Transcript Highlights:

• Her role is to educate, advocate, and offer transparency.
• Recovery legislation, her role is to educate, advocate, and offer transparency to communities driven
• Ana Luisa Gonzales-Ortega is a first-generation Mexican-American educator, becoming her own advocate.
• Telma Boak is a Beriesa Union School Board trustee and has been a lifelong educator for more than 40
• Regina Donahue is a retired educator and corporate secretary for the Mary R.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.
• But even there, I was embraced and supported in my quest for education.
• And I really like that about the higher education space.
• We want it to be part of the applied education.
• We want it to be part of the applied education here.

Bills: SGA9314 , SGA9282 , SGA9288 , SGA9296 , SGA9232 , SGA9233 , SGA9235 , SGA9236 , SGA9237

Committee: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, where can these funds be used to educate for educational purposes for the youth?
• Youth Advocacy and Education.
• As far as education goes, unless you're educating school boards on how to implement those policies, there
• This also includes retailer education.
• if we're only educating contractors, how is that education being disseminated throughout the state.

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• My name the House Education Committee.
• </c><00:18:48.000><c> Those</c> targets for higher education. Those targets for higher education.
• We are students, dreamers, education.
• </c> Coulter talked about my education Coulter talked about my education background.<00:31:55.200><c>
• ,</c> can say state grant, best education, can say state grant, best education, best<00:35:47.920><c>

Bills: HF2634 , HF2241 , HF2649 , HF2520 , HF2610

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It references the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and related correctional education
• of Education, the State Board of Education, and correctional education services.
• From the Department of Education, the education service program, except to the extent necessary to provide
• that the education service education program...
• the education service education program may meet any applicable education requirements.

Bills: LB737 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB1216 , LB1256 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787 , LB365A , LB823 , LB900 , LB903 , LB940 , LB954 , LB1127 , LB1127A , LB1205 , LB1240 , LR293 , LR296 , LR422 , LR505 , LR507

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this is guidelines for educators and leaders.
• That is a fancy title for special education director.
• Special education students are general education students first.
• Special education students are general education students first.
• That trauma plays out across a child's education and into adulthood.

Bills: HB1795

Committee: House Education

Keywords: restraint, isolation, public schools, educational programs, student rights

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> education the standard of education education the standard of education they're<00:11:03.600><c>
• </c> educational meetings I have attended. educational meetings I have attended.
• </c> to the Hawaii Medical Education Council. to the Hawaii Medical Education Council.
• </c> education system. education system. &gt;&gt; Question<02:40:49.280><c> seven.
• </c> educators in those specific disciplines. educators in those specific disciplines.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:34.879><c> month</c> is career and technical education month is career and technical education
• </c> strengthen financial literacy education. strengthen financial literacy education.
• </c><00:07:35.199><c> care</c> teach future educators, health care teach future educators, health care
• </c> an act relating to education. an act relating to education.
• I have taught at five educator.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Higher Education Committee is now called to order.
• I want to welcome everyone to the Assembly Higher Education Committee hearing.
• students can thrive in their educational journeys.
• AI adoption is already happening in higher education. ...and to not reinvent the wheel.
• of our students, but in the very fabric of higher education and our society.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard two Senate measures focused on artificial intelligence in higher education. SCR 82 by Senator Niello would encourage the California higher education segments to convene a work group and share best practices on AI use, including how to address academic integrity and student use of AI in coursework. Supportive comments emphasized the need for intersegmental coordination and faculty/student engagement, while the Faculty Association for California Community Colleges raised concerns about preserving faculty purview, academic freedom, and governance differences at the community college level. The resolution was adopted and re-referred to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on an 8-0 vote. The committee also heard SB 928 by Senator Cervantes, which would establish guardrails for AI use at CSU by requiring that faculty employee positions be filled by humans who meet CSU minimum qualifications and that instructors of record be human faculty for credit and non-credit instruction. The author and supporters, including the California Faculty Association, Teamsters California, the California Federation of Labor Unions, and the State Building and Construction Trades Council, argued the bill is needed to prevent AI from replacing faculty and to preserve the human role in teaching and student support. Members asked for clarification that the bill would not apply to classified, administrative, or clerical employees, and the author’s office said the definition was intended to mirror CSU faculty classifications and bargaining language. Both measures received unanimous support from the committee after discussion. SB 928 was passed to the Assembly Floor on a 10-0 vote, with several members requesting to be added as coauthors. The consent calendar, which included SB 308, SB 892, and SB 968, was also approved unanimously, and the committee adjourned after announcing its next hearing date.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide education. ...any type of needs that they may have, we provide education, we train them, we're
• The biggest indicator would be the mother's educational attainment.
• Higher education.
• Right now is: is higher education really worth it, right?
• Our goal of educating 70% of our student population by 2030.

Summary: The Select Committee on Latina Inequities met at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar, hosted by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and joined by Assemblymember Mia Bonta. Rodriguez opened by framing the committee’s work around the economic status of Latinas and the effects of federal policies on the economy and social safety net, while the college president welcomed the committee and described campus services for undocumented and housing-insecure students. Rodriguez also emphasized the local impact of immigration enforcement in the San Fernando Valley and said the hearing would focus on Latinas’ economic conditions, immigration enforcement impacts on the workforce and safety, and H.R. 1’s effects on the safety net. The first panel featured HOPE’s Maria Morales and Dr. Elsa Macias, who presented findings from HOPE’s National Economic Status of Latinas report. They said Latinas are a major and growing part of California’s population and workforce, but face persistent inequities, including a large wage gap, higher unemployment, high uninsured rates, student debt, and affordability pressures around child care, housing, and education. They also discussed entrepreneurship, noting both the growth of Latina-owned businesses and barriers such as limited access to capital, technical assistance, and retirement and health coverage. In response to committee questions, they said higher education can still offer a strong return on investment, but only if students can complete degrees without being overwhelmed by debt and care costs; they also pointed to policy solutions such as SB 642, mentorship, financial literacy, CalSavers access, and support for community development financial institutions. The second panel focused on immigration enforcement and Latina safety in the workforce. Luis Nolasco of the ACLU described arrests tied to apparent ethnicity and Spanish-speaking, the chilling effect on families, and the loss of wages, school attendance, and mobility. Dr. Amada Armenta said immigration enforcement harms California’s economy, public health, and mixed-status families, and noted that undocumented workers are concentrated in agriculture, construction, and child care. SEIU’s Jen Baca Beltran said raids and school-based enforcement traumatize children and families and highlighted the need for Know Your Rights trainings. Megan Ortiz of IDEPSCA described repeated Border Patrol raids on day labor centers, injuries to staff, and the need to protect worker centers, domestic workers, and street vendors. Inclusive Action’s Shannon Camacho said raids have forced many informal workers to stop working, prompted emergency cash assistance and rent relief efforts, and strengthened advocacy for vendor protections and CDFI support. CHIRLA’s Jeanette Zanipatine said the rapid response network has expanded, documented widespread arrests and detention conditions, and is providing direct support and legal referrals; committee members asked about detention, maternal health, and what the state can do, and panelists urged stronger oversight, more legal representation, and protections for pregnant and detained people.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> nonprofits that improve educational nonprofits that improve educational outcomes<00:36:48.440><c
• </c><00:38:13.960><c> to</c> most affordable accessible education to most affordable accessible education
• Jamal Adam, an educator, policy expert, and lifelong advocate for expanding access to higher education
• </c> and educational and educational Excellency<01:04:21.240><c> and</c><01:04:22.200><c> to</c><01:04
• </c> three pillar SE primar service education three pillar SE primar service education research<01:04

Transcript Highlights:

• education with teachers.
• I move that the Education... Thank you. And if you can move your education amendment, please.
• Okay, now we're back on the education bill. We're back on the education amendment.
• He was a champion for education.
• as their secular education.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, guest introductions, and a proclamation recognizing March as International Women’s Celebration Month. Members also welcomed guests from several school districts and the Arizona FFA. The chamber then moved through first readings of numerous Senate bills and took up several motions, including reconsideration of HB 2169 and referral of HB 210 and HB 2103 to an additional Committee of the Whole for further amendment. In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced HB 2100 and HB 2103 with technical amendments and due-pass recommendations. It then considered a series of bills on Calendar 2, including HB 2048, HB 2364, HB 2415, HB 2775, HB 2833, HB 2862, HB 2870, HB 2995, and HB 4067. Debate centered on election administration, sovereignty and international organizations, private school regulation, law enforcement face coverings, domestic violence and coercive control, and voter roll categories. HB 2862 drew the most procedural attention, with a division vote on a substitute amendment; the House rejected a motion to replace the adopted amendment, and the report was later adopted. On Calendar 3, the House considered education bills. HB 2093, which repeals the requirement for K-12 health education to include mental health instruction, prompted extensive debate over student suicide prevention, school counseling, parental responsibility, and whether schools should provide mental health support; it received a due-pass recommendation by a 27-22 division vote. The House also advanced HB 2313, which was described as responding to a Tucson Unified School District work stoppage tied to a political protest, and HB 2423, HB 2478, and other education measures after amendments and, in one case, withdrawal of an appropriations amendment. The session continued into HB 2830 as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're looking at educating people to be at the top of the hill on that.
• Education outside the normal public school system.
• We're buying it for kids, not for the state department of Education or higher education.
• This is education for Oklahomans, so that's the way I'm looking at it.
• In the industrial age, business and education were separate ways.

Committee: House Oklahoma Education Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2313, Education, please.
• House Bill 2313, Education, please.
• Madam Witt, members, as amended by the Committee on Education, House Bill 2838 establishes the Education
• That closes out Education. We'll go now to page 81, HB 2775.
• Seeing none, no sponsor that closes out education. We'll go now to page 81, HB 2775.

Summary: The meeting was a lengthy caucus-style review of many bills and resolutions across multiple committees, with staff giving brief descriptions and most items placed on consent or third-read consent calendars. Topics included appropriations, commerce, education, government, health and human services, environment, public safety, and transportation. Measures discussed ranged from school policy and board continuations to housing, water, public safety, licensing, and election-related changes. Several bills were noted as strike-everything amendments or as having been amended in committee. A number of bills drew sponsor comments or brief questions. In education, members discussed bills on teacher strikes, school math placement, school meals, student clubs, bond election disclosures, and a proposed commission on student outcomes. In health and human services, members discussed nursing board rules, pharmacist testing and treatment authority, medical records timelines, opioid antagonist expiration dates, and a proposed constitutional amendment on the right to refuse medical mandates. In government and public safety, members debated funding and staffing issues for DPS and corrections, including a proposed public safety parity fund, as well as bills on county sheriffs, legal representation for DPS, and corrections oversight funding. There was also discussion of election and local government measures, including inactive voter list procedures, circulator disclosure rules, and committee termination filings. Other topics included housing affordability districts, development fees, historic-area middle housing exemptions, water and groundwater management, environmental compatibility siting, and trade-related commissions. One notable exchange involved HB 4044, where members debated whether using rainy day fund interest for public safety pay was fiscally responsible; supporters argued it was a practical way to fund raises, while opponents said it would weaken the fund and should instead be handled through the general fund. No roll-call votes were taken in the transcript, and most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or third-read consent calendars.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, good morning, and welcome to the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education.
• It would include all education and general funds.
• Florida is the number one state for higher education, Madam Chair.
• Florida is the number one state for higher education, Madam Chair.
• and professional education in the country.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on higher education funding, focusing on how Florida’s university system should be financed and whether a new funding model is needed. University system financial officers and Chancellor Ray Rodriguez discussed major cost drivers, including wages and benefits, utilities, maintenance, financial aid, research, and the effects of geography, institutional mission, and student mix. UF highlighted the cost of research and graduate programs; UCF and FAU pointed to growth, location, and cost of living; FAMU emphasized recruiting top-tier talent while relying on other revenue sources; and UNF noted the challenges of growth and long-term planning. Members also discussed the role of internal controls and audits in addressing excessive spending and questioned whether out-of-state tuition should be adjusted to help offset costs. On revenue sources beyond state appropriations and tuition, the panel described auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. Several universities noted that some revenues are restricted to specific purposes and cannot be used for general operations. FAMU explained that a large share of its capital project funding reflected active campus construction, while UF said its component-unit revenue is largely tied to UF Health. The Chancellor emphasized that the system’s low tuition and strong state support are central to Florida’s national standing, but also noted that some auxiliary revenues are pledged to debt and must be managed carefully. When discussing the current funding process, witnesses praised Florida’s performance-based funding model for aligning incentives with student success, transparency, and accountability. They also raised concerns about non-recurring appropriations, rising employee benefit costs, unfunded mandates, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of multi-year planning. Suggestions for improvement included more recurring funding, better coverage of mandated costs, greater flexibility in fee-setting, and possible weighting for mission, geography, and institutional type. The Chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a “version 3.0” of performance-based funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications, but any changes would require legislative action. On out-of-state tuition, most universities said they would prefer local board flexibility, while the Chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or fees could affect future state support and should be balanced carefully.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> investment in improving our education. investment in improving our education.
• </c> comparison with general education comparison with general education revenue. revenue. revenue.
• </c> across Minnesota educate our students. across Minnesota educate our students.
• </c> child's education. child's education.
• </c> instability in education more broadly. instability in education more broadly.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• courses, driver's education, and CPR lessons.
• Special education funding. Thank you for that. It moved us forward.
• I have earned a B.A. and a master's in early childhood education.
• Cutting education funding under these circumstances is indefensible.
• Cutting education funding under these circumstances is indefensible.

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 5808, a proposal to require nonprofit health carriers with “excess surplus” to pay 10% of that surplus into the state health care affordability account for Cascade Care Savings. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $330 million one time in 2027, while the Office of Insurance Commissioner would have implementation costs. Supporters argued the bill would redirect consumer premium dollars to help people afford coverage, while opponents from health plans said reserves are needed for solvency, claims, and capital needs and warned the bill would destabilize nonprofit insurers. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2254, which would let the Partnership Access Line assessment cover administrative costs; HCA and Seattle Children’s supported it as a technical fix that saves general fund dollars, and a child psychiatrist asked that savings be reinvested in behavioral health services. House Bill 2385, which extends deadlines for the Medicaid Access Program because of federal restrictions on new provider taxes, also drew support from provider groups seeking future Medicaid rate increases. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6286, which would increase fines on private detention facilities that deny Department of Health inspections and dedicate the fines to an account for community repair and assistance to harmed individuals and families. Supporters, including Tacoma’s mayor and family members affected by detention, framed the bill as an accountability measure; fiscal staff estimated Department of Health costs of about $395,000 in the 2025-27 biennium. Senate Bill 6006 would exempt food banks from sales tax on certain services enacted last session, with food bank and tribal representatives saying the savings would go directly to food and operations. Senate Bill 6351 would create exemptions from the new sales tax on live presentations for before- and after-school care, arts and cultural nonprofit classes, and K-12 school purchases; school districts, arts groups, and PTA representatives supported it, while asking for clarifying language and broader nonprofit exemptions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1717 would let cities and counties create local sales tax remittance programs for affordable housing projects, and housing builders, Habitat affiliates, counties, and city officials supported it as a local tool to lower development costs. In executive session, the committee received briefings on several tax and spending bills and then voted to advance multiple measures. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5949, which narrows a B&O tax exemption related to insurance premiums; a proposed retroactivity-removing amendment failed. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6129 on cigarette, tobacco, and nicotine taxes after rejecting several amendments, including proposals to study the tax policy or replace the bill with illicit-market enforcement language. The committee also passed Senate Bill 6228 repealing a preferential B&O rate for prescription drug resellers, Senate Bill 6231 repealing data center sales tax exemptions, and Second Substitute Senate Bill 5965, which retained a bag-fee approach rather than a full ban after adopting an amendment. The committee then returned to public hearing and began testimony on Senate Bill 6353, a major Working Connections Child Care bill that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, lower the provider rate target from the 85th to the 75th percentile, and make other program changes; the briefing was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome back to the Education Policy Committee.
• I have served in a variety of roles in K-12 public education.
• Taber Samuelson, veteran educator with 30 years' experience in public schools and a master's in education
• Taber Samuelson veteran educator with 30 years experience in public schools and a master's in education
• quickly later in one's education.

Transcript Highlights:

• going to cut educ uh funding education.<01:04:31.599><c> Well,</c><01:04:31.839><c> no</c><01:04:32.000
• So ne not in education, needs.
• I move Senate Bill 170, the Education and the Appropriation Committee reports. >> Uh, to the Education
• &gt;&gt; uh to the education report. &gt;&gt; uh to the education report.
• </c><01:41:54.880><c> committee</c> discussion on the education committee discussion on the education

Transcript Highlights:

• education with teachers.
• I move that the education... Thank you. And if you can move your education amendment, please.
• Educators are leaving at alarming... ...struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators.
• Okay, now we're back on the education bill. We're back on the education amendment.
• as their secular education.