Transcript Highlights:

• Meeting number two of the Senate Standing Committee on Education will come to order.
• I also worked as an educational recovery leader for the Kentucky Department of Education for two years
• We do the same thing in education.
• Gave up my career and went online and got my own education, my own upper education, but I gave up my
• <00:37:52.200> that<00:37:52.359> they education that they education that they deserve<

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and heard first from the Washway Nicotine Youth Advocacy Group, which urged stronger enforcement of Kentucky’s Tobacco 21 law. Youth advocates described the harms of flavored vaping products, argued that nicotine use is targeting children, and called for retailer licensing, annual compliance checks, harsher penalties for illegal sales, and more funding for enforcement. Committee members praised the presentation, and one senator said he had heard a bill on licensed retailers may be coming soon. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Cloverport Independent School District and the Kentucky Virtual Academy about the state’s virtual school model. Superintendent Keith Haynes and principals Brandy Fagan and Sally Johnson said KYVA serves about 2,800 students, many of whom are at-risk or have health, safety, behavioral, or family reasons for choosing virtual education. They emphasized that the program uses live synchronous instruction, provides devices and materials, and offers special education and related services. They also said the school had a large wait list and that virtual programs need more flexibility in staffing ratios, scheduling, and testing windows. School leaders acknowledged criticism of KYVA’s proficiency scores and said many students entered far below grade level, with 59% not proficient in English language arts and 79% not proficient in math on recent state testing. They argued the program is too new to judge solely on one year of data and pointed to growth in MAP scores, as well as middle and high school rankings in the top half of Kentucky schools. Fagan and Johnson outlined improvement efforts, including daily interventions, small-group instruction, literacy programs, staff training, and expanded clubs and student activities. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• 40 4124 taxes passed for education 40 4124 taxes passed for education purposes public school education
• This is not an education tax. This local is not an education tax.
• As a father of eight of Education. As a father of eight of Education.
• So, from a selfish education. So, from a selfish education.
• I care how successful his education. I care how successful his education.

Bills: HB258, HB324, HB333, SB270, HB258, HB324, HB333, SB270

Keywords: primary election, election calendar, off-presidential year, May primary, second Tuesday in May, fourth Tuesday in May, runoff primary, special primary, presidential primary, election administration, candidate filing, ballot access, political parties, county election officials, state election law, Alabama elections, sheriffs, term of office, Alabama law, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, reconvening the Joint Committee on Higher Education and Education today.
• The Joint Committee on higher education The Joint Committee on higher education and<00:07:48.360
• Thank you. recommendation is adopted okay education recommendation is adopted okay education committee
• First up, we have the Department of Education offering comments. ...we have the Department of Education
• asking for in other areas in education asking for in other areas in education but<01:03:06.000><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 707 on the College Savings Program. Members discussed a suggested amendment from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities to include the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program. The chair said the Department of the Attorney General advised there was no title problem, so the bill could be broadened to cover both the College Savings Program and the ABLE program. The committee also noted technical, non-substantive changes and a defective date of July 1, 3000 for further discussion. HB 707 HD1 was then voted on and the recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present, with two members excused. The committee then heard House Bill 424, which would provide free breakfast and lunch beginning the next school year to students who currently qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education supported the measure, and testimony in favor came from teachers, public health and food security advocates, and several organizations. Supporters described students being denied meals because of unpaid balances, said school meals should not depend on family debt, and argued that the bill would reduce stigma and help hungry students learn. Committee questions focused on meal pricing, the impact of raising prices on families who pay full price, and whether portion sizes could be increased; DOE said breakfast costs less than lunch, full-price students would bear any increase, and portion sizes must follow USDA rules. Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network said many families above the free/reduced thresholds still cannot afford meals, citing estimates that the DOE collects about $20 million a year in meal payments and that federal reimbursement totals are much larger. The committee then heard House Bill 757, the universal free school breakfast and lunch bill. DOE and the Department of Health supported it, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor from county officials, teachers, students, food banks, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Witnesses argued that universal meals would eliminate stigma, reduce paperwork and debt collection, and ensure students do not fall through the cracks because of income cutoffs, language barriers, or administrative hurdles. Several students from Castle High School described classmates asking for food and families struggling to keep meal accounts funded, while teachers said they regularly see negative meal balance notices and hungry students. Advocates also said the bill is the better equity vehicle because it avoids means testing and reaches students who are not currently receiving meals despite needing them. The hearing on HB 757 was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, and no final vote on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Board of Education.
• The Shony education higher education needs to provide a plan.
• . education. education.
• The Shony education higher education needs to provide a plan.
• education. What's when's the audit? education.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as the education trust fund.
• education.
• Um we've put education education.
• <00:18:03.440> And education, to support our needs. And education, to support our needs.
• I'm concerned about the two education<00:34:49.679> funding education funding education funding

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what I think we have in education as well.
• My sister was an educator. My grandmother was an educator.
• Um, in our educational studies department, we have, uh, early childhood education.
• We also, uh, certify in, uh, special education and elementary education.
• Public education department.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm in year 36 of my education career. I last... year 36 of my education career.
• So over the years, I've seen the transition that we face in education and in looking at what's... education
• . families' choices as it pertains to their child's education.
• Basically, the local board of education votes to become... local board of education votes to become a
• I defer in many instances to them around those issues as an educator of what more than issues as an educator

Bills: HB332, HB166, SB336, HB447, HB244

Keywords: computer science, K-12 education, public schools, graduation requirement, digital literacy, coding, programming, STEM, artificial intelligence, AI, computational thinking, technology education, computer literacy, high school credit, middle school, elementary school, teacher training, professional development, distance learning, virtual school

Transcript Highlights:

• > is not take an educational policy that is not take an educational policy that is being<00:29
• they used for um special education they used for um special education services<00:47:40.640>
• interest or manifest educational interest or manifest educational hardship<01:09:56.600> I.E<
• It's the child's education, so I'll support a child's education.
• No, um, 207, requiring the Department of Education to administer the education reform. I move it L.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why is GovOps moving in the space of education policy?
• I would say GovOps isn't necessarily doing education policy.
• In higher education, the Intersegmental Coordinating Committee serves as a forum for cross-sector education
• , Education Bureau, Natalie, you got the rest?
• Growing up, higher education was a privilege that no one else had.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on the education front, we have Mr.
• Six of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Native Hawaiian Education Act of 1988
• Third, we must expand self-governance in education and empower Tribal nations to control their education
• As well as for our Native Hawaiian education.
• Education part is... Trying to educate the young ones to just stay away.

Keywords: tribal sovereignty, healthcare, education, public safety, Economic Development, Tax Parity Act, PROTECT Act, trust obligations, bipartisan support, Indian Health Services

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial issues facing tribal nations, particularly emphasizing the federal government's trust and treaty obligations. The discussions highlighted ongoing challenges such as disparities in healthcare, education, and public safety within Native communities. Chair Murkowski underscored the importance of listening to Native leaders and aligning congressional efforts with community needs, advocating for legislative actions that support tribal sovereignty and economic development. Various initiatives, including the Tax Parity Act and the PROTECT Act, aimed at addressing jurisdictional and financial disparities, were discussed in detail. A call for bipartisan support to alleviate the funding shortages affecting Indian Health Services was made several times during the meeting. Testimonies from tribal leaders and representatives emphasized the dire need for legislative support to enhance infrastructure, healthcare access, and public safety initiatives in tribal communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE CONVERSATION TODAY CERTAINLY IS CENTERED AROUND THE COST OF EDUCATION HERE IN FLORIDA AND LOOKING
• THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
• SO WE DO HAVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO INITIAL TEACHER CERTIFICATION.
• EDUCATION. WE’RE HERE TILL 12:30 P.M. OH OKAY. >> Chair: LAST QUESTION. >> Rep.
• Gantt: BASED ON EDUCATION AS A FORMER EDUCATOR THIS CAUGHT MY EYE.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. certain videos during health education certain videos during health education in<00:01:30.720
• and these videos are uh educational and these videos are uh educational medically<00:02:39.680><
• education.
• been education health education has been education health education has been eliminated<00:35:09.200
• <04:22:09.840> I'll education uh the education statutes I'll education uh the education statutes

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 662, which would require public schools to include discussion of abortion procedures and show specified videos in health education classes. The prime sponsor argued the bill would ensure students receive medically accurate, age-appropriate, and nonpolitical information about abortion, saying the topic is important for informed decision-making and should be taught consistently statewide. He said the videos were intended for grades 9-12, that parents could opt out, and that the requirement was meant to supplement, not sway, students’ views. He also acknowledged the bill could be seen as limiting local control over curriculum and said the intent was to prevent the topic from being missed due to scheduling disruptions. Committee members questioned the sponsor about local control, the need for a video mandate, the source of his statistics, whether the bill could be biased or inflammatory, and whether the requirement should apply every year in high school. The sponsor said the videos were only a starting point, could be replaced by others, and were meant to be informational. He also said the bill was not intended to influence students’ decisions about abortion. Several supporters testified in favor, including representatives of New Hampshire Right to Life and others who said students should be told the “truth” about abortion and its consequences. They emphasized graphic or emotionally difficult aspects of abortion and argued that young people need this information to make informed choices. Opponents and skeptical witnesses raised concerns about prescribing curriculum, eroding local control, and the appropriateness of the material for younger high school students. The New Hampshire School Administrators Association said the bill was overly prescriptive, that health education standards are already set by the State Board of Education, and that the topics in the bill are not part of the current standards. That witness recommended the committee consider retaining the bill for further work or making it less prescriptive. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2142, signed by the chair of the Committee on Education and Education Number Underconsuration
• We also saw how educators came together in 2020 to collect signatures for the Invest in Education Act
• The Protect Education Initiative would insist that the money is actually used for K-12 education, because
• We talk about education.
• Public education is so important, and public education is not just K through 12.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So first time being on this education committee this year.
• and what we do to help education.
• I'm the committee secretary for the Education Committee.
• I represent the Arizona Education Association.
• We represent over 23 Arizona educators across the state.

Bills: SB1009

Keywords: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, AED training, high school curriculum, public school, safety training, emergency response, 1182, all

Summary: The committee meeting began with member and staff introductions, followed by consideration of SB 1009, which would expand Arizona high school emergency response training to include instruction on using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) alongside CPR. The sponsor, Senator Kavanaugh, argued the bill would improve school safety, cost schools nothing because it would be folded into existing CPR instruction, and would help students and staff respond to sudden cardiac arrest. Supporters included the American Heart Association and student witnesses, who emphasized that AED and CPR training can save lives and should be available in schools. The Arizona Education Association opposed the bill, saying it adds an unfunded mandate, could take instructional time away from core subjects, and may require staff time and resources that schools do not have. The Arizona School Boards Association was neutral but raised concerns about funding and implementation, especially for rural districts. During questions, senators debated whether AED instruction is already included in existing CPR standards and whether the bill would create new costs. Senator Kavanaugh said many programs already include AED training and that the bill simply ensures it is part of all school CPR instruction. Opponents questioned the lack of a fiscal note and the reliance on tax credit funding. After discussion, the committee voted on SB 1009 and passed it with a due pass recommendation by a 5-2 vote. Senators Diaz and Brown voted no, while Senators Dunn, Mesnard, Miranda, Werner, and Angius voted yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we'll come to order on the Senate Committee on Education K-16.
• SB 1322 supports Texas's higher education institutions by establishing a Texas Higher Education Accreditation
• Higher education institutions found noncompliant with accreditation would Higher education institutions
• I'm the higher education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• The bill amends the Texas Education Code by establishing the Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills and took no final votes, leaving each measure pending. The first major item, SB 1322 by Senator Hagenbuch, would create a Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for public colleges and universities using outcome-based metrics such as retention, graduation, employment, debt, and repayment. Supporters, including Kate Byerley of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argued the bill would add competition and align accreditation with Texas workforce needs; Senator Menendez questioned the need for a new bureaucracy and noted the $3.6 million fiscal note, suggesting existing reporting and oversight structures could serve the same purpose. The committee then heard SB 1998, which would establish a pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program to encourage medical students to enter pediatric subspecialties. Dr. Lauren Gamble testified in strong support, saying the program would help address shortages and improve access for children, especially in rural and underserved areas. SB 2788, authored by Senator Menendez, would add the PSAT as an accepted assessment for dual credit and Texas Success Initiative purposes; Priscilla Camacho of Alamo Colleges supported the bill, citing strong student outcomes and widespread use of the PSAT as a readiness indicator. Senator Creighton laid out SB 2076, which would remove or modify certain Capitol view corridor restrictions affecting the UT Austin Academic Medical Center project, including the planned specialty hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center expansion. He said the existing corridors are outdated and limit development. The committee also heard SB 1418, a cleanup bill replacing outdated references to ACT Plan with Pre-ACT and removing obsolete SAT subject test language. After brief testimony and no opposition on the later bills, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 1322, SB 1998, SB 2788, SB 2076, and SB 1418 pending before recessing for the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• But one way specific to education is the Public Education Reform Fund, which we're calling by its acronym
• way to study and pilot educational innovations.
• Education Secretary: Mr.
• Education Secretary: Mr.
• We need our school leaders to be in Education Secretary: Classrooms to support our educators to make

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:49.000> in opportunities for public education in opportunities for public education
• <00:10:26.519> investing high quality Early Education investing high quality Early Education
• expanded also focusing on our Educators expanded also focusing on our Educators who<00:12:04.200
• <00:13:35.680> Foundation receive a strong Educational Foundation receive a strong Educational
• Resuming the Committee on Education.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The education pathway is part of that.
• We're just giving a kid an education.
• We're just given a kid an education.
• The, I would never say that education is just education.
• Even for them, and our math educators or any of our high school educators are the ones that have a higher

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:52.000> in increasing cost of education in increasing cost of education in Minnesota
• <00:36:10.720> the understand that you're educating the understand that you're educating the
• <01:03:41.680> We think we we value education. We think we we value education.
• for your education for your education and and and That<01:04:06.720> is<01:04:07.119>
• Education. Education. >> Representative<01:21:22.480> Durant.

Bills: HF1323, HF3500

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, funding, storm damage relief, Bemidji State University, reforestation, state appropriations, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But how we fund education is just part of the problem.
• Today, we educate roughly 74,000 and 80,000 when you include pre-K.
• <00:34:48.560> outcomes and equal or better education outcomes and equal or better education
• , as I said earlier, education transformation is not optional.
• Because as I said earlier, education Because as I said earlier, education transformation<00:39:36.240

Keywords: 927, senate, all