Transcript Highlights:

• We don't provide grants.
• We don't provide grants.
• programs because the any of the grant programs because the grant<00:13:24.800> programs<00:13
• you not eligible for those grant you not eligible for those grant programs?
• eligible for the existing grant eligible for the existing grant programs,<00:13:43.519> do

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:

• nursing home workers by a certified<00:02:42.480> worker<00:02:42.840> organization<00
• :02:43.720> about certified worker organization about certified worker organization about their
• <00:03:20.080> are Standards Board statute all workers are Standards Board statute all workers
• <00:03:41.159> are on the pay and benefits workers are on the pay and benefits workers are
• <00:05:23.479> know<00:05:23.759> their workers know their workers know their rights<00

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:

• We do appreciate the sponsor's attempt to get more poll workers.
• We are always talking in the election space about how we need more poll workers.
• But then we have to see if they actually do serve as a poll worker.
• You don't have to be a poll worker, but yes, we do pay you when you choose to be a poll worker.
• You don't have to be a poll worker, but yes, we do pay you when you choose to be a poll worker.

Bills: SB1317, SB1655, SB1656, SB1751, SCR1049

Keywords: reentry programs, criminal justice, funding, grants, recidivism, attorney general, jury duty, election worker, Arizona Revised Statutes, temporary appointment, civic duty, family court, professional personnel, parenting time, legal decision-making, evidentiary hearings, child custody, ethical standards, capital punishment, death penalty

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1655, which would have allowed qualified jurors to serve as temporary election workers instead of jury service if summoned 90 to 120 days before an election. The Arizona Association of Counties opposed the bill, saying the timing would create major planning and tracking problems for county jury commissioners and courts, and noting that jury service can already be excused in some circumstances. Members also raised concerns that jury duty and poll work are fundamentally different responsibilities. The motion for a due pass recommendation failed, 4-5, and the bill did not advance. The committee then heard SB 1751 and the related SCR 1049, both dealing with Arizona execution methods. The bills would expand the available methods of execution to include firing squad and lethal gas, alongside lethal injection, with the SCR going to voters. Senator Payne argued the change was needed because Arizona has had problems with past execution methods and that the inmate would choose among the options. Opponents, including a death penalty attorney and a corrections chaplain, argued the methods raise constitutional, operational, staffing, and trauma concerns, and that Arizona should not revive methods with a history of botched or prolonged executions. SB 1751 received a due pass recommendation, 6-2 with one absent and one present, and SCR 1049 also received a due pass recommendation, 6-2 with one absent and one present. The committee next considered SB 1317 as a strike-everything amendment appropriating $20 million in opioid settlement/remediation funds for county coordinated reentry planning services and a statewide database. Supporters from the Arizona Sheriffs Association and county sheriffs said the program has shown strong recidivism reductions, helps people transition from county jails back into the community, and should expand to more counties. Members asked about data, funding timing, and whether all counties should participate; supporters said the amount would likely be negotiated in the budget process and that the database funding was needed to track outcomes. The strike-everything amendment was adopted, and SB 1317 as amended passed 9-0 with one absent. Finally, the committee heard SB 1656, which would change how courts appoint professional personnel in family court cases and set guidelines for those appointees. Court representatives submitted written concerns, saying the bill would duplicate existing practice, require unnecessary and costly depositions of experts before appointment, mandate recordings of all interactions, and extend the statute of limitations for lawsuits. With no sponsor present and no outside speakers, members expressed concern that the bill was unnecessary and potentially costly. SB 1656 failed to receive a due pass recommendation, with three nays, six votes not in favor, and one absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our workers compensation insurance. Our workers compensation insurance.
• Grant following says 90 days. I see Mr. Grant following says 90 days. I see Mr.
• Um and I am fully in workers comp. Um and I am fully in workers comp.
• Uh doctors that are familiar with workers comp, familiar with with workers comp, familiar with with workers
• But it it is to teachers workers comp. But it it is to teachers workers comp.

Bills: SB199, HB142, SB86, HB152, HB297, SB1, SB1

Keywords: parental leave, state employees, local education agencies, adoption, work-life balance, family support, portable benefits, portable benefit account, independent contractor, gig worker, 1099 worker, freelancer, app-based worker, rideshare, delivery driver, worker benefits, health insurance, retirement benefits, life insurance, income replacement insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• for workers especially and for planet. for workers especially and for planet.
• water on uh what it's doing to workers water on uh what it's doing to workers rights<00:32:08.000
• one worker compared to another worker one worker compared to another worker could<00:34:54.560><
• c> and<01:04:38.640> using worker rules, worker benefits and using worker rules, worker benefits
• workers are asking for. workers are asking for.

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it's entitled a temporary, uh, guest worker program, and, uh, let me tell you, um, you know, Texas
• Temporary establishes that workers come for a limited time only.
• I mean, to tell you the truth, most of the new workers, the immigrants.
• Chair calls Grant Moody, Daniel Woodward, Alyssa Steglich, and Nicola Marsic.
• Grant Moody.

Bills: HB 256, HB 1308, HB 1554, HB 1743, HB 2308, HB 2351, HB 2858, HB 3676, HB 3784, HB 4312, HB 4552, HB 4823, HB 4852, HB 5007, HB 5010, HB 5520, HB 5524, HCR 19

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, illegal employment, state contracts, government entities, license suspension, immigration compliance, state grant funding, E-Verify, compliance, penalties, immigration, government contracts, employee status, state contractors, E-verify program, legally present, employment practices, legal services, public money

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 460 is a governor's recommendation to cancel a grant.
• Appropriated for dementia grants.
• Line 622 is for a grant to the Wilder Foundation for a Homelessness Study.
• we take for granted.
• Grants are our second major area of emphasis.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, recommendation to cancel a grant.
• Line 614, homeless youth act grants.
• Carlton grant extension. Carlton grant extension.
• health initiative grants. health initiative grants.
• I'm a homeare worker. I am Paul. I'm a homeare worker.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That puts the American worker first.
• To my mind, being pro-worker means defending the right of all workers, including those who decide they
• That's not putting workers first, it restrains workers.
• This is pro-worker. This helps American workers maintain their wages and maintain their jobs.
• So they're firing American workers, but they are exploiting child workers.

Keywords: PRO Act, labor laws, worker rights, unionization, right-to-work, public testimony, political polarization

Summary: The meeting centered around an in-depth discussion of the PRO Act, with representatives expressing passionate opinions both for and against the legislation. Representative Chavez de Rimmer emphasized the importance of worker freedom, arguing that the PRO Act would infringe upon individual rights by coercing unionization. This perspective was strongly received by members from right-to-work states, who articulated their concerns about the potential erosion of workers' choices and protections. Speaker after speaker conveyed conflicting views on labor laws, indicating a deeply polarized environment surrounding labor issues at the moment.

Transcript Highlights:

• A recent survey conducted by Workers' Defense found that 69% of workers surveyed had not received any
• My name is Marina Roberts, and I'm the Grants Manager at Workers Defense Action Fund.
• I'm a construction worker in Dallas and a board member at Workers Defense.
• Texas is one of the most dangerous states for construction workers. One construction worker...
• International Technical Workers Texas State Association of Electrical Workers. Thank you.

Bills: HB446, HB1609, HB4443, HB4464, HB4735, HB5476

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, Texas Workforce Commission, advisory board, employee rights, administrative penalties, training requirements, employee training, occupational health, employer penalties, worker rights, heat illness, volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency responder, emergency medical services volunteer, EMS volunteer, firefighter, fire department, emergency services, declared disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• And I am wondering, are you mostly looking at grants and grants to non-profits?
• I receive employment in return for awarding a grant, or I recommend that an agency award a grant.
• and grants management, grant monitoring, and grantee evaluation.
• Agency staff who manage grants.
• They are two very different things: the grants, I think, and Medicaid, which is not generally grants,

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:

• Um, and I am wondering, are you mostly looking at grants and grants to nonprofits?
• <00:36:26.880> Um,<00:36:27.200> is grants and grants to nonprofits?
• Um, is grants and grants to nonprofits?
• um not nonprofit grants. um not nonprofit grants. Representative<00:36:44.079> Greenman.
• and grants management, grant monitoring, and grantee evaluation.

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

Bills: HF2995, HF2434

Keywords: human services, funding, appropriations, MinnesotaCare, behavioral health, general assistance, healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's lay out House Bill 2858, entitled 'A Temporary Worker Program.'
• 'Temporary' establishes that workers... ...come for a limited time only.
• They can live here, and they are good tech workers.
• Grant Moody. Daniel Woodward.
• Thank you, Grant Moody.

Bills: HB256, HCR19, HB256, HB1308, HB1554, HB1743, HB2308, HB2351, HB2858, HB3676, HB3784, HB4312, HB4552, HB4823, HB4852, HB5007, HB5010, HB5520, HB5524, HCR19

Keywords: severe weather, adaptation plan, vulnerability assessment, environmental protection, state agencies, federal agents, transparency, law enforcement, identification, public trust, immigration enforcement, HCR 19, Texas concurrent resolution, federal immigration enforcement, masked agents, facial coverings, visible identification, uniforms, badges, name tags

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a great shortage of workers. People are undocumented.
• It's our immigrant workers.
• Is that we know immigrant workers are more likely to experience. Thank you.
• Yeah, I think it's, you know, expanding things like worker programs and things.
• But for worker permits.

Bills: HB256, HB1308, HB1554, HB1743, HB2308, HB2351, HB2858, HB3676, HB3784, HB4312, HB4552, HB4823, HB4852, HB5007, HB5010, HB5520, HB5524, HCR19, HB256, HCR19

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, illegal employment, state contracts, government entities, license suspension, immigration compliance, state grant funding, E-Verify, compliance, penalties, immigration, government contracts, employee status, state contractors, E-verify program, legally present, employment practices, legal services, public money

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:29.519> housekeeping folks like dietary workers housekeeping folks like dietary workers
• Nursing home worker means any worker who provides services in a nursing home in Minnesota, including
• It's not going to the workers, and we need to make sure it's going to the workers. Thank you.
• It's not going to the workers, and we need to make sure it's going to the workers.
• It's not going to the workers, and we need to make sure it's going to the workers.

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:

• Employers to pay nearly $99 million in back wages to workers, but only 80% of that money remains unpaid
• But the problem with wage theft is if you're the worker. I'll give you an example.
• I serve as the policy director for the Workers Defense Action Fund, and I'm here to speak in support
• So that's 3.2 million workers in our state who lost a combined $12 billion in wages during that time.
• responsible businesses either, who pay their workers the wages promised.

Bills: HB669, HB 1306, HB3173, HB3807

Keywords: healthcare, Medicare, insurance, financial assistance, families, wage theft, employers, penalties, Texas Workforce Commission, employee rights, employer database, worker rights, death investigation, emergency services, medical benefits, exposure claims, public safety, workforce development, TWC, youth workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:43.680> across 70,000 essential workers across 70,000 essential workers across Minnesota
• <00:14:56.880> in thousands of dedicated workers in thousands of dedicated workers in nursing
• It's not going to the workers, and we need to make sure it's going to the workers. Thank you.
• It's not going to the workers, and we need to make sure it's going to the workers. Thank you.
• safe Staffing Fair wages and real worker safe Staffing Fair wages and real worker protections<00

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:

• for Youth grants.
• rethink legislatively appointed grants. rethink legislatively appointed grants.
• <01:04:11.839> If like any sysma workers right now. If like any sysma workers right now.
• save workers. save workers.
• people the same as those other workers. people the same as those other workers.

Bills: HF2433, HF2434

Keywords: education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house