Transcript Highlights:

• </c> issued two rules with minimum labor issued two rules with minimum labor standards<00:02:56.959><
• </c> that would be eligible for this funding that would be eligible for this funding to<00:04:25.759>
• This is the labor committee, and if we've got individuals that provide labor and they're here to raise
• This is the labor committee, and if we've got individuals that provide labor and they're here to raise
• </c> couldn't we have the Department of Labor couldn't we have the Department of Labor we<00:20:36.440

Bills: HF339, HF1272, HF2121, HF2122, HF1216, HF1003, HF2319

Keywords: HF339, Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, nursing homes, long-term care, elder care, workforce standards, certified worker organizations, labor funding, general fund appropriation, worker grants, Minnesota labor law, nursing home staffing, caregiver workforce, section 181.214, HF1272, nursing home, boarding care home, nursing home workers, labor standards, Medicaid-certified facility

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the fund had broad support when it was created from labor, business, and higher education.
• </c> labor market. labor market.
• fund fund appropriation.<00:19:46.160><c> Uh</c> appropriation.
• year, when we get the labor market report and there are excess funds and there is demand for MJSP grants
• ,</c> labor, everything to do with labor, labor, everything to do with labor, everything<00:51:54.400

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> control over their labor market. control over their labor market.
• We have a competitive labor market.
• Well, we funded it in 2023.
• Well, we funded it &gt;&gt; Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, we funded it in<00:47:54.480><c> 2023.
• Thank you. for increased labor costs. House File for increased labor costs.

Bills: HF3889, HF2567, HF3878

Keywords: workforce development, grant program, employment, economic development, funding, employment contract, labor policy, employee rights, unconscionable provisions, public policy, legal enforcement, airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we have before us the omnibus jobs, labor, and economic development budget bill, Senate File 1832
• Um I will say the development fund.
• </c><00:03:42.560><c> A</c><00:03:42.720><c> teacher</c> fund spending to that.
• A teacher fund spending to that.
• </c> excellent uh workforce development fund excellent uh workforce development fund workforce<00:04:

Bills: SF1832, HF2440

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, labor market, employment, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:07.680><c> and</c> from the Department of Labor and from the Department of Labor and Industry
• </c> providers who compete in the same labor providers who compete in the same labor market<01:03:34.400
• </c> would agree that the current funding would agree that the current funding system<01:31:26.080><c
• </c> re-referred to the committee on labor re-referred to the committee on labor and<01:46:41.599><c>
• Workforce labor and economic and Workforce labor and economic development<01:46:43.920><c> finance</c

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I will move that House File 500 be re-referred to the Committee on Labor and Economic Development Finance
• Bill to bring critical funding to nursing homes in Minnesota and assisted living facilities, and I look
• They wanted to support their workers but needed to focus more on funding for the industry.
• We've had mandatory stayovers because of insufficient funds.
• </c> discrepancy between management and labor discrepancy between management and labor and<00:30:47.919

Bills: HF1419, HF500

Keywords: nursing facilities, reimbursement rates, elderly care, minimum wage, healthcare funding, nursing home, employment standards, worker rights, Minnesota Statutes, labor compensation, 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 500, which would require the legislature to fund the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s standards before they could take effect. An author’s DE2 amendment was adopted first; the amendment was described as pausing the board’s standards unless the legislature estimates and fully pays the cost for each nursing home. The bill author argued that mandates without money create serious consequences for seniors and providers, and said the measure would keep budget authority with the legislature rather than an appointed board. Supporters, including nursing home operators and the Long-Term Care Imperative, said the board’s holiday pay and minimum wage standards would create large unfunded costs, citing estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars for individual facilities and more than $200 million statewide. They argued that some facilities could face debt, reserve depletion, or reduced access to care if the standards are not funded. Opponents, including SEIU workers and union leaders, said the board has improved staffing, recruitment, morale, and worker safety, and that caregivers deserve higher wages and holiday pay. They argued the bill would weaken the board’s ability to address chronic understaffing and would shift focus away from worker protections. Members also debated whether nursing home reimbursement rates have already risen enough to cover wages and whether the problem lies with how funds are used by providers. After public testimony closed, several members spoke in opposition and support. A roll call was requested, and the committee voted 9-7 to re-refer House File 500, as amended, to the Committee on Labor and Workforce and Economic Development Finance and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, happy Friday, and we will start our Labor and Commerce Committee.
• This bill establishes labor protections for domestic workers.
• Supporters have suggested funding through the industrial insurance funds, but these are restricted to
• State funding, many centers in Yakima will close.
• And this bill is available to use 608-609 funding, and so it is not a hit on the general fund, which

Bills: HB1347, HB2091, HB2264

Keywords: education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, unemployment insurance, benefits, employment, layoffs, workforce reduction, 904, all

Summary: The committee heard and took action on several labor, licensing, and workplace bills. House Bill 1347 on cannabis testing labs drew testimony from the sponsor, industry representatives, and LCB/WSDA-related stakeholders. Supporters said the bill would reduce duplication by having LCB rely on WSDA accreditation for initial lab certification, while some witnesses said the bill still needed amendment language to clearly assign authority and avoid overlapping oversight. No vote was taken on HB 1347 during the portion provided, but the sponsor committed to work on clarifying amendments with agencies and stakeholders. The committee then heard House Bill 2229 on the Professional Engineers Registration Act, House Bill 2091 on providing employee information to exclusive bargaining representatives under the Personnel System Reform Act, and House Bill 2264 on unemployment insurance for workers in employer-initiated layoffs or reductions in force. Testimony on HB 2229 focused on board membership changes, pro tem appointments, and updating licensing rules; the bill’s sponsor and the Engineers Board said it modernizes qualifications without changing licensure standards. HB 2091 drew support from labor groups and opposition from Washington Policy Center, with supporters saying it simply aligns state agencies with existing disclosure rules and opponents raising privacy concerns. HB 2264 was supported as a clarification that workers who opt into a layoff or separation program should still qualify for unemployment benefits; one testifier described being denied benefits despite participating in a company reduction-in-force program in good faith. In executive action, the committee voted do pass on Substitute House Bills 2492, 2107, 2151, 2355, and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2471, and sent them onward, with HB 2105 sent to Ways and Means. Members discussed concerns about private rights of action in HB 2355 and about notice timing and enforcement in HB 2105, but the majority supported the bills. The committee also heard and advanced Substitute House Bill 2472 on fire sprinkler work, with supporters saying local fire officials need clearer enforcement tools and proof-of-licensure authority. Finally, Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid leave contributions was presented as a technical fix to align the state paid family and medical leave program with IRS guidance; labor and employer witnesses supported it as a way to avoid higher tax liability and more costly implementation. The longest public hearing was on Second Substitute House Bill 1128, which would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board to make recommendations on child care worker staffing, retention, and compensation. Child care workers and parents testified in support, citing burnout, low pay, and staffing shortages, while many providers and industry groups opposed it as duplicative of existing workgroups and costly without direct funding for wage increases or higher subsidy rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> government institutions and labor government institutions and labor organizations.<01:06:15.359>
• labor organizations and their political arms, all using taxpayer funds.
• </c> for union dues and political funds. for union dues and political funds.
• </c> money straight from publicly funded money straight from publicly funded employee<01:38:55.760><c
• , remit those funds, stand for audit on those funds, so there is a meaningful investment of time.

Bills: HB0083, HB0102, HB0178

Keywords: subpoena, legislative authority, penalty, compliance, law enforcement, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, public employment, labor organization, dues withdrawal, collective bargaining, public funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:05.680><c> The</c> through the CDFI Fund. The through the CDFI Fund.
• Forward Fund.
• Chair. terms of drawing funds from that fund. terms of drawing funds from that fund.
• fund.
• </c> Department of Labor. Department of Labor.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• This is catalytic funding, not static funding.
• </c> from our general fund? from our general fund?
• I'm a labor standards supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at the labor standards
• I'm a labor standards supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at the labor standards
• I'm a labor standards supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at the labor standards

Bills: HF3707, HF3732, HF2581, HF3731

Keywords: unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a change in how creating a fund here? Yes.
• Are there any general fund implications here? Do we have to put money into the fund initially? No.
• The wage recovery fund creates a third option for workers.
• The fund does not come from the general fund.
• And it prohibits the use of the accident and medical aid funds for funding any activities of the board

Bills: HB1526, HB1069, HB1347, HB2091, HB2264

Keywords: liquor license, snack bar, state regulations, alcohol sales, business licensing, collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several labor, cannabis, liquor, and workplace bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on recovering unpaid wages would create a wage recovery program at L&I, funded by civil penalties, to provide limited advance payments to low-wage workers facing immediate economic harm while wage complaints are still being investigated; supporters said it would speed relief for workers and improve enforcement, while the sponsor emphasized it was a consensus product of labor, employer, legal services, and academic stakeholders. Engrossed House Bill 1941 would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with a striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters argued cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes to prepare for possible interstate commerce. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand spirits, beer, and wine theater licenses from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add youth-safety controls, and House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass; both drew support from industry witnesses, with LCB noting the small number of affected licenses and flagging a fee-update issue for HB 1526. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155, which would void and unenforce non-compete agreements and broaden limits on non-solicitation agreements. Labor and worker advocates strongly supported the bill as a way to improve worker mobility and prevent abusive litigation, while business, banking, and some health-care witnesses raised concerns about protecting investments, confidential information, and physician practice stability, asking for narrower exemptions for senior executives and certain health-care settings. Other bills heard included Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303, which would prohibit employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing microchip implants in employees; and Substitute House Bill 2405, a PTSD treatment pilot for workers’ compensation claimants, which L&I said could improve outcomes and potentially reduce long-term system costs. In executive action, the committee advanced several bills. It adopted a Saldaña striking amendment and a narrower amendment to House Bill 1069, limiting supplemental retirement bargaining to Department of Corrections employees, and sent the bill to Ways and Means. The committee also adopted a striking amendment to House Bill 1347 on cannabis testing labs and moved it to Rules, and passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701, House Bill 291, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229, House Bill 2264, Substitute House Bill 2472, and Second Substitute House Bill 2345. A King striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 on the child care workforce standards board was not adopted, but the underlying bill was advanced to Rules. The chair announced that the committee’s final day of executive action would be the next day, with a later start time.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Labor and Industry's budget proposal for use of the Workforce Development funds identifies
• </c><00:13:31.560><c> identifies</c><00:13:32.079><c> labor</c> Development funds identifies labor Development
• funds identifies labor unions<00:13:32.800><c> as</c><00:13:32.920><c> the</c><00:13:33.079><c> place
• </c><00:20:52.400><c> out</c> funds for and so besides the funds out funds for and so besides the funds
• to the Commissioner of Education, the bill instead appropriates funds to the Commissioner of Labor and

Bills: HF846, HF1538, HF1959

Keywords: education, special education, apprenticeship, funding, grants, intermediate school districts, teacher apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, teacher licensure, teacher shortage, workforce development, education finance, K-12 education, higher education, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, Tier 3 license, teacher preparation, mentor teacher, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes the design review special fund and appropriates funds into and out of the fund.
• funds into special fund and appropriates funds into and<00:12:35.600><c> out</c><00:12:35.760><c> of
• on the general fund.
• </c><00:14:45.440><c> We're</c> Worker Stabilization Fund. We're Worker Stabilization Fund.
• This appropriates funds to the Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial

Bills: SB2198, SB2140, SB3055, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2761

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue

Transcript Highlights:

• Already exist to safeguard against misuse of public funds by state law.
• counties have a consistent way to fund housing programs and reduce homelessness.
• Most of our funding is federal, and it is accounted for, it’s spent, and it has to go directly to...
• This fund is more flexible; it allows us to work in cooperation with the county and apply that funding
• This funding would help us address these kinds of sudden surges more effectively. Much faster.

Bills: HB1597, HB2364, HB2437, HB3205, HB3253, HB3310, HB3648, HB3906, HB4259, HB5645

Keywords: county jailer, jail training, veterans, Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, TCOLE, criminal justice system, county jail, law enforcement training, mental health training, jail standards, correctional officers, veteran services, veteran interaction, occupations code, jailer licensing, parking, county courthouse, infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• So, my office is a set up and you fund.
• It assesses whether or not the funds that are being proposed, special and revolving funds, meet statutory
• </c><00:22:59.760><c> that</c> folks relating to proposed funds that folks relating to proposed funds
• </c><00:23:04.240><c> that</c> assesses whether or not the funds that assesses whether or not the funds
• Uh funds they meet statutory criteria.

Bills: HB2240, HB2272, HB2273, HB2274, HB2275

Keywords: appropriations, legislative expenses, auditor, legislative reference bureau, state ethics commission, ombudsman, government transparency, HB2272, Act 026, public employment cost items, emergency appropriations, collective bargaining, bargaining unit 11, BU-11, state employees, excluded employees, salary increases, cost adjustments, health premium payments, benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• :38.880><c> fans,</c><00:10:39.120><c> and</c> funds help ensure athletes, fans, and funds help ensure
• :43.200><c> that</c><00:13:43.600><c> stay</c> funding co covers expenses that stay funding co covers
• </c><00:18:44.000><c> Miss,</c> apply for without these funds. Miss, apply for without these funds.
• </c> at the Department of Labor and Industry. at the Department of Labor and Industry.
• of the Child Labor Act.

Bills: HF1007, HF1152, HF1671, HF2258

Keywords: tourism, World Junior Hockey Championships, funding, economic impact, sports events, Minnesota, economic development, livability, marketing, partnerships, labor and industry, electrical licensing, electrical inspection, continuing education, online course approval, Internet continuing education, power limited technician, maintenance electrician, master electrician, technology circuits

Transcript Highlights:

• My bill does not authorize the use of public funds for NAL payments.
• They do not take taxpayer funds.
• fund.
• And in that trust fund, they're able to access that trust fund either after they graduate college or
• Apparently there's no state funds involved. These are athletic departments. This is Texas.

Bills: HJR5, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB1330, HB2110, HB2143, HCR64, HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation also provides non-recurring funding.
• Senator, where in the funds not reverting back to the state? Where do the funds revert back to?
• How are these funds, if they're going back to the student, how are these funds calculated, documented
• The SFO being a scholarship funding organization? Yes. So the funds are going back to the student.
• So the money is going back to the scholarship funding organization that actually distributed the funds

Bills: S0042, S0688, S0762, S1168, S1296, S1298, S1300, S1318, S1332, S1376, S1548, S1570, S1574, S1632, S1634, S1750

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, criminal defense, legal representation, death penalty, indigent defense, regional counsel, conflict of interest, background screening, athletic coaches, youth sports, criminal history, expungement, Florida statutes

Summary: The committee first took up CS for SB 42 on specific medical diagnosis and child protective investigations. A late-file strike-all amendment was adopted that made only stylistic changes to align with the House version. Supporters said the bill would help DCF and child protective teams better identify rare medical conditions and give parents a chance to defend against mistaken abuse findings. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1570, which restores a prior program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices and CARD centers, with nonrecurring funding included. Members then advanced several education, disability, and public services measures. CS for CSSB 182 created a teacher training and mentoring program for high-performing current and retired teachers to mentor teachers in D- and F-rated schools, and CS for CSSB 794 required background screening for employees in residential and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities while directing APD to study support coordination quality, workforce issues, and service gaps. Testimony on SB 794 strongly supported better training, lower caseloads, and more consistent support coordination. The committee also favorably reported CS for CS SB 1168 on background screenings, CS for CS SB 214 to allow rural special districts to pay verified invoices directly, CS for SB 1376 to create grants for genetic counseling education, and SB 1574 (Maddie’s Law) to add newborn screening for biliary atresia; the latter drew emotional support and testimony that early screening could save lives and reduce transplant costs. The committee heard and passed a number of other policy bills, including CS for CS for SB 1510, the DEP agency package, after environmental groups warned that one provision could delay basin management protections and allow more septic systems in impaired watersheds; the bill still passed favorably. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 598 on funeral and cemetery regulation, SB 688 to license naturopathic doctors, SB 1318 on scholarship account reversion rules, CS for CS for SB 682 on domestic violence injunctions and penalties, SB 130 on workforce training for current and former inmates, and SB 1548, the latest Live Local affordable housing update. Several bills were briefly postponed or taken up later in the meeting. In the latter portion of the meeting, the committee approved CS for C.S. for SB 536 on criminal gang membership criteria, CS for C.S. SB 762 on assigning conflict capital cases across regional counsel offices, SB 1332 on career offender registration requirements, CS for CS for SB 1742 creating a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a child, and CS for SB 1750 increasing penalties for serious sex offenses and child sexual abuse material crimes. The committee also debated CS for SB 1226 on Public Employee Relations Commission procedures and union certification rules, including a late-file amendment setting a 60% threshold and 25% quorum for recertification; the discussion focused heavily on constitutional concerns, union rights, and differences between first responders and other public employees. The transcript ends while that bill’s debate is still underway, with the committee having already taken numerous favorable votes throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one, Comico funds, I don't think they're doing that anyway.
• Or are they allotting the funds from your county into an account or a line item that is just for your
• to progress and expand 4-Hs within their own communities, ...local so they can utilize those funds to
• So right now, how are they accessing the funds in the account?
• And there's never been a report of any impropriety or any misuse of funds in this process.

Bills: HB2398, HB4363, HB3557, HB3701, HB2210

Keywords: credential of value, education, workforce development, labor market, government reporting, higher education, Oklahoma State University, Board of Trustees, presidential selection, college governance, Oklahoma Agricultural Extension, local funding, financial institutions, county extension services, state funds, academic programs, low-producing programs, Oklahoma State Board of Regents, program review, curriculum quality