Transcript Highlights:

• Funding our higher education institutions.
• That one is the education programming component, the SNAP education that is no longer a federal program
• That's the beginning of the Higher Education...
• Higher Education Department.
• Chair, just on the Hispanic Education Act, the Black Education Act, and the Bilingual Education Act not

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• special education special education process<00:32:57.519> is<00:32:57.760> working
• the education entity that administers the education freedom<00:34:19.760> accounts.
• We need some insight into how special education coding is happening.
• We need some insight into how special education coding is happening.
• Special education spending, and I think it, you know, look at that top list.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first accepted the minutes from the April 4 meeting, then moved to a discussion of potential audit topics and follow-up on prior performance audits. Christine Young, Director of Audits, and Jay Henry, performance audit supervisor, walked members through a spreadsheet showing the status of roughly 30 performance audit reports from the past 10 years, including the number of observations, whether agencies concurred, how many observations were fully addressed, and when each report was last updated. They explained that “fully addressed” only means the agency addressed the observations it agreed with, and that some reports include rejoinders when the audit office disagrees with an agency’s response. Members also discussed how some audits have been updated and others have not, including an example from the prescription drug monitoring program, which moved from the Board of Pharmacy/OPLC to HHS and was recently updated after staff contacted HHS. A major focus was the mental health workforce licensing audit, which was described as having little or no follow-up in the spreadsheet. Several members said this was especially concerning given the ongoing mental health crisis and argued that the committee should require a response. The committee agreed to start by sending letters to the chairs of the boards listed under that audit, asking the chair or designee to appear at the next meeting or respond in writing about what has been done and what remains unresolved. Members noted that the current process is voluntary and self-reported, which can lead to long delays or no response, especially for boards that meet only monthly and may have changed membership or leadership since the audit was issued. The committee also discussed other audit follow-up issues, including the liquor commission division of enforcement and licensing, which staff said was farther along than its percentage suggested, and a recently released human rights report that was not yet due for update. Members raised the possibility of using future budget reviews to ask agencies what they have done about old audit findings. In addition, the committee briefly discussed future audit topics, including a possible audit of local school districts related to special education, and staff explained that the statute allows the LBA to audit a limited number of non-state entities over a five-year period. The motion to authorize the chair and LBA to draft and send letters to the mental health workforce licensing boards passed by show of hands with one abstention. The next meeting was tentatively set for June 6 in State House 100, with staff to confirm the room and schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher education, please welcome Lupe Gallegos Díaz.
• So we must redouble our efforts to educate and to train.
• So we must redouble our efforts to educate, to train.
• But clearly we need that education. Folks need and deserve that education.
• Physical education is far more than exercise.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and it's my understanding that the DNR is interested in doing education too.
• Um, and it's my understanding that the DNR is interested in doing education too.
• I love the educational component to this.
• I the the educational component to this.
• ><00:31:51.679> looking educational component along with looking educational component along with

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• B2 is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• B3 is a letter from the Department of Education.
• The first item is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Higher Education.
• E2 is a letter from Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• Item G1 is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Career and Technical Education, for

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, uh, Senator Grrew, there's for for K12 education. Uh the standing for for K12 education.
• uh under the under this Senate Education uh under the under this Senate Education version<00:10:
• <00:14:27.920> uh Wyoming Department of Education uh Wyoming Department of Education uh establishes
• <00:15:50.160> Committee added by the Senate Education Committee added by the Senate Education
• to as pared educators for that purpose. to as pared educators for that purpose.

Bills: HB0150

Keywords: Wyoming business council, economic development, task force, evaluation, policy reform, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education.
• I am also the proud product of the state of Florida’s higher education system as well.
• or out of town for their education.
• I would also like to assist in the recruiting of leaders and educators.
• So my background is very heavily laden into the world of education, which I love.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to hear confirmation testimony for a large slate of university and state college trustees. Most of the discussion centered on the nominees’ backgrounds, ties to their institutions, and priorities such as student success, workforce development, financial sustainability, research growth, housing, and maintaining or improving university rankings. Several University of Florida trustees emphasized campus improvements, “One UF” integration, institutional neutrality, and ambitions to move UF into the top tier nationally. Other nominees highlighted goals for Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, UCF, Florida State, Florida Poly, the Florida Prepaid College Board, and several state colleges, with recurring themes of affordability, economic mobility, cybersecurity, and keeping Florida students in-state for college and careers. Public testimony was heard on the Florida A&M appointment, where Elijah Hooks spoke in opposition to the current administration and described his expulsion, arrest, and trespass from the university after protesting the selection of President Marva Johnson. During questioning of FAU nominee Tina Vidal-Duart, senators asked about her prior service on the Hope Florida Foundation board and about reports concerning CDR Health’s contracting practices; she said she was not aware of the foundation issues at the time and noted that CDR’s state contract was a flat daily rate, so subcontractor pricing affected only the company’s internal margins. Other nominees received little or no questioning. At the end of the meeting, the committee voted to confirm all nominees except Tina Vidal-Duart separately. Senator Bracy Davis requested the separate vote and opposed her confirmation, citing concerns related to her Hope Florida Foundation board service. Despite that objection, the committee ultimately voted to report Vidal-Duart favorably as well. The committee also noted that one University of West Florida nominee would be taken up at a later hearing because he was unable to attend.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 81, introduced by the Committee on Education, revises provisions governing education.
• Assembly Bill No. 533, introduced by the Committee on Education, revises provisions relating to education
• Assembly Bill No. 533, introduced by the Committee on Education, revises provisions relating to education
• It all revises provisions relating to education.
• Assembly Bill 494, introduced by the Committee on Education, revises provisions relating to education

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• use tax and um non-educational use tax and um non-educational taxes<00:09:52.080> to<00:09
• non-educational non-educational state<00:10:04.160> adorn<00:10:04.880> taxes<00:10:05.200
• This is going to allow educational tours to these distilleries and provide an educational component.
• educational distilleries and uh provide educational component.<00:12:39.519> It's<00:12:39.760
• But there'll be three educational tours.

Bills: SB265, HB593

Keywords: data processing centers, tax abatements, economic development, construction related taxes, energy infrastructure, small craft distilleries, wineries, alcoholic beverages, licensing, craft beverage industry, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair Calatayud: COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION POSTSECONDARY WILL COME TO ORDER, PLEASE CALL. >> Chair Calatayud
• I WANTED TO DEDICATE MY LATER YEARS TO IMPROVING EDUCATION AND HE ASKED ME TO TELL HIM WHAT I WOULD DO
• CURRENT LAW ALREADY REQUIRES STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS TO BE STATE RESIDENTS.
• IN YOUR COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS WE HAD MULTIPLE NUMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
• THIS HAD BEEN A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON MY ME MENTALLY AND TOOK A TOLL ON MY EDUCATION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this issue, for those of you who aren't on Education Committee, is a very wonky education issue related
• those of you who aren't on Education those of you who aren't on Education Committee,<01:48:22.400
• Committee, is a very wonky education Committee, is a very wonky education issue<01:48:25.840>
• From the Education Committee, House Bill 490, an act relating to employment at public postsecondary education
• From the Education Committee, House Bill 490, an act relating to employment at public postsecondary education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, let's start with an education success.
• So, we know the legislature has so much to do with education.
• generate dollars for public education. generate dollars for public education.
• The cost of schools and education.
• You've worked on the education omnibus bill. What are you most excited by?

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: A Minnesota senator discussed recent education gains, including the state’s all-time high graduation rate of nearly 85%, and credited bipartisan work on education policy and finance, along with targeted investments in classroom funding, student and staff mental health, and overall student well-being. She said those efforts have especially helped groups that have historically lagged behind, including American Indian, African-American, and Asian students. A major topic was Senate File 3593, a bipartisan proposal for a constitutional amendment to modernize the state’s school trust fund. The senator explained that Minnesota’s school trust lands and related fund, now about $2.3 billion, currently distribute roughly $74 per student through interest and dividends. The amendment would allow more flexible investment and increase the distribution from 2% to 4.5%, which supporters estimate would raise per-student funding to about $122 without increasing taxes. She said the proposal is intended to preserve the fund’s corpus while generating more money for schools now, with a three-year lookback to review results. She also highlighted school safety funding in the session’s public safety bills, including money for school security and the first-ever grants to non-public schools. She said those dollars can support not only building security but also mental health and social-emotional needs. In the education omnibus bill, she pointed to changes to compensatory aid formulas, a report on how districts use dollars for teacher and staff health insurance, and interest in a possible statewide health plan to improve efficiency and services. No votes were taken in the interview, but she urged voters to approve the constitutional amendment in November and noted that blank ballots would count as no votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we know education, and so much more.
• , and the first vice president of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators.
• Now, um, you want to tell us as educators that sale should be tax-free. That isn't right.
• <00:13:34.720> must<00:13:35.040> call As an educator, I also must call As an educator
• Now, um you want to tell us as educators Now, um you want to tell us as educators that<00:14:01.520

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a press-style discussion in support of House File 4343, which would end Minnesota’s sales tax exemption for digital advertising services and physical advertising space such as billboards. Supporters said the bill would raise more than $300 million in revenue and allow the state sales tax rate to be reduced, while also modernizing the tax code to reflect a digital, service-based economy. Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota argued the current sales tax base is outdated, too narrow, and unfairly shifts burden onto Minnesota businesses, workers, and property taxpayers. Representative Lislegard said the bill would help fund schools, health care, infrastructure, child care, and local government, and framed it as a response to structural budget gaps and rising property taxes. She said large corporations are not paying their fair share and that the state should cut exemptions rather than reduce public services. Several speakers from labor, education, health care, and the arts backed the proposal, including a working parent who cited high child care costs, an AFSCME representative from Hennepin County Medical Center who said the revenue is needed to support the safety-net hospital, a musician who said streaming and ad-driven platforms profit from artists’ labor, and an educator who criticized social media companies’ impact on youth. The speakers repeatedly argued that major tech and advertising companies such as Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, TikTok, and Spotify should contribute more to public services, while ordinary Minnesotans already pay too much. Representative White closed by acknowledging the bill faces a difficult path but said supporters would keep fighting for it. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the portion provided, and the event ended with one question from the audience.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Pre-K through 12 Education will now come to order.
• I'm proud to talk about our resiliency education standards.
• I'm proud to talk about our resiliency education standards.
• It's making sure that we've got great civics education.
• It's making sure that we've got great civics education.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Pre-K through 12 Education received a Department of Education presentation from Deputy Commissioner Juan Copa on Florida’s K-12 assessment system, including FAST progress monitoring, end-of-course exams, science, writing, alternate assessments, English language acquisition testing, and VPK progress monitoring. Copa reported year-over-year gains in ELA and mathematics, noted that end-of-course and science results also improved, and explained how assessment data are used for school grades, third-grade promotion, graduation requirements, and other accountability measures. He also reviewed the independent study required by SB 1048, which recommended keeping PM3 as the primary accountability measure, proceeding cautiously on further test-length reductions and remote testing expansion, and using PM1/PM2 only as supplemental evidence in limited cases. Committee members focused on whether the new system is improving student outcomes enough, what supports teachers and schools need to use the data effectively, and how Florida compares nationally. Chancellor Dr. Burns said the department is emphasizing implementation of the new standards, high-quality instructional materials, coaching, professional learning, collaboration, and school improvement support, and also pointed to resiliency education standards and mental health supports. Copa said Florida’s latest NAEP results remain mixed but still generally outperform the nation in some grades, while members pressed for more information on best practices, other states’ approaches, and how districts are using the data. Several members requested follow-up information, including the independent review report, breakdowns of PM1/PM2/PM3 results by grade and subgroup, details on VPK outcomes by provider type and full-day versus half-day programs, and data on use of the CLT versus SAT/ACT for graduation concordant scores. The committee also discussed third-grade retention outcomes, computer-based testing, district assessment calendars, and whether some districts still administer additional local testing. No votes were taken on legislation, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Davis moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education.
• Department of Education.
• Department of Education.
• Department of Education.
• Department of Education.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Education, and the State Board of Education to obtain feedback and input on the program
• And the Sacramento County Office of Education and Santa Clara County Office of Education regularly hold
• So we do know that county offices of education and local educational agencies that are operating a preschool
• I appreciate the comment around doing some education and education campaign.
• As I said, they have 391 educators that are a part of their educator ambassador program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an education consultant in the Bureau of Special Education Support at the Department of Education
• I'm an education consultant in the Bureau of Special Education Support at the Department of Education
• are educational surrogate parents. are educational surrogate parents.
• Education surrogate.
• with the education at all or surrogate. with the education at all or surrogate.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 254, which Senator David Roford described as a technical correction to controlled substance inventory law for pharmacies. He said the bill would remove outdated language requiring inventories to be done in an odd-numbered year, while keeping the existing requirement that pharmacies conduct a full controlled substance inventory every two years in line with federal law. Members asked several clarifying questions about whether the requirement is pharmacy-by-pharmacy, whether new pharmacies would be affected, and whether the change would alter scope or compliance; the sponsor and a representative of the New Hampshire Pharmacist Association said it would not, and that it mainly provides clarity for pharmacies and inspectors. The public hearing on SB 254 was then closed, and the committee also heard support from a representative of the pharmacist community, who said the association supports the bill. The committee then discussed a non-germane amendment to SB 254 dealing with FBI background checks for educational surrogate parents under the Department of Education. Representative Leyon explained that the amendment was requested by the Department of Education after the FBI rejected prior statutory language, and that the goal was to allow people serving as educational surrogate parents to complete FBI fingerprint-based background checks so they can perform their duties. Department of Education and Department of Safety staff testified that the amendment mirrors language that has worked in other education-related background check statutes, including provisions with specific disqualifying offenses tied to child safety, and that the FBI requires precise statutory language and direct transmission of records through the Department of Safety. Members questioned why the FBI’s approval was needed, whether individuals could simply provide their own records, and whether changing federal leadership could require future changes; witnesses said the state needs both state and national records, that records must come directly from the FBI through the Department of Safety, and that the language is intended to satisfy current federal requirements. During the discussion, some members expressed skepticism about the need for the amendment and about placing it on a bill about controlled substance inventories, but no vote was taken during the portion of the transcript provided. The committee also briefly discussed a separate bill on physician assistants/physician associates, with members noting that the proposed name change would not alter scope of practice and that some outside groups had raised concerns about transparency, but that discussion was interrupted and not concluded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a parental rights advocate, New Hampshire education researcher focused on education excellence and
• education.
• I'm a parental rights advocate, New Hampshire education researcher focused on education excellence and
• education.
• c> in educated in educated in schools<00:33:15.120> to<00:33:15.320> prevent<00:33:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Committee on Education.
• <00:57:54.119> with<00:57:54.240> clear empowers Educators with clear empowers Educators
• and other education workers.
• <01:31:51.239> and administering special education and administering special education and
• regards to the Department of Education regards to the Department of Education and<01:50:07.280><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education heard several Department of Education-related bills and received extensive testimony on school meals and veteran diplomas. HB 628 would restore authority for the Department of Education to issue high school diplomas to veterans whose schooling was interrupted by World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The superintendent testified in support, explaining the authority had sunset in 2020 and describing the measure as a way to recognize veterans. No opposition or questions were raised, and the bill was left without further action in the excerpt. The committee also heard HB 1074 and HB 110, both supported by the Department of Education and the School Facilities Authority. HB 1074 was described as a cleanup measure to clarify land-related language and make the statute more consistent across state agencies and DOE. HB 110 concerned benchmarking and the farm-to-school/local food effort; DOE and several supporters, including county councils, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Hawaii Farmers Union, said the bill would help align metrics and support the 30% local food goal by 2030. Members questioned DOE about progress, and DOE said it was working on menus, procurement, and coordination with distributors and farmers. A Farm to School representative said the current bottleneck was poor communication with farmers and the need to bring them into planning earlier; DOE said it was still figuring out the process and that island-based procurement and separate RFPs were being explored. HB 328, relating to school meals and local resource food and plant-based options, drew the most testimony. DOE testified with comments, and the Attorney General’s office suggested revisions to clarify that the bill would apply to both DOE and charter schools, to separate public and private funds if donations or grants are accepted, and to add standards if nonprofit or private entities receive public money. Supporters included HSTA, the Hawaii Public Health Institute/Farm to School Network, Climate Protection Hawaii, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and numerous individuals and organizations. Supporters emphasized healthier school meals, student-requested plant-based options, support for local farms, and the 30% by 2030 goal. Some testimony urged more local purchasing and raised concerns about decentralization, while DOE said it was considering island-based procurement and separate contracts to better support local producers. No votes were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Subcommittee Number One on Education will come to order.
• governance proposal, and the special education funding.
• Good morning, Madam Chair and Senator Richeletta and education stakeholders.
• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education is adjourned.
• The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education is adjourned.

Keywords: 987, senate, all