Transcript Highlights:

• The ag bill is kind of the basic bill of feeding the state and feeding the country.
• And a lot of that does happen in ag committees, whether it's in the state or the federal government.
• And a lot of that does happen in ag committees, whether it's in the state or the federal government.
• And a lot of that does happen in ag committees, whether it's in the state or the federal government.
• I do want to take a quick moment to thank all the members of the ag committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is none for elementary-age girls.
• path for intense scrutiny and harassment for the 200,000 Minnesota girls who currently play sports ages
• There is none for elementary-age girls.
• Representative Green continued: There is none for elementary-age girls.
• Even from a young age, boys have a physical advantage over girls.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• fourth grade because the number of students that are proficient and advanced continues to drop with age
• And you can see it's broken down to different age groups.
• And we're seeing more of an increase with behaviors at that lower-level age, of course.
• versus at a later age?
• versus at a later age?

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then received a lengthy DPI presentation from Stanley Schauer on statewide reading and math assessment data for students with and without disabilities. He explained the assessment systems used over time, the absence of 2019-20 data, and how North Dakota’s standards are set by educators. Members asked about alternate assessments, cohort trends, the apparent drop in proficiency in higher grades, and the new NDA+ assessment. Schauer emphasized that the biggest pattern in the data was the relative stability of students with disabilities, the post-pandemic drop and partial recovery, and the need to focus on reducing the novice category. He also said the state plans to revisit high school standard setting and that future data could be broken out by program, disability category, and schools using science-of-math or other initiatives. Public testimony from special education staff suggested that the flat performance of students with disabilities during COVID likely reflected continued services and intensive supports, and committee members discussed whether the current disparity goal is realistic and whether growth measures would be more useful than simple proficiency buckets. After the presentation, the committee took a short break and then moved into discussion of special education funding models. Chair Richter said members should contact Schauer directly with ideas for additional data views and noted that the committee would continue its work on funding and possible model changes. Brandon Bomback of Grand Forks Public Schools began a presentation arguing that the special education funding formula, especially the weighting factor, should be reconsidered if the committee wants a system that better reflects accountability and student needs. He said his comments were based on the perspective of a larger district and focused on the special education weighting factor rather than other parts of the formula. The remainder of his presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• shared values and goals, having come from a similar environment that understands the importance of the ag
• Senator Creighton then clarified that the policy is strictly about adult charter schools for ages 18
• And I will say my mom got her GED at age 48. It's awesome. Without anything. Thank you.
• Like many of my peers, I came to the United States at a very young age.
• The scholars arrive in the United States at the median age of four.

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• repeat what is in statute and in administrative rules now, specifying that the curriculum should be age
• so where I want to vet it out so where I want to vet it out so gestational<00:26:20.039> age
• <00:26:20.679> aside<00:26:21.679> there's<00:26:21.960> very gestational age
• it's age appropriate we should be talking about birth control.
• medically accurate age appropriate medically accurate sexuality<00:36:48.480> education<00:36

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the amendment for the AG, we wanted further definition of the citation.
• ><00:41:14.800> amendment<00:41:16.160> for<00:41:16.319> the<00:41:16.480> AG
• They aren't used to even prove age, I would imagine most of the time.
• In order to register to vote, you have to prove the acid test, as Senator Gray likes to call it: age,
• In order to register to vote, you have to prove the acid test, as Senator Gray likes to call it: age,

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No eight-year-old, no ten-year-old should see a man's male parts at that age.
• We celebrate I've been married to my wife, who I met at age 17, since I was 20.
• In this day and age, it's particularly pathetic.
• In this day and age, it's particularly pathetic.
• I'm a middle-aged, middle-class, cisgender heterosexual woman.

Bills: SB7, SB14

Keywords: gender designation, civil penalties, private civil rights, multiple-occupancy spaces, Texas Women's Privacy Act, law enforcement, confidentiality, personnel files, employee records, misconduct

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on Senate Bill 7, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, with the author and committee substitute explaining that the bill would require public facilities to designate multi-use private spaces by biological sex, restrict access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping quarters, shelters, and correctional facilities, and create civil penalties and enforcement mechanisms. Members asked about how the bill would apply to family violence shelters, children in mixed-family settings, venue layout, and venue for lawsuits; the author said the bill was similar to prior legislation but with stronger penalties and the 15th Court of Appeals as the exclusive intermediate appellate court for challenges, while clarifying that trial venue should generally be local except for state agencies. The committee also heard that the bill would be amended to better address local venue concerns and shelter-related issues. Invited testimony was largely in support of the bill from witnesses who described personal experiences in women’s sports, prisons, shelters, and public facilities, arguing that single-sex spaces are necessary for privacy and safety. Supporters included parents, former incarcerated women, a Republican county chair, a legal advocate, and a prison educator, who cited incidents involving transgender-identifying individuals in locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and restrooms, and said the bill would restore sex-based boundaries and protect vulnerable women and girls. One witness from Texas Values said the bill was needed despite the recently enacted Women’s Bill of Rights, and another ADF witness said the measure would protect privacy in schools and shelters. Opponents testified that the bill would harm transgender and intersex Texans, create harassment and “gender policing,” and expose cisgender women and children to invasive enforcement. Several witnesses argued there is no evidence that transgender women pose a restroom safety threat, while others said the bill would worsen mental health, employment, and school conditions for trans people and could conflict with prison standards and federal law. Family violence advocates urged changes to protect shelter operations and clarify that children can stay with parents, while other witnesses said the bill would create barriers for victims seeking help. The hearing featured extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our policy is that<00:24:54.320> at<00:24:54.640> certain<00:24:54.880> ages,<00
• , now the the feds that at certain ages, now the the feds require<00:24:56.799> you<00:24:56.960
• if through elementary um you would age if through elementary um you would get<00:25:19.520> uh
• We certainly should better understand and act on resolving the causes of hunger for people of all ages
• But I will speak with my knowledge ages.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session on a bill concerning school meal access and reimbursement. The bill would address local school districts’ responsibility to provide meals during school hours, reimburse schools for meals served at no cost, and make an appropriation. The committee first moved to retain the bill, with supporters saying it was complex, had uncertain fiscal impacts, and should be considered alongside other related meals bills. Opponents argued the committee already had enough information, that the bill served a small number of students at relatively low cost, and that delaying action would harm children who need food to learn. The committee also heard from Tim Roar, a Keene school business administrator and co-designer of the bill, who explained that the proposal was intended to be an opt-in program for districts, with rulemaking to set participation requirements. He said the bill was meant to target aid to students between 175% and 200% of poverty, reduce bad meal debt, and avoid spending taxpayer money on families who could afford to pay. He estimated the state cost at about $250,000 in year one, with local taxpayer costs around $8,500 for Keene, and said some districts already have systems for online applications while others do not. Committee members questioned him about meal debt, online application software costs, and how districts handle students who reach debt limits. Roar said districts still feed students who are hungry, but use other resources and family outreach when meal debt is capped, and he argued that parents should be responsible for providing lunch when they can afford it. Other members pushed back, saying they had seen students go hungry and that teachers sometimes pay for lunches themselves. One member noted the bill would increase eligibility, make it easier to apply, strengthen personal responsibility, and was not a mandate. The discussion ended without a recorded final vote in the excerpt, though the retain motion remained the central action under debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• at education section we're here for AG at the<00:25:00.279> capital<00:25:00.720> providing
• of age. ...to age five and then at 18 years of age.
• Yeah, I have a question for, um, Department of Ag.
• And, being sensitive on time here, is there any other questions for Department of Ag?
• Yeah, I have a question for, um, Department of Ag. That's great. Got a couple questions for you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing of Senate and House committees focused on restricted use pesticides in Hawaiʻi, with opening remarks framing the issue as one of health, environmental impact, and state-level regulation. The briefing reviewed the history of pesticide disclosure efforts, including prior county actions, a 2016 court ruling that shifted responsibility to the state, and Act 45, which enabled disclosure of restricted use pesticide data. Speakers highlighted 2019 reporting data showing concentrated use in parts of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, especially near schools and communities, and identified fumigants such as 1,3-dichloropropene and metam sodium as among the heaviest-used products. Concerns were raised about potential links to cancer, respiratory illness, reproductive harms, Parkinson’s disease, and developmental effects, as well as the lack of long-term mixture studies and the need for better buffer zones, reporting, and farmer transition support. The Department of Agriculture’s pesticides program manager described the state’s regulatory framework, explaining the distinction between general use and restricted use pesticides and the department’s role under FIFRA and Hawaiʻi law. He outlined the branch’s enforcement, education/certification, registration, and laboratory functions, including inspections, complaint response, market surveillance, applicator certification, product review, groundwater protection modeling, and special registrations. He also noted staffing and resource limitations, including the absence of an in-house toxicologist and long-term monitoring capacity, and compared Hawaiʻi’s resources to California’s much larger pesticide regulatory program. He said the department supports Act 231, which was passed the previous year and is moving forward this session. A pediatrician speaking for the Hawaiʻi chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized concerns about chronic low-level pesticide exposure in children, citing AAP policy statements and technical reports that associate exposure with cancer, leukemia, birth defects, neurobehavioral issues, and asthma. Drawing on work with the Kauaʻi Joint Fact Finding Task Force, the speaker said the group found the west side of the island to be an unhealthy community but could not prove causation because of missing drift, geospatial, and biomarker data. The testimony pointed to elevated cancer mortality, pneumonia admissions, obesity, dialysis, and developmental delay indicators, and described concerns about pesticide drift near schools and homes, including reports of children becoming ill after nearby spraying and low levels of chlorpyrifos detected in dust samples. An environmental health scientist from the University of Hawaiʻi described a pilot project using restricted use pesticide data in a public health context. She said the project began after seeing maps of Central Oʻahu pesticide use and aimed to pair GIS data with health and ethnicity data, while also conducting community focus groups. Preliminary focus group themes included calls to action, voting and policymaker awareness, concern about pesticide use near homes and fields, lack of community consent, and a desire to stay engaged. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every Minnesotan, no matter their age, race, or income level, should have access to a safe and secure
• No matter their age, race, or income level, should have access to a safe and secure place to live.
• <01:16:48.480> distressed require to acquire aging distressed require to acquire aging distressed
• It's across age groups.
• It's across age groups.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In an age where technology is developing quickly and is a very big part of our lives, I believe that
• In an age where technology is developing quickly and is a very big part of our lives, I believe that
• We banned gambling until they're a certain age, 18, and I don't know what to do about this.
• We talked a lot about age appropriateness as well when we're thinking about elementary students.
• I we talked a lot about age I we talked a lot about age appropriateness<01:08:14.680> as<

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're very far apart in age, um, so I ran to um improve things and and make uh I really want things
• very<00:06:45.360> far<00:06:45.639> apart<00:06:45.880> in<00:06:46.479> age
• /c><00:06:48.479> so<00:06:49.199> I<00:06:49.680> I they're very far apart in age
• um so I I they're very far apart in age um so I I ran<00:06:50.360> to ran to ran to um<00:06
• age 21 and inclusive rather than to age 21 and we've<02:38:11.680> had<02:38:11.800> to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Education Committee held its organizational meeting for the new term, with members introducing themselves and describing their backgrounds in teaching, school boards, special education, administration, law, and related fields. Chair Glenn Cordelli outlined the committee’s goals and procedures, emphasizing civility, professionalism, and respectful treatment of witnesses and members. He also noted that the committee has been split into two this year because of the large volume of bills, and said the committee had already sent three bills to the other education committee, with 36 bills currently assigned and more expected. The chair reviewed committee rules and logistics: hearings should start on time, members should minimize cell phone use and avoid searching during testimony, and questioning of witnesses is limited to one question at a time unless the chair allows a follow-up. Members were told to use the title “Representative,” to sign up on pink cards to testify, and to submit written testimony to the clerk. He also explained that hearings are for listening rather than debating, while executive sessions are where debate and motions occur. Possible motions include ought to pass, inexpedient to legislate, and retain in committee for further work, including subcommittees. Additional procedures covered scheduling, with the committee expected to meet Wednesday and Thursday the following week because of a holiday, and regular meetings generally planned for Monday and Wednesday. The chair also discussed the consent calendar, reports from majority and minority positions, and the expectation that members who testify on a bill should not then question other witnesses on that same bill. No legislation was voted on at this meeting; it was a procedural and orientation session for the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• of age and older with civil legal needs.
• I'm general counsel for the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services.
• So I will keep this commission on Aging.
• And when you look at the way age of 80.
• And in 2030, which is scary age of 80.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the age of the youngest counselors?
• We focus more on their grade level than their actual age.
• But the age of the counselor matters to me.
• I'm speaking on behalf of our family of four: our daughter, Anna, age 11, and our son, Craig, age 9.
• We made a list of the missing girls and their ages.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• establishing a sick leave bank for Maria Latendra, an employee of the Department of Transitional Assistance, age
• former State Representative for South Boston, who passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, at the age
• former State Representative for South Boston, who passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, at the age

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up several final-passage matters, including adopting an emergency preamble for a sick leave bank for Maria Latendra of the Department of Transitional Assistance, passing a bill authorizing the Dartmouth Fire Department District No. 1 Prudential Committee to appoint a treasurer, and enacting a bill validating proceedings at the Town of Millbury annual town meeting by the required two-thirds vote. The Senate also passed to be engrossed local bills reorganizing the Town of Rochester’s government into a select board and town administrator form, and further regulating the term of the town moderator in Norwood. The chamber then considered and adopted a concurrent order from the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight extending the committee’s deadline to act on 58 bills until January 31. Senators discussed the extension’s size and the need to comply with Joint Rule 10, with assurances from the committee chair that the bills would be handled well before the new deadline. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a House petition establishing a sick leave bank for Manny Jean Goldstein of the Department of Children and Families to the Committee on Public Service. Later, the Senate adopted an order to adjourn until Monday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned in memory of the Honorable Michael F. Flaherty, Sr., with remarks honoring his service as a former state representative, judge, Navy veteran, and advocate on public safety and substance use disorder issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sydney Grosnickle, Delaware Farm Bureau, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing farmers, ag
• Chair, I invited the Deputy Secretary of Ag to come today if he wanted to say something about this.
• So, working with the Department of Ag and the attorney for the Agland Preservation Board, it's really

Bills: SB311, HB371

Keywords: pesticide, licensing, agriculture, landscaper, grain inspector, record keeping, Delaware agriculture, certified applicators, regulatory compliance, HB371, Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Act, farmland preservation, agricultural lands, agricultural preservation district, Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, county advisory board, Delaware Foundation, Department of Agriculture, DNREC, planning and zoning

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 53 would codify and continue the Farm to Community Program if federal support is reduced or unavailable, prioritize Delaware farmers, and require reporting and transparency. Testimony in support came from the Delaware Farm Bureau, the Academy of Medicine and Public Health, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jimmy Crone, who said the department supports the bill. Members raised no questions, and the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. The committee then heard Senate Bill 311, a Department of Agriculture maintenance bill updating Title 3 provisions related to plant industry and pesticides. The bill removes an outdated $100 license fee, requires certified private applicators to keep pesticide application records available for inspection, expands the definition of landscaper to include commercial entities installing their own nursery stock, and removes a good-character requirement for grain inspector applicants. With no public comment or questions, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. Finally, House Bill 371, sponsored by Representative Vanderwyn, would streamline the Agland Preservation Act by eliminating a redundant county advisory board step for farmland preservation districts. Representative Vanderwyn and Deputy Secretary Crone explained that the advisory boards were more useful when the program was new, but now the county planning and zoning commissions and the Department of Agriculture already provide the needed review. After brief discussion, with no public comment, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This wouldn't they would still have to go through the AG for that authorization, right?
• Like all other agencies, or does this exclude them from having to get their permission from the AG for
• There haven't been any issues per se with the AG. So, this isn't anything like that.

Bills: SB1332, SB1378, SB1525, SB1771, SB1919, SB1998, SB2018, SB260, SB264

Keywords: housing, infrastructure, water projects, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, economic development, zero-interest loans, clawback provision, local contractors, Olympics, funding, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, local businesses, revolving fund, event hosting, SB1525, tourism, recreation, conference, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• Aging disability services by Representative Rizzo and members.
• consistently and transparently based on need and available capacity with respect to area agencies on aging
• improves consistency enforcement, fiscal accountability and legislative transparency across Florida's aging

Transcript Highlights:

• A child must be age 4 years or younger.
• This graph shows the distribution of applications received in blue and those awarded in yellow by age
• The majority of applications received and worded were for the 2, 3, year old age groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• somebody may have been really successful in managing that, but then as people begin to slow down and the aging
• process kicks in, we also see some of it begin to show up. begin to show up as the aging process happens
• It then begins to surface. for a lot of years it then begins to show up later in life as they age.

Bills: SB241, HB304, HB295, HB361

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, crime management, Alabama law, impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, HB295, Alabama National Guard, military punishment, non-judicial punishment, Article 15, court-martial, special court-martial, disciplinary measures, commanding officer, Adjutant General, Governor