Transcript Highlights:

• The second one is a call out for what's been mentioned around chronic absenteeism.
• So, what are the rates of chronic absenteeism right now?
• Do they have any effect on absenteeism or attendance?
• Our current chronic absenteeism rate for school year 2025 is 33%.
• Indicated that 33% is the chronic absentee rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Lane voted yes. Representative Nome voted yes. Representative C voted yes.
• Representative Lane voted yes. Representative Nome voted yes. Representative C voted yes.
• Representative Lane voted yes. Representative Nome voted yes. Representative C voted yes.
• voting.
• Yeah, relative to eligibility for absentee voting. Is there a motion? Yes, I'd like to move to ITL.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Election Law Subcommittee met to review its report and vote on eight bills concerning voter registration, absentee voting, domicile qualifications, photographic identification, and related election procedures. The chair explained that the subcommittee’s mission was to consolidate and reconcile the bills, review constitutional and federal-law issues, and issue recommendations. Members thanked the chair, legislative staff, and outside contributors for the report and supporting materials, including research memos and testimony. The report was expected to be formally issued later in the week, with the bill recommendations finalized at the meeting. The subcommittee first voted on House Bill 27, relative to absentee ballots, where members discussed a proposed bipartisan follow-up bill to clarify language for voters in jail and correctional facilities. The bill was recommended ought to pass by a 3-2 vote. House Bill 289, on domicile qualifications for voting, and House Bill 323, requiring government-issued photographic identification to vote, were both retained by unanimous 5-0 votes. House Bill 385, concerning a prior voting law, was recommended inexpedient to legislate by a 3-2 vote after members cited constitutional concerns and cost. House Bills 418, 618, and 684 were each recommended inexpedient to legislate unanimously, with members saying the subcommittee was consolidating overlapping bills into one measure per topic. The final bill, House Bill 686, requiring identification when requesting an absentee ballot, was retained unanimously for further work over the summer and review by the full Election Law Committee in November. After completing all eight votes, members said the process helped them better understand the issues and that there was substantial bipartisan agreement on many principles, even where they differed on implementation. The meeting concluded with thanks and no further action beyond the subcommittee recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please vote from your desks and for yourself. Clerk, ring the bell.
• All those in favor, vote aye. All those opposed, say nay. Members, actually this is a record vote.
• Segaran voting aye. You have a good day. Thank you, sir. Show the Speaker voting aye.
• Speaker, I move that the Sergeant-at-Arms or officers appointed by her send for all absentees whose attendance
• Members, you've heard the motion; this is a record vote. Clerk, ring the bell. Sugaran voting aye.

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please vote from your desks and for yourself. Clerk, ring the bell. Have all members registered.
• All those in favor vote aye. All those opposed say nay. Members, actually, this is a record vote.
• So Garin voting aye. Show the Speaker voting aye.
• Speaker, I move that the Sergeant at Arms or officers appointed by her send for all absentees whose attendance
• This is a record vote. Clerk, ring the bell. Seguin voting aye.

Summary: The House convened amid a quorum failure and a forceful statement from the Speaker criticizing absent members for leaving the state and delaying action on urgent issues such as disaster recovery, flood-related deaths, and human trafficking. The Speaker said the House would use all available rules to compel attendance, including a call of the House and civil arrest warrants if necessary. The chamber then opened with prayer and the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags. Representative Garin moved to place a call on the House until consideration of HB 4 on third reading was completed. The motion was adopted by record vote, 86 ayes and 6 nays, and the doors were locked. Garin then moved that the Sergeant at Arms or appointed officers send for all absent members not excused, with warrants of arrest if necessary, continuing beyond adjournment until further order of the House. That motion also prevailed by record vote, 85 ayes and 6 nays. While under the call, members needed written permission to leave the chamber. The Speaker granted permission for members registered present to leave and return the next day. The House then adjourned without objection until 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• out of money that remains in the voting out of money that remains in the voting equipment<00:02:
• transferred into on line 31, the voting transferred into on line 31, the voting operations,<00:02
• about voter registration, why voting about voter registration, why voting matters,<00:07:37.360>
• But I will be voting no for that reason. Thank you. election.
• I will be voting no for that reason. I will be voting no for that reason.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a record vote. All those in favor, vote aye. All those opposed, vote nay.
• Geren voting aye. Have all members voted? Have all members voted?
• Speaker, I move that the Sergeant-at-Arms or officers appointed by her are sent for all absentees whose
• All those in favor, vote aye. All those opposed, vote nay. It's a record vote.
• Members of Geren voting aye. Mr. Hunter voting aye. Have all members voted? Have all members voted?

Bills: HB4, HB1, HB2, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB4, HB1, HB 2, HB20, HB19, HB18, HB 4, HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• And while Chair Jordan is still settling in, this is a vehicle bill in a procedural vote.
• And while Chair Jordan is still settling in, this is a vehicle bill in a procedural vote.
• Seeing none, we'll take a vote to adopt the A1 amendment. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye.
• <01:20:23.360> in response to chronic absenteeism in response to chronic absenteeism in Minnesota
• crisis is to everything we absenteeism crisis is to everything we want<01:20:56.080> students

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Understanding the why behind student absenteeism is deeply complex.
• <00:32:29.760> is<00:32:30.000> deeply behind student absenteeism is deeply behind
• > some<00:32:31.799> conversations Understanding student absenteeism is complex.
• We also know that chronic absenteeism is directly linked to the school-to-prison pipeline.
• <00:41:47.240> is<00:41:47.400> directly that chronic absenteeism is directly that

Bills: HF1966, HF54, HF2043, HF1171, HF2741

Keywords: HF1966, Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs, STARS program, alternative education, alternative programs, education finance, general fund appropriation, student support services, career readiness, employment skills, academic skills, social skills, student conferences, training grants, Minnesota Department of Education, specialized education, at-risk students, nontraditional education, HF54, Silver Lake

Transcript Highlights:

• The early voting clerk has all authority over early voting by mail and early voting in person.
• A few highlights include: absentee voting began during the Civil War to secure the franchise of soldiers
• Early post-Civil War iterations of absentee voting universally required receipt by Election Day.
• By World War One, many states had adopted a Representative Hayes: variety of absentee voting laws.
• voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the people who do vote currently on school committees are the people who were voted into office
• have the right to vote.
• And so the people who do vote currently on school committees are the people who were voted into office
• have the right to vote.
• They must get a vote.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're taking a systems absenteeism.
• So things like student absenteeism.
• <01:33:57.120> I absenteeism from becoming chronic. I absenteeism from becoming chronic.
• Uh, chronic<01:54:00.960> absenteeism, chronic absenteeism, chronic absenteeism, truency,<01:54
• <01:55:51.520> from an impact on the 15-day absentee from an impact on the 15-day absentee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that money requires a two-thirds vote to make changes to that program if you wanted to realign
• cohort of schools that benefited from this investment showed significant reductions in chronic absenteeism
• that we are seeing marked improvements in math, in English, and, most importantly, the chronic absenteeism
• that we are seeing marked improvements in math, in English, and, most importantly, the chronic absenteeism
• Community schools where Promised Neighborhoods are have a 30% reduction in absenteeism and an 89% increase

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools, with the kitchen infrastructure grants, Tier 2 ELOP funding, and ongoing community schools funding as the main budget issues. For universal meals, the Department of Education and the Department of Finance supported continued investment in school meal infrastructure and explained that federal changes, inflation, and underreporting in meal counts could affect future funding. The LAO recommended rejecting a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure grants, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and that future funding should be tied to clearer goals and data. Several public commenters and school groups supported continued kitchen grants and universal meals, citing supply-chain delays, workforce needs, and benefits such as more freshly prepared meals and higher participation. For ELOP, the administration proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and an additional $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended fully fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements, while CDE supported the proposal and said the program is improving attendance and academic outcomes. Senators and witnesses discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, with concerns raised about accountability, flexibility, and whether the program should better serve older youth. CDE said new CalPADS reporting and the biennial report will provide more data soon, and public testimony largely supported stabilizing Tier 2 funding while also asking for more support for middle and high school students. For community schools, the Governor proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing sites, along with new accountability through annual self-certification and future accreditation. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger number of grantees. CDE strongly supported the ongoing funding and asked for additional support for county offices and technical assistance. Committee members questioned how accreditation would work for a model meant to be locally tailored, and administration staff said technical assistance would come first, with schools losing eligibility only if they failed to meet standards after support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of community schools, with parents, students, county offices, and advocacy groups describing gains in attendance, graduation, mental health supports, family engagement, and student belonging, while some commenters urged clearer eligibility rules, stronger reporting, and continued support for related programs such as MTSS and homeless student services.

Transcript Highlights:

• votes yes. Representative P. O'Brien votes yes. Representative Burnham votes yes.
• Gski votes yes. Representative Toner votes yes. Representative Lane votes no.
• Representative Bay then asked whether that provision should also be available for those who vote absentee
• Representative Bay asked whether the provision should also be available for those who vote absentee.
• also be available for those who vote also be available for those who vote both absentee<04:05:47.560

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that money requires a two-thirds vote to make changes to that program if you wanted to realign
• And so that money requires a two-thirds vote to make changes to that program if you wanted to realign
• cohort of schools that benefited from this investment showed significant reductions in chronic absenteeism
• that we are seeing marked improvements in math, in English, and, most importantly, the chronic absenteeism
• Community schools where Promise Neighborhoods are have a 30% reduction in absenteeism and an 89% increase

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools. On universal meals, the Department of Education supported continued funding for the Universal School Meals Program and a fourth round of Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grants, citing meal-count growth, improved meal service, and the need to offset federal uncertainty, inflation, and reduced direct certification tied to immigration-related policy changes. The LAO recommended rejecting another kitchen grant round, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and the state has not clearly defined unmet need. Members also raised concerns about the state’s ability to backfill federal meal funding and about how federal requirements affect programs like Summer EBT/SUN Bucks. Public commenters largely supported school meals and kitchen investments, with some urging support for plant-based milk options and continued infrastructure funding. For ELOP, the Department of Finance proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding, including $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended going further and fully fixing the Tier 2 rate, saying rate uncertainty complicates district planning. CDE supported the proposal and said the program has improved attendance and academic outcomes, while noting new CalPADS reporting will provide more data soon. Senators discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, and whether the state should require stronger outcome reporting. Public testimony generally backed stabilizing Tier 2 funding, but some speakers urged more support for older youth and more timely, user-friendly reporting. On community schools, the administration proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing grantees, along with stronger technical assistance, statewide alignment, and an accreditation/self-certification framework. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger cohort. CDE supported the ongoing investment but asked for additional county office and technical assistance funding. Senators and public commenters were broadly supportive of community schools, emphasizing improved attendance, graduation, and student engagement, while also debating accountability, accreditation, and whether non-classroom-based charter schools should be eligible. Public testimony strongly favored ongoing funding and highlighted community schools’ role in mental health, family engagement, and wraparound supports.

Transcript Highlights:

• experienced in Shakapei and the absentee experienced in Shakapei and the absentee votes<00:11:03.920
• vote in which a member was able to vote vote in which a member was able to vote remotely,<00:29:
• > that the absentee voting period for that the absentee voting period for that election<00:53:42.400
• first day of absentee balloting voting, this law doesn't apply.
• Green votes aye. Hussein. Go ahead. Vote no. Hussein votes aye. McDonald. No. McDonald votes no.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• leave, so there simply aren't the votes to change the program.
• leave, so there simply aren't the votes to change the program.
• leave, so there simply aren't the votes to change the program.
• leave, so there simply aren't the votes to change the program.
• leave, so there simply aren't the votes to change the program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a question about chronic absenteeism for all of you.
• I have a question about chronic absenteeism for all of you.
• Every child, every district is unique with your issues surrounding chronic absenteeism.
• And this goes back to the absentee issue.
• How is it determined, and who approves what is an approved absentee and what is an unexcused absentee

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an overview from Department of Education Chancellor Paul Burns on Florida’s K-12 governance structure and major divisions, including early learning, public schools, safe schools, school choice, and accountability. He highlighted school readiness and VPK, teacher preparation and licensure, school safety functions, scholarship and virtual/home education programs, and FAST progress monitoring. Burns also cited statewide gains such as higher mid-year reading performance, a record graduation rate of 89.7%, and record CTE enrollment, while members questioned the meaning of Florida’s “number one” education rankings, teacher pay, post-COVID learning loss, vacancies, and chronic absenteeism. St. Lucie County Superintendent John Prince then described the scale and responsibilities of a mid-sized district, emphasizing student safety, transportation, meals, hurricane shelter operations, career and technical education, teacher recruitment and retention, progress monitoring, remediation, and mental health supports. Members asked about school shelter construction standards, remediation funding, late school start times, attendance, and concordance scores; Prince argued for more flexibility for CTE pathways and noted that local districts use a mix of state and federal funds to support remediation and staffing. The committee then moved to an early warning systems panel. Burns explained that Florida law requires districts to use attendance, behavior/suspensions, course performance, FAST results, and other academic indicators to identify students needing support, with districts and families developing intervention plans. Superintendents from Putnam, St. Johns, and St. Lucie counties said chronic absenteeism is tied to achievement and NAEP decline, but causes vary by district, including poverty, transportation, daycare, family instability, travel, and student athletics. They described MTSS, PBIS, home visits, attendance letters, and community partnerships as responses. Members also discussed VPK access, full-day VPK funding, excused versus unexcused absences, and the need for earlier intervention in pre-K and K-2. Finally, Vice Chancellor Darren Norris outlined Florida’s post-Parkland school safety measures, including armed school officers, anonymous reporting, behavioral threat assessment teams, mental health training, panic alert systems, emergency drills, active assailant response policies, and firearm detection canines. Superintendents said compliance is costly and often requires shifting local funds, but they praised state grants for mental health, hardening, and mapping. They noted ongoing challenges with new mandates, capital costs, manual reporting burdens, and the need to balance safety requirements with classroom resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we're gonna start out with, uh, a vote and, uh, at least one member has, has another committee
• So we're gonna start out very quickly and vote out, uh, just one bill, um.
• Every school district will tell you their, their absentee and truancy is off the off the charts.
• Like all of my districts, 26 in House District 30, have said absenteeism is a problem.
• Is there any objection to voting that one out? Let's just do it here with it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Representative Thayer has left an absentee vote of aye. Representative Wasserburger. Aye.
• Uh, Representative Yin has left an absentee vote of aye. Madam Chairman, that is nine ayes. Okay.
• Uh, Representative Thayer has left an absentee vote of aye. Representative Wasserburger, aye.
• Representative Yin has left an absentee vote of aye.
• absentee vote of I. absentee vote of I.

Bills: HB0003, HB0117, HB0041

Keywords: pregnancy centers, abortion, pro-life, healthcare, women's rights, state regulation, civil rights, freedom of speech, informed consent, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, law enforcement, death benefits, retirement, survivor support, public safety, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the issues that you or attempted to address or maybe addressed last year, chronic absenteeism
• <00:02:12.720> That's last year, chronic absenteeism.
• That's last year, chronic absenteeism.
• So, we have a lot of work to do from a chronic absenteeism and truancy standpoint.
• from a chronic absenteeism and truency. from a chronic absenteeism and truency.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The interview focused on Minnesota K-12 education, with the representative describing schools and educators as doing strong day-to-day work but saying policymakers need to address major problems such as literacy, math performance, and chronic absenteeism. He argued for more local control, fewer mandates, and flexible funding so districts can meet local needs, while also saying the READ Act and science-of-reading implementation should be carried out with fidelity to improve reading outcomes. A substantial portion of the discussion centered on chronic absenteeism and truancy. The representative said he has worked in a bipartisan way with Rep. Keeler on the issue, including home visits and district reporting efforts, but argued schools cannot solve every social problem alone and need families and other partners to help get students to class. He also criticized the Department of Education for not prioritizing a simple reporting mechanism related to the 15-day drop rule for students who disappear from enrollment. School safety was another major topic, especially after the Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minneapolis. He said students should be safe regardless of whether they attend public or nonpublic schools and supported giving nonpublic schools access to safety funding. He said he and Sen. Pratt are working on flexible school-safety funding ideas and mentioned the Shield Act and multi-layered safety approaches as models. He also revisited universal school meals, saying the program has constrained future budget options and that a prior proposal would have redirected some of those dollars into flexible supplemental aid for districts. The interview ended with brief discussion of other constituent concerns, including age verification, cell phone use, and a youth skills training program that he said should allow students to gain office-based experience. No votes were taken; the representative mainly outlined policy priorities and frustrations with agency implementation and legislative priorities.