Video & Transcript Research : 'student programs'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Anonymous threat reporting 3/24/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is reinforced by student-led Save Promise clubs, which empower the students themselves to lead the
  • This is reinforced by student-led Save Promise clubs, which empower the students themselves to lead the
  • <00:15:30.800> This particular student group. This particular student group.
  • Recovery program grants 23,000 uh of it. Recovery program grants 23,000 per<00:21:35.919> year.
  • from students of St. Francis as well. from students of St. Francis as well.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard House File 3764, as amended by the DE1 amendment, which would allow school districts and charter schools to create local anonymous threat reporting systems. Representative Nadeau described the bill as an optional framework that would support 24/7 anonymous tips through an app, hotline, or website, use trained crisis counselors and school-based teams, coordinate with 911 and law enforcement when needed, require public awareness efforts and student training, and direct districts to report usage data to the Department of Education. The chair adopted the DE1 amendment, and the bill was moved before the committee with the intent to place it on the general register. Testimony was largely supportive. Chris Linquist of St. Francis Area Schools said his district has used the Sandy Hook Promise reporting system since 2023-24 and credited it with helping identify bullying, mental health crises, and other safety concerns outside school hours. Alexandra Fitz Simmons of Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota said anonymous reporting systems are an important prevention tool because students are often the first to see warning signs before violence occurs. Representative Lawrence also praised the bill for being encouraged rather than mandated and emphasized local control. Rick Kaufman, speaking for several school organizations, supported the concept but said the bill still lacked clear standards for how tips are evaluated and shared with school officials, and he urged stronger coordination and funding for staffing and training. Joe Oonie of the Department of Education said the department supports anonymous reporting systems but raised concerns about the costs of building data collection and reporting infrastructure, FERPA safeguards, and the need for resources to implement the bill effectively. Chair Bennett pushed back on the funding objection, arguing the department should be able to handle the reporting within existing resources, and Representative Roach later asked whether the department had higher-priority uses for its carryover funds. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the DE1 amendment.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

89th Legislative Session Mar 14th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Grant program for the Committee on Culture and Recreation and Tourism.
  • students for the Committee on Public Education.
  • HB 2292 by Allen relates to prohibiting certain releases of a student to students, parents after school
  • HB 2395 by Dutton relating to the grant program to provide a public-school pre-kindergarten programs
  • HB 2396 by Dutton relating to the transfer of students.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 5, 2026 - 12:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Student Academic Success Subcommittee will now come to order.
  • So we should have safety planning for all students. and their team will do student-centered plan.
  • So 266 we should have safety planning for all students.
  • Coaches have a lot to do with male and female students of any sport.
  • So I am calling this the Brighter Futures program.
Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four bills, beginning with HB 423 on school elopement plans for students with autism or other elopement risks. The sponsors described the bill as a statewide framework for school elopement response plans, immediate parent notification, campus search procedures, and staff training. Public testimony from parents, disability advocates, and a teacher emphasized the dangers of elopement and the need for standardized procedures; members from both parties spoke strongly in support. The bill was reported favorably by a 15-0 vote. The committee next considered HB 1253, which allows coaches to use limited personal funds, up to $15,000 per athletic team per year, to support student-athletes with food, transportation, and physical rehabilitation services. An amendment added guardrails, including that the coach be a school employee, clarified the scope of athletic associations covered, and refined the rehabilitation language. Members discussed the bill as a way to help students in need while avoiding recruiting concerns, and the bill passed favorably 14-0 after the amendment was adopted. HB 1091 addressed dental screenings for K-12 students in districts that voluntarily offer them. The bill requires advance written notice to parents and an opt-out process, and clarifies that screenings are informational only, with any findings sent to parents rather than compelling treatment. An amendment added the language to student welfare provisions as well as school health services. Public testimony from dental and health advocates supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably 14-0. Finally, the committee heard HB 765 on child care and early learning services. The bill expands before- and after-care options for certain school-based preschool programs without requiring a child care facility license, removes a flu brochure inspection requirement, bars insurance cancellation based on providing child care, creates a professional recognition program, and establishes a child care tuition fund. Two amendments broadened the bill to public and nonpublic elementary schools and created the Brighter Futures fund concept. After debate, the bill passed favorably 13-1, and the meeting adjourned.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • >> Yes. online program. The goal was to have online program.
  • 50, 60 students.
  • >> Our current enrollment for the online program is 612 students.
  • But to market the existing program and to keep the programs that are yielding the highest number of students
  • So we actually went from what was about 20 or so students when we first started the MBA program to over
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its January 13 meeting and then moved through a large agenda of contracts and agreements, with members repeatedly voting to review items without objection. The chair noted the agenda included 227 contracts totaling about $89.5 million, all with vendors registered with the Secretary of State. Most items were approved after brief discussion and roll-call votes. Several contracts drew questions. Kentucky State University explained two four-month contracts tied to its online academic program: one for continued implementation support and one for marketing. University officials said the program is in a transition year under a management improvement plan, that the university owns the intellectual property, and that the marketing effort is aimed at growing enrollment in targeted programs such as business and social work. They reported online enrollment had grown from 74 students to 612, with an overall university enrollment of 2,872, and said the goal is to reach about 1,000 online students by fall. The committee approved both items, though Senator Douglas said he would keep watching university spending. The Department of Education presented a contract cancellation for administrative reviews of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. Officials said USDA changed the review requirement from every three years to every five years, making the outside contract unnecessary because internal staff can now handle the work. The committee approved the cancellation. The Transportation Cabinet also explained an increase to a professional services contract for engineering work on a section of KY 54 in Owensboro, describing it as preliminary design and commissioning work for a multi-section roadway project; the committee approved that item as well. The Kentucky Lottery Corporation sought approval for an amendment tied to its iLottery platform. Officials said the increase reflected higher sales volume, since the contract structure causes prize and platform-related expenses to rise as sales grow. The committee approved the amendment. The Department of Public Health also discussed a perinatal psychiatry consultation program funded by a five-year federal HRSA grant; members raised concerns about what would happen if federal support changes, but no action beyond discussion was noted in the excerpt.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

JBC-PEER REVIEW Apr 15th, 2026

JBC-PEER REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is for college students who are majoring in education degree programs.
  • The RSVP program, retired senior volunteer program, is a program for retired seniors.
  • It's a program for retired seniors.
  • I don't know anything about this program.
  • It amends an existing program for evaluations for the Arkansas AWARE program for mental health awareness
Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

HED Public Hearing - Wed Mar 19, 2025 @ 2:15 PM HST

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • When can we expect the program to be offered to students? We're being very ambitious.
  • <00:05:35.759> We're program to be offered to students?
  • We're program to be offered to students?
  • . students. students.
  • She leads our student support services as well as works with student basic needs.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Higher Education held a resolutions hearing on March 19 and heard testimony on a series of University of Hawaii-related measures. Topics included exploring an Alzheimer’s disease research center and federal funding requirements, establishing a BSN program at UH Maui, expanding student mental health services, supporting Hawaiian language resources at the Kawaihuani Center, creating a homeless student stability and housing resource program, forming a veterinary medicine expansion working group, and compiling a list of bachelor’s programs aligned with regional job needs. Testimony was generally supportive, with UH representatives often noting that several initiatives were already underway or that systemwide assessments and planning processes were in progress. For the veterinary medicine measure, UH said Windward Community College would not be the ideal location for a doctoral program, but the system would be willing to study the issue systemwide. For the Maui nursing program, UH said it had already received authorization to plan and was working through the curriculum approval process, with a goal of offering the program in fall 2026. For the student basic needs resolution, UH said a systemwide assessment covered all campuses and islands, with a report expected in summer or fall. In decision making, the committee recommended passage of HCR 31/HR 30, HCR 73/HR 66, HCR 96/HR 92, and HCR 97/HR 93 as is, and all were adopted without objection. HCR 124/HR 120 and HCR 125/HR 121 were passed with amendments, including a technical amendment and a request to send a certified copy to the Kawaihuani Center director. HCR 195/HR 188 was passed with amendments to add a UH Hilo representative to the veterinary working group, and HCR 196/HR 189 was passed with amendments to include UH and HMC in the list of schools developing job-aligned bachelor’s program lists and to incorporate HMSO style changes. The committee then adjourned.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • The strength and beauty of a strong library program is that it offers something for every student.
  • I sat with these students in a school committee meeting and watched them with... ...students.
  • , not just cisgender students.
  • My students think I'm a book wizard. My students think I'm a book wizard.
  • These books do not serve students. These bills do not serve students. They do not serve parents.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The hearing focused on several bills related to access to library materials, including measures addressing book bans and censorship in public and school libraries, as well as legislation on digital library collections and e-book licensing. Committee leaders said testimony would be limited to three minutes and encouraged written submissions. Early testimony from Chair Brian Murray highlighted H. 3595, which would address challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections by limiting restrictive publisher-library contract terms, protecting patron confidentiality, and creating a special legislative commission to study the issue. A large number of legislators, librarians, authors, students, publishers, and advocacy groups testified in support of the free expression bills, including H. 3594 and S. 2328, arguing that book challenges in Massachusetts disproportionately target LGBTQ+ and BIPOC titles and that librarians and educators need protection from retaliation and harassment. Witnesses described local incidents of book removals, threats, and pressure campaigns, and several said the bills would create transparent challenge procedures, keep materials available during reviews, and ensure decisions are made by trained professionals rather than political actors. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s office also submitted support, and multiple speakers cited national trends and Massachusetts-specific censorship attempts. Testimony on the digital access bills emphasized that e-books and audiobooks are essential for readers with disabilities, homebound patrons, students, and others who rely on accessible formats, but that current licensing terms are far more expensive and restrictive than print purchasing. Library representatives said libraries spend millions on digital content, face long wait times for popular titles, and often must repeatedly re-rent the same materials. Legal and library experts supported the proposed commission as a practical step toward fairer licensing and stronger bargaining power for libraries. The hearing ended after extensive testimony; no votes or final committee action were taken in the portion provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 29th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • without taking on student debt.
  • The prestigious CIF Scholar Award program has been awarded since 1982 and recognizes student athletes
  • Students are being taught to hate my children.
  • Assembly Bill 323 authorizes strong workforce program funds to be used to provide support to our students
  • The Strong Workforce Program was established in 2016 to strengthen CTE programs in California Community
Keywords: 988, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Funding (02/13/2026)

Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:
  • Of course, we would prefer the students that are placed in our residential program go to our school because
  • Of course, we would prefer the students that are placed in our residential program go to our school because
  • Of course, we would prefer the students that are placed in our residential program go to our school because
  • Of course, we would prefer the students that are placed in our residential program go to our school because
  • We would prefer the students that are placed in our residential program go to our school because then
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Session (03/13/2025)

New Hampshire House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • , you're not going to get those children in the EFA program either, or the new student moving into town
  • The EFA program serves 5,321 students, helping families of moderate means provide an education to their
  • access to the school meals students access to the school meals program<04:00:12.840> is<04:00
  • School nutrition programs are to our students, and why we can all agree that no student should be denied
  • School nutrition programs are to our students, and why we can all agree that no student should be denied
Keywords: 1189, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAM-EDU Informational Briefing 01-16-2026

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • But not all of those monies go directly to the students at DOE in those four program IDs.
  • But not all of those monies go directly to the students at DOE in those four program IDs.
  • But not all of those monies go directly to the students at DOE in those four program IDs.
  • We have a closure protocol that's in place. >> Um, what happens to the students in the program when you
  • when you close students in the program when you close >> during?
Keywords: 912, senate, all
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-03-12 (3:00PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So what we want to do is have a grant program that will establish summer programs for children with autism
  • So what we want to do is have a grant program that will establish summer programs for children with autism
  • And very, very importantly, in order to teach a student with autism, to assist in the a student with
  • autism to assist in the therapy of a student with autism.
  • They are students within the Project Access Program, which, to Senator Harrell's bill, are students with
Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing guests and groups in the gallery, including representatives from Moffitt Cancer Center, students from Lakeland Christian School, space industry guests, Kappa Alpha Psi, the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators, and local visitors from Groveland and Polk County. The chamber also noted the doctor of the day and later adopted Senate Resolution 1856 honoring the life and legacy of Senator Geraldine Thompson, with 38 co-introducers recorded. In addition, Senate Bill 1324 by Senator Simon was withdrawn from further consideration. The main floor action was on Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 112, relating to children with developmental disabilities. Senator Harrell explained that the bill is aimed at improving autism diagnosis, early intervention, and services by expanding screening and referral grants, extending Early Steps services, designating the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment as a coordinating research hub, creating grants for autism-focused charter schools and summer programs, and establishing a microcredential for workers who serve children with autism. Several senators spoke in support while raising implementation concerns, especially about provider recruitment, Medicaid managed care coverage, and the need for more research and technology support. In closing, Senator Harrell said the bill is a first step in a broader effort to improve services and research, and she addressed concerns by stating the services would be covered under new contracts and Medicaid, subject to a federal waiver, and that the microcredential would be developed online by the University of Florida with a stipend to encourage participation. The Senate then voted 38-0 to pass the bill. Afterward, the Rules Chair moved to waive rules and immediately certify the bill to the House, which was adopted without objection, and the Senate adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Feb 4th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • exploration program for high school students.
  • Students here today are part of the Eugene McDermott Scholars Program and they are among the best of
  • The Harvard Scholars Program provides these students scholarships, resources, and enrichment opportunities
  • The students are joined by program directors. Rena Schallenberg and UT Dallas president Dr.
  • I especially wanted to note that this scholarship program includes eligible students, first-generation
Bills: SB2, SJR36, SB2, SR19, SR27, SR30, SR32, SCR11
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Higher Education - 03/06/25

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • program and our 4 program we Gardener program and our 4 program we have<00:09:24.040> four<00
  • The program encompasses multiple medical specialties, and for students it meets their graduation requirement
  • in in uh Dental therapy colleges program in in uh Dental therapy the<01:02:55.440> students<01
  • is short of the cost to run the program and less than what a college calculus student would pay for
  • and less than what a college program and less than what a college calculus<01:42:29.599> student<
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • And so those students, if they have the opportunity through dual credit, through the programs that have
  • And so we also drive... we also have an HSE program here for students that are in a high school equivalency
  • program, in which we work with those students specifically to transition them into trades.
  • Our economic programs, you know...
  • about it a little bit, is our Rio Safe program.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, you know, you might have students that are in CTE programs or welding programs where they know they're
  • that are in CTE you might have students that are in CTE programs<01:32:50.320> or<01:32:50.560
  • And then the students progress student.
  • <02:02:03.440> students,<02:02:04.639> you<02:02:04.800> know, program for advanced
  • students, you know, program for advanced students, you know, exceptional<02:02:05.599> students
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee first approved corrected minutes from October 6 after members noted and fixed several transcription and spelling errors, including a clarification that a comment about SAU numbers came from former Senator Jim Rubin. The vote to approve the corrected minutes was moved, seconded, and adopted with one abstention. The main presentation came from Chuck Bates of the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), who described the organization, its certification program, and the role of school business administrators. He explained that ASBO members handle accounting and financial management, facilities, food service, HR, information systems, transportation, and risk management. He also outlined the certification program, which includes 21 courses, most online, plus four in-person workshops unique to New Hampshire, and noted that many members are not certified because the state licensure requirement was removed. Bates then addressed the committee’s interest in SAU consolidation and county-wide restructuring. He said business administrators often manage multiple budgets, attend school board meetings, and serve as a visible point of contact for the community. He argued that consolidation would create operational and financial challenges, including staff and facility relocation, differing accounting systems, lack of a standardized chart of accounts, and uncertain return on investment. He said the biggest obstacle would be local control, especially in small towns that do not want outside decisions affecting school closures, class sizes, or student transportation. Committee members questioned him about the distinction between administrative and academic control, the size of district offices in larger cities, and what might reduce administrative costs; Bates responded that many administrative costs stem from legislation and that consolidation would be difficult to implement without local support.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jun 2nd, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This program connects nearly half of California students with healthy, locally sourced food, and provides
  • This bill codifies the Farm to School program to make sure that it benefits our students, our farmers
  • This bill will establish the California Student Teacher Grant Program.
  • their data to improve programs for these students.
  • AB 537, put simply, expands our California Community College Promise Program to part-time students, allowing
Summary: The Assembly met on May 23, 2025, established a quorum after a roll call, and proceeded through a long House of Origin floor session with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine parliamentary actions. Early in the day, a motion by Assembly Member Gallagher to suspend the rules and take up AB 12 immediately failed on a 18-39 vote. The chamber then moved through the daily file, with many measures passing by wide margins, often with bipartisan support and little or no opposition. Among the notable bills discussed were measures on law enforcement oversight and records access (AB 847), CalFresh data-sharing exemptions (AB 593), campus-area housing for students and staff (AB 893), insurance and wildfire hardening updates (AB 1), missing middle housing code changes (AB 6), tribal peace officer status in a pilot program (AB 31), utility bill analysis before new mandates (AB 61), fairgrounds funding (AB 258), Diwali as a state holiday (AB 268), labor and worker organizing rights (AB 288), algorithmic price-fixing and antitrust enforcement (AB 325), elections and jail voter information (AB 331), protections for judges and court personnel (AB 343 and AB 352), school construction procurement (AB 361), school-zone speed limits (AB 382), transit worker protections (AB 394), blue carbon coastal mitigation (AB 399), K-9 standards for law enforcement (AB 400), livestock carcass composting (AB 411), translation of housing materials (AB 413), immigrant educational rights notices (AB 419), gun violence restraining order implementation (AB 451), special education and child care measures (AB 560 and AB 563), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), and disability access protections for businesses (AB 649). Several bills addressed housing, energy, public health, and public safety, and many authors emphasized affordability, transparency, and administrative efficiency. The session also included several ceremonial or recognition items, including ACR 73 declaring Italian American Heritage Month, which was adopted by voice vote after 65 coauthors were added. Most measures were approved overwhelmingly, though a few drew some dissent, including AB 421? no—AB 399 passed 42-30, AB 450 passed 49-6, AB 461 passed 49-8, and AB 621 passed 58-0. The transcript ends partway through AB 772, which was introduced as an educational equity bill addressing cyberbullying after school hours, but the remainder of that item is not included in the provided text.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's a program that engages high school students and undergraduate students in research with our faculty
  • We were starting our new program for the high school students.
  • and engaged many high school program and engaged many high school students<01:17:20.560> on<01
  • had 32 students >> We had 32 students >> 32<01:17:49.560> students.
  • So, you've not done any faculty or any students to Korea. >> Yeah, our faculty might have their own programs
Bills: SB2706, SB2320
Summary: The committees first heard SB 2371, which would prioritize lease offers on agrivoltaics parcels for beginning farmers, require annual compliance reports to DAB, authorize penalties for noncompliance, and allow solar facilities on certain agricultural lands. DAB, the State Energy Office, PUC, and Hawaii Farm Bureau generally supported the intent, while OPPSD recommended amendments to preserve agricultural lease affordability and strengthen food-production language. Members questioned whether the bill would meaningfully encourage solar on ag lands, whether beginning farmers would have enough information to use such parcels, and how the bill would interact with Land Use Commission review. The Farm Bureau said agrivoltaics remains challenging and largely in pilot form, and noted the Mililani project as a promising example of dual use. The committees voted to pass SB 2371 with amendments, with one member expressing a preference that it be opened to all farmers rather than only beginning farmers. The next measure, SB 2800, appropriates funds to DAB, DLNR, and ADC for acquisition, repair, and maintenance of irrigation systems. All testifying agencies and the Farm Bureau supported the bill, and members pressed them for estimates of needed funding and the condition of existing systems. DAB cited major repair needs, including Waimea, Molokai, Kahuku, and Kawailoa, and said its backlog could total roughly $65 million; ADC estimated about $35 million for several systems; and DLNR said its current needs for three systems were about $35 million, with the largest cost tied to piping in Kekaha. The committees amended the bill to defer its effective date to July 1, 2050 and to blank out the appropriation amounts in the bill text, with the agencies’ requested amounts to be included in the committee report for consideration. SB 2800 then passed in AEN, Water and Land, and EIG. The final measure discussed was SB 2718, a food hub pilot program beginning in 2028 that would require state departments and UH to source 30% of certain food purchases from local agricultural products, create a nutrition- and ʻāina-based school program, and have DAT partner with a regional aggregator for Native Hawaiian staple crops. DAT, DOH, the Farm Bureau, Food Plus Policy Group, HAPA, and others supported the bill’s intent, while the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation opposed it, saying it is already struggling to meet the current local procurement percentage and faces procurement and quantity barriers, especially for staple items used daily. The testimony focused on whether agencies could realistically meet the higher local purchasing target and whether smaller farms could supply the needed volumes.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • up doing better as a result of the program.
  • We've been doing a program called Meta-24 with them.
  • I'm not really— we're trying to develop some of our own programs.
  • We broke that down by the number of students per grade level.
  • And a lot of times what you see with 12th grade students and 11th grade students are dropout prevention
Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth approved the December 10 minutes and confirmed Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee. The committee then heard the annual Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review report, which said the state reviewed 148 of 170 non-natural child deaths in 2023; the reviewed deaths included 69 accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined causes. Members asked about how the report’s recommendations could be used, grant opportunities tied to prevention work, and whether the data could be broken down by age; presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies and nonprofits and that some age detail is available in later pages of the report. The committee next took up HCR 1010 and then a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Senator Missy Irvin, judges, and Administrative Office of the Courts staff described Arkansas’s use of validated risk assessments, including SAVRY, the Ohio Youth Assessment Tool, MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening, as part of a long-running effort to reduce juvenile incarceration and tailor services to individual youth and families. They said the reforms have contributed to fewer delinquency filings, fewer DYS commitments, and more diversions, while also emphasizing that mental health, substance abuse, school issues, and trauma often drive juvenile court involvement. Several members raised concerns about data gaps, school collaboration, and whether community-based services are sufficient, and presenters said more shared data and stronger school use of safety dashboards could help intervene earlier. Division of Youth Services Director Michael Crump then presented custody, education, recidivism, and cost data. He said DYS commitments rose after the pandemic, secure residential populations remain high, and detention-center use increased when intake beds filled; he also noted that DYS pays about $320 per day for secure custody and that detention beds cost roughly $90 to $100 per day. Crump said most youth in custody are older teens, about 80 percent are male, and many have behavioral-health needs or educational deficits; he reported 222 GEDs and 102 high school diplomas over six years. He also said about 15 to 19 percent of youth return to DYS within three years and that a larger share later enter the Department of Corrections, while members pressed him on how assessments relate to commitments, how low-risk cases are handled, and how to improve mental health and substance-abuse services statewide.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee May 14th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Service Program and the Transportation Network Company Access for All program.
  • Service Program and the Transportation Network Company Access for All program.
  • Home Key and Veterans Housing Programs, thanks to the commitment of State-funded programs like Home
  • This makes student homelessness one of the most serious issues facing students.
  • So the good news is we don't need a large state-funded program to start addressing the student homelessness
Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 14, 2025, for a regular order hearing with a large consent calendar and many individual bill presentations. The committee first approved numerous bills on consent, then heard a series of measures spanning reproductive health, child care eligibility, transportation, mental health diversion, county recorder fees, groundwater management, election deadlines, parking enforcement, consumer protections, housing, immigrant and student protections, and utility/CPUC oversight. Several bills were taken up only for presentation because they were on suspense, including ACA 4 on long-term housing funding, and the committee later approved a very large suspense calendar as a whole. Among the bills discussed, AB 260 would protect medication abortion access and providers; AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility during family leave or job search; AB 1014 would give Caltrans more flexibility on speed limits in rural highway segments; AB 46 would clarify judicial discretion in mental health diversion; AB 1413 and AB 929 addressed groundwater adjudication and SGMA-related protections for small community water systems and wetlands; AB 930 would count vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days; AB 1022 would end towing solely for unpaid parking tickets; AB 290 and AB 302 dealt with automatic payments for the California Fair Plan and medical data protections; AB 1303 would remove the need for a Social Security number for California Lifeline eligibility; and several housing bills, including AB 920, AB 956, AB 1470, AB 893, and AB 1021, sought to streamline approvals or expand housing options. AB 1318 and AB 49 focused on immigrant-serving nonprofits and keeping immigration enforcement out of schools, while AB 1532 extended telecommunications and transportation access programs and added CPUC accountability measures. Testimony was generally supportive for the bills heard, with authors and sponsors emphasizing low or absorbable fiscal impacts, consumer protection, housing production, public safety, and protections for vulnerable communities. Opposition appeared on a few measures, including concerns about ADUs, towing authority, charter school-related issues, and the scale of proposed housing funding in ACA 4. Several members also commented in support of the housing and immigrant-protection measures, and some bills were voted out with recorded no votes or not-voting members noted. After the suspense calendar was deemed approved, the committee opened public comment on bills not presented that day, heard a long list of supporters and opponents on various measures, and then adjourned.