Transcript Highlights:

• The Counseling for Career Choice Act ensures that middle and high school students are made fully aware
• When the partnership began, the high school graduation rate in its schools was just 36%. Dr.
• When the partnership began, the high school graduation rate in its schools was just 36%.
• When the partnership began, the high school graduation rate in its schools was just 36%.
• When the partnership began, the high school graduation rate in its schools was just 36%.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Previous to January, we had about 25 middle school and high school students enrolled in our online program
• Previous to January, we had about 25 middle school and high school students enrolled in our online program
• Previous to January, we had about 25 middle school and high school students enrolled in our online program
• Previous to January, we had about 25 middle school and high school students enrolled in our online program
• My name is Ashley High Tower with Hennepin County's BE@School program, our state's largest educational

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I graduated back in '85 from Gallup High School. So it's been a challenge for me.
• I don't see it, and there's no school supplies to support elementary school, middle school, or high school
• Hi, my name is Mia, and I go to Shiprock High School.
• I am here representing the high school of Six Directions Indigenous School.
• We interviewed the high school and the middle school, but the high school did a protest.

Transcript Highlights:

• the high schools sitting at that number. the high schools sitting at that number.
• So one example would be our program of studies for our high schools.
• So now there’s one curriculum for high school. It’s one program of studies.
• of studies for our would be our program of studies for our high<01:40:06.400> schools<01:40:06.719
• It's one curriculum for high school.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like our school voucher program.
• like our school voucher program.
• like our school voucher program.
• like our school voucher program.
• And I have one student who's a senior in high school who is receiving the EFA program, and it helps my

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 402, a bill to repeal a provision in RSA 194-F:2 stating that Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds “shall not constitute taxable income” to the parent or student. The bill sponsor argued the current language is misleading because the state cannot determine federal tax liability, and said the bill would simply remove inaccurate tax advice from state law. He cited IRS guidance and prior federal legislation, including a Ted Cruz proposal, to suggest some EFA uses may be taxable under federal law, while others may not, and said the bill could be amended if needed to avoid confusion. Testimony was sharply divided. Py Campbell opposed the bill, arguing it would unfairly single out EFA students and could amount to a tax on education funds, including for self-employed families, and recommended it be voted inexpedient to legislate. Stephen Matthew French, a tax preparer, also opposed the bill, saying IRS Publication 970 already makes clear that scholarship-type payments used for tuition and related expenses are not taxable, and that the bill addresses a problem that does not exist. He warned that adding tax reporting requirements could create administrative costs for families and the program administrator. Bill Ardinger, a tax attorney, supported the repeal of the statutory language, saying the state should not place potentially incorrect tax advice into law. He explained that under federal tax law, only certain scholarship-like uses are exempt, while many EFA-eligible expenses may not be, especially for families using the program for homeschooling or other nontraditional expenses. He said the current statute could mislead families into thinking all EFA payments are tax-free and could expose the state to future legal problems. The hearing ended after questions from committee members; no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas, a graduate of Princeton High School and Rutgers University, Richard McGrath began his career
• And schools are cutting teachers, transportation, sports, and after-school programs.
• in DCF and requires school districts to develop mental health support and partnership programs.
• in DCF and requires school districts to develop mental health support and partnership programs.
• Senate Bill 3245, sponsored by Senator Turner, revises high school student financial aid application

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill reduces regulations on school board operations, aligns school district board meeting requirements
• Finally, it gives school districts the authority to oversee their own public VPK programs. Mr.
• It's just giving the school board or school districts greater flexibility on how they want to measure
• It is creating a free, long-term anchoring permit program.
• The parents of this school are frequent customers.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy considered several bills and reported all of them favorably. SB 70-24, on state planning and budgeting, was presented as a modernization of the long-range planning program to simplify reporting, remove outdated measures, and focus on key data points and outcomes; it passed without opposition. CS/SB 166, on administrative efficiency in public schools, made broad changes to school accountability and operations, including lowering the stakes of certain student assessments, giving districts more flexibility on evaluations, contracts, certification, calendars, facilities, and VPK oversight. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying that Title I funds may be used for STEM services, and another refining how advanced degrees count on salary schedules. The bill passed favorably after testimony both supporting and opposing the changes, with supporters emphasizing flexibility and opponents raising concerns about teacher evaluation and instructional practice. CS/SB 164, on vessel accountability, was described as a measure to address derelict and at-risk vessels by improving owner identification, creating a free long-term anchoring permit program, increasing penalties, and authorizing grants for local governments in the FWC prevention program. It received support from marine industry groups and was reported favorably. CS/SB 472, on education and correctional facilities for licensed professions, would allow inmates to receive credit toward licensure for qualifying coursework; a strike-all amendment added coordination with DBPR and professional boards. The bill drew support from criminal justice, business, and policy groups and passed unanimously. The committee spent the most time on CS/SB 438, on food and hemp products. Senator Burton and co-sponsor Senator Davis argued the bill was needed to regulate intoxicating hemp products, restrict child-appealing packaging and signage, ban synthetic hemp products, cap THC content in edibles and beverages, and require hemp beverages to be sold through alcohol-style distribution channels. Supporters, including alcohol distributors and some public safety advocates, said the bill would improve testing, labeling, and consumer protection. Opponents, including hemp retailers, farmers, and libertarian advocates, argued it would harm small businesses, reduce consumer choice, and push sales to the black market. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on tab five, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I oversee the court designated worker program, or CDW program.
• harmed at school.
• Hardin County schools, um, within the first month of this school year, we had 18 school personnel who
• And so what Senate Bill 170 does very briefly is it sets up a pilot program in 10 school districts, and
• 00:53:23.440> districts<00:53:24.400> and program in in 10 school districts and program

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and took up Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Chair Storm and President Stivers, a broad probate and trust measure. Stivers and attorney Barry explained that the bill updates Kentucky probate and intestacy procedures to better fit electronic filing and modern family structures, adjusts inheritance tax classifications to reflect longer lifespans and more complex family relationships, and adopts newer trust tools used in other states, including electronic wills and directed trusts. They also described a domestic asset protection trust provision, saying it is intended to level the playing field with other states and is not meant to help people evade existing creditors; they noted one non-uniform section may have fiscal impact and could warrant referral to Appropriations and Revenue. Members asked about the asset protection trust language, especially whether it could shield assets after a lawsuit is pending or threatened. Barry said the bill would not allow transfers to defeat existing or threatened claims and that the protection only applies where there are no such claims at the time of transfer. Senators also discussed whether the trust could be used for spendthrift-style family planning, with Barry noting trusts can already be drafted for that purpose and that the bill is not aimed at that issue. Senator Thomas requested more detail on the inheritance tax changes, and Stivers explained that the bill would move more beneficiaries into the no-tax category because estates now often pass to older children, grandchildren, and step-relatives, creating unexpected tax liability. He and others said the changes were meant to reflect modern family patterns and longer life expectancy, and Thomas said he was not opposed to the tax changes but wanted the public to understand them. Tim Shank of the Kentucky Bankers Association testified that the bankers were not opposing the bill overall but had concerns about the domestic asset protection trust section, particularly its treatment of existing mortgages and creditor claims. He said the bill’s notice and claim-extinguishment provisions could create unintended consequences for mortgage holders, and he urged changes to protect existing debt. In response, Senator Thomas questioned whether a lender that takes no action for the bill’s six-month-to-two-year claim period should lose its claim, but Shank replied that federal mortgage rules and payment status could complicate that assumption. The discussion ended with acknowledgment that the mortgage issue was likely unintended and would need further review.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also collaborating with California community colleges and high school counselors to ensure that
• Or those populations have declined of high school, traditional age student populations, yes. Okay.
• Let me first state, as a parent of a high school senior, I have a child in a similar situation with some
• I think I want to also recognize our Sweetwater Union High School District.
• You're talking about the high school district of all the students who live in this service area, the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a high school which is a public-private high school called Pinkerton Academy, of which a lot
• high school called is a public private high school called Pinkerton Pinkerton Pinkerton Academy<00:10
• them to the high school.
• It elementary school and a high school.
• communities in our state and the high-risk in the schools so that we can better target our programming

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1331, which would allow the town of Derry to incorporate the Derry Cooperative School District as a department of the town through a charter amendment. The prime sponsor and several supporters argued the change would increase local control, streamline overlapping town and school functions, and potentially help align school spending with Derry’s tax cap. Supporters also said Derry is large enough to warrant a structure more like Manchester or Nashua, and one witness cited a 2018 nonbinding Derry ballot question that passed 597 to 547 in favor of seeking authorization for this change. Opposition came from NEA New Hampshire President Megan Tuttle, who said the association and the Derry Education Association opposed the bill because schools are not simply another municipal department and because Derry voters had already rejected merging the district into town government. She argued the state should respect local control and the community’s prior decision. Committee members asked about the scope of the proposed charter change, the role of the school board, and the reported prior vote, and the sponsor clarified that the amendment would be limited to this specific purpose rather than opening the entire charter. The hearing then moved to House Bill 1374, which would change the procedures for withdrawing from a cooperative school district. Representative Mary Murphy said current law gives other cooperative towns too much control over a withdrawing town’s decision, and her bill would remove the requirement for approval by the other towns while raising the withdrawing town’s approval threshold to a supermajority. She pointed to Francis Town’s 2024 withdrawal vote and said the bill was intended to protect students and local decision-making. The sponsor asked for an ought to pass recommendation, and committee members asked follow-up questions about the prior withdrawal vote and the number of voters involved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harrison is our high school program.
• Harrison is our high elementary program. Harrison is our high school<00:27:06.960> program.
• We also have our school program.
• Um, in the elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, we allocate our social workers based
• <00:43:16.960> an South High School and I have an South High School and I have an 18-year-old

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I wasn't a big athlete in high school. I was a nerdy guy. I still am a nerdy guy.
• But I know some friends who played three sports in high school.
• and through high school.
• , through high school, she was accepted.
• Desk where she studied through elementary school, through high school.

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Housing Finance and Affordability held its first hearing of 2025 to examine California’s housing finance system, with opening remarks emphasizing the state’s severe housing shortage, high costs, and the need for practical recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. Co-chairs described the committee as an educational and problem-solving forum focused on financing housing production, first-time homeownership, mixed-income developments, and affordability across the income spectrum. Witnesses from state agencies and the development sector were invited to explain how housing is financed and where the system is breaking down. Panelists from the California Housing Partnership, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the Tax Credit Allocation Committee/State Treasurer’s Office, CalHFA, and Related outlined the “capital stack” used to finance affordable housing, stressing that projects typically rely on multiple public and private sources, including federal and state low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, state subsidies, local funds, and rental income. Speakers noted that affordable housing rents generally cannot support full project costs without public subsidy, and that recent federal changes—especially the expansion of the 4% and 9% tax credit programs and the reduction of the bond financing threshold for 4% credits—should allow California to finance substantially more units. CalHFA also described its homeownership programs, including My Home, Dream For All, and disaster-related mortgage assistance, as well as its multifamily lending and bond issuance programs. Several witnesses and committee members emphasized that the system remains too complex, too slow, and underfunded. They pointed to the need for more state funding, a housing bond, a permanent funding source, and better coordination among agencies, while also citing recent streamlining efforts such as AB 434’s SuperNOFA, AB 519’s one-stop-shop working group, and the planned California Housing and Homeless Agency reorganization. Members raised concerns about equity, access, missing-middle housing, gender and racial disparities, and whether current programs adequately serve extremely low-income households and those at risk of homelessness. No formal votes or actions were taken during the hearing; the discussion ended with committee members and witnesses agreeing that both funding and administrative reform are needed to increase production and improve affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• One in three Minnesota high school graduates who choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in Minnesota do
• one in three Minnesota level programs one in three Minnesota high<00:01:41.520> school<00:01:
• school graduates who choose to high school graduates who choose to pursue<00:01:43.240> a<00:
• In high school I worked hard and earned good grades, participated in many extracurriculars, and created
• high school I worked opportunities in high school I worked hard<00:32:18.840> and<00:32:18.960

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I finished high school, amazingly enough, still alive.
• This is also the father that did not have shoes to go to school, and he had to stand outside the high
• school.
• high needs.
• It is an opt-in program that will remain one. Would schools also require them? Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• successful program.
• We also have advanced amendments to the Farm to School program.
• We have amendments to the Farm to School program to ensure that we will be able to do that, and we have
• WE ALSO HAVE ADVANCED AMENDMENTS TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.
• WE HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE HAVE

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Conference Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Housing opened budget negotiations for the 2026-2027 enacted budget, with Senate and Assembly leaders outlining their one-house proposals and committee members giving brief remarks. The discussion covered environment, agriculture, housing, parks, and energy, with repeated emphasis on affordability, climate resilience, and support for rural and urban communities. Senate and Assembly chairs described the process and noted the agencies present, while minority members criticized the overall size of the budgets and urged more attention to housing affordability, building stakeholders, and energy costs. On the environment and energy side, the Senate highlighted proposals for $138 million in additional clean water infrastructure funding, a $75 million increase to the Environmental Protection Fund, $95 million in restored parks capital, $200 million for the Energy Affordability Program, and $1 billion for Sustainable Futures 2.0, including a proposed revival of the NY STUN program. The Assembly said it increased the EPF to $500 million, raised clean water infrastructure funding to $800 million, and included targeted amounts for cities, rural housing-related water projects, Cornell Ag Tech, and the Center for Sustainable Materials Management. Democrats argued that high utility bills are driven by natural gas costs rather than clean energy, while Senate and Assembly Republicans said the CLCPA and other energy mandates are increasing costs and should be reconsidered. Agriculture remarks focused on research, farm support, and resilience. Senator Hinchey described funding for Cornell’s COWS program, Farm to School amendments, $7 million for farm worker housing, and a new $20 million Farm Weather Resiliency Grant Program. Chair Lupardo said the Assembly added $16 million over the Governor’s proposal for educational research and outreach, restored support for beginning and disadvantaged farmers, and backed dairy, livestock, hemp fiber, and natural fibers initiatives, while also accepting $30 million in farmer tariff relief if guidelines are set. Minority Assembly Member Tague supported dairy infrastructure funding but criticized the farm labor overtime phase-down and the CLCPA’s impacts on farms. Housing discussion centered on major capital and assistance programs. The Assembly proposed $200 million more for the Housing Access Voucher Program, $100 million for Mitchell-Lama and NYCHA, $50 million for down payment assistance, $4 million for fair housing testing, land banks, and $40 million for the Homeowner Protection Program. The Senate outlined similar priorities, including $500 million for NYCHA, $100 million for Mitchell-Lama preservation, $250 million total for HAVP, and additional funding for mixed-income rental development, vacant rentals, senior housing, and block-by-block infill. Chair Rosenthal said rent stabilization was not being changed in the budget, while Republican members argued that affordability requires lower taxes, lower utility costs, and fewer regulatory burdens. No votes were taken; the meeting was an opening round of budget negotiations and ended with closing remarks from both sides.

Transcript Highlights:

• These positions have historically shown high turnover rates and/or high vacancy rates, exacerbated by
• It starts in the program offices.
• I know my first term on the school board, the first meeting I had, I approved five new schools in my
• But now if it was a new program, that may do it.
• As a result of the expansion and growth of the state's school choice programs, the 2023 Legislature modernized

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met for two workshops. The first focused on vacant positions in the Division of Early Learning and the Department of Education. Committee members reviewed vacancy reports, including long-vacant positions and positions that had received discretionary pay adjustments. Division and department officials said many vacancies were being filled, advertised, or under review, but acknowledged persistent recruitment and retention problems, especially for engineering, legal, finance, IT, and other specialized roles. Members questioned whether some long-vacant positions were still necessary, whether overtime and workload were being affected, and whether outside contracting, cross-training, combining positions, or eliminating some vacancies could help. Officials said they were considering those options and noted that hiring has become slower and more difficult since the pandemic, with lower applicant volume and more competition from other agencies and private employers. The second workshop addressed draft legislation related to school choice scholarships and the FEFP. The chair said the committee’s prior hearings raised concerns about student identification numbers, cross-checking between districts and scholarship organizations, duplicated FTE reporting, delayed district payments, scholarship payment timing, and inconsistent data sources. She said the proposed language is intended to standardize scholarship processing and improve accuracy and efficiency while preserving the long-standing FEFP principle that funds follow the student. She also said funding scholarship students below the line would not solve the identified problems and could create disparities. The draft would align processing for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs and would reduce add-on weights by 50% while keeping the current policy structure. No votes were taken. The chair invited further comments and said the draft budget and legislation would continue to be refined before rollout. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• school.
• Classes began in the fall of 1925, with 51 students on the third floor of the high school.
• that school districts are already... ...required to use in their high school health curriculum. business
• Bremerton School District... ...filing in favor... ...of a high school football coach, Joseph Kennedy
• Senator Gutierrez and I were talking about when we were in high school, there was one prayer said at

Keywords: HCR65, HCR19, Senate resolutions, memorial, community impact, legislative proceedings

Summary: The recent Senate meeting primarily covered two resolutions, HCR65 and HCR19, both of which were passed unanimously with little to no opposition. HCR65 was introduced in memory of Tracy Lee Vincent of Longview, while HCR19 was presented to honor the late Terrell Lynn Roberts of Angleton. The meeting included brief addresses from several senators, who shared personal reflections on the impacts of the individuals being honored and expressed gratitude for their contributions to the community. This collaborative atmosphere showcased the members' capacity for camaraderie and respect, emphasizing the importance of human connection in legislative proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this is really about equity for our greater Minnesota schools, particularly those with a high seasonal
• Unfortunately, what that has done is made many of our school districts with a high proportion of seasonal
• <00:36:10.320> proportion school districts with a high proportion school districts with a
• <00:36:23.599> And those school districts. And those school districts.
• would be received by each school would be received by each school district.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to be called Brooks Law, and the namesake of the bill is Brooke Curry, an 18-year-old high school
• And the namesake of the bill is Brooke Curry, an 18-year-old high school student, that testified yesterday
• school district.
• One of the emergency personnel was someone she went to high school with.
• This bill will require schools to disclose in writing which accommodations... ...program seeks to address

Summary: The committee considered a long agenda of bills, with most measures reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, amendments, and roll calls. Early bills included SB 658 on lien waivers/releases, SB 736 on Brownfields redevelopment, SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, and SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage. Each was amended or discussed as needed and then approved by the committee. The committee also advanced SB 768 on foreign control interests in health care licensing, SB 772 on school diabetes management and access to glucagon, SB 1400 on removal of altered sexual depictions posted without consent, SB 1696 on prearranged transportation services, and SB 1374 on school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct. Several bills drew notable public testimony and debate. SB 1132 prompted strong support from the sponsor and agriculture interests, but opposition from equipment dealers, technology groups, and wireless industry representatives who argued the market already provides repair options and that the bill could harm dealer networks and security. SB 1730, the Live Local/affordable housing bill, received extensive discussion about parking reductions, height and density preemption, attorney’s fees, local government authority, and impacts on Monroe County and other areas; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorably despite concerns from some members and advocates about parking, due process, and local control. SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments also generated significant debate, with opponents warning it could displace long-term guests and vulnerable families, while the sponsor said it clarifies transient occupancy and removes ambiguity in the removal process; the bill passed after the committee rejected a related amendment. Other measures advanced with less controversy. SB 576 updated service-of-process rules, and SB 1164 authorized email delivery of landlord-tenant notices if the parties agree in writing, though tenant advocates urged clearer safeguards and the sponsor said he was not yet committed to the House version. SB 940 prohibited the resale of restaurant reservations without consent and was supported by restaurant interests. SB 1690, allowing infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, drew emotional support from several witnesses who said it would provide anonymous, life-saving alternatives for mothers in crisis; the committee continued discussion into the latter part of the meeting. Throughout, the committee adopted several amendments, heard both support and opposition from industry, advocacy, and local-government witnesses, and reported the discussed bills favorably by recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• mortuary program. mortuary program.
• the schooling. the schooling.
• When the nurse conversation came up, people would be a high school senior.
• . high. high.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all