Transcript Highlights:

• achievement and service as Miss Jacksonville State University 2025.
• 52:00.640><c> and</c> Elizabeth came and met with me and Elizabeth came and met with me and brought<00
• and seven, and we need to change them back to six and seven.
• </c> 88, and 91. 88, and 91.
• Uh, it takes existing funds that are flow through from the ETF through the two-year colleges in the University

Transcript Highlights:

• The other one is high school and college athletics.
• college athlete, wine aficionado, and Yop Broker.
• Clerk, I went to college at Lake City Community College and transferred to the University of Florida.
• And one of my buddies and fraternity brothers and roommates from college, Joey Williams, our county judge
• And one of my buddies and fraternity brothers and roommates from college, Joey Williams, our county judge

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests including law enforcement officers and several student visitors. The chamber then adopted the special order report and moved to the special order calendar, with members also approving the journal and establishing a quorum. Later in the day, the House paused for several introductions and farewell remarks, including extended closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service, staff, constituents, and policy priorities. The House passed several bills, often after brief explanations and amendments. CS/SB 590 on the statute of limitations for failures to report child abuse was clarified to apply prospectively and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder was amended to include House language and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) passed 112-0 after an amendment merging House and Senate provisions, and CS/SB 1246 on the linking industry to nursing education fund passed 112-0 after amendments expanding eligible contributions and program support. Additional bills approved included CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care standards, CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences, CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts for aviation safety, CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services, and CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, which would allow school coaches to use limited personal funds to support student-athletes with items such as food, transportation, and rehabilitation services, with parental consent added by amendment. Most of these measures passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with SB 422 passing 108-2. The House also heard debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, a bill restricting counties and municipalities from taking official actions related to DEI and limiting the use of public funds for DEI-related activities and contracts. Members questioned how the bill would affect local government practices, observances, and staff functions, and the sponsor explained several exceptions and enforcement provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a plumber at the University of Washington, and I am in PERS, too.
• I'm a faculty member at Seattle Central College and District President for AFT Local 1789.
• I'm an employee of the University of Washington, a PERS 2 enrollee since 2008, and a member of UAW 4121
• AFT Washington represents 6,500 workers, mostly in the community and technical college system, but we
• Washington represents 6.5,000 workers, mostly in the community and technical college system, but we also

Bills: SB5439 , SB6109 , SB6304

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: investment, thermal coal, divestment, state investment board, fossil fuels, environmental impact, renewable energy, detention facilities, state funds, privatization, criminal justice reform, Washington State Investment Board, responsible investment, sustainability, corporate governance

Transcript Highlights:

• and compassion.
• He trained in surgery at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and he has practiced plastic surgery in
• He's a college professor, author, and pastor who has spent more than 20 years teaching Bible and theology
• McAfee holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and has taught courses in the university. Dr.
• And that's my thought. Child, there should be no probation. And that's my thought, and I vote yes.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day. Members then introduced a number of guests and delegations, with a major theme being Arizona Creative Economy Day and the presence of artists, arts advocates, and cultural organizations at the Capitol. Several members highlighted the economic and community value of the arts, and other personal privilege remarks recognized farm workers, Women’s History Month honorees, and Transgender Day of Visibility. The House then resolved into Committee of the Whole and considered several Senate bills. SB 1113, SB 1165, SB 1477, and SB 1479 were each reported out with do-pass recommendations, with amendments adopted on SB 1113, SB 1477, and SB 1479. Members described SB 1113 as supporting a City of Phoenix police crisis team, SB 1165 as removing financial barriers to breast cancer testing and diagnosis, and SB 1477 as adding transparency and accountability for senior referral agencies. SB 1479 was also advanced after a floor amendment was adopted. On third reading, the House passed SB 1092 on probation by a vote of 39-17, with supporters emphasizing protections for child victims and opposition to probation for child sex offenders. SB 1181, relating to certified public accountants, passed 47-9 after concerns were raised about delegating key licensing requirements to rulemaking. SB 1473, concerning municipal and county zoning, passed 49-7. The House also adopted a motion to request Senate consent to adjourn after Thursday, April 2, 2026, until Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and then adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you were accepted into Dartmouth College on a full scholarship, you shattered expectations,
• Sheila Moore, University of Central Florida, Associate Lecturer and Program Coordinator.
• And finally, Akila Reeder-Guliev, Academic Success Coach, University of Central Florida.
• High School, and finally, Akila Reeder-Guliev, Academic Success Coach, University of Central Florida.
• the University of Florida than any other college in the state of Florida.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for two service members killed in the Middle East, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Members adopted the special order report and then began taking up the special order calendar. The first major measure was HB 7031, the annual tax package, which included a hunting, fishing, and camping sales tax holiday, a back-to-school holiday moved earlier in the summer, property tax changes for mobile home parks and other exemptions, reductions in pari-mutuel taxes and fees, extensions and expansions of several tax credit programs, vacation-rental tax collection changes, and a full decoupling from federal tax changes in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill drew questions about the fiscal impact of decoupling and the firearm-accessories holiday; supporters emphasized fiscal caution, housing and home-hardening provisions, and family tax relief, while opponents objected to the firearm-related tax break. HB 7031 passed 105-2. The House then passed CS/CS/CS HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations, which updates business development rules, board membership, and creates a strategic spaceport hub designation. CS/CS HB 639/CS SB 246 on specialty license plates also passed after a strike-all amendment that added several new plates, revised the Fraternal Order of Police plate, and tightened financial and nonprofit requirements for plate sponsors. CS HB 697 on drug prices and coverage passed after debate on pharmacy benefit manager reforms requiring equal reimbursement, prohibiting forced losses on drugs, and allowing consolidated appeals. CS/CS HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation passed with an amendment clarifying fingerprinting provisions, and CS/CS HB 527 passed with a human-review requirement for insurance claim denials so AI cannot be the sole basis for denying or reducing claims. Additional bills approved included CS HB 1449, which limits use of the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program when a claim is already in the federal process and, by amendment, narrows the bill to out-of-network emergency services and claims of $50,000 or less; CS HB 93, requiring surgical smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers, which passed overwhelmingly after emotional bipartisan praise for the sponsor’s multi-session effort; and CS HB 1217, which prohibits governmental entities from adopting net-zero greenhouse gas policies, after Democrats argued it would preempt local climate and resilience efforts and Republicans argued it protects energy reliability and affordability. The House also passed CS/CS HB 1461 establishing a framework for licensing and regulating advanced nuclear reactors, with supporters framing it as a step toward reliable, affordable, cleaner energy. Later, CS HB 1229 on residential homes for medically or technologically dependent children was explained as creating a licensure program for medically complex children’s homes and was rolled over for final passage as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• increasing tuition at public colleges and universities.
• increasing tuition at public colleges and universities.
• increasing tuition at public colleges and universities.
• increasing tuition at public colleges and universities.
• increasing tuition at public colleges and universities. ...public colleges and universities and other

Transcript Highlights:

• , high schools, and various colleges, high schools, and other<00:09:53.160><c> schools</c><00:09:53.560
• in colleges and universities all over the state.
• in colleges and universities all over the state.
• in colleges and universities all over the state.
• </c> didn't even include all the schools and didn't even include all the schools and universities<00:

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• And so now we're a year and a half in.
• And next, we have our Cascade and our Columbia units, and so those...
• Per the University of Washington, by December 8th, soon they will have staff in place and will increase
• school districts and colleges are navigating enrollment declines and structural budget issues.
• and for youth and foster care.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a work session covering juvenile rehabilitation system capacity, behavioral health capacity, federal funding changes, and a 2026 budget overview. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth and post-25 residents, and is projected to keep growing, creating crowding at Green Hill School and placement limits across the system. They described safe operating capacity concerns, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for additional medium-security and specialized mental health beds, including a proposed Parkland facility and continued development of Harbor Heights. Committee members were told to follow up separately with questions, and the presentation moved on due to time. Behavioral health officials from DSHS and HCA then reviewed forensic and civil capacity. DSHS described expanding state hospital and civil treatment capacity through Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, Brockman Campus, and a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State, while noting ongoing construction, staffing, and funding issues. HCA outlined its strategy to move long-term civil commitment care into community settings through contracted long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams. Members asked about out-of-state placements, Medicaid funding, and the differences among facility types; officials said the goal is to right-size inpatient capacity while expanding community-based supports. OFM then presented an update on federal funding and the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371. Agency staff said H.R. 1 would tighten SNAP work requirements, reduce exemptions, shift some lawful immigrants to state-funded food assistance, increase state administrative and benefit costs, and affect Medicaid eligibility, redeterminations, cost sharing, and state-directed payments. HCA estimated major Medicaid caseload reductions and significant future fiscal impacts, while OFM also noted marketplace subsidy changes and higher education and K-12 downstream effects. H.R. 5371 was described as a short-term federal funding extension through January 30, 2026, with some full-year appropriations and a change affecting hemp producers. Finally, Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview, citing declining NGFO revenue forecasts, reversions, vetoes, and the added uncertainty from H.R. 1, with the projected ending fund balance moving from positive amounts to a negative outlook over the four-year period.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is phase two of the innovation facilities that Leeward Community College and the community college
• </c><00:21:33.039><c> and</c><00:21:33.159><c> the</c> Leeward Community College and the Leeward Community
• College and the Community<00:21:33.720><c> College</c><00:21:34.039><c> systems</c><00:21:34.400><c>
• ><c> maybe</c> the state and their production and maybe the state and their production and maybe what
• and Korea and this Singapore Australia and Korea and this would<00:23:48.760><c> actually</c><00:23:

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on several measures, with most witnesses either supporting the bills or offering technical concerns and suggested amendments. On SB 338, testimony came from the Department of Taxation, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and Surpac, and the bill later moved forward with amendments. On SB 558, testimony was largely in support from the Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation, which described the measure as supporting rural jobs, food-system development, and use of off-grade agricultural products. ADC requested flexibility for neighbor-island siting and funding allocations, while the committee also discussed whether the bill’s language should be made more general and whether it could raise constitutional concerns about overly specific site designations. The bill was advanced with amendments and a noted appropriation allocation of $350,000. The committee also heard SB 186, which drew support from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute, DED, ADC, AAHU RC&D, and the Hawaii Youth Food Council. Supporters said the measure would improve coordination among agencies on food systems, help address food security and the state’s 30% by 2030 farm-to-school goal, and create a more organized statewide food systems effort. SB 328 received support from the Department of Taxation and Hawaii Farm Bureau, with Farm Bureau describing it as a way to repurpose existing dairy infrastructure to revive hog production and support livestock and farm-to-school goals; the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the measure as a potentially narrow industry incentive that could unfairly benefit a specific taxpayer and said a direct appropriation would be more transparent. SB 89 was described by Hawaii Farm Bureau as a labeling measure intended to protect the integrity of a culturally relevant local product, though the group raised concerns about wording and implementation timing. Later, SB 742 received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii KidsCAN, the Hawaii Workforce Funders Collaborative, and the State Commission on the Status of Women. Testifiers said the bill would improve cross-agency data sharing, support workforce and education planning, and create public-facing dashboards; the Commission on the Status of Women asked to be included in the working group or as an advisory member. In decision-making, the committee adopted amendments and advanced SB 338, SB 558, and SB 1186. For SB 1186, the chair’s recommendation added three positions, specified committee-note funding amounts for those positions and operating funds, and revised working-group membership to have co-chairs appoint five members with relevant experience and expertise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tim Madden, representing the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and
• Let me get her last name right: Shria Shrini Vazan, student trustee for Solano Community College and
• the founder and president of the Solano Community College Reproductive Health Club.
• a recent graduate of the aforementioned San Jose State University program and I'm in support thank you
• And it came out of the University of Chicago, and the professor is a hero of many of the artists here

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. AB 416 would allow emergency room physicians to initiate 5150 psychiatric holds, with supporters saying it would reduce delays in emergency departments and speed access to psychiatric care; counties and behavioral health directors opposed the bill, and members raised concerns about juvenile use and whether the measure was a band-aid for a larger system problem. The bill was later approved on a unanimous roll call after amendments. AB 446, the Surveillance Pricing Act, would prohibit businesses from using personal data to set individualized prices; supporters framed it as a consumer fairness and anti-discrimination measure, while business and industry groups argued the bill was too broad, could chill discounts, and should be enforced by a public agency rather than a private right of action. After extensive discussion of exemptions, discounts, and enforcement, the bill passed on a divided vote. AB 632 would give local governments a faster way to collect unpaid administrative fines for serious code violations, including illegal cannabis activity, unsafe housing conditions, and fire hazards, by allowing money judgments and clarifying ordinary property lien authority. County, city, and code enforcement representatives supported the bill as a tool to improve compliance and reduce costly litigation; there was no recorded opposition, and the bill passed unanimously as amended. ACA 7, a constitutional amendment from Assembly Member Jackson, was presented as a clarification of Section 31A of the California Constitution to curb misuse and align it with voter intent; it received support from Education Trust-West and was placed on consent after committee approval. AB 649 would create a longer, six-year incentive period for businesses that proactively obtain a CASp accessibility inspection and correct identified barriers, giving them a 120-day right to cure later claims during that window. The author and small business witness argued the bill would encourage voluntary compliance and reduce predatory ADA litigation, while disability rights groups ultimately moved to neutral after amendments and committee members debated whether the bill might weaken enforcement or create confusion between state and federal claims. The committee also discussed the need for better public awareness of CASp inspections and the broader problem of repeat litigation against small businesses. The bill was approved as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Transportation and Energy had consideration and hearing on the following appointments and
• </c><00:39:38.640><c> And</c> carceral, and economic systems. And carceral, and economic systems.
• c> Health</c><00:39:57.680><c> and</c> Department of Public Health and Department of Public Health and
• and Representative Soer and Roberts and Representative Soer and Espinosa<00:46:06.319><c> concerning
• c> Woodro</c><00:53:46.720><c> and</c> Representative Sooper and Woodro and Representative Sooper and

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> out and just focus um on trauma PTSD and out and just focus um on trauma PTSD and uh<00:05:30.160
• Sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School, a clinician in our first episode psychosis and
• behavioral sciences at psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the<00:07:40.080><c> University</c><00:
• systematic</c> tribe and the culture and systematic tribe and the culture and systematic racism. racism
• and removal, reservation system, aotment and assimilation<00:13:20.320><c> and</c><00:13:20.639><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• , and universities, and our friends from the keynote board initiative.
• I had a ton of students and also NextGen Service Corps from ASU and some of our community colleges want
• And I also want to give a shout out to the people, the students from Glenview College Prep.
• And I also want to give a shout out to the people, the students from Glenview College Prep.
• Cattleman of the Year Award, and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Arizona.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Sarah Lee Davison of Tucson. Members also introduced numerous guests and advocacy groups in the gallery, including Aliento students for Education Day, gun violence prevention advocates, agricultural visitors, military veterans, and representatives of the Kino Border Initiative and Nucor Steel. The chamber then observed a moment of silence in honor of Andy Grosetta, a longtime Arizona rancher and cattle industry leader, after a proclamation was read memorializing his life and renaming a meat transparency bill the Andy Grosetta Act. The House entered Committee of the Whole and considered HB 2074 and HB 2148. HB 2074, described by supporters as a measure to strengthen mandatory reporting related to partial-birth abortion and verify compliance with existing law, drew sharp opposition from Democrats who argued it would criminalize medical workers and punish women seeking care; supporters said it targeted only those with direct knowledge of the procedure and protected unborn children. The committee adopted the Judiciary Committee amendment and then gave HB 2074 a do pass recommendation as amended. HB 2148, described briefly by its sponsor as a transparency bill, also received an Appropriations Committee amendment and a do pass recommendation as amended. The Committee of the Whole reported both bills back to the House, which adopted the report and referred HB 2074 and HB 2148 to engrossing. The House also announced committee meetings for later that day and the following morning, including Appropriations, Federalism and Military Affairs, Science and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, and Rural Economic Development. The chamber then adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• and may own and build as a last resort and sell electric transmission projects, and the authority may
• allows them to attend college-level courses and earn both high school and college credits upon completion
• Institutions of higher education that offer Running Start courses—community and technical colleges, Eastern
• Washington University, and Central Washington University—report indeterminate overall revenue impacts
• For the record, my name is Jamie Traugget, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Bills: HB2747

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: budget sustainability, state finance, fiscal policy, economic growth, government spending

Transcript Highlights:

• I am from Melba, Idaho, and I am currently a student at the University of Idaho studying food and nutrition
• I am from Melba, Idaho, and I am currently a student at the University of Idaho studying food and nutrition
• I am from Meridian, and I'm currently at the University of Idaho attending.
• Simplot endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• You have lots of pre-reads, lots of facts and figures about the university and our publication with some

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• to you President Michael Berndt from Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College
• So, yeah, I'm President of Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College.
• Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share the PCA College Service Corps with you.
• ><c> students</c><00:58:09.359><c> and</c> With this program, college students and With this program,
• It also included age-friendly universities and age-friendly health centers.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Suzanne had earned her Associate of Arts from Centralia College in the year 2000, and she attended Western
• She's also pursued additional education at the University of Puget Sound and Washington State University
• Suzanne brings valuable experience and perspective to the Clark College Board of Trustees, also as a
• Opportunities for everyone is truly a benefit to Clark College students and the Board of Trustees, so
• Jesse Johnson graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in 2016 and with a

Bills: SB5223 , SB5286 , SB6002 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5874 , SB5863 , SB5972 , SB5941 , SB5203 , SB6014 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB5825

Summary: The Senate convened with opening ceremonies, approved the previous day’s journal, and referred committee reports and new bill introductions to the designated committees, including sending SB 6118 and SB 6292 to Ways and Means. The chamber then confirmed several gubernatorial appointments to college boards: Glenn F. Ellis to the Peninsula College Board of Trustees, Suzanne Donaldson to the Clark College Board of Trustees, and Jesse E. Johnson to the Highline College Board of Trustees, all by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. The Senate then considered and passed several bills. SB 6014, a technical cleanup to pregnancy and postpartum accommodation laws, passed 41-8 after supporters said it clarified privacy protections and removed barriers for workers. SB 5863, dealing with preservation and inspection of state historical records tied to Lakeland Village, passed 49-0. SB 5825, authorizing the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, passed 33-16 after two proposed amendments to limit administrative costs and cap contributions were rejected. SB 5874, allowing employers to correct certain unemployment insurance reporting errors, passed 49-0, and SB 5286, setting a statutory reimbursement cap for local police and fire services provided to state hospitals, passed 49-0 after an amendment set a $750,000 per-biennium maximum per facility. The Senate also passed SB 5904, requiring nursing titles to be used only by licensed human persons, and SB 5915, updating the health technology assessment process used for coverage decisions, both unanimously. SB 5919, creating voluntary wildfire-prevention incentives for agricultural producers and fire districts, also passed 49-0. SB 5938, making adjustments to foreclosure prevention fees and exemptions, passed 49-0. SB 5957, expanding the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Program and its advisory committee, was taken up near the end of the transcript, with supporters emphasizing youth safety and trafficking prevention; the roll call was underway when the transcript ended. A major policy debate centered on SB 6002, which regulates automated license plate reader systems and driver privacy protections. After a proposed amendment to expand authorized uses was rejected, the bill’s striker was adopted. Supporters described the measure as a bipartisan privacy-and-public-safety balance that limits misuse and unauthorized sharing of ALPR data while preserving law enforcement utility; opponents argued it still needed more work or broader privacy protections. The engrossed second substitute passed 48-9. Another significant debate involved SB 5972, expanding interest arbitration for correctional employees in local city and county governments; supporters cited consistency and labor stability, while opponents warned of burdens on smaller counties. That bill passed 34-15. SB 5203, creating a wildlife connectivity planning and funding framework, passed 31-18 after supporters argued it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve grant competitiveness, while critics said it was too prescriptive and could affect rural land use and agriculture.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you talk about going to colleges and universities, you need to get ready in the sixth grade, folks
• I spoke with our local school board, our adult education center, and our state colleges, and they are
• And our current legislation allows state colleges to collect tuition revenue from local school districts
• We also do a really great process with colleges and universities in our state, as well as informal training
• And another issue is a lot of our local training entities at the community college level and higher education

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee held an introductory meeting focused largely on member introductions and “homework” reports about education issues in each district. Members raised a wide range of concerns and priorities, including early childhood care and VPK access, school choice and school closures, teacher recruitment and retention, conflict resolution and school safety, early literacy and preparedness, technology and AI/STEM instruction, attendance and mental health, ESE services, dual enrollment and career/technical education, caregiving youth, and real-time student enrollment/funding tracking. Several members also emphasized local challenges such as housing-driven teacher turnover, disaster-related attendance problems, and funding inequities across counties. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Florida’s early learning system from Chancellor Carrie Miller of the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning. She outlined the structure and funding of School Readiness, VPK, and the Gold Seal Quality Care program, the role of early learning coalitions and DCF, and the state’s quality and accountability measures. She highlighted the importance of kindergarten readiness, teacher quality, and the new School Readiness Plus program, which helps families transition off subsidy more gradually. Additional panelists from the Children’s Forum, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, and a Tallahassee child care provider discussed workforce shortages, low wages, provider turnover, the TEACH scholarship program, Help Me Grow, local coalition operations, and the need for more providers and more consistent regulation. During questions, members asked about wait lists, special needs services, teacher retention, provider onboarding, and DCF regulation. The panel said Miami-Dade’s wait list was about 4,000 children and described priority categories for service; they also said children with disabilities are screened and referred for support, though not given a separate priority category. Panelists reported that TEACH has helped reduce turnover through education support and service commitments, but said wages and career pathways remain major issues. Members also pressed for clearer, more consistent licensing standards and more support for new providers entering the field. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• problem-based learning ensures that students across Minnesota are prepared for both college and career
• And what's happening is our students are going to college and using that as the most expensive career
• And sometimes it's just not the right fit for them. They might not need the four-year college.
• </c><00:21:36.320><c> the</c><00:21:36.559><c> most</c> to college and using that as the most to college
• They attend career fairs, college fairs, and they build a four-year portfolio documenting growth skills

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:33.040><c> the</c><00:52:33.200><c> college</c> the high school teachers and the college the
• when you're in high school and you haven't graduated, and you take a college class like English composition
• when you're in high school and you haven't graduated, and you take a college class like English composition
• Yeah, so you did make it allowable in the law to... and you take a college class like and you take a
• </c><04:59:22.958><c> college</c><04:59:23.320><c> credit</c> high school credit and college credit high

Summary: The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call. The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work. Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.