Transcript Highlights:

• , if they're a nonpaying coach, assistant coach, non-faculty sponsor of an extracurricular activity.
• This was a concern I had from coaches who have a large team and a large coaching staff.
• communications to the coach. communications to the coach. >> Okay. >> Okay.
• , coach, should I go to UVL?
• , coach, should I go to UVL?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Education Committee met to consider Senate Bill 181, which revises Kentucky’s new law on traceable school communications between adults in positions of authority and students. Senator Lindsey Tichenor explained that the bill was originally enacted earlier in the year to prevent private electronic communications that could facilitate grooming, but implementation revealed problems that prompted a committee substitute. She said the revised bill broadens and clarifies definitions, including family member and qualified school volunteer, narrows the law to students enrolled in the same district, and adds exemptions for virtual instruction, translation services, parent-provided phone numbers, public social media, commercial communications, secure healthcare messaging, and emergencies. It also changes parental consent rules, limits mandatory reporting to situations involving a reasonable belief of an unreported violation, and makes disciplinary action against employees or volunteers permissible rather than mandatory. The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote after a motion and second, and the bill was then opened for public testimony. Laura Wills Coppelman testified in support of the bill’s purpose but urged more attention to what happens after a concern is raised. She said her own experience and those of other survivors showed that internal school processes can fail students and that parental notification alone is not enough if investigations remain inside the institution. She suggested that when an internal investigation ends without discipline, parents should receive a written explanation so decisions affecting student safety are documented and reviewable. Senators asked about coach-athlete communications, parental notice, commercial contacts, and possible remaining issues involving school resource officers and designated school personnel. Tichenor said public social media interactions and parent consent forms would allow needed coach communications, schools would inform parents of violations and outcomes, and commercial or second-job contacts were addressed in the exemptions. Several senators spoke in support of the revised bill while acknowledging concerns and unintended consequences from the original law. Senator Reed emphasized parental empowerment and asked about recruiting-related coach communications; Senator Neal asked how parents would be informed and was told the school would notify them; Senator Higdon said the bill was a thoughtful revisit and noted possible future amendments for DPSs and SROs; and Senator Meredith and others said the changes addressed unintended consequences rather than a flawed policy goal. Senator Thomas framed the measure as a matter of boundaries, and Senator Williams said the bill may need continued monitoring as technology changes but that it had already helped identify potential abuse cases. The committee then voted on the bill, with members explaining their votes before the meeting moved toward final action on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:02.560> we with her for 6 months we did coaching we with her for 6 months we did coaching
• Paul when he was four years old and today is one of the youth coaches. I'll turn it over to Mr.
• Paul when he was four years old and today is one of the youth coaches. I'll turn it over to Mr.
• <00:47:13.319> training what I call CIT or the coaching training what I call CIT or the coaching
• round last winter and now I help coach round last winter and now I help coach uh<00:47:35.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Coach Lloyd, thank you for being with us as well. Let's get into it.
• Coach Lloyd and his team accomplished something Wildcat fans have been waiting for over two decades to
• Coach Lloyd and his team accomplished something Wildcat fans have been waiting for over two decades to
• Lloyd and the team are here, share my excitement that Coach Lloyd and the team are here and they are
• Welcome to the House, Coach Lloyd. Can he say some words? Okay, first off, thank you guys.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and several guest introductions and recognitions, including military award honorees, a resident doctor of the day, and visitors from Sahuarita and Buckeye. The chamber also later paused to honor the University of Arizona men’s basketball team for its Final Four run with a formal proclamation and remarks from legislative leaders and Coach Tommy Lloyd. A separate announcement recognized Motorcycle Awareness Day at the Capitol. The main legislative work centered on a large consent calendar and multiple Senate bills considered in Committee of the Whole and an additional Committee of the Whole. The House adopted committee amendments and advanced bills including SB 1067, 1100, 1137, 1174, 1189, 1206, 1215, 1235, 1254, 1413, 1503, 1620, 1668, 1671, and 1754, while SB 1428 was retained on the calendar. The House also referred SB 1160 and SB 1193 to an additional Committee of the Whole for further amendment, then advanced both as amended. On third reading, the House passed SB 1058, SB 1237, SB 1294, and SB 1372. SB 1058 drew debate over merchant category codes for firearm-related transactions, with supporters arguing it protected Second and Fourth Amendment rights and opponents warning it would hinder business compliance and privacy concerns. SB 1237 and SB 1294 passed with little substantive debate. SB 1372, dealing with reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetists, prompted extensive debate over rural health care access, insurance reimbursement, and whether the legislature should set payment rates; it ultimately passed 33-20. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to several House bills and passed HB 2050 on final reading, sending it to the governor. The session adjourned until April 13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE WITH US AUBURN'S MOST FAMOUS ASSISTANT COACH AND FLORIDA'S CURRENT HEAD COACH MR.
• TODD GOLDMAN AND THREE-TIME MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPION DOREEN GREENE, OUR ASSISTANT COACH, IF YOU COULD
• SCHOOL TO HAVE BOTH THREE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SENT THREE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SO COACH
• :, COACH GREEN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE AND AS A MEMBER OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE I SUGGEST
• , MANAGER OR REFEREE OR NOT BACKGROUND SCREEN MUST BE DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY AN ATHLETIC COACH WHO HAS

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, grant writing, coaching, and leadership mentoring.
• I'm like Coach Bennett. I was a coach.
• And if he coaches football, he's looking at $35,000. I just do not have that.
• And, you know, I was a coach my whole life until I went to administration.
• I even coached a couple of years as an AP just to help out our baseball coach.

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met to discuss the needs of rural school districts and the role of Florida’s three regional education consortia: the Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, and Heartland Educational Consortium. Executive directors and several rural superintendents described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide shared services, professional learning, leadership development, grant support, cooperative purchasing, risk management, IT/cybersecurity help, and back-office assistance that small districts could not afford to provide on their own. They emphasized that rural districts are often very small, have limited staff, and must still meet the same state reporting and compliance requirements as large urban systems. Testimony focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, alternative certification, and the difficulty of staffing specialized roles such as CFOs, MIS directors, IT staff, and content-area teachers. Superintendents said many new hires are career changers or alternatively certified teachers who need consortium-supported training, and several argued for more flexibility in funding so districts can raise salaries and compete with neighboring districts and nearby states. Members also asked about the impact of declining enrollment, homeschooling, and voucher-related school choice; superintendents said those trends are reducing FTE and creating budget instability, while also requiring districts to right-size staff and programs. Several speakers described the financial strain on rural districts, including rising insurance costs, transportation costs, and the challenge of forecasting budgets when enrollment changes after the school year begins. One superintendent recounted major hurricane damage and said consortium risk-management support was essential to recovery. Others said the consortia help districts pool resources for property and health insurance, payroll, student data systems, and procurement, and that this shared approach saves money and improves services. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:44.480> In teacher, a coach, or a trusted adult.
• In teacher, a coach, or a trusted adult.
• So, I want to congratulate the team under the stellar leadership of head coach Jody Mouser.
• But I want to say a special congratulations<00:24:13.440> to<00:24:13.679> coach<00:24:
• 14.000> Ryan<00:24:14.320> Perry,<00:24:14.960> to congratulations to coach Ryan

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:02 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:49 Report of Committees 06:49 Orders of the Day 08:20 HB 4 08:33 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 17:34 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 27:40 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 29:22 ConC/Rules Report 33:29 Floor Amendments 35:06 Adjournment 35:37, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow bill co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the journal and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 48 and 102 and requested concurrence. The clerk then reported second-reading bills including measures on school bus safety, special license plates, healthcare workforce credentials, housing, veteran PTSD treatment, postsecondary education, the Kentucky Fire Commission, and local purchasing, along with committee reports advancing a wide range of bills on cultured meat, eviction/removal of unlawful occupants, involuntary commitment, grand jury service, CPA licensure, physical therapy, engineering scholarships, rabies vaccinations, the Controlled Substance Prescribing Council, robotics, reading and language arts instruction, and the education assessment/accountability system. The main floor action was House Bill 4, relating to grooming a minor. The sponsor described the bill as creating criminal penalties for grooming behavior, with enhanced penalties when the offender holds a position of authority. A floor amendment was adopted making technical wording changes and adding siblings and volunteers to the bill’s lawful-purpose exceptions. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing child protection and the need for stronger legal tools, though one member said she wished the age threshold were higher. The House then passed House Bill 4 as amended by a vote of 98-0. After HB 4, the House moved through announcements and legislative citations. Members recognized the Corbin Middle School football team and the Lion County High School boys basketball team, and honored M. Samantha Shaver, DMD. Committee meeting notices were announced for several panels, including Economic Development, State Government, Natural Resources and Energy, Families and Children, and Health Services. The clerk also reported newly introduced bills and resolutions covering school foods, family care leave, correctional services, protective orders, data privacy, school funding for districts with high tax-exempt property, Medicaid coverage for adult day health and in-home attendant care, alternative diplomas, Kentucky Nurses Day, a sister-city partnership with Israel’s Shamron Regional Council, and DUI. The House then recessed briefly for committee meetings, received committee referral and rules reports, introduced floor amendments to HB 257 and HB 305, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, let it be known we have a very famous Minnesota Cincinnati coach in our midst today.
• Welcome Coach O'Connell to the Minnesota House floor. on being named the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year.
• A House resolution recognizing the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year.
• Whereas Kevin O'Connell, the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, has been named the 2024 NFL Coach of
• Whereas, under Coach O'Connell's guidance, the Minnesota Vikings achieved an impressive season record

Transcript Highlights:

• Leonard Smoot I've known um their coach Leonard Smoot I've known um their coach Leonard Smoot I've known
• lyard the Golden Bears and head coach lyard the Golden Bears and head coach lyard Smoot for a phenomenal
• tremendous privilege to recognize coach tremendous privilege to recognize coach Smoot and the Miles
• Leonard Smoot are commended head coach Leonard Smoot are commended head coach Leonard Smoot are commended
• Paul B Bryan while football coach Paul B Bryan while football coach Paul B Bryan while teaching and

Bills: SJR 36, SJR 2, SB 4, SR 45, SR 47, SR 63, SR 66, SR 70, SR 85, SCR 14, SB 10, SB 11, SB 10, SB 11

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Kudos to the team, Coach Bryant, and to all of the amazing coaches in the community for this outstanding
• 14.559> the Congratulations, Coach Ward and the Congratulations, Coach Ward and the Tigers.<00
• To coach cold skills and strength.
• nickname of Coach Shaver.
• As coach, he led the Coach Shaver.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Professional learning was created coaching was provided.
• We are not where I want to be like Coach Bennett. I was a coach until I want to say championship.
• I'm losing the head football coach.
• And, you know, I was a coach, my whole often to in administration even coached a couple years as an a
• P just to help our baseball coach.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People who work with peer recovery coaches have fewer hospitalizations and relapses, and family-based
• I’m also a certified addiction recovery coach through MPSACC and a recovery coach supervisor.
• and supervising coaches, is the same exact drop-down, where it’s very black and white.
• I’m also a recovery coach and recovery coach supervisor.
• I'm also a recovery coach and recovery coach supervisor.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a broad set of mental health, substance use, recovery, and patients’ rights bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2227, which would replace stigmatizing substance use terminology in the General Laws, and H. 3950, which would support parents in recovery involved with DCF by requiring more individualized recovery plans, clearer benchmarks for parenting time, access to recovery coaches or counselors, family counseling after sustained recovery, and staff training on addiction and lived experience. Speakers described the bills as ways to reduce stigma, increase accountability, and improve reunification outcomes for families. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1386, which would transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. Advocates, family members, and disability groups testified that Bridgewater functions like a prison rather than a hospital, with excessive restraint, seclusion, involuntary medication, poor conditions, and racial disparities, and argued DMH should oversee a treatment setting. One DMH occupational therapist and MNA member opposed the transfer, saying the real issue is mixing forensic and continuing-care patients and that DMH should instead create designated forensic units under bills H. 228/S. 1408. Committee members asked about Bridgewater’s population, the history of DOC control, capacity, staffing, and how a transfer might be implemented. The committee also heard testimony on modernizing the six fundamental rights for psychiatric inpatients, including expanding communication options, clarifying visitation and advocacy definitions, and improving access to gender-appropriate and culturally relevant items. Another bill, H. 2216, would require stronger oversight before antipsychotic medication is prescribed in nursing homes, prompted by concerns about inappropriate use. Finally, testimony supported H. 2240 and H. 2239 on sober homes, with supporters saying discharge and relocation policies are needed when a resident returns to active use or becomes unsafe, while preserving the recovery environment and resident rights. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if this is your definition of grooming, someone could take this and say, well, the coach was doing
• And if this is your definition of grooming, someone could take this and say, well, the coach was doing
• I mean, coach, and I've been coaching 45 years, and I can tell you 45 years ago you could grab a player
• I mean, coach, and I've been coaching 45 years, and I can tell you 45 years ago you could grab a player
• uh, whatever it may be, that we coaching uh, whatever it may be, that we try<00:55:36.480> to

Bills: SB255, SB199, SB47, HB605, HB216, HB621, HB148, HB389, HB509, HB248, SB255, SB199, SB47, HB605, HB216, HB621, HB148, HB389, HB509, HB248, SB336, SB293, SB43, HB420, HB60, HB188, HB106, HB105, HB11

Keywords: SB255, cannabinoid, hemp, hemp-derived THC, THCa, delta-8 THC, HHC, CBD, THC, novel cannabinoid products, hemp products, intoxicating hemp, delta-8, retail license, Department of Revenue, Department of Agriculture and Industries, testing and labeling, third-party laboratory, product safety, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• North Side coaches and staff build North Side coaches and staff build trusting<00:48:49.880> relationships
• <01:21:44.280> and months of having the career coach and months of having the career coach
• <01:38:48.080> and increase staff with coaches and increase staff with coaches and instructors
• <01:43:50.960> for an educator and a gymnastics coach for an educator and a gymnastics coach
• I'm a youth engagement coach with Emerge Community Development.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if they need to talk to their coaches, a study area where they can all study.
• if they need to talk to their coaches, a study area where they can all study.
• A couple of coaches were also on that expanded committee.
• A couple of coaches were also on that expanded committee.
• A couple of coaches were also on that expanded committee.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education heard several Senate concurrent resolutions related to University of Hawaiʻi programs, audits, and workforce development. Testimony on SCR 50, which urged establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Maui campus, was strongly supportive, with witnesses citing the state’s nursing shortage and Maui’s acute physician and nurse shortages. The committee later recommended passage with a technical HD1 amendment, and the measure was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee also heard SCR 137, SCR 138, and SCR 142, all involving proposed audits. SCR 137 sought a performance audit of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation; the Foundation opposed it, and the chair recommended deferral after noting the legislative auditor’s view that the office lacks jurisdiction over the private nonprofit. SCR 138 proposed a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy, and SCR 142 proposed an audit of the UH Mānoa athletics department. UH representatives provided comments on both, with athletics explaining existing NCAA-required financial audits, internal performance evaluations, and a strategic plan that includes self-review. The committee ultimately recommended passage of SCR 138 and SCR 142 with technical HD1 amendments. For SCR 192, which proposed a veterinary medicine expansion working group, UH and other witnesses discussed the idea of exploring a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, but the chair said a community college is not the appropriate venue for a doctoral program. The committee recommended substantial HD1 changes removing Windward Community College from the title and shifting the effort to the UH system level, adding the UH president or designee and a Hilo campus representative to the working group; the amended resolution was adopted. The committee also heard SCR 193, calling for community colleges to identify bachelor’s degree and workforce pathways aligned with regional needs, and SCR 203, which sought exploration of an Alzheimer’s disease research center and federal funding requirements; both drew supportive comments and no opposition. The meeting recessed briefly for lack of quorum, then reconvened for decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires coaches to report any assistance provided.
• Really quick, would the athletic director, coach, or the judge?
• Really quick, would the athletic director, coach, or the judge?
• So what happens if a teacher is also serving as a coach of the football team?
• I have a question about what boosters are allowed to pay toward salaries of coaches.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took favorable action on a number of them. CS/CS/SB 54 by Senator Sharif would require district medical examiners to perform toxicology screening for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of identified violent offenders, consult treating providers when available, document findings, and report results to state agencies; it passed after brief questions and one opponent waived against. CS/SB 176 by Senator Polsky would require public colleges and universities to publish clearer campus safety reporting and response procedures for threats to students, faculty, or staff; it also passed favorably with no opposition. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Florida Farm Bill by Senator Trumbull, was the longest item and drew extensive testimony. The bill covers fair association rules, preemption of local limits on gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinarian loan repayment program, permanent funding for Farmers Feeding Florida, forest service training, signal jammer penalties, CDL exam cheating penalties, no-solicitation protections, inspector protections, biosolids rules, and contractor payment enforcement. Members adopted multiple amendments, including changes to contractor payment language, expanding vet loan repayment to equine vets, merging citrus research entities, technical updates to fair statutes and nonprofit definitions, and a late amendment removing the bill’s disparagement/free-speech section after significant public testimony and debate. A separate late amendment on biosolids delayed compliance timelines for Broward County, and the bill then passed favorably as amended. The committee also approved CS/CS/SB 834 on nonprofit religious organizations, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement through amendment; the bill passed with support from some faith-based and consumer groups and one waiver against. SB 936 on temporary door locking devices passed without opposition. CS/SB 50 would expand veterans’ courts statewide as an option in all judicial circuits for service-related issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse; it received broad support from veterans and advocacy groups and passed favorably. CS/SB 1004, in strike-all form, would regulate dog and cat sales by requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, adding a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and treating violations as unfair trade practices; an amendment removed an appropriation section, and the bill passed after questions about financing and pet retention. The committee then approved CS/CS/SB 178, which directs the Florida High School Athletic Association to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide good-faith support to student-athletes for basic needs like food, transportation, and recovery services, while requiring reporting and preserving anti-recruiting enforcement; members discussed possible parental-consent language, and the bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee began hearing CS/SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks, with Senator Rouson explaining that it would regulate crypto kiosks to combat fraud, require operator registration, fraud warnings, blockchain analytics policies, and transaction limits, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our coach, obviously, is building a dynasty.
• He was the 5A Wrestling Coach of the Year here. So I'm not going to read the resolution.
• Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns and to congratulate Coach Wilbers on his retirement.
• Again, Coach Wilbers is not here today. He'll be here tomorrow. We can celebrate him then.
• for the Golden Suns, and congratulate Coach Wilbers on his retirement, and I ask for a good vote.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The girls also carried with them the words of one of their assistant coaches, a former head coach, whose
• And they are led by Head Coach Kaitlin Kolb; and Assistant Coaches Mikayla Johnson, Lonni Carroll, Beth
• J J, AND THEY ARE LED BY THE HEAD COACH KAITLIN KOLB; AND ASSISTANT COACHES MIKAYLA JOHNSON, LONNI CARROLL
• BUT THEY STAYED COMMITTED, THEY STAYED FOCUSED AND SO DID THEIR HEAD COACH, JENNY HARKINS.
• And coaches, if you would rise as well.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a series of previously adopted resolutions recognizing individuals, communities, and state traditions. The chamber honored Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis posthumously after his Medal of Honor recognition, with remarks from Senator Scarcella-Spanton and others praising his sacrifice and welcoming his parents. Senators also celebrated New York maple producers and Maple Weekends, Bangladesh Independence Day and the contributions of Bangladeshi New Yorkers, York Middle/High School girls varsity volleyball for winning a state championship, Pavilion/York Air Rifle for winning the state invitational championship, and Tartan Day. These resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors opened them for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved through the regular calendar and passed multiple bills, including measures on environmental conservation, personal property, agriculture and markets, insurance, state law, executive law, workers’ compensation, election law, correction law, public health, and parks/historic preservation. Most passed with broad support, though some drew a handful of negative votes. One bill on election law, allowing certain 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the general election, prompted supportive floor debate from several senators and passed 43-17. Another bill on correction law also passed after debate. A notable controversy arose over Calendar 227, a Public Authorities Law bill related to school energy planning and electric buses. Senator Borrello challenged an amendment as nongermane, the Chair ruled against it, and the Senate voted 22-0 to sustain the ruling. The underlying bill then passed, despite criticism from senators who argued the state should repeal the electric bus mandate and instead study safer, more practical alternatives for school districts. The Senate then completed its business and adjourned until March 24 at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Note that there's additional funding proposed here for reading coaches and math coaches.
• I have a very specific question around the block grant for the literacy coaches and the math coaches.
• The reality is that everywhere in the country, it is hard to find coaches.
• coaches.
• at it and try to find the coaches."

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hear that we're working toward getting literacy coaches and academic coaches in all the school districts
• So every D and F school gets assigned a kind of a state literacy coach.
• always say back to is: what data shows that some of these schools need coaches?
• So D and F schools should have a state literacy coach assigned to them.
• So now we're trying to find more literacy coaches.

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've coached sports since 2000, every year. Uh, whether it's youth, college, high school.
• I've coached sports since 2000, with.
• I've coached sports since 2000, um,<00:59:46.400> every<00:59:46.720> year.
• So, I have and and I'm also a track and cross country coach as well.
• track and cross country coach as well. track and cross country coach as well.

Bills: HB0076, HB0102, HB0115

Keywords: annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, cardiac emergency, defibrillator, school safety, training, public health, 916, all