Transcript Highlights:

• Because you might have an assistant superintendent, and that's the superintendent and that's the responsibility
• So are you okay with retaining approved by the superintendent and/or his or her designate?
• So approved by superintendent or his or her designate.
• By the superintendent or his or her designate, determined... That's a long sentence. Oh, okay.
• superintendent determined by determined superintendent determined by determined by<01:06:07.160><c> with

Summary: The subcommittee work session of the Education Policy and Administration Committee focused on House Bill 131 and House Bill 781, which were described as nearly identical bills addressing student cell phone use in schools. Members noted that HB 781 is an early bill and therefore needed committee action by Wednesday, while HB 131 did not face that deadline. The chair and members discussed the bills’ shared goal of requiring school boards to develop and adopt policies on student personal device use, with debate over whether the state should set minimum standards or leave more to local control. A major topic was funding. One member urged the committee to avoid creating an unfunded mandate and asked for some funding support, while others argued it was too early to commit money and that the committee should first establish the policy framework. The governor’s proposed funding was discussed, including a $1 million figure in the budget and a separate $250,000 amount referenced in the bill, but several members said the money would likely be insufficient to cover all students or pouch systems statewide. The committee also reviewed a handout reflecting proposed budget language that would require school boards to adopt policies on personal device use during the school day, with schoolwide implementation and exceptions for medical disability or language proficiency needs, and a DOE-administered grant program. Members spent considerable time on drafting details, especially deadlines and exceptions. They debated whether the bills should require school boards to “develop,” “adopt,” or also “implement” policies, and whether the effective date of the act should also serve as the deadline for school boards. They also discussed whether exceptions for classroom instructional use should be mandatory or merely encouraged, and whether the bills should explicitly include or exclude charter schools. Additional proposed exceptions included IEPs, 504 plans, English learners, and medical needs such as glucose sensors or insulin pumps, with some members suggesting medical issues be certified by a physician. No final vote or formal action was taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the superintendent is back on. If we could get back in order, members.
• So, Superintendent, can you hear us? Okay, we can.
• Thank you, Superintendent.
• Thank you, Madam Chair and Madam Superintendent.
• Thank you very much, Madam Superintendent.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So I, like many of you, I'm sure, meet routinely with my area's superintendents.
• So I had a superintendent who came up and asked me if I supported consolidating administration.
• And so this superintendent, he's, I don't even understand how that would work.
• But what I found ironic, and what kind of ended the conversation, the fact the superintendent who was
• Need a superintendent and an assistant in different layers. And maybe they do.

Summary: The Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education met after an extended recess and first laid over House Bills 3244, 4146, 4158, and later 3718 for a future hearing. The committee also noted that its Wednesday meeting would be held at 4:30 p.m. in Room 4S5. Several bills were then heard and advanced, with PCS substitutes adopted without objection where noted. House Bill 4478, by Rep. Deck, raised the student activity fund deposit threshold from $100 to $500 and required all such deposits to be made by the end of the business week; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3671, by Rep. Provenzano, allowed experienced teachers to carry career teacher status to a new district for evaluation purposes only, not for contract or tenure decisions; after a question about tenure, it passed 7-0. House Bill 3051, by Rep. Stewart, streamlined and modernized the Tulsa Reconciliation Scholarship to make it easier for eligible students to access while preserving the program’s historic purpose; it passed 6-1. House Bill 3671 also drew questions about whether the bill would affect tenure, and the author said it would not. House Bill 3051 prompted questions about eligibility and whether there was any ranking system; the author said the scholarship remained equally available under current law. House Bill 3710, by Rep. Pogemiller, created a bipartisan district realignment commission to study school-district consolidation or reorganization every 10 years, considering financial efficiency, academic outcomes, enrollment, location, and proximity to other schools; supporters argued it would start a needed conversation about district structure and administrative costs, while opponents raised concerns about forced consolidation and local control. After extensive debate, it passed 5-4.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do see that we have Superintendent Reichdahl with us.
• It's come from the superintendent. Okay.
• It's come from the superintendent. Okay.
• Superintendent Wright-Dall, I have a recollection of a number of years ago, Yes, Superintendent Rake-Dall
• Mandy Rain, Rain, Superintendent of Valley. Dr.

Bills: SB6222 , SB6263 , SB6118 , SB6261 , SB6320

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: public education, technology access, surplus hardware, digital divide, student resources, school district, public bidding, bid limits, procurement, public works, construction contracts, competitive bidding, lowest responsible bidder, small works roster, quotations, school purchasing, Washington-grown food, local food, inmate work programs, Department of Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also we will meet and hear from Superintendent Wright, who is our new superintendent at Green
• And superintendent, right? You were not Superintendent, right.
• I am also the Green Hill School Superintendent.
• And superintendent, right? You were not Superintendent, right.
• Superintendent Crean Hill School.

Bills: SB6062

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: juvenile justice, criminal offense, minors, rehabilitation, legal provisions

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> superintendent of the school board. superintendent of the school board.
• </c><00:34:31.919><c> So</c> the superintendent of Pendleton. So the superintendent of Pendleton.
• He is the superintendent of Model Lab.
• </c><00:35:06.400><c> Um</c> the superintendent of Model Lab. Um the superintendent of Model Lab.
• superintendent at Fort Thomas superintendent at Fort Thomas Independent.<00:36:50.960><c> Spent</c><00

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met with a quorum, approved the August 20, 2025 minutes, and then heard a discussion tied to Constitution Day and Kentucky’s constitutional duty to provide an efficient system of common schools. Chairman James Tipton reviewed the history of Kentucky’s model laboratory schools, postsecondary academy programs such as Gatton and Craft, magnet schools, virtual learning, and computer science opportunities, arguing that Kentucky has long expanded educational opportunity through different school models. He described model schools and academy programs as hybrid or innovative approaches that serve specialized student needs and noted that some of these programs receive state appropriations and, in some cases, tuition. Senator Steve West then gave a retrospective on school choice in Kentucky, beginning with the 2017 charter school law and explaining that Kentucky’s charter framework was designed as public-only to comply with the state constitution. He said charter schools have remained largely dormant in Kentucky and used that as context for Senate Bill 207, the School Innovation Act, which he said was modeled on a South Carolina approach. Under SB 207, a local school board can contract with a third-party entity to manage an existing school, receive SEEK funding, and seek waivers from certain state regulations in order to innovate, while retaining limits on items such as school safety and attendance rules. Members asked about how the new model differs from charter schools, whether schools could cherry-pick students, and whether teachers would remain district employees. West and Tipton said the bill is intended to keep the school within the public system, with the local district initiating the process and maintaining accountability through a time-limited contract that can be ended if the school fails to perform. They emphasized that the school would serve the existing student population rather than select students, and that teachers would remain district employees with their pensions and related contributions unchanged. Representative Brown raised concerns that exceptions and charters could leave lower-income children behind, while West responded that the bill is meant to expand choice for families who otherwise lack access and cited examples from other states where outside management and parental involvement helped turn around low-performing schools. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So under 41-525 now in the language, it mandates that the superintendent shall invest the money with
• The superintendent of insurance needs to know what to segregate.
• This would require the superintendent to set those surcharges.
• It's not been robust enough to advise the superintendent of insurance.
• superintendent, who has been there a short time, but it's pretty clear that other superintendents have

Bills: SB38 , SB17 , SB41 , SB264

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 99, a proposed reform of the Medical Malpractice Act. Representative Chandler said the bill is intended to address physician shortages, rising malpractice premiums, and litigation pressures by changing punitive damages rules, including a higher standard of proof, a requirement that punitive damages not be pleaded in the initial complaint, and limits tied to the type of provider. Supporters, including physicians, business leaders, and some patients, said the bill would help retain doctors, improve access to care, and create more predictable liability exposure. Several supporters also said current malpractice conditions are driving doctors out of the state and harming rural access to services. Opponents argued the bill would reduce patient recovery, create unequal treatment based on insurance status through the bill-versus-paid provision, and raise constitutional concerns involving equal protection, collateral source rules, and separation of powers. They also criticized the bill for not addressing other drivers of malpractice, such as hospital practices, prior authorization, staffing, and background checks for out-of-state doctors. Some witnesses urged amendments to protect the Patient Compensation Fund, ensure future medical expenses are covered, require minimum surcharge settings, and improve oversight of providers entering the state. Committee members questioned the sponsor and witnesses about whether the bill would actually lower premiums, whether it would improve access to care, and how it would affect hospitals, independent providers, and the Patient Compensation Fund. The sponsor said the bill was based on negotiations and comparisons with other states, and that it should help premiums over time. Members raised concerns about the fund’s solvency, the role of hospitals in the fund, and whether some provisions would survive legal challenge. No final vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated amendments would be discussed later and the committee would continue the hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Israel, superintendent, you are recognized. Thank you. All right, good afternoon.
• Thank you very much, Superintendent. Superintendent Hendrix, we're excited for your presentation.
• I would wonder if the other superintendent might have any comments on that, ma'am.
• I see smiles, so either superintendent.
• Superintendent, if you could turn on your microphone. It shows us on. Can you hear me?

Summary: The Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 held a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in K-12 education. Dr. Maya Israel of the University of Florida gave an overview of AI literacy, emphasizing that AI can support personalized learning, school operations, and teacher efficiency, but also raises concerns about data privacy, overreliance, mental health, and the need for human oversight. She described the Florida K-12 AI Task Force, which has produced guidance on policy, ethics, privacy, cybersecurity, classroom integration, and professional development, and is now working on district surveys, webinars, case studies, and teacher/family resources. Superintendents Van Ayers of Hillsborough County and Kevin Hendrick of Pinellas County described district-level implementation. Hillsborough outlined a governance council, a district AI policy, and an implementation guide; it prohibits generative AI for students below eighth grade, allows limited use for older students with teacher permission and district-vetted tools, and uses models for classroom AI expectations. The district also reported growing student enrollment in AI courses, teacher training through summer academies and quick learns, and pilots with tools such as Magic School and Microsoft Copilot. Pinellas emphasized academic integrity, student data privacy, digital responsibility, and the importance of human interaction in learning; it said state assessments already limit technology use and that districts need clear governance and parent transparency. Committee members asked about whether AI improves academic performance, the risk of student dependence, the possibility of returning to more paper-based testing, and who should set guardrails. Witnesses said reliable achievement data is still limited because the technology is new, though districts reported anecdotal gains in tutoring and early literacy. They also said there is no established statewide baseline for teacher AI training yet, so districts are using professional development, stipends, and partnerships with universities to build capacity. The committee also heard from Drew Andrew of FSU’s Inspire program, who argued that industry is moving faster than schools and that education should focus on teaching how AI works, building teacher confidence, and aligning training with workforce needs. No bills were considered and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> approved by the state superintendent approved by the state superintendent pursuant<00:55:42.480>
• We have no different superintendent.
• </c> have had in the past, a superintendent have had in the past, a superintendent who<01:14:15.600><
• </c> what happens as superintendents change. what happens as superintendents change.
• So, new superintendents in rules.

Bills: HB0076 , HB0102 , HB0115

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• and school boards are superintendent and school boards are coming<00:03:56.239><c> to</c><00:03:56.480
• of superintendents and dozens of superintendents and schoolboard<00:13:56.800><c> members</c><00:13:
• </c> members, superintendent, and principles. members, superintendent, and principles.
• And I called the superintendent and I'm like, what's going on? Who got these people mad?
• superintendent and I'm like what's going on?

Transcript Highlights:

• The superintendent is not under any obligation that he has to disseminate that information then to the
• I would think and hope that most of these superintendents... ... hope that most of these superintendents
• It does state that the superintendent, the head official, then the administrator, they may...
• You're the superintendent. You tell me. I'm the principal.
• Like I could live with the administrator knowing and the superintendent knowing, but at what... ...superintendent

Bills: HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HCR 35 , SB 14 , HB 12 , HB 1522 , HB 422 , HB 675 , HB 204 , HB 748 , HB 912 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HCR 35 , HCR 123 , HCR 124 , HR 57 , HR 87 , HR 111 , HR 228 , HR 230 , HR 322 , HR 624 , HR 625 , HR 626 , HR 627 , HR 628 , HR 630 , HR 631 , HR 634 , HR 635 , HR 636 , HR 637 , HR 638 , HR 639 , HR 640 , HR 645 , HR 646 , HR 648 , HR 649 , HR 651 , HR 652 , HR 653 , HR 654 , HR 664 , HR 665 , HR 668 , HR 675 , HR 676 , HR 678 , HR 679 , HR 680 , HR 683 , HR 686 , HR 688 , HR 689 , HR 694 , HR 695 , HR 697 , HR 698 , HR 699 , HR 472 , HR 622 , HR 632 , HR 633 , HR 643 , HR 655 , HR 657 , HR 660 , HR 661 , HR 662 , HR 663 , HR 667 , HR 670 , HR 674 , HR 681 , HR 682 , HR 696

Transcript Highlights:

• The superintendent must also designate one individual at each school who will serve as a resource for
• But the superintendent or designee must not obstruct law enforcement by ignoring their request.
• <01:03:01.440><c> Association,</c> Superintendent Association, Superintendent Association, the<01:03:
• of the Wooki school the superintendent of the Wooki school district,<01:03:10.720><c> the</c><01:03:
• <c> designate</c><01:13:40.800><c> shall</c> two, superintendent or designate shall two, superintendent

Transcript Highlights:

• We also replaced the leader of the Human Developmental Center with a new superintendent.
• Who's in charge of that is the superintendent? I'm not asking first line of defense.
• At the same time that the superintendent was let go...
• At the same time that the superintendent was let go, that person retired.
• But again, changing out the superintendent and then changing the person... ...changing out the superintendent

Summary: The Joint State Agencies committee met to approve prior minutes and then focused on the death of Zachary Moore at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center, later clarified in discussion as the Warren facility. DHS officials described Moore’s background, said he died after a prolonged prone restraint followed by a delayed chemical restraint, and reported that 13 staff were terminated, the superintendent was replaced, a consultant was brought in, and the agency entered a settlement with the family for $725,000. Members pressed DHS on the cause of death, restraint policies, staff training, supervision, family notification, and why the family had not been kept informed; DHS said a family-notification procedure exists but that communications during litigation had been handled through counsel. The committee also heard that six staff had been criminally charged with manslaughter and neglect of a vulnerable person, and that the death certificate listed the manner of death as homicide with cause of death tied to physiologic stress associated with struggle and prone restraint. DHS officials gave broader context on the five human development centers, their licensing and accreditation, resident population, mortality review process, and training programs. They said the centers serve highly medically and behaviorally complex residents, that annual restraint training and CPI-based instruction are required, and that the mortality review committee and Office of Long-Term Care review deaths and make recommendations. Members repeatedly criticized the agency for not having complete information at the meeting and for what they saw as gaps in oversight, staffing, and chain-of-command clarity during emergencies. DHS responded that the Warren facility had not been meeting the same standards as the others, that the consultant’s root-cause analysis identified multiple failures, and that new crisis-team and chain-of-command procedures were being drafted. A second major topic was staffing and recruitment. Members discussed low pay, turnover, use of float and on-call staff, rural staffing shortages, and a waiting list of about 2,000 people for home- and community-based services. DHS said CNAs at the centers start at about $39,000 a year, that a broader retention and recruitment plan is being drafted for all five centers, and that a separate rate study for PASS services will be implemented in January 2027 but does not cover CNA pay. The meeting ended with testimony from Moore’s mother, Angela Stevens, who said money could not replace her son and urged stronger training, background checks, and supervision so other residents would be protected. The committee asked DHS to keep members and Stevens updated on consultant reports, recruitment efforts, and follow-up on the family communication issue, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In my background, I'm a former school district superintendent, deputy superintendent, chief business
• Christine Thayer, Superintendent of California Pacific Charter Schools.
• Barbara Nemko, Napa County Superintendent of Schools, in my seventh term.
• Eric Prater, San Luis Coastal Superintendent, and I ask for your support.
• You can get authorized by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes. The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously. Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Superintendent Cary, for your testimony.
• </c> Authority and thank you superintendent Authority and thank you superintendent Carrie<00:20:40.640
• </c><00:38:00.040><c> who</c> why I I we have a superintendent who why I I we have a superintendent who
• </c> districts per school superintendent districts per school superintendent geese<00:43:22.119><c> that's
• </c><00:48:37.400><c> bringing</c> appreciate the superintendent bringing appreciate the superintendent

Bills: HF827 , HF1258 , HF2387 , HF2388 , HF2534 , HF2016

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill amends existing law to revise provisions regarding a career ladder for superintendents.
• The current code fails to recognize this administrative experience when superintendents and principals
• Now, I've been a superintendent in Idaho schools for my 12th year now, and I was a superintendent prior
• So just to clarify, let's say I'm a superintendent. I'm a certified teacher for 10 years.
• Jacobson is a great example of what the superintendent can do.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Up next we have Doe Superintendent Hayashi. Hello, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee.
• Kei Aashi, Superintendent, testifying on behalf of the Department of Education.
• <00:03:34.760><c> superintendent</c><00:03:35.480><c> Hayashi</c> superintendent superintendent Hayashi
• superintendent superintendent Hayashi hello<00:03:36.640><c> Chino</c><00:03:37.280><c> Vice</c><00:
• </c> committee Kei aashi superintendent committee Kei aashi superintendent testifying<00:03:40.840><c

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Library and Technology Committee met on March 14, 2025, to hear House Bill 430, House Draft 2, which would create an internship/on-the-job training program administered by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, with the state serving as the responsible employer for workers’ compensation coverage and appropriations included. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Hawaii, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Department of Education. Supporters emphasized the value of internships as a high-impact educational and career pathway opportunity. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill’s intent but raised a concern about the criminal history background check language, recommending that the bill be revised so DLIR may conduct checks “as appropriate” rather than requiring a mandatory check for all interns. The AG noted that juvenile records would remain confidential for 16- and 17-year-old interns under existing law and suggested deleting the more specific background-check language or replacing it with the more flexible wording. Several organizations submitted support, including business, health care, tourism, and industry groups. During decision-making, the committee discussed amendments incorporating the Attorney General’s recommendation, adding a 2.5 GPA minimum reference, and clarifying language about private or public sector organizations and placement of interns in state executive branch departments, agencies, or programs. The committee adopted the recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our district had one superintendent, one assistant superintendent, and then mysteriously another one
• So now we have a superintendent and two superintendents.
• Our district had one superintendent, one assistant superintendent, and then mysteriously another one
• So now we have a superintendent and two superintendents.
• You're talking about the superintendent, yes, about the superintendent, yes, and they are Manning the

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• As a superintendent in Cuba, New Mexico, we currently have 20 teacher housing units.
• You may have a superintendent; I'll use Gallup as an example.
• Gallup-McKinley County has 3,000 students and a superintendent pay of $180,000, I believe.
• And you have other superintendents. And it's a gentleman in the middle, not Benjamin.
• They're essentially playing a hybrid role of a superintendent and a principal.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• My former superintendent, Mr.
• There was a new transformation in the superintendent.
• Is any of this any materials, any support for new superintendents, for principals?
• And, like I mentioned to you, we also engaged with our former superintendent.
• So, I guess my last question is how are the superintendents responding to this?