Transcript Highlights:

• Professions by creating uh opportunity and programs in our high schools. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• So we are adding a small pilot for our middle school students, so some of our program sites that are
• Um, we have utilized this middle school math, uh, tutoring program previously in New Mexico with really
• as well as other programs like uh the stay in school initiative and this slide I won't go into detail
• accreditation process include a school board training, a financial audit, program plans, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• program available to public schools for an additional two school years. ...Senator Rasmuson, if you want
• program available to public schools for an additional two school years.
• program available to public schools for an additional two school years.
• before the committee simply makes this program available to public schools for an additional two school
• uh there's school of the pilot program uh there's school training<01:20:02.840> for<01:20:03.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in all applicable federal programs for school breakfast and lunch funding, and by encouraging parents
• When a school chooses to operate the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, they
• When a school chooses to operate the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, they
• So it's just not—those school meal programs have to be self-funded.
• to participate in the National School Lunch Program regardless, and we don't.

Summary: The Legislative Management Committee met to fill a vacancy created by Representative Jared Hagert’s resignation, and the House majority recommended Representative Berg to replace him on the committee. The motion to appoint Berg was approved unanimously. The committee then took up its assigned task of estimating the fiscal impact of Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 3, the school meals measure, which would require public schools, and optionally nonpublic and tribal schools, to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to students and reimburse schools through state funds after federal reimbursements are maximized. Legislative Council’s Liz Fordall summarized the measure’s requirements and answered questions about implementation, including the 2027-28 start date, the measure’s interaction with the Legacy Earnings Fund, and the fact that the Legislature would still control the funding source. DPI’s Linnell Johnson then testified at length on current school meal programs, direct certification, CEP and Provision 2 participation, and likely behavioral changes if the measure passed. She estimated the biennial fiscal impact at $124 million to $134 million, with an additional roughly $300,000 in administrative costs, and explained that the estimate assumed higher participation and some schools shifting to CEP/Provision 2 to preserve federal reimbursements. She also noted that if no new applications were filed in non-CEP schools, the cost could be substantially higher. After discussion, Senator Sorvaag moved to report a fiscal impact range of $124,300,000 to $134,300,000 per biennium to the Secretary of State, and the motion carried. The committee also received an informational update from Legislative Council attorney Dustin Richard on the ongoing redistricting litigation, explaining that the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Eighth Circuit’s prior ruling and remanded the case for further consideration in light of Louisiana v. Callais, leaving the court-imposed map in effect for now. No action was required on that item, and the meeting adjourned after a brief note that the prior minutes would be brought back at a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• With permanent funding, this program can grow to support all 4 years of high school.
• Um, the bill establishes the framework for ISDs and charter schools to be able to provide courses, programs
• So these would be students who are part of the public school system participating in classes, programs
• Programs such as HB 2689 are pivotal for adults without a high school diploma in need of industry-level
• The typical advertised rate for a school public pre-K program is about 665, and then you add in the cost

Bills: HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• On Row 92, we have $20 million for the LEC recommendation for school time programs.
• Of school learning, only LFC is recommending out-of-school learning time programs for the Public Education
• All right, so that's about a 50% reduction in your appropriations for out-of-school time programs in
• of how school districts run virtual education programs locally.
• And a charter school wouldn't be able to create a new full-time virtual program.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is that landscape of out of school time programs? What do they provide?
• And then what do you want to see from out of school time programs when you fund it, right?
• If you're gonna have out of school time programs, And students get to them or from them to hope, right
• Um, this first review will be the department's proposed rule for the Purple Stars Public School Program
• Uh, just to give you a rundown real quick of what the Purple Star Public School Program is, it's a statute

Transcript Highlights:

• c> these<00:37:27.520> programs<00:37:27.880> in college in the schools these programs
• <01:19:52.719> I focus on school um without the program I focus on school um without the program
• after-school programs that were able to help me and catch up throughout the process of learning, as
• This program doesn't just help students afford school.
• This program doesn't just help students afford school.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts started adopting their own career technical education programs.
• programs at their schools?
• high school CTE programs.
• Ferguson, in administering the High School Strong Workforce Program, is, you know...
• I don't know, I forget how the high school program was exactly funded.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By far, our biggest program, like when we talk about the school readiness program, which is where we
• So we're really happy with the school districts to have these programs because they invest in quality
• school year and the traditional calendar for most of those programs.
• So mixed programs is what we want to encourage for our school districts.
• There is a 40% match on the school districts who run ABC programs.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then shifted to an update from Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith on early childhood education, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. They said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ABC as a large state program with about 23,800 funded slots and roughly $114 million in annual appropriations. Department officials said they are reviewing slot allocations because about 1,000 seats are funded but unfilled, while more than 2,000 families are on waiting lists, and they plan to reduce or reallocate slots from providers that have not filled them over several years. They also said they are examining whether income thresholds, curriculum expectations, daily rates, and summer programming should be updated, and members raised concerns about access, local control, transportation, and whether the program should better align with K-12 choice and school readiness goals. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical data and other information for future discussion. The committee then received a legal presentation from BLR attorney Taylor Lloyd on the constitutional and statutory framework for education adequacy in Arkansas. She reviewed the Dupree and Lake View cases, explaining that the state must maintain a general, suitable, and efficient system of free public schools, and that adequacy and equity are distinct but related concepts. She emphasized that the General Assembly is responsible for defining adequacy, studying whether the system meets that standard, and reacting to the evidence, while the courts ultimately decide constitutional compliance. Lloyd also explained the current adequacy definition, the role of the matrix as a funding tool rather than a spending mandate, and the distinction between unrestricted foundation funding and restricted categorical funding. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum followed with a historical overview of how Arkansas responded to the court cases and developed the current adequacy process. She traced major legislative actions from the 1980s through the Lake View litigation, including the creation of funding formulas, categorical aid, isolated funding, declining enrollment funding, and the 2003-2004 adequacy study that led to the Continuing Adequacy Evaluation Act and the matrix used to set foundation funding. She also described later changes to the adequacy statute, the financial reporting requirements for districts, and the ongoing use of surveys, stakeholder testimony, and consultant studies in the biennial adequacy process. Members asked questions about whether private or homeschool programs could use public funds for expenses like utilities, whether stakeholders should include those groups, the difference between average daily membership and attendance, and whether school board members are surveyed; staff said those issues would need further research or were outside the scope of the presenters’ role.

Transcript Highlights:

• And while the program received positive feedback from school officials currently participating, and I'm
• 08:03.759> program.
• <00:08:04.639> One implement this program. One implement this program.
• to attract candidates to the program. to attract candidates to the program.
• school districts. I'm sorry. school districts. I'm sorry.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs. The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• We right now have 10 school districts that have been approved for their teacher apprenticeship programs
• programs.
• programs.
• programs.

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first session of the year, took roll, welcomed new member Senator Bracey Davis, and had members briefly describe their backgrounds and interest in higher education. Chair Harrell framed the committee’s focus on maintaining Florida’s top national ranking in higher education and workforce development, with an emphasis on funding decisions tied to student success, workforce needs, and the state college system. Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell presented the Department of Education’s workforce and Florida College System budget requests and data. He described requested increases for adult education, Florida College System program funding, workforce development, and several grant programs, including workforce capitalization, apprenticeship/teacher apprenticeship, Open Door, and CAPE industry certifications. He highlighted record enrollment and completion growth across Florida’s colleges and technical centers, major gains in career dual enrollment, and expansion in programs such as nursing, AI, cybersecurity, welding, HVAC, and manufacturing. Members asked about labor-market demand, the impact of artificial intelligence on future job training, teacher apprenticeship details, mission creep and duplication in CTE programs, student placement and wages after graduation, and articulation between technical college clock hours and college credit. South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins testified about challenges facing a rural college, including low local college-going rates, long travel distances, limited faculty recruitment due to salaries, and the need for more operational funding to expand capacity. He cited strong job placement and licensure outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography, and said the college is exploring AI tools to improve student services and reduce staffing pressure. Pinellas Technical College Executive Director Mark Hunter described strong dual enrollment, high job placement, employer partnerships, and a reported 400% return on investment, while also warning that many programs have waiting lists because of staffing and equipment constraints. He explained how technical college coursework is aligned with state college credit through content-based articulation agreements. The committee then opened the floor for public comment, but no additional business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently have 10 school districts that have been approved for their teacher apprenticeship programs
• program.
• programs.
• So they're AS degree programs, career certificate programs, and college credit certificate programs that
• high schools from middle schools in Pinellas County.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I referenced in my testimony the promise programs that we have, and all the A&M systems schools have
• Presently Texas Southern operates a summer of success program. to serve as a bridge from high school
• What was State Graduate Program? Is that in the Bauer School? Yes, that's in Bauer School.
• Any other schools that have this real estate master's program?
• I am not aware... of other schools that have a master's program like that, but I could be remiss.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or your charter school, there should not be a means test on New Hampshire school choice programs.
• test on New Hampshire school choice test on New Hampshire school choice programs<00:22:53.840>
• religious schools that specific School religious schools that were<00:31:59.399> partner<00:31
• The program year is July to July, so it runs on a school year.
• is<00:59:38.039> so<00:59:38.240> low program because the program is so low program

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the Florida Safe Schools K-9 program, $19.5 million in additional funds for the Florida School for
• Of universal school choice or growth within the FEFP and the scholarship program, the funding you're
• There's a separation of the scholarship programs from the FEFP, and will the school districts be able
• There's a separation of the scholarship programs from the FEFP and will the school districts be able
• Sixteen percent of the school-aged children in Florida are in those programs, and it accounts in the

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we also, connected to this... is our school-based violence intervention program.
• Chairman, my final question is: How many high school programs?
• Another really important program that we have at the School of Medicine is our BAMD program, where individuals
• The School of Medicine is a very large program.
• Ninety-seven percent of all of the entrants into our medical school program come from New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the LEC recommendation for school time programs, LFC will have that in the PERF section, which I'll
• Only LFC is recommending out of school learning time programs for the Public Education Reform Fund at
• All right, so that's about a 50% reduction in your appropriations for out of school time programs in
• What Chama and Santa Rosa and Gallup were doing were running virtual programs within their school district
• of how school districts run virtual education programs locally.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , MDE provides general oversight of public education programs, just like it does for school districts
• So we provide oversight and guidance and administration programs like school finance, nutrition, federal
• nutrition programs like school finance, nutrition programs like school finance, nutrition programs
• title programs, programs, federal title programs, special<01:26:30.240> education,<01:26:30.920
• school was doing better than the Edina public schools, which are an excellent series of public schools

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• rural pathway excellence partnership program, and a high school advising program, including funding
• for those programs under the foundation school program and the new instructional facility allotment,
• TSTC has a very robust program that they partner with high schools throughout Texas where high school
• House Bill 124 by Bonnan relating to the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program.
• House Bill 124 by Bonnan relating to the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledges, and several ceremonial recognitions, including Wilson County Day, San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants Day, and Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, along with acknowledgments of visiting groups and a birthday greeting. The chamber also announced committee meetings and then moved into floor business, including conference committee action on Senate Bill 1, the state budget. A series of motions to instruct House conferees on SB 1 were debated and voted on. One motion sought to restore salary for Attorney General Ken Paxton after his impeachment-related suspension; it passed 88-56. Another, from Rep. Olcott, directed conferees to support amendments requiring data collection on the costs of undocumented immigrants in hospitals and prisons; after extended debate and a failed amendment from Rep. Martinez Fischer to also study immigrants’ economic contributions, the motion passed 86-61. The House also adopted instructions to eliminate Texas Lottery Commission funding, to support amendments restricting public education institutions from affirming gender identities inconsistent with biological sex, and to seek an additional $4 billion in property tax relief, with each motion passing on recorded votes. The House then took up a supplemental calendar and passed several bills, including HB 39 on veteran death data, HB 102 on priority registration for certain students entering military service, HB 126 on student-athlete compensation and representation, HB 290 on tuition and fee assistance for members of the Texas military forces, HB 300 on Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program updates, and HB 2143 naming a highway in honor of Army Specialist Joey Lins. The chamber also postponed consideration of HJR 2 and HJR 6. Later, the House considered HB 120 on career and technology education pathways and HB 20 on applied science pathway programs for high school students. HB 120 received a perfecting amendment and was advanced after discussion about workforce preparation. HB 20 prompted extensive questioning about transportation, costs, and how students would access partner campuses such as community colleges and TSTC sites; debate continued as the transcript ended, with members examining how the program would operate and whether approval authority would rest with TEA.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• PN programs.
• program.
• schools and the schools come to us.
• and the program requirements, especially students in dual enrollment, which is in the high school.

Summary: The subcommittee met to examine Florida’s nursing education pipeline and the state’s persistently low NCLEX passage rates. Chair Tuck opened by noting the projected nurse shortage and Florida’s ranking near the bottom nationally for first-time NCLEX pass rates. The Department of Health explained the Board of Nursing’s approval process for nursing programs, including application requirements, probation standards, and termination for programs that repeatedly fail passage-rate benchmarks. The Florida Center for Nursing then presented statewide data showing Florida has more test takers than most states, but still trails the national average; the gap has narrowed in recent years, though Florida remains below average. Members focused heavily on why the state continues to underperform, with discussion of faculty shortages, clinical placement constraints, accreditation, student preparedness, and the large share of newer private for-profit programs among those placed on probation. Committee members asked about how probation works, what happens when programs improve, and whether the board requires corrective plans. They also questioned the relationship between program type and outcomes, the effect of Operation Nightingale, and how many students fail and retest. The Florida Center for Nursing said first-attempt pass rates are the standard measure and that students who fail are expected to remediate and retest, though costs vary. The center also said Florida’s data shows accredited programs outperform approved or probationary ones, and that the state’s nursing workforce challenges are tied to broader issues such as faculty vacancies, clinical site competition, and student demographics, including many students balancing work, family, and language barriers. A panel of nursing school leaders from public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit institutions then described strategies used to improve outcomes. These included transparent recruitment, early orientation, tutoring, success coaching, stronger faculty development, curriculum mapping to NCLEX standards, higher course benchmarks, mandatory remediation, simulation labs, and commercial NCLEX prep tools such as ATI, Kaplan, and HESI. Several panelists said their programs had improved after probation or had very high passage rates, and they emphasized that student success depends on academic preparation, clinical experience, and support services. Members also asked about tuition, program length, translation into other languages, and faculty recruitment; panelists said costs vary widely, faculty hiring is difficult because hospitals pay more, and some schools are considering medical Spanish and immersion options rather than full curriculum translation.