Transcript Highlights:

• I talked to parents. I've members. I talked to parents.
• </c> authority over special education. authority over special education.
• I've been an education advocate for decades, and I speak with students, parents, and educators in Congress
• I speak with students, parents, and educators in Congress and at home in Oregon, and I can't count the
• Republicans are looking to defund public schools, leaving parents with fewer choices and options in educating

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, your Committee on Education, having under consideration HB 2249 relating to Parents' Bill
• President, the Committee on Education, having under consideration H.B. 2249 relating to Parents' Bill
• date and a person continues to violate the Parents' Bill of Rights after the general effective date,
• a parent or guardian from accessing information to which they are entitled.
• President, the Committee on Education, having under consideration HB 2895 relating to Native American

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Poll after poll shows that the majority of parents support the Department of Education, especially parents
• These parents know what's at stake if schools lose the federal resources they rely on to educate every
• Poll after poll shows that the majority of parents support the Department of Education, especially parents
• These parents know what's at stake if schools lose the federal resources they rely on to educate every
• Parents support the Department of Education, especially parents of students with disabilities.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's post-secondary education.
• That's post-secondary education.
• A general education opportunity doesn't mean it's for only general education students.
• A general education opportunity doesn't mean it's for only general education students.
• Zreak, the new Secretary of Education.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Permit Commission on Status of Persons with Disabilities met on April 27 and approved the prior meeting minutes before hearing a presentation from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE). Presenters from UMass Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion, the Arc of Greater Haverhill-Newburyport, Northeast, and Lawrence Public Schools described LPTE as a five-year grant focused on improving transition outcomes for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Lawrence through community partnerships, work groups, and family engagement. A major focus was a family survey designed to better understand barriers to transition planning and IEP participation. Presenters said the survey response rate increased sharply after Lawrence Public Schools helped distribute it, rising from about a dozen responses to more than 200. Survey findings showed common barriers such as scheduling conflicts, language access, childcare, transportation, and limited understanding of IEPs and transition planning. The data also suggested that many families expect college or employment outcomes for their children, but fewer reported access to pre-employment training, indicating a communication gap rather than a lack of services. Lawrence school staff explained that the district has a five-person transition team, bilingual resources, workshops, and a developing online transition hub, and that they are using the survey results to improve visibility and access to existing supports. Committee members discussed the need to start transition planning earlier, expand real-world work experiences, improve outreach to Latino families, and better connect students with college, trade, and employment pathways. Several members suggested partnerships with summer youth employment, volunteer programs, and college or alumni panels. The presenters said the grant ends in September, but the resource hub will continue through the Arc and they are exploring ways to sustain the consortium model. The meeting ended with thanks to the presenters, an update that committee members would meet with Seed on Massachusetts as a model employer, and notice that the next meeting would feature the Office of Veteran Affairs before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education is known as the great equalizer.
• </c> long lawmakers and then as Educators long lawmakers and then as Educators need<00:04:02.200><c>
• Parents are partners in this process, right? Absolutely.
• </c> as a result of the sunlight yeah parents as a result of the sunlight yeah parents are<00:07:00.319
• </c><00:09:31.160><c> are</c> that things like special education are that things like special education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents are accused of abuse and presumed guilty.
• And I've been a foster parent here in Florida for almost 10 years.
• We've not been believing parents.
• Think of us like a public defender for parents, indigent parents whose cases are active cases in juvenile
• Educational collaboration is one other important note.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> denial of an educator license. denial of an educator license.
• </c> uh, education uh, education to<00:04:18.760><c> look</c><00:04:19.000><c> back</c><00:04:19.320>
• So we as educators are feel right.
• I had parents of young boys also come to I had parents of young boys also come to me,<00:17:08.600><c
• Like every parent in this chamber and across Minnesota, I place my children in the care of our educators

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's really your kids; the kids' parents become your friends, the friends of your kids' parents.
• I think not only do parents need to have exactly the same information that parents who are opting in
• Why are our parents so fearful? Why is there a conscience... Why are our parents so fearful?
• All parents should be free to choose, and at the end of the day, the parents, the parents, not state
• the right to an education, and parents being empowered to make medical decisions they believe are best

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're, A nonprofit legal center that represents many parents and special education issues.
• They may not be in a position to communicate to their parents.
• Making that clarification about reporting to parents is Really critical for a lot of parents of children
• Prior to that, I was an educator. For 22 years.
• The Public Education Department supports House Bill 120.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I don't know enough about Parents as Teachers to know if there are specific services that Parents
• I think we need a paradigm shift in education generally, but higher education, the way we fund it.
• education, an experience.
• But fundamentally, did you look at what is the cost to educate a nurse versus general education?
• Chairman, my question was, how much does it cost to educate a nurse versus general education?

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know education is the key to success.
• That is really horrible for so many parents.
• that educational institutions are safe places where students can learn, teachers can educate, and schools
• It would require schools to notify parents at the K-12 level and students in higher education if immigration
• And that starts with civic education.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a series of bills focused largely on school safety, immigrant student protections, Holocaust and genocide education, civic engagement, and workforce pathways. SB 631 would expand the charter school revolving loan fund by increasing loan amounts and broadening eligibility, including for charter schools affected by natural disasters; it drew support from the Treasurer’s Office and the California Charter Schools Association and was advanced on a 4-0 vote, with the bill held on call. SB 472 would reinforce Holocaust, slavery, and genocide education requirements and create or expand teacher training and grants; it received strong support from survivors, educators, and Jewish organizations and passed 6-0, with several members asking to be added as coauthors. The committee also took up a package of immigration-related school bills. SB 48 would bar school officials from allowing immigration enforcement access to campuses without a judicial warrant and protect student records; it was backed by Superintendent Tony Thurmond, teachers, school districts, and many advocacy groups, and passed 5-0 to the Judiciary Committee. SB 98 would require K-12 schools and higher education institutions to notify campus communities when immigration enforcement is present; it also drew broad support from student groups, colleges, and education organizations and passed 3-0 to Higher Education, with the bill held on call. Both measures were presented as responses to recent immigration enforcement activity near schools and the chilling effect on attendance and student well-being. Other measures advanced included SB 848, which would strengthen protections against employee sexual misconduct in schools by updating safety plans, training, reporting, and misconduct tracking; it was supported by education groups and a survivor who described grooming at her high school, and passed 6-0 to Public Safety. SB 638 would create a statewide coordinating entity for education and workforce programs and support career pathways, with testimony emphasizing the need to align fragmented funding and improve access for underserved communities; it passed 7-0 to Higher Education. SB 316, on high school voter registration and pre-registration, passed 8-0 to Elections after testimony from students and civic engagement advocates, and SB 334, which would add sexual harassment prevention content and a Sexual Harassment Safety Week to school curriculum, was presented with support from student advocates and AAUW, with no opposition noted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• . education. education.
• </c> maintenance of two-parent families. maintenance of two-parent families.
• </c> we do have reporting around two-parent we do have reporting around two-parent two-parent<00:58:56.840
• SNAP education is or was SNAP education.
• Um and parents.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from its September 24 meeting after a motion and second. It then heard a presentation from New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Gragensky on that state’s early childhood system and planned universal child care rollout. She described how New Mexico consolidated multiple prenatal-to-age-five programs into a cabinet-level department, expanded pre-K to a longer day, and uses a cost model to set reimbursement rates intended to cover true provider costs, including wages, benefits, occupancy, food, and reserves. She also said the state created an Early Childhood Trust Fund and secured a constitutional amendment to dedicate 0.60% of the land grant permanent fund to early care and education, with the department’s budget growing from about $400 million in 2021 to just under $1 billion this year. Gragensky said families can begin applying for universal child care on November 1, with participation voluntary for both families and providers. She reported that New Mexico is aiming to expand capacity by adding 1,000 registered home providers, 120 group homes, and about 55 more centers, supported in part by a $13 million low-interest loan fund and a request for an additional $20 million. She said the state has seen growth in early childhood professionals, including a 64% increase over the last three to four years, and pointed to reported outcomes such as a 21% increase in literacy and a 75% kindergarten readiness rate, while noting that some measures are new and baseline comparisons are still being developed. Members asked about the funding sources, provider profitability, workforce development, and measurable outcomes. Gragensky said the program is designed to support provider sustainability through rates tied to true cost and includes allowances for sick leave, vacation, benefits, and reserves. She also said maternal labor force participation is 10% higher than the national rate and attributed that in part to child care access. The committee then moved to a separate presentation by Department for Community Based Services Commissioner Lisa Dennis and Division of Family Support Director Roger McCann on anticipated cuts to TANF and SNAP, beginning with an overview of TANF as a federal block grant with a fixed annual Kentucky allocation of about $180.7 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:44.040><c> and</c> and the lives of so many parents and and the lives of so many parents and
• </c> common ground like we found in education common ground like we found in education policy.<00:48:
• the education policy and education<01:23:47.240><c> finance</c><01:23:47.720><c> committee,</c><01:23
• </c><01:30:25.800><c> and</c> all of the Annunciation parents and all of the Annunciation parents and
• ,</c> including the Annunciation parents, including the Annunciation parents, including<01:30:59.320>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Education is an important aspect of our state.
• education.
• Education policy does not exist in a vacuum.
• And in the education realm, we're trying to figure out ways to educate their children as they see fit
• Kids have one set of parents.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Representative Josh Tanner, the House co-chair of JFAC, on state budgeting and education funding. Tanner argued Idaho has a spending problem driven by policy decisions and supplementals, said education funding should be judged by outcomes rather than inputs, and criticized what he described as declining test results, enrollment shifts, and loopholes in the funding formula, including students allegedly being counted for sports participation without attending class. He also questioned heavy technology spending in classrooms and said many programs should be reexamined for return on investment. Members responded by asking for more information from LSO and the Impact Team on how the school funding formula and support units work, and several suggested the committee should better educate itself before making changes. Tanner agreed that the formula is complicated and supported more analysis, audits, and possible sunset provisions or other mechanisms to force policy review. He also said JFAC analysts can help members understand the budget and that the committee should look backward at existing programs, not just forward at new ones. The discussion broadened to whether the state has a spending problem or a revenue problem, with Tanner pointing to growth in supplemental spending, Medicaid, corrections, and uncertainty around federal conformity costs, while noting education had not been targeted for cuts. Members raised concerns about mental health resources, school climate, and the need to listen to local school boards and parents. The meeting ended with the chair saying he would gather the needed materials for the committee’s upcoming discussion with JFAC, and the committee adjourned without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of our educational materials already reflect the national recommendations.
• So there is some education time built in there.
• Is an officer going to say, hey, parent, have you met the five-step test?
• , and their parents are charged with keeping them safe, so making sure that they're safe.
• with the other parents.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met and began without a quorum, first hearing AB 612 by Assembly Member Rogers and later AB 435 by Assembly Member Wilson. AB 612 would direct Caltrans to update the highway design manual so local jurisdictions consult with fire departments on major road improvements. Supporters, including the California Professional Firefighters and labor representatives, said the bill would improve emergency response and prevent road designs from hindering fire apparatus. County representatives said they were not opposed but wanted the bill narrowed to avoid mandatory consultation on minor maintenance projects or in areas without a local fire district. Several members praised the bill as common-sense safety legislation, and it was moved forward to Appropriations. The committee then adopted its rules and approved a seven-bill consent calendar. AB 435 would update California child passenger safety law to require children under 10 to be properly restrained in the back seat, require children ages 10 to 13 to remain in the back seat unless they pass the five-step seat belt fit test, and require the five-step test before a child may ride in the front seat. The author and supporters, including Safe Kids Greater Sacramento, Safety Belt Safe USA, AAA, the Automobile Club, and hospitals, argued the bill would align state law with national best practices and improve child safety. Committee members raised concerns about enforceability, implementation timing, pickup trucks, large families, and low-speed vehicles, and the author said he was open to amendments and additional data, including California-specific information. AB 435 was advanced to the Committee on Appropriations after discussion. AB 612 also received a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. The committee held rolls open to allow additional members to add on, then later confirmed the votes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that they have to talk to parents.
• That they have to talk to parents.
• of their parents.
• That's called parenting.
• Parental notifications in the underlying bill and points us down the statutory wormhole, and parents

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5828, which would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending private, not-for-profit four-year institutions. Staff explained the bill would set the awards at 90 percent of the regional and state college rate rather than 50 percent of the research rate, with an estimated fiscal impact of $3.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and $18.6 million over four years. Testimony was largely in support from private college presidents, students, and school counselors, who said the bill would help low-income and first-generation students and preserve access and enrollment choices; some public college student representatives said they did not oppose the bill but argued that cuts to public-school aid should be restored first. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which would prohibit DCYF from using benefits or funds of youth in extended foster care as reimbursement for their cost of care beginning in 2027, while requiring support for benefit management and payee arrangements and allowing protected accounts such as ABLE accounts. Staff estimated a net fiscal impact of $608,000 in fiscal year 2027 and $2.2 million per biennium thereafter. Testimony in support said the bill would end the practice of withholding SSI and other benefits from youth in care and better support disabled youth transitioning to adulthood. Members asked questions about fiduciary responsibility and representative payee arrangements. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It adopted Amendment Clark 350 to House Bill 2689, raising the required provider response rate for the child care market rate survey to 65 percent, and then reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 18-11, with two excused. It adopted Amendment H-3743.1 to Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on retrospective prior authorization denials and reported that bill out unanimously. It also adopted Amendment Pool 272 to Senate Bill 5420 and reported that bill out unanimously. For Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5496, the committee adopted several amendments clarifying scope and penalties but rejected amendments that would have delayed the bill or replaced it with a study; the bill was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard amendment briefings on other bills, including 5981, 6026, 6160, 6184, and 6211, but deferred action on some items heard that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The programs under the jurisdiction of higher education are housed within the Department of Education
• The programs under the jurisdiction of higher education are housed within the Department of Education
• We regulate independent post-secondary educational institutions, which are post-secondary educational
• We regulate independent post-secondary educational institutions, which are post-secondary educational
• First is in career and technical education. First is in career and technical education.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Hey, can you come back and talk to our parents on, like, parent-teacher conference night?
• I need people whose job is to do that because educating the children and the parents is going to be the
• But if us as parents and guardians of these children don't actively look in those devices and educate
• and education to our parents about what these groups are and how to avoid becoming a victim of one of
• And I encourage parents to tell parents that sometimes it is a challenge in parenting in today's time

Summary: The committee held its inaugural meeting and heard opening remarks from the chair and vice chair about the committee’s purpose: studying issues affecting women and children in Louisiana, including health, education, economic opportunity, safety, and criminal justice. After roll call, the committee proceeded with informational presentations rather than taking any formal votes. Members emphasized the committee’s role in gathering testimony and identifying policy solutions. The first major presentation came from the Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention. The director reviewed 2025 data showing 2,963 identified victims, 15,437 service instances, and trafficking reports in 62 of 64 parishes. She explained Louisiana’s coordinated response system, including screening tools, child advocacy center referrals, and the DCFS hotline option for trafficking reports. She also described familial trafficking, new victim outreach and identification tools, and two priority bills: HB 321, which would create immunity from prostitution offenses for child victims under Safe Harbor principles, and SB 83, which would require school board trafficking policies and expand victim advocacy services to labor trafficking victims and survivors up to age 21. Committee members asked about reporting procedures, school use of the tools, service gaps, and whether the data showed increases due to better identification. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office on online child exploitation and child sexual abuse material. The presenter said the Louisiana ICAC Task Force received 31,203 tips in 2025, made 545 arrests, identified or rescued more than 80 child victims, and executed over 1,500 search warrants. He described rapid tip-to-arrest responses in recent cases, the expansion of partner agencies statewide, and the creation of an Orleans Metro ICAC task force. Members asked about community presentations, the role of social media in exploitation, the use of geolocation, the prosecution of out-of-state offenders, and the need for more analysts and outreach staff. The discussion also covered sadistic online enticement, sextortion, live-streamed abuse, and the need for parents and schools to monitor children’s online activity. At the end of the meeting, the committee began receiving a legislative auditor’s presentation on the treatment and care of incarcerated women, focusing on jail policies, health care, restraint use, and reentry, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation is completed. No committee votes or formal actions were recorded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR EDUCATION, THE BILL DIRECTS MORE THAN 25 MILLION NEW FUNDING TO OUR RURAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUMS.
• BEFORE THE PARENTS MADE THEIR SCHOOL CHOICES.
• TO ALL OF US WHO BELIEVE IN PARENTAL CHOICE AND EDUCATION AS I DO AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT WAS TOUGH
• TO REDUCE PAPERWORK FOR PARENTS.
• EDUCATION IS A BIG DEAL. IT'S NOT EASY.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The students are here in the gallery with their parents.
• I will specifically speak to the parents' rights legislation.
• And parents' rights ordinances are only about making sure that parents know what's going on with their
• You can't get more pro-LGB than saying, we want to make sure the parent knows so the parent can provide
• Make sure the parent knows so the parent can provide love and support.

Keywords: 988, house, all