Transcript Highlights:

• And so they have to meet all of those standards and rules.
• And so they have to meet all of those standards and rules.
• being licensed and being a part of this transaction, we are already holding ourselves to a high standard
• We modeled this proposal after a States like Ohio and Oklahoma, that rather than creating barriers to

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session and voted to do pass House Bill 3027 by an 8-0 vote. It then considered House Bill 3490, which deals with historic preservation and colleges and universities. Members debated local control, private property rights, and whether the bill should apply statewide rather than only to Kansas City. The committee adopted a House Committee Substitute that removed the geographic limitation and made the measure apply to public and private colleges and universities, with an option for institutions to opt in or out of local historic commission rules. The substitute was then passed 6-2. The committee next took up House Bill 3316, which includes Department of Revenue cleanup changes related to vehicle registration, temporary plates, boats, trailers, and lien notice language. Members discussed the bill’s effect on temporary tags and enforcement. The committee adopted a House Committee Amendment, rolled it into a substitute, and then voted unanimously 8-0 to do pass the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3316. The committee then moved to a public hearing on Senate Bill 973, a consumer protection bill sponsored by Senator Curtis Trent. The bill requires disclosures for real estate wholesaling and sale-leaseback transactions so sellers understand that wholesalers are not acting as fiduciaries and may not be maximizing the seller’s price. Supporters said the bill would protect distressed or uninformed sellers, while opponents from the real estate industry supported the disclosure concept but raised concerns about the 14-day waiting period before a transaction can proceed, especially in foreclosure or other time-sensitive situations. Some members also questioned whether the bill should require licensed real estate agents or allow waivers of the waiting period. No final action was taken on SB 973, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Air Control Squadron is a tenant unit of the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma
• This past year, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, we were able to standardize
• Any increase in pay for this person is limited to standard COLA adjustments or other across-the-board
• increase for an individual that's related to a city elected official would have to be approved as a standard

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're on track on the standard diploma K through 12, you can use the computer science class as...
• That can be a credit towards that if you're getting the standard diploma, and it takes out...
• Oklahoma has code.org's 10th best policy request.
• course as one of your four math or science requirements for credits, and that's if you're on the standard

Bills: HB298 , HB342 , HB332 , HB344

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Enrollment reached its lowest point in the 2022 academic year.
• There were a number of other factors, and some of them were mentioned by our academic chair, Academic
• to align our academic programs to those workforce needs.
• Our academic alignment has progressed with care and intention.
• And the academic departments that remain.

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the California State University system’s enrollment trends, fiscal pressures, and how state funding should be allocated across campuses. Chairs and members emphasized CSU’s importance to California’s workforce and economy, but also raised concerns about declining enrollment at some campuses, unmet enrollment targets, and whether funding is aligned with student demand. The hearing was framed as preparation for the 2026 budget, with particular attention to campuses such as Humboldt, Sonoma, San Francisco, Channel Islands, and others that have received significant state support or are below target enrollment. In the first panel, CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, expand flexible scheduling, improve transfer systems, and maintain regional access rather than over-centralizing programs. Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and rising tuition, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than one-time fixes. In the enrollment panel, CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators described a systemwide strategic enrollment plan under CSU Forward, with efforts to expand access, improve recruitment, and better align programs with workforce needs. Dr. Delcy Perez said systemwide resident enrollment and applications are up, and highlighted direct admissions and outreach partnerships. Campus representatives from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State described local recruitment, transfer partnerships, and retention strategies. Members pressed CSU officials on discrepancies between reported enrollment growth and public data, the per-student funding formula, and the use of reserves and reallocation to shift money from lower-enrollment campuses to high-demand campuses. CSU officials said they are reviewing all campuses’ fiscal health, developing turnaround plans, and expect to provide reports to the Legislature in the spring, while also acknowledging the need for longer-term changes to enrollment management and academic program alignment.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs at currently approved levels for the next two academic years.
• additional wraparound services. and academic interventions such as a new summer academic bridge program
• integrity standards.
• Any university is only as good as its academic programs.
• Our general academic institutions enroll students from around the globe.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• Teachers use the score as evidence to try to seek proof of academic dishonesty.
• My name is Anna Corinne Huffman, and I am staff with the Professional Educator Standards Board.
• My name is Anna Corinne Huffman, and I am staff with the Professional Educator Standards Board.
• My name is Anna Corinne Huffman, and I am staff with the Professional Educator Standards Board.
• This includes review of PESB-approved program standards, educator role standards, evidence submitted

Summary: The House Education Committee heard several bills related to special education records, artificial intelligence in schools, financial aid access, educator preparation, school health, and student mobile device use. Substitute Senate Bill 6268 would require OSPI to keep an online public record of final special education community complaint decisions for 20 years; the sponsor and several parents, attorneys, and open-government advocates said the records help families, schools, and researchers understand past decisions and remedies, while no one testified in opposition. Substitute Senate Bill 5956 would limit school use of automated decision systems, school surveillance technology, biometric data, and facial recognition in student discipline and safety contexts; the sponsor and supporters said it would prevent harmful false positives and discriminatory impacts, while an industry witness warned the bill could unintentionally reduce school safety by limiting emergency facial-recognition uses. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope, especially whether it affects classroom grading or only discipline-related decisions, and staff noted the bill does not require teacher training. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5841, which would add financial-aid application data to the High School and Beyond Plan platform and require students to receive information about the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program. The sponsor said the bill would make aid status more transparent and easier to track, especially for families facing language or access barriers, and a student advocate testified in support; a committee member raised concerns about privacy for immigrant and DACA students, and the sponsor said the portal would be opt-in and guided by privacy protections. Senate Bill 6278 would codify and update Professional Educator Standards Board review of teacher and principal preparation programs, including program standards, educator role standards, evidence, and input from P-12 partners, while allowing field placement plans to be submitted on a less frequent schedule; PESB staff said the bill largely reflects current practice and adds flexibility. Substitute Senate Bill 5240 would expand who may administer epinephrine in schools and allow use of any available epinephrine when a student with a prescription on file has anaphylaxis; school nurses supported broader access to stock epinephrine but warned against using one student’s medication for another and raised legal and ethical concerns, while the sponsor emphasized faster response in emergencies. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5346 would direct OSPI to study and report on school mobile-device restrictions and update digital citizenship resources to include research and best practices on student phone use. Staff said OSPI already has some guidance, but the bill would create formal legislative reports and expand the state’s digital citizenship materials. The committee began taking testimony on that bill as the hearing time ran short, and the chair noted there were ten people signed in to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• A record keeper is held to incredible standards for recordkeeping. That is the world we live in.
• </c><00:14:39.720><c> for</c><00:14:40.000><c> recordkeeping</c> incredible standards for recordkeeping
• I'm just looking at when you, if you're going to enhance the good-cause standard and you lay this out
• </c> needed uh is counter to the standard needed uh is counter to the standard required<01:16:49.320>
• We also have looked at New York and Oklahoma, and they recognize this as a survivor issue.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, a key part of our program is the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety fortified standards
• The standard gives us a clear benchmark for homeowners to achieve, and then our grant program can provide
• As you have heard from Commissioner Lara, we in other states, including Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kentucky
• We do know we have scientifically based standards. They're already been employed in Paradise.
• We have scientifically based standards. They're already been employed in Paradise.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee heard several bills focused on insurance affordability, wildfire resilience, and consumer protections. AB 888, the California Safe Homes Act, would create a grant program for home hardening and wildfire mitigation. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Mark Fowler testified in strong support, describing Alabama’s Strengthen Alabama Homes program as a model that has fortified thousands of homes and helped stabilize insurance markets. Committee members from fire-affected and rural districts spoke in favor, and the bill passed on a do-pass motion to Appropriations. AB 290 would require the California FAIR Plan to offer automatic payments and address non-renewal issues tied to missed payments. The author described her own non-renewal and difficulty staying insured, while consumer advocates called the measure common-sense reform. The FAIR Plan opposed unless amended, citing operational demands and concern about a grace period for non-renewals, but the committee members largely supported the bill and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 1339 would direct the Department of Insurance to study insurance availability and pricing for affordable housing providers, who testified that premiums have risen sharply and are forcing cuts to reserves, maintenance, and services. Supporters said better data is needed to craft long-term solutions. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 1531 on consent and AB 646, which relates to catalytic converter theft deterrence disclosures and consumer protections, both moving forward to Appropriations. The committee later held the roll open for additional members to add their votes, and all measures received further aye votes before the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma and Texas with the two other federally recognized tribes, tribal
• This letter Su Pueblo is fully committed to meeting TCOL's standards for police training, certification
• , accountability, ensuring our officers operate at the highest professional standards.
• Uh, we found that their training would certainly meet that standard.
• One police officer is needed, or is there any, is there any standard of that of care or whatever you

Bills: HB176 , HB180 , HB176 , HB180 , HB333 , HCR35

Committee: House S/C on State-Federal Relations

Keywords: tax, ad valorem, voter-approval, local government finance, property tax, repeal, tax rates, school finance, tax reduction, compressed tax rate, education, funding, HB 176, Texas border security, interstate compact, Government Code Chapter 794, Texas-Mexico border, border enforcement, immigration enforcement, ICE 287(g)

Transcript Highlights:

• The standard that needs to be set for someone to qualify for this should be high and rigorous.
• has earned that privilege or not, to set those standards and determine if a charter school has earned
• for a number of years, the state would take it over and try to turn it around academically.
• The state would take it over and try to turn it around academically.
• That budget was a standard. Yeah, I'm going to have to really go make a case. Yes, sir.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 24, 2026, with a quorum present and announced that HB 690 would not be heard. The committee first advanced HB 350, which would extend the grades served by Ecole Ponashan in Terrebonne Parish from pre-K through 4th grade to 8th grade; members spoke in support of the school’s role in French immersion, Cajun heritage, and local educational access, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 434, which shifts certain probationary employment authority over school bus operators from school boards to superintendents, also received favorable passage without objection, with support from the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. The committee then considered HB 445 on the Louisiana STEM Advisory Council. The bill would move the STEM Commission from the Board of Regents to Louisiana Works, reduce and reorganize membership, and cut the number of meetings from four to two while keeping funding in place. Supporters said the change would better align the council with workforce needs and economic development, while members asked about the loss of some education representatives and the continued role of employers and K-12 stakeholders. After discussion, the bill was reported favorably. HB 386, which would allow local school districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own local education agency under district rules, was also reported favorably after extensive discussion of charter types, LEA status, federal funding, special education liability, and the difference between local and state authorization. HB 363, which would let students enrolled in virtual schools participate in extracurricular activities and athletics at their zoned public school, drew strong support from members and testimony from students and families. Witnesses described the bill as a fairness measure that would give online students the same opportunity to try out for sports and activities as home study students, subject to the same eligibility rules, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 256, clarifying that school employees are mandatory reporters and subject to existing DCFS training requirements, was also reported favorably, with members emphasizing child protection and the need to simplify reporting obligations. Finally, HB 272, which expands eligibility for the READ literacy program to students in D- and F-rated schools, was supported by the sponsor, Scholastic, and literacy advocates who cited Florida data showing improved reading outcomes and stronger family engagement; members raised questions about the fiscal note, parent literacy, and program overlap, but the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas students are provided with a standardized credential that is respected by colleagues, colleges,
• They are more focused on academic content in English and on transitioning students to English.
• We know that language acquisition for academic purposes takes time.
• I mean, it's... ...It's a high standard, so it's not just outlawing speech.
• What the IHRA has done is not a speech standard.

Bills: HB295 , HB824 , HB1579 , HB1581 , HB2189 , HB295

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: bullying, antisemitism, school policies, school discipline, education, education policy, Texas Education Code, hate speech, student rights, civics education, high school curriculum, government, voting process, elected officials, Texas Seal of Biliteracy, biliteracy, bilingual education, multilingual, language proficiency, high school diploma

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the state school librarian will provide support, um, for academic standards development as it pertains
• </c><00:05:24.880><c> standards</c> support um for academic standards support um for academic standards
• </c> need not only to succeed academically need not only to succeed academically but<01:11:27.520><c>
• </c><01:21:26.120><c> studies</c> can find journals and academic studies can find journals and academic
• Throughout the state, E Library Minnesota is an academic lifeline.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what academics do.
• That's what academics do.
• They lack academic integrity, and they've decided that there's only one side of that coin to academic
• That's an infringement on academic freedom.
• We also work with the Academic Engagement Network, Miriam Elman, in order to We also work with the Academic

Summary: The meeting opened with approval of the July 9, 2025 minutes and a roll call confirming quorum. DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez gave his first official testimony, affirming the department’s commitment to preventing antisemitism and societal bias in schools, saying DESE supports the commission’s recommendations and will add staff resources to help develop and disseminate guidance and instructional materials. He said DESE’s rubric and guidance for identifying effective curricula and resources should be finalized in late fall, and commissioners welcomed the partnership and asked about the ongoing Section 98A work. The commission then heard from Professor Eitan Hirsch of Tufts, who presented research on antisemitism and campus climate. He described survey findings showing sharply different Jewish and non-Jewish views on Israel, increasing social pressure on Jewish students, and a growing tendency for Jewish students to hide their identity or feel penalized for participating in Jewish life. He argued that colleges need to do more to teach students how to handle dissent and build cultures of viewpoint diversity, and commissioners asked about best practices, regional differences, and the role of campus climate surveys. Rabbi Fine of UMass Amherst Hillel and student Sky Landau testified about antisemitism at UMass, especially since October 7. Fine described both a thriving Jewish student community and serious incidents including harassment, vandalism, classroom issues, protests, and students hiding Jewish identity; he said the university is working with Hillel and DEI leadership on goals and strategy for Jewish inclusion, and he urged more training and structured dialogue. Landau described antisemitic incidents she experienced or witnessed, including hostile BDS meetings, exclusion of Zionist students, Holocaust denial, threats, and social ostracism, and said Hillel was the only consistently safe space for her. Commissioners discussed reporting pathways, affinity groups, mental health supports, and ways to distinguish criticism of Israel from antisemitism. Later, the commission moved to its recommendations and made several edits before voting, including deleting offensive wording in a footnote, adding a citation to recent FBI hate crime data, and restoring language tied to an existing DESE regulation, 603 CMR 26.05, on classroom neutrality and fact-based instruction. Commissioners also reiterated that criticism of Israel’s government is not inherently antisemitic. The meeting included a brief interruption by a protester, after which the commission recessed and then resumed its work on the draft recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my teaching of the standard has improved in part because there are better resources available to
• Thank you for clarifying also that this really is a third grade standard and that if we are fortunate
• And then high school, our middle school standards specifically focus on geography, early U.S. history
• So they would complete two, four, six school years of documented, combined academic instruction.
• So there's the academic part of it.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• don't think that we're actually helping them see their potential or reach their potential within a standard
• But they sent out a survey to see how those civic standards were being implemented in the school, and
• But they sent out a survey to see how those civic standards were being implemented in the school, and
• I also am of the belief that you’ve heard me where I stand regarding academic achievement and what’s
• I also am of the belief that you’ve heard me where I stand regarding academic achievement and what’s

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first considered SB 1422, which would continue the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board for 10 years. Staff explained that the board supports a credit enhancement program used largely for charter school debt, helping borrowers secure better ratings and lower interest rates. There was no public testimony, and the bill passed with a due pass recommendation by an 8-1 vote. Members then heard SB 1166, allowing county school superintendents to offer high school equivalency preparation through accommodation schools to students in grades 11 and 12, provided they are at least 16. The Arizona Association of County School Superintendents supported the expansion, but one member opposed lowering eligibility from 12th grade to 11th grade. The bill received a due pass recommendation on an 8-1 vote with one present and two absent. SB 1684, which would create a cause of action against public schools for failing to address known bullying that leads to serious physical injury, drew strong opposition from school and legal groups. Opponents argued it was constitutionally problematic, overly broad, lacked key definitions, and could create liability for conduct outside a school’s control; supporters emphasized school accountability in serious bullying cases. After testimony, the committee held the bill with objection. The committee also passed SB 1424, requiring annual age-appropriate firearm safety awareness instruction in K-12 schools beginning in 2027-2028, despite opposition from gun-safety advocates and education groups who argued it shifted responsibility from adults to children and schools and was an unfunded mandate. The bill passed 6-5. Later, SB 1475, barring students with certain criminal convictions or juvenile adjudications from participating in school district-sponsored interscholastic activities, drew opposition from criminal justice advocates and some members who said it was overly punitive and could harm rehabilitation, while supporters argued the offenses were serious and that participation is a privilege. It passed 6-5. SB 1572, requiring Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction in public schools, also passed 6-5 after members debated whether it duplicated existing civics requirements and whether it imposed new curriculum burdens. Finally, SB 1741, requiring districts and charters to allow release-time religious instruction and award credit under certain conditions, was presented and opposed by a secular education advocate who argued it undermined local control and could lead to legal and academic problems; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> their academic and personal interests. their academic and personal interests.
• I didn't realize one school was not only academically book smart, but also real world street smart.
• and cultural academic excellence and cultural appreciation. appreciation. appreciation.
• </c><00:24:32.760><c> book</c> school was not only academically book school was not only academically
• </c> Standards Board. Standards Board. &gt;&gt; File. &gt;&gt; File. &gt;&gt; File.

Bills: HB1576 , HB2490 , HB1546 , HB1588

Transcript Highlights:

• The English language arts learning standards were last revised in 2025. Grade level.
• It also aligns with our updated PESB literacy standards.
• It also aligns with our updated PESB literacy standards.
• When these needs go unmet, students miss school, disengage, and fall behind academically.
• Over time, anxiety decreased and academic engagement improved.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three K-12 bills focused on behavioral health, literacy, and review of education mandates. On House Bill 1634, staff and Rep. Milin Tai described a framework for OSPI and educational service districts to coordinate with state and local partners on behavioral health technical assistance and training for schools, aligned with the Washington Thriving prenatal-to-25 plan. Testifiers, including students and education/behavioral health representatives, said the bill would improve coordination, early intervention, and access to supports for students and families. The bill was presented as having no fiscal note because it relies on existing funding, and testimony emphasized parent and student engagement in the framework. On House Bill 2636, staff and Rep. Skyler Rude explained that the bill creates a Public Education Review Steering Committee to identify existing policies and funding provisions for JLARC review, with the goal of determining whether they achieve intended outcomes, improve student performance, are cost-effective, and should be maintained, modified, or repealed. Supporters said the bill is intended to help reduce burdensome or ineffective requirements on school districts and free resources for students, while some members questioned how the committee would define policy and whether it could affect future mandates. A representative of the Washington State School Directors Association supported the concept as a meaningful review of unfunded mandates. The committee also heard House Bill 1295, which would require evidence-aligned literacy curriculum updates after 2027, require comprehensive K-4 literacy programs using structured literacy practices, direct PESB to revise literacy endorsement standards, require literacy-related continuing education, and direct OSPI to develop educator literacy training. Supporters, including parents, educators, students, dyslexia advocates, and district staff, argued that structured literacy is supported by research and would improve outcomes for struggling readers and students with dyslexia. One witness from the Washington Education Association supported the bill but raised concern about adding another continuing-education requirement. Testimony on the bill was extensive and largely in favor, with some discussion about whether the approach would address older students and how it would interact with existing district and ESD efforts. After public hearings, the committee moved into executive session and approved three gubernatorial appointments for confirmation recommendation. It adopted an amendment to House Bill 1796 and advanced the bill to Ways and Means, passed Engrossed House Bill 2317 to Rules, and adopted a striking amendment to Substitute House Bill 2594 before advancing it to Ways and Means. All actions were taken by voice vote, with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• charges for all items and the standard charges for all items and services<01:21:10.159><c> provided<
• uh standards I think that<01:48:41.880><c> there's</c><01:48:42.239><c> Merit</c><01:48:42.719><c> in
• </c> the state it made sense to standardize the state it made sense to standardize this<02:27:26.200>
• So, um, you know, based on that, I think there are states, for example Oklahoma, that has this structure
• </c><03:50:11.199><c> that</c> are states for example Oklahoma that are states for example Oklahoma that

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Teachers will never have that standard Teachers will never have that standard of<00:14:18.800><c
• ><c> for</c><00:15:15.839><c> calling</c> standard in criminal cases for calling standard in criminal
• And the standard to arrest suspect.
• </c> their safety or well-being or academics their safety or well-being or academics or<00:40:12.800>
• </c> doesn't care about my academic pursuits. doesn't care about my academic pursuits.

Summary: The committee met in executive session on Senate Bill 72, a parental rights in education measure, and considered an amendment offered by Representative Raymond. Raymond explained that his changes were intended to narrow the bill so it would not force schools to act as “surveillance operatives” for parents, especially regarding older students, and to avoid requiring teachers to disclose private family matters such as a student’s sexual orientation or pronouns. He also struck the bill’s “clear and convincing” standard and replaced it with a lower “evidence” standard, arguing teachers should have some basis for concern but not a burden equivalent to terminating parental rights. He said the amendment was meant to preserve due process, avoid weaponizing the bill in civil disputes, and reduce the risk of lawsuits. Members then debated the scope of the bill and amendment. Supporters said schools should not withhold information about a child’s health, school environment, behavior, bullying, self-harm, or criminal conduct, and argued that parents have a right to know about serious issues such as mental health concerns, sexual assault, drug use, or other misconduct. Several members emphasized that teachers do not diagnose mental illness, but should report observable concerns and involve school administrators or counselors when necessary. Opponents argued the bill would chill communication between students and trusted adults at school, especially for children from dysfunctional or unsafe homes, and said it could force outing of gay or trans students and increase the risk of harm or self-harm. One member cited the Department of Education’s trusted-adult approach and said teachers are not covered by formal confidentiality rules in the same way as lawyers or doctors. The discussion included examples and hypotheticals about bullying, sexual assault, drug use, self-harm, gender dysphoria, and whether a teacher would have to tell parents if a student used different pronouns or a nickname. Raymond and supporters said the bill would require disclosure of serious safety concerns but not compel teachers to diagnose or pry into private matters. Opponents argued the bill’s language still sweeps too broadly and could force disclosure in situations where a student fears abuse or being kicked out at home. The transcript does not show a final vote on the amendment or bill in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1618 strengthens Florida's VPK through 12 education system by enhancing academic instruction
• standard documents on standards and benchmarks, and requires the cost of post-secondary education and
• standard documents on standards and benchmarks, requires the cost of post-secondary education and funding
• The bill also repeals the Florida School of Competitive Academics and allows schools to purchase and
• The safety standards that we had put into place, just some of them were impossible to implement.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K through 12 Education met with a quorum present and took up three bills. SB 1618, by Senator Calatayud, was presented as a broad education package affecting VPK through grade 12. It included changes to VPK enrollment flexibility, repeal of the Council for Early Grade Success, agriculture and financial literacy curriculum updates, reading intervention requirements, limits on certain public-school spending, corporal punishment consent, educator certification and screening provisions, and changes to the school recognition program. A late-filed technical amendment clarifying prior legislation for certain private schools in Brevard, Clay, Sarasota, and Bradford counties was adopted. Senator Osgood raised concerns about the bill’s school recognition provisions and the impact on paraprofessionals and other support staff, and the sponsor said she would continue those discussions. SB 1618, as amended, was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 1058, which would update Florida references from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in state, district, and charter school materials beginning after July 1, 2025, without requiring existing materials to be changed. The bill was presented by Senator Calatayud on behalf of Senator Gruters and was reported favorably without amendment or opposition. Next, the committee heard CS for SB 1470 on school safety, which would align school security guard training with guardian program requirements, refine locked campus and classroom rules, and improve panic alert and digital map coordination. Several amendments were adopted, including a late-filed amendment capping guardian training fees, creating a stakeholder work group for a Florida Institute of School Safety, adjusting locked-zone requirements and exceptions, requiring substitute teachers to receive safety protocol training, and a funding amendment providing $450,000 in recurring funds for a centralized panic alert and digital map system. Support was voiced by school district, sheriff, and safety representatives, and Senator Osgood praised the recurring funding as avoiding an unfunded mandate. The committee also passed SB 1472, linked to SB 1470, extending a public records exemption to school security guards’ records held by FDLE, with the exemption set to sunset in 2030 unless renewed. President Gaetz questioned the need for the exemption, and Senator Burgess responded that it was intended to protect school safety personnel from exposure of personal information after an incident. All three bills were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned.