Transcript Highlights:

• Current law makes it hard to give Adult Protective Services or law enforcement the information needed
• realign some legal roadblocks, allowing financial institutions a clear path to help protect vulnerable adults
• concurrent enrollment program so that only our traditional high school students are eligible, not adult
• learners. ...so that only our traditional high school students are eligible, not adult learners.

Bills: SB44, SB546, SB1213, SB1256, SB1287, SB1443, SB1644, SB1653, SB1716, SB1209, SB1826, SB1919, SB1930, SB1976, SB2028, SB2067, SB2072, SB2117, SB710, SB1477, SB1405

Keywords: sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, SB1213, earned credits, inmate credits, good time, sentence reduction, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, corrections policy, inmate classification, class levels, rehabilitation credits, achievement credits, vocational training, educational credits

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the daily prayer and pledges, introduced the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several student and guest groups to the gallery. The chamber also laid over a few agenda items before moving through a long general order calendar of bills, most of them explained briefly by their authors and then advanced without objection to final passage. Measures passed included SB 44 on extending sales tax exemption treatment to contractors working for certain exempt entities; SB 546 on biometric data and controlled dangerous substance-related changes; SB 1213 on Department of Corrections inmate credit levels; SB 1256 requiring ignition interlock devices for repeat DUI bond situations; SB 1287 on abstractor licensing eligibility; SB 1443 on anesthetist physical status modifiers with an amendment excluding Medicaid plans; SB 1644 adding a reportable disease; SB 1653 joining the occupational therapy licensure compact; SB 1716 updating security breach notification rules and limiting class actions; SB 1826 removing a sunset from the local development and enterprise zone incentive leverage act; SB 1919 increasing the Tourism Development Act cap; SB 1930 on produced water handling and compensation; SB 1976 creating a tiered surety plan for small producers and then being adopted as an emergency; SB 2028 on raw milk advertising and labeling, also passed as an emergency; SB 2067 on financial institutions helping protect vulnerable adults from scams; SB 2072 on deed fraud and title theft; SB 2117 on contaminated grain authority and emergency treatment; SB 710 on teacher pathway pilot flexibility; SB 1477 restricting concurrent enrollment to traditional high school students and passed as an emergency; and SB 1405 reauthorizing the wildlife diversity income tax checkoff. The only bill to draw notable floor debate was SB 1209, which was reconsidered after initially failing, sent back to general order, and then passed 26-18. Supporters said it would reduce delays in eviction proceedings by excluding Sundays and holidays from summons timing, while opponents argued it would mainly help tenants who are already behind and burden small landlords. Senator Pugh later noted a personal-interest abstention on that vote. Several other bills passed with recorded votes ranging from narrow to unanimous, and some were designated emergency measures after final passage. The Senate concluded with announcements about upcoming events, including a reception, a visit from the Christian Employer Association, and the Bible reading marathon, and then adjourned until Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the next $5 million is based on English learner counts.
• And then on top of that, there's small numbers that do some adjustments based on English learner and,
• Thank you. adjustments based on English learner and adjustments based on English learner and um<00:35
• We've expanded programs to serve more people and reduce social isolation among older adults.
• We've expanded programs to serve more people and reduce social isolation among older adults.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if the parent or guardian or the adult student objects, they can make reasonable arrangements for
• student if the student is 18 or adult student if the student is 18 or older<01:28:17.600><c> to</c><
• </c><01:28:23.360><c> student</c> parent or guardian or the adult student parent or guardian or the adult
• But we are adults, and the parents need to make the decision, and when that decision is not come to,
• But we are adults, and the parents need to make the decision, and when that decision is not come to,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , individuals returning from incarceration, youth, and young adults with disabilities.
• This training format is especially critical for adult learners who are also caregivers or may maintain
• learners through CTI.
• In June 2024, Montachusett, with funding from CTI, graduated 53 adult students who completed training
• is increasing living-wage and employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities by providing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• About 15% are enrolled in our basic education for adult programs, and about 40% are enrolled in our..
• So we provide English language acquisition, adult high school equivalencies.
• So the way that we pay, for example, for the basic education for adults, so this would be the English
• And we also know that there are thousands of adults within all of our communities that could benefit
• Thinking of additional ways to acknowledge some of the work that particularly adults are bringing in

Summary: The committee held a work session on the state of Washington’s community and technical college system with State Board executive director Nate Humphrey and Tacoma Community College president Ivan Harrell. They described the system’s open-access mission, 34 colleges serving more than 307,000 students, relatively low tuition, enrollment growth over 12 consecutive quarters, and strong outcomes such as more than 46,000 credentials awarded last year. They also highlighted system initiatives including guided pathways, I-BEST, dual enrollment, tribal partnerships, a new program search tool, and six colleges named Aspen Prize finalists. At the same time, they emphasized major challenges: high rates of student food, housing, and homelessness insecurity; sharply rising emergency aid requests; and federal funding disruptions affecting TANF, BFET, adult basic education, Carl Perkins, NOAA-related tribal work, and several federal grants. Members asked about SNAP impacts, declining high school graduates, and how BFET and TANF interact with other aid programs. The presenters also discussed system priorities such as AI, Workforce Pell, capital planning, nursing accreditation alignment, and the Washington College Grant. The committee then heard testimony from AFT Washington and the Washington Association of Higher Education on faculty and staff conditions in the community and technical college system. Jackie Kane and Suzanne Sutherland argued that classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty are essential to student success but face low pay, instability, and weak retention, and they urged lawmakers to protect existing funding and avoid further cuts. They said working conditions for faculty and staff are student learning conditions, and that underfunding leads to reduced services, shortened advising, and program instability. Marina Parr of the Workforce Board presented on federal H.R. 1’s new Workforce Pell provisions and the updated Career Bridge website. She explained that Workforce Pell would allow federal aid for short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks, with high completion, employment, and earnings thresholds and a requirement that credentials be stackable and portable. She said Washington is well positioned to implement the program because of its existing eligible training provider evaluation system and Career Bridge, which now has a redesigned public portal, digital portfolios, multilingual access, and performance data on programs. Members asked about rulemaking, possible gaps in state services, and how the wage and completion standards would be applied. The Washington Student Achievement Council then briefed the committee on the new Washington Completes FAFSA campaign created by executive order. Staff described an advisory board with statewide representation, a pilot that used microgrants and other supports at 25 priority schools, and a new goal of 46,000 FAFSA or WASFA completions this year. They reported that completion rates were tracking slightly ahead of last year, with 24% of high school seniors having completed a FAFSA by the end of November, and they showcased a public dashboard with subgroup data and a WIAA-based leaderboard. Members asked about outreach to rural and homeschool students, legislative communications, Pierce County representation, and barriers to FAFSA completion, and staff said they would provide toolkits and continue expanding outreach. The committee then began hearing from student presenters about affordability, access, equity, and student experience.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> opportunity for each and every Learners opportunity for each and every Learners all<00:08:37.719
• You know, somebody, um, there isn't an adult in the home, or there are adults in the home, but I'm nervous
• You know, somebody, um, there isn't an adult in the home, or there are adults in the home, but I'm nervous
• You know, somebody, um, there isn't an adult in the home, or there are adults in the home, but I'm nervous
• You know, somebody, um, there isn't an adult in the home, or there are adults in the home, but I'm nervous

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a handbook that helps what we call the learning coaches, the folks at home, the adults at home
• section where we're meeting the needs of about 16% of special education students and multilingual learners
• So students are live with adults and with teachers around 10 times a week, just depending on what their
• We're finding more and more that adults outside of education are able to work from home.
• We serve a high population of multilingual learners that are predominantly Spanish-speaking.

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of Washington’s alternative learning experience (ALE) programs and then an update on artificial intelligence in schools. OSPI’s Anissa Sherritt explained that ALE is a course-level funding designation for instruction that occurs partly or wholly away from the traditional seat-time model, with online, site-based, and remote course types. She emphasized that ALE is still basic education, subject to the same public school requirements, and that OSPI provides technical assistance, annual reporting review, and program reviews. Representatives from several programs described different models: Washington Virtual Academy (a large online ALE operated through Omak School District and partnered with for-profit Stride), Columbia Virtual Academy in Valley School District (a district-run, nonprofit online/remote program), Pearl in Quilcene (a K-8 remote parent partnership program), and River Home Link in Battleground (a site-based hybrid program). They discussed student supports, special education, enrichment, family choice, transportation, and how they measure outcomes. Members asked for follow-up information on funding, demographics, racial and ethnic data, multilingual learners, and post-graduation outcomes, and OSPI agreed to provide additional data where available. The committee then heard from OSPI and several districts about AI guidance and implementation. OSPI’s Holly Ryan Calloway described the agency’s human-centered AI framework, three guidance documents for schools, statewide professional learning, an AI innovation summit, and new AI literacy and informatics course frameworks and CIP codes. Quincy School District described a multi-year effort to integrate AI by centering student needs, creating district policy and classroom guidance, and training teachers to use AI responsibly while building an AI readiness plan from elementary through high school. Peninsula School District described its AI action research team, teacher professional learning, and classroom uses of generative AI to support science instruction, communication, and prompt engineering, while stressing that AI should enhance rather than replace learning. Members raised questions about privacy, energy and water use, prompt engineering, workforce and university connections, and the need for clear standards and ongoing educator training. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I remember long ago looking up the table and seeing all the adults at one end.
• has been a fierce advocate for the mental health of our students, which in turn makes them great learners
• and great achievers, but not without the emphasis on taking care of our students. learners and great
• individuals ages 18 to 21 in California who receive services from the foster care system are legal adults

Summary: The Assembly met on March 6, 2025, after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then made a series of guest introductions recognizing Vaisakhi celebrations, nonprofit leaders from San Joaquin County, immigrant and refugee advocate Liu Yang, students from Somerdale Elementary School, Trustee Sylvia Leong, and a Leadership Torrance delegation. The chamber also took up several procedural motions, including a successful motion to withdraw SB 100 from Budget Committee and send it to the second reading file, and unanimous consent to re-refer several Assembly bills to different committees. On the floor, members considered a number of bills and resolutions. AB 238 on wildfire relief, providing up to a year of mortgage forbearance for fire-impacted homeowners, passed with urgency. AB 373 on client-directed representation for non-minor dependents in foster care passed unanimously, as did AB 287 requiring accessible parking for curbside voting at vote centers. AB 628, requiring new residential leases to include a working refrigerator and stove, passed 49-8. ACR 15 designating April 15 as California Propane Day was adopted by voice vote after adding 55 co-authors. AB 483, requiring disclosure and limiting fees for early termination in fixed-term installment contracts, passed 43-11. AB 234, an urgency bill allowing the Assembly Speaker and Senate Pro Tem or their designees to sit on the Fair Plan governing committee, passed 60-0. The Assembly also heard several adjournment-in-memory tributes, including for Gustavo Camacho Lopez, retired firefighter William Brett Potter, and Rob Ashley. The day concluded with announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session schedule, followed by adjournment until April 10, 2025, at 9 a.m. A later vote change noted Assembly Member McKinnor changed her vote on AB 483 from aye to not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 22.960><c> and</c><00:07:23.280><c> or</c><00:07:23.919><c> um</c><00:07:24.240><c> qualifying</c> learner
• and or um qualifying learner and or um qualifying disability.<00:07:26.479><c> Once</c><00:07:26.880
• 00:14:35.680><c> and</c> two uh are the Bureau of Elderly and two uh are the Bureau of Elderly and Adult
• </c> Adult Services and out ofate Placements.
• Adult Services and out ofate Placements. uh<00:14:39.680><c> those</c><00:14:40.000><c> are</c><00:14

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee organized itself by electing Representative Griffin as chair and a senator as vice chair, then approved the prior meeting minutes. Director Young then gave status updates on several ongoing performance audits. The New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights audit was reported complete, with presentations already made to the fiscal committee and House Judiciary. The special education oversight audit is still in progress, with 17 observations already sent to the department, responses received on 14, partial concurrence on 12, and a full draft report expected in late summer or early fall. The education freedom accounts audit is also underway, with fieldwork focused on eligibility controls and expenses; staffing shortages at the department have slowed the work, and a draft report is hoped for in the fall. The Doorway program audit is in the planning phase, with a report targeted for the end of the year. Members then discussed whether the committee should do more follow-up on completed audits. Several members said audits often identify issues that remain unresolved for years, and suggested a more active review process, similar to the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee, where agencies would return to report on what audit findings have been fixed and what remains outstanding. Staff noted that any such follow-up would take time away from new audit work, but said they were willing to consider the committee’s direction. Members also discussed using Transparency New Hampshire updates and agency self-reporting to help track progress, and there was general agreement to move toward a system of periodic follow-up on recent audits. The committee also reviewed suspended and potential audit topics. Two Department of Health and Human Services audits, involving the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services and out-of-date placements, remain suspended because of ongoing litigation. Two other DHS topics, contract management and the Bureau of Developmental Services, remain on the potential audit list. A member raised a possible Fish and Game topic based on constituent concerns, but agreed to wait after speaking with the new director. The committee concluded by agreeing that the audit division should compile a list of audits completed in the last 10 years, with members to identify which ones they want to revisit first.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're equally committed to serving adult learners and immigrant communities.
• So to conclude, the Enough Act will help strengthen and expand these opportunities for even more learners
• I had an adult who believed that I was worthy of investment.
• I had an adult who believed that I was worthy of investment, and that changed everything.
• In Massachusetts public and charter schools, City Connects schools, 19% are English language learners

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its final hearing of the session on H. 5187 and S. 3022, the Enough Act, with Chair Andy Vargas and Senator Adam Gomez opening by thanking committee members and stakeholders for their work during the session. The bills were described as a grant-based, place-based anti-poverty initiative intended to support cradle-to-career services by funding local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and backbone entities that can coordinate housing, education, health, workforce, and family supports in high-poverty neighborhoods. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers including Strategies for Children, Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Rep. Antonio Cabral, the Harlem Children’s Zone’s Kwame Owusu Kesse and Jeffrey Canada, former Education Secretary Paul Reville, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and others argued that poverty is a systems issue that schools alone cannot solve. They emphasized the need for local control, community voice, coordinated services, and long-term public-private investment, often citing examples from Chelsea, New Bedford, Springfield, Lowell, Boston, and other communities, as well as the Harlem Children’s Zone and Maryland’s similar model. Committee members asked several questions about how the bill would function in practice, including what organizations would do on day one, how it would interact with existing efforts like community schools, McKinney-Vento, and the Student Opportunity Act, and how it would be sustained over time. Witnesses said the act would help create or strengthen backbone organizations, reduce duplication, align existing resources, and leverage philanthropy and future revenue sources for long-term sustainability. No vote was taken during the hearing, but multiple speakers urged the committee to report the bill favorably and quickly.

Transcript Highlights:

• It extends the approval period for adult basic education programs to six years, ensuring they receive
• </c><00:40:48.480><c> basic</c> the approval period for adult basic the approval period for adult basic
• Article 1, section 9, beginning on line 8.4, has to do with adult basic education programs.
• it comes to uh parental or adult involvement<00:48:44.640><c> in</c><00:48:44.880><c> school</c><00:
• </c><00:48:50.880><c> in</c><00:48:51.040><c> the</c> districts whether other adults in the districts

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, House Bill 190 will move the needle for our high-potential learners.
• It will create conversations learners.
• And it's hard enough for adults to multitask, and studies have shown children struggle with that at a
• And it's hard enough for adults to multitask, and studies have shown children struggle with that at a
• </c><00:25:21.919><c> and</c> enough for adults to multitask. and enough for adults to multitask. and

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon Recess of the Senate Chambers. There is not an exact time for this meeting therefore a placeholder time for the live stream has been set for 12:30PM est., 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met with a quorum and took up several education bills near the end of session. House Bill 342, which would require a financial literacy course for Kentucky high school students, was presented by Rep. Michael Meredith and student advocate Patrick Reovi. Meredith explained that a committee substitute addressed Kentucky Department of Education concerns by making the course a required elective anywhere in high school rather than limiting it to junior or senior year, and by retaining flexibility on credit options. Reovi testified in support, arguing that many students lack basic financial knowledge and should graduate prepared to handle budgeting, credit, debt, and student loans. The substitute was adopted, and HB 342 passed the committee 10-0. The committee then heard House Bill 480, a teacher workload and bureaucracy reduction measure. Rep. Shane Baker described the bill as the product of a working group with educators and administrators and said it was intended to reduce redundant requirements and let teachers focus more on students. He said the bill would lengthen the evaluation cycle from every three years to every five, streamline professional development requirements, update continuous school improvement plan filing rules, and limit new reporting mandates. A committee substitute removed the CSIP provisions after discussion with KDE, and members noted concerns about implementation and federal funding implications for mentor training language. The substitute was adopted and HB 480 passed unanimously. House Bill 190, relating to advanced education opportunities, was presented by Rep. Robert Duvall. He said the bill would require districts to adopt policies on advanced coursework and accelerated learning for grades 4 through 12, with local flexibility. He also explained that the House committee substitute changed several provisions from mandatory to permissive, including automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished and parent opt-out language. The bill passed unanimously. House Bill 430, on school bus safety training, was presented by Reps. Mike Clines and Emily Callaway, who said it would reduce regulations, improve bus safety, and fix regulatory issues arising from prior legislation allowing nine-passenger vans for school transportation. A committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed unanimously, and a title amendment was also adopted. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 208 on technology and public schools. Rep. Josh Bray, Rep. James Tipton, and Nick Spencer of the Family Foundation of Kentucky supported a policy requiring districts to prohibit student cell phone use during instructional time, with exceptions for disabilities, teacher-directed educational use, or incentives. They argued the bill would improve academic performance, reduce bullying and mental health problems, and limit social media access during school. The transcript cuts off during testimony on HB 208, before any committee action on the bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We must hold adults accountable for unsecured firearms.
• First of all, we have two other existing successful online options for adults wanting to finish high
• We have money in the budget to help adult learners.
• We have money in the budget to help adult learners.
• And we are all lifelong learners.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House met with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the House Journal for the 45th day by a vote of 124-1, and welcomed several student groups and advocacy visitors, including elementary students, Rotary Interact clubs, pediatric advocates, and other special guests. Committee reports were then read, recommending passage of several deferred bills and substitutes. The chamber then took up a series of budget and capital-improvement measures. House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were debated and passed, covering reappropriations, maintenance and repair, new capital projects, and remaining ARPA federal pandemic funds. Members generally supported the bills, though some raised concerns about general revenue spending and the use of one-time infrastructure funds. The House also adopted Senate changes and finally passed House Bill 2641 on hemp/cannabis-related regulation, and House Bill 2423, which was described as giving the Department of Finance tools to retain staff and expand capacity. Several policy bills were also debated and passed. House Bill 1919 aligned Department of Revenue electronic filing thresholds with IRS rules; House Bill 3239, on the Workforce Diploma Program, was defeated after concerns about cost and shifting K-12 funds to adult education; House Bills 1768 and 2016 passed on short-term rental property tax classification despite concerns about local flexibility; House Bill 1855 passed to add alpha-gal syndrome to reportable conditions; House Bill 2355 passed to create a Food is Medicine waiver pilot; House Bills 1717 and 1643 passed to establish a controlled psilocybin therapy program for veterans and first responders; House Bill 2372 passed as a broad health care package; House Bill 2408 passed to remove limits on the Deaf-Blind Fund; House Bill 3113 passed to require naloxone in public buildings and designate Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month; House Bill 3000 passed to prevent changing audit goalposts for political subdivisions; House Bill 2898 passed to restore land bank tools; and House Bill 1740 passed as “Melanie’s Law,” increasing penalties for serious intoxicated-driving offenses and adding ignition interlock requirements. House Bill 2760, the “Praise Act,” also passed after debate over equal treatment of houses of worship during emergencies, though the transcript ends amid further discussion on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• His investments indicate his support for our earliest through adult learners, and we look forward to
• His investments indicate his support for our earliest through adult learners, and we look forward to
• the communities, but our first-time college students, and something very special to me, which is adults
• I lived my entire adult life in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, which is in the Northwest Florida State
• I lived my entire adult life in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, which is in the Northwest Florida State

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office on the proposed higher education budget, which emphasized no tuition or fee increases for Florida residents, continued affordability, and increased funding across workforce, colleges, and universities. The presentation highlighted major investments in Bright Futures, other scholarships, workforce development, the Florida College System, and the State University System, including funding for performance, student success, campus safety, and faculty recruitment and retention. Committee members asked questions about the Ocoee Scholarship, the proposed Guardian program on campuses, and how university recruitment and retention funds would be used; officials said the Ocoee Scholarship remains funded at current levels, Guardian options could vary by campus, and university funds would be distributed to institutions for faculty recruitment and retention without additional directives. The committee then heard testimony from a series of appointees and reappointees to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities. Witnesses from Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Miami Dade College, Northwest Florida State College, and St. Johns River State College described their backgrounds and stressed workforce development, affordability, dual enrollment, nursing, cybersecurity, adult learners, and local economic needs. Several highlighted strong nursing outcomes and job placement, and some discussed campus expansion, business incubators, and programs tailored to regional industries. One appointee from Miami Dade College emphasized helping adult students return and complete degrees by better using prior credits. After hearing from the appointees, the committee took up the confirmation package as a block. A motion was made and seconded, the roll was called, and the confirmations were reported favorably by the committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• a study that linked social media use with increased symptoms of depression in teenagers and young adults
• Program, so-called HIP, and provides essential funding necessary for home care services for older adults
• does include a series of provisions that codify certain federal protections for English language learners
• It codifies federal protection for English learners, immigrant students, and students with disabilities
• including provisions to safeguard the educational rights of immigrant students, English language learners

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first debated and advanced Senate Bill 2561, an act to promote student learning and mental health, centered on a statewide bell-to-bell restriction on student cell phone use in schools. Supporters argued the bill would reduce distraction, improve academic performance and mental health, and encourage social interaction, while preserving flexibility for districts and exceptions for emergencies, special education, health needs, and instructional uses. Several senators emphasized local control and the need for public input, and a number of amendments were considered: some were withdrawn, some were rejected, and others were adopted, including an amendment requiring consistent and necessary exceptions and another requiring public hearings and local public input. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and passed to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 38-2. The Senate also took up a conference committee report on a $259 million FY2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The report funded EMS costs, home care, the Healthy Incentives Program, DTA chip card technology, veterans benefits, the state police crime lab, the SSI state supplement, the Fair Housing Fund, and the National Guard, and included major indigent defense provisions: $40 million for 320 new CPCS staff attorneys, rate increases for private bar advocates, guardrails to reduce future work stoppages, and an independent review of the indigent defense system. Senators questioned the timing of the report, the inclusion of items not previously voted on by either branch, and the funding sources, including use of the transitional escrow fund and excess revenues. The report was accepted, the emergency preamble was adopted, and the supplemental budget was enacted. In addition, the Senate passed other measures, including a bill authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Linfield Center Water District and a municipal roads and bridges financing bill, both by roll call vote. The chamber also enacted a health care protections bill, and it concurred in referrals on a governor’s municipal empowerment legislation. The session included a brief memorial tribute and adjournment in memory of Harry C. Christensen.

Transcript Highlights:

• is an amazing program with evidence-based results demonstrating dramatic gains for our youngest learners
• When music is integrated into learning for young learners, learning improves, and she said she has seen
• Our youngest learners are a future, and they need our support.
• Our youngest learners are a future, and they need our support.
• Voluntary pre-kindergarten are direct supports to schools as they support young learners.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Adult Friends for Youth, Alu Like, and Aloha for Health, Arts, and Spirit.
• So next we have Adult Friends for Youth. >> Good morning. Can everybody hear me?
• Adult Friends for Youth.
• Adult Friends for Youth.
• </c> care services to children and adults care services to children and adults with<02:19:52.720><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing focused on Act 310 grants and aid, with committee members hearing one-minute testimony from organizations first in person and then by Zoom. At the outset, the chairs explained there would be no Q&A during the briefing and asked testifiers to focus on how federal cuts were affecting their work. The meeting was organized by registration number and included both neighbor island and Oʻahu applicants. Testimony centered on organizations seeking state support to offset federal funding losses or anticipated reductions. Health and social service providers described impacts from Medicaid, SNAP, ACA subsidy, Title X, and other federal changes, including Aloha Care, Community Clinic of Maui, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, West Hawaiʻi Community Health Center, Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center, Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Alcoholic Rehabilitation Services of Hawaiʻi, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Other groups highlighted losses affecting food security, housing, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience, including the Kohala Center, Feeding Hawaiʻi Together, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Dynamic Community Solutions, and the Pacific Tsunami Museum. Several arts, youth, and education organizations also testified, including Hawaiʻi Literacy, Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaiʻi, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, Kids Hurt Too Hawaiʻi, and US Vets, each requesting funding to preserve programs and staffing. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing. The only action was procedural: the chairs moved through the applicant list, limited testimony time, and then transitioned from neighbor island in-person testimony to Oʻahu and later Zoom participants.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we compare this to other adult learning programs, the other adult learning programs provide a GED,
• If we compare this to other adult learning programs, the other adult learning programs provide a GED,
• Okay, so at that time, though, the adult high schools had graduated 254 people.
• Adult high school graduated 254 that year. Those other two programs are being funded.
• But that's adult education for a GED.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call vote. Members then spent much of the morning introducing guests, including FFA groups from multiple counties, school officials, chamber leaders, veterans advocates, and other visitors. Several members also used personal privilege remarks to congratulate election workers and candidates following the previous day’s election. The chamber then took up committee reports and several bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3239, dealing with the workforce diploma program for adults seeking a high school diploma, was reconsidered after debate over its cost, eligibility, and relationship to other adult education programs. Supporters argued it offers a second chance and better outcomes than a GED, while opponents raised concerns about cost and diversion of K-12 funds. After motions for the previous question and reconsideration, the House ultimately passed HCS HB 3239. House Bill 1772, aimed at easing and encouraging adoptions and foster care permanency by helping cover legal costs and reduce delays, also passed with broad support. The House then passed House Bill 2096, which increases state matching funds for regional planning commissions and updates the statewide commission list, and later perfected House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2740, creating a pediatric disease task force in the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to track research, outcomes, and funding with annual reports and a sunset in 2030. Members emphasized the bill’s accountability and its personal importance to the sponsor and others affected by pediatric illness. House Bill 2422, which raises a recording fee from $4 to $5 to support the Department of Agriculture’s land survey program and adds rulemaking authority for related records and maps, was also perfected and printed after debate; an amendment to redirect the fee increase to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund was offered, discussed, and then withdrawn. The House then recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• issue further, I learned that libraries all over the state have highly variable rules on how young adults
• Research consistently shows that students who have access to trusted adults at school are more likely
• Research consistently shows that students who have access to trusted adults at school are more likely
• workforce frameworks are leaving many students behind, especially low-income, Black, Latino, and English learner
• Latino and English learner youth who enroll in college at lower rates and face barriers to completing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we look at the anger, the hatred, the viciousness online that we as adults do, it's no wonder
• dangerous crimes against our most vulnerable, unprotected, and cannot protect themselves—demented adults
• for the most serious predatory crimes and is now being applied broadly, capturing teens and young adults

Bills: HB2109, HB2168, HB2198, HB2226, HB2415, HB2440, HB2665, HB2805, HB2811, HB2825, HB2857, HB2874, HB2966, HB4067, HB4117, HCR2001, HCR2016, HCR2051

Keywords: distracted driving, portable wireless communication devices, motorcycles, traffic safety, civil penalties, public nuisance, nuisance abatement, abatement action, injunction, superior court, attorney general, county attorney, city attorney, board of supervisors, obscenity, obscene materials, adult materials, pornography, schools, parks