Video & Transcript Research : 'Class C misdemeanor'

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NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (04/24/2026)

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • c><00:03:56.200><c> toc><00:03:56.320><c> caucusc><00:03:56.920><c> becausec><00:03:57.280><c>
  • And<00:04:01.160><c> asc><00:04:01.280><c> soonc><00:04:01.440><c> asc><00:04:01.520><c> wec>
  • :39:47.520><c> classc><00:39:48.120><c> Ac><00:39:48.440><c> orc><00:39:48.600><c> classc><00
  • :39:48.960><c> Bc><00:39:49.240><c> felonyc><00:39:50.080><c> forc> jail on a class A or class
  • B felony for jail on a class A or class B felony for up<00:39:50.560><c> toc><00:39:50.720><c> 6c
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 409 in executive session, with the chair noting a caucus break to explain amendments to several substitute members. Members discussed a proposed amendment to narrow the bill’s felony provisions by limiting them to specific, knowingly dangerous conduct rather than making the offense too broad. The committee also noted a planned floor amendment to add missing “or” language to clarify that the listed acts were alternatives, not cumulative requirements. The amendment was adopted 13-0, and the bill as amended was then reported OTPA by a 13-0 vote. It was initially said to be headed to consent, but members later agreed it would not go on consent because a floor amendment was anticipated. The committee then opened House Bill 667, which would extend protections for medical personnel into emergency room settings. Supporters said the bill was needed because emergency room staff face increasing assaults and existing protections did not fully cover ER circumstances. Several members described firsthand or secondhand incidents involving nurses, EMTs, and other staff being threatened or injured, and argued that stronger penalties would help deter violence and improve prosecution. Others supported the bill but raised concerns about how it might affect people experiencing mental health crises, dementia, or intellectual and developmental disabilities. A proposed amendment from Representative Sher would exempt people experiencing a mental health crisis who have a mental health diagnosis, and also address dementia and certain developmental disabilities. Supporters said the amendment was narrowly tailored and had backing from the Disability Rights Center, NAMI New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Nurses Association. Opponents argued that the criminal justice system already has safeguards such as prosecutorial discretion, insanity defenses, and competency rules, and warned against creating special exceptions that could weaken equal application of the law. After debate, the committee voted 10-3 to report HB 667 ought to pass, with members noting that minority and majority reports would be prepared.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Finance (04/22/2025)

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • the class 10 and class 60 uh the the class 10 and class 60 activity<02:04:21.360><c> thatc><02:04:
  • Uh, class three, uh, is class 27.<02:04:37.199><c> Um,c><02:04:38.080><c> thatc><02:04:38.400><c>
  • :58.000><c> thatc><02:04:58.239><c> wec> class 27 based on the assumption that we class 27 based
  • ><c> classc><02:08:59.760><c> 27c><02:09:00.239><c> andc><02:09:00.480><c> classc><02:09:00.800
  • ><c> 39,c><02:09:01.360><c> whichc><02:09:01.520><c> isc> It's for class 27 and class 39, which
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/18/25

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • :52:14.440><c> classesc><00:52:14.720><c> onc><00:52:14.880><c> woolc><00:52:15.119><c> felting
  • c><00:52:15.520><c> inc> and teaches classes on wool felting in and teaches classes on wool felting
  • c><01:16:18.760><c> dancec><01:16:19.239><c> classc> Hall in s Bal in August dance class Hall in
  • :24:46.960><c> monc><01:24:47.239><c> Folkc><01:24:47.520><c> Artc> class and mon folk song and
  • to the thing class<01:27:07.639><c> yeahc><01:27:08.000><c> butc><01:27:08.600><c> myc><01:27:08.800
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • /c> with class of with class of 2029<00:01:38.320><c> boyc><00:01:39.040><c> Ic><00:01:39.240><c>
  • saw it was it says 31%<00:04:48.440><c> ofc><00:04:48.600><c> thec><00:04:48.759><c> classc><00
  • c><00:07:15.160><c> inc> class yeah but what is our shortage in class yeah but what is our shortage
  • :15:01.360><c> thec><00:15:01.519><c> medicalc><00:15:01.800><c> schoolc><00:15:02.199><c> class
  • /c><00:19:35.039><c> sizec><00:19:35.400><c> whichc><00:19:35.559><c> Ic> the medical school class
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Committee on Higher Education heard Senate Bill 101, which would require University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine graduates who paid in-state tuition to serve as physicians in Hawaiʻi for at least two years after residency or fellowship, beginning with the class of 2029. The Deputy Attorney General said the bill addressed a matter of statewide concern. JABSOM Dean Sam Shoemaker testified in opposition, arguing the school already uses scholarships, loan repayment, and other incentives, and that the strongest predictor of where physicians practice is where they complete residency; he said the school is working to expand residency slots, neighbor-island training, and class size. Supporters argued the state faces a severe physician shortage and should do more to ensure publicly subsidized students remain in Hawaiʻi. The committee ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including a statewide concern statement, and deferred the measure to July 31, 2025; the vote was adopted. The committee then heard Senate Bill 19, which creates funds to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program on Maui. University of Hawaiʻi and nursing workforce representatives testified in support, saying there is ample capacity on Maui and strong demand for higher nursing education. Members discussed the broader nursing pathway, including existing associate and bachelor’s programs at UH campuses and the need to improve access for Maui and nearby communities. The measure was moved to decision-making and adopted with amendments and a deferred date. Senate Bill 637, appropriating funds for various University of Hawaiʻi nursing programs, also received support from UH nursing leaders, who said the funding would support the final phase of the West Oʻahu-Manoa collaboration and an online RN-to-BS program. The Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing said its research showed capacity and demand for these programs. The committee recommended amendments to blank out appropriation amounts for the committee report and deferred the measure, then adopted it. The committee also adopted Senate Bill 741, which establishes an external audit committee within the UH Board of Regents, and deferred or amended several other measures, including a wastewater technology pilot program, a coconut rhinoceros beetle response program, and a climate-resilient development appropriation.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy and Administration (04/13/2026)

Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • inc><00:15:02.639><c> thatc><00:15:02.880><c> fullc><00:15:03.120><c> class.
  • c><00:15:03.519><c> Soc> everyone even in that full class. So everyone even in that full class.
  • classes,c><03:30:11.920><c> thosec><03:30:12.160><c> classesc><03:30:12.479><c> arec> enrollment
  • classes, those classes are enrollment classes, those classes are taught.<03:30:12.960><c> Thec><03
  • ><c> classesc><03:54:10.080><c> andc> special programs AP classes and special programs AP classes
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary (04/24/2025)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • :27.200><c> thec><01:07:27.359><c> classc> where the funds cannot go to the class where the funds
  • > classc><01:07:28.480><c> membersc><01:07:28.799><c> havec> members because the class members
  • classc><01:07:38.000><c> membersc><01:07:38.400><c> can'tc> scenarios where the class members can't
  • c><01:12:22.000><c> goalc><01:12:22.560><c> wasc> class action lawsuits where the goal was class
  • 21.920><c> class.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Rep. Frazier Press Conference 4/13/26

Transcript Highlights:
  • :01:44.200><c> ac><00:01:44.280><c> resourcec><00:01:44.640><c> forc><00:01:44.760><c> thec>
  • notc><00:01:45.480><c> ac><00:01:45.520><c> threatc><00:01:45.840><c> toc><00:01:45.960><c>
  • :47.920><c> ac><00:01:48.000><c> streetc><00:01:48.280><c> cornerc><00:01:48.560><c> inc> Floyd
  • <00:21:25.040><c> classes.
  • c> online classes. Uh again, much like Dr. online classes. Uh again, much like Dr.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: Representative Cedric Frazier opened the meeting by describing the ongoing harms from Operation Metro Surge, saying the state was still dealing with family separation, school disruption, workforce damage, and economic instability. He framed the issue as a statewide crisis and called on Republican colleagues to acknowledge the harm and work with DFL members on accountability and relief. He said the current budget work was urgent but could not fully backfill the damage, and later noted that the issue had been a top priority since the surge began. Testimony from school and business leaders focused on concrete impacts. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said her district, which serves a large Black, Hispanic, and East and West African student population, was targeted during the surge and saw major enrollment losses, including students moving out of state or country or being held in Texas facilities. She said the district lost over $1 million in revenue and that the loss could equal about 40 teachers or an entire elementary school. Columbia Heights School Board Chair Mary Granlund said her district, with a limited tax base, was also heavily affected and warned that business closures and unfunded mandates would shift costs to homeowners and force cuts to classes, teachers, and programs. Lee Ann Rasiejka of Women Venture and the CDFI coalition said small businesses across Minnesota were facing compounded disruption from federal law enforcement activity, tariffs, rising costs, and fear, with more than $213 million in lost revenue reported across Twin Cities corridors and many businesses cutting hours, delaying hiring, or pausing growth. In response to questions, Frazier and other speakers said the proposed aid would be statewide rather than focused only on the Twin Cities, and that the bill currently had no set dollar amount but they hoped for around $100 million. They said CDFIs and local community groups would help distribute resources. Frazier said some Republican members had acknowledged harm in their own communities and suggested compromise was possible, though he criticized leadership for dismissing some testimony as hearsay. He also said ongoing law enforcement investigations into alleged crimes by federal agents would not be necessary to establish the harm, pointing instead to direct testimony from affected residents and school officials. No votes were taken in the portion provided.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Committee on Housing (01/13/2026)

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • c><01:33:09.440><c> classc><01:33:09.679><c> 6c> homes that are being proposed on class 6 homes
  • ><c> classc><01:34:34.560><c> 6c><01:34:34.719><c> roadsc> who have buildings on class 6 roads
  • c><01:43:21.679><c> uhc><01:43:21.760><c> andc> class 6 roads or private roads. uh and class 6
  • ><c> roadsc><01:43:48.960><c> toc><01:43:49.119><c> classc> change all their class 6 roads to class
  • ><c> classc><01:45:54.080><c> 6c><01:45:54.320><c> roads.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee Feb 25th, 2026

County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • >> You<00:04:49.760><c> havec><00:04:50.000><c> ac><00:04:50.040><c> classc><00:04:50.560
  • ><00:04:52.480><c> 6c><00:04:52.680><c> youc><00:04:52.760><c> know,c> >> You have a class
  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 you know, >> You have a class 1 2 3 4 5 6 you know, you<00:04:53.000><c> havec><
  • 00:04:53.200><c> allc><00:04:53.320><c> thesec><00:04:53.440><c> differentc><00:04:53.760><c> classes
  • c> you have all these different classes. you have all these different classes.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/26

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> classes.
  • ><c> doingc><01:01:17.040><c> thec><01:01:17.200><c> class.
  • ><c> classesc><01:04:00.400><c> whenc> if if we only offered classes when if if we only offered classes
  • 03.039><c> everyc><01:04:03.359><c> classc> students wanted them, uh, every class students wanted
  • c><01:04:09.839><c> youc> class on Friday.
Keywords: 1183, house
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • c><00:56:39.920><c> classc> filter down.
  • c><00:56:49.920><c> classc><00:56:50.240><c> andc><00:56:50.480><c> they'rec> running a cadet
  • class and they're running a cadet class and they're running<00:56:50.880><c> ac><00:56:51.119><c>
  • ><c> recruitc><00:57:55.040><c> classes.
  • c><00:57:56.000><c> Uhc><00:57:56.240><c> we'rec> run more recruit classes.
Summary: The Public Safety and Judiciary Committee met without a quorum, so approval of the January 3, January 20, and February 3 minutes was postponed. The committee then heard an update from the Department of Corrections on halfway house and Recovery Kentucky funding and operations. Deputy Commissioner Hillary Daily said DOC contracts for up to 1,752 halfway house beds and 780 Recovery Kentucky beds, with 16 halfway houses and 13 Recovery Kentucky centers statewide. She reported 6,329 admissions in fiscal year 2025, average daily populations of 1,041 in halfway houses and 494 in Recovery Kentucky, and explained that Recovery Kentucky placements are more restrictive, generally excluding violent and sex offenders, while halfway houses serve probationers, parolees, and sex offenders who need treatment. She also described programming such as MRT, parenting, adult basic education, and trauma-focused services, and said some facilities offer supervised visitation. Daily said no new funding request was included in the current budget, though DOC has sought rate increases in prior cycles. Community Transitional Services director Barbara Stum also testified in support of halfway houses as re-entry and substance abuse treatment centers. She said CTS primarily serves men coming out of prison or returning to prison who need treatment, and that halfway houses provide security, accountability, treatment, employment support, and help with home placement. Stum said the state moved substance abuse treatment into the community in 2010 to avoid sending people back to prison for treatment, and argued halfway houses are the least expensive form of incarceration. She cited daily rates of $33.61 for CTS beds and DOC figures of $37.33 to $44.33 per day, compared with higher prison and jail costs, and said reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2019. She said staffing and supplies are the main pressure points, with counselor pay below market rates, and noted two counselor vacancies. A former resident, Michael Bird, testified that CTS helped him recover and re-enter the community successfully. The committee also received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of the video arraignment/video conferencing system. AOC officials Zach Ramsey and Charles Buyers said the system is now fully implemented in all courtrooms and is used for video arraignments and other Zoom-based court proceedings. Buyers described the pandemic-era transition from older, inconsistent equipment to improvised laptop/webcam setups, then to a more integrated vendor-supported system with touchscreen controls and a judicial support specialist position for training and operation. He said 324 courtrooms are already up to the current standard, with 128 remaining on an older bundle, and that there are no technical barriers to continued use. AOC said it is seeking $3.8 million in recurring annual funding to keep the systems upgraded and current, and plans to upgrade 46 systems in fiscal year 2026 across 15 counties.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Feb 17th, 2026

County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • not just a<00:28:14.080><c> classc><00:28:14.480><c> three.
  • c><00:28:15.520><c> issuec><00:28:15.840><c> allc> a class three.
  • :05.360><c> classc><00:31:05.840><c> twoc><00:31:07.120><c> uhc><00:31:07.360><c> classc><00:
  • 31:07.840><c> threec> is so good for class two uh class three is so good for class two uh class three
  • ><00:31:15.200><c> aboutc><00:31:15.600><c> classc><00:31:15.919><c> onec><00:31:16.080><c> or<
Bills: HB268, SB279, SB304, SB303, SB298
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

LBT Public Hearing 03-16-2026

Labor and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><00:18:16.800><c> withinc><00:18:17.200><c> thec><00:18:17.280><c> samec> classes of work within
  • c><00:18:56.360><c> Itc><00:18:56.480><c> doesn'tc><00:18:56.760><c> havec> classes of work.
  • <c> currentc><00:19:36.880><c> classesc> pay structure within the current classes pay structure within
  • Because that<00:21:41.400><c> particularc><00:21:41.960><c> classc><00:21:42.280><c> ofc><00:21
  • :42.400><c> workc><00:21:42.640><c> isc><00:21:42.760><c> nowc> that particular class of work is
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures relating to public employment, the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), retirement benefits, and cafeteria plans. HB 2472 and HB 2276, both concerning EUTF staff and investment office staff salaries, drew support from the trust fund and labor groups, and no opposition was heard in person. HB 2272 and HB 2273, emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, were supported by the administration and labor representatives; members briefly clarified which bargaining units were covered. A longer discussion centered on HB 1664, which would address a dispute mechanism for EUTF-related negotiations. HGEA said the current process lacks a dispute resolution path and that the bill would allow interest arbitration when the state and union disagree. The Department of Human Resources Development and the Budget and Finance director raised concerns about consistency across bargaining units and the role of an arbitrator unfamiliar with the complexities of the system. Senator Moriwaki questioned whether another dispute forum might be more appropriate, but no alternative resolution was settled. The committee also heard HB 1655, which would make retirement benefits negotiable, and HB 1658, concerning collective bargaining repricing. ERS opposed HB 1655, saying it could create administrative and tax problems if retirement benefits were negotiated separately across many bargaining units, while UPW, HGEA, HSTA, and UPA supported it as a bargaining issue. On HB 1658, DHRD explained that repricing is an internal classification tool meant to preserve equal pay for equal work, not to address market pay, and said a single arbitrator or the Merit Appeals Board could handle disputes; HGEA preferred a neutral arbitrator and opposed the Merit Appeals Board as too employer-controlled. The final measure, HB 1661 on cafeteria plans, was supported by UPW and HGEA. DHRD said it planned to raise the maximum contribution through rulemaking but needed to manage plan solvency and timing because IRS limits change on a calendar-year basis while the state plan runs on a fiscal year. The committee then moved into decision-making and adopted recommendations to pass HB 2472 and HB 2276 as amended/unamended after a brief correction to the vote language.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division II (02/24/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • c><00:19:55.760><c> Ic> that would be under class 48 yes yeah I that would be under class 48 yes
  • c><00:20:14.600><c> appropriatec><00:20:15.039><c> classc> which we moved to the appropriate class
  • ><c> thec><00:28:42.880><c> classc><00:28:43.159><c> itc> because we're not filling the class it
  • c> reducec><00:54:39.839><c> classc><00:54:40.119><c> 10c><00:54:40.440><c> classc><00:54:40.680
  • ><c> 60c> would reduce class 10 class 60 would reduce class 10 class 60 Associated<00:54:41.640><c>
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The Finance Division 2 hearing took testimony from the director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training on the agency’s budget request and operations. He described the agency’s role in setting hiring, education, certification, and discipline standards for police, corrections, probation and parole, and court security officers, and noted that the agency runs the full-time, part-time, corrections, and court security training programs. He also outlined the agency’s staffing, facility, and budget request for FY 2026-27, including a request to keep funding level with the governor’s recommendation while shifting funds to support an IT manager position by defunding a vacant administrative slot. The agency requested several statutory changes in Chapter 106, including clarifying the definition of police misconduct, allowing a temporary member on the Conduct Review Committee, clarifying reporting requirements for misconduct allegations, and codifying the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The director also reviewed new responsibilities added in recent years, including crisis intervention training, statewide accreditation, the Conduct Review Committee, and increased annual in-service training requirements. He explained that crisis intervention funding is carried in a continuously appropriated, non-lapsing account and that some budget lines were reclassified, including software and janitorial services, to reflect actual spending needs. Members asked about national standards, the different academy tracks, crisis intervention funding, maintenance and contract changes, temporary positions, and the court security training program. The agency said it coordinates with national peers through IADLEST, that the part-time and corrections academies are longstanding programs, and that the new court security academy can be delivered either as a full academy or as in-service training depending on resources. The director also said the agency has been running extra full-time academies because of high vacancy rates, but expects to return to three full-time academies this year, with two corrections academies and one or possibly two part-time academies. He also explained the current approach to misconduct records and public disclosure, saying sustained findings under RSA 106-L are heard by the council and published, replacing the older, less standardized exculpatory list process.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Policy - 02/18/26

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • c> the class period.
  • ><c> class.
  • /c><00:10:27.120><c> inspiredc><00:10:27.440><c> byc> our class.
  • ><c> alongc><00:10:31.920><c> withc><00:10:32.079><c> ourc><00:10:32.240><c> class.
  • ><c> herc><00:10:42.320><c> classesc> Wally dedicates herself to her classes Wally dedicates herself
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> servicec><00:10:30.560><c> classesc> have about 1,400 civil service classes have about 1,400
  • c><00:10:52.480><c> andc> classes or civil service positions and classes or civil service positions
  • thec><00:12:54.160><c> quotec><00:12:54.399><c> thatc><00:12:54.560><c> wec> service classes
  • ><00:12:59.760><c> thec> $2,500 per class.
  • ><c> class.
Keywords: 910, house, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, June 10, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • ><c> 2025,c><00:05:34.000><c> thec><00:05:34.160><c> chairc><00:05:34.639><c> willc><00:05:34.800
  • ><c> classc><02:29:54.000><c> familiesc> while hardworking middle class families while hardworking
  • middle class families while<02:29:54.800><c> thosec><02:29:55.040><c> strugglingc><02:29:55.439>
  • to get in the while those struggling to get in the middle<02:29:56.240><c> classc><02:29:56.720><c
  • c><02:29:58.240><c> Whatc><02:29:58.479><c> wec> middle class get screwed over.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Mar 4th, 2026

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh the only changes that<00:08:53.839><c> classc><00:08:54.160><c> itc><00:08:54.399><c> changed<
  • /c><00:08:54.640><c> thec><00:08:55.040><c> uhc><00:08:55.200><c> firstc> that class it changed
  • the uh first that class it changed the uh first offense<00:08:55.839><c> onc><00:08:56.080><c> attempting
  • c><00:08:56.480><c> toc><00:08:56.720><c> alludec><00:08:56.959><c> toc><00:08:57.120><c> class
  • c> offense on attempting to allude to class offense on attempting to allude to class A<00:08:58.080
Bills: SB233, SB233
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House workforce panel considers HF1216 3/18/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • <c> soc><00:10:22.720><c> hec><00:10:23.680><c> hisc><00:10:23.880><c> classc><00:10:24.120><
  • c> allowedc><00:10:24.399><c> mec><00:10:24.480><c> toc> income and so he his class allowed me
  • ><c> attendc><00:10:33.920><c> classesc><00:10:34.279><c> inc><00:10:34.399><c> myc><00:10:34.560
  • ><c> truckc><00:10:35.000><c> orc> would attend classes in my truck or would attend classes in my
  • sure I I<00:10:39.320><c> attendedc><00:10:39.639><c> hisc><00:10:39.880><c> classc><00:10:40.160
Keywords: 1183, house
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Education Policy - 02/10/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • duringc><00:04:49.000><c> classc><00:04:49.280><c> whyc><00:04:49.400><c> can'tc> cell phone
  • during class why can't cell phone during class why can't you<00:04:51.360><c> umc><00:04:51.520><c
  • :00.919><c> classc><00:08:01.319><c> timec><00:08:01.639><c> butc><00:08:01.800><c> allowedc>
  • c><00:20:21.240><c> outc> during class time and it is allowed out during class time and it is allowed
  • :04:11.440><c> classc><01:04:12.359><c> butc><01:04:12.520><c> allowc><01:04:12.880><c> themc
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
Summary: The Minnesota Senate Education Policy Committee heard testimony on Senate File 508, a bill to restrict cell phone use in schools. Senator Mann said the proposal was based on roundtables with school districts across the state and on reports from other states, and argued that cell phones are harming student attention, mental health, classroom culture, and student-teacher relationships. She said K-8 restrictions are broadly supported, while high school policies should be more flexible, and emphasized that districts should control implementation. The bill also includes funding for education efforts around why the restrictions are being adopted and how students can use technology responsibly. Testifiers largely supported the bill or the general goal of limiting cell phone use. Dr. Anna Tyranny, a parent and licensed psychologist, said cell phones and social media can contribute to anxiety, poor concentration, cyberbullying, and inappropriate sharing, and urged a balanced approach that includes digital literacy education. St. Cloud Area Public Schools Superintendent Laori Pam and Tech High School staff member Molly Kenzie described their district’s policies, which keep phones away for the day in elementary and middle school and restrict them during class in high school. They cited U.S. Department of Education guidance, research on mental health and sleep disruption, and the need for age-appropriate, equitable, and consistently communicated policies. St. Cloud reported that its middle school policy, piloted and then expanded districtwide, led to a 50% reduction in cell phone discipline referrals and fewer classroom power struggles. The district said high school violations remain concentrated in certain grades, especially ninth and eleventh, and that it continues to address the issue through PBIS teams. No vote or final committee action on the bill was described in the transcript.