Transcript Highlights:

• Less than 50% of public school children have been to a dentist. So what does the bill do?
• So and then there are many who say dentist go to school for 8 years.
• Yes, they do go to school for 8 years. But that's only 4 years of a dental program.
• Dental therapists can be fresh out of high school.
• So if you have a school or a total school off more than 12, that indicates a possible kind of is used

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you working with the schools? Schools in any way, is my question.
• Charter School.
• : Atrisco High School, Del Norte, and RFK Charter School.
• High schools throughout the APS school district, along with some of their charter schools, the APS-backed
• more schools?

Transcript Highlights:

• Our California climate-friendly school food program helps California's K-12 schools make the shift toward
• High schools and middle schools are serving plant-based offerings more frequently, with more than half
• This progress is also supplemented by other investments in school foods such as funding for farm-to-school
• and high schools, and even in some elementary schools.
• The challenge with schools is the funding aspect of it and getting our schools up to speed on it.

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focusing on California’s alternative protein sector and the role of public institutions in expanding plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated protein options. Chair Ash Kalra opened by highlighting prior state investments in UC research centers, the importance of student engagement, and the hearing’s three panels: reducing the carbon footprint of institutional meals, addressing market challenges to scaling alternative proteins, and advancing future food research and workforce development. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan also briefly praised the committee’s work and its relevance to climate and health goals. The first panel featured Friends of the Earth, UCLA Dining, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Megan Jones described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts expand plant-based meals, reduce water and carbon footprints, and improve student satisfaction. Pete Angelese explained how UCLA Dining uses concept-driven venues, sustainable purchasing, and marketing nudges to increase plant-forward choices, while Dr. Michelle Wood outlined Los Angeles County’s 2024–2025 board motions to expand plant-based options in county food venues and programs, including joining the World Resources Institute’s Cool Food Pledge. Committee members asked about costs, procurement, and how student and consumer behavior can be influenced. The second panel addressed market barriers to scaling alternative proteins. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner emphasized that the sector faces a cost-and-scale trap, high capital needs, and financing gaps, and they recommended grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and workforce development. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat argued that the category has faced a recent downturn due to consumer skepticism, industry attacks on “fake meat,” and pricing pressures, and said the key to renewed growth is increasing demand through better taste, health, pricing, and messaging around “plant protein.” Panelists also discussed hidden subsidies and structural advantages for conventional animal agriculture, and committee members raised questions about iBank loan guarantees and supply chain challenges. The final panel highlighted UCLA’s research and training efforts. Dr. Amy Roet described the Future Food Fellows program, which trains students across disciplines in science, communication, leadership, and community-building, and supports research on scalable, safe, and nutritious alternative proteins. Corinne Smith shared her cultivated meat research and student leadership in the Alternative Proteins Project at UCLA. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and terminology strongly affect acceptance, with “plant protein” and “complementary proteins” testing better than “fake meat.” The hearing concluded with support for continued public investment, clearer messaging, and expanded education and workforce pipelines to help California remain a leader in alternative protein innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do, although I was in high school at the time. time yeah yeah I wouldn't and and they audited Stanford
• Again, when I was in high school, sir.
• Many universities and medical schools in this country have elected to, for example, cut. of graduate
• students that they have in their first class by 50%, some even 75%. not enter graduate school this year
• IDEA has helped unlock innovations at schools across my state where the cutting-edge research is being

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a doctor with the Kentucky School for the Blind.
• Do you want me to go... a doctor with the Kentucky School for a doctor with the Kentucky School for the
• So, years ago, NBEO utilized the schools and colleges of optometry to deliver the exam.
• >> Uh Julian Tackett, Kentucky High School >> Uh Julian Tackett, Kentucky High School
• <00:51:38.320> Athletic Kentucky High School Athletic Kentucky High School Athletic Association

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection. Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection. Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill out-of-state medical school.
• education may enroll during the school education may enroll during the school year<00:40:21.760>
• <00:41:04.480> year uh school year uh school year requires<00:41:06.080> the<00:41:
• I understand if there functionally?
• > challenge<02:03:21.040> for really functionally is a challenge for really functionally

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and then proceeded through committee reports, largely adopting favorable reports and amendments without objection. Early measures included SB 530, which funds grants for multigenerational social connection programs for older adults; SB 731, clarifying the legal status of the Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council; SB 809, directing a feasibility study on a caregiver infrastructure program; SB 860, creating an Aging Resilience Fund with reporting and budget protections; SB 910, requiring insurance reimbursement for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns under supervision; and SB 972, making several Baltimore City alcoholic beverages licensing changes. Each of these bills was advanced to third reading after committee amendments were adopted. The Finance Committee also advanced SB 555, establishing a Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and a provider resource toolkit for dementia care; SB 757, creating a Maryland Local Sourcing Portal to connect businesses with local sources for tariff-impacted goods; SB 772, creating an employment training and opportunity database to help people qualify for or maintain Medicaid and SNAP; SB 792, requiring hospitals to adopt and train staff on immigration-enforcement policies consistent with Attorney General guidance; SB 869, establishing a workforce training pilot program through Commerce and community colleges; SB 905, creating an advanced manufacturing grant program through TEDCO; and SB 974, changing who may serve as inspector for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or narrowing amendments and then ordered printed for third reading. Budget and Taxation advanced SB 28, which would create binding arbitration for state employee collective bargaining impasses and include a proposed constitutional amendment requiring funding in the Governor’s budget; SB 466, expanding a physician preceptor tax credit and adjusting training-hour requirements; and later SB 704, concerning estate tax treatment for qualified agricultural property transferred to an LLC. SB 557, a gaming-related bill, was laid over until the end of the evening at the majority leader’s request. In the Education, Energy, and the Environment report, the committee advanced SB 35 on a state natural science museum designation, SB 166 on shellfish aquaculture permit sanctions, SB 189 on municipal drainage inlet safety requirements prompted by a child’s death, SB 242 on civil relief for service members and spouses, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees and tree-of-heaven, and SB 267 on a corporate rental-property registry and local housing application review process. SB 267 drew a brief question from the minority leader, who asked whether prior opposition remained and how the amended bill differed; the sponsor said the opposition had gone away and described the bill as now focused on a responsible-owner registry and an administrative review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• unquote taxpayers to sue school unquote taxpayers to sue school districts<00:20:55.440> and
• basic government functions operating. basic government functions operating.
• . support for public schools.
• the Marrammarmac Valley School Board. the Marrammarmac Valley School Board.
• fun basic functions of the program. fun basic functions of the program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing right numbers of applicants for each school.
• They were small short schools that will supplement. That's the B school of this year.
• When I started in the school system as an educator, My first job as a school counselor was to work in
• And so they are school.
• Second item is the school marshal program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mission to engage Jewish youth in civic education and teach them how local and state government functions
• These students from my Senate district are among the thousand of students who attend private school,
• These students from my Senate district are among the thousand of students who attend private school,
• Speaker Carl Heastie, Truman High School, Boogie Down Bronx. I don't think it is a coincidence.
• You know, I moved into the Bronx after graduating from law school in 1991 and stayed there.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 9, 2026, approved the prior journal, and took up several procedural items, including substituting identical Senate Bill 6734A for Assembly Bill 4382A and adopting a resolution calendar with exceptions for Resolutions 1718 and 1723. The chamber also received amendments on another bill and heard multiple guest introductions, including students from Ahavas Bas Yaakov of Monsey and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, who was recognized for her work on food and nutrition policy and health equity. A major portion of the session was devoted to Resolution 1680 commemorating Bronx Day. Senators Fernandez, Bailey, Myrie, Serrano, Sepúlveda, Krueger, and others spoke in praise of the Bronx’s history, diversity, culture, resilience, and contributions to music, fashion, sports, and civic life. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1718 recognizing Harriet Tubman Day, with remarks highlighting Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, her Civil War service, and her later life in Auburn, and adopted Resolution 1723 marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and emphasizing the continuing importance of voting rights protections. The Senate then passed a series of bills from the calendar. These included measures on general municipal law, public health, executive law, education, vehicle and traffic law, criminal procedure, labor law, and legislative law. Several members explained their votes on health-related bills: Senator Cleare spoke about period poverty and access to free menstrual products in educational institutions; Senator Webb supported a bill requiring hospital governing boards to include a registered professional nurse; and Senator Murray, joined by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, described personal experiences with blood clots and pulmonary embolism in support of a bill creating a working group on the issue. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable negative votes, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The district is no longer functioning. It is no longer necessary. It is defunct. It is obsolete.
• It does not change school districts.
• It applies only to the city, county, and special district taxes and has no impact on school district
• I think it's a very common sense approach to allow cities and counties to function as they do and to
• Notice we don't ever talk about school taxes, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• or planning function rather than just discretionary function.
• Happy to answer any questions. schools and our public school grounds schools and our public school grounds
• our school facilities and our school our school facilities and our school grounds<04:07:26.960><
• and use public school facilities schools and use public school facilities and<04:12:25.439> have<
• public schools. public schools.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Blowouts, this test considers various environmental factors like ecological function, water, quality
• I also teach and mentor Franklin County High School students on a farm.
• It allows for the early release of conservation easements on small lower non-functioning wetlands that
• But unfortunately it's written this language will harm the region's wetland functions.
• Deputy wrote back and functions.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:34.880> are schools. 15 different high schools are schools. 15 different high schools
• , our seven schools before, our schools, our seven schools have<00:15:38.240> been<00:15:38.440
• They're still received at the school. The school sends them off. They come back to the school.
• <00:17:15.720> They school. The school sends them off. They school.
• :17:18.760> the<00:17:18.839> school with the school, but the school with the school, but

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Votruba Young Scholars Academy 00:01:55 Taxation of Financial Deposit Institutions 00:36:50, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• activity in schools, Senator Tichenor. activity in schools, Senator Tichenor.
• money flowing into both public schools money flowing into both public schools and<00:14:28.600><
• private schools across the and private schools across the Commonwealth.
• public schools. public schools.
• three specific schools of innovation. three specific schools of innovation.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call establishing a quorum. The chamber approved the prior journal, excused absent senators, and received a House message noting passage of several House bills, including House Bill 1 despite the governor’s veto. The clerk also reported committee recommendations on a number of House bills, which were placed on the calendar, and new resolutions were introduced recognizing Chloe Yates, student wellness and physical activity in schools, and the Kentucky State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. The main floor action centered on House Bill 1, which implements the Federal Education Opportunity Program in Kentucky. Supporters argued the measure would bring federal tax-credit dollars into Kentucky to expand educational opportunities for students and families at no cost to the state budget, while opponents urged sustaining the governor’s veto and raised concerns about accountability and the bill’s structure. After debate, the Senate voted 31-5 to override the veto, and House Bill 1 was finally passed notwithstanding the governor’s veto. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 183 on proxy advisory services. The House committee substitute exempted certain nonprofits with less than $500,000 in annual gross revenue from proxy advisor services from the bill’s cause-of-action provisions while preserving attorney general enforcement authority. The chamber concurred with the House substitute and then passed the bill as amended. Senators also passed Senate Bill 263, the School of Innovation cleanup bill, which makes technical changes, requires KDE support for waiver applications, and creates a pilot project for three schools of innovation with proposed matching grants. Senate Bill 281 on grandparent visitation was also adopted with committee substitute and passed unanimously after discussion focused on balancing grandparents’ access with parental rights and existing case law. Later, the Senate began consideration of Senate Bill 324 on the film industry credit, with the sponsor describing technical changes and expanded provisions to support film, video, gaming, and related production activity in Kentucky.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's not a high school graduate and he... He says, "Mr.
• And so he never went to school, and she never made him go to school.
• of school.
• I am the first person in my family to graduate high school, to go to college, to go to law school, and
• And had I even been in high school...

Bills: HB1511, HB1831, HB1988, HB2147, HB2234

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, state regulations, zoning, local government authority, drug court, juvenile justice, diversion programs, rehabilitation, criminal justice reform, remote proceedings, depositions, virtual hearings, court technology, criminal responsibility, age of maturity, expungement, mental health services, juvenile record sealing, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, it's the space where people go get lunch, they go to the museum, and then it also functions
• The next item in the agenda is the school employee fund benefit adjustments.
• So document management system, the key functionality is to scan the documents as soon as possible the
• And just some of the trying to target, we've gone to law schools to try to attract more candidates.
• We also request provisional language to allow technical and programmatic functions of drop.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee held a May Revision budget hearing on state administration and related issues, hearing presentations from multiple departments and agencies. Early items included the Public Employment Relations Board on funding for implementation of AB 1 and a reduced request tied to AB 288, the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement on a technical College Corps adjustment, and the Secretary of State on building security upgrades, election security grant matching funds, and payroll system readiness costs. The Department of Consumer Affairs presented a Board of Pharmacy modernization request and a General Fund backfill for the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education; the LAO raised no concerns on the pharmacy item but recommended rejecting the private postsecondary backfill and questioned interest-free loan language. The Employment Development Department outlined several large workload and benefit adjustments, including EDD Next document management funding, UI loan interest, DI/PFL benefit increases, WIOA adjustments, school employee benefits, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical reversion correction; the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL increase and the expansion of the document management scope, while members asked about program impacts and timelines. The California Workforce Development Board presented an April adjustment to reimbursement authority for an interagency agreement with Caltrans, which the LAO said raised no concerns. Public comment on that item and others included support for workforce and apprenticeship initiatives, including the Jails to Jobs proposal and renewal of the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, though those were not part of the May Revision package. The Department of Industrial Relations then presented several proposals: reclassifying legal positions, continuing modernization of the workers’ compensation EAMS system, Cal/OSHA data modernization, creating a Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, reappropriating funds for the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship program, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the statutory treatment of the workers’ compensation administrative director’s salary. The LAO generally found the IT and salary proposals reasonable but urged close monitoring of the new emerging technologies unit. Committee members, especially Assemblymember Ortega, pressed DIR on long vacancy rates, wage theft claim delays, low collection rates for Cal/OSHA fines, and whether new resources would improve outcomes; DIR said it was pursuing recruitment, classification reviews, and process modernization, while the LAO noted that staffing alone may not explain the delays. The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board also sought to make permanent a 2024 change to the 60-day reconsideration clock, saying it had reduced backlog and interim orders; the LAO had no concerns. Finally, the Department of Human Resources presented a statewide Employee Assistance Program contract consolidation that would lower costs compared with renewing separate contracts and requested one program manager position to oversee the contract and first responder services; the hearing continued with Finance’s response after the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Courts could not function. authority. Courts could not function.
• in passing school operating budgets. in passing school operating budgets.
• school spending they are voting for. school spending they are voting for.
• I speak as a school board member, as a chairman of a school board, chaired in SAU.
• Hampshire School Board Association. So Hampshire School Board Association.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just doesn't have the function turned off.
• So, my bill simply requires that apps, platforms, and websites have the notification functions turned
• <00:03:49.760> They notification functions turned off.
• They notification functions turned off.
• <00:04:44.880> district committee, this former school district committee, this former school

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The definition of the student support specialist includes school-based probation officers, school-based
• I can't get my kid to come to school. child that I need help. I can't get my kid to come to school.
• And it's attending school, passing your classes, following the rules of the school, and following your
• , such as mental health counseling at the school-based health center, Communities in Schools, and programs
• Well, going off of last school year, the 2024-2025 school year in Greenbrier County, we had 211 truancy

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its prior meeting and then took up House Bill 5537, a bill to repeal several obsolete or outdated code sections. Counsel explained that the bill would remove provisions related to professional development, a behavioral interventionist pilot program, county lists of facilities for child daycare, and high school graduation rates, with a proposed amendment adding another outdated education code section from 1923. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 5537 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass as amended. The committee then considered House Bill 4656, which would shift truancy policy toward chronic absenteeism and earlier intervention. Counsel said the committee substitute would replace punitive status-offense treatment with wraparound services, student support specialists, and a new child-in-need-of-supervision process, while also ending compulsory attendance at age 18 and removing criminal penalties for 18-year-olds. Members questioned how the new thresholds would work, including the role of attendance directors, prosecutors, judges, and the Department of Human Services, and whether the bill would change current diversion funding or court authority. Witnesses from Fayette County, Greenbrier County, and Taylor County largely opposed the bill or urged caution. The Fayette County attendance director said current truancy procedures, including school-based probation and court involvement, help secure family participation and services, and warned that removing the status offense would weaken enforcement. A Greenbrier County probation officer said diversion programs are effective and that court involvement often leads to needed services. A Taylor County juvenile prosecutor said status-offense jurisdiction gives courts meaningful leverage and flexibility, and asked that counties be allowed to keep existing approaches that work locally. After testimony, the committee voted to report HB 4656 to the full Senate without recommendation and with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Education, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , that allegedly applies to law school, that allegedly applies to law school, too.<00:07:46.240><
• right to challenge the law school right to challenge the law school requirement<00:07:52.240>
• It cannot just be that we want people to attend law school.
• The redress of grievances is a core function of government.
• If your child once they're in the school If your child once they're in the school system,<03:45:

Keywords: 1189, house, all