Transcript Highlights:

• So, um uh signs of all of you as well.
• Do you want me to do all of<00:10:26.560><c> them?</c> of them? of them?
• When you think of our district, think of 40% of our students are Black, 25% of our students are Hispanic
• I would like to echo many of the people who spoke before me, my superintendent as well as the board chair
• Cloud school district, and I'm a trustee on the executive board of SEIU 284.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, with all of every piece of it.
• </c> component of that that's outside of component of that that's outside of administrative<00:40:16.320
• </c><00:50:22.079><c> of</c> at you referrals comparison of of at you referrals comparison of of procedures
• </c> cost of special ed that might be more of cost of special ed that might be more of a<00:52:35.520
• of trustees, at community mental health, to come in and have an office in my school and I also had a

Summary: The commission met to review and amend the minutes from its previous meeting, correcting the date, several spelling and wording errors, and clarifying references to a scholarship fund and a member’s title. The minutes were then approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair then turned to the commission’s work plan under SB 57, emphasizing the need to prioritize the statutory topics and identify which issues require additional research, documentation, and possible spreadsheets. Members discussed a broad range of special education cost drivers and policy questions, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, whether referrals increased after COVID school closures, intervention processes before referral, the cost of services required under IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal law, state law, and DOE rules, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, district sharing of resources, dispute resolution, graduation rates, and adult learning outcomes. Several members raised concerns that school environments, mental health, bullying, and possible overidentification may be contributing to rising special education numbers and costs, while others cautioned that some reported district percentages may be inflated or unclear because of how the data are counted. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid when state appropriations are insufficient and require the governor to draw a warrant to cover shortfalls. Representative Ames explained that the bill had been recommended for interim study because the commission is already examining special education costing, and he highlighted the gap between FY24 special education costs of about $977.1 million and state aid of $33.9 million for catastrophic aid, $67.4 million for differentiated aid, and $50.8 million in federal IDEA funds, leaving local districts to cover about $825.1 million. He argued the commission should ultimately make clear that both the federal government and the state should contribute more. The Department of Education, through Melissa White, answered questions about data and oversight. She said special education counts come from IEPs entered into the state system using SASIDs, that DOE monitors districts through both desk audits and on-site visits, and that billing is checked against the services listed in each student’s IEP. She also said DOE’s special education work is largely federally funded, with roughly $56.7 million received through IDEA this year and about $49.1 million flowing through to LEAs, while the department retains a small amount for administration and statewide support activities. Members also discussed how adequacy calculations use special education counts from the state system and how those figures are reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, with all of every piece of it.
• </c> component of that that's outside of component of that that's outside of administrative<00:40:16.320
• </c> cost of special ed that might be more of cost of special ed that might be more of a<00:52:35.520
• They're leaving our state, and those types of things, um, with the cost increase across the board and
• of trustees, to come in and have an office in my school.

Summary: The commission met to approve the November 21, 2025 minutes, making several clerical corrections before adopting them as amended. The edits included adding the date, correcting a misspelled name, clarifying references to a scholarship fund representative’s title, removing an incorrect “DOE” reference, and fixing a few wording errors. The minutes were approved with one abstention from members who were absent. The bulk of the meeting focused on organizing the commission’s work under SB 57 and identifying which special education cost issues should be prioritized for research and reporting. Members discussed a long list of topics, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, increases in referrals since school closures, interventions before referral, costs of non-medically necessary services in IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal and state requirements, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, dispute resolution, Medicaid and insurance use, graduation rates, and adult learning participation. Several members emphasized the need to combine or narrow topics and to gather better data before the report due July 1, 2026. Representative Ames highlighted HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid payments when state appropriations fall short, and explained that the Education Funding Committee recommended interim study. He argued that local districts are bearing too much of the cost and that the state and federal governments should provide more support. Other members raised concerns about rising special education identification rates, possible overidentification, school climate and mental health factors, bullying, staffing, speech therapy access, and residential placements. One member cautioned that DOE website numbers may be inflated or at least difficult to interpret because of how students are counted. Department of Education staff then explained how special education data and costs are monitored. They said student counts are tied to IEPs and SASIDs in the state system, districts are checked through both desk audits and on-site monitoring, and billed services are compared against IEP requirements. They also described IDEA funding, noting that most DOE special education staffing is federally funded, with a large share of federal money flowing through to local education agencies and the remainder supporting administration, monitoring, and training initiatives. Members discussed whether more staff and more robust oversight would improve accuracy and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• the State Board of Conservation, which covers the 10 counties.
• ><c> covers</c> State Board of conservation which covers State Board of conservation which covers the
• They said this bill is a way of helping out, that costs have increased across the board, that staff expect
• You go before the Adult Parole Board, and you can then be granted the privilege of parole, which is supervision
• Another example of a public protection, non-prosecutorial function is civil enforcement action if a board

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• You keep giving examples of parents who weren't on board with what the teachers were doing, but that's
• A lot of things, trying to get in touch with the school boards, they don't email me back. Nothing.
• of...
• I think that kind of talk is very politicized and it's coming from a place of of ignorance where folks
• account for less than a fifth of a percent of the population of the state of Texas.

Bills: HB1325 , HB1655 , HB3312 , HB5526 , SB13 , SB57 , SB207 , HB441 , HB591 , HB5019 , SB27 , SB843 , SB 13 , SB 27 , SB 57

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: student transfer, public servants, education code, peace officer, servicemember, judicial officer, school security, volunteer program, retired law enforcement, veterans, public safety, school safety, criminal background check, school libraries, library advisory councils, parental rights, library materials, educational content, challenging materials, emergency operations plan

Transcript Highlights:

• rainfall of revenues.
• This legislation has a positive impact on the state of Texas of $25 million. Mr.
• In the state of Texas, it happened specifically to the town of Prosper in 2022.
• As part of their acquisition, they became part of this sales tax loophole.
• to the city of Frisco.

Bills: HB 105 , HB982 , HB1483 , HB1508 , HB2575 , HB3646 , HB3993 , HB4083 , HB4580 , HB4725 , HB5169 , HB5511 , HJR73 , HJR102 , HJR174 , HB3746 , HB4240

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: economic development, job creation, energy, tax incentives, technology investment, ad valorem taxes, elderly, disabled, low-income, tax limitation, homesteads, Texas Tax Code, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, residential real property, home improvement, energy efficiency, energy-efficient upgrades, HVAC

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire Board of chair of the New Hampshire Board of Education,<01:16:05.760><c> Over</c><01:16
• ><c> board</c><01:16:44.800><c> was</c> first chair of the board was first chair of the board was representing
• I am chair of my local school board, but I also sit on the board of trustees for a charter school.
• I am chair of my local school board, but I also sit on the board of trustees for a charter school.
• > of</c><03:34:50.560><c> set</c><03:34:50.960><c> a</c> board of commissioners sort of set a board of

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• for mayor of the County of Kauai and County of Maui by 125%, for the office of Hawaiian Affairs from
• of the county of kawaii and County of<00:53:21.000><c> Maui</c><00:53:21.520><c> by</c> of Maui by of
• of the amounts of downward adjustment of the amounts of qualifying<00:53:51.079><c> contributions</c
• ><c> Hawaii</c> County of Honolulu County of Hawaii County of Honolulu County of Hawaii County<00:53:
• Trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which was $1,500 for the entire election, both the primary

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• version of one of Minnesota a modified version of one of Minnesota State's<00:15:26.480><c> bienial<
• of the college of previously a part of the college of science<00:25:32.720><c> and</c><00:25:33.039><
• I'm wondering, on page 49, line 49.16, it says the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and
• One hundred percent of our fellows have become board certified in addiction medicine, which is a testament
• </c><01:36:09.199><c> of</c> there's there's quite a bit of of there's there's quite a bit of of financial

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• c> that</c> knew all of the thousands of folks that knew all of the thousands of folks that I<00:48:51.280
• ><01:10:11.760><c> our</c> know, a lot of our go uh some of our know, a lot of our go uh some of our
• </c><01:33:29.920><c> of</c> active shooters and other types of of active shooters and other types of
• of of criteria that more stringent types of of criteria that qualifies<01:34:56.639><c> that</c><01:
• of umbrella of protection some level of umbrella of protection that<01:39:28.159><c> these</c><01:39

Transcript Highlights:

• of the board.
• Senate Bill 535, County Boards of Library Trustees, Membership Student Member.
• ><c> of</c><02:37:11.360><c> education,</c> act, county boards of education, act, county boards of education
• 02:37:13.720><c> of</c> enhanced requirements, local boards of enhanced requirements, local boards of
• </c> Boards of Education Transparency Act. Boards of Education Transparency Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the director of governmental relations for the New Hampshire School Boards Association.
• But your question is... and one of our school boards has been very involved because they see the bills
• been</c> we've one of our school boards has been we've one of our school boards has been very<01:18:
• So there's a lot of pieces of that.
• So there's a lot of pieces of that.

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Trustees meeting and training requirements. >> Senate Bill 534 is on third reading, final passage
• Clerk read the next bill. >> Senate Bill 705, Caroline County Senators, Caroline County Board of Education
• director of the governor's workforce<01:59:52.320><c> development</c><01:59:52.719><c> board,</c><01
• Senator Bol, State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, Board Operations and Regulation of Crematories
• Senate Bill 928, Senator Harris County, Board of Education student electronic communication device use

Transcript Highlights:

• Bronx Community Board 12 and the Wakefield Taxpayers Alliance, the legacy of Dr.
• He serves on the boards of the Dale K.
• Biggs: And they even demanded the removal of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from the board for defending
• to the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress for a term of six
• of January 3, 2025, of the following individuals to the board of trustees of the American Folklife Center

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> across the board on these types of across the board on these types of exemptions?
• Chairman, board of &gt;&gt; So Mr.
• the</c><01:29:59.520><c> the</c> a board member of LGLP about uh the the a board member of LGLP about
• take a lot of different These boards can take a lot of different forms.<02:26:32.399><c> They</c><02
• I'm on the board of trustees at Campbell County School District.

Bills: HB0068 , HB0062 , HB0127 , HB0109

Committee: House Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, one of three sites in Delaware that are part of the Brown versus Board of Education National Historical
• 07:11.680><c> Board</c><00:07:11.919><c> of</c> are part of the Brown versus Board of are part of the
• </c> into Brown versus Board of Education. into Brown versus Board of Education.
• Ed on the board of assessment review.
• </c><00:42:56.800><c> of</c> he worked alongside Ed on the board of he worked alongside Ed on the board

Transcript Highlights:

• One of our board members.
• At the next board meeting in January of 2025, we approve release of request for proposals to start.
• We have some of our board members actually on their board, so we are cooperating. Thank you, Dr.
• I serve as president of the Texas Association of School Boards and I've also been a trustee here in Kerrville
• First of all, Water Development Board, who do you give your data to?

Transcript Highlights:

• layout of the facts of the case.
• . of this type of policy.
• Good afternoon my name is Ken good I'm an attorney I am on the board of directors the professional bondsman
• of the Austin-Travis County family violence task force as well as an executive board member and public
• Also serve on the Board of Parents Emergency murder children, and surviving family members of homicide

Bills: HB36 , HB75 , HB76 , HB166 , HB799 , HB 1135 , HJR15 , HJR16 , HB36 , HB75 , HB76 , HB166 , HJR15 , HJR16

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: family violence, global positioning monitoring system, victim resources, electronic monitoring, protective orders, magistrate, criminal procedure, probable cause, written findings, law enforcement, bail bonds, bail fund, charitable bail fund, nonprofit bail organization, public funds, local government spending, political subdivision, county, city, taxpayer lawsuit

Transcript Highlights:

• to acts of sexual harassment and clause 18 of Rule 23 of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
• <c> the</c><03:05:45.400><c> House</c> 9 of rule 23 of the rules of the House 9 of rule 23 of the rules
• Sheri Buretta, chairman of the board of the Chugach Alaska Corporation, testified last year to the Committee
• on board when the fishing vessel sank off the coast of Massachusetts in January.
• </c> of time. of time.

Transcript Highlights:

• We work with them, we have some of our board members actually on their side. of their board, so we are
• I serve as president of the Texas Association of school boards and I've also been a trustee here in Kerrville
• That all communicate together in the time of need and with that board being the oversight of those agencies
• And I know we have someone from the water development board and kind of kind of mirroring off what vice
• First of all. Water Development Board, who do you give your data to?

Committee: House Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select