Video & Transcript Research : 'Class B5'

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US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Lucas is serving as the secretary of his class.
  • So, congratulations to the Brentsville High School class of 2025. Mr.
  • Battlefield High School class of 2025. Battlefield High School class of 2025.
  • And to the graduates, as class of 2025.
  • So congratulations again to the Manassas Park High School class of 2025.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

WAM/FIN Joint Info Briefing - Fri Feb 14, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Classes such as hula, English, and portrait drawing, for example.
  • c> senior citizens at our center classes senior citizens at our center classes such<00:03:47.760>
  • We offer classes and education in micro-farming, the visual arts, as well as performance arts.
  • We offer classes and education in micro-farming, the visual arts, as well as performance arts.
  • We offer classes and education in micro-farming, the visual arts, as well as performance arts.
Keywords: 910, house, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I represent a lot of working-class and middle-class people who are left behind.
  • out and say, stop putting surcharges on electric bills and gas bills because you're hurting working-class
  • So overall, we're losing the overwhelming majority of the working-class men and women who are trying
  • This is a challenge that is unique to residents and is especially unique to working-class residents who
  • don't have time to... ...is unique to residents and is especially unique to working-class residents.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/11/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • records and disclosure of said records and medical examiners and dissemination of rules, and removes a class
  • It'll mean bigger class sizes for students. And I will discuss more on the K-12 verb.
  • Let's just let the middle class and lower-income folks pay for everything.
  • How will the middle class be affected? They don't look. They just say, oh, no tax for this group.
  • them, but the money isn't there to have those lower class sizes that are needed.
Summary: The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations. The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 03/11/26

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Currently, veterans are not a protected class in Minnesota human rights law, and this bill fixes that
  • Currently, veterans are not a protected class in Minnesota human rights law, and this bill fixes that
  • <00:20:13.679> It of other classes of citizens. It of other classes of citizens.
  • > protected Currently, veterans are not a protected Currently, veterans are not a protected class
  • in Minnesota human rights law, and class in Minnesota human rights law, and this<00:20:37.840> bill
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 17th, 2025 at 10:04 am

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now they have been removed, that Section 33.061 penalty, Class A misdemeanor, would be in effect.
  • What is a Class A for who? It's a Class A misdemeanor to obstruct a watcher. It's 33.06.
  • And where does your Class A come into? The Class A is if they're removed...
  • The Class A is if they're removed not according to law.
  • Under current law, election fraud is a Class A misdemeanor.
Summary: The committee first voted out two previously heard Senate bills without amendment: SB 688, relating to the date of the meeting of presidential electors, and SB 914, relating to authorizing certain cities to change the date of their general election for officers. Both motions passed on 8-0 votes with one member absent. The committee then heard HB 3909, which would change the current prohibition on wireless device use from a 100-foot boundary around a voting station to only inside the room where voting is taking place, with a committee substitute also adding state-prescribed signage. The author and supporters said the change would reduce confusion and make enforcement easier for election workers, while opponents argued the existing 100-foot rule helps prevent electioneering, recording, and possible technical interference with election equipment. The bill was left pending. Members also heard HB 1968, which would repeal a provision that requires counties to provide election services to certain political subdivisions in odd-numbered years but not even-numbered years, making county-provided election services consistent across years. Supporters said it would improve consistency for smaller cities and school districts, while opponents warned it could strain county equipment and staffing during heavy election cycles. The bill was left pending. HB 2279 would require voter registrars to remove a person from the rolls if the person swears under oath during jury service that they are not a U.S. citizen; supporters said this would streamline removal of ineligible voters, while opponents raised concerns about mistaken identity and loss of due process. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 2803, which would require a presiding judge to give a poll watcher a signed statement explaining any removal from service. Supporters said this would improve documentation and accountability, and one witness asked for clarification that improper removal would remain a criminal offense; the author said he would consider a floor amendment and further discussion. The committee also heard HB 4253, which would create a more uniform voter-roll maintenance process based on inactivity, sending confirmation notices to voters who have not voted in the prior 25 months and eventually removing those who do not respond after multiple election cycles. Supporters said it would clean up outdated records and help keep voters registered where they actually live, while opponents argued it could wrongly remove eligible voters who simply do not vote regularly. HB 4253 was left pending as well.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Federal Court, in a crowd of observers of locally famous musicians, elected officials, and middle-class
  • families um who observed the court class families um who observed the court proceedings<00:05:24.960
  • wiretap application because they're not familiar with how to apply for a wiretap. conceivably be a class
  • C conceivably be a class C felony<00:07:13.199> class<00:07:13.520> C<00:07:13.840>
  • C felony for um illegal wir felony class C felony for um illegal wir so<00:07:17.440> who<00:
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on SB 284, which would remove the requirement that wiretapping applications to a designated judge be accompanied by a written memorandum from the Department of the Attorney General. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill as drafted and instead proposed a new emergency-wiretap procedure allowing county prosecutors to seek immediate judicial authorization in exigent circumstances, followed by AG review and a follow-up application within 48 hours. The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s office supported creating an emergency exception, citing a kidnapping case involving a missing material witness and the need to obtain live phone location data quickly, but asked that the AG be required to respond clearly within the follow-up period. The AG said the current wiretap process often arrives incomplete and noted a prior Honolulu application that was returned for more information and then abandoned. The committee also heard public testimony, including one speaker in support and another in opposition, and discussed whether the proposed emergency process should include imminent danger findings and what happens if the follow-up application is not approved. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript. The committee then took up SB 295, which increases penalties for violating temporary restraining orders and orders for protection and makes related changes. The Deputy Public Defender opposed the bill’s higher penalties, arguing that not all restraining-order cases involve domestic violence and that the measure could affect family disputes, property conflicts, custody battles, and other non-domestic situations. The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney supported the bill, saying it would create a more uniform and efficient charging framework and that violations of court orders can be serious even when the conduct appears minor in isolation. Domestic violence advocates also supported the measure, emphasizing the need for meaningful enforcement and deterrence; one witness cited statewide data showing thousands of TRO petitions but relatively few convictions and fines. A representative from the Domestic Violence Action Center supported the bill but requested amendments to reduce unintended consequences for survivors. During discussion, the committee focused on the proposed minimum sentence, with the Domestic Violence Action Center recommending reducing it from 15 days to 5 days. The witness explained that longer minimums can create hardships such as job loss, housing instability, and child care problems, while still allowing time for survivors to access shelter and services. The committee chair indicated support for amending the bill to reflect that recommendation. The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney also clarified that the bill is intended to address violations of already-issued protective orders after judicial review, not the initial issuance of restraining orders, and said the office supports eliminating the distinction between domestic and non-domestic protective-order violations because charging decisions are often made under time pressure. Multiple individuals and organizations signed up in support, and one witness testified in opposition. No vote or final committee action was announced in the transcript.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now FAFSA completions nationally have increased 20.9% compared to the class of 2025 through this same
  • And if you look at the class of 2023, it's up nearly 12%.
  • of 2025 through compared to the class of 2025 through this<00:42:39.520> same<00:42:39.760>
  • of 2023, it's up look at the class of 2023, it's up nearly<00:42:44.000> 12%.
  • student has registered for classes. student has registered for classes.
Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Our recruiting, our last four or five classes—really the last three years—our classes are majority minority
  • Our two classes right now, we have 280-some-odd recruits in class right now as we speak.
  • But 60 percent of our classes now seem to be from Region 3.
  • Our two classes right now, we have 280 some odd recruits in class right now as we speak.
  • But 60 cents per percent of our classes now seem to every class seem to be from Region 3.
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • challenge to each and every one of us: always faithful to the promises that we made to provide world-class
  • challenge to each and every one of us: always faithful to the promises that we made to provide world-class
  • Always faithful to the promises that we made to provide world-class care for those who served, to ensure
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Senate took up several final-passage matters, first adopting emergency preambles for H. 3388, establishing September 22 as Military Service Members’ and Veterans’ Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, and H. 4249, relative to vital statistics. It then enacted three bills: S. 23, authorizing alternate members to the Swampscott Conservation Commission; H. 1024, allowing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer service to certain parcels in Sharon; and H. 1590, establishing a sick leave bank for a Trial Court employee. The Senate also advanced local bills concerning Boston district council vacancies, Arlington town clerk procedures, and a Marlborough Ward 7 council vacancy, ordering some to third reading and passing others to engrossment. The chamber considered several committee and House reports under suspension of rules, including Senate bills on public libraries and digital resource collections and on the Commission on LGBTQA+, both placed on the Orders of the Day for future consideration. It also advanced House bills on the continued employment of a Lancaster firefighter and alternate members for the Beckett Conservation Commission, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several petitions to the appropriate committees. The Senate marked the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps with remarks from Senator Collins and Senator Durant, a citation to the Boston Semper Fidelis Society, and brief comments from Tom Lyons on behalf of local Marines and veterans. The session concluded with an order to meet again on Thursday at 11:00 a.m., a motion to adjourn in memory of Wayne T. Laundrie of South Boston, a moment of silence, and final adjournment.
WV
Transcript Highlights:
  • There’s a proposed committee substitute for this bill that separates the current bus operator class title
  • into three separate class titles.
  • The bill also increases the pay grade for the cafeteria manager class title from pay grade D to pay grade
Keywords: 994, senate, all
Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Tom Franta, founding executive director of the Mountaineer Charter School Alliance. He described the new nonprofit’s goals of supporting West Virginia charter schools through advocacy, legal and compliance assistance, shared operational services, professional development, communications, and network-building. Franta emphasized that charter schools face major facility and financing challenges, and he urged use of existing public buildings, low-interest revolving loans, credit enhancement tools through the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, and federal matching funds to help level the playing field for charter schools, including both brick-and-mortar and virtual schools. Members asked about what he meant by “level the playing field,” and Franta said charter schools receive 99% of basic state aid but lack access to the full range of public education funding and dedicated facilities support, forcing them to divert dollars toward buildings rather than classrooms. He said the goal is to ensure parents choosing a public charter option can expect appropriate funding. After the presentation, the chair announced Senate Bill 171 was removed from the day’s agenda. The committee then considered Senate Bill 166, which creates an exception to West Virginia Invest grant eligibility so individuals who already have a post-secondary degree may still receive support if pursuing an associate degree or certificate in emergency medical services. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and under the original double committee reference, first be referred to the Finance Committee. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 428, with a committee substitute that splits the bus operator title into three pay grades based on years of service and raises the cafeteria manager title from pay grade D to E. Senators asked whether duties would change; counsel and the sponsor said the bill is intended as a retention incentive, with no change in responsibilities, and that the fiscal note would remain the same. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, again first referring it to the Finance Committee. The meeting then adjourned.
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE Jan 15th, 2026

ALC-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • that you have to have a certain number of hours in biological sciences, earth sciences, and soils classes
  • about the geology degrees, biology degrees, and then you have to have, I think, 15 hours of soils classes
  • So you have to have 30— And then you have to have, I think, 15 hours of soils classes.
Summary: The Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee met to review two occupational licensing reports: the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. For nursing, board officials described the board’s history, scope, and licensure categories, noting it regulates about 72,000 nurses and oversees RNs, LPNs, advanced practice nurses, medication assistants, and a new dialysis patient care technician registry. Members asked about workforce shortages, complaint types, and the board’s finances; the board said Arkansas has enough licensed nurses overall but has vacancy issues in some areas, complaints commonly involve criminal backgrounds, fraud, misrepresentation, drug abuse, and misappropriation, and the average case length is 191 days though some cases remain open much longer while awaiting criminal adjudication. Officials also said they are working on efficiency improvements and have added help positions with Department of Health support. The report was accepted without objection. The committee then reviewed the soil classifier program, now housed under the Natural Resources Commission after the former board was abolished in 2023. Agriculture Department officials explained that soil classifiers are a small, specialized profession requiring a four-year degree with coursework in biological, earth, and soil sciences, and that the state currently has 29 registered soil classifiers. Members asked whether that number is sufficient, what the work involves, and how the program’s finances are used. Officials said the profession is mainly used for septic system design, wetland determinations, nutrient management, and other soil-related work, and that current staffing appears adequate. They also noted the program has about $20,000 in reserves, above the statutory three-year balance, and discussed possible uses such as training, curriculum upgrades, and expanded administrative funding. The report was also accepted without objection, and the meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for February 19 at 1:30 p.m.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Also, something else that I told you all about last year: we created a new class of examiners.
  • We've created a new class, and a lot of them work on sunsets. If...
  • economics background, or any kind of legal background, those individuals can be hired into this new class
Keywords: 924, joint, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • You know, I talked to some young kids in a science class a few weeks ago and I told them, I said, "You
  • You know, I talked to some young kids in a science class a few weeks ago and I told them, I said, "You
  • You know, I talked to some young kids in a science class a few weeks ago and I told them, I said, "You
  • So um you know in to a class 4 operator.
  • <00:54:42.559> of have those different classes of have those different classes of operations
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the minutes, and brief remarks, including birthday recognition for Representative Maseroni and a moment of reflection for a soldier who died during training at Fort Knox. The committee then heard a presentation from Tony Hatton, commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection and acting director of the Kentucky Division of Water, with Amanda Lefer, deputy commissioner, on the state’s water and wastewater programs and planning. Hatton described Kentucky’s water resources and the Division of Water’s responsibilities, including watershed and nonpoint source work, KPDES discharge permitting, PFAS response, engineering review of water infrastructure, inspections, public outreach, and sampling. He said Kentucky has 428 public water systems, 263 water treatment plants, about 1.9 million service connections, and nearly 97% of the population has access to municipally treated water. He also noted that the state has 43 systems receiving awards for EPA areawide optimization and emphasized operator training, regionalization, and use of GIS mapping and Kentucky Infrastructure Authority data to support planning and funding decisions. Members raised concerns about aging infrastructure, water loss, staffing shortages, and wastewater problems in local systems. Representative Blandon described severe failures in a city system, including major water loss and sewer backups, and asked whether the state could intervene; Hatton said the division inspects treatment facilities and provides compliance assistance but is not authorized to manage delivery systems, though third-party help and emergency funding can be used in some cases. Senator Smith and others shared similar experiences with line loss and system failures, while Hatton pointed to regionalization and funding support as the main tools available. The discussion also highlighted PFAS as an emerging issue, with Hatton saying the department is working with systems to meet anticipated federal requirements by 2029.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Finance (04/18/2025)

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • As you mentioned, the T-Rex and the class 3 Rex have been bigger ACP drivers.
  • We do think that there's a possibility that we see an increase in class 3 ACPs.
  • Every year the department has to review class 3 and determine whether or not a reduction from the 8%
  • So there's a chance we see higher class 3 ACPs there. so there are fluctuations, a reduction so there
  • Um every year the class 3 ACPs.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Education Policy Committee 2/26/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It was actually 8th grade, and it was 2012, December 14th, when in the middle of our first period class
  • <00:02:17.640> uh<00:02:17.760> we<00:02:17.879> got of our first period class
  • uh we got of our first period class uh we got interrupted<00:02:18.599> by<00:02:18.760> the
  • that a lot in our first grade class that a lot in our first grade class rooms<01:25:19.760> I
  • <01:34:24.679> or that outside of um theology classes or that outside of um theology classes
Keywords: 1183, house
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Session (01/30/2025)

New Hampshire Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I just want to thank last year's fourth grade class at Chesterfield School, you know, for bringing this
  • I just want to thank last year's fourth grade class at Chesterfield School, you know, for bringing this
  • I just want to thank last year's fourth grade class at Chesterfield School, you know, for bringing this
  • Um, so in the committee we actually started with a much lower quantity for fentanyl-class drugs.
  • <01:11:42.679> drugs lower quantity um for fentel class drugs lower quantity um for fentel
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we're going to be best in class on both of those. So we've learned from that.
  • Census says the median middle-class salary in Texas is just over $72,000.
  • I consider myself to be upper middle class.
  • That increases our class size.
  • We need to get our class sizes down.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities. Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases. Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EDN Info Briefing - Fri Jan 9, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • sizes, ratios, screenings, and our class sizes, ratios, screenings, and our continuous<00:41:48.800>
  • Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
  • Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
  • Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
  • Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
Keywords: 910, house, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • It applies to a class of people. It applies to all people who work in that space.
  • It applies to a class of people. It applies to all people who work in that space.
  • It applies to a class<00:09:35.400> of<00:09:35.560> people.
  • 09:36.320> It<00:09:36.440> applies<00:09:36.760> to<00:09:36.880> all class
  • It applies to all class of people.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: House File 3679, which would allow mandatory reports to legislative committees to be submitted electronically instead of on paper, was presented as a bipartisan efficiency measure by Representative Nash. The bill also carried an A1 amendment, adopted by voice vote, that addressed interim administrative authority for the Chief Clerk during a gap in caucus leadership and was described as a procedural fix worked out with caucus leaders. A second amendment, A2, offered by Representative Engen, sought to prohibit legislators from participating in appropriations to named nonprofit recipients that later employ or contract with them, arguing this created conflicts of interest and self-serving governance. Supporters said the amendment was needed for institutional integrity and taxpayer trust, while opponents argued it was too narrow, not well defined, and would unfairly single out certain jobs or industries; the debate included references to direct appropriations, conflict-of-interest rules, and examples involving nonprofits, law firms, farmers, teachers, and other outside employment. The A2 amendment was put to a roll call and failed on a 66-66 tie. After the amendment vote, the bill was read a third time and received broad support. Representatives Nash and Cleborne urged a green vote, and the House passed House File 3679 as amended by a vote of 132-0, with its title agreed to.