Labor policy omnibus clears committee with job‑posting changes, nursing‑home clarifications and an agricultural ESST exemption

The Senate Labor Committee on April 10 approved the labor policy omnibus, Senate File 2149, adopting the A7 amendment that bundles several policy items and later adopting an amendment that creates an agricultural exemption for earned sick and safe time for very small farm employers.

What passed - A7 amendment adopted: The amendment incorporates multiple bills and technical clarifications. Major components include a job‑postings change requiring employers to indicate whether they offer a health plan option complying with statutory cost‑sharing limits (Sen. Mann's proposal), clarifying definitions for "nursing home" and "nursing home employer" for the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board (Sen. Pappas' proposal), and new or expanded protections for public employees who report fraud, waste or abuse and whistleblower protections tied to several named bodies. - Technical corrections: The amendment also made minor corrections related to continuing education references and the National Electrical Code. - A8 amendment (agricultural exemption): The committee adopted an amendment (A8) that exempts ‘‘farming’’ employers at a small size threshold from the earned sick and safe time law; the committee's fiscal analyst said the earlier fiscal estimate identified roughly 5,000 employees in small crop and animal production establishments who would be affected by the exemption. The roll call on the A8 amendment passed 6 yes to 4 no.

Support and testimony DLI Commissioner Nicole Blisenbach testified in support of SF2149, thanking the chair for including DLI policy and technical items and noting the definitions and construction codes cleanup would help DLI meet its obligations and clarify requirements for stakeholders.

Employment‑policy context Committee members discussed the balance between statewide standards and local flexibility. Proponents of the agricultural exemption argued it would relieve administrative burdens on very small farm employers and preserve jobs; opponents said earned sick and safe time is a worker right that many employees have come to rely on, and that removing the right for specific workers would be a serious change.

Votes and next steps - A7 amendment: adopted (voice). - Senate File 2149 as amended: committee moved the bill to pass (voice vote) and will send it to the next fiscal or scheduling step as appropriate.

Ending With the A7 package and the A8 agricultural exemption adopted, SF2149 moves forward from committee. Committee members and DLI staff signaled interest in continued work on enforcement capacity and program funding in subsequent budget or policy negotiations.