Transcript Highlights:

• We have a very diverse rural routing system within our county.
• We have a very diverse rural routing system within our county.
• system, to provide additional testimony.
• So the transit system is really important for our regional economy.
• And again, the highest ridership of our trolley system, which is our light rail system, runs and begins

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have the number of students who possibly go back into the public school system?
• And if they go back into the public school system, what happens to those FTE dollars?
• They have extraordinary teachers and good school systems.
• I like the power. stay in the school system until they're 22.
• Parents need a support system.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and received an overview of the Pre-K-12 education appropriations jurisdiction and base budget. Staff explained that education funding is driven largely by enrollment and per-student formulas, with most money coming from state and local sources. The presentation highlighted the major budget areas: early learning, the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), non-FEFP K-12 programs, federal programs, and the State Board of Education. Members asked about instructional materials funding and how scholarship students who return to public schools are counted and funded; staff explained that instructional materials remain in the base and that funding depends on survey timing, with districts ultimately funded through the enrollment count process. The committee then reviewed federal IDEA funding for students with disabilities. Department of Education officials explained how IDEA Part B funds are split between state set-asides and local educational agencies, and noted that Florida ranked fourth nationally in total IDEA Part B funding and received a 95% state determination for meeting IDEA requirements. They also described the bureau’s responsibilities, including monitoring, dispute resolution, instructional support, and the Hope Florida unit for ages 3 to 5. Members asked for more information on student performance outcomes and how the state measures success beyond compliance, and the department agreed to provide follow-up data. The final major topic was the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS), including associate centers, multidisciplinary centers, and specialized centers for deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students. Presenters described services such as child find, family support, assessments, professional learning, accessible instructional materials, and technical assistance. Committee members focused on whether families and schools have equal access to services across the state, how IEP disputes and reevaluations are handled, and whether more support is needed for parents, teachers, and rural districts. FDLRS representatives said they do not write IEPs but help connect families to districts, provide training and assessments, and support compliance and data collection; they also emphasized staffing and resource needs, especially for low-incidence disabilities and multilingual family outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• to recent federal action that severely restricted access to abortion care through the federal VA system
• She had a healthy first-grade daughter. I was horrified. She had a healthy first-grade daughter.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> LAST WEEK I GOT TO PRESENT TO MY GRANDSON'S 6TH GRADE CLASS.
• >> I DID BRING OYSTERS TO MY SIXTH-GRADE GRANDSONS CLASS.
• AND THE GLOVES ARE COVERED IN MUD AND OYSTER STUFF AND WE HAVE TO GET TO A VOICE-ACTIVATED RESPONSE SYSTEM

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not grading the test. They're not writing the test or grading the test.
• We're<00:23:20.559> not<00:23:20.720> grading<00:23:21.039> the<00:23:21.280>
• <00:23:22.159> They're<00:23:22.400> not We're not grading the test.
• They're not We're not grading the test.
• writing the test or grading the test. writing the test or grading the test.

Bills: SB78, SB103, SB113, SB180, SB78, SB103, SB113, SB180

Keywords: inhalants, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, possession, sale, misdemeanor, felony, criminal penalties, public health, public works, sealed bids, bid advertisement, procurement, government contracting, construction bids, municipal bidding, county bidding, state bidding, Department of Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• or over the course of the PA systems.
• I think y'all have a gated kind of system.
• For like 15 bucks a month, you can have a monitor system.
• An integrated gauge flood warning system could have an effect.
• I think we should never trust a completely automated system.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this would implement a similar framework for grades four to eight. Thank you.
• This would implement a similar framework for grades four to eight. Thank you.
• Honestly, it ought to be on some kind of point system that is qualified to do it.
• How many of these systems are we going to get for this amount of money?
• How many of these systems are we going to get for this amount of money?

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and first considered Chairman Beaulieu’s House Bill 646, a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year. After adopting a set of amendments creating the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund and making conforming changes, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The companion bill, House Bill 824, which establishes the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change, was also amended and reported favorably as amended. Supporters framed both measures as a way to keep spending within recurring revenues and create a path toward reducing or eliminating the state income tax. The committee then reported favorably as amended House Bill 1157, creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to help finance infrastructure-related projects, with testimony that it would leverage private and federal dollars and initially focus on rail, port, road, and bridge projects. House Bill 316, which provides a framework for student literacy reforms for grades four through eight, was presented as having no new cost because the Department of Education said the work was already covered by existing resources; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549, creating the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide employer-based training grants, also received support from business groups and was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor; it was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology through a $2 driver’s license fee, generated significant concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the proposed technologies and training, the committee deferred the bill voluntarily to work on alternatives, including a possible sunset and other funding options. Finally, House Bill 752, which would change the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a retired teacher who had a student in my eighth-grade classroom with a gun.
• I am a retired teacher who had a student in my eighth-grade classroom with a gun.
• Uh, but without fixing that clause and changing that clause, we're not really fixing the system.
• Uh, but without fixing that clause and changing that clause, we're not really fixing the system.
• Uh, but without fixing that clause and changing that clause, we're not really fixing the system.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up several measures, beginning with House Bill 2413 on pre-trial reform, which had been deferred from a prior agenda. The chair said the committee would incorporate judiciary recommendations and other technical, non-substantive amendments to continue discussion, and the measure was adopted with amendments by a 2-1 vote, with one member excused. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2062, which appropriates funds for gun violence prevention efforts, including processing temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders and funding public awareness campaigns. Supporters, including county, advocacy, law enforcement, and student witnesses, said the bill would improve implementation of an existing law, save lives, and reduce suicides and violence. Opponents argued red flag laws can be abused, raise due process concerns, and may create dangerous enforcement situations. Written testimony was reported as 60 in support, 47 in opposition, and one comment. The committee later passed HB 2062 with amendments, including a corrected effective date, by a 3-1 vote with one member excused. The committee also considered House Bill 1957 on safe entryways, which would establish enforcement procedures in larger cities to prevent blocking of private doorways and entrances. Written testimony included support and opposition, but no oral testimony was offered, and the bill was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. House Bill 253 on fireworks, which expands civil asset forfeiture for felony fireworks offenses and clarifies air-delivery provisions, was also passed with an amended effective date. House Bill 2581 on emergency management, which would narrow the definitions of disasters and emergencies, drew testimony both supporting the bill as a check on emergency powers and opposing it as incomplete or too broad in its current form; decision-making on that measure was deferred to the committee’s March 23 meeting. House Bill 2498 on a care home resilience pilot program was also deferred to March 23 after no testimony was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• BEEN EXCUSED FROM COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY THE STATE ONCE HE OR SHE HAS COMPLETED THE EIGHTH GRADE
• LAST SPEAKER WHO SPOKE FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF BEING A STUDENT AND HOW SHE WAS ABUSED IN THE SYSTEM
• BUT ULTIMATELY TAKING PART IN OUR DEMOCRACY AND IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
• , MAYBE WE CAN TALK LATER OR MAYBE YOU KNOW NOW BUT HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT I GUESS THE VERIFICATION SYSTEM
• DO YOU IMPLEMENT I GUESS THE VERIFICATION SYSTEM, MAKING SURE TO PARENT OR GUARDIAN ACCESSING THIS. >

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So now you know we had to go through a process of having a point guard that's in the ninth grade
• and another one that's in the 10th grade, and he was on JV last year.
• <00:36:52.079> and guard that's in the ninth grade and guard that's in the ninth grade and
• <00:36:54.400> and another one that's in the 10th grade and another one that's in the 10th
• grade and he<00:36:54.880> was<00:36:55.040> on<00:36:55.280> JV<00:36:55.839><

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. The chamber approved routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with the previous day’s journal, and allow introduction of bills and committee reports throughout the day. The Senate also received several House messages referring bills to committee, including local constitutional amendments for Limestone, Blount, and Mobile counties, a human cloning bill, a Fair Campaign Practices Act bill, a public education bill, a court fees bill, and a physician assistance bill. Committee reports were then taken up. The Finance and Taxation General Fund, Confirmations, State Governmental Affairs, County and Municipal Government, Education Policy, Banking and Insurance, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Transportation and Energy, and Local Legislation committees all reported a number of bills favorably, many with amendments or substitutes. Several measures were advanced to the calendar for the next legislative day, and the Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Eileen Meyer and Tiffany Martin to the Alabama Board of Midwifery, Jennifer Ag, Jerry Gross, and Edgar Hower II to the University of West Alabama Board of Trustees, Patricia Sims, Tony Cochran, and Sandy Stimson to the Alabama State Port Authority Board of Directors. The Senate then adopted a special order calendar under Senate Resolution 34, setting the order of business for the 10th legislative day. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 161, the App Store Accountability Act, which was described as a child-protection measure requiring parental permission, age verification by app stores, accurate app age ratings, and limits on minors entering contracts through app downloads. Senators speaking in support said the bill was needed to protect children from harmful online content and preserve parental control, and they discussed an amendment clarifying the meaning of “act” and preserving compliance with other state age-verification laws. The debate was ongoing in the portion provided, and no final vote on HB 161 appears in this excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...but there are things that are needed in these communities, roads that are torn down, water systems
• issue for us as a state, understanding that as children, by the time they get in 10th, 11th, 12th grade
• when they had to start the process of the end-of-year assessments, send off the results, get the grading
• education reform and giving kids and families chances that they otherwise wouldn’t have had in the system

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer, pledge, doctor-of-the-day introduction, and several recognitions, including a Founders’ Day tribute to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a welcome to a nationally ranked student debater in the gallery. The chamber then took up a committee report on 52 gubernatorial executive appointments; after explanation by the Ethics and Elections chair, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a vote of 39-0. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad “Rural Renaissance” package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program, housing and transportation investments, education funding, and rural health care improvements. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping health-care provisions in light of new federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding amounts. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing the bill’s focus on rural infrastructure, health care access, and local flexibility. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates explained that the bill responds to Auditor General concerns by separating scholarship funding from public-school funding, tightening enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees, requiring student identification numbers, improving reimbursement processes, and directing the Department of Education to develop a business plan for scholarship funding organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision from the bill, with that issue expected to move elsewhere. Senators discussed transparency, accountability, and protections against overpayments and unverified enrollments, while also noting the need to preserve support for school districts. The bill passed 38-0. After both bills passed, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House. The chamber also heard announcements recognizing Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and scheduled a group photograph for the following Thursday before adjourning until January 22 or upon the President’s call.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to invest in a computer system. And to invest in a computer system.
• in order to providing a computer system in order to providing a computer system in order to process
• where you send the uh filing system where you send the uh filing system where you send the claims and
• If they if if if the market and a fair market system run them market and a fair market system run them
• market and a fair market system run them out of business, then that's fine.

Bills: SCR 13, SCR 24, SB 1, SB 12, SB 15, SB 17, SB 24, SB 57, SB 65, SB 213, SB 371, SB 372, SB 378, SB 379, SB 388, SB 400, SB 402, SB 427, SB 495, SB 499, SB 502, SB 509, SB 535, SB 583, SB 610, SB 621, SB 650, SB 706, SB 740, SB 840, SB 854, SB 856, SB 875, SB 893, SB 918, SB 925, SB 974, SB 995, SB 1006, SB 1018, SB 1025, SB 1061, SB 1073, SB 1106, SB 1121, SB 1194, SB 1252, SB 1253, SB 1268, SB 1300, SB 1343, SB 1362, SB 1447, SJR 36, SJR 12, SJR 57, SCR 25, SCR 22, SCR 12, SCR 24, SCR 8, SB 565, SB 372, SB 765, SB 62, SB 666, SB 707, SB 888, SB 687, SB 847, SB 1248, SB 740, SB 14, SB 1006, SB 504, SB 925, SB 1121, SB 995, SB 857, SB 305, SB 296, SB 284, SB 815, SB 1379, SB 1300, SB 1497, SB 1499, SB 1498, SB 1061, SB 65, SB 241, SB 304, SB 402, SB 499, SB 621, SB 974, SB 1023, SB 1024, SB 1025, SB 1106, SB 686, SB 112, SB 371, SB 204, SB 400, SB 609, SB 1447, SB 670, SB 502, SB 427, SB 850, SB 854, SB 413, SB 1555, SB 1362, SB 1346, SB 1033, SB 1220, SB 1073, SB 810, SB 987, SB 1539, SB 893, SB 447, SB 875, SB 406, SB 509, SB 985, SB 965, SB 1119, SB 1505, SB 24, SB 57, SB 1194, SB 1253, SB 1215, SB 1532, SB 1268, SB 1302, SB 856, SB 650, SB 583, SB 673, SB 840, SB 213, SB 681, SB 1172, SB 1252, SB 378, SB 610, SB 918, SB 1343, SB 608, SB 487, SB 955, SB 957, SB 988, SB 990, SB 1019, SB 1021, SB 1120, SB 251, SB 958, SB 535, SB 761, SB 1, SB 541, SB 315, SB 379, SB 1018, SB 1737, SB 266, SB 1415, SB 57, SB 499, SB 974, SB 1025, SB 1061, SB 1268, SR 302, SR 303, SR 304, SR 305, SB 30, SB 1333, SB 1666, SB 30, SB 1333, SB 1666

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas, Israel, trade, investment, partnership, economic ties, technological innovation, bilateral relations, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• that we were codified into statute in 2009, so the partnership was established to create a seamless system
• I also want to note that in our statute, our two state longitudinal data systems, SLEDS and EELS, both
• , but how are we connecting data across the state as we think about all of our different systems, what
• think about all of our different systems think about all of our different systems what<00:09:55.480
• Suddenly, I was in charge of leading discussions and grading papers for 15 eager Yale freshmen.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• close to getting rid of the STAAR test. ...continue to strengthen the A through F accountability system
• in the state, as well as ensuring that years later we have a public accountability system.
• We need a test measuring system that's as good as our public accountability system.
• Is this in every grade, or what are we doing?
• requires... the agency to notify school districts when there will be changes to the accountability system

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• very close to getting rid of the SAR test, continuing to strengthen the A through F accountability system
• state as well as, uh, years later being able to uh make sure that we have a public accountability system
• but a test measuring system.
• they wish, only for the subject matters, algebra 1, biology, and English one, or is this in every grade
• I think I would argue that it's probably more the system.

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• million, if we're going by what we had—someone from Pelham come in and speak, remember the pouch system
• million, if we're going by what we had—someone from Pelham come in and speak, remember the pouch system
• million, if we're going by what we had—someone from Pelham come in and speak, remember the pouch system
• million, if we're going by what we had—someone from Pelham come in and speak, remember the pouch system
• I was one of those unfortunate few who had to get glasses in the fourth grade.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee work session of the Education Policy and Administration Committee focused on House Bill 131 and House Bill 781, which were described as nearly identical bills addressing student cell phone use in schools. Members noted that HB 781 is an early bill and therefore needed committee action by Wednesday, while HB 131 did not face that deadline. The chair and members discussed the bills’ shared goal of requiring school boards to develop and adopt policies on student personal device use, with debate over whether the state should set minimum standards or leave more to local control. A major topic was funding. One member urged the committee to avoid creating an unfunded mandate and asked for some funding support, while others argued it was too early to commit money and that the committee should first establish the policy framework. The governor’s proposed funding was discussed, including a $1 million figure in the budget and a separate $250,000 amount referenced in the bill, but several members said the money would likely be insufficient to cover all students or pouch systems statewide. The committee also reviewed a handout reflecting proposed budget language that would require school boards to adopt policies on personal device use during the school day, with schoolwide implementation and exceptions for medical disability or language proficiency needs, and a DOE-administered grant program. Members spent considerable time on drafting details, especially deadlines and exceptions. They debated whether the bills should require school boards to “develop,” “adopt,” or also “implement” policies, and whether the effective date of the act should also serve as the deadline for school boards. They also discussed whether exceptions for classroom instructional use should be mandatory or merely encouraged, and whether the bills should explicitly include or exclude charter schools. Additional proposed exceptions included IEPs, 504 plans, English learners, and medical needs such as glucose sensors or insulin pumps, with some members suggesting medical issues be certified by a physician. No final vote or formal action was taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• what's<00:28:26.480> called These systems can create what's called These systems can create
• Preventing the training of AI systems on a child's input.
• on child on a the training of AI systems on child on a child's<01:09:46.480> input.
• Categorizing all AI systems that would impact kids by risk.
• systems that would impact kids by risk. systems that would impact kids by risk.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The system would have made a profit the very first year.
• They guaranteed you acceptance into ASU, as long as you met your grades and the ASU online system.
• It was a failing system. It wasn't.
• to look at and run our state system of education.
• I was not around when the other system was in place, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fifth-grade boy now knows that trans people exist and they are normal and they are good.
• been legal systems.
• feature of every historic legal system feature of every historic legal system from<03:11:24.160>
• My point being that from first grade through sixth grade I went before a hearing officer at the State
• I<04:40:00.360> went first grade through sixth grade I went first grade through sixth

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, with the chair limiting testimony to two minutes and asking for no outbursts so the committee could get through eight bills that day. Representative Kofalt, the prime sponsor, said HB 148 was the same as last year’s HB 396, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. He explained the bill would allow, but not require, separation by biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions, leaving local school boards and administrators discretion to set policies. He argued the bill was meant to address safety and privacy concerns and cited a Milford incident and concerns in several school districts as examples of why local flexibility was needed. Committee members questioned the lack of a definition of “biological sex” and how the bill would be applied. Kofalt said he did not think a definition was necessary because males and females are generally understood, and he said the bill would give local policymakers latitude to make practical rules. He also said the bill was intended to address situations where people might misuse transgender claims to access spaces inappropriately. In response to questions, he said he was aware of issues in Kearsarge, Milford, and Mascoma school districts and had heard of discomfort in the State House, though he did not know all the details. Several opponents testified that the bill would discriminate against transgender and non-binary people and create enforcement problems. Executive Councilor Karen Hill said the bill would roll back New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination protections and conflict with the state’s Live Free or Die values. Alice Wade, a trans woman, said she had used women’s restrooms without incident and argued the bill would invite invasive enforcement and harassment. Representative La Selig said the bill was discriminatory and that bathroom concerns were being confused with unrelated harassment by cisgender males. Betsy Harrington supported the bill, citing a girls’ soccer game at Kearsarge that she said was disrupted by a boy playing on a girls’ team. Rosie Emer and her child testified against the bill, saying bathroom restrictions would increase anxiety and risk for trans and non-binary children. Stephen Scaer and Wendy Stallings supported the bill, arguing sex is biologically fixed and that excluding males from female spaces should not require genital inspections. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• state in terms of our our health system state in terms of our our health system as<00:14:02.120>
• Our investment in and leadership around creating this local food system has built a system that can adapt
• Our investment in and leadership around creating this local food system has built a system that can adapt
• I teach seventh grade, which will come up again here in a moment.
• School lunches benefit families. system and we've heard from parents and system and we've heard from

Keywords: 1187, senate, all