Transcript Highlights:

• But in higher ed, will there be funds available for those that will go away? That's my question.
• News and World Report's higher ed state rankings, dead last.
• News and World Report's higher ed state rankings, dead last.
• The vision for this for higher ed is that the Board of Supervisors for LSU, for Southern, for the UL

Bills: HB818, HB1063, SB28, SB64, SB142, SB234, SB482

Keywords: higher education, accountability, curriculum review, faculty governance, disciplinary procedures, SB 28, Act 233, associate educator program, associate teachers, teacher certification, alternative teacher pathway, education workforce, teacher shortage, minimum age, age requirement, Louisiana schools, Title 17, R.S. 17:7.8, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, and heard several education-related bills. SB 234, which would change Louisiana medical schools from pass-fail grading to letter grading, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142, dealing with the management of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in outstanding match requests; it was also reported favorably. SB 482, which expands the use of career coaches in middle and high school individual graduation plans and adds reporting requirements for career development funds, received support from BESE and other groups, with members asking about counselor shortages and whether districts would be required to contract with outside vendors; it was reported favorably. SB 64, requiring two people to be present for the initial viewing of video from special education classroom cameras, was supported as a safeguard for students and staff and was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 1063, a broad higher education governance bill that would require board review of core curricula, increase transparency in hiring and board actions, limit faculty senate authority to advisory status, and restrict spending without board certification. The bill prompted extensive questioning about whether it would create new boards, how it would be funded, and whether boards could realistically handle the workload; the author said the committee would not vote that day and moved to voluntarily defer the bill, which passed without objection. HB 818, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments used by schools, including their purpose and results; after amendment adoption, it was reported favorably. Finally, SB 28 lowered the minimum age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage, with department staff saying it could expand the pipeline of candidates; it was reported favorably. The committee also announced its next meeting would be Wednesday, May 6, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a pay increase for our special ed teachers. They're getting 4,000.
• There are very few special ed teachers... There are very few special ed teachers in this state.
• Look, y'all, good teachers, good special ed teachers, good people out there deserve way more than we're

Keywords: MS House Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We still have a section of the 202 that is dedicated to Congressman Ed Pastor.
• , it makes it sound like the entire highway will be Charlie Kirk, and then underlying that would be Ed
• I think many of us will agree that Ed Pastor had a lot bigger influence on the state, ...of us will agree
• that Ed Pastor had a lot bigger influence on the state, and he was a much better recipient of this highway

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a proclamation honoring the future USS Arizona, SSN-803, and the USS Arizona Legacy Foundation. Members also announced committee assignments and several bills were read for first and second reading. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider HB 4034, HB 2444, HB 2992, and HB 4027, with amendments adopted on each measure. HB 4034 drew comments about career and technical education funding and district disputes; HB 2992 prompted debate over a pilot sexual abuse prevention program, with supporters calling it a resource for students and opponents criticizing it as an opt-out pilot and a burden on classrooms; HB 4027 generated discussion about a highway naming amendment involving Charlie Kirk and Ed Pastor. All three bills were reported out as amended and sent to engrossing and third reading. On third reading, the House passed HB 293, HB 2502, HB 2750, HB 2999, and H.C.M. 2009. HB 293 dealt with school curricula and passed 31-22. HB 2502 related to the Arizona State Retirement System and passed 37-16. HB 2750, concerning mining and legislative department provisions, passed 44-9. HB 2999, creating special taxing districts tied to housing development, drew supportive remarks about affordability and private financing and passed 32-21. H.C.M. 2009 urged federal action to streamline access to minerals on federal land withdrawals and passed 31-22. HB 2229, relating to maternal services and funding for pregnancy resource centers, failed initially by a 26-27 vote after extended debate over abortion-related implications and taxpayer funding. Members then moved to reconsider that failure, and the motion to reconsider passed 27-21, placing the bill back on the calendar. The House also heard a proclamation for March as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month and a Women’s History Month reflection on Mexican-American and Mexican-Irish heritage. The chamber adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a consensus for Ed Fellows. On row 92, we have 20 million.
• other sort of programming things that I talked about with graduate profiles and other kinds of higher ed
• Special ed, bilingual, or Title I kids, especially with the given the reduction, the possible reductions
• If you include higher ed, 50% of the budget is education.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For LFC, we have a consensus for Ed Fellows.
• of the other programming things that I talked about with graduate profiles and other kinds of higher ed
• Special ed, bilingual, or Title One kids, especially with the given reduction of possible reductions
• Having both of them meet at the same time when almost, if you include higher ed, 50% of the budget is

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're confident that we certainly played a role in that avoidable ED visit statistic there.
• One is because I do so much of my work in the higher ed and public education field, it was disconcerting
• did you look at how, and I know there's some mention from other states about coordination with higher ed
• And, you know, from the work I do in higher ed post-secondary education, for example, immediately I see

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s Initiative 900 subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two State Auditor performance audits. The first audit examined efforts to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems through CARES programs. Auditors reported that Washington has 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs in 26 counties, but many communities without programs said they need one. Major barriers included unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, volunteer-based rural departments, and lack of statewide guidance. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended that the legislature consider private insurance reimbursement options and convene a statewide work group to develop guidance, standards, and possible changes to the role of the Department of Health. Agency representatives and fire officials largely supported the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain. Committee discussion focused heavily on financing, especially Medicaid reimbursement and accountable communities of health (ACHs). Auditors clarified that the 10% figure cited in the report referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the $115 rate is too low relative to the administrative effort. Several fire officials testified that their programs rely on grants and ACH support, but that funding is often year-to-year and uncertain. They also described the value of CARES programs in reducing emergency room use, jail detentions, and long ambulance wait times, while noting barriers to sharing patient records across systems. Members asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help, but fire district representatives said it is not a direct funding option for them. The second audit reviewed performance management in the Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. Auditors found that the division does not yet have a statewide economic development strategic plan and that performance management is inconsistent across its 16 programs. In a limited review, all six sampled programs had goals, but only half clearly identified performance measures and targets, and only three tracked outcomes and published results. The audit highlighted leading practices from other states, including strategic planning, regular progress reporting, aligning program goals with agency goals, and using performance-based contracts and grant monitoring. Recommendations urged Commerce to seek stakeholder input, assess internal and external conditions, set goals and measures, align programs with the strategy, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Commerce officials agreed with the audit and said the division is already working toward a strategic plan, with a new assistant director to be hired and a target of completing the work by mid-next year. Members pressed the department on how the plan would connect to workforce, higher education, housing, and other economic development systems, and asked Commerce to return to JLARC next year with progress updates. The meeting ended with instructions for submitting written public comments and notice of the next JLARC meeting schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, we're just lucky to have Mary Kunish as chair of the Ed Finance Committee, um, and a lot of people
• as um<00:10:07.079> chair<00:10:07.399> of<00:10:07.519> the<00:10:07.640> Ed
• 00:10:07.880> finance<00:10:08.320> committee<00:10:09.320> um um chair of the Ed
• finance committee um um chair of the Ed finance committee um and<00:10:09.800> a<00:10:09.920

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an athletic facility or not, if it had the specific BG number signed by the Kentucky Department of Ed
• by the Kentucky BG number signed by the Kentucky Department<00:03:30.720> of<00:03:30.920> Ed
• and<00:03:31.640> then<00:03:31.760> the<00:03:31.840> school Department of Ed
• and then the school Department of Ed and then the school priority<00:03:33.200> and<00:03:33.400

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Committee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met, approved the minutes from its first meeting, and then received a presentation on the School Facility Assistance Fund audit. State Auditor Allison Ball’s office and its third-party contractor, Blue and Co., explained that the audit followed the scope set in the budget bill: to review each school project’s cost, available local resources, and eligibility criteria for state gap funding, with the Auditor of Public Accounts certifying the final report. The presenters walked through the 20 school projects identified for review and gave the current gap funding amounts found for each. Examples included Adair County at about $7.6 million, Augusta Independent at $5.3 million, B.S. Down Independent at just over $43 million, Fleming County at about $15 million, Garrard County at $14.9 million, Johnson County at $78 million, Somerset Independent at $1.7 million, Walton Verona at $48,000, Williams Town Independent at $7.4 million, and several others. They also noted that some districts were fully funded before the audit or withdrew because they had secured enough local funding, including Breathitt County, Kent County, and Lewis County. Washington County’s project was flagged as failing some House Bill 6 eligibility criteria even though the report calculated a $27.6 million gap. Members asked whether districts that secured funding on their own were being penalized, and the auditors responded that changes in gap amounts reflected several factors, including rising project costs and newly available local funding. They also said the audit did not attempt to determine whether local funds were earmarked for one project versus another, because the budget bill directed them to assess available local funding as provided. The committee requested the presentation slides, and the meeting concluded with no further questions and a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<02:06:08.080> we back when I was in higher ed, we back when I was in higher ed, we graduated
• We're paying for special ed. We're paying for transportation.
• We're paying<02:10:12.239> for<02:10:12.400> special<02:10:12.719> ed.
• <02:10:13.040> We're<02:10:13.199> paying paying for special ed.
• We're paying paying for special ed. We're paying for<02:10:15.119> transportation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• another legislator, gave an impassioned speech on the House floor which was instrumental in passing the Martin
• instrumental in passing the Martin instrumental in passing the Martin Luther<06:42:28.558> King
• Martin Luther King's dream.
• <06:45:25.520> Martin willingness to serve. This is Dr. Martin willingness to serve.
• Martin Luther<06:45:26.240> King's<06:45:26.718> dream.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Martin Luther King, has said, in one of her speeches, "How can the dream survive?"
• The dream she's talking about is her uncle Martin Luther King.
• Martin<06:17:04.638> Luther<06:17:05.120> King.
• Uh, and she has said Martin Luther King.
• If we murder the Martin Luther King.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Christy Martin, with the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, said they wanted to provide comments
• the committee christe Martin the committee christe Martin coordinating<05:21:46.080> group
• Christe Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species. We are in strong support of this measure.
• Christe Martin, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species. We are in strong support of this measure.
• Okay, we’re going to recess to... the committee christe Martin the committee christe Martin coordinating

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:57:41.720> they<00:57:41.839> were<00:57:42.160> higher<00:57:42.440> ed
• believe that they were higher ed believe that they were higher ed material<00:57:44.359> is
• We are educating everybody because that's what public ed is.
• I'm hearing people talking about, well, do we have to educate special ed?
• I got a pink card here from Representative Luno, Committee Ed Fun it.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• This isn't this huge course that's going to take up a lot of time as part of civics or phys ed.
• Um, just because the board of ed isn't involved in that level of the decision-making.
• about Ed Eagle, about where<01:16:50.400> it's<01:16:50.640> taught.
• <01:16:54.239> I taught through the Ed Eagle program.
• I taught through the Ed Eagle program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota education systems, the Office of Higher Ed, and others now regularly keep data disaggregated
• Minnesota education systems, the Office of Higher Ed, and others now regularly keep data disaggregated
• I think of really good nonprofits that have come; although Cook County Higher Ed, I mean, they might
• <00:14:25.600> Cook<00:14:25.920> County<00:14:26.399> higher<00:14:26.720> ed
• have come although Cook County higher ed have come although Cook County higher ed I<00:14:27.160

Bills: HF2090, HF982, HF2229

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• He's very knowledgeable about higher ed.
• I'm going to let him give you his own credentials and stuff. ...very knowledgeable about higher ed.
• Have you watched any of our higher ed funding formula meetings? I have seen some of it. Okay.
• Have you watched any of our higher ed funding formula meetings? I have. Okay.
• So, you know, a lot of these, pretty much all these, we have talked about the higher ed.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthen the bill, particularly this... ...strengthen the bill, particularly this came from XL and Ed
• I'm actually meeting with a lot of college presidents in the hour to talk about higher ed funding.
• You know, we fund the junior college dual enrollment, and I've got the higher ed people coming to see

Bills: SB278, HB459, HB61

Keywords: University of South Alabama, board of trustees, education governance, state appointments, governance reforms, membership changes, home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of pressures in higher ed in the higher ed landscape right now, and this bill would really
• Um, and the importance of higher ed is well known here in this group and really across our state.
• <00:45:15.960> Committee<00:45:16.400> and ago I was on the Higher Ed Committee and
• ago I was on the Higher Ed Committee and actually<00:45:16.960> it<00:45:17.080> was<00
• <00:45:29.480> is Um and the importance of higher ed is Um and the importance of higher ed

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

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

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, dispensed with the reading of the prior journal, and handled a large number of procedural motions, including suspending rules for guest introductions and committee notice, withdrawing AB 2595 from Appropriations, and moving ACR 110 to the inactive file. Members also noted absences for maternity leave and personal business, and the chamber recognized several birthdays and numerous visiting city officials and community groups. On the floor file, the Assembly took up several measures. AB 1673 by Assembly Member Hadwick, dealing with fish and wildlife funding for wildlife-conflict prevention, passed 62-0. ACR 143 by Assembly Member Pacheco, declaring April 19-25 as California Cities Week, was adopted with 65 coauthors added. AB 1982 by Assembly Member Lowenthal, which removes sunsets from existing anti-drink-spiking requirements for bars and nightclubs, passed 68-0. ACR 158 by Assembly Member Solache, recognizing April 2026 as Donate Life Month, was adopted with 74 coauthors added, and AB 1908 by Assembly Member McKinnor, authorizing counties to establish victim compensation funds for survivors of abuse by public agencies, passed 71-0. The Assembly also approved AB 2052 by Assembly Member Stephanie, aimed at allowing continuity of prosecution for vulnerable victims, by a 62-0 vote, and ACR 178 by Leader Flora, recognizing April 21 as National Rendering Day, with 69 coauthors added and adopted by voice vote. The second-day consent calendar, including multiple bills and resolutions, was adopted 69-0, with several items receiving unanimous urgency or resolution votes. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Mary Dallas Armstrong, followed by announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session scheduled for Monday, April 27 at 1 p.m.

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