Transcript Highlights:

• I am in the district.
• with multiple districts to provide services in districts that may not be able to to procure those those
• And again, that, you know, we have small district to have great resources, but we also have other districts
• We just don't have the staff to be able to catch up with those districts, even the smaller districts.
• And if you're serving 9 districts, 12 districts, you have to plan your schedule.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This map gives us two opportunity districts, two opportunity districts.
• Let's look at District 6. Yes. Here. Let's look at District 6.
• That's a pretty even spread and a competitive district that we have for District 6, right?
• Your other district is District 2.
• , or two districts that give individuals... ...two opportunity districts or two districts that give individuals

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 12, 2026, and focused primarily on Senate Bill 407, a congressional redistricting proposal, with Senate Bill 121 also scheduled for later. The chair explained the committee would first take up SB 407, consider amendments, then hear public testimony, and would not take up SB 116 or SB 130. Two amendment sets were adopted on SB 407: one technical set adjusting dates to align with the upcoming election cycle, and another updating the map in the bill. Committee members and the bill sponsor described the proposal as a 4-2 congressional map intended to comply with the Supreme Court’s CalA ruling, preserve traditional redistricting criteria, and avoid using race as the basis for district lines. Supporters of SB 407 argued the map was compact, contiguous, kept parishes and cities together, and created two opportunity districts without racial predominance. Several senators said the map better reflected Louisiana’s political and demographic realities and could withstand legal challenge under the Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment. Testimony in support also emphasized fairness, representation, and the idea that the state should not move to a 5-1 map. Some speakers, including former legislators and community advocates, said the state should maintain or preserve two districts where Black voters and Democratic voters could elect candidates of choice. Opponents of the broader redistricting effort criticized the process as rushed and confusing, especially because early voting had already begun and the Secretary of State was not present to answer questions. Some speakers said the legislature had not been properly involved in the election suspension process and raised concerns about whether votes already cast would count if maps changed. Others argued the proposed changes were an attempt to dilute political power and disenfranchise voters, particularly Black, poor, and queer communities. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It impacts every district. It impacts every district.
• I know in my district, um, I have two districts.
• One is Kaj district have two districts.
• <00:32:43.679> districts resulted in 3,000 school districts resulted in 3,000 school districts
• It's not a receiving district or a sending district.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s not so much that the school district It’s not so much that the school district had an event for
• The district recovered $1.5 million from the bank, and the vendor agreed to reimburse the district $204,890
• Cedar Ridge School District, finding one.
• for Green County Technical School District.
• I know I have one in my district.

Summary: The Legislative Audit Education Institution Subcommittee met to review 57 education audit reports, including 52 with no findings and five with findings. The committee adopted the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard staff summaries of the findings, which focused largely on school district spending and internal control issues. Two reports, Camden-Fairview and Forest City, involved district use of operating funds for staff end-of-year celebrations that staff said conflicted with the Arkansas Constitution and AG opinions. Camden-Fairview’s questioned costs totaled $10,668, including meals, door prizes, and facility rental, and Forest City’s totaled $33,436, including decorations, catering, entertainment, and rental fees. Members discussed whether district officials should attend to answer questions, and both reports were deferred to the June meeting with requests for district attendance. The committee also reviewed a referred finding at Nettleton School District involving a $1.9 million fraud scheme tied to emailed bank-account change requests; the district recovered $1.5 million from the bank and arranged for the vendor to reimburse the remaining $204,890 loss. Members questioned why the vendor would repay money it did not receive, and the report was also held over to the June meeting for further explanation. A separate referred case at Camden-Fairview noted unauthorized credit card charges of $2,140, with $262 remaining as a loss after bank reversals. Staff also presented non-referred findings at Cedar Ridge, including improper Title I payroll charges, salary overpayment and underpayment errors, and an unreconciled bank account variance, and at Green County Technical School District, where a $1,400 vendor check was fraudulently diverted but later recovered. Those reports were filed after no objections. During discussion, staff explained that Legislative Audit is trying to reduce recurring fraud and control problems by advising schools on verifying banking changes in person or through other direct contact, using bank controls such as positive pay, and monitoring accounts more frequently. Members encouraged schools to take audit training seriously and noted that clean reports should be recognized as a positive result. The remaining 52 reports with no findings were filed as reviewed, and the meeting adjourned with no new business.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Oehlerking District.
• district.
• The Democrat members in the Job District, the Strickler District, and the Butz District.
• of those districts.
• This only applies to districts in which a majority of the district is located...

Summary: The House met on the final day of session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 126-0 vote. Most of the early floor time was devoted to points of personal privilege, with members and the Speaker offering extended tributes to departing colleagues, House staff, law enforcement, military service, and the work of the chamber. Several members also used the occasion to reflect on their careers, thank constituents and families, and discuss issues such as property tax reform, police service, mental health, and bipartisan cooperation. The House then took up Senate messages and committee reports, followed by several bills and resolutions. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2636, dealing with mortgage modification and related consumer protections, was adopted 142-1 and finally passed 144-1. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2397, concerning water district dissolution and related safeguards, was adopted 129-16 and finally passed 127-17. Senate Substitute No. 2 for House Bill 2576, a naming and commemorative bill adding observances and memorial highways/bridges, was adopted 136-4 and finally passed 134-6. The chamber also received Senate action on Senate Bill 1408 and Senate Joint Resolution 87, and committee reports recommended passage on several deferred measures. The House also debated Senate Joint Resolution 95, which proposed creating a constitutional Show Me Prosperity Fund as a sovereign wealth fund intended to eventually eliminate state-imposed taxes through long-term investment returns. Supporters argued it would promote fiscal sustainability and long-term prosperity, while opponents warned that it would lock away money during a period of projected budget shortfalls and could leave the state unable to access funds when needed. The resolution was discussed at length with questions about funding mechanics, investment authority, and emergency access, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• , specifically our most distressed districts.
• , specifically our most distressed districts.
• where we have the local control of our separate school districts?
• Of our separate school districts.
• They may be those same districts that it's the same one school that's the They may be those same districts

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget proposals focused on education finance, with repeated questions about whether the state’s investments are coordinated, targeted to the highest-need students, and likely to produce measurable results. On the first item, the administration proposed $1 million for a study of California’s curriculum framework, standards, and instructional materials process, plus $250,000 for supplemental ELA/ELD guidance. CDE and Finance said the study would examine how other states organize standards, frameworks, and adoptions, while the chair and members questioned why California has gone so long without updating some standards, what the study would actually accomplish, and whether the proposal was too vague to justify the cost. The issue was held open. The committee then took up a proposed $25 million statewide literacy network within the system of support. CCEE and CDE said the network would coordinate multiple existing literacy leads, create a clearinghouse of evidence-based resources, and improve coherence across the state’s many literacy initiatives. Members pressed on how a one-time, five-year allocation could support a long-term system, how the work would reach distressed and rural districts, and whether the proposal would translate into classroom change rather than just another layer of coordination. The issue was also held open. Next, the committee reviewed a $500 million proposal to expand literacy coaches and reading specialists and to create a math coaches program. CDE described the existing literacy coach cohorts as producing positive reports from participating LEAs, while the LAO recommended modifications, especially for the math coach portion, including limiting eligibility to elementary schools, setting minimum grant amounts, directing funds to eligible school sites, and making eligibility automatic rather than application-based. Members focused on whether coaches were actually being placed at the schools with the greatest need and whether the state has a coherent long-term strategy for literacy and math investments. The committee also heard a $40 million proposal for training and implementation of K-2 reading difficulty screeners, which the LAO said was reasonable but could be reduced because $25 million had already been provided for training; CDE said the new funds were needed for full implementation, procurement, and sustainability. Finally, the committee heard a $10 million proposal for a developmentally appropriate TK multilingual learner screener, with CDE explaining why the preschool language-identification process is different from K-12 EL assessment and the chair asking staff to explore whether a single, more consistent approach could be developed. The meeting concluded with a presentation on universal school meals and kitchen infrastructure, including a $31.5 million backfill, an $84.1 million increase for projected meal growth, a COLA adjustment, and $150 million for kitchen upgrades and training to support freshly prepared meals.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've gotten feedback from districts.
• The cost... $6,000 in district staff time.
• Another example from a smaller rural district: a request came in, the district carried out their due
• . districts.
• Some districts may need extra time, and so it respects district autonomy.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:39.959> are law so that our school districts are law so that our school districts are
• So that's it, thank you. districts this bill would require the districts this bill would require the
• Another example from a smaller rural district: a request came in, the district carried out their due
• Some districts may need extra time, and so it respects district autonomy.
• Some districts may need extra time, and so it respects district autonomy.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• school board members in their districts. school board members in their districts.
• and auditor and two district auditors. and auditor and two district auditors.
• district website? district website?
• boards of all districts.
• mean the SAU includes both districts. mean the SAU includes both districts.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and reviewed several previously heard bills, but focused its discussion on SB 586 and SB 580. The chair explained that SB 586 would require school districts and school administrative units to publish audit reports after the fiscal year, and that an amendment, 1472H, had been prepared to replace the relevant audit/reporting section. The amendment would add SAUs to the reporting entities, expand the contents of audits to include items such as employee lists, pay, benefits, and pension liabilities, and change the timing so audits are submitted nine months after the fiscal year end, followed by a three-month Department of Education review and then a further correction period before any grant funding could be withheld. The amendment would also require the reports to be posted in searchable electronic form on the web. Committee members discussed whether the bill’s “non-compliance” language referred only to incomplete submissions or also to audit findings, and several members raised concerns about whether the Department of Education had the staff and authority to take on this role, whether the existing DOE25 process would be displaced, and whether the bill should instead remain with the Department of Revenue Administration. One member noted that the fiscal note anticipated the need for additional auditors and significant staffing costs. The committee also reviewed SB 580, described as a school cooperative purchasing program bill that also contains policy provisions for charter school trustees, school board members, and receivership-related language tied to Claremont. The chair said the committee had previously heard comments from Charlie Arlinghouse on the cooperative purchasing portion and would use a side-by-side comparison prepared by staff when it reached that bill. Other bills on the docket were briefly described but not taken up that day: SB 491, which has committee-requested amendments and a separate non-germane amendment related to curriculum frameworks and academic standards; SB 513, an owner’s project manager bill held as a possible vehicle for future non-germane language; and SB 531, concerning a cosmetology program in Coös County and a possible task force. The chair said the committee would not address 491, 513, or 531 that day and would return to 580 and 586.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:00:43.879> you members and uh describe the district you members and uh describe the district
• good Elliot angan I represent District good Elliot angan I represent District 36a<00:01:15.119><
• I represent District 48A, which is central Carver County, and the greatest restaurant in my district
• It includes district travel during the interim; you receive mileage for district travel.
• It includes district travel during the interim, and you receive mileage for district travel.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration met with a quorum present and began with member introductions, during which members identified their districts and, informally, their favorite restaurants. The committee then turned to a housekeeping resolution, 2025-P100, covering House policies and administrative procedures. The chair explained that the resolution consolidated routine rules updates prepared by House Research. The committee adopted two amendments to the resolution. The A1 amendment gave members more flexibility in how they receive their postage and digital constituent communications allotment. The A2 amendment corrected titles in the resolution. Staff then reviewed the resolution’s contents, including service awards, donated leave, comp time and time cards, remote work, member business services payments, leadership compensation, expense reimbursement, stationery, postage and digital communications, member communication expenses, alcohol and drug policies, legal fee provisions, photographs and digital images, chaplain pay, the high school page program, and the undergraduate internship program. Members asked several questions during discussion. Representative Long confirmed there were no changes to the legal-fee policy. Representative Hollins asked about the high school page stipend, and staff said it was proposed to increase from $10 to $15 per day. Representative Pursell asked about the 50-mile reimbursement threshold for members’ expenses; the chair said it is derived from IRS tax regulations. She also suggested reviewing how other states handle reimbursement. No members of the public testified. After discussion, the committee renewed the motion and adopted the 2025 resolution as amended. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Think of your own districts.
• I represent District 43.
• I'm from District 112.
• I represent District 115.
• I'm in District 97, which is also one of the largest school districts around.

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jack Thorpe, I'm the district attorney for District 27, that's Adair, Cherokee, Sequoia, and Wagoner
• I'm the district attorney.
• You mentioned 2.5 new hires per district. There are 27 districts, so that's 67 people.
• I have a unique district.
• Thank you all, Tommy Humphrey, District Attorney for District 4, as I mentioned that.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The law that requires school districts to notify About AB 452, the law that requires school districts
• And I do believe that it's important for school districts to be...
• Sasha Horowitz, Los Angeles Unified School District, in support.
• Sierra Cook, with San Diego Unified School District, in support.
• I was in and out of the court school in my school district.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, with the chair outlining hearing procedures and several bills on consent. The committee heard and advanced AB 1581, which would improve collection of tribal affiliation data for California students so Native students are more accurately counted and better served; supporters said current systems undercount Native students and erase their needs. AB 1586 also passed, requiring school resource officers who volunteer to carry naloxone to receive opioid overdose response training every two years; supporters emphasized student safety and the need for rapid response to overdoses on campus, while one school employees’ group raised concerns about retaliation protections for non-volunteers. Both bills were moved do pass as amended to Appropriations, with roll calls held open for absent votes. The committee then approved AB 1943, which updates school notices about secure firearm storage by making the information clearer, more visible, and more likely to reach families at key moments such as counseling or discipline interventions. Supporters from gun violence prevention groups, educators, and parents argued that many school shooters obtain guns from home and that plain-language, digital, and timely notices could help prevent child deaths and suicides; the author shared a personal story about a child accessing a gun at home. AB 1792 also advanced, directing the Instructional Quality Commission to consider updating health education to address digital safety issues such as deepfakes, extortion, grooming, and AI-generated exploitation; supporters said students need instruction that reflects modern online risks, while an opponent objected to language referencing LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse students. AB 1653 passed as well, adding heat-illness guidance to the health framework after a young Girl Scout described students suffering during extreme heat and not recognizing symptoms. Later, the committee approved AB 1861, which would require the California Department of Education to create a public database of special education investigation reports with personal information redacted; supporters said families need better access to complaint outcomes and accountability, while an opposition witness warned of unintended consequences, misuse of incomplete information, and added burdens on districts. AB 1721 also moved forward, creating a stakeholder work group to review and streamline school safety plan requirements so plans remain practical and focused on emergency preparedness. AB 1631, which would make kindergarten mandatory, received mixed testimony: supporters argued it would help close achievement gaps and improve readiness, while opponents framed it as an intrusion on parental choice; the bill was held on call after a split vote. Finally, AB 1809, extending job order contracting authority for school and community college districts, was also held on call after opposition from contractors who argued project labor agreement requirements raise costs and reduce competition. The committee then began hearing AB 1659, aimed at improving transitions for court school students back to their home districts, with testimony describing re-enrollment barriers and the need for a designated district contact.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of our school districts, the residents of the districts, don't have kids in school anymore, just
• <00:04:31.560> have residents of the districts don't have residents of the districts don't
• source um that comes to school districts source um that comes to school districts um<00:07:49.599
• uh similar to my school district uh similar to my district<00:08:09.159> elra<00:08:09.520>
• districts uh the majority of districts districts uh the majority of districts um<00:09:19.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ADDITIONALLY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ADDITIONALLY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS THE
• FOR CROSSCHECKING AND HOW LONG DID YOU GET THE DISTRICTS TO DO CROSSCHECKING?
• IT HAS THE DISTRICT THE STUDENT IS IN. SCHOLARSHIP TYPE, OF COURSE IT'S BY PROGRAM.
• WHO HASN'T GOTTEN A ID FROM THE DISTRICT, WHEN YOU GET THAT STUDENT, SORRY MR.
• WE HAVE THE FLE ID IN THE INFORMATION DISTRICTS CAN SEE, EACH DISTRICT GETS TO SEE THEIR STUDENTS, THEY

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, if we look at the top 10 school districts, big school districts, AEO North, St.
• Paul's school district is special district 6. The school district is the same as the city boundary.
• We don't have a lot of taxing capacity. special district 6. The school district special district 6.
• > districts<00:20:50.400> right districts, our school districts right districts, our school
• in in her district as a 59er. in in her district as a 59er.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the watershed district is located.
• The conservation district might be up here, but the watershed district might be down here.
• soil water districts.
• districts, OK.
• and water conservation district, each minority jurisdiction district.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:15.319> it undertaking it involved districts it undertaking it involved districts it
• plan template revised in out to District plan template revised in out to District we<00:09:30.399
• training we have um L most districts training we have um L most districts have<00:09:51.720>
• your district, Ms.
• my district.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• : district judges, associate district judges, and special judges.
• Kyle Abela, District Attorney for Comanche and Cotton Counties. CK H or P, District Attorney.
• I've had an opening my entire career as a district attorney in my district.
• How many district attorneys or districts do we have total?
• I'm the district attorney for District 27, Adair, Cherokee, Sequoia and Wagoner counties.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my district, we don't have capstone projects. In my district, they have to offer AP courses.
• And that in my rural district is also a tremendous issue.
• And the school district can't afford to meet those costs.
• The reality is many, many of our school districts, especially small and rural districts, but more than
• in their classrooms and in their school districts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated. The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously. Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.