Labor committee advances 16 concept bills, schedules Feb. 6 public hearing

Senator Kushner opened the Labor and Public Employees Committee meeting on Jan. 28, 2025, and moved 16 items forward as concept bills or subject-matter hearings, announcing a public hearing on Feb. 6 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2B (and via Zoom). Votes on the items were taken by roll call and the chair said votes would be held open until 1 p.m. or until the Senate convened.

The committee advanced a range of agency and member proposals. Senator Kushner summarized an agency bill to change fixed statutory percentages for youth employment and training funds so the Labor Commissioner can set allocations using U.S. Department of Labor data. The committee also moved several recurring or placeholder bills on working conditions, workers’ rights and the Labor Department.

Several items drew substantive discussion. On a proposal about transportation network and third-party delivery companies, Senator Sampson asked whether this year’s bill would replicate last year’s focus on receipt-level transparency or include broader pay or penalties; Kushner said it would likely resemble last year’s approach but may add concepts. Representative Weir stressed that driver advocates — not riders — have sought extra transparency so drivers can determine whether they are being paid fairly.…