Transcript Highlights:

• should remain on teaching and learning should remain on teaching and learning rather<00:12:37.120
• <00:22:10.400> and impact on student learning and impact on student learning and achievement
• In the end, we want to create a safe and purposeful place for kids to learn and grow.
• Principles are teachers, and learning.
• And safe students are able to learn.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to hear from the New Hampshire Association of School Principals as part of its review of a proposal involving statewide administrative consolidation and changes to school governance. Members first discussed how school board witnesses would be selected, with the chair saying the committee would seek a mix of district sizes and structures and would also accept emailed input. The principals’ association said it represents more than 550 principals and assistant principals and urged caution about any mandatory consolidation, arguing that successful consolidations are gradual and voluntary. Association leaders and principals testified that principals already handle a wide range of responsibilities, including instructional leadership, student discipline, safety, staff supervision and evaluation, family and community engagement, and day-to-day crisis response. They argued that shifting more legal, budgetary, and administrative duties onto principals would reduce time for coaching teachers and supporting students, increase burnout and turnover, and create legal and training risks, especially in areas such as special education, privacy, and labor issues. They also said the roles of superintendents, principals, and school board members are distinct and require different training and expertise. Members asked detailed questions about how responsibilities are divided between principals and SAUs, whether principals recruit and evaluate staff, and how much time principals work. One principal said she works about 60 to 70 hours a week and that additional duties would be difficult to absorb. Another principal described his school’s structure, the importance of community building, and the need to preserve district-wide alignment if consolidation moves forward. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• New York have already implemented similar systems, and this proposal allows us to build on lessons learned
• from those states while learned from those states while tailoring<00:03:17.360> the<00:03:17.519
• And, you know, how can we make sure, if and when we do this, that we learn from that?
• I mean, you know, I've had mentors in my life that always tell me learn from the mistakes that I've done
• from the mistakes that I've me learn from the mistakes that I've done<00:16:50.240> so<00:16:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the information briefing is to learn from experts about the current regulatory framework
• The purpose of the information briefing is to learn from experts about the current regulatory framework
• that are out there and the resources that are available for this community, and to learn more about
• Thank you. ...to learn about the different organizations that are out there and the resources that are
• available for this community, and to learn more about the community.

Bills: HB1974, HB1853, HB1973, HB1574, HB2619, HB1966, HB1643, HB1671, HB2558, HB1854, HB2173, HB1575, HB2229, HB1535, HB1978, HB2508, HB1549, HB2187, HB1550, HB1977, HB2314, HB1871, HB2319, HB1591, HB1858, HB1898, HB2372, HB1765, HB2012, HB1706, HB1962, HB1963, HB1975, HB2009, HB2083, HB2224, HB1877, HB1959, HB1626, HB1665, HB2488, HB2456, HB2548, HB2207, HB1832, HB2079, HB1985, HB1618, HB2486, HB2242, HB2045, HB1703, HB2236, HB2480, HB1976, HB2287, HB2288, HB1777, HB276, HB1660, HB1676, HB1605, HB1751, HB1967, HB2383, HB2340, HB1946, HB2268, HB1950, HB2156, HB2118, HB1859, HB1863, HB1996, HB2114, HB2423, HB2429, HB2475, HB2534, HB2545, HB1813, HB1941, HB2474, HB2583, HB1576, HB1886, HB1939, HB2540, HB2590, HB2000, HB2163, HB2386, HB1691, HB1680, HB2516, HB1993, HB2442, HB1510, HB1958, HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• Remove students from learning environments where they could possibly get help.
• When I became his teacher in 2nd grade, our school began implementing a social and emotional learning
• Pre-K student was reading the enormous Turnip, but his peers were learning their ABC's, so when he was
• One of the, um, resources along with kind of proactively teaching social emotional learning skills and
• We did not have a social emotional learning curriculum. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Bills: HB6, HB120, HB210

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, Texas hemp law, hemp regulation, cannabinoid products, delta-9 THC, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, retail registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, youth access, minor sales

Transcript Highlights:

• They're learning public speaking by giving demonstrations.
• Members learn how to lead meetings, collaborate with peers, and serve their communities.
• They learn accountability. They learn how to problem solve.
• They learn how to respectfully engage with differing perspectives.
• I learned so much from them.

Bills: HR1052, SB2184, SB171

Keywords: 4-H, youth development, community service, education, volunteering, Oklahoma, statutory revision, consolidation, law amendment, emergency legislation, legal clarity, SB171, state government, Capitol security, peace officer commission, legislative security, Department of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Safety, President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House

Transcript Highlights:

• And our centers do an amazing job of giving our students opportunity for work-based learning.
• program are extremely valuable to us, and they allow us to offer students additional work-based learning
• So what we're trying to do with these work-based learning experiences is, again, accommodate students
• how to weld or if you learn how to be an electrician, that is transferable across different companies
• He was like, 'Well, I got out of that one so I could do work-based learning where you work.'

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with HB 765, Childcare and Early Learning Services, by Representative McFarland.
• This bill does several things involving childcare and early learning. So I'll walk you through.
• And most excitingly, it creates an early learning endowment fund that will allow for private or public
• teachers, helping to professionalize the learning growth of the craft.
• I remember learning about this issue maybe about 4-5 years ago when it was really just kind of in the

Transcript Highlights:

• Make sure you learn from Mike Uemasa's retirement from the system, which comes after 56 years of service
• 00:03:15.680> you from Senate it exactly make sure you from Senate it exactly make sure you learn
• > UNAM<00:03:18.840> masami's<00:03:19.280> retirement<00:03:19.760> from learn
• Mike UNAM masami's retirement from learn Mike UNAM masami's retirement from the<00:03:20.000> uh<
• modern learning environment environments he<00:03:42.319> also<00:03:42.519> helped<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I mean, um, you guys may not know I've learned a lot about my co-chair during the course of having
• One of the most important things I think I learned was that he's the most requested singer at funerals
• So, we're I'm going to try to... um you guys may not know I've learned a um you guys may not know I've
• learned a lot<00:05:09.759> about<00:05:10.240> uh<00:05:10.320> my<00:05:10.479
• <00:05:16.639> was important things I think I learned was important things I think I learned

Bills: HF2437

Keywords: tax credits, tax increments, housing development, local government, economic aid, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we have a brand new governor who is learning the process and seeing the state government from
• And, you know, we're still in the process of learning each other. This is this first year.
• I think we'll learn a lot.
• And you learn, I mean, I've learned an incredible number of lessons.
• We've been here for 15 years, and the lessons learned during this session, they're never forgotten, no

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders held a post-sine-die press availability to describe a difficult 2025 session and the major budget and policy outcomes. They said the state faced a $16 billion operating shortfall and an $8 billion transportation gap, along with inflation, slowing revenue, federal uncertainty, and a new governor. Despite that, they said the chambers reached balanced operating and transportation budgets while trying to avoid harming vulnerable residents or overburdening working families. The leaders highlighted several priorities they said were advanced: increased school funding, including about $1.4 billion more for special education; housing measures such as rent stabilization, parking minimum reforms, lot-splitting, and middle-housing enforcement; and public safety funding, including a $100 million one-time law-enforcement appropriation requested by Governor Ferguson. They also discussed a community reinvestment approach and said local governments would have more flexibility to fund community safety. They acknowledged that balancing the budget required painful cuts and tradeoffs, including delays to child support pass-through payments and TANF benefits, reduced support for higher education and student aid, higher child-care copays and fewer child-care slots, closure of one prison and four reentry centers, and reductions in managed care payments. They also said the tax package included modest business tax increases, including a surcharge on some large businesses and sales tax changes for certain services, and that a wealth tax remained alive for future sessions even though it was not part of this year’s budget. Much of the discussion focused on the new governor’s role and whether there was tension over his review of the budget and bills. Leaders said communication with the governor and his staff had improved over the session, that they expected him to carefully review the legislation, and that they were not reading anything into his absence from the press conference. They repeatedly emphasized bipartisan and bicameral collaboration, and several speakers described the session as one of the most challenging they had experienced, citing the budget gap, federal uncertainty, and recent personal losses in the Legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• be<03:27:57.200> excited<03:27:57.680> about<03:27:58.080> learning, to learn
• , to be excited about learning, to learn, to be excited about learning, I<03:27:59.040> think<
• :54:19.359> and<03:54:19.600> depression learning treats trauma and depression learning
• So I have behavior and he learned.
• because that's what I learned because that's what I learned about<05:47:22.798> crime<05:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FROM HER WE LEARNED THAT POLICY MUST NOT ONLY MOVE PEOPLE FORWARD BUT HELP THEM HEAL REMEMBER MARY OF
• FROM HER WE LEARNED THAT LEADERSHIP MEANS TELLING THE TRUTH EVEN WHEN IT DISRUPTS EXPECTATION OR CHALLENGES
• A KEY PART OF THE LEGACY OF THE YMCA YOUTH GOVERNMENT PROGRAM EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW DEMOCRACY
• IT STRENGTHENS EARLY LEARNING GOVERNANCE BY SHIFTING OVERSIGHT OF DISTRICTS RUN VPK PROGRAMS IN EARLY
• LEARNING COALITION'S TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LINES PUBLIC SCHOOL VPK PROGRAMS TO VERIFY ATTENDANCE USING

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kids learn to read in first grade, and by third grade they are reading to learn.
• So the research—and, quite frankly, when I was—I learned this.
• They're kind of trying to learn... ...about the whole situation from scratch.
• So what lessons have we learned?
• Other industries don't have the lessons that we have to learn.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held its fourth hearing, with opening remarks from Senate Chair Adam Gómez and House Chair Dan Donahue emphasizing the committee’s broad agenda, including retail modernization, labor protections, advertising rules, sustainability, and financial resources. Testimony began with public health advocates supporting H.157/S.9 to ban cannabis billboard advertising, arguing that billboards normalize use for youth and are linked to cannabis-related harms such as psychosis, addiction, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Witnesses cited research, family stories, and court decisions in Mississippi and Virginia upholding similar restrictions, while committee members questioned the scope of the state’s authority to regulate billboards on private property and the relevance of federal highway funding and federal cannabis law. The committee also heard testimony on H.175, a proposal to allow cannabis drive-through sales. A dispensary operator argued drive-throughs would improve access, especially for disabled customers and veterans, and said security and ID checks could be handled with cameras and staff screening. Committee members pressed him on how employees would assess impairment, whether drive-throughs could increase access for minors, and whether the industry should be treated like alcohol, with the witness responding that staff already refuse service to intoxicated customers and that education, not prohibition, is the better approach. Another bill, H.3982, would apply the bottle deposit law to carbonated hemp- or THC-infused beverages; the sponsor said the measure would standardize recycling requirements for products already sold in dispensaries and other markets, and members asked about container types and recycling compatibility. A major portion of the hearing focused on labor peace agreements, with UFCW representatives, cannabis workers, and Sen. Lydia Edwards supporting S.77/H.161. They said the bill would require cannabis businesses to remain neutral when workers seek to organize, arguing that unions improve safety, wages, benefits, and job stability in an industry they described as underregulated and prone to retaliation. Witnesses cited workplace hazards, wage theft, and the death of a worker at a Holyoke facility as examples of why stronger worker protections are needed. Committee members asked how the proposal differs from existing labor law, whether tying LPAs to licensing and renewal could create legal or administrative problems, and how other states handle similar requirements. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're... ...we're learning.
• We're assessing real-world challenges, and... ...lessons learned.
• And there's probably going to be a learning curve associated with that. So the CCPs...
• And what we learned was, I think, two really important things.
• But here's the summary of what we learned. We started by looking at the capital costs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on two related issues: gas utilities’ climate compliance plans filed with the Department of Public Utilities and the recent DPU orders reforming the Gas System Enhancement Program (GSEP). Chair Creem and other senators emphasized that Massachusetts must reduce gas use, shrink the gas distribution footprint, and move customers to alternatives such as heat pumps, network geothermal, and non-gas pipeline alternatives (NPAs). DPU Chair Jamie Van Nostrand said the new GSEP orders lower the annual revenue cap from 3.0% to 2.5%, phase it down toward 1.5%, eliminate carrying charges, require more rigorous risk prioritization, and push utilities to consider advanced leak technology, relining, repairs, and NPAs. He also described the climate compliance plans as the start of a longer process covering decommissioning, stranded costs, line extension allowances, integrated energy planning, and targeted electrification demonstrations. Senators pressed the DPU and utility witnesses on the lack of specificity in the climate compliance plans, especially the absence of numeric goals for gas usage reduction, customer conversions, and near-term deployment of NPAs. Utility representatives from Eversource and National Grid said their plans include NPA frameworks, integrated energy planning, targeted electrification pilots, network geothermal, and workforce transition efforts, but argued that implementation takes time, requires customer participation, and depends on coordination with electric utilities and communities. They said some NPA and electrification projects are being evaluated now, while larger-scale deployment is expected later in the decade. Senators also raised concerns about line extension allowances, with utilities explaining that new customers may be charged based on whether existing ratepayers would otherwise be harmed, while National Grid said it has begun increasing customer contributions to send stronger price signals. Attorney General Mary Gardner supported the DPU’s GSEP reforms and said the office favors eventually stepping the GSEP cap down to zero by 2030, with repair and replacement costs recovered in base rate cases instead. She argued that the utilities’ plans still rely too heavily on business-as-usual approaches, do not adequately quantify scope 3 emissions, and leave unresolved questions about the obligation to serve and the future of line extension allowances. Advocacy witnesses from the Conservation Law Foundation and Acadia Center were more critical, saying the plans lack the detailed modeling, targets, and transparency needed to show how the utilities will help meet the Commonwealth’s heating and cooling sublimits and broader climate goals. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• issues, so moving over to the Senate, health has been a new issue for me, and I look forward to a learning
• One thing about this committee, we're always learning.
• us, even on this committee, and of course the public watching us, were maybe unable to listen and learn
• We're just putting them in a position to learn... ...more about crime, to learn more about maybe I shouldn't
• And then for those two first years, it's a hybrid learning curriculum.

Bills: SB5, SB6, SB8

Keywords: physician residency, healthcare, rural communities, medical education, appropriation, education, medical school, New Mexico, construction, behavioral health, funding, mental health services, general fund transfer, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our children's learning House file 34 35 was amended in committee and is modeled off of the previous
• It's also where where I learned about the concept of location that we are called for good.
• And secondly, we learned that the shooter spent a tremendous amount of time researching this.
• in an environment that is safe and secure and allows them to learn.
• environment that is safe and secure and allows them to learn.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• name is Bobby Burnham, and I serve as the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Teaching and Learning
• Commissioner for the Office of Teaching and Learning at the Department of Education.
• began professional learning registration began in<00:21:45.880> December.
• experiencing poverty and learning experiencing poverty and learning English<00:45:40.960> who
• Um, being that I've been here 14 months, I'm still learning.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I think I've learned. >> Good afternoon, Senator Gray and members of the committee.
• Um, in the elementary level, students may not be able to write a persuasive essay, but they can learn
• And I share this with you because at the high school digital learning portfolios was something we're
• , you know, they can learn about, you know, argumentative<01:24:19.280> points,<01:24:19.600><
• progress throughout learning the trades. progress throughout learning the trades.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh if learning through play experience.
• It is just a grand opportunity to learn.
• It is just a grand opportunity to learn.
• It is just a grand opportunity to learn.
• During my time there, I was able to learn the basics of flight and aviation altogether by learning under

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism met to hear presentations on a proposed downtown Lexington Arts Center. Visit Lex opened by framing the projects as regional economic development efforts that could support tourism, quality of life, and workforce attraction and retention. NextStage Development Corp. and ATG Entertainment then described a proposed $120 million project featuring a 2,500-seat performing arts center and a 20,000-square-foot visual arts gallery, with plans for up to 180 events a year, over 300,000 annual visitors, and an opening target of 2029. The presenters said the project would be funded through a $30 million state request, $30 million from ATG Entertainment, and $60 million raised by the nonprofit through philanthropy and other financing sources. They cited a feasibility study by Sound Diplomacy and compared the proposal to the Durham Performing Arts Center, arguing that similar venues have driven downtown revitalization, tourism, and economic activity in other cities. They also said the venue would include community access, school partnerships, subsidized tickets, and revenue returned to the nonprofit for grants and arts programming. Members asked about the total cost, the funding mix, whether the city of Lexington would contribute, and the building’s design. The presenters said they are in contact with city officials and are seeking city support, but have not yet hired an architect or begun conceptual design. They said the design process will involve community input and should fit Lexington’s historic downtown character. Representative Whitten asked whether the project would compete with Louisville; the presenters responded that their market analysis suggests the venue would serve audiences from Lexington, eastern Kentucky, and surrounding areas who are unlikely to travel to Louisville or Cincinnati, making the project complementary rather than competitive.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill updates supports for early learning by narrowing Gold Seal termination and disqualification
• The bill updates supports for early learning by narrowing gold seal termination and disqualification
• I learned about it from outside sources, and I immediately raised concerns because I've spent 30 years
• Too often, families only learn about problems after a child's behavior changes, regressions appear, or
• I was terrified to be in school before I learned to type.

Bills: S0824, S1170, S1620, S1738, S7036

Keywords: school district, real property, inventory, land use, education, video monitoring, safety, special education, parental rights, public education, school board rights, transparency, employment conditions, nondisclosure agreements, educational facilities, student safety, teacher accountability, physical plant, school design, construction standards

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.