Transcript Highlights:

• The land was purchased by our administration, and it's getting prepped up and planned for future administrations
• The land was purchased by our administration, and it's getting prepped up and planned for future administrations
• We're currently conducting due diligence for more potential land purchase opportunities in the Central
• And again, in conjunction with the state and the government adding to the incentive pool, we have now

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, of course, there's a pool of funds for districts to work with.
• course<01:06:05.920> the<01:06:06.279> there's<01:06:06.480> a<01:06:06.640> pool
• ><01:06:06.920> of<01:06:07.039> funds<01:06:07.359> for course the there's a pool
• of funds for course the there's a pool of funds for districts<01:06:08.000> to<01:06:08.200><
• uh for the changes in the purchasing uh for the changes in the purchasing power<05:26:16.440>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on HB 563, which would revise the education funding formula for pupils receiving special education services by replacing the current single special education amount with three differentiated categories. Representative Rick Ladd, the prime sponsor, said the bill largely tracks a House-passed version from the prior session with minor figure adjustments, and explained that the proposal uses projected FY26 amounts for three categories based on time in general education versus more intensive placements. He also noted that the bill does not address catastrophic aid directly, but that special education aid, CAT aid, and proration all remain issues for later work sessions. Ladd and supporters argued that weighted categories better reflect actual costs and are more sustainable than treating all IEPs the same. Representative Margaret Drye said the approach was one of the best ideas from the education funding subcommittee and urged the committee to support differentiated aid. Representative Ames asked how the category amounts were derived, and Ladd said Category A follows the FY26 base, Category B is a higher weight, and Category C is a still higher weight for more intensive services, though he acknowledged the exact multipliers were developed earlier and could be revisited. He also said the committee would continue discussing whether the weights are appropriate and how they interact with CAT aid. Testimony from Bonnie Dunham strongly opposed the bill. She argued that funding based on placement rather than actual service need would create incentives to move students into more restrictive settings, could stigmatize children with labels such as "Category C," and would undermine the least restrictive environment requirements under federal special education law. She described her son’s experience in inclusive settings as beneficial and said the bill would have penalized the district for serving him there. In response to questions, she said schools and parents should base funding on the child’s actual needs and costs, not on placement, and urged the committee to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wilkes mentioned, the board spent over $6,000 on purchasing birth certificates, and this has been ongoing
• If passed, we can redirect those funds and focus on purchasing more essential items for children.
• If passed, we can redirect those funds and focus on purchasing more essential items for children.
• The caseworkers and the supervisors, yes, are coming to us to request funding so that they can purchase
• it is intended to understand the problems of rural hospitals closing across the state, is that the pool

Bills: HB216

Keywords: HB216, Texas abortion law, abortion-inducing drug, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, telemedicine, in-person exam, physician presence, out-of-state physician, reproductive healthcare, abortion regulation, Health and Safety Code, Occupations Code, consultation services, remote prescribing, pro-life, pro-choice

Summary: The Committee on Public Health met with a quorum and heard public testimony on a long agenda, with members repeatedly reminded of a two-minute limit for witnesses. Several bills were voted out favorably, including HB 2588 on cottage food, HB 1639 on cancer incidence and female firefighters, HB 2581 on a reporting form for contracted services for pregnant women, and SB 922 on electronic disclosure of certain sensitive medical information. Those measures generally passed on party-line or near-unanimous votes, while HB 216 on itemized medical statements was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. The committee also left pending HB 5141, HB 4638, HB 2035, HB 4813, HB 2264, HB 4014, and HB 3829 after hearing testimony and questions. The final item introduced in the excerpt was HB 4408 on health care market transparency and corporate consolidation, but the discussion was cut off before testimony or action was completed. A major theme of the hearing was mental health diversion and access to treatment. HB 5141, by Rep. Howard, would allow Travis County to use vacated Austin State Hospital property for a local mental health jail diversion center; law enforcement, the Travis County sheriff, county judge, and urban counties group all testified in support, describing the lack of alternatives for people in crisis and the burden on jails and emergency rooms. Members asked about eligible offenses, bed capacity, and whether the facility would serve only Travis County, and the bill was left pending. HB 2264, by Rep. Schoolcraft, would create a friends-and-family form for loved ones to provide information to providers during emergency mental health treatment; NAMI and hospital groups supported it, while one neutral witness and several members raised concerns about patient control, credibility of information, and liability protections. The bill was also left pending. The committee also heard multiple psychedelic-therapy and drug-policy bills. HB 4813 would speed Texas rescheduling of Schedule I substances if the FDA reclassifies them, with testimony focused on psilocybin and MDMA and their potential use for PTSD and depression; members questioned whether the bill was too broad and how state rescheduling works, and it was left pending. HB 4014 would direct HHSC to study psychedelic therapies, building on prior state research, and witnesses said Texas should prepare regulatory and clinical infrastructure before FDA approval; it too was left pending. HB 2035 would require parents to be informed that they may seek substance-use treatment for a child even if one facility turns them away, prompted by a constituent’s account of a fatal fentanyl overdose after receiving incorrect advice; it was left pending. HB 4638 would extend and expand the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative board and timeline, with the author saying the program is still in early implementation and needs more time, and it was left pending as well. Other bills addressed public health administration and animal welfare. HB 3829 would require a study of the animal-friendly account and its grant process for spay/neuter funding, with the author arguing that the current application and reimbursement process is too burdensome for shelters and nonprofits; no opposition was heard and the bill was left pending. HB 2581 and HB 1639 were reported favorably, while HB 216 drew discussion about enforcement of itemized medical billing and was held after the committee substitute was withdrawn. Throughout the hearing, members also discussed broader concerns about homelessness, competency restoration waitlists, jail overcrowding, and the need for more treatment options outside the criminal justice system.

Transcript Highlights:

• access in the meatpacking industry to frequent bathroom breaks and to ensure that their initial purchase
• breaks and to ensure that<00:29:05.919> their<00:29:06.559> initial<00:29:07.120> purchase
• ><00:29:07.679> of<00:29:08.320> uh<00:29:08.640> proper that their initial purchase
• of uh proper that their initial purchase of uh proper protective<00:29:09.679> equipment<00:29
• And Colorado, among many other states, was one of the states that said, "Yes, we want to expand the pool

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal of Friday, May 1, 2026, on a voice vote after Representative Johnson offered a humorous Star Wars-themed motion. Members then made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including Finance, Business Affairs and Labor, State Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources, and Appropriations, along with a few non-legislative notices such as open enrollment and a Cinco de Mayo potluck. The chamber also received a committee report from Appropriations recommending House Bills 1016, 1272, 1326, 1428, and Senate Bill 5 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The Majority Leader moved to add House Bills 1054, 1272, 1327, 1016, and 1428 to the special orders calendar for May 4, 2026 at 9:18 a.m., and there was no objection. The House then took up Senate Bill 160, concerning employee protections in the workplace, with a Business and Labor committee report. The bill’s sponsors said it would ensure meatpacking workers receive frequent bathroom breaks and that the cost of initial protective equipment is not deducted from paychecks. Supporters argued the bill protects basic dignity and health, while opponents said the issues are already covered by OSHA and that the measure is redundant, potentially preempted, and too specific to one employer. Representative Richardson offered amendment L002 to require coordination with OSHA before state action, but the amendment was defeated on a voice vote. Debate on the bill continued, with members divided over whether the legislation was needed or whether existing labor and safety rules were sufficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• Accidental drownings are preventable, and it just takes some vigilance for pools to cordon off and for
• We must watch our kids around pools. And a three-year-old died yesterday. It was in the newspaper.
• How did the child fall into the pool, right? And so we don't know.

Bills: HR267, HCR105, HCR107, HCR110, HCR113, HCR114, SB4, SB52, SB57, SB145, SB152, SB194, SB237, SB333, SB433, SB483, SCR37

Keywords: diabetes, amputation, amputations, diabetic foot ulcer, peripheral artery disease, PAD, wound care, podiatry, vascular disease, endocrinology, limb salvage, health policy, public health, healthcare costs, insurance coverage, Louisiana Department of Health, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana Center for Health Innovation, patient education, screening

Transcript Highlights:

• Accidental drownings are preventable, and it just takes some vigilance for pools to cordon off and for
• We must watch our kids around pools. And a three-year-old died yesterday. It was in the newspaper.
• He asked how the child fell into the pool and said they do not know whether it was neglect or a child

Summary: The committee first heard SB 145, which would require adult residential care providers, especially assisted living centers, to have generators or other backup power arrangements and to submit preparedness plans to LDH. After technical amendments and testimony from the sponsor, LDH, and the assisted living industry clarifying the bill’s scope and cost concerns, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. It then took up SB 433, which would require Medicaid coverage of medically necessary FDA-approved weight loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications, subject to appropriations and fiscally sustainable coverage criteria; the bill was reported favorably after discussion of current Medicaid coverage and costs. The committee also approved SB 52, which requires better coordination between DCFS and LDH so SNAP and Medicaid benefits can follow children more quickly when they are removed from or returned to a home. Technical amendments changed reporting deadlines and required written notice, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 4 on public water fluoridation was amended to allow local governments or voters to opt out through a petition and election process, with support from the Louisiana Dental Association and others after compromise language was adopted; it was reported favorably with amendments. SB 152, which would prohibit the sale of cultured or lab-grown food products for human consumption, was also reported favorably with amendments after brief testimony in support and opposition. The committee next approved SCR 37, which asks the Surgeon General to review Louisiana’s informed consent laws and report back on any gaps, after discussion that the existing medical disclosure panel had not met since 2018. It then considered SB 194, a public assistance bill aligning Louisiana Medicaid and SNAP rules with recent federal changes on non-citizen eligibility and tightening Medicaid’s reasonable opportunity period for citizenship verification. After extensive debate over immigration, emergency care, and whether the bill could harm eligible applicants or rural hospitals, the committee adopted an amendment allowing LDH discretion for emergency health care services and reported the bill favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, HCR 113 created a task force to study gestational carrier agreements and assisted reproductive regulation; after debate over surrogacy, ethics, and referral to Civil Law, the committee rejected the referral motion and then reported the resolution favorably, and the meeting moved on to SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and legal representation funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• heard from Cal OSHA for the limited staffing were too few qualified candidates limiting the applicant pool
• So, not just going to colleges, et cetera, and trying to come from the same recruitment pool, but really
• a much wider recruitment pool than we haven't seen before.

Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But in a jury pool, we pull from both the voter rolls and the driver's license rolls.
• However, However, we also have people who are swearing when they get into the jury pool that they are
• seems I always get picked for the jury or actually not picked, but I don't get struck from the jury pool

Bills: HB1968, HB2279, HB2739, HB2803, HB3909, HB3918, HB4253, HB4475, HB5115, HB5430

Keywords: election services, contracting, political subdivisions, county elections, election code, voter registration, citizenship status, election law, cancellation, disqualification, Texas Election Code, voter identification, registration, election integrity, identification documents, election, watcher, polling place, removal, Texas Elections Code

Summary: The committee first voted out two previously heard Senate bills without amendment: SB 688, relating to the date of the meeting of presidential electors, and SB 914, relating to authorizing certain cities to change the date of their general election for officers. Both motions passed on 8-0 votes with one member absent. The committee then heard HB 3909, which would change the current prohibition on wireless device use from a 100-foot boundary around a voting station to only inside the room where voting is taking place, with a committee substitute also adding state-prescribed signage. The author and supporters said the change would reduce confusion and make enforcement easier for election workers, while opponents argued the existing 100-foot rule helps prevent electioneering, recording, and possible technical interference with election equipment. The bill was left pending. Members also heard HB 1968, which would repeal a provision that requires counties to provide election services to certain political subdivisions in odd-numbered years but not even-numbered years, making county-provided election services consistent across years. Supporters said it would improve consistency for smaller cities and school districts, while opponents warned it could strain county equipment and staffing during heavy election cycles. The bill was left pending. HB 2279 would require voter registrars to remove a person from the rolls if the person swears under oath during jury service that they are not a U.S. citizen; supporters said this would streamline removal of ineligible voters, while opponents raised concerns about mistaken identity and loss of due process. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 2803, which would require a presiding judge to give a poll watcher a signed statement explaining any removal from service. Supporters said this would improve documentation and accountability, and one witness asked for clarification that improper removal would remain a criminal offense; the author said he would consider a floor amendment and further discussion. The committee also heard HB 4253, which would create a more uniform voter-roll maintenance process based on inactivity, sending confirmation notices to voters who have not voted in the prior 25 months and eventually removing those who do not respond after multiple election cycles. Supporters said it would clean up outdated records and help keep voters registered where they actually live, while opponents argued it could wrongly remove eligible voters who simply do not vote regularly. HB 4253 was left pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... if they offer a service agreement, so if you own a piece of property and you put it into their pool
• So, if you own the one that's in the pool, then they're guaranteeing you that if you have damage, they
• <03:44:47.439> it<03:44:47.680> into<03:44:48.000> their<03:44:48.319> pool
• property and you put it into their pool property and you put it into their pool of<03:44:49.279>
• , if you own the own that's in the pool, if you own the own that's in the pool, then<03:45:42.000

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:02:34.040> of<00:02:34.160> the So, uh in terms of match money of the $200 million pool

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:007 HB 647 Discussion 00:00:40 HB 647 Vote 00:04:38 HB 651 Discussion 00:05:52 HB 651 Vote 00:06:45 HB 816 Discussion 00:07:03 HB 816 Vote 00:08:12, 958, all

Summary: The Appropriations and Revenue Committee met with a quorum and considered three House bills. House Bill 647, sponsored by Rep. Shawn McPherson, would continue the Grant Ready Kentucky program. Testimony described it as a successful third iteration that leverages state funds to attract federal and other project dollars, with examples cited from Jefferson County and Perry County. Members asked about county participation and the local match structure; the witness explained that the bill doubles the prior match scale based on population density, from 1-5% to 2-10%, to require more local contribution in more populous counties. House Bill 651, sponsored by Rep. Josh Bray, was presented as a cleanup measure for the Waters program, which targets the state’s most distressed water districts and provides financial incentives for system improvements and best management practices. The committee adopted a committee substitute before approving the bill. House Bill 816, the annual claims bill, was described by the chair as covering audited claims against the state that were not previously paid because of lapsed or insufficient appropriations or missing procurement documents; the claims ranged from small amounts to tens of thousands of dollars. All three measures received favorable expression by unanimous roll call votes, with 12 ayes and no nays each time. After each vote, the committee also moved the bills onto consent, and those motions were approved as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• After multiple rounds of outreach to that pool of local governments, we were able to onboard and complete

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office cybersecurity performance audits for fiscal year 2025, covering both state agencies and local governments. SAO staff explained that the audits are conducted independently under Initiative 900 and are kept confidential at the entity level, with detailed findings shared directly with the audited organizations. They reported that state agency audits found nearly one-third of assessed safeguards fully implemented on all systems and 227 vulnerabilities across seven agencies, including three critical and 21 high-severity issues. For seven local government cybersecurity audits, nearly a quarter of safeguards were fully implemented on all systems, and auditors identified nearly 300 vulnerabilities, including nine critical and 47 high-severity issues. SAO also summarized its ransomware resiliency audits and critical infrastructure audits for local governments. In six ransomware audits, a little over 35% of assessed safeguards were not in place, while about 60% were at least partially in place. In 39 critical infrastructure audits, focused largely on water and sewer providers, auditors found over 260 vulnerabilities and said more than 10% were critical or high. Staff highlighted that these audits have led to improvements, including one vendor making security changes after SAO testing that were later echoed in a federal advisory. They also described related services such as cybersecurity checkups, policy guidance, and other cyber-related work by the office. Washington Technology Solutions’ state chief information security officer, Ralph Johnson, praised the audits and said they help protect essential public services. He cited a sharp national rise in ransomware incidents against governments and said Washington has used more than $11 million in federal and state cybersecurity grant funds for over 200 projects. In response to questions from Representative Scott, SAO and WOTEC discussed options for addressing urgent vulnerabilities, including compensating controls, grant funding, and low-cost mitigation steps. The committee also discussed how Washington’s program compares nationally, with Johnson saying Initiative 900 is unusually comprehensive and that local governments often seek audits voluntarily. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony was offered but none was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• The study gives you a larger picture; the reporting, you just jump in the pool.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up the final bill on its agenda, Senate Bill 2370, which had been converted into a 340B drug transparency measure tied to insulin and broader prescription drug pricing issues. Representative Hendrix outlined the latest bill draft, explaining that it would require reporting by covered entities, contract pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and health insurers, with confidentiality protections, civil penalties, and staggered effective dates. He also noted unresolved questions about the scope of required reporting, possible overlap with federal reporting, and whether the Insurance Department would need a consultant to analyze the data. Representative Dobervich then proposed an alternative amendment that would replace the bill language with a Legislative Management study on 340B transparency reporting during the 2025-26 interim. Her proposal would remove the detailed reporting mandates and instead direct a study of what information should be collected, how it should be used, who should receive it, staffing or contracted support needs, and stakeholder input from hospitals, pharmacies, FQHCs, rural health, state agencies, insurers, and manufacturers. Members discussed germaneness, the late-stage nature of the changes, and whether the issue had been adequately heard, while the Insurance Department testified that it had not previously studied 340B-specific data but supported transparency and could see value in either a study or reporting approach. The committee first adopted the Hendrix amendment by a vote of 8-5, then voted on a do not pass motion on the amended bill, which passed 7-6. Representative Frelich was selected to carry the bill. The chair then adjourned the committee for the last time and reminded members about the committee dinner.

Transcript Highlights:

• talked that we would have The statewide transportation system, the—what would you say—the state motor pool

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Attorney General Poole.
• ><00:21:55.840> name<00:21:56.000> is<00:21:56.120> Michelle<00:21:56.440> Poole
• My name is Michelle Poole. I'm a Poepoe. My name is Michelle Poole.
• Poole. to justify further further into BHCCs. to justify further further into BHCCs. Right?
• Question for the AG, Ms.<01:00:11.880> Poole.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 3123, which would treat free tuition or school-conditioned enrollment at private educational institutions as a conditional gift rather than a contractual obligation unless otherwise agreed in writing. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, and Kamehameha Schools and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools strongly backed it, saying it would protect donor intent, preserve school-ohana relationships, and help maintain tuition assistance and educational access for families. A committee member commented favorably on the unity among school organizations, and there were no objections raised before the committee moved on. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2438, which creates a civil cause of action for interference with constitutional and statutory rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion, with private and government enforcement options and protections for constitutionally protected speech. Testifiers from the Community Alliance on Prisons and a know-your-rights educator supported the measure as a civil rights protection grounded in the Hawaii Constitution. No opposition testimony was presented during the hearing, and the measure appeared to receive general support from those who testified. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 3142, which establishes offenses for dangerous and habitual dangerous intoxication and allows civil protective custody and emergency examination in lieu of arrest in certain cases. The Attorney General, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Health, and Department of Human Services supported the bill as a treatment-oriented diversion tool for people who are dangerously intoxicated and at risk to themselves or the public. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, warning it could expand police discretion, burden emergency rooms, and function as a loss of liberty without sufficient treatment resources, while committee members questioned whether the bill would simply cycle people through emergency rooms and back onto the street. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided; the chair said decision-making would occur at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Billy's Hotel in Hilo, as well as tier 9 lease extensions that were conditioned on the closing of CES pools
• And then we have a project on Kauai. closing of uh ces pools located on the closing of uh ces pools located
• A special fund increase of $5.4 million would go towards several things: $250,000 to purchase vehicles
• Uh $250,000 to purchase vehicles to Uh $250,000 to purchase vehicles to replace<05:27:48.958> aging
• Any fish dealer that's selling fish, they have to send in weekly reports of what they purchase so that

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• looking<00:16:14.720> at Chair, are you talking about the slide with the enrollment pool
• So their purchase price is whatever it is, and then the waiver takes a chunk, and then our funds lower
• that purchase price.
• <00:50:42.760> price<00:50:43.599> is school so their their purchase price is school
• so their their purchase price is whatever<00:50:44.920> it<00:50:45.079> is<00:50:45.440

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is just a simpler way to get the same amount of money, pool it together.

Bills: HB4358, HB2398, HB3557, HB3129, HB3312, HB2210, HB1937, HB3021, HB4246, HB4230, HB3617, HB3657, HB2976, HB3391, HB4459, HB4128, HB3989, HB2989, HB4060, HB3145, HB2992, HB3464, HB3552, HB2984, HB4124, HB3934, HB3448, HB3131, HB4200, HB4201, HB3011, HB1912, HB3380, HB3881, HB3538, HB3851, HB3907, HB4430, HB4431, HB4457, HB2947, HB2951, HB2980, HB3082, HB3519, HB3644, HB3882, HB3661, HB3996, HB4335

Keywords: screen time, education, public schools, child development, digital learning, youth health, academic performance, credential of value, workforce development, labor market, government reporting, Oklahoma Agricultural Extension, local funding, financial institutions, county extension services, state funds, free expression, colleges, security fees, public forums

Transcript Highlights:

• You will build a dump or a house or a pool or dog shed. They know.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you think the overall pool of funds will increase because there could be more applicants from these

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum and considered three bills. House Bill 1145 by Representative Shoaf would clarify that public charter schools may participate in the CAP grant program and expand the number of eligible programs under the money-back guarantee workforce education provision from three to six. Supporters said it would broaden access and encourage outcomes-focused training; members asked about fiscal impact and repayment concerns. The bill passed 16-0 and was reported favorably. House Bill 127 by Representative Kendall addressed exceptional student education and workforce credentialing. A strike-all amendment broadened the bill to include all students with disabilities, use the term micro-credential, involve the Department of Education, the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, and OSHA, and add validation by special education staff and an IEP team member. Public testimony included support from Goodwill and others, while one witness raised concerns about IDEA compliance, voluntariness, and funding. Members debated those issues, with supporters emphasizing that the bill was not mandatory and would help transition students into work; the amendment was adopted and the bill then passed 15-0. House Bill 571 by Representative Kendall would expand career planning and work-based learning opportunities for students, require the Articulation Coordinating Committee to evaluate apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs for postsecondary credit, allow more flexible work-based learning, provide career days for students age 16 and up, guarantee transfer of certain credits to the Florida College System, and require annual review of personalized academic and career plans. Several industry and education groups appeared in support, no one spoke in opposition, and the bill passed 15-0 and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• we've experienced not only a great improvement in retention, but a much higher quality of applicant pool

Keywords: 1184, house, all