Transcript Highlights:

• Today I'm here to lay out SB 2742, which addresses electioneering by independent school districts, ISDs
• bill also creates a civil penalty for the responsible officer or employee of the student. of the school
• The bill waives and abolishes the immunity for school districts and their officials. employees who violate
• School districts may not indemnify officers or employees who must pay a penalty.
• though the ABA enjoys a monopoly, in the national recognition, this uncertainty places Texas law schools

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Presently, under current state law, Texas school officials may not use public resources for political
• In addition to creating a civil penalty for the board, the board of trustees of schools, In addition
• bill also creates a civil penalty for the responsible officer or employee of the school district.
• School districts may not indemnify officers or employees who must pay a penalty.
• School districts may not indemnify officers or employees who must pay a penalty.

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1065, which would require government property contracts to prohibit contractors from barring licensed handgun holders from carrying firearms on leased or owned public property, with civil penalties and attorney general enforcement for violations. Senator Hall and invited witnesses from the Texas State Rifle Association, NRA, and Texas Gun Rights argued the bill would close a loophole exposed by the State Fair of Texas gun ban and protect law-abiding Texans’ self-defense rights. Opponents, including Moms Demand Action/Everytown, said the bill would undermine event organizers’ ability to set site-specific safety rules and could increase liability and insurance costs. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. The committee next took up Senate Bill 2742, which would create civil penalties for independent school districts and officials who use public resources for electioneering, waive immunity defenses, and expand attorney general enforcement. Senator Hagan-Bood said current law bans the conduct but lacks meaningful penalties, making injunctions the only remedy. No public testimony was heard, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2743, also by Senator Hagan-Bood, which would allow a court to disqualify local prosecutors who refuse to prosecute election offenses and appoint the attorney general to handle the case, with a committee substitute adjusting the removal process through an adjacent-county judge. Opponents from the Texas Civil Rights Project argued the bill would undermine prosecutorial discretion and was vague and open to abuse, while a Harris County election official described past instances where alleged voter fraud cases were not pursued. After testimony, public comment was closed and SB 2743 was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this also apply to private schools? It does not currently apply to private schools.
• public schools.
• school, or charter schools.
• This applies to all Texas school districts and open enrollment charter schools.
• For some context, in Frisco ISD, we have 77 schools, 12 of those are high schools.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• class I'm not here advocating for or against public schools private schools charter schools I'm advocating
• Schools and school districts should not be invested.
• But Dallas ISD, being as innovative as it is, open to high school, CityLab High School. school, right
• . public schools, ISDs, charter schools.
• Toby mentioned that there is a charter school within 1500 feet of the school.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Bills: HB1800, HB2095

Keywords: supplemental appropriations, state budget, Hawaii budget, biennial budget, capital improvement projects, CIP, general fund, special fund, green fee, special land and development fund, clean energy revolving loan fund, agricultural development revolving fund, community grants, nonprofit grants, Office of Community Services, housing, affordable housing, homelessness, health care, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen that restrictions have continued to be put on schools, especially high school now where they
• If schools still took this wise requirement seriously, few middle schoolers could enter high school.
• HB 2008, School Library. Thank you. HB 2008, School Libraries.
• schools or private schools?
• With private schools and charter schools, no one is forced to go to them. Thank you.

Bills: HB2008, HB2075, HB2203, HB2395, HB2409

Keywords: school libraries, public school libraries, library funding, professional associations, library associations, librarians, information services, dues, membership fees, public monies, school governing body, county free library district, municipal library, library contracts, library services, books and programs, Arizona education, Title 15, Library Freedom Act, school district transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• One in three New Mexico students with disabilities change schools at least once during high school, showing
• One in three New Mexico students with disabilities change schools at least once during high school, showing
• E, exceptional child means a school-age person whose abilities render regular services of a public school
• Nothing in this section precludes a school district or charter school from offering additional gifted
• Gifted education is always available for private school students, but only available to a public school

Bills: SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP, individualized education program, students with disabilities, IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, dyslexia, dyslexia screening, structured literacy, reading intervention, multilayered system of supports, MTSS, student assistance team, free appropriate public education, FAPE, special education compliance, charter schools

Bills: HB139, HB172, HB156

Keywords: HB139, Alabama discrimination, civil rights, public accommodations, employment discrimination, equal access, protected classes, race discrimination, sex discrimination, religious discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, national origin discrimination, school board discrimination, labor organization, employment agency, retaliation, private right of action, punitive damages, attorney fees

Transcript Highlights:

• University to<00:01:22.799> go<00:01:22.960> to<00:01:23.040> law<00:01:23.280> school
• the<00:01:23.920> fall<00:01:24.400> and<00:01:24.479> I'll to go to law school
• in the fall and I'll to go to law school in the fall and I'll be<00:01:24.880> here<00:01:25.119

Bills: HB267, HB271, HB267, HB271

Keywords: HB267, Alabama, minor consent, medical consent, mental health, school counseling, parental rights, parental consent, parental access to records, health information, health records, vaccine consent, school mental health services, student counseling, youth healthcare, adolescent health, emancipated minor, pregnancy care, sexually transmitted infections, STI treatment

Bills: HB 4, HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20

Keywords: appropriations, funding, budget, state finance, public services, public education, teacher compensation, certification, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability

Bills: HB 4, HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20

Keywords: appropriations, funding, budget, state finance, public services, public education, teacher compensation, certification, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability

Bills: HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20, HB 4

Keywords: appropriations, funding, budget, state finance, public services, public education, teacher compensation, certification, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability

Transcript Highlights:

• How is any Texas school child going to resist that? I don't know how.
• It's going to be those school districts, those little rural school districts, districts five, six, and
• to our charter schools.
• I thought they're public schools too.
• Advocating for public schools, but private schools can bring lobbyists all day long, and she's like,

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB5, SB11, SB12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Bills: HB353, HB354, HB357, HB396, SB83

Keywords: judicial compensation, salary adjustments, district attorneys, Judges, local officials, district attorney, compensation, constitutional amendment, job security, Alabama Constitution, tobacco tax, heated tobacco products, heated tobacco, cigarettes, nicotine, vape alternative, smokeless tobacco, snuff, cigars, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Missy Bender, and I am the executive director of the Texas School Coalition representing school
• district name for local school district operations.
• Over the last 20 years, I've been engaged in school finance issues either as a school board trustee or
• The school district adds all of the information under that school district currently. Perfect.
• It could be a form they ask the school district to submit.

Bills: HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34

Keywords: HB 195, Texas Controlled Substances Act, Schedule IV, controlled substances, mifepristone, misoprostol, carisoprodol, Health and Safety Code, drug scheduling, pharmacy regulation, prescription drugs, reproductive health, abortion medication, medication abortion, women's health, prescribing, dispensing, law enforcement, drug control, education reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Fifteen years of state receivership over underperforming districts and schools has been a failure in
• The Thrive Act would provide better options to support and improve underperforming schools.
• Okay, and Section 4 addresses the cap on the underperforming type schools, right?
• causes of why these schools were underperforming, but to high turnover of superintendents and principals
• school.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does the department have the authority to mix different types of populations, even at underperforming
• or, I wouldn't say underperforming, but underutilized facilities like Kulani?
• and with schools and Roads and infrastructure<01:07:07.520> but<01:07:07.760> I<01:07:
• or I wouldn't say underperforming or I wouldn't say underperforming<01:08:03.920> but<01:08:04.039
• > underutilized underperforming but underutilized underperforming but underutilized facilities

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a pretty meaningful difference: 2.7 percentage points of underperformance.
• talked in the past, but the concern I always had when you and I had talked was that MOSERS has underperformed
• What were the biggest driving reasons for that underperformance, which just kind of kept us at this funding
• Abby mentioned, there's some other things that are influencing the funded ratio. ...but the underperformance

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held a hearing focused on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) and its long-term financial condition. MOSERS Executive Director Abby Spieler and investment consultant Tim McKinery outlined the system’s structure, membership, funding policy, and investment approach. They reported that as of the June 30, 2025 valuation, MOSERS had a 55.4% funded ratio, about $17.4 billion in liabilities, and about $9.6 billion in assets. They explained that the FY27 employer contribution rate was certified at 32% under the board’s minimum contribution policy, up from 30.25%, and said the increase is tied to a $46 million new decision item in House Bill 5. The presentation emphasized that MOSERS is a mature plan with more retirees and inactive members than active employees, and that slow or declining payroll growth has made it harder to pay down unfunded liabilities. MOSERS described recent policy changes intended to improve long-term stability, including lowering the investment return assumption over time, updating mortality assumptions, and adopting a minimum employer contribution policy. The board’s 2024 asset-liability study also led to a shift toward more public equity exposure and less fixed income, with the consultant saying asset allocation has been the main driver of relative investment underperformance versus peers in recent years, though recent returns have improved and the portfolio has outperformed its policy index over shorter periods. Committee members questioned why the funded ratio has fallen over time, whether past investment assumptions were too optimistic, and whether the board had been too conservative in its asset allocation. MOSERS representatives responded that the earlier strategy was a board-approved risk-balanced approach and that hindsight makes the results easier to judge, while stressing that current changes are intended to improve long-term outcomes. Members also asked about the impact of inactive members, the automatic refund proposal for small terminated accounts, and the ongoing Catalyst Capital litigation. MOSERS said the proposed legislation would automatically refund small inactive balances and auto-escalate deferred compensation contributions, and reported that litigation-related attorney fees have been about $20 million so far. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mississippi used state funds to put 90 literacy coaches in their most underperforming elementary schools
• <00:09:03.120> So, underperforming elementary schools.
• So, underperforming elementary schools.
• And with schools.
• and our school impact on our schools and our school districts.<01:36:54.239> And<01:36:54.880

Bills: HF2430, HF2433

Keywords: education finance, teacher training, Read Act, state aid, school funding, education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ESG funds have underperformed for years.
• ESG funds<00:20:23.520> have<00:20:23.840> underperformed funds have underperformed funds
• Watch as Renee Nicole kids schools.
• <02:19:03.280> For school students in my district. For school students in my district.
• Surely, we've students in schools.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1012, house, all