Transcript Highlights:

• What are we taking the money from in current programs, and what program are we going to lose?
• Senator Wallace's program.
• Senator Wallace's program.
• of them were in private school and are now still in private school.
• They don't, the private schools. The private schools had to have a report in on what they tested.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:52.960> We the triare reimbursement program. We the triare reimbursement program.
• We passed a reimbursement program.
• ; 799,84 to DFA for the independent schools infrastructure grant program; 13,511982 to DOT for eligible
• universities grant program fund. universities grant program fund. 241128<00:58:01.440> to
• to DFA for the independent schools to DFA for the independent schools infrastructure<00:59:20.319

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 18 February, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee began with process instructions about using committee substitutes, identifying bills with reverse repealers, and taking up noncontroversial items in blocks. It then approved Senate Bill 3051, the DFA budget, which included LBR-level funding with a reverse repealer and agency-by-agency allocations for the status of women, DFA, tort claims, state property insurance, BEAM, and Mississippi Home Corporation. Senate Bill 3052, the governor’s support budget, was also approved as a final-action bill without a reverse repealer, with members noting the reduction from the prior year was tied to lower federal funding. The committee then handled the IHL budget bills. Senate Bill 3053, the general support bill, included a 3% across-the-board raise for IHL professors and $20 million for repair and renovation at universities, plus $5 million for UMMC; it passed as a committee substitute with a reverse repealer. Senate Bill 3054, the original IHL-related bill, passed without a committee substitute. Bills 3055 through 3059 were taken up in block and approved, providing 3% increases for A units at Alcorn State and Mississippi State. Senate Bill 3060, student financial aid, added about $7.7 million for scholarship costs, including MESG, MTAG, and Winters-Reed loan repayment, and passed as a committee substitute. The committee also approved the larger IHL budget bill with a reverse repealer and discussed, but did not fund, a UMMC cancer center request at that stage. Subcommittee 3 presented education-related bills. Senate Bill 3062 was approved at LBR with a reverse repealer and included a large transfer from the education enhancement fund. Senate Bill 3063 added $15 million for repair and renovation and $8.11 million for faculty pay raises, and passed as a committee substitute with a reverse repealer. On Senate Bill 3064, the Employment Security Commission budget, members discussed whether the committee substitute included a reverse repealer and noted they might revisit that on the floor if needed; the bill was advanced. Subcommittee 4 then took up Senate Bills 3065, 3066, 3068, and 3069 in block and approved them: Ethics Commission funding increased for salary realignment and a database; Judicial Performance Commission language was tightened to freeze the director’s salary and ensure youth court oversight funds were used solely for that purpose; Tax Appeals Board funding was increased to restore cuts and vacancy funding; and Workers’ Compensation Commission funding rose to cover commissioner salary increases and related language changes. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 3067 for the Department of Public Safety, which included a reverse repealer, LBR-level funding, additional money for furniture for the new headquarters, and reappropriation language. Senate Bill 3071, the GCRF bill, was approved with a reverse repealer and reappropriation language for prior-year projects. Senate Bill 3072, the Department of Mental Health budget, was approved with a reverse repealer and included $12 million for the Canopy project, prior-year invoice funding, and language tied to mental health-related legislation. Finally, Senate Bills 3073 through 3075 were taken up in block for licensing boards, with increases for the Chiropractic Examiners, Dental Examiners, and Pharmacy boards, including funding for licensing system updates, vacancy funding, and expansion of the pharmacy recovery program.

Transcript Highlights:

• are EFA program is an the EFA programs are EFA program is an option. option. option.
• If I know that this was the third attempt today to strangle a popular and successful school choice program
• SAUs<04:14:45.120> while schools, school boards, and SAUs while schools, school boards, and
• wealthy school voucher program, buying wealthy school voucher program, buying wealthy families
• School, Keen High School, from Exit High School, Keen High School, Dover<05:48:58.160> High<05

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:03.200> board something I'm sure any school board something I'm sure any school board
• So there’s the school districts. School boards already have statutory authority to do such a thing.
• honest, towns, uh, selectmen and schools honest, towns, uh, selectmen and schools are<01:04:22.319
• school districts. school districts.
• Well, they could be a school district. Well, they could be a school district.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026, to act on a series of bills. Early in the meeting, members agreed that they could consult the online submission summaries rather than have changing submission counts read aloud. The committee then took up House Bill 1386, which would have allowed citizens in a municipality to vote to require a financial audit of a local school district. Members opposing the bill argued that school districts already have audit authority and reporting requirements under existing law, and that the proposal was unnecessary and potentially burdensome. The committee voted 17-0 to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate, placing it on the consent calendar. The committee next considered House Bill 1181FN on public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals. Members who opposed the bill said newspaper publication provides independent third-party verification and archival value, and that removing that requirement would weaken public notice. The committee voted 17-0 ITL and sent the bill to the consent calendar. It also voted 17-0 ITL on House Bill 1327, concerning the definition of commercially zoned land, largely because the sponsor was absent and members said they could not do due diligence without hearing from the sponsor. The committee then acted on House Bill 1473FN, concerning the use of agricultural fairground property, and House Bill 1147, concerning the use of capital reserve funds. In both cases, members cited the sponsor’s absence and the need for more information as reasons to recommend inexpedient to legislate; both votes were 17-0 and both bills were placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 1220, which would have allowed municipal governing bodies to review and approve school budgets, was also recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after members raised concerns about local control, legal conflicts between separate entities, and technical drafting problems. The committee recommended ought to pass on House Bill 118, which raises the amount of money municipal treasurers may hold before depositing it in the bank, with supporters saying the higher threshold would reduce unnecessary trips to the bank and improve efficiency. It also recommended ought to pass on House Bill 1151, a housekeeping bill correcting statutory references related to conservation commission appropriations, and it approved House Bill 1309 as amended after adopting Amendment 2026-0411H to clarify town meeting warrant language. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1385, prohibiting negative property tax rates in certain municipalities, and recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after testimony indicated the practice at issue had already ended and that a blanket prohibition could create problems for municipalities with excess revenues. The committee also began work on House Bill 1369, relating to posting warrants for special town meetings, and discussed an amendment to preserve newspaper notice while also allowing website posting where available.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:03.200> board something I'm sure any school board something I'm sure any school board
• So there's the school districts.
• In cooperative school districts, legal.
• are SAUs; those are not school boards.
• And I think that and the school.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh program.
• Part D program.
• LIS program do for New Hampshire. LIS program do for New Hampshire.
• . program. program.
• the lunch period. the lunch period.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• break for lunch and come back later? break for lunch and come back later?
• this program also has state oversight. this program also has state oversight.
• . program. program.
• stewardship program. stewardship program.
• program properly working. program properly working.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our job is to execute that program with excellence.
• The feedback from both parents, taxpayers, and schools, in fact, was much more positive.
• I briefly mentioned our first-time driver program.
• So, we want to launch a pay for performance program this year.
• So, yes, we also have what's called a third-party examiner program.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the fund itself would be utilized to disperse zero-interest loans to program participants who
• The rationale for the changes is that we want to make certain, first of all, this program is going to
• When students are in crisis, schools spend more on staff time, outreach, and support services.
• So if you came here from Montgomery County or other areas, I hope you enjoy a nice lunch.
• Right, a long lunch.

Bills: SB208, SB628, SB777, SB1042, SB2354, SB2477, SB2521, SB2523, SB2608, SB2703, SB2778, SB2835, SB2965, SB2367, SB3044

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs from the transferred programs from the departments<00:16:33.920> of<00:16:34.079>
• <00:17:15.199> and conforming changes for programs and conforming changes for programs and
• Lunch is catered by Craft and Crew Hospitality. So just come and go lunch. Come if you can.
• Uh lunch is remarks at noon and 12:30.
• So just come and go lunch. Hospitality. So just come and go lunch.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our youth will probably be in school. be in school.
• We have a high school and postgraduate education.
• The programming and services that we provide include behavioral health programming, which includes individual
• From 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. is additional education programming.
• We also refer them to JCC programming and other programs that can follow them up.

Transcript Highlights:

• or statewide food programs and schools like the New Mexico Grown Program, the Approved Supplier Program
• They've helped to expand those programs for our farmers and ranchers, and nutrition schools are seen.
• To our federal school lunch program, the SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• K-12, though, again, back to a huge appreciation for having the Healthy Universal School Meals program
• Fresh fruits and vegetables, and proteins in their school meal programs, again, stabilizer for that.

Transcript Highlights:

• school student at Gofftown High School. school student at Gofftown High School.
• Medicaid to schools programs?
• , people who work in a public school system, people who've implemented the program at all?
• . school. school.
• It helps schools align resources to actual needs and avoid spending on services or programs that are

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and more importantly, Minnesota's most valuable natural resource: our children, on their way to school
• Well, you know, this is past the lunch hour, and we tend to get a little hungry here in transportation
• and on their way on their way to school and on their way back<00:02:57.879> home<00:02:58.400
• 32.560> the Mr chair well you know this is past the Mr chair well you know this is past the lunch
• hour and you know we we tend to lunch hour and you know we we tend to get<00:03:34.840> a<00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:21.240> programs<00:23:21.799> substance<00:23:22.200> treatment school programs
• , school lunch programs, so the cannabis tax money can go to something that builds the community.
• , school lunch programs, so the cannabis tax money can go to something that builds the community.
• <01:00:39.880> school<01:00:40.160> lunch<01:00:40.559> programs<01:00:40.960>
• > so<01:00:41.079> the programs school lunch programs so the programs school lunch programs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thomas again, solar R schools, the energy conservation loan program, and then an energy savings loan.
• <00:15:47.160> um at St Thomas again solar R schools um at St Thomas again solar R schools
• new geothermal feasibility study program new geothermal feasibility study program launched<00:18
• to the program reviewing and oversight to the program reviewing and approving<00:19:22.440> the
• One example she said is a pride of hers is the Solar on Schools program that was initially passed several

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and not having an accessible pathway to the bathroom, a water cooler, or the fridge that holds your lunch
• are not required to have adaptable units. ...room or a water cooler or the fridge that holds your lunch
• Under law, a person remains a school-aged child with a legal right to education until his 22nd birthday
• This bill would accomplish two critical changes for these school-aged children.
• research finds that the state HOCs and DOC lack any systematized instruction counting toward high school

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard testimony on several bills affecting correctional facilities, disability access, public health, youth education, parole, and vehicle noise. Early testimony focused on H. 2736/S. 1762, “Matt’s Law,” which would permanently ban free weights in medium- and maximum-security correctional facilities and require exercise equipment to be secured. The bill was supported by the Tidman family, Rep. Wells, and the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, who described the assault on Corrections Officer Matthew Tidman and argued the measure would prevent similar attacks. Committee members expressed sympathy and asked whether the Department of Correction could make the change administratively; witnesses said free weights had already been removed but that codifying the policy in law was needed. The committee also heard S. 1753 on synthetic drugs in correctional facilities, which would make possession, distribution, and use of Class C synthetic substances in prisons and jails a felony with a mandatory minimum sentence. Senator O’Connor and MCOFU said synthetic drugs like K2 are being smuggled in through mail and are causing violence and medical emergencies among inmates and staff. H. 4123, filed by Rep. Donahue and Chair Vargas, would require correctional facilities to offer two doses of naloxone to people upon direct release; Donahue cited overdose risk after incarceration and her personal loss of a son to overdose. Sheriff Donna Buckley also testified in support of a commission to study sentencing jurisdiction and whether more people should be sentenced to county houses of correction rather than DOC facilities. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to S. 1733, “An Act Building a More Accessible Massachusetts,” which would expand the Architectural Access Board’s authority over older buildings, workplace areas, and adaptable housing units. Chris Ho, disability advocates, and people with disabilities testified that the bill would help close gaps in accessibility for employment and housing, reduce long waits for accessible units, and support aging in place and independent living. The committee also heard S. 1721 on educational rights for incarcerated youth, with Avery Farmer arguing that 18- to 21-year-olds in DOC and houses of correction should receive the same educational services and disability supports as youth in DYS custody. Additional testimony supported S. 1716 regulating illegal exhaust systems, with one witness citing public health harms from vehicle noise and another opposing the bill as overbroad and harmful to classic car owners. Finally, Claire Massington testified for H. 2694 on equitable access to parole, calling for a more transparent, best-practices-based parole system with a revised board composition and a presumption of parole unless the board shows otherwise. The hearing ended with the chair adjourning the meeting due to a roll call in the House and Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• school district. school district.
• to the school board and run in the to the school board and run in the school<02:56:38.800> board
• <03:02:40.399> district school district if the school district school district if the school
• <03:29:01.359> board, the school board, the school board, school<03:29:03.680> district
• lunch, their lunch<06:28:05.520> break.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• foundation or the school foundation program account.
• foundation or the school foundation program account.
• <00:52:27.760> foundation<00:52:28.880> program to the public school foundation program
• to the public school foundation program accounting<00:52:30.319> in<00:52:30.720> this
• <01:49:32.719> moving program fund keep the program moving program fund keep the program moving

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
• I certainly hope to see some school districts take the lead and create some pilot programs, though members
• advanced program in our schools right advanced program in our schools right now<00:35:41.200>
• This current year, eight of those schools dropped off, so we have 20 schools.
• This current year, eight of those schools dropped off, so we have 20 schools.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first took up House Bill 14, which would establish Alyssa’s Law in Kentucky public schools. The bill, as amended by committee substitute, would allow districts to implement wearable panic alert systems for school staff beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Sponsor Rep. Kevin Jackson and supporters described the system as a silent badge/button that can alert school offices, 911, first responders, and other personnel, with different button sequences for different emergencies. Testimony from Lori Alade, Alyssa’s mother and founder of Make Our Schools Safe, emphasized that “time equals life” and said the technology can help in active threats, medical emergencies, weather events, and other urgent situations. Students from St. Margaret Mary’s Kentucky Youth Assembly also supported the bill, citing the Georgia school shooting response as an example of how such systems can save lives. Members asked about vendor neutrality, costs, training, and whether the system could be used off campus; sponsors said the bill is intended to be vendor neutral, estimated statewide costs ranged from about $2 million to $6 million, training would be provided before the school year, and they would follow up on the off-campus question. The committee approved HB 14 with the committee substitute attached. The committee then reconsidered and approved House Bill 48, a cleanup measure related to school reporting requirements. The substitute was described as addressing department concerns about eliminating certain reporting forms while preserving district flexibility and reducing burdensome reporting. It would allow schools to maintain or use alternative reporting methods, provide KDE a timeline and guidelines for reporting on Cognia software used for CPS and C-dips, and require a written report to the LRC describing reporting requirements imposed on public schools and districts, with items not reapproved by the legislature sunsetting in 2026. The bill passed the committee with the committee substitute attached. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 190, as amended by committee substitute, which would shift the measure from a planning-and-action bill to a planning-only bill for advanced coursework and codify some gifted-student regulations. Rep. Duvall and Dr. Julia Link Roberts of WKU said the bill is intended to expand opportunities for high-potential students by requiring districts to set policies on advanced coursework or accelerated learning options for grades 4 through 12. The substitute changes the standard from “proficient” to “distinguished,” allows districts flexibility in how they implement the policies, and may require automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished, with opt-out provisions and a principal exception if coursework conflicts with career pathways or CTE access. Members discussed how the proposal differs from current advanced programs, the broader inclusion of students, and district variation in available opportunities. No final vote on HB 190 was included in the transcript excerpt.