Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:43.600> shall It says in here that the districts shall It says in here that the districts
• School districts shall select new curriculum and materials. >> So it's directing the district saying
• > new School districts shall select new School districts shall select new curriculum<00:09:45.760
• districts are doing this work already. districts are doing this work already.
• And um my throughout a district.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on House Bill 1571, which would direct the Department of Education to review and revise statewide academic standards and curriculum and make an appropriation. Representative Kristen Noble, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to update outdated standards, especially in math, and to have the department create a list of high-quality curriculum and materials aligned to the revised standards. She noted she would likely amend the bill to change a requirement that districts “shall” select from the list to “may,” and said a misplaced crossed-out section would need to be restored and moved by amendment. She also said assessments would need to be updated to match any new standards. Testimony from Marie Banfield strongly supported the bill and the move away from a mandate, arguing that current standards are outdated and that Common Core and related standards have not improved student outcomes. She criticized the math standards for emphasizing multiple strategies and written explanations over computation, and said stronger standards would better support students, including those with learning or communication challenges. She also argued that New Hampshire should follow examples such as Massachusetts, which she said used rigorous standards successfully. Nate Green of the Department of Education did not take a position on the bill but explained that the bill would affect statewide academic standards, state assessments, and potentially federal compliance. He distinguished academic standards from minimum standards in statute, said any standards revision would require work with content experts, State Board approval, and then a corresponding assessment update that could take about two years. He estimated assessment development costs could range from about $200,000 to $500,000 for minor revisions and $1 million to $2 million for a wholesale new set of standards. He also said the bill would apply to public and charter public schools, not private or homeschool students, and that the department does not currently provide a statewide list of curriculum materials because curriculum decisions have historically been local.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we reviewed those plans in Ohio, individual submissions from districts showed that most school districts
• I would think there would be a higher ROI for... that district than a big district like Albuquerque.
• As I mentioned, there is a district match.
• So again, full state funding would ensure equity across all districts.
• , and we outperform our district in every subject and subgroup.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What are arts and culture districts?
• So these districts would offer kind of both things.
• We would be the 20th state to have a district like this, and there are over 400 state-designated districts
• I have lawyers that live in my district.
• Taxpayers in Delaware do not want one district or any district to have this much flexibility with our

Bills: SB268, SB306, SB264, SB312

Keywords: federal workers, government shutdown, interest-free loans, tax deferral, public transportation, Rehoboth Beach, municipal charter, city charter amendment, commissioners, mayor, local government, election qualifications, affidavit of eligibility, domestic partner, cohabitant, conflict of interest, freeholder, leaseholder, municipal court, Alderman

Summary: The House Administration Committee met to consider a series of resolutions and bills covering arts districts, child care background checks, federal worker relief, health care reform, court transparency, school tax reassessment, municipal charter changes, constitutional amendment procedures, data center nondisclosure agreements, state employee benefits governance, and lieutenant governor vacancies. Members also noted that House Concurrent Resolution 12 had been removed from the agenda and that public comment would be limited to one minute per speaker. The committee released SCR 167 to study arts, culture, and creative districts in Delaware; HB 438 to close a loophole in the child care service letter requirement; SB 268 to provide interest-free loans, free transit, and tax deferrals for federal workers during shutdowns; SS2 for SB 1 to expand and permanently strengthen primary care investment while also addressing hospital cost growth; HCR 147 to request a Court of Chancery report on audio recordings and automated case assignment; SB 322 to replace the current post-reassessment 10% school revenue increase authority with a 2% annual increase option under safeguards; SB 306 to amend the Rehoboth Beach charter; HB 440 to require voter approval for constitutional amendments after legislative approval; SB 312 to bar nondisclosure agreements for large data center projects; SS1 for SB 289 to change State Employee Benefits Committee governance; and SB 264 to require a special election to fill a lieutenant governor vacancy. Testimony was mixed on several measures. Arts, child care, federal worker relief, primary care, court transparency, data center transparency, and the lieutenant governor vacancy bill drew mostly supportive testimony, while SB 322 and SB 306 drew both support and opposition, especially over tax impacts and the proposed spouse/partner restriction in Rehoboth Beach. HB 440 prompted debate over whether 55% voter approval was the right threshold for constitutional amendments, and SB 312 was supported as a transparency measure by residents affected by prior data center NDAs. All of the listed measures were released from committee by roll call vote, with some members voting no on HB 440, SB 306, SB 312, SS1 for SB 289, and SB 264.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is one of the first state-designated and recognized Black cultural districts in California.
• She leads the California cultural districts and ensuring that they're fully funded here.
• Texas, for example, has 50 cultural districts and allocates $12 million to their program.
• In California, our cultural districts are proven catalysts for economic vitality.
• , the Black cultural art district.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee heard several bills, beginning with housekeeping remarks about filing position letters and the committee’s suspense file process for measures with revenue impacts over $150,000. SB 288, which would clarify that the Prop. 19 one-year timeline for inherited family homes in probate begins when ownership is legally established, drew support from the author and outside groups and was referred to suspense. SB 974, which would explicitly include special needs trusts in Prop. 19 guidance so eligible heirs do not lose the exclusion, passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. The committee also heard SB 575, which would restore the Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund on tax returns to support sea otter conservation, and SB 999, which would move the Franchise Tax Board’s annual report on the health care individual mandate from March to June 1 to capture more complete data. Both measures received support and no opposition; SB 575 passed 5-0 to Appropriations, and SB 999 passed 5-1 to Appropriations. SB 762, a local government tax-authority measure allowing certain cities and counties to seek voter approval for a transaction and use tax, drew extensive testimony from local officials and advocates citing budget pressures, public safety, infrastructure, and safety-net service cuts, while one taxpayer group opposed it. Committee members debated tax burdens and local fiscal needs. The committee first adopted the urgency clause, then passed the bill as amended to Local Government. SB 1073, which would create a voluntary tax contribution fund for the historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District, also passed unanimously as amended to the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee after supportive testimony about cultural preservation and the need for broader arts funding. After the votes were finalized, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The district discovered, and we verified, improper credit card charges of $794.
• The employee reimbursed the district for the $794.
• So we follow the same guidelines that, you know, ASBA school districts follow.
• That's probably a similar rhythm to what the 38 other school districts go through.
• We do have 28 school districts with no findings, whether private or a leg audit.

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and approval of the January 8 minutes, then moved to review of education audit reports. The first report concerned Northwest Arkansas Community College, which had three findings, including repeat internal control deficiencies that caused financial statement misstatements and a tuition revenue loss tied to a new student information system. College officials said the issues were largely misclassification and process problems, not missing money, and described corrective steps such as monthly closing checklists, approval controls for journal entries, cross-training, and efforts to address staffing turnover and fill finance vacancies. Members asked about the tuition issue, whether students were notified or billed, and whether the software problem affected other institutions; audit staff said they were not aware of the same scenario elsewhere. The committee then filed the report as reviewed. The next report was Cedarville School District, which had one finding involving $794 in improper credit card charges by a resigned elementary teacher. The district was reimbursed, a police report was filed, and the matter was referred to the Professional Licensure Standards Board; members asked whether any further action or license-related consequences were known, but staff said they were not aware of additional action. The report was filed as reviewed. The final finding was for West Memphis School District, where auditors reported repeat capital asset issues, including failure to capitalize about $851,000 in construction costs for a baseball-softball complex and problems with inventory and asset inspection. The superintendent said the district had recently begun using Legislative Audit after prior private audits, and described new controls such as multi-level purchase approvals, separation of duties, tagging of equipment, and a cleanup of old inventory records. Members also discussed the relationship between private audits and Legislative Audit reviews, with staff explaining that private audit reports for public school districts still come before the committee and that the executive committee determines when Legislative Audit performs an audit. The committee filed the West Memphis report as reviewed and noted that 28 school districts had no findings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• also prevent school districts from standing in the way with that.
• A school district can say, we'll give you 1 hour a week. Correct. Is that correct?
• I think it, um, would be an issue for the school district to reconcile.
• Recordings of their proceedings on their official district websites.
• Austin Independent School District actually listens to pre-recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some small districts, uh, in my district chose to do so, believing private insurance would provide a,
• And, um, so you have these isolated districts, um.
• Is it based on district by district, or is it one?
• Are there larger districts that Mike would be interested in?
• We just did not go down the road with larger districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tammany Parish Recreation District Number 1 for not exceeding $7,444,000 of limited tax bonds.
• The district is seeking approval for a tender in which the district will offer to repurchase taxable
• Item 22 is the request from the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District that I noted in item 20.
• The district is seeking approval for a tender in which the district will offer to repurchase taxable
• Council Member District 3 Freddie King III; State Representative District 99 Candace Newell; and the

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21, established a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then considered a long agenda of bond, refunding, and election-related requests. Items 3 through 10 were election propositions for the November 3 ballot involving ad valorem taxes, parcel fees, and charter amendments for purposes such as fire protection, agricultural centers, neighborhood security, recreation, aging services, drainage, and roads and bridges; staff said they met technical and legal requirements, and the commission approved them. The commission also approved several local financings, including water and sewer projects, fire district equipment and facility improvements, school board and parish bonds, and refunding transactions for the East Baton Rouge City-Parish and St. James Parish School Board. A retroactive approval request from the City of Kenner related to a CEA with GMB Basketball LLC was discussed; staff made no recommendation because it was retroactive, but noted it appeared to be an oversight, and item 22, the related airport district agreement, was approved. The commission approved additional financing for the Louisiana Housing Corporation’s Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, a preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport, and two Louisiana Public Facilities Authority projects: Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools project for Harriet Tubman Charter School. During discussion of the Crescent City Schools financing, a commissioner asked about the use of MFP funds; staff explained that lease payments would be the repayment source and that MFP dollars are generally split between educational expenses and facilities costs, with the school’s typical split around 72% instructional and 28% administrative/facilities-related. Both items were approved. The commission then received six cost-of-issuance reports for previously approved bond issues, with various fee adjustments but no motions required. It also reviewed a debt schedule update and adopted Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. In other business, the commission heard a brief public comment from New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell thanking the commission for helping place a charter amendment on the ballot to improve New Orleans budgeting transparency and oversight. The meeting ended after monthly reports were noted and no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• That happens in my district.
• Okay, members, this is the water management district bill.
• And it allows the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the Suwannee Water Management District
• And so the water management districts have a variety of non-revenue streams.
• Water management districts have a variety of non-revenue streams.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:03:29.840> District one of the districts District one of the districts District 3<04:03
• ><04:03:52.319> District in that District in that District 3<04:03:54.760> actually<04:
• um District to be domiciled in the um District to be domiciled in the district<04:08:11.159> but
• District um uh where is it District District um uh where is it District three<04:22:23.239> thank
• I represent Marac County District 26, which is a floterial district with 8 towns.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Co-district champions of District 11-6A defeated Allen High School, Senator— ...defeated Allen High School
• , small urban, or poor school districts?
• Now, finances—and going back to rural districts, when I say rural, we're talking 100-body school districts
• A lot of the rural districts don't have some of the classes of an urban district because of sheer numbers
• , poor districts and rural districts—don't have some of the hard issues that we're trying to solve from

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation, and routine motions to excuse Senator King and dispense with the reading of the previous journal. Members then took up several ceremonial resolutions and recognitions, including honoring Duncanville High School’s boys basketball state championship, recognizing the city of Palestine, welcoming the Texas African American Lawyers Foundation and Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, acknowledging the Cibolo Chamber of Commerce, and designating Texas County Treasurer’s Day and Mesquite Day. A memorial resolution for Clyde Vance Dunham of Waco was adopted, with multiple senators speaking in tribute to his long legal career and community service; the Senate agreed to adjourn in his memory. The chamber then considered a series of bills, most of which were advanced on expedited motions. Senate Bill 1948, concerning fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities, passed after suspension of the rules and the three-day rule. Senate Bill 1394, updating weight and tire-load rules for ready-mix concrete trucks, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1814, creating an electronic database to provide information to certain veterans, also passed unanimously. Senate Bill 241, tightening enforcement of the public camping ban and authorizing state enforcement and reimbursement mechanisms, drew questions about impacts on unhoused people but ultimately passed. Senate Bill 1147, withdrawing Texas from the Interstate Mining Compact, passed unanimously. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 921 on Medicaid ex parte renewals after a narrower vote, and Senate Bill 609, requiring school districts and charter schools to comply with legally required policies, after rejecting an amendment by Senators Menendez and Perry that would have added a good-faith/resource-limitation safeguard for districts. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 660, requiring bollards or similar barriers near certain hospital emergency rooms, passed with rural exemptions and exceptions for existing protections. Senate Bill 2155, a cleanup bill returning veterinary board authority from TDLR to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, passed with amendments. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1209 on election dates and Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1396 prohibiting national sex education standards in public schools also passed. The Senate then received first-reading bills and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• district court judge, Judge Browning.
• On the district court, 102 district court judges around the state.
• We'll talk more about district court later.
• The district attorney in this district was dismissing a number of DWIs. Of DWIs.
• Yes, the other bill is the First District Court civil judgeship, and the Second District Court would

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He has been to our district I can't tell you how many times.
• I am the district defender for the 23rd Judicial District, which encompasses Assumption, Ascension, and
• He said he is the district defender in the 4th Judicial District, which he identified as Washita and
• He said he is the district defender in the 4th Judicial District, which he identified as Washita and
• district in the state, they now have people doing capital work statewide and handling all of the district

Summary: The Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board met on June 18, 2026, established a quorum, and adopted the agenda. Public comment took up most of the meeting, with numerous district defenders and chief defenders speaking in support of State Public Defender Remy Starns. Speakers from several districts said the system is more unified, communication with the state office has improved, and local offices feel better supported than in the past. Several also credited Starns with visiting districts, helping with local issues, and improving coordination on capital and non-capital work. One speaker, Richard Thompson, emphasized Starns’ background and training under Sam Dalton, and another noted that a recent staffing decision in St. John the Baptist Parish ultimately proved beneficial for mentorship and resource sharing. Starns then gave his state public defender report. He said the system has improved over the last seven years and argued that public defense still needs a stable, renewable funding source comparable to other parts of the criminal justice system. He discussed legislative changes affecting public defense, including a cleanup bill, a law eliminating filing fees for writs and appeals, and a new procedure related to expert-fee claims after a recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision. He also described ongoing efforts to integrate capital and post-conviction work into district offices, expand the laws/writs program, and use local and state resources more efficiently. He thanked the board, the Public Defenders Association, and the late Mike Ginnart, whom he praised for his leadership and service. The board then considered and adopted proposed bylaws. Members discussed the need for a vice chair and a secretary, the role of special committees, and whether committee meetings should be public and limited to less than a quorum. The bylaws were adopted with the understanding that a committee would review and refine them later; volunteers were named for that committee. The board then elected a vice chair and designated the Office of the Public Defender, with staff assistance, as secretary for recordkeeping. Finally, the board heard a presentation on the strategic plan, which was described as largely unchanged from FY25 except for updates to reflect current law, accessibility requirements, training, compliance, and communication goals. The strategic plan was adopted by resolution, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Representative John Temple, District 52.
• I'm Representative Judson Sapp, District 20.
• Gallop Franklin here, District 8.
• Wallace Aristide, District 107, Miami.
• Thomas University in my district and I have Florida Memorial University in my district. Thank you.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the higher education programs under its jurisdiction. After roll call and member introductions, Chair Busatta outlined that the subcommittee oversees programs in the Department of Education and the State University System, including vocational rehabilitation, blind services, private postsecondary licensure, student financial aid, career and adult education, the Florida College System, and the Board of Governors. The chair and staff also noted that these areas represent roughly $9 billion in current-year funding. Officials from the Department of Education presented on several programs. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Kelly Rogers described services for adults and youth with disabilities, including pre-employment transition services, job coaching, assistive technology, and employer support; she said the program served more than 55,000 people last year, has no wait list, and reported a return of $7.61 to the economy for every $1 invested. Division of Blind Services Director Robert Doyle explained services from birth through older adulthood, including early intervention, school-age support, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, the Business Enterprise Program for blind vendors, and the Braille and Talking Book Library; he said the division serves about 12,000 people annually and also has no wait list, though some community rehab providers may have one. Tiffany Hurst of the Commission for Independent Education described licensure and consumer protection for independent postsecondary institutions, reporting oversight of about 1,100 institutions and 721 non-degree schools, along with enforcement actions against unlicensed operators. Sean Haskin of Student Financial Assistance reviewed 22 scholarship and grant programs totaling about $1 billion for more than 200,000 students, including Bright Futures, Benacquisto, need-based grants, EASE, EASE Plus, veterans’ scholarships, dual enrollment reimbursement, first responder scholarships, and the Ocoee and Rosewood scholarships. Members asked about surplus funds, marketing, Bright Futures eligibility requirements, and whether EASE awards had changed; Haskin said any unused funds are reverted to the Legislature, that the department markets through schools and the Florida Lottery, and that EASE remained at $3,500 per FTE for the last two fiscal years. Several members raised concerns that students and parents may not learn about aid programs early enough, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell then presented on Career and Adult Education, highlighting record participation in career and technical education, adult education, and apprenticeship. He said about 800,000 secondary students and 480,000 postsecondary students are in CTE, adult education serves about 183,000 learners, and apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship programs include more than 22,000 participants. He also described the workforce development fund, Perkins, WIOA Title II, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant, workforce capitalization grants, CAPE performance funding, and the Pipeline nursing initiative, noting strong NCLEX outcomes and expanded outreach through the Get There, Your Way, Future of Work Florida, and Zello platforms. Kathy Hebda began the Florida College System presentation by emphasizing open access, workforce preparation, statewide reach, and strong enrollment and completion growth, including more than 672,000 students, over 131,000 degrees and certificates, and significant dual enrollment savings for students and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• The move to our district workforce side is also important.
• The presentation also thank you for that shout out to the 50 colleges in my district.
• Approve any school district or charter school that wants to be involved in that process.
• district.
• I have worked in four districts in my career, and that has been consistent.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as I said, that seems weird, but in District 3, not the district I live in, I live in District 2,
• And as I said, that seems weird, but in District 3, not the district I live in, I live in District 2,
• And as I said, that seems weird, but in District 3, not the district I live in, I live in District 2,
• And as I said, that seems weird, but in District 3, not the district I live in, I live in District 2,
• And as I said, that seems weird, but in District 3, not the district I live in, I live in District 2,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• language relating to school district language relating to school district referenda.<00:03:44.560
• Um, all of our surrounding school districts, for our school district in particular, have doubled the
• many other districts as well.
• drastic between other school districts. drastic between other school districts.
• And if we can somehow districts.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• saw a 20% drop in chronic absenteeism, and some districts saw almost no drop.
• Local districts received the 2% for locally chartered charter schools.
• School districts have received more money for secondary students.
• whose students are enrolled in their district.
• So currently we have 30 districts and charters that met that.

Transcript Highlights:

• struggling district is beyond me. struggling district is beyond me.
• District 6. District 6.
• Farmington that every district in the state is a sending district.
• Farmington that every district in the state is a sending district.
• those costs don't leave the district. those costs don't leave the district.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• districts.
• a result of a school district a result of a school district consolidation.<00:36:04.800> and<
• , cooperative, intermediate district, cooperative, intermediate district, education<00:36:47.119>
• district or joint powers education district or joint powers cooperative<00:36:49.040> may<00:
• driver for Independent School District driver for Independent School District 196.<01:21:10.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all