moving next through the commission and gubernatorial review process. The committee then held public hearings on three bills. SB 5831 would enact the Uniform Mortgage Modification Act, creating safe harbors so certain mortgage modifications do not affect lien priority in foreclosure; the sponsor, staff, and Uniform Law Commission said it clarifies current law and helps homeowners and businesses modify mortgages more easily. SB 6178, requested by the Insurance Commissioner, would prohibit post-loss assignments of insurance benefits to contractors in property claims; the sponsor, OIC, and supporting witnesses said it protects vulnerable homeowners after disasters from losing control of their claims, while still allowing direct payment to vendors. SB 6031, also requested by the Insurance Commissioner, would expand and modernize the state’s insurance fraud laws, make insurance fraud a Class B felony, broaden reporting and investigative authority, and improve restitution and prosecution tools; the OIC, anti-fraud groups, and insurers supported it, while the Washington Society of CPAs said concerns would be addressed by amendment. In executive session, the committee considered SB 5928 and SB 5919. Staff described SB 5928 as dealing with wildfire risk scores, insurer disclosure and appeals, rate-filing requirements, and confidentiality, with a proposed substitute making a mitigation-discount standard actuarially sound and correcting a drafting error. The committee adopted the substitute and advanced SB 5928 with a do-pass recommendation to Rules. The committee also advanced SB 5919, which encourages voluntary collaboration between fire districts and insurers on wildfire mitigation incentives for agricultural activities, with a do-pass recommendation to Rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• could cost the Texas economy more than $4.5 billion in economic activity and eliminate over 30,000 jobs
• of over 32,000 jobs.
• This trade supports a vast network. ...of jobs, including packers, brokers, and transporters.
• The disruption of this supply chain would not only lead to significant job losses but also inflate consumer
• Furthermore, the economic ripple effect extends beyond immediate job losses.

Bills: HCR108, HCR127

Keywords: Tomato Suspension Agreement, trade, Mexico, Texas economy, agriculture, import tariffs, job preservation, Taiwan, U.S. relations, economic cooperation, sister-state, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've heard on the job site more than once that you just leave your problems at home.
• It doesn't belong on the job site. And that's just not the case anymore.
• You need to make sure that your job sites are not crime scenes.
• small and emerging contractors stream, leading to higher costs and slowing down jobs.
• Waste-processing facilities create one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

Bills: SB6053, SB6134, SB6147, SB6106, SB6045, SB6135, SB6128, SB6282, SB6068, SB6303, SB6290

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6282, which would require building and construction apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training beginning in 2027. The sponsor and labor supporters said construction workers face elevated suicide and substance use risks and that the bill would help reduce stigma, improve peer support, and connect workers to resources. Testifiers from electrical workers, bricklayers, and building trades strongly supported the measure, describing it as an important first step and noting planned amendments to extend similar information through continuing education for journey-level workers. No vote was taken on this bill in the portion provided. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6135, which would require interest arbitration panels for most uniform personnel in cities, counties, and other local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. County and city associations supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and said it would align local arbitration with existing state law. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, arguing it would weaken collective bargaining rights and let employers use financial hardship to delay or reduce fair contracts. The public hearing closed with a reported tally of 5 in favor and 22 opposed, and the bill was not advanced in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 6053 on domestic workers and then voted the bill do pass to Rules. It also passed Senate Bill 6134, which requires notice to striking workers about possible unemployment overpayment if they later receive retroactive wages. Senate Bill 6147 on grocery store closures in food deserts was sent to Ways and Means after members discussed the definition of “food desert” and concerns about the six-month notice requirement; the sponsor said the bill was still being refined. Senate Bill 6106, excluding Indian tribes from the Stable Act employer definition and protecting employee contact information from disclosure, also passed to Rules. For Senate Bill 6045 on agricultural employees and PERC jurisdiction, the committee adopted a Schoesler amendment requiring multilingual signage, then passed the amended bill to Ways and Means. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 6128 about using an L&I-approved third-party app to record independent medical exams, with supporters citing security and consistency and opponents saying it would burden injured workers and was unnecessary; and on Senate Bill 6068, which would expand contractor liability for unpaid construction wages, with workers and labor groups supporting stronger enforcement and contractors opposing broader liability. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, where testimony was split between sustainability and industry supporters and public health opponents concerned about child poisonings and packaging changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This diverse ecosystem not only supports job creation but also enhances the overall economic stability
• bill ensures that public safety employees are protected during their recovery process and that their jobs
• Essentially, this means that these essential employees will have job protection while they recover from
• Hopefully, the Senate will do their job. We have trouble getting them to do that, but I close.
• Being a parent is a full-time job on top of education and a career. ...but these hard-working families

Bills: HB1654, HB1691, HB2545, HB2652, HB3799, HB4144, HB5008

Keywords: peace officers, firefighters, employment protection, worker's compensation, job security, maximum medical improvement, government employment, firefighter cancer benefits, emergency medical technicians, compensation claims, cancer exposures, firefighting hazards, workforce training, rural development, grant program, job-specific training, Texas Workforce Commission, child care, single-parent, subsidized

Transcript Highlights:

• In Winona alone, according to DEED, we have 499 open jobs today.
• As I stated earlier, we have 499 open jobs here.
• With 530 students and 499 open jobs, the math works.
• , and then loses their job.
• It can sometimes take a long time to find a new job.

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data