Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen mental health programs and substance abuse programs in Massachusetts closed, seems like every
• Another thing that I'm concerned about are threats to the PCA program.
• Is it going to be the PCA program?
• programs, summer lunches, meals, and things like that, then they're not going to be ready, coming to
• school, ready to learn.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:09:40.399> and people, municipalities, schools, and people, municipalities, schools,
• in high school and middle school<00:38:48.400> and<00:38:48.720> went<00:38:48.880>
• didn't happen at my children's school. didn't happen at my children's school.
• this fall for the Timberlane school this fall for the Timberlane school team.<00:41:18.800> Um
• Champion designation and grant program Champion designation and grant program fund<04:11:22.239>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , implement a new program, replace federal funds for a program that may have been eliminated by the federal
• we saw that beautiful school being built.
• One is the Community Development Block Grant Program, the CDBG program.
• Our program evaluation team over the years has looked at these programs, and we have consistently found
• Lunch is upstairs.

Transcript Highlights:

• , to build sufficient adequate space for all school districts.
• year and looking into the next school year as things evolve.
• We already started with our other two school districts.
• Nothing in August, except the start of school. Thank you.
• August break, because a lot of us are in schools, so we'll be returning back to school.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles area and tied to school districts in some way.
• more political polarization in our school boards.
• The school year would be getting started as the school year is starting.
• and electing representation for our schools.
• We're paying for the school districts and for the education process in our schools and for our county

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and out-of-school-time program.
• and out-of-school-time programs.
• and out-of-school-time program.
• and out-of-school-time programs.
• librarians, no after-school programs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• work-based learning programs.
• work-based learning programs.
• <00:05:13.639> graduation July 31st After High School graduation July 31st After High School
• work-based learning programs.
• charter schools and homeschools.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education and Labor and Technology heard Senate Bill 420, which would extend Department of Education workers’ compensation coverage to newly graduated high school students participating in DOE-sponsored work-based learning programs through July 31 after graduation. DOE testified in support, estimating the bill could affect about 50 to 100 students in the first year and saying it would help students gain experience and transition to employment. Members asked about current coverage, costs, and partnerships; DOE said current coverage ends at graduation, there had been no incidents, and the bill would create no additional cost. The committees voted to pass SB 420 with amendments, including an amended effective date, and the bill was adopted. The Committee on Education then took up several education measures. It adopted a proposed SD1 for SB 894, a Farm to School measure that would appropriate funds to help meet a goal of serving 30% locally sourced food in public schools. The committee also heard SB 789 on school cafeteria meal costs; DOE said it wanted the existing requirement lowered from 50% of meal preparation cost to 25% rather than repealed, to align with its administrative package, and explained current prices were about $2.75 while meal costs were about $9. Testifiers from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Appleseed supported removing the requirement entirely or at least reducing it, saying it would avoid large price jumps and move toward free school meals. The committee later voted to pass SB 789 with amendments lowering the threshold to one-fourth of meal cost and changing the effective date. The committee also heard SB 449 on a school facilities planning database. DOE said it supports better planning but believes the database should be housed within DOE rather than duplicated under the School Facilities Authority, while SFA supported the bill as a proactive decision-making tool. The Attorney General’s office suggested clarifying language to make clear references to the Board of Education. In later agenda items, the committee heard SB 423, which would add Head Start-related ex officio members to the Early Learning Board; EOEL and the board chair supported it and suggested technical language to preserve required representation. The committee also heard SB 1384, a housekeeping bill redirecting repaid early childhood educator stipend funds to the Early Learning special fund after the prior special fund was repealed; EOEL supported it and said about $31,864 was being recouped from nine recipients. Finally, SB 684 would require the Board of Education to adopt rules banning cell phones at DOE schools; testimony was in support, and members discussed the need for a consistent statewide policy, with the board expected to work on one in collaboration with DOE.

Transcript Highlights:

• antagonists on the school grounds.
• I just want to say this of teachers, education advocacy groups, school administrators, school boards
• Innovative school and teaching ideas—things that schools come and talk about.
• innovation in our schools.
• a public school in our district a school a public school in our district that<01:19:29.199> goes<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I founded a new high school in South Florida. It's called Jewish Culture High School.
• These programs, curricular and extracurricular at this relatively small school, are off the charts.
• The oldest is a freshman in college, two in high school, and one in middle school.
• And I believe the dual enrollment program, which I know is everywhere, but generally in our local schools
• s A schools, where I oversee athletic programs, compliance, budgeting, and student-athlete development

Summary: The committee on Higher Education Appropriations heard and favorably reported two bills: SB 1570, which revives the former Project Leo program to help locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination with sheriff’s offices, and CS/SB 1376, which creates a grant program to support genetic counseling education in response to a statewide shortage of genetic counselors. Both bills drew supportive comments, with the genetic counseling bill also receiving public support from a university representative. The committee then took up a large slate of confirmations. It first approved a block of reappointments to various university and college boards of trustees, including institutions such as UWF, Broward College, Chipola College, FIU, Pasco-Hernando, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, Valencia, FAMU, FAU, UCF, FSU, New College, UNF, USF, and Broward College. It then heard from numerous new appointees and some requested reappointments, many of whom emphasized workforce training, nursing, military and veteran support, dual enrollment, and local economic development as priorities for their institutions. Several nominees highlighted their personal ties to the schools and communities they would serve, including appointees to Pensacola State, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, UNF, UWF, FIU, the College of the Florida Keys, Valencia College, and Chipola College. Committee members repeatedly asked about nursing NCLEX pass rates, workforce alignment, and institutional growth. One reappointment, Thomas Zachary Smith to the UWF board, was pulled from the block for separate questioning about his past public comments and his role in Project 2025; he said he would serve in his personal capacity and treat all students equally. The committee also separately heard from a Florida Poly reappointment, I. Shapiro, who was questioned about prior remarks regarding race and Supreme Court nominations, and from a New College reappointment, Mark Bowerlaine, who described campus improvements and enrollment growth. The meeting ended amid ongoing confirmation processing and separate votes on the remaining nominees.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 675 will secure the future of California's farm to school program by making it state law.
• That support bringing local food to schools, food banks, and more. No program has been spared.
• That is why codifying California Farm to School Program is essential.
• California's farm to school program provides fresh, healthy food for our students. is working.
• So our work at CAF and the CDFA Farm to School Program are essential.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll see 52.6 million dollar increase in operating funds for school district workforce education programs
• We're putting 29.8 million to support the community school grant program administered by the University
• The the communities School Grant program is something we want to expand across the state of Florida and
• graduate school.
• I was about 2 years old on the high school grade school high school here got my degree from Georgia Tech

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , also called CCTE, and the start of our LPN Program for high school students.
• Some of our new initiatives include our high school LPN program, and we plan to launch an LPN program
• Okay, so we have three high school programs on our campus.
• and we have our CCTE High School program.
• Madam Chair, I'm not aware of any other LPN programs in the other schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Something I love about my school is our Biomedical Sciences program.
• the Schools program. the Schools program.
• <00:20:27.400> students program that trains high school students program that trains high
• We have Asian Student Association as well as the school news program.
• Then section five is, uh, relates to the safe and supportive school programming and, uh, removing the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Santa Fe Indian School Day and New Mexico 4-H Day at the Capitol.
• As the body knows, I've been on the school board in Eunice for over 23 years.
• decisions for the community school calendars.
• Families in their school districts. Mr.
• First from the New Mexico Agricultural Leadership Program, and this program is designed to foster leaders

Transcript Highlights:

• , the program which provides more coverage for more Americans than any other program, 72 million Americans
• graduated from Pinkneyville High School graduated from Pinkneyville High School and<00:28:05.279
• Anyone with connections to the athletic programs at Rogers High School either knew him personally or
• First, it was as a volunteer program.
• abandoned mine land reclamation program abandoned mine land reclamation program by<04:28:35.359>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The findings found that 22 schools had no counselor on staff, 95% of schools had no school psychologists
• health programs.
• Supply diversity program?
• , and this is expanding free and nutritious school lunch to have access for all K to 12 students across
• , and this is expanding free and nutritious school lunch to have access for all K to 12 students across

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of retained bills and several new measures, with most receiving favorable reports after amendments. Major debate centered on CS/SB 706, which preempts airport naming to the state and designates Palm Beach International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to FAA and trademark-related conditions. Senator Jones offered amendments to avoid private royalty benefits, but both failed. Senators Berman, Osgood, Jones, and Pizzo spoke against the bill, raising concerns about naming an airport after a sitting president, lack of local input, and ethical issues; Senator Mayfield defended the bill as cost-free to the airport and noted the naming agreement. The committee ultimately voted the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 546 on conservation land notice requirements and CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, both with amendments and some opposition from the Florida League of Cities on the utility bill. Several other bills were heard and reported favorably with little controversy. CS/SB 1500 would streamline uncontested probate proceedings; SB 962 would exclude farms and farm operations from certain zoning definitions tied to affordable housing preemption; CS/SB 820 would strengthen reporting for problem-solving courts; SB 840 would revise portions of last year’s hurricane-related land-use law to narrow its scope and sunset temporary restrictions; and SB 856 would require online property listings to show estimated ad valorem taxes, with an amendment excluding social media platforms and broadening liability protections. SB 110 would clarify homestead exemption eligibility for 98-year or longer residential leases. SB 394 would exempt certain underwriting managers handling limited facultative reinsurance from licensure requirements, and SB 434 would prevent wind-hardening improvements from increasing assessed value for residential property tax purposes. The committee also advanced several public-safety and transparency measures. CS/CS/SB 658 and 608, a combined water-safety bill, would require safety features for rental properties with pools or nearby water bodies and authorize DBPR enforcement; supporters framed it as a response to Florida’s high child-drowning rates, and Airbnb waived in support. SB 748 would place constitutional language on restoration of voting rights on sentencing score sheets, with broad support from voting-rights and civil-rights groups. CS/SB 824 would require annual reporting of unimproved school-district land inventories, and CS/SB 848 would create a framework for off-site stormwater treatment and related credits, with support from builders and mitigation bankers. The committee also heard CS/SB 1036 on school counselors, which clarifies certification requirements and performance criteria after a delete-all amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see families disengaged from schools, from work, from hospitals, and from the courts.
• lunches, for example.
• That we have to replenish them with state funding, such as the school lunches, for example, $200 million
• They're focused so much on protecting their students. to ICE in the schools.
• For many students, school is the most or only space of normalcy that they have left.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first handled several routine matters, including adoption of a birthday resolution honoring Caroline San Martino Moran and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition involving the City of Waltham and the Veterans Memorial Rink. It also advanced two local bills: one authorizing DCAMM to release a sewer line easement in West Roxbury, and another relative to the town administrator of Carlisle. Both bills were amended by Ways and Means and ordered to third reading or engrossed as amended. The chamber also passed a memorial-marker bill for fallen law enforcement officers in Milton and Canton. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 5305, the “Protect Act,” which was presented as a measure to limit state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement, restrict ICE access in courthouses and other sensitive locations, strengthen notice and language-access protections for detainees and workers, and expedite U and T visa certifications. Supporters, including members of the Black and Latino Caucus and other legislators, argued the bill would protect due process, encourage victims and witnesses to come forward, preserve public trust, and keep local police focused on criminal matters. They cited courthouse arrests, fear in immigrant communities, and the need for clearer boundaries between state and federal authority. Several amendments were offered and voted on during consideration of H.5305. An amendment to strike Section 4 was rejected, as were amendments seeking to alter the courthouse enforcement provisions and to recognize immigration judge warrants. Other amendments were adopted, including one clarifying sheriff-related provisions, one expanding language around release dates, one adding protections related to school settings, and one expediting U visa certification for family members aging out. A roll call was taken on the bill and on multiple amendments, with the House ultimately adopting the amendments described and continuing consideration of the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stuff like that that schools aren't even offering those programs.
• Stuff like that that schools aren't even offering those programs.
• Is there a way to sell any of these programs to the schools, homeschools, charter schools, that type
• That might not have answered your question, but— these programs to the schools homechools these programs
• , where you find the teachers to teach in that program, and are all school districts aware of the program

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation from a charter-school authorizer agency. Witnesses explained that the agency no longer receives the federal CSP grant, that a one-time $499,000 equipment grant was not recurring, and that in FY25 they also had no general fund appropriation. They said their special-fund revenue has grown but is not enough to sustain operations alone, especially because the money arrives once a year and the agency needs a cash balance in advance. Their budget request sought a mix of general and special funds, but the legislative budget recommendation stayed near the FY26 appropriation level. Members asked about salary growth and contractual spending; the agency said higher salaries reflected doctorate-level staff and a planned sixth position, while contractual costs covered technical assistance, consultants, CPA reviews, and outside legal support. The agency also said a pending bill, identified as House Bill 2, could significantly affect its operations and revenue. Members asked about Republic, and the agency said a peer report had just been released, the school had made operational changes, and progress was being made though questions remained. The Library Commission then presented its budget request. The outgoing director announced retirement and introduced the incoming director, and praised the agency’s recent federal and state audits with no findings. The commission asked to restore two headcount reductions in the budget recommendation, saying the positions were hard to fill because they require specialized librarianship credentials and that losing them would cost about $130,000. It also asked to restore federal spending authority in case IMLS funding became uncertain, and requested about $173,000 for a 5% salary progression pool because turnover had reached 35% and many employees were near the start step. Senators asked about the open positions and turnover; the commission said one position had been open 10 months, another about eight months, and some turnover was due to retirements. Mississippi Public Broadcasting then presented its request for an $18.153 million appropriation. The agency said it wanted salary progressions to retain staff, four new vehicles for engineering and transmitter work, and $522,000 in reappropriated digitization funds to continue a project that has digitized more than half its library holdings for online access. The director also highlighted programming and outreach, including a new food-focused show, a music program, live coverage of the National Folk Festival, a Medgar Evers documentary now in national distribution, and expanded radio programming. He said MPB reaches nearly 1 million TV viewers annually, has strong radio and app usage, and continues to provide required weather, Silver Alert, and Amber Alert notifications. He also described a partnership with the Department of Education using e-glass technology to connect teachers to classrooms lacking instructors, saying the program is already serving multiple districts and drawing national interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• Firing public school teachers and closing public schools, taking those salaries and taking that money
• They're calling public school students and public school teachers moochers.
• Aldean ISD near my district is set to close 6 schools. This is a small school district.
• It is not the school support staff who are being forced to drive the bus instead of serving lunch, who's
• If you don't want your schools in your neighborhood, your local school down the street to collapse.

Transcript Highlights:

• district does not receive its full entitlement. under the foundation school program.
• That's what pays for school lunch and breakfast for kids.
• So reCAPTCHA is clearly only allowed to be used in the foundation school program.
• Program, or FSP. starting with a brief overview of the foundation school program, and then moving into
• Slide 2 provides a brief overview of the Foundation School Program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all