Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Committee Procedure Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Labor Committee takes several work‑session actions; tables retirement fund proposal and votes on minimum- and living‑wage measures
Summary
In work sessions the committee tabled LD 1003 (retirement benefit improvement fund), voted 'ought not to pass' on one pay-transparency bill (LD 941) and on LD 206 (removing automatic COLA to minimum wage), and advanced other bills as amended; the committee recorded roll-call votes and asked for additional technical work on several measures.
During the afternoon work sessions the Joint Standing Committee on Labor moved several agenda items to decisions or further review.
Representative Charles Skold moved and the committee voted to table LD 1003, an act to establish a Retirement Benefit Improvement Fund, to allow coordination with a separate bill on the same subject. The chair announced unanimous consent among those present to table the measure.
On LD 941 (requiring employers to disclose wage ranges in job postings), Representative Frayer moved 'ought not to pass' and the committee recorded a roll-call vote. The clerk announced the motion carried unanimously among members present.
The committee took up LD 206 (repeal of the automatic cost-of-living adjustment to the state minimum wage). Representative Rader moved 'ought not to pass.' The committee debated and recorded a roll-call vote; members were divided and the clerk recorded the tally on the record. Several lawmakers emphasized statewide minimum‑wage protections and voter-approved COLA provisions, while others expressed concern about cost pressure on small businesses and inflation effects.
The committee also considered LD 853 (replace the minimum wage with a regionally based living wage) and Representative Geiger moved 'ought to pass as amended' with the sponsor's incremental ramping amendment; discussion addressed county-level differences, the choice of the MIT Living Wage Calculator as the source, and municipal wage preemption. The committee voted on the amended motion with members both for and against.
LD 848 (changes to municipal employee retirement/enrollment provisions) was presented with a sponsor amendment intended to add a one‑time open enrollment window with a buy‑in requirement for employees beyond five years of service and to require reporting on enrollment. Representatives and stakeholder representatives said they had reached a consensus on the amendment and the committee advanced the bill as amended.
Several clerks recorded roll-call tallies on motions made during the work session; the committee directed staff to prepare final language and fiscal information where required and scheduled follow-up items for committee work sessions. Members asked departments to supply additional data, including enrollment counts, graduation-conversion rates for pre-apprenticeship programs, and DOL complaint counts and enforcement cost estimates for reporting-pay language.
