Transcript Highlights:

• committee is concerned with K-12 education and is also concerned about $10 to $15 million taken out of CTE
• Athletics at higher education instead of CTE statewide is hard for me to swallow. $80 million is a lot
• through the finance committee, the cash reserves down to 30% and free up $220 million to do this, fund CTE
• , and fund all kinds of other non- ...million dollars and do this and fund CTE and fund all kinds of

Bills: HB30, HB120, HJR1, SB210, SB306

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Transcript Highlights:

• Others look very workforce-oriented, if you're familiar with CTE audit.
• And that's because we actually combine the CTE audit with our baccalaureate approval process, or accountability
• Others look very workforce-oriented, if you're familiar with CTE audit.
• And that's because we actually combine the CTE audit with our baccalaureate approval process, or accountability

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary held an informational hearing focused on how Florida’s public colleges and universities are aligning bachelor’s degree programs with workforce needs and improving student outcomes. Chancellor Kathy Hebda described Florida College System enrollment growth, the state college system’s workforce-oriented bachelor’s degrees, approval and accountability processes for those programs, and outcomes data showing strong completion and wage results, especially in health care. Emily Sykes of the Board of Governors outlined the State University System’s program review practices, performance-based funding metrics, strategic emphasis programs, and the MyFloridaFuture tool that lets students compare earnings, debt, and employment outcomes by major and institution. University and college leaders then described campus-level workforce initiatives. Florida Gulf Coast University highlighted employer-driven microcredentials, digital badges, internships, career fairs, service learning, and partnerships with regional employers. UCF discussed its career navigator requirements, major industry partnerships such as Lockheed Martin, nursing and faculty career-integration efforts, and a centralized career development center. Northwest Florida State College and the University of West Florida emphasized their bachelor’s programs, transfer pathways, teacher and nursing outcomes, military and defense-related workforce pipelines, cybersecurity training, and stackable credentials tied to regional labor needs. During member questions, senators asked how microcredentials and military experience translate into college credit, whether credentials transfer across institutions, and what legislators can do to help. Witnesses said the state’s common course and articulation systems already support transfer, and they encouraged continued legislative support for innovation, faster curriculum alignment, internships, and specialized transfer degrees. No bills were voted on, and the meeting ended with no public comment and an adjournment motion adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that impacts directly on CTE.
• CTE enrollments. I mean, what are the impacts?
• And that impacts directly on CTE.
• CTE education is more expensive.
• Thank you, Madam President. too is that you know um CTE education is too is that you know um CTE education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are specific to how College Board determines an AP scholar, that then is equivalent to them being a CTE
• So they could be on any of Ross's CTE pathways, even if they weren't one of the H-2 pathways listed here
• , Ross's CTE pathways, even if they weren't one of the H-2 pathways listed here, or they could start
• And even if they were not a CTE completer, if they took four concurrent credit courses, or concurrent
• They also said there have been huge increases in CTE, and they feel strongly that these strategies are

Summary: The committee approved the November 3 minutes and then received an extensive presentation from Arkansas education and workforce officials on how the LEARNS and ACCESS Acts are affecting career and technical education, concurrent enrollment, and postsecondary readiness. Officials said the state’s goal is for students to leave high school employed, enrolled, or enlisted, and reported increases in K-12 CTE enrollment from about 161,000 to 171,000 students and concurrent CTE enrollment from about 12,000 to 16,000. They also described the new success-ready pathways, merit and distinction designations, and how those measures tie into school accountability and graduation outcomes. The discussion then turned to scholarships and grants. Officials explained that ACCESS expanded concurrent credit support, increased funding per credit hour, and broadened eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge and Governor’s Scholar programs by adding diploma-of-merit and diploma-of-distinction pathways. They said the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship itself did not change, but the non-distinguished Governor’s Scholar award now includes diploma of distinction as an additional eligibility route. Members raised concerns about how these requirements apply to private school and homeschool students, and officials said the intent is to ensure those students can qualify if they meet the same standards, though some implementation details are still being worked out. Questions also focused on whether students who explore multiple pathways could be penalized in school letter grades; officials said the system allows multiple ways to earn credit, including AP, IB, concurrent credit, technical certificates, and apprenticeships. Officials also reviewed workforce scholarships and short-term training funding. They said the state is developing policy for the Workforce Challenge and related professional skills training to set an 80-hour minimum and tiered funding, and they discussed the new federal Workforce Pell rules, which they said are very narrow and will likely apply to only a small number of Arkansas programs unless providers repackage training into stackable, credit-bearing pathways. Members asked for lists of eliminated programs, apprenticeships, and data on scholarship recipients, and staff said they could provide those. The committee also heard from Cody Waites on a $35.8 million U.S. Department of Labor cooperative agreement for the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, which Arkansas will administer nationally. He said the grant will support advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, use a pay-for-performance model, and be distributed to sponsors after apprentices are employed for 90 days, with applications opening January 28 and the state expecting to keep administrative costs under 8-9%.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you're anticipating that it would be a CTE course, right? These would be...
• so the student would have to go from their own high school over to the university or wherever these CTE
• That provides a transportation for the student to get to the CTE course.
• think that the colleges and universities will provide the basic and everything that you need for the CTE
• So now we have funding with this bill, and so let's work together and build a robust CTE program. in

Bills: HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB 124, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB1587, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB2143, HJR2, HB147, HJR6, HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB 124, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB1587, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, SB1

Keywords: career readiness, education reform, workforce training, public schools, financial aid, applied sciences, career education, high school diploma, certificate program, work-based learning, job placement, high-growth jobs, technical training, cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, mental health, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• like a CTE or AA certificate? like a CTE or AA certificate?
• for AA or CTE. for AA or CTE.
• <00:41:17.280> certificate<00:41:17.920> or<00:41:18.240> AA CTE certificate or
• AA CTE certificate or AA >> where<00:41:20.800> it's<00:41:21.040> appropriate.
• So because if you have a CTE or AA and you get the HELM Imua, then you get the work experience, which

Bills: SB1, SB4, SB6, SB9, SB16, SB17, SB20, SB22, SB28, SB29, SB36, SB41, SB45, SB77, SB85, SB87, SB96, SB98, SB110, SB126, SB139, SB143, SB164, SB167, SB171, SB186, SB188, SB195, SB197, SB198, SB204, SB205, SB206, SB207, SB209, SB210, SB211, SB217, SB219, SB220, SB225, SB231, SB237, SB238, SB241, SB244, SB246, SB247, SB272, SB294, SB315, SB346, SB364, SB366, SB367, SB386, SB392, SB403, SB415, SB427, SB431, SB437, SB457, SB459, SB469, SB471, SB478, SB484, SB489, SB502, SB503, SB507, SB508, SB510, SB516, SB517, SB518, SB519, SB521, SB535, SB543, SB550, SB564, SB568, SB570, SB575, SB577, SB578, SB590, SB607, SB616, SB621, SB634, SB644, SB647, SB649, SB652, SB655, SB656, SB663

Keywords: agricultural lands, foreign ownership, state agriculture policy, real estate regulation, land conservation, SB4, Royal Mausoleum, Mauna Ala, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR, stewardship, Hawaiian affairs, cemetery, burial site, ancestral remains, cultural preservation, state land management, agency transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• is more need for CTE much of that<01:22:13.920> can't<01:22:14.639> much<01:22:14.880>
• We know that CTE is important.
• We know that CTE is flexibility.
• We know that CTE is important.<01:27:00.400> We<01:27:00.639> know<01:27:00.719> that
• in that two-year this up more for CTE in that two-year conversation.<01:43:38.800> Um,<01:43:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A clear pathway, whether it be for CTE, where I can have a coherent sequence to earn a credential of
• Kids will still be able to participate in fine arts and CTE because they did before 2017.
• Like we had talked about, no one wants to harm fine arts or CTE.
• Do school districts get paid more if their students take CTE courses? Yes.
• My child was able to participate in CTE courses because of it.

Bills: SB835, SB3070, SB22, SJR59, SB926, SB1494, SB251, SB456, SB500, SB1307, SB2615, SB2995, SB2321, SB973, SB974, SB865, SB506, SB781, SB1522, SB1558, SB510, SB667, SB763, SB2073, SB1858, SB1660, SB505, SB2900, SB1433, SB1540, SB1964, SB1300, SB1644, SB2217, SB2373, SB2431, SB1758, SB2480, SB3039, SB3047, SB3073, SB2920, SB2781, SB826, SB766, SB2460, SB527, SB1946, SB2885, SB1243, SB2610, SB2595, SB857, SB37, SB8, SB10, SB227, SB261, SB12, SB15, SJR27, SB552, SB835, SB3070, SB22, SJR59, SB25, SB57, SB127, SB293, SB441, SB3059, SB512, SB241, SB1718, SB140, SB2055, SB2075, SB2018, SB1534, SB1567, SB785, SB1233, SB1580, SB1663, SB413, SB447, SB519, SB467, SB1579, SB1191, SB1021, SB1838, SB2807, SB2835, SB546, SB2121, SB2167, SB2035, SB2024, SB1032, SB1049, SB1266, SB1400, SB1302, SB401, SB1596, SB1281, SB1242, SB1343, SB310, SB1346, SB2753, SB2703, SB2221, SB1719, SB2177, SB800, SB790, SB748, SB571, SB1957, SB1923, SB1896, SB1760, SB1335, SB2368, SB2477, SB2587, SB2972, SB2986, SB2965, SB1563, SB1467, SB1164, SB1137, SB614, SB705, SB961, SB918, SB955, SB869, SB850, SB863, SB1610, SB1055, SB2206, SB457, SB2337, SB1362, SB926, SB1494, SB251, SB456, SB500, SB1307, SB2615, SB2995, SB2321, SB973, SB974, SB865, SB506, SB781, SB1522, SB1558, SB510, SB667, SB763, SB2073, SB1858, SB1660, SB505, SB2900, SB1433, SB1540, SB1964, SB1300, SB1644, SB2217, SB2373, SB2431, SB1758, SB2480, SB3039, SB3047, SB3073, SB2920, SB2781, SB826, SB766, SB2460, SB527, SB1946, SB2885, SB1243, SB2610, SB2595, SB857, SCR9, HB5560, HB762, HB 107, HB 114, HB300, HB138, HB4386, HB2495, HB581, HB3348, HB5323

Keywords: sexual abuse, nondisclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements, public policy, victim rights, lottery, bingo, regulation, Texas Lottery Commission, Department of Licensing and Regulation, criminal offenses, state administration, audits, transfers, Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation

Transcript Highlights:

• But you're anticipating that it would be a CTE course, right?
• There are a number of community colleges that have great CTE programs.
• There are a number of community colleges that have great CTE programs.
• When a high school student takes a CTE program right now, they're usually earning what's called an IBC
• And so let's work together and build a robust CTE program in HISD.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget. A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes. The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6. Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.

Transcript Highlights:

• in virtual education or um a like a CTE in virtual education or um a like a CTE program,<02:55:11.560
• competency-based CTE kids as well. competency-based CTE kids as well.
• and competency-based like those CTE and competency-based like those CTE projects.<03:02:23.960><
• There are also 1-year certificate programs, 1-year CTE programs.
• Do we consider going through a one-year CTE program as important as getting a four-year degree?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that Hobbs Schools is a high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) model.
• budget, and that we don't start moving things around, which we've seen happen with other programs like CTE
• One of the evenings, there'll be a reception at my hangar so you can see some of the CTE things that
• We've done a good job with CTE, and it really...

Transcript Highlights:

• And then SB 1826, the CTE reform, that's in there as well, right?
• Senate Bill 1826, the CTE reform, that's in there as well, right? That's correct.
• Our district is currently expanding TIA to include CTE programs.
• Our district is currently expanding TIA to include CTE programs.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee met to consider HB 2, the major school finance bill, with the chair explaining that the committee substitute would provide about $8 billion in new public education funding. The bill was described as including permanent teacher compensation increases, expanded teacher incentive allotment funding, support for early literacy and numeracy, teacher certification and residency pathways, special education funding, career and technical education, school safety dollars, and facilities support for charter schools. The committee adopted the committee substitute without objection after roll was called and a quorum was present. Members questioned the bill’s structure, especially the balance between across-the-board teacher pay and the teacher incentive allotment, the treatment of uncertified teachers, and differences in requirements between traditional public schools and charter schools. Senator Menendez and Senator West raised concerns about equity, charter-school parity, facilities funding, inflation, and whether the bill should include more support for fine arts and extracurricular programs. The chair responded that the bill was designed to direct most new money to traditional public schools while also preserving flexibility and that charter-school and public-school alignment would need further work. Invited witnesses Dr. Imelda De La Rosa and Val Acri testified in support of the bill, emphasizing that the Teacher Incentive Allotment helps recruit and retain teachers in rural districts and supports mentorship and certification pathways. Public witnesses also supported the bill but urged more funding for fine arts, local flexibility, and full restoration of House-proposed funding levels. Dr. Josh Jones supported year-long teacher residencies, Dr. Philip Morgan asked for more local control and restoration of fine arts funding, Rich Saina supported the bill but warned about hold-harmless reductions, and Dr. Greg Poole supported the bill while asking for flexibility for high-performing districts that already pay high salaries. After the invited testimony and some public testimony, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair so members could attend the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where I'm at is, like, I think we're all huge advocates of CTE, career and technical education.
• So I think as an incentive to just come into our CTE work, it's important to do that.
• This aligns the course requirements for the Career and Technical Education diploma, also known as the CTE
• This aligns the course requirements for the career and technical education diploma, also known as the CTE

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up four bills. The first, HB 875 on educator preparation, would align teacher-prep programs under a uniform core curriculum, create a competency-based coaching program (CERT), standardize mentor and clinical educator requirements, allow certain certification waivers, and establish a Florida Institute of Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College subject to appropriation. Debate focused heavily on language in the bill related to systemic racism, identity politics, privilege, and historical distortion, with supporters saying the bill is about pedagogy and opponents warning it could limit discussion of important historical and social topics. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably, 12-4. The committee then considered PCS for HB 541 on minimum wage requirements, which would allow employees to knowingly and voluntarily waive the state minimum wage for up to 12 months in certain structured work-based training settings. Supporters argued it would expand access to training and career pathways for inexperienced workers and help address labor shortages, while opponents said it could depress wages, invite coercion, and conflict with the state constitution’s minimum wage provisions. Public testimony included opposition from workers and labor groups and support from NFIB. The bill was reported favorably, 12-4. Next, PCS for HB 681 on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program funding was presented as a transparency and accountability measure to improve funding reporting and address bargaining issues between education agencies and program providers. Support came from industry groups and the ranking member, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition, 16-0. Finally, PCS for HB 1105 on education and Bright Futures would broaden Gold Seal Vocational eligibility, align CTE diploma requirements with Bright Futures, add AP Capstone as an automatic qualifier, and remove barriers for certain military and public service families. The committee supported the bill, which was reported favorably, 15-0. The meeting ended after a correction to the record on one public comment card and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's over 800,000 young people right now participating in CTE programs in the state that that that
• have in my particular area every year ask for money for the schools, specifically for welding classes, CTE
• It is to on the education and CTE pathways.
• where you can earn such a great income and a great salary with a two-year degree or certification are CTE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The tech centers developed from their districts, the receiving district where the CTE is located, the
• The tech centers developed from their districts, the receiving district where the CTE is located, the
• The tech centers developed from their districts, the receiving district where the CTE is located, the
• The tech centers developed from their districts, the receiving district where the CTE is located, the
• The tech centers developed from their districts, the receiving district where the CTE is located, the

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, if the district offered a CTE class of, for instance, microbiology in purpose of building
• <01:35:01.679> district<01:35:02.080> offered<01:35:02.480> a<01:35:02.639> CTE
• if the CL if the district offered a CTE if the CL if the district offered a CTE class<01:35:04.119
• case, taking two chemistry classes, tearing them down just to rebuild them in the newest part of the CTE
• case, taking two chemistry classes, tearing them down just to rebuild them in the newest part of the CTE

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by allowing the Commissioner... to approve the substitution of a required credit with a credit in a CTE
• association feels like this session is on pace to be one of the most monumental sessions dealing with CTE
• I don't believe that there currently is an applied course that would be a CTE course that could take

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES ALONG WITH CTE OFFERINGS WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION GETTING STUDENTS
• ACHIEVABLE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WHERE ARE THEY AS FAR AS IN ESSENCE CREDITS IN CTE
• WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TRYING TO BRING A CTE PROGRAM INTO A FACILITY WITH COSTS FOR THINGS LIKE ADVANCED

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our CTE program feeds the manufacturing communities in Carlton County. We cannot cut that program.
• Our CTE program our media specialists.
• No art, no gym, no CTE, nothing.
• There are two very big areas in our region. mentioned, our CTE local programs which mentioned, our CTE
• No art, no gym, no<01:57:39.080> CTE, no CTE, no CTE, nothing.<01:57:41.760> So<01:57:42.239

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• renovation did not—so we do not put an appropriation for a CTE in.
• There's a local match required for a CTE, and we learned on Tuesday that Jeffrey Ringe did not pass the
• There is no CTE waiting in the wings, shovel-ready, to take its place, so that is $18.5 million that
• It is the next school; there's a rotation of CTEs.
• There is no CTE waiting in the wings, shovel-ready, to take its place, so that is $18.5 million that

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the lapse extensions in the back of House Bill 25, which governs capital budget appropriations and bonding. Members were walked through how the bill is structured: section 1 covers general, federal, and other funds; section 2 covers highway fund appropriations; later sections authorize borrowing, restrict spending to the stated purposes, and explain why community colleges and the university system operate through their boards of trustees. The chair also explained that lapse extensions are needed because capital projects can span multiple years, and that appropriations normally expire at the end of the biennium unless extended. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on how to identify unspent balances and whether they should be extended, repurposed, or allowed to lapse. Members discussed that if a project is complete or an agency confirms it no longer needs the money, the remaining balance can be reused for another project or, if not needed, lapse back. The committee also reviewed the meaning of bill references and chapter numbers, and how to read prior-year appropriations and extensions in the worksheet. One example discussed was a 2023 Department of Administrative Services courthouse generators item, and members noted that some agencies may rely on encumbered balances rather than explicit lapse extensions, though the chair said he prefers including the extension for flexibility. The committee identified at least one specific change: the Jeffrey Ringe CTE renovation was removed from the governor’s recommended budget because the required local match was not approved, freeing about $18.5 million for possible reuse. Later, the chair noted that lapse extension 49 on the worksheet was no longer needed and could be removed, leaving an unspent balance of $81,500 available for repurposing. The discussion also referenced a Department of Transportation item, Caroline Stratford Freight Rail Improvements, which the agency asked to keep alive through a lapse extension so the funds would not expire on June 30. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided.