Transcript Highlights:

• 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
• Since that time, we've been rolling out courses and platforms to get state staff trained.
• 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.

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• But, um, public is essentially state-run services, government employees, um, whether they're at the state
• ><c> employees</c> state-run services, government employees state-run services, government employees
• It sounds like that may have been a state employee you’re describing.
• It sounds like that may have been a state employee you’re describing.
• </c> sounds like that may have been a state sounds like that may have been a state employee<01:40:44.000

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• because those employees are paid by their parish.
• under the State Police Commission.
• Municipal Employee Retire. All right. I'll have staff read in.
• They do go through physical training, yes, ma'am. Is it the same physical training as the men?
• employee.

Bills: SB8, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB16, SB17, SB18, SB20, SB21, SB22, SB416, SB455, SB456, SB477

Keywords: Municipal Employees' Retirement System, Louisiana, participation, employer, retirement, SB 10, Act 222, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, state police retirement, retirement system funding, employer contributions, actuarial gains, amortization, Permanent Benefit Increase, PBI account, benefit increase reserve, supplemental permanent benefit increase, public retirement systems, state pension, pension funding

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on April 29, 2026, established a quorum, and heard a series of retirement-related bills, mostly cleanup or technical measures affecting various public retirement systems. SB 22 would extend Municipal Employees Retirement System eligibility to certain positions in the Second City Court constable’s office in New Orleans. SB 17 would create a funding deposit account for cost-of-living adjustments for registrars of voters’ employees’ retirement system. SB 455 would allow certain district and parish courts to participate in the Parochial Employees Retirement System. SB 456 would update compensation rules for assigned retired judges, and SB 8 would add the Louisiana Asset Management Pool as a participating employer in MERS. All of these bills were described as aligning statutes with current practice or expanding participation options, and each was reported favorably without objection. The committee also heard several Louisiana State Police retirement bills. SB 10 would repeal outdated priority allocation and retiree raise rules and adjust handling of surplus employee contributions; SB 11 would increase the funding cap for benefit increases from 2.5% to 3.5%; and SB 12 would update membership and definition language to reflect the State Police Commission rather than the Civil Service Commission. SB 18 would repeal a special exception allowing certain MERS retirees to return to part-time work while collecting full benefits, while protecting roughly 30 current participants. SB 20 and SB 21 would update actuarial gain/loss and unfunded liability funding rules for school employees’ retirement and LASERS, respectively, in light of the new permanent benefit increase funding structure. Each of these bills was supported by system officials as cleanup or modernization measures and was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on education and return-to-work issues for teachers and public employees. SB 16 would reduce annual trustee training requirements for retirement system boards from 16 hours back to 12 hours, which witnesses said would better fit smaller systems and match the original intent of the law. SB 13 would similarly update TRSL’s actuarial funding rules after the sunset of the experience account. SB 14, based on a 2025 study work group, would consolidate and simplify TRSL return-to-work rules and expand options for retired teachers, with witnesses emphasizing teacher shortages and the need to retain experienced educators. All three were reported favorably. Finally, SB 416 would allow certain Department of Public Safety and Corrections retirees to return to critical shortage positions after one year, and SB 477 would classify the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as a full-time state employee for retirement purposes. Both bills drew questions and discussion, especially SB 416, and both were reported favorably. The chair announced the committee’s next meeting would be moved from Monday to Tuesday, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As it stands now any state employees can now be disciplined or fired without recourse or appeal.
• the Texas State Employees Union, and that you will be testifying for the bill, is that correct?
• 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.
• that state agency employees, school district employees, and local government employees will be required

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Capitol, and thank you for all that you do across the state of Louisiana.
• So if we do not do that, we're going to be in a state of emergency, okay?
• We're going to be in a state of emergency, okay? Even if we can get them in the seats.
• So when we get to looking at this, then I'll get your help with getting our state employees a raise as
• law and where they aren't covered by state or national law.

Bills: HB65, HB67, HB73, HB205, HB225, HB339, HB550

Keywords: sexual harassment, public employees, training requirements, mandatory education, elected officials, public records, personal information, protected individuals, ethics, transparency, public meetings, voting, electronic voting machine, government accountability, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• In other words we must be consistent if we're going to fund the insurance for employees around the state
• It would only apply to trainings that are annual, so there would be no conflict with trainings that are
• specified as new employees.
• And so if something is not in the training specifically mentioned in the training objectives oftentimes
• , but knowing that some advocates have already taken training from local, state, national organizations

Bills: HB 1178, HB1411, HB1441, HB1773, HB1813, HB2107, HB2598, HB2911, HB2967, HB3672, HB5263, HB3797

Keywords: education, temporary certification, out-of-state educators, teacher shortage, military spouses, personal leave, school holidays, employee compensation, overtime provisions, school safety, peace officers, mental health, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, student trustee, school board, student representation, education policy, nonvoting position, school governance

Transcript Highlights:

• in terms of the estimates... are that we're talking about probably close to 200,000 students in the state
• More than 76. 76% of our students are considered economically disadvantaged compared to the state average
• The establishment of a grant program declares that our state believes no child should have to sacrifice

Bills: HB 1178, HB1411, HB1441, HB1773, HB1813, HB2107, HB2598, HB2911, HB2967, HB3672, HB5263, HB3797

Keywords: education, temporary certification, out-of-state educators, teacher shortage, military spouses, personal leave, school holidays, employee compensation, overtime provisions, school safety, peace officers, mental health, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, student trustee, school board, student representation, education policy, nonvoting position, school governance

Transcript Highlights:

• And is it possible for state employees to lose their full health care coverage and working for the state
• And is it possible for state employees to lose their full health care coverage and working for the state
• State employees are different than private employees. It's just the way it is.
• As you know, I hope you know, many of our members are state employees.
• 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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Database training? Yes, sir.
• Of those states, we have seen that state and local law enforcement have had all too many opportunities
• Are there any employees here? I'm sorry, sir. We don't have any employees here. Thank you.
• How many instances have state or federal employees been caught in smuggling? Good morning, sir.
• There will also be a mandatory integration into cybersecurity for state employees.

Bills: SB659, SB1585, SB2201, SB2514, SB2569

Keywords: smuggling, human trafficking, criminal penalties, felony offenses, law enforcement, foreign adversary, foreign-owned company, scrutinized company, China, national security, cybersecurity, information technology, communications technology, ICT, critical infrastructure, state contracts, government procurement, vendor certification, debarment, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:29.040><c> um</c> space as well as the state patrol. um space as well as the state patrol.
• The Minnesota State Academies gets $17,000 per year.
• The Minnesota State Academies gets $17,000 per year.
• ><c> Universities</c><00:10:57.760><c> receives</c> State Colleges and Universities receives State Colleges
• It's important to people in the state of Minnesota, so thank you all.

Bills: SF2884, HF1889

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:38.000><c> So</c> they're training at the hospital. So they're training at the hospital.
• </c><00:34:08.560><c> They're</c> they know the state well. They're they know the state well.
• </c> the status of these essential employees. the status of these essential employees.
• ,</c> state or bringing people into our state, state or bringing people into our state, enhancing<01:
• </c> the economic impact in our state. the economic impact in our state.

Bills: HF4072, HF3691, HF4613

Keywords: workforce development, journalism, local news, internships, media training, emergency management, essential employees, public safety, law enforcement, workforce, economic development, appropriation, Twin Cities Marathon, Explore Minnesota, grants, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The largest memorial service our state has ever seen.
• 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.
• It absolutely does not fit the needs of the state.
• And it's that sole obligation that we think that we're here to represent with regard to state employees

Bills: SB1010, SB1035, SB1058, SB1077, SB1093

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I know during a pandemic, state employees got like a 10% raise or something.
• I just feel like state employees give the best customer service that they can.
• We've heard about state employees being not paid well. These are not just state employees.
• We're helping agencies across the state, all over the state, to train law enforcement.
• I appreciate the need for this type of training in all parts of the state.

Bills: HB2207, HB2225, HB2602, HB2641

Keywords: braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, HB 2225, Yavapai County, northern Arizona regional training academy, training academy, public safety training, law enforcement training, police academy, first responder training, capital appropriation, state general fund, state treasurer, lapsing appropriation, section 35-190, capital costs, regional training facility

Transcript Highlights:

• If a state employee is providing truthful, accurate information about state services, I mean state services
• That is what I'm being asked to provide for state employees.
• <c> are</c> workers state employees that they are workers state employees that they are seeking<00:18
• </c><00:25:53.720><c> hear</c> state employees and I don't hear state employees and I don't hear specific
• > appreciate</c> to State Employees that we appreciate to State Employees that we appreciate their<00

Bills: HF23, HF1355

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

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> cut the state side within the county. cut the state side within the county.
• </c> it's local, county, schools, and state. it's local, county, schools, and state.
• </c> program we have in the state. program we have in the state.
• It's all over the state. urban areas. It's all over the state.
• Retired state employees work as law enforcement officers or assistant district attorneys authorized.

Bills: HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312, HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, judicial system, funding, state budget, Pickens County, local act, vehicle tag fee, registration fee, issuance fee, motor vehicle registration, license plate, replacement tag, transfer tag, renewal fee, county revenue, earmarked funds, ambulance service, emergency medical services, EMS

Transcript Highlights:

• for the employee.
• training for the employee. employee. employee.
• So, um, employee.
• of the State of Hawaii.
• So we humbly ask that you amend this bill to include all public employees of the State of Hawaii and

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Transcript Highlights:

• and the secretary of state.
• I'm not going to set a number of times in state law.
• in the state.
• We want to offer them the proper training to get them ready.
• So, the state had to step in because there are times when things arise to the level where the state should

Bills: SB843, SB1733, SB1476, SB1237, SB1410, SB1894, SB1272, SB1204, SB1721, SB1725, SB1735, SB1337, SB1339, SB1461, SB1975

Keywords: school boards, educational governance, conflict of interest, employee relations, Oklahoma statutes, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, land office, land exchange, investment, education funding, real estate management, Teachers' Bill of Rights, education, teachers' rights

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
• need to talk a little bit about the decision for the allocation of monies to different parts of the state
• I think with loans like such as this, I think it would be cheaper for the state to put up money like

Bills: SB169, SB1991, SB1992, SB1204, SB1339, SB182, SB1847, SB1360, SB1346

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

Transcript Highlights:

• In the rest of the state, that percentage is likely even higher.
• At both the state and local At both the state and local level, Massachusetts has made some progress in
• Whether preemption of the federal government to states, or states to municipal governments, preemption
• This is a top issue with my colleagues in other states.
• And also put useful and state resources at risk.

Bills: H5009

Keywords: collective bargaining, worker rights, labor relations, public counsel services, state employees

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-03, House Bill 5000, which would allow single-family homes on smaller lots in areas with public water and sewer service. The hearing began with committee members outlining the Article 48 initiative process and then hearing from two subject-matter experts. Under Secretary Chris Clutchman of Housing and Livable Communities explained how the proposal would amend Chapter 40A, noted that Boston would be excluded, and said municipalities would still be able to adopt reasonable regulations on setbacks, bulk, height, and short-term rentals. He also flagged unresolved implementation questions, including how to treat wetlands, infrastructure capacity, and pre-existing nonconforming situations. Attorney Susan Murphy said the measure would significantly alter local zoning, could create conflicts with existing zoning districts and Section 3A/MBTA Communities rules, and raised concerns about infrastructure capacity and the lack of any home-size or affordability limits. Supporters of the petition argued that Massachusetts faces a severe housing shortage and that large minimum lot sizes are a major barrier to building starter homes. Proponents said the measure would legalize single-family homes on lots as small as 5,000 square feet with 50 feet of frontage where public sewer and water are available, and they cited polling showing public support for lot-size reform. They said the proposal could produce thousands of additional homes per year, help young families and seniors, and expand housing choices in high-cost suburbs. Committee members pressed the proponents on how the measure would interact with affordability, home size, frontage requirements, 40B compliance, and whether the bill would actually produce starter homes rather than larger expensive houses. The Massachusetts Municipal Association testified in opposition, urging the committee to take no action. MMA representatives argued that zoning is fundamentally a local decision and that the proposal would preempt municipal authority with a one-size-fits-all mandate. They also said the bill is impractical because public water and sewer service does not guarantee available capacity, citing examples of communities facing water and wastewater limits and costly infrastructure upgrades. MMA further argued the measure lacks affordability requirements and could be counterproductive, and pointed to existing and pending state tools such as Chapter 40Y, 40R-related proposals, and other housing funding or zoning reforms as better approaches. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Washington State Patrol assumes workload tied to developing trainings and then conducting those trainings
• Washington State Patrol Basic Academy curriculum averages about 1,477 hours of training per class.
• So the State Patrol already undergoes use-of-force training.
• For background, the state civil service law sets employment rules for most state employees, and employees
• I'm here on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees in support of House Bill 2249.

Bills: HB2521, HB2249, HB1796

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearms background checks. Staff said the bill would remove the $18 cap on Washington State Patrol background-check fees and allow fees to be adjusted to actual program costs, which were estimated at roughly $33 to $35 per check. Supporters from the State Patrol said the current fee no longer covers costs and that without flexibility the program could face layoffs and longer delays; opponents argued the bill would create an unconstitutional tax or barrier to firearm ownership and disproportionately burden low-income residents. No vote was taken in the hearing. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would require the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, work on solutions to the interpreter and translator shortage, and require agency implementation reports. Testimony was generally supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent language access for limited-English-proficient residents and families. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery account and allow advance partial payments to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship while increasing some wage-violation penalties. Labor, business, and worker advocates largely supported the bill as a bipartisan response to wage theft, and staff noted the bill’s fiscal impacts would be funded through penalties rather than the general fund. Members next heard Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax treatment, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new renewable energy excise tax, local grant program, and tribal climate capacity grants. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the concept but asked for amendments and clarification on rates, eligibility, and treatment of existing projects. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the start date and duration of existing tax incentives; supporters said it would provide needed certainty for investment, while one refinery asked for a broader county threshold. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, which would direct Agriculture to coordinate food-security planning and report on regulatory costs; food, farm, and anti-hunger groups supported the bill as a way to improve coordination and affordability. The hearing also included Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903 on a statewide low-income energy assistance program, with supporters calling it a needed supplement to existing utility aid and opponents warning it did not address underlying rate increases, and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act, which drew support from Spokane officials, labor, and environmental groups as a negotiated compromise to reduce ratepayer impacts while funding decarbonization planning. The final bill heard was Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities, especially data centers, which would require utility tariffs, sustainability reporting, renewable-energy sourcing targets, labor standards, and a sales tax exemption for certain eastern Washington data centers; tribal witnesses supported consumer and salmon protections, while utility representatives said the bill would help prevent cost shifts and provide clearer rules for growth.