Transcript Highlights:

• So as I mentioned, typically chronic absenteeism.
• So we think a little bit about root causes of absenteeism.
• Have you looked into a solution to absenteeism? Yes.
• a uniform definition of absenteeism?
• And the issue came up partly of absenteeism, but also And the issue came up partly of absenteeism but

Summary: The committee met to discuss student attendance and chronic absenteeism in Florida K-12 schools, with Chair Simon outlining the state’s attendance requirements and intervention process, including school contact after unexcused absences, child study team review, district superintendent referral, DJJ family services referral, truancy petitions, and possible parental prosecution and driver’s license consequences. Dr. Chris Curran of the University of Florida presented statewide data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023–24, and noted that absenteeism varies by district, school level, demographics, and urbanicity. He emphasized that causes are multifaceted—ranging from transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family circumstances—and said effective responses include early warning systems, text or phone outreach, multi-tiered interventions, mentoring programs like Check & Connect, and community partnerships. He also cautioned that punitive responses alone are often less effective than addressing root causes and keeping students engaged academically even when they miss school. Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli described her district’s attendance efforts as a priority supported by attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, and extensive parent communication. She said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023–24 and attributed success to consistent monitoring, family outreach, and community support, while stressing that students must be physically present to learn. She also argued that many absences are tied to barriers such as clothing, transportation, childcare, or family mental health, and that districts need resources to address those issues. Dr. Rachel Dawes added that Collier uses multilingual brochures, attendance awareness campaigns, vacation-planning guidance, door tags, automated calls and letters, and a truancy flow chart, with truancy court used as a last resort. Volusia County Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a districtwide overhaul that included an attendance matters campaign, automated notices sent early and often, same-day and period-by-period notifications, a data dashboard, and tiered supports through MTSS. He said Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023–24 to a projected 29% and reported a first-quarter rate of about 20% in the current year. He highlighted community partnerships, including AdventHealth support for washers and dryers, bikes for students with transportation barriers, and monetary recognition for schools that reduce absenteeism. In response to questions, both district leaders emphasized that funding, staffing, and consistent follow-through are essential, and that attendance work is most effective when paired with family engagement, data monitoring, and practical supports rather than punishment alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, with that I would encourage a green vote and request a roll call. Absentee ballot.
• fraud, be it claims of widespread voting fraud, be it absentee<01:52:00.600> or<01:52:00.720>
• to vote. to vote.
• . vote. vote.
• . vote. vote.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Uh, Senator Crumb has left an absentee >> Uh, Senator Crumb has left an absentee vote<
• Crum has left an absentee vote of I. Crum has left an absentee vote of I.
• <01:25:13.440> vote >> Senator Crum has left an absentee vote >> Senator Crum
• has left an absentee vote of<01:25:14.159> conflict.
• left an absentee vote of I. left an absentee vote of I.

Bills: HB0117, HB0126

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like a provision that you all will have the chance to vote on.
• Understanding the why behind student absenteeism is deeply complex.
• We also know that chronic absenteeism is directly linked to the school-to-prison pipeline.
• We know chronic absenteeism has been an issue for a long time.
• Just thank you for your work and advocacy for chronic absenteeism and truancy as well.

Bills: HF1966, HF54, HF2043, HF1171, HF2741

Keywords: HF1966, Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs, STARS program, alternative education, alternative programs, education finance, general fund appropriation, student support services, career readiness, employment skills, academic skills, social skills, student conferences, training grants, Minnesota Department of Education, specialized education, at-risk students, nontraditional education, HF54, Silver Lake

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm going to open the executive session on HB 418 relative to eligibility for absentee voting.
• Chair votes yes. The motion of Barry. Chair votes yes.
• Uh, and just this bill to me seems to confuse registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot.
• vote.
• vote.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Absentee voting is ideal for Hawaii residents who are vacationing, away for college, or temporarily working
• To request an absentee ballot, you must already be registered to vote.
• is voted. is voted.
• You need a cause to<00:24:32.960> vote. to vote. to vote.
• candidates before you vote. candidates before you vote.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I respectfully urge a no vote. Thank you.
• The chair is recommending an aye vote. My apologies.
• Members, this will be a vote item.
• , and respectfully asks for an aye vote.
• Calling the absentee members, Madam Chair.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go ahead and do a roll call vote. >> Senator Crump: excused. >> Senator Hutchings: here. >> Senator
• Uh, Senator Crown has left an absentee vote of I. >> Senator Hutchings: I.
• is<00:10:41.120> a<00:10:41.360> roll<00:10:41.519> call<00:10:41.760> vote
• for Senate File >> This is a roll call vote for Senate File 121<00:10:43.279> as<00:10:
• Uh Senator Crown has left an absentee Uh Senator Crown has left an absentee vote<00:10:47.760>

Bills: SF0121

Keywords: pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you very much.
• We urge your aye vote. Thank you.
• I just want to remind members this is a vote item.
• Item number two, SB 974 on the absentees. SB 974 on the absentees. Quirk-Silva, aye.
• On item number four, SB 762, on the absentees, Rodriguez, not voting. Item number five, SB 999.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee heard several bills, mostly related to Proposition 19, voluntary tax checkoffs, and local tax authority. SB 288 would clarify that the one-year residency and exemption deadline for inherited homes held in probate begins when legal ownership is established; it received support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and others, no opposition, and was referred to suspense. SB 974 would explicitly include special needs trusts in Prop. 19-related inheritance rules; it had support from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. The committee also heard SB 575, which would restore the Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund for voluntary tax return donations to sea otter conservation. Supporters cited sea otter recovery, research, and habitat protection needs; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 999 would delay the Franchise Tax Board’s annual report on the health care individual mandate from March 1 to June 1 to allow more complete data; Health Access California supported it, and it passed 5-1 to Appropriations. SB 762 would authorize certain cities and counties, including Hercules, Santa Cruz, and Santa Barbara, to seek voter approval for local transaction and use taxes to address budget pressures, public safety, infrastructure, and safety-net service cuts. Local officials, labor groups, and health advocates supported it, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposed it; the committee adopted the urgency clause and then passed the bill to Local Government with urgency, with some no votes. SB 1073 would create a voluntary tax contribution fund to support the Historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District; arts advocates and community supporters backed it, and the bill passed unanimously to the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully ask for an aye vote. Thank you very much.
• We urge your aye vote. Thank you.
• I just want to remind members this is a vote item.
• Item number two, SB 974 on the absentees, Quirk-Silva. SB 974 on the absentees. Quirk-Silva, aye.
• On item number four, SB 762, on the absentees. Rodriguez, not voting.

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:

• Because, without knowing what the vote in person is versus people who would normally go get an absentee
• , basically, not absentee voting, and it's available to you to show up at your city hall, and where your
• basically not excuse absentee voting is basically the way we're getting around it is is available to
• voting.
• Those questions could be: Can I vote? Where do I vote? When do I vote?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on a wide range of voting-access and election-administration bills. The largest portion of testimony focused on same-day voter registration (H. 834/S. 505), with support from Rep. Gentile, Boston and Chelsea officials, civic groups, and election administrators from Maine and Vermont. Supporters argued that same-day registration would help eligible voters who move frequently, miss deadlines, or face administrative errors, and would reduce rejected provisional ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Vermont elections director Sean Sheehan testified that same-day registration has worked in their states without major administrative problems and has helped increase turnout. A Boston-based panel also described high rejection rates for provisional ballots and the burden of registration cutoffs on renters, students, immigrants, and low-income voters. A second major topic was restoration of voting rights for incarcerated people, including S. 524 and related House bills. The committee heard extensive virtual testimony from incarcerated individuals at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley, who said voting should be restored as part of rehabilitation, civic engagement, and reintegration. They described disenfranchisement as dehumanizing and argued that voting would help maintain family and community ties, reduce recidivism, and give incarcerated people a voice on laws affecting prisons and reentry. Rep. Erica Uyterhoeven also testified in support, saying the bill would restore municipal voting rights for incarcerated residents and align with broader efforts to expand political participation. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting election administration and access, including a proposal to reduce or eliminate mandated early in-person voting in primaries and shorten the general-election early voting period, with supporters from the town clerks’ community arguing that low usage, staffing burdens, and costs justify the change. Opponents warned that reducing in-person early voting could hurt voters who do not use mail ballots and could disproportionately affect communities of color. Other bills discussed included decoupling the municipal census from voter registration, requiring periodic accessibility inspections of polling places, and a Somerville home-rule petition on non-citizen municipal voting and another on lowering the voting age in municipal elections. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her votes I. Senator Her votes I. Her votes I. Senator Her votes I.
• Bar votes I. Senator How votes I. Bar votes I. Senator How votes I.
• Utki votes I. Senator UTI votes I. Utki votes I. Senator UTI votes I.
• Bar votes I. Senator How votes I. Bar votes I. Senator How votes I.
• vote votes I. And Senator Lang votes I. vote votes I. And Senator Lang votes I.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or if the DOJ demanded that New Mexico change our early voting procedures, or eliminate vote centers,
• , including early voting.
• In any situation where someone has maybe requested or been sent an absentee ballot and they do not vote
• Well, what about if one of the voting observers rightfully challenges a voter's right to vote?
• not vote for the Republican or else,' or 'You better not vote for the Democrat or else,' that could kind

Bills: SB264, SB261

Keywords: election integrity, voter coercion, public safety, emergency procedures, polling place security, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask that the members vote yes.
• I ask that the members vote yes.
• I ask that the members vote yes.
• governor's recommendations, and I ask that you vote yes.
• absentee ballot applications, returned absentee ballots, and rejected provisional ballots.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we're going to leave that vote open for absentee members.
• Okay, we're going to leave that vote open for absentee members. Thank you again, everyone on that.
• That has a vote to get out. We will leave it open for absentee members. Great.
• That has a vote to get out. We will leave it open for absentee members. Thank you.
• That has enough votes to get out. Congrats. We will leave it open for absentee members.

Summary: The committee heard a series of environmental safety and toxic materials measures, with several bills moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Early in the meeting, the consent calendar was approved, including AB 372, AB 455, AB 1096, AB 1102, and AB 754. AB 362 by Assembly Member Ramos, which would recognize tribal beneficial uses of water and strengthen consultation and protection for tribal water uses, drew strong support from tribes and environmental groups. Water agencies and local government representatives opposed unless amended, raising concerns about CEQA requirements, co-management language, and conflicts with existing water law. The bill advanced to Appropriations, with some members voting aye and others not voting or absent. AB 728 by Assembly Member Lee would require age verification for the sale of certain anti-aging skin care products to minors. The author and a youth witness described social media-driven use of adult skin products by children and alleged skin damage, while supporters argued age checks are a reasonable consumer protection. Dermatologists and retailers opposed the bill, saying it could restrict legitimate acne and other medical uses of over-the-counter products, create compliance problems, and lacked a clear scientific basis. The committee discussed possible ambiguity in the bill’s definition of anti-aging products, but the measure still passed to Appropriations. AB 532 on low-income water rate assistance, AB 773 on copper-based anti-fouling paint, AB 998 on household hazardous waste disposal of vape pens, AB 1031 on geothermal hazardous waste fees, and AB 864 on solar panel hazardous waste and recycling all received strong support and advanced to Appropriations. Supporters for AB 532 emphasized water affordability and local program authority; AB 773 supporters said conflicting state water and pesticide rules are creating confusion for harbors and cities; AB 998 was presented as a practical way to let schools and local facilities dispose of confiscated vape devices safely; AB 1031 was framed as reducing DTSC fee burdens on geothermal development in Imperial County; and AB 864 would ease recycling and reuse of end-of-life solar panels. The committee also began hearing AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals, with the author and supporters arguing it would phase out the most harmful ultra-processed foods from school meals by 2032, but the transcript cuts off before the full discussion and any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not voting. Ta, not voting. Hoover. Pacheco? Aye. Chacón. Aye. Ramos? Aye. Ramos. Ransom. Rubio?
• Not voting. Taw, not voting. Hoover. Bacheco? Aye. Chaco, aye. Ramos? Aye. Ramos. Ranssen. Rubio?
• Not voting. Rubio? Aye. Stephanie? Aye. Haney? Aye. Wilson? Aye. The vote is 7-2.
• Not voting, right? Right, not voting. Hoover? Aye. Hoover? Aye. Pacheco? Aye. Pacheco? Aye. Ramos?
• The vote is 10-0. The bill is out. The vote is 10-0. The bill is out. The vote is 9-0.

Summary: The committee opened the June 18, 2025 Local Government hearing with housekeeping rules, noting that testimony would be in person and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. Because a quorum was initially lacking, the committee proceeded as a subcommittee and heard several bills before later taking formal votes once quorum was established. The agenda included 15 bills, with eight placed on the consent calendar and one bill pulled by the author. The bills discussed included SB 333, which would let San Luis Obispo County voters consider raising the local sales tax cap for transportation funding; SB 390, a district-specific measure for South San Francisco to address a Mello-Roos/CFD issue affecting properties with conservation easements; SB 394, which would increase penalties for water theft and allow local agencies to recover damages; SB 611, which would restore protections for housing projects tied to adopted community plans while CEQA litigation is pending; SB 757, which would allow nuisance abatement liens or special assessments to collect cleanup costs for chronic nuisance properties; and SB 489, which would require public agencies involved in housing approvals to post application requirements online. Supporters generally framed the bills as tools for infrastructure financing, housing production, transparency, public safety, or deterrence of theft and blight. Opposition was heard on SB 757, with critics warning about due process, foreclosure risk, and displacement of low-income homeowners. After quorum was called, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 757, and later approved SB 489 on a 10-0 vote. The consent calendar bills—SB 74, SB 225, SB 272, SB 409, SB 558, SB 735, SB 736, and SB 737—were approved together. SB 333 advanced on a 7-2 vote, SB 390 passed 9-0, SB 394 passed 9-0, and SB 611 passed 10-0. The hearing concluded with the committee adjourned after all listed actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it votes from the Democratic Party.
• So for those reasons and many more, I urge you to vote no.
• Representative Yin has left an absentee vote form of no. Chairman Rodriguez-Williams: I.
• >> Representative Yen has left an absentee >> Representative Yen has left an absentee
• vote form of no. vote form of no.

Bills: HB0117, HB0126

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and chronic absenteeism.
• You had a vote tech center. Now it's changed quite a bit.
• You know, I changed my vote today.
• We do not vote on this recommended budget today.
• We do not vote on this recommended budget today.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met during Budget Week and first considered three member bills. House Bill 1111, by Rep. Valdes, would eliminate the option for students to leave high school with a certificate of completion instead of a standard diploma. Valdes said the bill was inspired by students who met credit requirements but could not pass a required assessment, and argued the certificate does not provide access to college, trade school, or military service. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. CS for House Bill 127, by Rep. Kendall, would support students with disabilities by using existing Florida Department of Education curriculum to create micro-credentials and coordinating with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA on workplace safety. Goodwill, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida PTA, and others supported the bill, which also passed unanimously, 15-0. House Bill 1367, by Rep. Booth, addressed chronic absenteeism by requiring statewide definitions and more uniform attendance reporting, along with rules for excused and unexcused absences and early identification of chronically absent students. Testimony emphasized inconsistent district policies and the need for clearer data and interventions. The bill passed 13-0, with some members noting concerns about implementation details and future rulemaking. The committee then took up PCB-P-PKB-2501, the proposed conforming bill for the fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget. The chair said the bill was designed to align statutes with budget and scholarship funding procedures, especially around the Florida Education Finance Program and scholarship payments. The PCB would require Florida student ID numbers for scholarship students, standardize cross-checking against FTE survey data, set quarterly payment dates, and use one data source for both reporting and withholding scholarship-related FFP amounts. It also would reduce certain add-on weights by 50%, remove the budget stabilization program, and repeal the educational enrollment stabilization program. Several members raised concerns that the add-on weight reductions could hurt career and technical education, AICE, IB, and CAPE programs, while the sponsor argued the data showed too much spending in an “other” category and that the reductions were aimed at aligning funding with actual program costs. Public testimony was mixed: some supported tighter accountability and clearer payment rules, while others warned against undermining expensive career-readiness programs. The PCB passed 11-2. After the conforming bill, the chair presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget, totaling just under $21 billion, about $400 million below the current year. She said the budget reflects a need to slow spending growth and includes $20 million for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, $7 million for security grants at Jewish day schools and preschools, $14 million for public school transportation stipends, an overall FEFP increase of about $747.7 million, $100 million for teacher salary increases, and increases in the base student allocation and funds per student. The committee did not vote on the budget recommendation at this meeting; it was distributed for review and will move to the Budget Committee next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we're going to leave that vote open for absentee members. Thank you again, everyone, on that.
• Great, that has a vote to get out. We will leave it open for absentee members. Thank you.
• Great, that is enough votes to get out, congrats. We'll leave it open for absentee members.
• Happen I happen I Great that has a votes to get out. We will leave it open for absentees.
• File item 1, 3 voting aye, 3 voting no, 1 not voting. That matter does not carry.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1986, Congress followed up with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which required
• states to allow military and overseas voters to vote by absentee ballot.
• In 1986, Congress followed up with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which required
• states to allow military and overseas voters to vote by absentee ballot.
• The current vote is 4 to 1 with the chair voting aye. Secretary, please call the absent members.

Summary: The committee met on June 17, 2026, beginning without a quorum and initially proceeding as a subcommittee. Members heard several Senate bills, with testimony focused mainly on redistricting, Bay Area transit funding, and military/overseas voting access. The chair also announced committee membership changes and that SB 1369 had been pulled by the author. Written testimony was accepted through the committee portal, and public testimony was limited by the chair’s rules. SB 1414 by Senator Reyes would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County. Supporters, including Inland Empire United, Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters, argued the bill would improve transparency and reduce political influence in map drawing. Opponents, including San Bernardino County and several local government/election groups, said the county’s existing advisory commission already provided substantial public input and raised concerns about cost. The bill was moved do pass as amended and re-referred to Local Government, with one no vote from Assembly Member Lackey; it was later taken off call and passed 6-1. SB 830 by Senator Wiener made technical changes to the administration of the Bay Area regional transit sales tax measure authorized by SB 63, including uniform ballot naming and county-specific ballot arguments. Support came from labor, transit, business, and advocacy groups, who said the bill would help voters understand the measure and protect transit funding. Members emphasized the Bay Area’s transit funding crisis and the need for local action. The bill passed do pass as amended, 5-1, and was later recorded as out 6-0 on call. The committee also approved a consent calendar containing six bills. SB 970 by Senator Cervantes addressed military and overseas voting after the federal discontinuation of the Department of Defense fax service used for ballot return. Supporters, including county election officials and local government organizations, said California needed a secure replacement to avoid disenfranchising service members and overseas voters. The Secretary of State’s office and Verified Voting raised security concerns and suggested a task force or more detailed standards, but the author and supporters argued the bill was urgent and should direct the Secretary of State to develop secure regulations. The bill passed do pass and was re-referred to Military and Veteran Affairs, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.