Transcript Highlights:

• We feel higher ed is better at deciding what a quality postsecondary credential is.
• Um, Ed, you know where I am on this from what I said originally to you.
• <00:22:48.400> Um,<00:22:49.039> Ed,<00:22:49.679> I<00:22:50.000> I
• Um, Ed, I I >> Representative Falner. Yeah.
• Um, Ed, I I you<00:22:50.480> know<00:22:50.640> where<00:22:50.799> I<00:22:50.960

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, in particular, what Ed Minnesota brought up, I think there likely would be some exceptions for particular
• Um, in particular, what Ed Minnesota brought up, I think there likely would be some exceptions for particular
• Um, in particular, what Ed Minnesota brought up, I think there likely would be some exceptions for particular
• Um, in particular, what Ed Minnesota brought up, I think there likely would be some exceptions for particular
• Um, in particular, what Ed Minnesota brought up, I think there likely would be some exceptions for particular

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 3489, as amended, which aims to strengthen protections for students against sexual grooming. An author’s A1 amendment was adopted to tweak grooming-related definitions. The bill would clarify field trip supervision rules, create a new felony offense for child grooming, expand mandatory reporter training to include grooming, and update reporting and licensing provisions so grooming-related offenses can trigger action against teacher licenses and prompt notice to licensing boards. It also includes provisions allowing older maltreatment allegations to be investigated and defines terms used in the criminal code sections. Representative Bennett described the bill as a response to personal experience and to cases involving students who were groomed by school staff. Hannah L. Presto testified in strong support, describing years of grooming and abuse by a high school band teacher and arguing that better training and a standalone felony for grooming could help prevent escalation and recognize the harm caused by grooming itself. Detective Chad Clawson, who investigated her case, also supported the bill, saying the case exposed gaps in Minnesota law and that the field trip and grooming provisions would help protect students and staff. He noted that delayed disclosure is common in grooming cases and that time limits had prevented some school investigations. Deb Corhouse of Education Minnesota supported the training provisions and the general goal of safer field trips, but asked for clearer exceptions for emergencies, student health needs, confidentiality, and situations where a student requires one-on-one assistance. Members raised questions about costs to schools and whether the field trip language clearly covered coaches, volunteers, and extracurricular activities; the author said he was willing to work on those definitions and exceptions. The committee then voted to refer House File 3489, as amended, to the Committee on Public Safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with Accel in Ed in Action, and that is a national nonprofit that works with states in order to focus
• For these reasons, Accel in Ed in Action supports this legislation and appreciates the sponsors and the
• Thank you, Ed. I don’t know that I’ve ever had so much positive support for math.
• Marlett from NMSU is here and has indicated that, you know, working with the PED for those other gen ed
• going to take lots of discussion and other types of things, the sponsor has asked that the special ed

Bills: SB29, SB64

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE EDUCATORS ON THEREFROM K-12 AND HIGHER ED. WE HAVE FOLKS FROM INDUSTRY.
• NETWORK THAT'S DOING REALLY GOOD THINGS AND GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER ED
• IT WOULD BE THERE HIGHER ED AGENCY IS THE POINT AGENCY LEADING AND FACILITATING NETWORK BEING THE ONE
• >> Speaker: I WOULD SUGGEST AS FAR AS HIGHER ED IS CONSIDERED, LET'S NOT TRY TO IMPOSE ANY LIMITATIONS
• SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN AT OTHER CAPACITY FOR US IT IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AI TECH ED AND AI

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Florida and Feeding Florida, more than 97,000 individuals were served through the SNAP-Ed
• HR1 eliminated future federal funding for SNAP-Ed.
• H.R. 1 eliminated future federal funding for SNAP-Ed, effective October 1, but allowed the program to
• In federal fiscal year 2025, Florida received approximately $21 million, which will fund the SNAP-Ed
• Services for SNAP-Ed will be provided by Feeding Florida during federal fiscal year 2026.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lamaya Harvey record, um, shows that you're testifying on behalf of Black Book, sex ed and self, and
• My name is Lamaya Harvey, and I'm here on behalf of the grassroots organization Black Books like Ed where
• Yes, Natalia Flores, we show you registered on behalf of Black Book Sex Ed and Self Against the bill.
• name is Natalia Flores, and I'm here today on behalf of the grassroots organization Black Book Sex Ed
• Black Books Ed was founded as a result of observed inequities within our community.

Bills: SB 6, SB 11, SB 33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• I recently published an op-ed in the To share what happened in that meeting.
• You'll note that both here and in the op-ed, I mentioned the lanes that our office occupies in law enforcement
• This meeting that took place on December 11, 2021, you mentioned here today and in your op-ed that at
• The person that sued the Department of Ed.
• And you knew in April, that's when the Department of Ed shut down the fraudsters.

Transcript Highlights:

• And another clarification based on the opposition comment: I do see it does reference back to that Ed
• she said in opposition is actually already in the bill with the amendments, including that particular Ed
• But if the questions that I had were in reference to a specific Ed Code section concerning alignment,
• framework, as well as some other specific... ...with the framework, as well as some other specific Ed
• Staff and members, thank you so much for allowing me to present SB 1140 to you today in Assembly Ed.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, we will move on to Item C, presentation of Department of Ed grants from Legislative Audit.
• All right, we will move on to Item C, presentation of Department of Ed grants from Legislative Audit,
• Do our principals, superintendents, school board association, our higher ed, who we often see in here
• Warden, I know he's working with the higher eds on whatever degree...
• It's piggybacking off of what Representative Gonzalez Worthen asked about special ed.

Summary: The committee first approved the May 18 meeting minutes and then received a presentation from Legislative Audit on Arkansas Department of Education grant distributions. Auditors explained that the fiscal year 2025 report summarizes $4.6 billion in grants from state, federal, and miscellaneous sources, across school districts, charter schools, education cooperatives, and other entities, and that the report only shows amounts distributed, not how recipients ultimately used the money. Members asked about specific recipients and programs, including ClassWallet, Economics Arkansas, and CDC surveillance funding; department staff clarified that the Economics Arkansas grant is written into special language and that the CDC-related funding supports student surveys used by state agencies. Questions also focused on bonus and incentive programs such as master principal and National Board Certified teacher bonuses, with department staff saying the bonuses are generally tied to completion of the program or certification rather than classroom performance, though they would follow up on details. The committee then heard a Bureau of Legislative Research update on Consumer Price Index projections from Moody’s Analytics and S&P Global. Dr. Carlos Silva explained the difference between CPI-U and core CPI and said the estimates show inflation slowing over the forecast period, with some near-term variation between the two data providers. Members asked about the historical accuracy of prior projections, and he said the forecasts generally tend to move toward about 2 percent over time, though recent shocks have caused earlier estimates to understate actual inflation. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the final adequacy report on teacher recruitment, retention, and salaries. BLR staff reviewed Arkansas teacher demographics, shortage areas, educator preparation pipelines, licensure exceptions, survey results from teachers and principals, and teacher support programs. They reported that Arkansas had about 32,800 teachers and 473,000 students in 2025, with an average of 11.9 years of experience and a slight increase in National Board Certified teachers. The report found shortages in multiple subject areas, especially special education, math, science, foreign language, and social studies, and identified 65 districts as high-need geographically. Survey results showed school leadership as the strongest positive factor in recruitment and retention, while workload and salary were the biggest negatives; 30 percent of responding teachers said they were considering leaving the profession. The committee also reviewed teacher salary data showing a statewide average salary of $60,254 in 2025, Arkansas ranking 45th nationally by NEA methodology, and a long-term inflation-adjusted decline in district salaries, though LEARNS Act increases improved the trend. Members asked for additional follow-up information on survey methodology, alternative licensure costs, coursework, incentives for ESL and special education endorsements, exit data, and how salary comparisons are calculated.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Ed, for all that you're doing. Further discussion? Thank you.
• all<00:14:50.600> that<00:14:50.680> you're<00:14:50.839> doing you so much Ed
• for all that you're doing you so much Ed for all that you're doing oh<00:14:51.399> thank<00:
• Um, oh, I guess, sorry, Ed, since City and County is not here, uh, real quick, just following up on that
• Ed, since City and County is not here, real quick, just following up on that: the current cost, according

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Transportation and Culture heard testimony on several transportation-related bills. HB 1422, which would exempt certain community-based organizations providing transportation services from motor carrier law, drew support from the Department of Transportation, PUC, DLNR, Kauaʻi County, the Hōnaunau Initiative, and others; members asked about narrowing amendments to prevent unintended use, and the bill later advanced with amendments, including a three-year sunset. HB 1162, requiring motorcycle instruction permit applicants to complete a DOT-approved basic rider course, received support from DOT and Honolulu Customer Services; it advanced with amendments to address city and county concerns and to allow more implementation time. HB 1259, which would remove the need for an engineering study when reducing speed limits by up to 10 mph, had mixed testimony and was deferred for further discussion. HB 1260, establishing summer streets pilot programs for counties other than Oʻahu, drew support from DOT, DOH, UH, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, bicycling and public health groups, and individuals; DOH and others asked that Oʻahu be included, but the measure was deferred for later decision-making. HB 177, making civil ID cards free, had opposition from DOT and Honolulu Customer Services and support from health advocates; DOT said the program costs about $1.3 million annually and would need replacement funding, and the bill was deferred. HB 862, authorizing motor coaches, small buses, and vans for school bus services under certain conditions, received broad support from disability advocates, DOE-related entities, neighborhood boards, and private providers, with testimony emphasizing flexibility and accessibility; it was deferred. HB 667, requiring microchip scanning and reporting when deceased cats or dogs are removed from roadways, was supported by DOT, the Hawaiian Humane Society, and many animal groups and individuals, and was passed unamended. HB 960, increasing the cap on certain DOT capital investment contracts, and HB 228, authorizing electronic license plates and banning plate-obscuring devices and flipping devices, were both heard and then deferred. HB 1156, increasing the amount of special facility revenue bonds available for harbor improvements, received support from DOT, the Island Chamber of Commerce, Alakaʻi Energy, and the Harbor Users Group, and was passed unamended to Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know Isabella spoke to our State Board of Higher Ed during a meeting here just a couple of months ago
• One of the themes, higher ed being slow to bring...
• One of the themes, higher ed being slow to respond to workforce needs, to industry, probably a theme
• What are the one or two things that higher ed in North Dakota could be doing better in the short term
• So when we say funding formula revenue, you're talking the higher ed funding formula.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt Shaver from Ed Allies. reason, the legislation should avoid reason, the legislation should avoid
• I'm Matt Shaver, senior policy director at Ed Allies.
• That transportation is depending on which of the special ed formulas the district is under; it is either
• which<00:30:40.640> of<00:30:40.799> the<00:30:40.960> special<00:30:41.200> ed
• <00:30:41.520> formulas which of the special ed formulas which of the special ed formulas

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The summary of institutions of higher ed. So the School of Math and Science— Higher ed.
• So if you'll please look at the document entitled Summary of Institutions of Higher Ed, which should
• Nick Fuller from the Division of Higher Ed.
• First of all, I just want to thank all of the agencies across the board, but especially the higher ed
• Higher ed is a little bit different. There are a number of different entities.

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have about 18% of our students are identified in special ed or having special ed special needs
• <00:02:34.239> or<00:02:34.480> having identified in special ed or having identified
• in special ed or having special<00:02:35.040> ed<00:02:35.599> uh<00:02:35.760> special
• special ed uh special needs services. special ed uh special needs services.
• So, it's divided between special ed and gen ed at each one of the schools.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we trying to decrease ED visits, ED deaths?
• Are we trying to decrease ED visits, ED deaths?
• Are we trying to decrease ED visits, ED deaths?
• <01:25:17.880> deaths<01:25:18.159> are you know those those Ed deaths are you know
• those those Ed deaths are coming<01:25:18.639> down<01:25:19.040> but<01:25:19.159>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a national phenomenon where higher ed has had to quickly adapt and turn away from a notion of
• This is a national phenomenon where higher ed has had to quickly adapt and turn away from a notion of
• This is a national phenomenon where higher ed has had to quickly adapt and turn away from a notion of
• of the Gemini tool in our um Hawaii Ed of the Gemini tool in our um Hawaii Ed ha.<01:12:31.719><
• Ed domain we were able to um working ha.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Environmental Council; Dave Stevenson from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy; Tim Minotas from Sierra Club; Ed
• supporting the bill, Doug Roberts from Consumers Energy, not wishing to speak supporting the bill, Ed
• "Ed Rivett from the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, and not wishing to speak supporting the bill,

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment met with 13 members present, approved the June 4, 2026 minutes, and took up Senate Bill 947, which concerns dam registration, inspections, and related enforcement. The committee discussed a substitute that made technical changes and implementation adjustments, including lower registration fees for counties with multiple dams, extending registration validity from five to ten years, allowing conditional permits, giving EGLE flexibility to modify deficiency schedules, and adding provisions related to inspection reports and low-hazard dam evaluations. Members also raised an unresolved issue involving FERC preemption and hydroelectric dams; the chair and EGLE said that issue would continue to be worked on, likely through the floor process. Public testimony cards were read in support from a range of environmental and policy groups and individuals. The committee adopted the S-1 substitute 13-0 and then reported SB 947 to the floor on an 8-3 vote with two passes. The committee then considered Senate Bill 627, which also had been heard previously. No additional questions were raised, and testimony cards were read in support from several organizations, including the Michigan Environmental Council, Sierra Club, the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. The committee voted to report SB 627 to the floor with the recommendation that it pass, and the bill was reported on an 11-1 vote with one pass. Finally, the committee took testimony only on House Bill 4361, sponsored by Representative Green, which would direct the Public Service Commission to create a rule allowing utilities broader vegetation management within rights-of-way to improve grid reliability. Representative Green and Thumb Electric Cooperative’s Kevin Mazur testified that the bill would reduce outages, improve safety, and align statutory standards with existing utility practices. Several senators raised concerns that the language was too broad and could allow extensive tree removal, harming property owners, local control, tree canopy, and environmental and health interests; others said utilities already have similar authority and emphasized reliability and homeowner coordination. The committee did not take action on HB 4361 and adjourned after reading in testimony cards from utilities, environmental groups, and others both supporting and opposing the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also clarifies that a single-sex or co-ed team sport are separate sports for the purpose of determining
• the school, If a school offers that sport or activity, an example of that is if the school offers co-ed
• soccer, but a lady wants to play on an all-female team, then she would be able to because the co-ed

Summary: The Education Employment Committee held its first meeting and heard three bills. Chair Kennedy opened with remarks about the committee’s work and the goal of moving Florida from “excellent to eminent.” The committee first considered PCS for CS for HB 151 on private school participation in interscholastic sports and extracurricular activities. Representative Abbott explained that the bill would let private school students participate in sports at FHSAA member schools when their own school does not offer that sport, clarify treatment of single-sex versus co-ed teams, adjust FHSAA board appointment authority, require appeals panels to include a majority of member-school representatives, set timelines for eligibility appeals, and post appeals decisions online. An amendment by Representative McFarland added FHSAA board decisions to the transparency requirement. The bill drew supportive public testimony and was reported favorably as amended by a 19-0 vote. The committee then took up HB 549 on the “Gulf of America.” Representative Porras said the bill would align Florida’s geographic materials and academic standards with the federal designation replacing the Gulf of Mexico, with a later amendment to phase in the change only for materials adopted or acquired on or after July 1, 2025. Members questioned the timing, costs, and impact on instructional materials; the ranking member and others argued the bill was unnecessary and could burden districts, while supporters said Florida should lead in adopting the federal terminology. Public testimony included support from Florida Citizens Alliance and opposition from a speaker who called the bill a waste of time. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 16-2 vote. Finally, the committee considered CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions. Representative Kendall described the bill as addressing elementary students who live within the two-mile walk zone but must cross interstates, freeways, highways, or ramps, and said the measure would provide bus service in those hazardous situations. An amendment clarified the language by tying it to the statutory definition of a limited access facility. Members from both parties described local safety concerns and personal experiences, while one member noted the likely added cost to districts. Public testimony listed opponents, but the chair later clarified they had submitted cards with the wrong bill number. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 20-0 vote, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are Sean Van Slick, Executive Director of Sierra Donor Services; Jim Martin, CEO, Donate Life California

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Martin. Mr. Matayoshi. Mr. Matayoshi. Miss Matsumoto. Mr. Miyake. Miss Morikawa. Mr. Moriwaki.

Bills: SCR21, SCR75, SCR50, SCR149, SCR47, SCR163, SCR169, SCR170

Keywords: healthcare, rural clinic, feasibility study, access to care, community health, Volcano community, Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation, emergency services, health assessment, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, health care, interdepartmental collaboration, public awareness, support services, education, health insurance, affordable healthcare, working group, Hawaii Health Plan, Medicaid expansion