Transcript Highlights:

• Elimination of the Big Lift, our early literacy and educational equity program for 7,400 students.
• But do we need to look at the conditions under which we are having a declining student enrollment, and
• The impact to education in our county would be reduced mental health services for students and families
• and drive tests and things like that on the site.
• With and technology tools to improve and support student learning.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, 60% enrollment to meet our student needs.
• Uh, 60% enrollment to meet our student needs.
• written test. written test.
• We've made it work, but student needs.
• support branch of the office of student support branch of the office of student support<01:16:30.480

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on March 19 and moved through several bills under time pressure, hearing mostly brief testimony. SB 2024 SD2 and SB 896 SD2, both concerning public-private partnerships for charter school facilities, drew support from the Department of Education, the Charter School Commission, White Kids Can, and Hawaii Technology Academy. DOE said any P3 model should apply only to charter schools on private land and not affect public schools on DOE land. Supporters argued the approach could speed construction, reduce costs, and keep public money in public assets, while UPW and HGA raised concerns about privatization. In response, SFA said the intent was to mirror the existing conversion charter school model, with public ownership of assets and unionized staff, and noted some regions have waited years for schools. SB 2613 SD1 on TMK transfers was heard next. DOE said the bill had originally been supported as part of the governor’s package but was amended to require DOE to convey lands for 13 libraries on DOE property, which DOE said would create “donut holes” in campuses and was unnecessary because existing agreements already govern library use. The State Public Library System supported the bill, saying it has long coexisted with DOE but needs clearer separation and more reliable control over its sites. The Attorney General’s office said the library system currently lacks express statutory authority to own real property and flagged implementation issues because some of the affected parcels are not currently owned by DOE. Committee members questioned both sides about current agreements, communication, and how the bill would change operations. SB 494 SD2, concerning charter school audits, received comments from the Charter School Commission, which said the bill was redundant because charter schools already undergo annual audits during the term of their contracts. The Office of the Auditor was also present. SB 2391 SD2, relating to automatic pay increases for teachers, drew strong opposition from the Office of Collective Bargaining, which said step movement and longevity increases are negotiated in each contract and do not automatically carry over when a contract expires; it warned the bill could affect upcoming negotiations with HSTA. HSTA and several other supporters argued the bill would standardize annual step movement, improve retention, and reflect existing contract language. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• College students today are up against a higher student debt load.
• College students today are up against a higher student debt load.
• College students today are up against a higher student debt load.
• two students? two students?
• school students. school students.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um address PFAS mitigation and testing. um address PFAS mitigation and testing.
• for determining CWD, which is rapid test for determining CWD, which is a<00:31:56.720> brain<
• In the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey, nearly one in five Minnesota high school students, so that's 20%
• <01:00:58.240> Survey, In the 2025 Minnesota Student Survey, In the 2025 Minnesota Student
• , so that's 20% again, um students, so that's 20% again, um reported<01:01:05.000> being<01:01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's probably one of the largest tests and would be the most effective. Thank you. Rep. Moran.
• Our mission is to design, test, and scale community-based solutions to the challenges facing our mental
• Our mission is to design, test, and scale community-based solutions to the challenges facing test and
• Bright uses simple, low-cost, integrated care to support students returning to school after an extended
• Bright uses simple, low-cost, integrated care to support students returning to school after an extended

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery held a public hearing on 14 bills focused on insurance, parity, opioids, behavioral health access, and mental health system reform. Chair Mindy Domb and Vice Chair Robyn Kennedy outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would accept written testimony. The hearing featured testimony from legislators, providers, advocates, and behavioral health organizations, with most speakers urging favorable reports on the bills they addressed. A major topic was psychiatric collaborative care, including H. 222/S. 1390, which would raise reimbursement for collaborative care codes to at least Medicare levels and allow billing outside the MassHealth primary care subcapitation model. Supporters said the model improves access, outcomes, and cost savings by embedding behavioral health in primary care, and several witnesses described successful implementation in practices and schools. Committee members asked questions about how the model works, what specialties use it, barriers to adoption, and whether copays, deductibles, and subcapitation rules should be changed. Witnesses also supported related innovation legislation, including H. 2224, which would create a mental health innovation fund and support nontraditional trauma-healing approaches. Other bills discussed included H. 2212, which would require prescribers to discuss opioid and pain-medication risks, alternatives, and addiction/overdose concerns with patients or guardians; H. 2232 and H. 2233, which would address equitable payment and equitable access for behavioral health providers serving MassHealth patients; and S. 1406, which would add opioid maintenance treatment information to MassPAT and allow patient-authorized access to that information. Witnesses also strongly backed S. 1399, which would set targets to increase behavioral health spending within the overall health care cost benchmark, arguing that Massachusetts underinvests in behavioral health and that greater investment could reduce emergency, hospitalization, homelessness, and criminal justice costs. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:22.000> message<00:34:22.240> to tested, it sends the message to tested, it
• <00:34:56.359> evidence have the capacity of testing evidence have the capacity of testing
• <00:35:16.240> to for what evidence should be tested to for what evidence should be tested
• now has four new pieces of testing now has four new pieces of testing equipment<00:36:57.119>
• <00:39:44.640> this started running scenarios to test this started running scenarios to test

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we do some testing.
• So we do some testing.
• For our P, um, testing, and this does testing for PAS testing in drinking water for homeowners and for
• tested Ed shellfish um we've tested tested Ed shellfish um we've tested water<03:25:49.239> samples
• number of tests that we the covid tests number of tests that we the covid tests that<03:27:27.439

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• . tests.
• students pursue higher education. students pursue higher education.
• in-state student.
• doesn't just help students. doesn't just help students.
• students in the territories. students in the territories.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been in Texas for almost 10 years now, and I'm a parent of a Saint Saint Francis school student.
• My daughter is a student at Saint Francis.
• I'd like to share a different example to illustrate how this legislation can help us keep our students
• First, this bill would create a 3rd option for rape kit testing.
• Uh, by Representative Victoria Neave Criado test rape kits are still sitting on the shelves.

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Francis school student. My daughter Ayelet is nine years old and in the fourth grade there now.
• My student at St.
• First, this bill would create a third option for rape kit testing.
• To be tested by DPS and for DPS to notify a survivor if DNA material is found.
• So now, your bill allows victims to consent to DNA testing without filing a police report.

Bills: HB316, HB353, HB 1160, HB1414, HB1422, HB1443, HB1713, HB1789, HB1902, HB2073, HB2666, HB2695, HB316

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• We are preparing students for careers that matter.
• The student are per student funding decline.
• Receive less than 4,000 in state funding peart per student per full-time student.
• Sorry. per student per full-time student. Sorry. And this is significant.
• We've gotten a lot of transfer students and that's giving us a lot of new students and started new masters

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what Part 57 does is look at research and test reactors at the universities.
• thermal and uh the the research and test thermal and uh the the research and test reactors<00:23
• They have a whole series of pumps and stuff that don't run except during testing or in the event of an
• So, um, the animal testing bill has been around, um, the state house for a couple cycles now.
• So, um, the animal testing bill weeks.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:01:41.760> of Alliance, and Don Petri to the test of Alliance, and Don Petri to the test
• need mental health support for students need mental health support for students and<01:27:28.560
• Sorry, my test... this isn't... I feel like I'm just word salad right now.
• Sorry, my test... this isn't... I feel like I'm just word salad right now.
• <02:24:11.439> to use is just the maintenance testing to use is just the maintenance testing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas student athletes will be at a disadvantage when compared to students from other states with social
• Texas students, athletes will be at a disadvantage when compared to students from other states with social
• That a lot of that time I am a student athlete as well.
• affect Texas students.
• I'm a seminary student living in Austin.

Bills: HB186, HB201, HB229, HB796, HB1506, HB2702, HB2885, HB3225, HB3909, HB4285, HB5138

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 186, which would require social media platforms to verify users are 18 or older before allowing account creation. Invited witnesses in support, including Mary Elizabeth Castle and David Dunmoyer, argued the bill would protect children from harmful algorithms, addictive design, bullying, sexual exploitation, and mental health harms, and emphasized parental rights and the idea that minors should not enter binding contracts with platforms. Committee members questioned them about how algorithms work, whether parents could realistically monitor content, and whether the bill would still allow educational use; the witnesses said the bill was narrowly aimed at harmful social media use and not educational content. Public testimony on HB 186 was largely in opposition, though several student witnesses said they supported the bill’s goals but wanted the age lowered to 16 or the bill amended to allow parental consent or joint accounts. Opponents argued the bill would be ineffective because teens could bypass age checks, would cut off access to educational tools, school communications, recruiting and NIL opportunities, and would burden free speech and privacy. Some witnesses also said social media helps teens with mental health, community, and creative or professional opportunities, while others warned the bill could disproportionately harm disabled and marginalized users. After public testimony closed, HB 186 was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 5138, which Chairman Hughes said would respond to a court ruling limiting the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes unless invited by local prosecutors by changing the statute to require AG prosecution. Public testimony on HB 5138 was brief and opposed by at least one witness who argued it would further erode local control and expand state preemption. The bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3225, a library bill aimed at keeping sexually explicit books and materials out of children’s sections in municipal libraries and requiring age verification for checkout, including digital access, with parental consent and other revisions added in the House. Supporters said the bill would protect children from explicit material and keep such content in adult sections, while opponents argued it would amount to censorship, be costly and difficult to implement, and could be used to target LGBTQ+ or other marginalized content. Library workers, parents, students, and advocates testified that existing library sections already separate age-appropriate materials and that the bill could reduce access to books, burden libraries, and infringe on parental choice and free expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• 48-PAGE BILL DOWN TO 19 PAGES, AND THE REASON WAS THE WAY WE ARE ELIMINATING THE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TEST
• WE HAVE THE ACTUAL REPLACEMENT TEST TO STAND IN ITS PLACE FOR THE CERTIFICATION EXCELLENCE TRAINING.
• Grade restrictions on student cell phone use.
• WHO FAILED TO PASS AS A FIRST-TIME TEST-TAKER IN THAT CALENDAR YEAR.
• UNFORTUNATELY, THAT GRACE AND LENIENCY HAS NOT BENEFITED NURSING STUDENTS IN FLORIDA.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And now the Governor is proposing to fully reinstate the asset test limit to where it was prior to 2022
• The Governor is now proposing to fully reinstate the asset test limit to where it was prior to 2022,
• Students who complete their degree are required to complete a service requirement of 24 months with a
• the asset test punishes savings.
• CBHA opposes the proposal to reinstate the Medi-Cal asset test limit.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, that $1.2 million will not go to serving students.
• And so in that student staying there, we as a school district provide services to those students, and
• And it might not, no, it won't impact my special needs students.
• And in general, we'll try to make it not impact our students.
• And in general, we'll try to make it not impact our students.

Summary: The House Finance Committee held a work session that began with welcoming new member Rep. Janice Zahn, who introduced herself as representing the 41st Legislative District. The Department of Revenue then gave an update on the Antio-related legislation following the Washington Supreme Court decision and the 2025 session changes. DOR explained its voluntary disclosure program and the new expanded voluntary disclosure agreement for taxpayers with unreported investment income, including broader eligibility and interest/penalty relief, but said utilization has been minimal so far because additional implementation questions remain unresolved. The committee next received the annual update on the Working Families Tax Credit. DOR reported record participation in 2025, with about $205 million refunded through October and a major increase in applications after TurboTax added the credit to its filing software. Officials said most dollars went to households with children, outreach efforts remained important, and community partners and state agencies helped increase uptake. Members focused heavily on fraud concerns, especially tax preparers allegedly filing claims without applicants’ knowledge or diverting refunds; DOR said it is using fraud detection tools, training preparers, and trying to make applicants whole, but current law does not provide direct penalties against preparers. The final portion covered implementation of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5814, which expanded sales tax to certain services. DOR described the new tax framework, its guidance process, and the large volume of ruling requests and outreach since the law took effect October 1. Committee members asked about fiscal assumptions, the scope of taxable services, and whether the department had revised its implementation estimates; DOR said the fiscal note assumed broad application absent explicit exemptions and that no expenditure revision had been made. In stakeholder testimony, Expedia and T-Mobile argued the law creates complexity and competitive disadvantages for Washington businesses, while a construction training provider said the tax raises tuition for workers seeking required certifications. School and nonprofit representatives said the tax will increase costs for special education services, arts programming, and other public-facing activities, and urged exemptions or further legislative fixes. The chair closed by noting the committee would revisit 5814 in the next session and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's so many students that will... Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.
• And there's so many students that want to come to the University of Texas. Yes, ma'am.
• And our students get to practice testing on kids.
• And our students and professors get to go into that school and, you know, do students and professors
• And, you know, our students get to practice testing on kids.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations met to consider several gubernatorial nominees and first approved a slate of nominees left pending from the March 31 agenda. The committee voted 5-0 to favorably report those nominees to the full Senate for confirmation. Public testimony was then opened and later closed, with some listed witnesses not appearing. The committee heard testimony on Jerry K. Weldon II for the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors. Senators focused on stewardship of the Brazos River, the authority’s relationship to the legislature and the public, Sunset review, water quality and nutrient runoff, impaired waterways, and possible uses of constructed wetlands for aggregate mine reclamation. Weldon emphasized collaboration, transparency, and keeping the citizens of Texas as the authority’s primary customer. Commissioner Robert Vaughn was considered for reappointment to the Texas Transportation Commission. Discussion centered on TxDOT’s management, rural funding, population growth, project delivery, and the commissioner’s role on the audit committee. Doug McCreakin was considered for the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, with questions about legislative priorities, compliance with DEI-related state law, workforce development, rural medical education, and university partnerships. Jody Giles was considered for reappointment to the University of Texas Board of Regents, and Bernadette Carrasco Coleman for reappointment to the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents; both discussed higher education priorities, PUF funding, compliance with state law, and student support programs. John Rutherford was considered for reappointment to the Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees, with questions about fiduciary oversight, investment understanding, and keeping the retirement system solvent. Brigadier General Michael Boyd was also considered for appointment to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, where discussion focused on military retention, child care, spouse licensing, base infrastructure, and grant funding for Texas installations. The committee did not take final votes on these later nominees during the hearing and left them pending subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rules, the data matching, and the exemptions will be finished and finalized, tested this fall, for
• We need time to test and set up the back-end system infrastructure to apply that data properly to the
• readiness, daily attendance rates for K-12 students, and high school graduation rates.
• More students are ready for kindergarten and graduating and going to college.
• We combined direct services for chronically absent students with whole-family support.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• This concept is tested and it works.
• This concept is tested and it works.
• But more so, we should protect the students. That's our main focus. Protecting students.
• Our students need to come first.
• , Ajo Unified with 374 students, and Paloma School District with 92 students.

Keywords: 1182, all