Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go ahead and get started committee on Pre K through 12 education will now come to order
• It's not necessarily one of the most popular areas of statewide education policy.
• So it our teachers, our educators have the right materials, right textbooks.
• Live to be a follow up and see those resiliency education standards.
• So we had Florida educators. We had Florida principles.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 95, Fong, California Education Interagency Council: two-year bill.
• ACA 7, Jackson, public education preferences: two-year bill.
• AB 1053, Zbur, Educational Technologies: holding committee.
• AB 1255, Committee on Education, Dual Enrollment Pathways and Migrant Education: do pass as amended to
• AB 1255, Committee on Education, Dual Enrollment Pathways and Migrant Education: do pass as amended to

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• a vocational education building, and a gym.
• Our educational programming includes secondary, vocational, and post-secondary education.
• We have a director of education, Lisa Hamilton.
• We offer high school and postgraduate classes, special education services, and vocational education,
• What services do they need post-education?

Transcript Highlights:

• and re-referred to the Committee on Education Finance.
• I am glad to ask to move HF 1771 out of Education Policy to go toward Education Finance and Committee
• I ask that the Committee on Education Finance refer this HF 1771. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• Thursday, March 6, 2025. education policy uh I'm sorry that the education policy uh I'm sorry that the
• 06.279> uh<00:11:06.600> refer committee of Education Finance uh refer committee of Education

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, I'm going to start with education.
• I'm good with higher education now based on your responses.
• I will start with education with Chair Burgess. I will start with education, with Chair Burgess.
• And my other concern has to do with the education system.
• to conform to the proposed higher education budget.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're not aware, education.
• 00:05:04.000> that driver's education is something that driver's education is something that we're
• uh having a driver's education program. uh having a driver's education program.
• <00:08:04.240> facilities, education facilities, education facilities, >> but<00:08:05.280
• <00:10:03.360> So education funds. So education funds.

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 21104, a Gaming Commission criminal penalties bill presented by Commissioner Jay McDaniel. He said the measure is essentially the same as a bill passed by the Senate last year and would keep penalties low for people merely playing gaming, but make it a felony for operators of illegal online gaming platforms, with a $100,000 fine per conviction and forfeiture authority for funds tied to the crime. The committee substitute was described as clarifying that the penalties target the operator rather than the platform being used. After no questions, the committee moved and adopted the bill. The committee then heard three Department of Public Safety bills from Commissioner Tindle. Senate Bill 2232 would raise seat belt fines from $25 to $100 and direct the additional revenue into existing driver education-related funds, with the stated goal of supporting driver education programs and improving teen road safety. Members asked about the revenue impact and whether the money would be appropriated back to the department and schools; Tindle said the funds would still be subject to legislative appropriation. The bill was moved and adopted, though some members raised concerns about redirecting local fine revenue. Senate Bill 2314 was described as a cleanup bill for driver’s license statutes, updating outdated references, removing obsolete paperwork requirements, allowing first-class mail and optional digital notice through mobile ID, and reflecting the department’s move from Jackson to Pearl. Members questioned whether first-class mail could shorten response time for suspension notices and how mobile ID notices would work; Tindle said the change was intended to save money and allow electronic notice if users opt in. The committee also adopted this bill. Senate Bill 2817 would reorganize DPS by consolidating several divisions into a new Mississippi State Bureau of Investigations, combine equipment and software purchases, raise autopsy fees from $1,000 to $1,200, increase salvage title inspection fees from $75 to $125, and open a broader discussion about the Highway Patrol’s future role. It was also moved and adopted. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2230 from Senator Hill, which would extend electronic warrants to misdemeanors; members discussed efficiency, warrant databases, and Fourth Amendment concerns, but no final action on that bill was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• While we're on the subject of education, why then are we not cutting back on K-12 education for those
• Supreme Court says K-12 must be educated. U.S.
• To finish their education.
• We cannot meet these educational goals.
• We cannot meet these educational goals.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee took up SB 2-C, a major immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Senator Gruters and co-introduced by Senator Fine. Gruters described the measure as a broad crackdown on illegal immigration that would replace a single immigration officer with a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, create a $250 million grant program for local law enforcement, fund additional Department of Agriculture interdiction staff and facilities, expand pretrial detention for certain unauthorized immigrants, increase criminal penalties, require more cooperation with ICE, and eliminate in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students. He and supporters framed the bill as a way to support law enforcement, deter illegal immigration, and align Florida with federal enforcement efforts. Committee questioning focused heavily on the bill’s education, detention, and enforcement provisions. Senators pressed Gruters and Fine on why the bill did not address employer sanctions or E-Verify, whether the tuition changes would affect students who had grown up in Florida, how sanctuary-policy enforcement would work, and whether the bill would create practical burdens for prosecutors, jails, and local officials. Gruters said he was open to working on E-Verify in regular session but not to amending this bill, and Fine argued the tuition repeal would apply to undocumented students who had qualified under existing law. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified in support, saying ICE bed capacity was still insufficient and that county jails needed more resources to honor detainers. Mark Schlachman of FSU Law offered historical context, noting prior state-federal cooperation efforts and warning of unintended consequences, while several public witnesses opposed the bill as unconstitutional, costly, and harmful to immigrant families and the economy. Opponents from the Southern Poverty Law Center, ACLU of Florida, Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy, Florida Policy Institute, AFL-CIO, and immigrant advocacy groups argued the bill would invite litigation, encourage racial profiling, harm the workforce and higher education, and punish law-abiding immigrants and their families. They emphasized that immigration is a federal matter, that K-12 education must be provided regardless of status, and that removing in-state tuition would reduce access to college and hurt Florida’s economy. Some speakers urged the committee to grandfather current students if the tuition waiver is repealed. The meeting ended with continued public testimony and no final vote reflected in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The MDCSS works to build a community of social studies educators in the state of Maryland, and through
• . of social studies education in Maryland of social studies education in Maryland and<00:04:29.680>
• Social Studies and Civics Education. Thank you for your dedication to your students.
• Nicole Methai, Social Studies Related Organization Professional, and the Civic Education Educator of
• Senate Bill 56, Chair, Education, Senate Bill 56, Chair, Education, Energy,<00:18:32.960> and<

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 9, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate opened with an invocation by Reverend Rodney Hudson, who was introduced by the Senator from the 40th District and recognized for his work as a pastor, teacher, and community leader in West Baltimore. The chamber also welcomed several district night visitors, AFSCME members, and a new group of student pages from schools across the state. The Senate then took up a resolution honoring the Maryland Council for Social Studies and its Social Studies and Civics Educator Award recipients, with remarks praising their work in education and a unanimous celebratory vote. The named honorees included educators recognized for elementary and secondary social studies, new teacher of the year, instructional leader of the year, a related organization professional, and civic education educator of the year. The Senate also adopted a resolution recognizing the women of the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion during Women’s History Month. The sponsor highlighted the battalion’s all-Black, overseas World War II service, its work clearing a massive mail backlog for troops, and the racism and sexism the women overcame. The resolution honored the service and legacy of the unit and was approved unanimously. In addition, the Senate passed Senate Bill 56, authorizing external data sharing by the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center for multi-state reporting, and Senate Bill 100, concerning early voting centers and bus stops, both by 44 affirmative votes. Later, a late-filed bill was introduced after suspension of the rules: Senate Bill 1006, the Maryland State Flag Protection Act, a constitutional amendment intended to protect the state flag in the constitution. The bill was referred to the Rules Committee. The session concluded with caucus announcements, including a Democratic caucus meeting the next morning, a Republican caucus meeting at 8:30 a.m., and notice of a Jewish Caucus event marking the 200th anniversary of the Jew Bill. The Senate then adjourned until March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Education has police.
• You may not know this, but the Department of Education actually...
• The Department of Education that has armed police to now enforce this new speech code.
• Department of Education.
• The Department of Education.

Bills: SB163, SB558

Keywords: civil rights, higher education, discrimination, complaints, awareness campaign, antisemitism, education, Civil Rights Act, IHRA definition, federal enforcement, Jewish community, anti-discrimination laws, Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, Protecting Students on Campus Act, First Amendment, Senator Tim Scott, free speech, college campuses, legislation, Trump administration

Summary: The committee meeting primarily focused on reviewing two significant bills: S558, the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2025, and S163, the Protecting Students on Campus Act. Senator Tim Scott introduced S558, emphasizing its importance in combatting anti-Jewish violence and harassment, and providing the Department of Education with necessary tools to investigate incidents of anti-Semitism on college campuses. The bill sparked a vigorous debate among members who expressed concerns over potential implications for free speech, particularly regarding its definitions of anti-Semitism, and whether it would infringe upon First Amendment rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4104, Education.
• Education. HB 479 — charter schools closure. Education. HB 483 — bailable offenses requirement.
• Education and Judiciary. HB 4106-1 — Arizona Fellowship. Education and Appropriations.
• Education. HB 4109 — safety school procedures classification. Education.
• Education. HB 4114 — board members qualification requirement. Education.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• , and on to faculty meeting continuing education for licensure.
• Books, education, and the leadership we spoke about.
• I want to be very clear about the revenues that come in for medical education training.
• All of you know the issues around the caps on direct medical education.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will enhance our educational technology infrastructure.
• It creates the Educational. Technology Infrastructure Fund.
• Oh, what's Any done to pass the Senate bill 13 on education.
• I'm the Education Director and Attorney with the New Mexico.
• Thank you for working with our education committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education will now come to order.
• I'm a special education teacher and an IEP case manager.
• So, you know, the education system is already well underfunded.
• Stephanie Cuncle with the Florida Education Association, waving in support.
• So we are continuing to move in the right direction as it comes to education.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and observed a moment of silence for Senator Geraldine Thompson. The committee first took up CS/SB 102, a bill by Senator Gates directing the Department of Education to develop a workforce credential program for students with autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified curriculum, in coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Supporters said the bill would help autistic students gain job skills and workplace safety credentials, while an opponent argued the bill should clearly make participation voluntary, expand to other exceptional student groups, include funding, and add stronger accountability. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 166, the Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools bill by Senator Simon. The bill would reduce or remove several state mandates and give districts more flexibility on testing, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, audits, facilities planning, emergency make-up days, federal fund use, and public VPK oversight. Senators asked about the impact on student proficiency, teacher evaluations, and the transfer of public VPK oversight to districts; Simon said the tests would remain but count as 30 percent of the grade, districts would retain flexibility in evaluation measures, and only public VPK would shift to districts. Public testimony was largely supportive, with some speakers praising reduced testing and local control, while one senator cautioned that Florida still has a math proficiency problem. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 296 by Senator Bradley, which would repeal the 2023 statewide mandate requiring later middle and high school start times and return the decision to local districts, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation and consider later start times. Supporters argued the mandate created transportation, staffing, and scheduling problems and that local control was more practical, while opponents emphasized sleep science and the benefits of later start times for teens. Several senators discussed the tension between research and district resources, and the bill sponsor said the measure preserves the conversation about sleep while allowing local scheduling decisions. CS/SB 296 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Steve Appleby, Department of Education.
• The code of conduct has a definition for educator, and educator means any professional employee of any
• conduct has a definition for educator. conduct has a definition for educator.
• ,<00:44:38.400> school commission include educators, school commission include educators,
• of Education. Those numbers are skewed. of Education. Those numbers are skewed.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's take up tab 50, CS for SB 7038 on education by Education Post-Secondary, and Senator Calatayud,
• We're going to take up tab 49, CS for SB 7036 on education by the Education Pre-K through 12 Committee
• Senator, talk to us about the educational emergency.
• Is that what an educational emergency is?
• Senator, talk to us about the educational emergency.

Summary: The committee first confirmed six appointees in a single vote, then took up a series of bills, most of them reported favorably. The early debate centered on SB 208, a land-use bill by Sen. McLean that would require development fees to reflect review costs and create more objective compatibility standards for residential development denials. An amendment adding housing-related provisions, including an OPAGA study of urban development boundaries, drew extended discussion over the Everglades and local control; it was adopted, while a late-filed amendment on rural boundaries was withdrawn. The bill was then reported favorably after supporters and opponents, including Miami-Dade and housing groups, weighed in. The committee also favorably reported SB 686 on agricultural enclaves after amendments adding conservation, wildlife corridor, and Everglades-related protections, with one amendment specifically preserving stronger protections in counties covered by the Northern Everglades/Indian River Lagoon plan. Several criminal justice and public records measures also advanced. SB 436 would add resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense for battery enhancement and include certain felony battery offenses in prison release reoffender status. SB 830 would extend public-records protections to county and city administrators and related family information. SB 990 would authorize protected cell captive insurers in Florida. SB 600, on bail bonds, drew the most debate: an amendment by Sen. Rouson preserved the current treatment of charitable bail organizations’ deposits, with supporters arguing nonprofits help low-income defendants and critics saying the bill should distinguish commercial and nonprofit bonding; the amendment was adopted and the bill reported favorably. SB 914 on dry needling and SB 1434 on infill redevelopment also passed, the latter with an amendment removing a 10% markup requirement for buyback provisions. The committee then moved through a large education and health agenda. SB 1504 would let high school students who complete an insurance/personal finance elective qualify later for a customer service representative license. SB 1718 would expand educator preparation and temporary certification options. SB 7038 was a broad education package covering tuition waivers for Florida State Guard members, residency rules, consumer protections, dual enrollment, grading, and college funding; amendments clarified workforce licensure and exempted certain dental training from new licensure rules. SB 1092 on podiatric medicine added definitions and restrictions for cellular/tissue-based products. SB 1138 on qualified contractors created a pre-application review program for certain local governments, with historic-preservation carveouts. SB 186 on student health and safety required seizure-training and action plans in schools, and SB 560 on child welfare streamlined psychotropic-medication procedures for children in state care while adding youth advisory meetings and insurance-data review. SB 902, a broad Department of Health bill, addressed medical marijuana facility setbacks, practitioner discipline, autism microcredentials, marriage and family therapy licensure, a neurofibromatosis grant program, and family home health aide delegation; it passed after two amendments. Finally, SB 218 on land-use regulations limited hurricane-recovery restrictions to affected counties, SB 1002 expanded child-neglect definitions tied to parental drug abuse, SB 1474 tightened biosolids land-application rules, SB 1708 eased out-of-state veterinary licensure by endorsement, and SB 314 established a Florida regulatory framework for payment stablecoins aligned with federal law. Most measures were reported favorably by committee vote after brief testimony or no debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• on where they pursue their education on where they pursue their education again<00:02:16.360>
• Historically, higher education was the largest recipient of state bond funding, where higher education
• that were at public higher education that were at public higher education institutions<00:58:55.400
• babysitting we provide educational babysitting we provide educational activities<01:20:20.639>
• pursue careers in the Arts education pursue careers in the Arts education technology<01:38:41.400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see all of the Metro versus rural areas, and educational attainment.
• , non-college-educated women, all across the board.
• Ashland Abney, Education Division Director for the Office of Early Childhood.
• And so the early childhood special education, of help for these kids.
• Adams with special education and Matt Sewell, and let me look at those funds.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard a presentation from Maddie San Juan of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas on the report “Holding It All Together: Working Moms and Child Care in Arkansas.” She said the research found Arkansas moms are working and want to work, but child care costs, inflexible schedules, inadequate paid leave, and the mental load of caregiving are major barriers. She cited survey and focus group findings showing flexible hours were the most requested workplace support, 69% of moms identified child care costs as a barrier, and many families spend a large share of income on care. Members asked about labor force trends, what flexibility means in practice, and the cost and age structure of child care assistance programs. The presenter also noted child care affects economic development and workforce recruitment, and mentioned a Department of Commerce option that may help pay child care for people seeking training. Department of Education and Office of Early Childhood staff then gave updates on internal dashboards for enrollment, applications, and provider participation in School Readiness Assistance (SRA), saying the tools are now live for internal use and should improve transparency and data access. They said CLASS transition funding from the PDG grant would be released soon to providers who completed observations, and clarified that OEP awards based on CLASS scores are separate from OEC’s work. They also warned providers about a payment interruption during the transition to a new system: June 26 would be the last day to submit SRA payments for processing, payments would stop June 30, and billing would continue without processing from July 1 to 13, with back payments expected when the system resumes around July 14. Members raised concerns about provider cash flow, early childhood special education funding, an overpayment appeal involving a child care center, and whether CLASS data would be public; staff said the data is FOIA-able but not used by the department to set current quality or rates. The department also said it is reviewing audit requirements tied to Head Start and SRA, that Early Head Start children remained in their facilities after a closure, and that a market rate survey/cost analysis is still in procurement. Staff reported that the QRIS process will begin with a June 23 webinar and that CLASS will be part of a broader quality system still being developed with provider and parent input. They also said the local lead network was re-competed and will cover all counties starting July 1 with 23 local leads, and that the PDG partner group has been formed to provide ongoing stakeholder feedback. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if somebody has an educational experience, that's an excused absence.
• And sometimes in our court system back home, we deal with what's called education neglect.
• Welcome to Senate Education. Yes, thank you for having me.
• Our West Virginia state constitution entitles every child to a free education, a free public education
• Only the difference here is a child's prognosis in education is the outcome.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its prior meeting and then took up House Bill 5537, a bill to repeal several obsolete or outdated code sections. Counsel explained that the bill would remove provisions related to professional development, a behavioral interventionist pilot program, county lists of facilities for child daycare, and high school graduation rates, with a proposed amendment adding another outdated education code section from 1923. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 5537 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass as amended. The committee then considered House Bill 4656, which would shift truancy policy toward chronic absenteeism and earlier intervention. Counsel said the committee substitute would replace punitive status-offense treatment with wraparound services, student support specialists, and a new child-in-need-of-supervision process, while also ending compulsory attendance at age 18 and removing criminal penalties for 18-year-olds. Members questioned how the new thresholds would work, including the role of attendance directors, prosecutors, judges, and the Department of Human Services, and whether the bill would change current diversion funding or court authority. Witnesses from Fayette County, Greenbrier County, and Taylor County largely opposed the bill or urged caution. The Fayette County attendance director said current truancy procedures, including school-based probation and court involvement, help secure family participation and services, and warned that removing the status offense would weaken enforcement. A Greenbrier County probation officer said diversion programs are effective and that court involvement often leads to needed services. A Taylor County juvenile prosecutor said status-offense jurisdiction gives courts meaningful leverage and flexibility, and asked that counties be allowed to keep existing approaches that work locally. After testimony, the committee voted to report HB 4656 to the full Senate without recommendation and with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Committee on Education, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, if somebody has an educational experience, that's an excused absence.
• And sometimes in our court system back home, we deal with what's called education neglect.
• Welcome to Senate Education. Yes, thank you for having me.
• Our West Virginia state constitution entitles every child to a free education, a free public education
• Only the difference here is a child's prognosis in education is the outcome.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They can show up to work, continue their education, and build financial stability.
• New Mexico is ranked number one in early childhood education. That did not happen by accident.
• But expansion cannot come at the expense of the educators who make this work possible.
• My name is María Cristina Nieto and I am a teacher in early childhood education.
• I am an early childhood educator and I see the need for the teachers.

Bills: SB132, SB241

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation