Transcript Highlights:

• and after um a new middle school and after um conducting<00:04:20.320> the<00:04:20.440> grade
• ><00:04:20.680> upon<00:04:21.000> procedures<00:04:21.799> it conducting the grade
• upon procedures it conducting the grade upon procedures it was<00:04:22.160> determined<00:04

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:

• In 1986, I was a fourth-grade student in Espanola Public Schools, and our teacher, Ms.
• In the fourth grade, Leo Jaramillo (member_22668) stood up and proudly said, "I will win an election
• I ensure it's a paid legislature and that anybody can have the dream as a fourth-grade student to run

Transcript Highlights:

• Any type of hand counting is intensive on any scale.
• examiner warned in its official report that it could be feasible to hack the system and commit large-scale
• They should be focused on whether or not our kids read on grade level, right?
• especially on whether an error is systemic, reproducible, concealed, or capable of affecting customers at scale
• Reproducible, concealed, or capable of affecting customers at scale, a minor isolated discrepancy affecting

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether the software is operating correctly or not, the ramifications happen at scale given the massive
• correctly or not, the ramifications<01:07:59.599> happen<01:07:59.920> at<01:08:00.160> scale
• <01:08:00.559> given<01:08:00.799> the ramifications happen at scale given the ramifications
• happen at scale given the massive<01:08:01.200> and<01:08:01.440> rapid<01:08:01.680><
• images create a permanent record of humiliation, turning their own faces into weapons while still in grade

Bills: HF357, HF3389, HF1434, HF2500, HF1606

Keywords: HF357, hasenpfeffer, card games, social skill game, Minnesota gambling law, tournament, contest, prize limit, low-stakes gaming, card game exemption, gambling exemption, cribbage, bridge, euchre, pinochle, Texas hold'em, whist, skat, sheepshead, gin

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, there is, you know, just greater complexity given the size and scale of that program.
• It is a social insurance program that is at a significant scale.
• There is, you know, just greater complexity given the size and scale of that program.
• It is a social insurance program that is at a significant scale.
• Totally over my head and my pay grade to understand how that all goes into that, but to make a major

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I should be worried about my grades or even silly drama amongst my friends, not about politics.'
• I should be worried about my grades or even silly drama amongst my friends, not about politics.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then confirmed a quorum of 30 present and approved the Journal from January 27, 2026. Several senators used points of personal privilege to welcome guests, including Aliento students visiting for an education day, gun safety advocacy groups, constituents, a legal studies shadowing guest, a scientist from Tempe, and aging-services advocates. Senators also spoke in support of student walkouts protesting ICE activity and praised the students’ activism. The chamber then moved through the second reading calendar, listing a large number of bills and resolutions covering topics such as water policy, health care, public records, education, insurance, elections, housing, utilities, criminal justice, and appropriations. No floor debate or votes on those measures were recorded in the transcript, and committee reports were placed on the journal without being read. After a recess, the Senate took up first-reading introductions and referred additional bills to committees, including measures on public benefits eligibility, public safety counseling, missing kidnapped children reporting, solar energy, elections, firearms instruction in schools, HOA and condominium issues, housing restrictions, water quality testing, and cargo theft. The Health and Human Services Committee was announced to meet Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 2, and the Senate adjourned until Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are allowed to have this program, which will give the kids the ability to
• commissioner having the opportunity to define curriculum for certification to gain both in 11th and 12th grade

Bills: HB 1079, HB3651, HB4980

Keywords: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Leadership Officer Training Corps, public school, career education, military readiness, public school accountability, funding allotments, healthcare, insurance, cost control, patient access, regulation, affordability, public health, JROTC, automobile maintenance, high school education, elective course, student skills, practical knowledge

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I think that's a wave of the future is getting more kids in recess through 12th grade and not giving
• up on it after grade school.
• and not giving up on it after grade and not giving up on it after grade<00:37:12.800> school.
• Does as you said it um grade school.
• FFA is an agriculture organization for students grades 7th through 12th, and it's run by students.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got a seventh-grade girl in the distinguished math scholar program at Crosby Middle School.
• If they're not reading by fourth grade, that's an indicator they're going to prison.
• <01:02:05.280> If their reading scores at fourth grade.
• If their reading scores at fourth grade.
• , they're not reading by fourth grade, they're not reading by fourth grade, that's<01:02:07.599><

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:08 26RS SB 3: 0:02:50 26RS SB 1: 0:21:12, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 3, which would expand financial transparency requirements for Kentucky school districts. Sponsor Senator Lindsey Tichenor said the bill would require public access to budgeting and spending information, including final working budgets, monthly credit card statements, superintendent contracts and compensation, audits, and related financial reports posted on district websites. A committee amendment correcting citations was adopted by voice vote. Supporters, including Laura O’Brien, described examples of district spending they viewed as excessive and argued that more detailed public disclosure would help taxpayers and school boards identify misuse of funds. Senator Higdon and others voiced support for transparency, while Senator Meredith said he supported the intent but wanted the bill to go further. The committee passed SB 3 with 11 aye votes and one no vote, with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator David Givens, which would restore and clarify governance changes for Jefferson County Public Schools by defining the roles of the school board and superintendent. Givens said the bill responds to a state Supreme Court ruling and includes 42 stated reasons for the governance changes. Opponents, including Jefferson County Teachers Association president Maddie Shepard, JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood, and board member James Craig, argued the bill would weaken local democratic control, concentrate authority in one administrator, and reduce community voice. Yearwood said he works collaboratively with the board and that the bill is about adults and governance rather than students, while Craig said the district needs stronger oversight, not less. Supporters of the bill argued that the current structure has not produced adequate results and that the changes are needed to improve outcomes and accountability. The transcript ends during the SB 1 testimony and discussion, before a final vote is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> No, I took phonics in the first grade. I took California phonics in the first grade.
• <00:17:10.799> I >> I took phonics in the first grade.
• I >> I took phonics in the first grade.
• :17:12.959> first took California phonics in the first took California phonics in the first grade
• And it's just like California grade.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program that's in the higher ed budget was passed, it was you had to serve as a large animal food grade
• <01:07:54.799> large<01:07:55.039> animal<01:07:55.359> food<01:07:55.680> grade
• <01:07:55.920> vet an un be a large animal food grade vet an un be a large animal food grade
• <01:08:46.480> And those large animal food grade vets.
• And those large animal food grade vets.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and sitting in the gallery, as I did in seventh grade, possibly our future state senator from District
• /c><00:20:42.720> did<00:20:42.960> in<00:20:43.200> seventh<00:20:43.600> grade
• , gallery, as I did in seventh grade, gallery, as I did in seventh grade, possibly<00:20:44.559><
• Kindergarten is a tremendous preparation and foundation for moving into the first grade.
• <00:32:46.240> But for moving into the first grade. But for moving into the first grade.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and preschool to 12th grade school superintendent license.
• 14:49.000> 12th Community Education preschool to 12th Community Education preschool to 12th grade
• school principal license and grade school principal license and prechool<00:14:51.839> to<00:
• 14:52.040> 12th<00:14:52.399> grade<00:14:52.639> school prechool to 12th grade
• school prechool to 12th grade school superintendent<00:14:54.000> license<00:14:55.000> a

Bills: HF1247, HF628

Keywords: child care, aides, supervision, child care centers, staffing regulations, childcare, day care, licensed child care center, early childhood education, child care licensing, director qualifications, staff ratios, group size, staff-to-child ratio, substitutes, volunteers, assistant teacher, teacher qualifications, infant care, toddler age

Transcript Highlights:

• then, as funds allow, to all youth, and then, as further funding allows, to guardians of youth sixth grade
• then, as funds allow, to all youth, and then, as further funding allows, to guardians of youth sixth grade
• Guardian means a parent, legal guardian, or other adult responsible for accompanying a sixth grade or
• adult responsible for accompanying<01:00:53.839> a<01:00:54.160> sixth<01:00:54.480> grade
• a sixth grade or younger child.<01:00:56.559> And<01:00:56.799> youth<01:00:57.200>

Bills: HB2116, HB1879, HB2214, HB2310, HB2168, HB2427, HB2560, HB1596, HB2197, HB2498, HB2167

Keywords: grants, community engagement, nonprofit organizations, federal assistance, volunteering, youth transit, public transportation, subsidized transit, environment, energy independence, affordable transportation, Hawaii, diaper tax credit, families, low-income, childcare, health, Hawaii Department of Human Services, DHS, emergency appropriation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to human services, homelessness, transit, and family supports. HB 2116 HD1, concerning grants from the Office of Community Services to nonprofits providing training and volunteerism opportunities, drew strong support from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and multiple organizations in written testimony. Supporters said the bill would help vulnerable people affected by federal program changes and cuts by connecting them to reintegration and support services. HB 1879 HD1, establishing a subsidized youth transit program coordinated with counties, received extensive testimony in support from the Department of Health, Department of Taxation, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Aloha United Way, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii State Youth Commission, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Greenpeace Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, and others. Testifiers emphasized equity, school attendance, reduced transportation costs, climate benefits, and broader access for youth. Several witnesses urged amendments to make the program universal rather than means-tested, and committee discussion noted implementation questions for neighbor islands and rural areas. HB 2214, creating a refundable diaper tax credit for low-income families with children age four and under, was supported by the Hawaii Diaper Bank, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and several other organizations. The Department of Taxation recommended making the credit non-refundable and clarifying definitions to aid administration, while supporters argued refundability was important for low-income families who may owe little or no income tax. HB 2310, an emergency appropriation to replenish DHS funds used to provide SNAP benefits during a federal shutdown, also drew broad support from DHS, Catholic Charities, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Aloha United Way, and others; witnesses praised the state’s rapid response and said the appropriation would prepare DHS for future emergencies. The committee also heard HB 2168 HD1 and HB 2427 HD1 on education for students experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied homeless youth; the Attorney General recommended technical amendments to avoid conflicts with existing law and to clarify McKinney-Vento-related definitions, while advocates stressed the need for school access, transportation, meals, and other supports for homeless and runaway youth.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also taught students at every grade level, from first through 12th, across English, math, history,
• I started my teaching career as a sixth-grade teacher in the Franklin-McKinley School District in San
• As a sixth-grade teacher in the Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose, and maybe I’m doing a
• the textbook and instructional materials adoption process, it has mandated materials that at certain grade
• I decided to run for school board because my fourth grade son at the time went on to campus one day and

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee held an informational hearing on AB 715, followed by discussion of SB 48. AB 715 was presented by Assembly Members Zbur and Addis as a response to rising anti-Semitism in California schools. They described incidents involving harassment, swastikas, biased classroom materials, and students feeling unsafe, and said the bill would create an Office of Civil Rights with coordinators to address anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, provide prevention resources, and support school districts. Witnesses in support, including a rabbi and a student who described personal experiences with anti-Semitic harassment, urged immediate action to protect Jewish students. Opposition testimony came from the California Teachers Association, county superintendents, school board groups, labor organizations, civil liberties advocates, ethnic studies educators, and many community members. Their main concerns were that the bill was rushed, had not been fully vetted in the Assembly Education Committee, and could chill classroom speech or create constitutional problems, especially around language requiring instruction and materials to be “factually accurate” and not based on advocacy, bias, or partisanship. Several opponents argued that anti-Semitism should be addressed through education, training, and restorative practices rather than new statutory restrictions. Some witnesses also raised concerns about the bill’s impact on ethnic studies and free speech. Committee members then debated the bill’s process and substance at length. The authors said the bill had been narrowed through negotiations with education stakeholders and the Senate, that some disputed provisions would be revisited in cleanup language, and that the urgency of anti-Semitic incidents required action now. Several members expressed support for the bill’s goal but criticized the late release of the final language and the lack of consultation with the Assembly committee. Others emphasized the need to protect Jewish students immediately and argued the bill was a necessary response to a real crisis. The transcript does not show a final vote on AB 715 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• vulnerable students who should not have to choose between tending to their health and passing to the next grade
• . ...not have to choose between tending to their health and passing to the next grade simply because
• the concerns that he and I talked about is, what if someone were, a child were to be abused, eighth grade
• Child were to be abused, eighth grade, high school, and they repress, and they don't want to talk about
• In committee, we saw that a school district that maybe have been graded to be but still felt the commissioner

Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 5.14 and move the intent calendar deadline to 8:00 p.m. that day, also allowing the Secretary to make the calendar available as soon as practicable. The chamber then took up and passed several House bills, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. HB 2128, relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue capabilities, passed unanimously. HB 4157, on liability protections for commercial spaceflight and exploration, passed 28-3. HB 2240, concerning certain void marriages, passed after adoption of a Birdwell amendment extending filing deadlines to 90 days for certain active-duty service members and Foreign Service officers. HB 367, on verification of excused absences for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses, passed unanimously after clarifying school district forms and TEA model forms. HB 1506, expanding expedited handgun license eligibility to certain retired county court judges, passed 29-2. HB 4449, on alcohol sales in annexed municipal areas, passed 29-2. HB 3812, on health plan prior authorization requirements, passed 30-1. The Senate also announced a long list of bills and resolutions signed in the presence of the Senate. A major portion of the meeting centered on HB 521, a voting-related bill on curbside voting for voters with disabilities. Senator Paxton described it as an anti-misuse measure requiring a signed eligibility form for curbside voting, creating a 20-foot electioneering buffer, limiting election officer assistance in marking ballots unless a second officer is present, and adding reporting requirements for people who assist seven or more curbside voters. Senators Miles, Menendez, Johnson, Campbell, Cook, and others questioned whether the bill would burden disabled voters, create a de facto registry of volunteers, and impose a harsh Class A misdemeanor penalty for failing to complete the form. Paxton said the bill was intended to protect legitimate curbside voters and curb abuse, and the chamber adopted Paxton Floor Amendment No. 1 after a recorded vote. Zaffirini’s Floor Amendment No. 2, allowing an escorting voter to receive his or her own ballot at the curbside or entrance, was adopted. Menendez’s Floor Amendment No. 3 to reduce the penalty failed. The bill was then passed to third reading on a 20-11 vote, with a motion by Senator Miles to have the exchanges reduced to writing and placed in the journal adopted. The Senate also passed HB 3000, creating a grant program for rural ambulance service providers, after a comptroller-related amendment; HB 5616, establishing the Texas Presidential Library Promotion Program and funding for traveling exhibits, after narrowing the bill to mobile exhibits only; HB 4211, addressing certain residential property interests controlled by entities, which passed 30-1; HB 1178, creating temporary educator certificates for out-of-state certified educators and military spouses, which passed unanimously; HB 2243, creating the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, which passed after debate over the need to streamline education mandates; and HB 42, increasing and reallocating the constitutional Higher Education Fund appropriation by 50% to $1.18 billion, which passed 31-0. Finally, HB 2512, a Fort Worth-specific bill limiting ETJ release for land subject to active development agreements, passed after debate over broader ETJ and de-annexation policy, with a local-only clarifying amendment adopted and a proposed broader amendment withdrawn. The meeting ended with the Senate beginning consideration of HB 3372, which would bar school district administrators from receiving financial benefits tied to outside consulting or contracting with education entities, though the transcript cuts off during questions on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was formerly known as the 8th grade cohort data.
• Um, and then you can follow the bars across the right and see how students matriculate from 8th grade
• And, and we understand career paths starting in the 8th grade and we know that there's a time of wondering
• receipt of a transcript. uh, so we've implemented a program where students can self-initiate their grade
• are starting to provide more content for students who are starting their college search early 8th grade

Transcript Highlights:

• We asked our county partners, our youth are coming in. they were four to five grades behind before the
• They're now coming in seven grades behind.
• of reasons one would be credit recovery as Chandra had mentioned in her testimony we're about seven grade
• wouldn't be uncommon for a math teacher to be providing curriculum to a. youth who may be in ninth grade
• algebra, and at the same time, a youth next to them who's in eighth grade geometry.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I look at lines seven and eight, it says seven and eight or who is entering kindergarten or first grade
• I look at lines seven and eight, it says seven and eight or who is entering kindergarten or first grade
• I look at lines seven and eight, it says seven and eight or who is entering kindergarten or first grade
• or who is entering kindergarten<01:03:52.680> or<01:03:52.960> first<01:03:53.279> grade
• kindergarten or first grade kindergarten or first grade so<01:03:55.319> that's<01:03:55.400

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't grade our questions around here. Anything else, Chairman Dever? Any other questions?
• We're not grading the questions, but I think that was a good answer. Any other questions?
• And when you do, you can grade the question too. I, I, a, a minus. Thank you. Mr. Chairman.
• I'm not going to grade any questions today; I'll leave that to Donna.
• I will not grade it. Mr. Chairman, I think it's an A question. Representative Wagner, it's an A.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.