Video & Transcript Research : 'performance indicators'
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HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
EDN Info Briefing - Fri Jan 9, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And under the active performance framework, this is considered indicator 2 and it is around smarter balance
- And under the active performance framework, this is considered indicator 2 and it is around smarter balance
- And under the active performance framework, this is considered indicator 2 and it is around smarter balance
- financial indicators.
- assessment, Hawaii performs very well. assessment, Hawaii performs very well.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/01/2026 - Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- In November 2022, a performance audit follow-up report was issued.
- Most of these... ...performance pay plan for the superintendent.
- believe the same comprehensive performance auditing should apply to the ESA program.
- Do you have any indication?
- But are there any indications? Is there any smoke or fire to this just yet?
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Education Policy Committee Feb 25th, 2026
Education Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Then I heard people indicator out.
- That was not indicative of student performance in the state of Florida.
- They all indicate when you go through those ed indicators one by one by one. >> And then we looked at—we
- those ed indicators one by one by one. those ed indicators one by one by one.
- look at new indicators. look at new indicators.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 21st, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- All those in favor of adopting the joint committee report, indicate by saying 'aye.'
- All those in favor of adopting the joint committee report, indicated by saying 'aye.'
- All those in favor of adopting the joint committee report, indicated by saying 'aye'.
- All those in favor of adopting the joint committee report, indicated by saying 'aye'.
- All those in favor of adopting the joint committee report will indicate by saying 'aye'.
Bills:
HB1937, HB2153, HB3674, HB2978, HB3885, HB3671, HB3261, HB3021, HB3029, HB4274, HB3701, HB3076, HB2299, HB3852, HB3244, HB3345, HB3114, HB3764, HB4144, HB3304, HB2939, HB4227, HB3262, HB2941, HB3498, HB4343, HB4425, HB3386, HB3087, HB3062, HB3431, HB4141, HB3581, HB4237, HB2960, HB3645, HB3648, HB3974, HB3045, SCR18, HCR1024, SJR39, SJR49, HB4486, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142, HB1823, HB4476, HB3378, HB3880, HB3031, HB3369, HB3429, HB3657, HB4215, HB3624, HB1170
Keywords:
HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Morning Session Apr 8th, 2026
Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It creates reporting and analysis of student performance for groups of students covered by the funding
- And the idea that this might be a public-private partnership would indicate that we're using taxpayer
- Typically, you have government perform a program such as this.
- I think that the other day when Senator McAvonall, Senator Kavanaugh, indicated that she would raise
- I haven't all indicated that she would raise the public funds.
Bills:
LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504
Keywords:
paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 8th, 2026
Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Notification to parents on performance on dyslexia screening, $70,000 per year.
- Notification to parents on performance on dexlexia screening, $70,000 per year.
- These are the concerns that Lincoln Public Schools has indicated right from the beginning.
- By the time they reach high school, retained students are often performing lower than their peers.
- It often leads to negative social impacts and lower long-term performance.
Bills:
LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504
Keywords:
paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Nov 19th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- As described in chart two before you, the FEFP funding calculation was to be performed five times during
- Department management further indicated that due to the myriad of challenges facing the department in
- As noted in Table 10, although the department indicated that cross-checks against the Survey 2F data
- were performed for both SFOs, department records only showed a cross-check for Step Up, not for AAA.
- And this is critical, including negotiating performance...
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes.
Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process.
President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House bill aims to align transit, road projects and housing development 4/14/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So, the three things I wanted to highlight were the performance measures.
- So, the three things I wanted to highlight were the performance measures.
- highlight were the performance measures. highlight were the performance measures.
- >
are <00:26:35.480>are Uh the performance measures are are Uh the performance measures - those performance measures out there. those performance measures out there.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 6 (1-13-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Dr. said in the CH members indicate your presence.
- Ninety-six members indicated their presence, quorum and the House ready to proceed.
- <00:06:46.560>
at for their extraordinary performance at for their extraordinary performance - Board is now open for those members wishing to indicate their co-sponsorship.
- <00:23:18.720>
their wishing to indicate their wishing to indicate their co-sponsorship.
Keywords:
Convene 00:00
Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:55
Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 11:09
Motion to Act on HR 21 15:13
Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:52
ConC and Rules Report 29:29
Adjournment 31:04, 958, all
Summary:
The House opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 96 members present. Routine business followed: absent members were excused, the rules were suspended to allow co-sponsorship and vote modifications, and the journal from January 12, 2026 was approved. No bills were taken up on second reading, and there were no committee reports or orders of the day at that point.
During announcements, members recognized the Frederick Douglass High School cheerleading squad for winning a state title, and several members noted visits or upcoming events involving Kentucky firefighters and fire chiefs. Multiple committee meeting notices were also shared, and House Bill 244 was withdrawn by its primary sponsor. The clerk then read a long list of newly filed bills and resolutions covering topics including pharmacist reimbursements, immigration enforcement, housing, identity documents, sex-based classifications, school choking prevention, local minimum wages, rental property, labor standards, wages, veterans issues, homelessness prevention, real property appraisers, jury duty, paramedic education, adult performances, sanctuary policies, charitable gaming, court costs, National Guard benefits, child care coverage, and several resolutions.
The chamber then considered House Resolution 21, honoring the victims of the UPS Airlines Flight 2976 crash in Louisville and commending first responders. The sponsor described the crash, named the victims, and detailed the extensive multi-agency response. The House opened the board for additional co-sponsors, observed a moment of silence, and adopted the resolution without objection. Afterward, the House recessed briefly for Committee on Committees and Rules Committee meetings, then received committee referrals for numerous bills to standing committees. No floor amendments were introduced, and the House adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Kanata is performing.
- We do have oversight of both sides of those contracts, as well as looking at key performance indicators
- indicators with TMHP.
- We do monitor those pieces with the key performance indicators with TMHP. Awesome.
- So a couple of indicators of that...
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits May 14th, 2025
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits
Transcript Highlights:
- Staff from the State Auditor's Office will give a presentation on their recent performance audit.
- And the associated costs, but indicated they would do so if requested.
- it had not been, and the remaining two indicated they did not know.
- out with the different indicators that they have on there.
- It's kind of broken out with the different indicators that they have on there.
Summary:
The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups. Auditors said Ecology directly conducts or supervises cleanup at only about 8% of active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that Ecology generally met legal requirements at the sites it oversees, but community engagement varied, was not consistently tailored to local needs, and lacked a systematic “lessons learned” process. Auditors also found inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and limited guidance for staff on when to collaborate. Tribal feedback was mixed: some tribes said engagement met their needs, while others wanted earlier and more tailored outreach.
Committee members pressed the auditors on why many third-party-managed sites appeared to have little or no public involvement, and whether Ecology has broader authority to require public engagement and oversight. The auditors responded that their review focused on community engagement requirements, not the full cleanup permitting process, and said the gap they identified was the lack of required oversight for third-party engagement. Members also asked about tribal engagement, exposure scenarios, and the meaning of “active” and “planless” sites. Ecology officials said they agreed with many of the findings, were already taking steps to improve community research, lessons-learned reviews, tribal guidance, and coordination with Health, and had recently launched a public email notification system for site status changes. They also said some recommendations would require additional funding or staff resources.
Public testimony supported stronger community engagement and more resources for Ecology. Washington Conservation Action said contaminated sites disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, praised the audit for highlighting the need for better site-specific engagement, and urged full funding for MTCA-related work. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Health Policy Jan 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Overall, all quality and performance metrics, performance or health plans is measured extensively.
- Again, quality performance metrics during the postpartum period.
- Where is the info on the quality and performance metrics?
- metrics and holding them accountable to meeting those performance.
- were what we think are key indicators of health.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Within the SMMC program, largely, and Medicaid program overall, quality and performance metrics, performance
- projects, and also the agency-calculated additional performance measures.
- If they don't perform well, they can only earn a portion of it back.
- metrics and holding them accountable to meeting those performance measures.
- were what we think are key indicators of health.
Summary:
The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs.
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives.
Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Tue Feb 10, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 12
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR11, HB1872, HB2171, HB2161, HB2416, HB2518, HB2617, HB2159, HB2606, HB2362, HB2385, HB2476, HB1923, HB2444, HB1608, HB1967, HB1968, HB2502, HB1782, HB2357, HB2445, HB1870, HB1838, HB2137, HB2208, HB2458, HB1972, HB2007, HB2160, HB2343, HB2315, HB2505, HB1857, HB469, HB1452, HB814, HB1621, HB1880, HB1831, HB1572, HB2119, HB2139, HB2459, HB2194, HB2561, HB2017, HB1931, HB1700, HB1719, HB1726, HB1737, HB1742, HB2049, HB2383, HB2116, HB2446, HB2249, HB2255, HB2320, HB2360, HB2581, HB2443, HB1531, HB2622, HB9, HB2290, HB2291, HB2235, HB2263, HB2498, HB1579, HB1728, HB1900
Keywords:
808 Elite, youth football, American Youth Football National Championships, AYF, Hawaii football, youth athletics, sports recognition, commendation, House resolution, student-athletes, sportsmanship, teamwork, state pride, Hawaii youth sports, national championship, early learning, apprenticeship, child care, education funding, workforce development
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/22/2026 - Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Finally, an orange X we used to indicate where we found that the system did not meet...
- For example, one agency indicated that Mutualink did not communicate regularly with them.
- For example, one agency indicated that Mutualink did not communicate regularly with them.
- During our test, we found numerous factors that impacted system performance.
- That impacted system performance.
Summary:
The committee opened with remarks about moving JLAC to a more frequent monthly schedule and spending more time on each audit. Members also recognized Melanie Chesney of the Auditor General’s office for 32 years of service, with several members praising her work and her role in school safety and other audits. The meeting then turned to the JLAC-directed Arizona School Safety Special Audit on interoperable communication systems, with the Auditor General’s office presenting the December 2025 report.
The audit found that the state had allocated nearly $26 million to interoperable communication efforts, but implementation varied widely. Auditors said all 14 law enforcement agencies used the money for interoperable systems, yet four agencies allowed private or tribal schools to participate contrary to statute, and several agencies failed to submit required expenditure reports. The report also found procurement problems: nine of 14 agencies did not follow procurement requirements or lacked documentation, many contracts lacked accountability provisions, and some agencies had not planned for ongoing costs. The audit estimated ongoing annual costs for an average rural county could range from about $16,000 to $382,000, and recommended that agencies document costs, follow procurement rules, monitor vendors, and plan for future funding. It also recommended the legislature clarify whether non-public schools may participate and revisit statutory system requirements that were vague or inconsistently interpreted.
Members questioned the Auditor General about vendor licensing, whether systems could be built in-house, why some functions were not configured, and whether the systems were truly usable in emergencies. The presentation explained that some systems met requirements only in part, that Mutualink had a per-user licensing model affecting access to secure text and file sharing, and that some schools were unwilling or unable to install apps or keep devices logged in. The committee also discussed the difference between the separate school safety grant program administered by ADE and this interoperability fund, and several members expressed frustration with sole-source contracting and weak documentation.
In the final portion of the presentation, auditors said only two of eight observed systems demonstrated all five critical emergency functions, while four agency systems could not be tested because they were reportedly not functioning. The committee then began hearing responses from county sheriffs, starting with the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association president, who emphasized county commitment to school safety and noted that some counties had implemented systems across multiple districts, including tribal and rural schools. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion provided.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Here are some of the other performance metrics that we report on as a state.
- and capacity objectives. performance and capacity objectives.
- We'll talk about performance measures on top of that.
- Chair, I would indicate again that the concern is with the RPSBs.
- The lowest-performing institutions had no vetting processes.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 3, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- FLORIDA PERFORMS BETTER THAN SEVERAL OTHER STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, TEXAS AND NEW YORK IN THIS REGARD.
- OVERSIGHT AND PROJECT WORK PERFORMED BY NOT ONLY THE VENDOR RESOURCES BUT AGENCY STAFF RESOURCES AS
- THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FX SERVICE RELEASE WAS NOT PERFORMED RELEASE REMAIN ON HOLD SO THAT THE AGENCY
- SUCH THAT IF A VENDOR IS NOT PERFORMING AGAIN WE SHOULD BE EXERCISING THE PROTECTIONS WE HAVE IN THE
- SO IT'S A VENDOR TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IF A VENDOR WERE NOT PERFORMING THE AGENCY WOULD GO THROUGH
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Auditing Committee Feb 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We performed the audit, basically, short answers you told us to perform it. We did.
- As I indicated, the city did not timely provide and submit required annual audited financial reports
- We didn't see any indications of fraud.
- The committee has directed the Auditor General and Opaga to perform the work since 2003.
- The committee has directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to perform the work since 2003.
Summary:
The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee heard the Auditor General’s operational audit of the City of Mexico Beach, which identified nine findings. The audit cited significant turnover in key management positions, late filing of required annual financial reports, weaknesses in competitive procurement and purchase approval controls, a duplicate payment on stormwater repairs that was later largely refunded, issues with the city accountant’s contract and IRS classification, IT access control problems, and the lack of fraud-reporting policies. Committee members asked about corrective action, and the Auditor General said a follow-up audit is required by statute within 18 months, with no enforcement authority beyond reporting progress back to the committee.
Mayor Rich Wolf and city staff responded that the city had experienced major turnover and was rebuilding its finance and administrative team. He said the city had hired a city administrator, financial director, city clerk, and accounting firm, and was working to create policies, procedures, forms, and review processes to address the findings. Members discussed whether the turnover and hurricane-related workload contributed to the problems, and city officials said some of the larger purchases were storm-related and tied to FEMA or emergency work.
The committee then received a staff update on enforcement for local governments that have not filed required financial reports. Staff said 400 entities had been notified, and as of the meeting two counties, 33 municipalities, and 48 special districts still owed reports or audits. The committee adopted a motion to proceed under section 11.42, Florida Statutes, including possible withholding of state funds for municipalities and enforcement actions for special districts, with authority for the chair and vice chair to delay action if new information warranted it.
Finally, the committee unanimously directed the Auditor General and OPPAGA to conduct the required 2024-2025 audit of the Department of the Lottery, with the Auditor General handling financial, internal control, and compliance issues and OPPAGA developing operational recommendations. Members also briefly discussed whether the committee had reviewed transportation surtaxes and expressed interest in improving the timeliness and transparency of the audit and enforcement process before adjourning.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:31:52.240>
board incredible performance across the board incredible performance across - <00:55:05.520>
in development uh student performance in development uh student performance - <01:02:35.520>
they'd Um that's everyone who indicated they'd Um that's everyone who indicated - Two other indicated to be joining us.
- That does not before be performed.
Bills:
HB1183, HB1656, HB1658, HB1661, HB1663, HB1664, HB1859, HB2116, HB2271, HB2276, HB2335, HB2360, HB2387, HB2472, HB1805, HB2469, HB1815, HB1860, HB2117, HB2118, HB2437, HB2438, HB2604, HB1590, HB2156, HB2268
Keywords:
retirement, pension, law enforcement, public safety, Hawaii Revised Statutes, indebtedness, salary recovery, employee compensation, deductions, financial management, collective bargaining, employee relations, impasse procedures, arbitration, public employment, HB1661, cafeteria plan, Section 125, Internal Revenue Code, flexible spending account
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- adopt new standards or new indicators at any time new standards at any time right new indicators at any
- That's just that delay in the calculation of all the indicators.
- This will ensure that student performance is made... Rather than pass-fail.
- In fact, both standards of care and student performance have improved.
- And in addition to all of that, I also was involved with performing arts, performed in a few productions
Keywords:
district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair.
The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending.
A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.