Transcript Highlights:

• </c> work with the different school work with the different school communities<00:14:16.720><c> to</c
• </c><00:14:43.279><c> Um</c> and we would work with schools. Um and we would work with schools.
• </c> high schools and the four-year campuses. high schools and the four-year campuses.
• schools to high schools.
• Mahalo. access to local food in schools. It is access to local food in schools.

Summary: The joint committees on Education and Higher Education first heard HCR 75 and HR 67, which ask the Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi to assess criteria for building an educational pipeline and curriculum for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Department of Education said it would stand on its written testimony, and UH supported the measure, noting existing community college and four-year programs related to the topic. Members asked how DOE promotes cybersecurity opportunities and whether it provides funding; DOE said schools usually connect with partners and its office works with them, but it does not have separate funding for such efforts. UH also explained that some advanced manufacturing concepts may overlap with 3D printing, material sciences, and entrepreneurship, and described P20 as a forum for aligning K-12 and higher education pathways. The committees then recessed the joint hearing and moved to the Education Committee agenda. The committee next heard HCR 46 and HR 39, which would make DOE recreational facilities available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. DOE said it already uses facilities agreements with insurance, liability waivers, indemnification, and certificates of insurance to protect schools. The Attorney General opposed the resolutions, warning that unrestricted public use without safeguards could create substantial liability and cost risks for the state. The measure’s introducer said the goal was to help underserved communities that lack access to public recreation spaces, and DOE said it would be open to joint-use arrangements with larger organizations but remained concerned about vandalism and liability. The committee also heard HCR 86 and HR 80 on creating an Aloha Civics working group, with DOE offering comments and Common Cause Hawaiʻi strongly supporting the idea. DOE described a civic learning and engagement task force that met with stakeholders, including UH and the PACE Commission, and produced recommendations such as building partnership inventories, integrating civic learning across grade levels, and aligning the work with DOE’s HA framework and learner outcomes. Common Cause said civic education can be implemented effectively and affordably, citing existing school projects such as ranked-choice voting and classroom constitutions. Later, the committee took up HCR 87 and HR 81, urging an annual Climate Week in public schools. DOE again stood on written comments, while the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum, a student from Kaimuki High School, and other supporters argued that a dedicated week would ensure consistent climate education, build resilience, and connect climate issues to health, food security, and disaster preparedness. Supporters said existing climate-related opportunities are uneven across schools and that a formal Climate Week would create a more equitable approach. The committee then heard HCR 95 and HR 91 on informing students about changes to gun safety and storage laws; DOE asked for clarification on the measure’s intended outcome, and one individual testified in support. Finally, the committee heard HCR 104 and HR 100 on strengthening farm-to-school initiatives. DOE said it is already working to improve menus, emphasize local products, and meet with distributors to increase local procurement, while the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience offered food science, nutrition, and extension support. Climate Future Forum, the Hawaii Youth Food Council, and other supporters said farm-to-school efforts are important for student health, local farmers, and food sovereignty, noting that local food procurement in schools remains far below the state’s 30% by 2030 goal. DOE explained it is trying to provide distributors and farmers with more predictable demand and is meeting with distributors to set up next year’s supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• nursing and school-based counseling.
• institutions for medical school.
• That's the School of Medicine component only.
• If you're planning, are there other medical schools or types of medical schools that would help complement
• I'm just going to talk about the university; I'll go back to high school and grammar school and kindergarten

Transcript Highlights:

• The residential school is a nationally ranked two-year boarding school in Oklahoma City with the most
• These events would include our middle school math contest, the summer math institute for middle school
• middle school students.
• The Arkansas school has two LPCs.
• The South Carolina school has two, and the Louisiana school has four.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Schools.
• they are the same as every other school district in the state, because Kansas City School District is
• because what's your school district?
• Louis City public schools and our largest state school district, the Springfield Public School District
• The Springfield, the number one school district in the state, the Springfield Public School District

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• a handful of high school students.
• I'm curious Are there plans to do anything with these schools or some of the schools that they're looking
• Ingram, the 435 is for the school buses, so the 18.8 million, all those school buses, the cameras are
• Because already this is a big school. It's an expensive school.
• You know, we're building a big school in Maxwell. We're building a big school in Springer.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• after school, for summer school, and for our special education extended school year.
• This is about a school, every single school district in the state of California.
• We have Fullerton Elementary School District and Fullerton Unified School District.
• Of a fairly 150,000, two school districts, one high school, one elementary.
• School districts, one high school, one elementary. We're talking about closing down.

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee began with a status report from the State Auditor on staffing and audit capacity, noting 14 audit supervisors, 14 audits in progress, several audits scheduled for release, and a planned high-risk review of state financial reporting. The committee then approved a consent calendar covering six audit requests, including topics such as kindergarten oral health assessments, prison infrastructure management, Los Angeles fires prevention and response, community college financial aid and enrollment, wildfire management at Chino Hills State Park, and the Chiquita Canyon landfill. The first major item was Assembly Member Gonzalez’s request for an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. Supporters described long-running fiscal mismanagement, a projected $60 million deficit, layoffs, concerns about contracting practices, foundation donations, and weak governance. District representatives said they were already working with Riverside County Office of Education and FICMAT, had adopted a fiscal stabilization plan, and were making cuts to restore solvency. The State Auditor said the proposed audit would examine the district’s financial condition over 10 years, ELOP spending, partnership agreements, foundation funds, and contracting practices. After extensive discussion and public comment, the motion to approve the audit failed because it did not receive the required votes. The committee next approved Senator Wahab’s request for an audit of East Bay transit agency administrative oversight. The senator argued that the Bay Area’s fragmented transit system creates duplication and wastes resources, while agency representatives and transit advocates said the agencies already face extensive oversight and are actively coordinating through existing regional efforts. The State Auditor outlined objectives focused on agency autonomy, coordination, ridership, finances, and the potential effects of consolidation. After debate and public comment, the audit was approved. Finally, Senator Archuleta introduced a request to audit excessive unrestricted reserves at selected California Community College districts and Calbright College, arguing that reserve balances have grown substantially and may be diverting funds from student services and instruction. He said the audit would examine why districts are holding large reserves and whether those funds are being used effectively for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their rear end isn't inside the city of the school, but the school is still getting the money and the
• This hurts my school districts, and even the private schools up there in the area have all complained
• choice, this is not a school.
• This IDLA puts the rural school districts on the same level as an urban school district.
• Private schools and homeschoolers can come in and take advantage of this. Schools can't...

Transcript Highlights:

• By setting a clear, equitable minimum contribution for school districts and charter schools, the legislation
• Carlsbad Municipal Schools.
• My kids live 26 miles from school.
• A virtual school does, so a district. could request from the PED to create a unique virtual school.
• tough budget deficit whenever we implemented school lunches and school breakfasts because they had to

Committees: Senate Senate Education , Senate House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Gene Mayer, Pflugerville ISD School Board Trustee. Go ahead.
• According to the Texas School Safety Center a safe school environment is one free from bullying, violence
• Research indicates that students who feel safe at school experience fewer symptoms. attend school more
• school safety meetings. better-prepared Texas schools for potential threats.
• Many school districts have not been able to comply with...

Bills: SB260 , SB263 , SB293 , SJR18

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I would like to see more robust schools.
• So the likelihood of a school shutdown from bad operation... ...school shut down from bad operation,
• their schools very well rather than risking... ...schools very well rather than risking closure.
• Why are all the schools or students enrolled in those schools indiscriminately charged?
• schools.

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, operations, enforcement, fiscal condition, and student protections. Committee leaders and DCA officials praised the Bureau’s recent improvements in data systems, licensing, inspections, and enforcement, while noting the Bureau’s role has become more important as federal higher education oversight weakens. Bureau Chief Deborah Cochran said the agency has met its inspection mandate for the first time since the law was enacted, increased citations and disciplinary actions, reduced pending complaints, and used data tools to identify risk and monitor institutions more effectively. A major portion of the hearing centered on student harm, especially school closures, transcript access, predatory recruiting, and the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). Members asked how the Bureau protects students when schools close, whether bad actors can reopen under new entities, and whether enforcement tools are strong enough. Cochran said the Bureau can cite, fine, place schools on probation, revoke licenses, and order refunds, but it is seeking new authority to deny approval to operators who previously closed schools improperly or failed to refund students. She also said the Bureau is tracking ownership data and is concerned about institutions targeting immigrant and visa students. On STRF, Cochran explained that the fund is currently healthy, assessments are at zero because the balance is above the statutory target, and the Bureau paid about 1,100 claims totaling roughly $17 million over the last four years. Several members questioned the fairness of the assessment structure and discussed alternatives such as surety bonds, but the Bureau said STRF is working well and no change is needed at this time. Fee increases and the Bureau’s structural deficit were another major topic. Cochran said the Bureau reduced costs by eliminating positions, streamlining inspections, improving data analysis, and shifting some student-relief costs to STRF, but that legislative action is still needed to address the deficit. She said the proposed fees were based on workload analyses and that application fees generally match service costs, while annual fees are designed to cover most of the Bureau’s revenue needs. Some members and stakeholders criticized the proposed increases as too high, especially for out-of-state registration and campus fees, while others argued the Bureau needs sufficient resources to regulate effectively. Public commenters from private schools, Northeastern University, San Joaquin Valley College/Carrington College, and TICAS generally supported the Bureau’s mission and reauthorization, but urged changes such as risk-based oversight, better transcript protections, stronger limits on repeated provisional approvals, and more targeted fee and STRF reforms. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with no formal action beyond discussion and receipt of testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Schools and students.
• ,</c><00:07:36.000><c> and</c> support state agencies, schools, and support state agencies, schools,
• </c><00:10:37.760><c> district</c> fully deployed to every school district fully deployed to every school
• </c> &gt;&gt; in one recent incident, a school &gt;&gt; in one recent incident, a school district<00:
• or to the Commonwealth and our schools or to the Commonwealth and our schools?

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Michael McCurley, president of Zo Education and a senior vice president with Zo Group, about the company’s role in providing broadband and managed network services to Kentucky schools. He said Zo Education serves all Kentucky K-12 public school districts in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, offering more bandwidth at lower cost than the prior provider and also providing cybersecurity and network protection. He emphasized that reliable connectivity is essential for instruction, testing, remote coursework, and school administration. McCurley also addressed the ongoing contract dispute involving the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Open Fiber Silicom, saying Zo Education is not a party to the litigation but is concerned about possible disruption to schools and students. In response to committee questions, he said the company incurred unexpected costs when it had to reroute connections and build alternate network paths, including one school move that cost more than $50,000 to serve a site generating under $2,000 per month. He said outages and incidents are more frequent when Kentucky Wired access is unavailable, and that Zo could not have bid at its current price without access to Kentucky Wired. Committee members discussed the broader implications of the dispute and the state’s broadband structure. Senator Williams said the committee’s priority is avoiding disruption to students and noted concerns about infrastructure purchases and upgrades tied to the network, saying he had not seen clear contractual support for some of the expenditures. He also referenced a future audit and said the committee should preserve options and taxpayer funds. The committee then reviewed its report to LRC, including changes related to infrastructure purchases and water asset management technology, and agreed to submit the report without a committee vote. The chair announced the next meeting would be in January, with no December meeting scheduled, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where are the schools?
• In schools participating?
• I guess the question is how many schools are participating, or school districts.
• And if that student also applies to another school, ...a traditional school or charter school, it's going
• district and school level.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> school areas. Yes. school areas. Yes.
• elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
• </c><01:59:12.400><c> This</c> school, and one high school. This school, and one high school.
• . school. school.
• ><c> elementary</c><02:57:43.920><c> schools</c> school primarily the elementary schools school primarily

Bills: SB2613 , SB2147

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard SB 2613, a cleanup bill relating to public school land transfers under Act 307 (2022), which revises tax map key references and the conveyance process for properties transferred to the Department of Education. The Hawaii State Public Library System supported the measure, saying it would complete the long-unfinished separation of the library system from DOE property control and make future building projects more efficient and cost-effective. DOE also supported the bill and requested an amendment to remove TMK 43-62 parcel 10, the Wilcox Elementary School parcel, so that it could instead be transferred to the county for use with the adjacent park and tennis courts. Members focused heavily on why land transfers and construction approvals have been slow, especially the need for right-of-entry documents and an MOA for a library construction project. Library and DOE witnesses said the delays stemmed from site-control issues and confusion over property status, and that the bill would clarify which parcels are transferred by operation of law and remove the need for additional transactional documents in many cases. Several members questioned whether the bill actually changes authority or simply clarifies existing practice, and DOE said it wanted legislative clarity so the transfers are unmistakably effective on a date certain. The committee also discussed a separate section of the bill dealing with public use of school facilities after hours, including parking fees on property under DOE jurisdiction. DOE explained that any parking charges would apply only to property it controls, not county roads, and that fees are set through existing facility-use procedures. Members raised concerns about the pace of land transfers generally and urged DOE to move more expeditiously on pending parcels. The hearing then moved on to SB 2147, which would designate the first Friday in February as Love My Library Day; the library system testified in support as the committee began that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charlie Martin, his CFO for Levine School District.
• Aspacia, Elementary School District, LD 29.
• Combs Unified School District. LD 22.
• SB 1410, charter schools, financial records. Education. SB 1411, Auditor General, Charter Schools.
• I think there were 100 schools at a school fair that I attended over the weekend, and I actually encouraged

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and recorded attendance. Members observed a moment of silence for former Representative Noel Campbell, and several guest groups were recognized in the gallery, including Greater Phoenix school district leaders, GCU Government and History Club students, Arizona Food Bank Network representatives, and local and tribal officials visiting for appropriations and transportation-related discussions. The chamber also adopted a proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Senators and guests offered remarks about the Holocaust, rising antisemitism, and the importance of education and remembrance, followed by a moment of silence. Later, the Senate received and unanimously adopted House Concurrent Resolution 2045 honoring the life and public service of former Congressman Raul Grijalva, with members of the Grijalva family present on the floor and several senators sharing personal tributes. The Senate then processed a long list of governor’s nominations, first readings, and second-reading bill referrals, including measures on natural resources, education, health, public safety, elections, taxation, utilities, and appropriations. Senator Bolick also read a proclamation for National School Choice Week. The body recessed briefly, returned to consider SCR 1036 on Attorney General public statements, and then received committee announcements before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• That has included educating school administrators, school staff, and community members.
• That has included educating school administrators, school staff, and community members.
• That has included educating school administrators, school staff, and community members.
• </c> at Konawaena Elementary School at Konawaena Elementary School in<00:27:03.360><c> Kona</c><00:27
• </c> It did not happen on school campus. It did not happen on school campus.

Summary: The Committee on Education heard three tandem resolution packages. HCR 13 and HR 15 sought collaboration among the Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, and DLNR to develop a student coral stewardship program. DOE said it was willing to work with DLNR, and DLNR supported the measure but said it did not want to be the lead agency for reporting or curriculum development because of existing reporting burdens and because it was already active in school outreach. Testimony in support was received, and the committee later amended the measure to restore DLNR as the lead for the report while keeping DOE and the Charter School Commission as collaborators. The committee then voted to pass HCR 13 HD1 and HR 15 HD1 with amendments. HCR 91 and HR 83 proposed a long-term collaborative program between DLNR and DOE to expand and sustain tree canopy coverage at public schools statewide. DLNR strongly supported the measure, DOE offered comments, and the Boys and Girls Public Health Institute testified in support, citing research on heat reduction, student health, and academic impacts of shade trees. Additional supportive testimony came from the Kaululu Nani Urban and Community Forestry Program Advisory Council and others. The committee voted to pass HCR 91 and HR 83 unamended. HCR 183 and HR 183 addressed guidance and protections related to immigration enforcement in schools. DOE said it supported the resolution but noted it already had guidance in place; the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Boys and Girls Public Health Institute, Roots for Warren Maui, ACLU, 50501 Hawaii, General Strike Hawaii, and others testified in support, emphasizing student safety, attendance, and the effects of enforcement-related fear. A committee member asked about a reported Konawaena Elementary incident, and DOE clarified that the student was not deported and the event occurred off campus, with some newspaper details said to be inaccurate. After discussion, the committee deferred HCR 183 for further work with DOE and the Board of Education on definitions, enforcement, and guidance.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you could actually select Idaho Falls School District... ...the district, the school name, so you
• School, Skyline, Idaho Falls, or whatever your school district.
• Ridge, all the high schools, middle schools.
• And let's say I click on a particular school or school district, I could see, okay, here's the number
• district or my school compare?

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• It would make it possible for our charter schools and nonprofit private schools to access dollars.
• It would make it possible for our charter schools and nonprofit private schools to access dollars for
• private school, is a small business.
• and perhaps some private schools.
• I believe it's a good fit for the infrastructure needs for charter schools and perhaps some private schools

Bills: HB1590 , HB1242 , HB3818 , HB4305

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee first considered and unanimously approved the nomination of Keith Ventress to the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority and then to the Oklahoma Industrial Finance Authority. Members noted his banking background and asked a brief question about the reference to old congressional district boundaries in the nomination materials, but there was no substantive opposition and both nominations advanced to the Senate. House Bill 1590, by Senator Daniels, would create an Oklahoma education infrastructure linked deposit program to provide reduced-interest loans for charter schools and nonprofit private schools for capital and building needs. Supporters said it would use existing state linked-deposit structures already used for agriculture and affordable housing, while opponents raised concerns about using taxpayer-backed funds for private schools, the bill’s broad nonprofit language, and whether it could lead to more state oversight of private education. The bill passed 9-2. House Bill 1242, which would add survey day to the list of agricultural sales tax exemption items, was discussed briefly but received no motion for a do pass recommendation and remained in committee. House Bill 3818, by Senator Coleman, would create tax-advantaged insurance loss savings accounts for homes and vehicles; members expressed concern about missing definitions, contribution limits, and the potential for abuse, but agreed the concept had promise and the bill passed 9-2 after the enacting clause was stricken for further work. House Bill 4305, as amended, clarified how affordable housing properties are assessed for ad valorem tax purposes by excluding certain income-based subsidies from valuation; after questions about prior court cases and assessment practices, it passed 6-5.

Transcript Highlights:

• for community school coordinators, who are an incredibly important part of the school community?
• I've served several years, over 10 years, on the school board for the Naval Reparatory School.
• In public schools today.
• school representative, and so as the bill is written, these schools will be part of the public school
• So, it's not a compact school.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• For new school approvals to operate when we know that the school has closed down, has harmed students
• So the likelihood of a school shutdown from bad operation— School shut down from bad operation and to
• their schools very well rather than risking— Schools very well, rather than risking closure.
• Why are all the schools or students enrolled in those schools indiscriminately charged?
• schools.

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, with committee chairs and members emphasizing the Bureau’s role in protecting students, overseeing private postsecondary schools, and responding to a changing federal higher education landscape. BPPE and the Department of Consumer Affairs reported that the Bureau has modernized data systems, improved enforcement, increased citations and inspections, reduced pending complaints, and is now meeting its statutory inspection mandate. They also said the Bureau faces a structural budget deficit and has reduced costs through staffing cuts, streamlined inspections, and shifting some student-relief functions to the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF).

Transcript Highlights:

• There are lots of schools statewide that do use school buildings, correct?
• Voter participation helping with school staff.
• districts have school calendars.
• A lot of school districts have school calendars that are set two and three years out.
• I know at least two school districts in St.

Committees: House Elections , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions